Here's a really good chocolate frosting recipe, I think I got it from my Grandma:
Creamy Chocolate Frosting
3 Tab Margaine (or Butter) slightly melted
3 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup Cocoa
1/8 teas Salt
1/4 cup Milk (plus some to get the right consistency)
1/2 teas Vanilla
Beat well till creamy.
Yep. That's it.
I've put this together the way you're SUPPOSED to put together frosting, and I've just dumped it all in and "beat well till creamy"... both ways worked.
Ross makes Hershey's recipe for Brownies from scratch with his own addition of chocolate chips and I made the frosting. It's an annual tradition for him to take in his brownies around his birthday. THIS year, he didn't advertise, the newer people at work didn't know about it and he came home with LEFTOVERS! YAY!
Enjoy!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Kind of boring Crochet Friday
Today was Crochet Day at my friend Sarah's house. I LOVE Crochet Day.
I brought my project for the LDS International Art Competition to work on. I'm about half-way done with the crocheting part of it. But, then after that's done I'll still have a lot more to do on it.
Today I got two rows done and then crocheted a whole row that I had to take off, because it was done on the wrong side. argh!
It's an abstract crocheted wall hanging. It depicts coming up from Sin and repenting and becoming pure. It's based on a scripture from Isaiah about how "though your sins be as scarlet... they will be as white as wool" ... you know, something like that.
I keep entering this Competition... even though I realize that it's an International Competition and a Foriegn works of art are more likely to be accepted than mine from Salt Lake City.
But, Hope is Eternal.... and I keep trying.
Also, professional artist enter this competition too... I had no hope of winning in the painting category. I entered paintings twice.
Once for the very first competition, and once when Ross and I were dating. Then I got wise and made a crocheted wall hanging (like a hanging quilt but, crocheted) depicting The Beginning and then down through the ages through my pioneer ancestors to me. Yeah, it wasn't accepted.
I've never seen anything crocheted be accepted ... unless it was some sort of really fancy doily art. Usually in the textile section quilts, REALLY nice quilts, win.
All of my last entry's pics are on the other computer that doesn't work, otherwise I would post them...
This year's project is a secret until it's picture has been safely mailed in before October... my deadline.
I'm going really crazy abstract this time... and no matter what happens, I will keep entering.
Wish me luck!
I brought my project for the LDS International Art Competition to work on. I'm about half-way done with the crocheting part of it. But, then after that's done I'll still have a lot more to do on it.
Today I got two rows done and then crocheted a whole row that I had to take off, because it was done on the wrong side. argh!
It's an abstract crocheted wall hanging. It depicts coming up from Sin and repenting and becoming pure. It's based on a scripture from Isaiah about how "though your sins be as scarlet... they will be as white as wool" ... you know, something like that.
I keep entering this Competition... even though I realize that it's an International Competition and a Foriegn works of art are more likely to be accepted than mine from Salt Lake City.
But, Hope is Eternal.... and I keep trying.
Also, professional artist enter this competition too... I had no hope of winning in the painting category. I entered paintings twice.
Once for the very first competition, and once when Ross and I were dating. Then I got wise and made a crocheted wall hanging (like a hanging quilt but, crocheted) depicting The Beginning and then down through the ages through my pioneer ancestors to me. Yeah, it wasn't accepted.
I've never seen anything crocheted be accepted ... unless it was some sort of really fancy doily art. Usually in the textile section quilts, REALLY nice quilts, win.
All of my last entry's pics are on the other computer that doesn't work, otherwise I would post them...
This year's project is a secret until it's picture has been safely mailed in before October... my deadline.
I'm going really crazy abstract this time... and no matter what happens, I will keep entering.
Wish me luck!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Writing Haiku Wednesday!
My month has been SO BUSY, but now I find myself with a half of a week with Ross home, kids home and fun things planned. No stress. Aaahhhh.... I'm not even peeking at April's calendar stuff. Nope. Not till April 1st. And then I might think it's a joke... :)
Enjoy my haiku.
Rushing like the wind
Schedules, Errands, Everything!
Now, breathing slowly...
by CraftyTeresa
Enjoy my haiku.
Rushing like the wind
Schedules, Errands, Everything!
Now, breathing slowly...
by CraftyTeresa
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mmm-Mmm Monday
Today I will share my secrets to making a cake mix taste great.
1. I always sift the mix. It gets rid of lumps and adds some air.
2. Add flavor to the water. For a chocolate cake I make hot chocolate out of the water.
If I want a peachy flavor I add the juice from a can of peaches.
Lemon cake? Add lemon juice to the water.
I added Vanilla Hot Chocolate to a yellow cake mix... it was pretty good.
3. You can add a small package of dry pudding mix to your cake mix.
Your cake extra tender and light.
Like Jello Poke Cake? Here's what I do:
Bake the cake.
Poke holes using the end of a wooden spoon.
Pour liquid jello all over cake and refrigerate.
THEN
Make a complimentary flavor of PUDDING and fill in the holes!
Cover with Whipped Topping.
THEN
To show everyone what flavor your Poke Cake is inside:
Use colored sugar to make a picture of the fruit flavor on top of the whipped topping.
Other Flavor Ideas:
1. Do you like Cherry Chocolate flavor?
Use a chocolate cake and cherry jello for your poke cake... perhaps around Christmas time?
2. Use a yellow cake mix, pineapple jello and coconut pudding for a Pina-Colada cake!
3. Hmmm, I haven't tried a Lemon/Lime Poke cake yet... that sounds nice!
Have fun!
1. I always sift the mix. It gets rid of lumps and adds some air.
2. Add flavor to the water. For a chocolate cake I make hot chocolate out of the water.
If I want a peachy flavor I add the juice from a can of peaches.
Lemon cake? Add lemon juice to the water.
I added Vanilla Hot Chocolate to a yellow cake mix... it was pretty good.
3. You can add a small package of dry pudding mix to your cake mix.
Your cake extra tender and light.
Like Jello Poke Cake? Here's what I do:
Bake the cake.
Poke holes using the end of a wooden spoon.
Pour liquid jello all over cake and refrigerate.
THEN
Make a complimentary flavor of PUDDING and fill in the holes!
Cover with Whipped Topping.
THEN
To show everyone what flavor your Poke Cake is inside:
Use colored sugar to make a picture of the fruit flavor on top of the whipped topping.
Other Flavor Ideas:
1. Do you like Cherry Chocolate flavor?
Use a chocolate cake and cherry jello for your poke cake... perhaps around Christmas time?
2. Use a yellow cake mix, pineapple jello and coconut pudding for a Pina-Colada cake!
3. Hmmm, I haven't tried a Lemon/Lime Poke cake yet... that sounds nice!
Have fun!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Photography Friday
Okay. I was asked to make a wedding cake. I haven't made one since... the 90's... and that was BEFORE I got all my Wilton stuff. This is her second wedding. Her husband died before we moved here, so I never knew him. She is a very independent and energetic 70 year old, who can be taken for a woman in her middle to late 50s. She can definitely out walk me!
Her fiancee' loves chocolate cake, so the cake is mostly chocolate. :)
Since it's Easter Weekend she wanted an Easter themed Wedding Cake.
Here's a small step by step:
Bottom layer is Chocolate, with chocolate frosting in the middle.
Middle layer is Yellow, with chocolate frosting in the middle.
Top layer is Chocolate. Did I mention that I used Hot Chocolate as the water?
And Vanilla Hot Chocolate for the water in the Yellow mix.
At this point, Thursday afternoon, I was hitting my creativity wall. Things come easily to me, and suddenly the frosting wasn't smooth, the cake looked like it was TOO BIG of a project and I was scared and frustrated. Ross and my friend said over the phone that it looked just fine... what? So, I cried a bit and got over that wall and my mind figured out how to fix it.
This was my solution: cello wrap! Isn't it pretty and springy? Plus, the cello wrap would protect the ribbons that I thought of putting around the cake too...
Here's the ribbons. I wanted to make sure you could see the pretty green swirly cello wrap under the ribbons. The green grass really matched the cello wrap and filled out the cake.
Her fiancee' loves chocolate cake, so the cake is mostly chocolate. :)
Since it's Easter Weekend she wanted an Easter themed Wedding Cake.
Here's a small step by step:
Bottom layer is Chocolate, with chocolate frosting in the middle.
Middle layer is Yellow, with chocolate frosting in the middle.
Top layer is Chocolate. Did I mention that I used Hot Chocolate as the water?
And Vanilla Hot Chocolate for the water in the Yellow mix.
At this point, Thursday afternoon, I was hitting my creativity wall. Things come easily to me, and suddenly the frosting wasn't smooth, the cake looked like it was TOO BIG of a project and I was scared and frustrated. Ross and my friend said over the phone that it looked just fine... what? So, I cried a bit and got over that wall and my mind figured out how to fix it.
This was my solution: cello wrap! Isn't it pretty and springy? Plus, the cello wrap would protect the ribbons that I thought of putting around the cake too...
Here's the ribbons. I wanted to make sure you could see the pretty green swirly cello wrap under the ribbons. The green grass really matched the cello wrap and filled out the cake.
Aren't the bunnies cute? I wanted to make sure the new couple would have a little something to keep from their cake to remember their day.
Cakes are like balloons and flowers... they just don't last! Ethereal!
Here's the final product with the material around the bottom. So pretty!
What do you think? An Easter Wedding Cake! I think she will love it as much as I do!
Here's the final product with the material around the bottom. So pretty!
What do you think? An Easter Wedding Cake! I think she will love it as much as I do!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Writing Wednesday
Last Wednesday I wrote about the daughter "seeing" everything and the mom, as an adult, not "seeing" everything. Right after I finished, I thought, 'But... What if it's the mom that sees everything and the daughter is skipping around NOT seeing everything around her?' Hmmm.
Like always this is a draft of an idea. enjoy! Please feel free to critique it!
Existence II by CraftyTeresa
As I walked to the school to pick up my daughter I breathed in the fresh Spring air. I relished every lungfull and exhaled slowly. I looked up at the beautiful Robin's Egg blue sky, it was a wonderful Spring day. Just a few shy clouds around the edges of the sky trying to make pictures. I could hear the birds singing a jubilant song. The birds seemed even happier than I was about Spring's arrival. I looked down to see shoots of Spring flowers coming up from the ground. And Hey! I just saw my first Robin of Spring! I looked around at the houses I passed, the old bird's nest in the trees, the dogs in their yards. So many details! So many vibrant colors! Suddenly, I found myself at the school.
"Okay! Time to go home!", I said.
"I want to go to the PARK!", she countered.
"Well...", I hemmed and hawed a bit.
"I want to go to the Park today! Um, Please?", Ah, she remembered the magic word!
"Oh, alright...", I had brought a book with me, so it might be nice to go to the park.
As we walked to the park I kept looking at all the wonders of nature waking up from a deep sleep. The leaves, the grass, the bark on the trees. The yards of the neighbors.
'I wonder if we could make our flower garden look like that this year?', I wondered to myself.
The sun was warm on our heads and shoulders, Spring felt good!
The smell of warming dirt and rain washed air was invigorating!
I tried to point out the wonders of nature to my daughter.
"Look at how pretty that little purple flower is!", I said.
"Yeah, yeah, I know! Hurry! Walk faster! We need to get to the Park!", she said and then ran ahead of me.
My thoughts started running as we approached our little neighborhood park, 'Can't she see all the beauty of the world around her? There's so much to see and hear and feel and smell! Is her youth making her run as fast as she can making the world a blur of color? Is it only because I'm older that I've slowed down that I've been able to actually see the world?'
My daughter started playing on the play equipment with screams of delight and multiple yells of "Look at me!"
I sat down on the park bench and took one last look at the wonderful sights and smells and sounds of the world around me and then opened my book to read.
The world disappeared...
Like always this is a draft of an idea. enjoy! Please feel free to critique it!
Existence II by CraftyTeresa
As I walked to the school to pick up my daughter I breathed in the fresh Spring air. I relished every lungfull and exhaled slowly. I looked up at the beautiful Robin's Egg blue sky, it was a wonderful Spring day. Just a few shy clouds around the edges of the sky trying to make pictures. I could hear the birds singing a jubilant song. The birds seemed even happier than I was about Spring's arrival. I looked down to see shoots of Spring flowers coming up from the ground. And Hey! I just saw my first Robin of Spring! I looked around at the houses I passed, the old bird's nest in the trees, the dogs in their yards. So many details! So many vibrant colors! Suddenly, I found myself at the school.
"Okay! Time to go home!", I said.
"I want to go to the PARK!", she countered.
"Well...", I hemmed and hawed a bit.
"I want to go to the Park today! Um, Please?", Ah, she remembered the magic word!
"Oh, alright...", I had brought a book with me, so it might be nice to go to the park.
As we walked to the park I kept looking at all the wonders of nature waking up from a deep sleep. The leaves, the grass, the bark on the trees. The yards of the neighbors.
'I wonder if we could make our flower garden look like that this year?', I wondered to myself.
The sun was warm on our heads and shoulders, Spring felt good!
The smell of warming dirt and rain washed air was invigorating!
I tried to point out the wonders of nature to my daughter.
"Look at how pretty that little purple flower is!", I said.
"Yeah, yeah, I know! Hurry! Walk faster! We need to get to the Park!", she said and then ran ahead of me.
My thoughts started running as we approached our little neighborhood park, 'Can't she see all the beauty of the world around her? There's so much to see and hear and feel and smell! Is her youth making her run as fast as she can making the world a blur of color? Is it only because I'm older that I've slowed down that I've been able to actually see the world?'
My daughter started playing on the play equipment with screams of delight and multiple yells of "Look at me!"
I sat down on the park bench and took one last look at the wonderful sights and smells and sounds of the world around me and then opened my book to read.
The world disappeared...
Monday, March 17, 2008
Mmmmm Monday! With a little Memory thrown in...
Why would today be a "good and yummy" Monday?
Our Spring Break starts today and runs for 2 weeks. That's why.
February's calendar was SO FULL! March started out pretty empty and then has two weeks of Very Very Full Calendar (which is including this week ) and then next week has 4 days of kids off from school and Ross off from work.
We're so happy to have time off that we're not sure WHAT we will do with ourselves!
We want to see if the 26th is the last free zoo Wednesday, so we might go there... we want to watch a few movies that we have been WAITING for them to come out on video (DVD) all comfy in pajamas and wrapped up in blankets and take naps in between movies, and Ross wants all by himself time... and since it's his b-day at the end of the month... by George! he's gonna get it!
We NEED this time off. We NEED to rest and regain our strength and balance.... yay for days off!
How about another catagory for Monday? Mmmm Monday sounds like a perfect heading for a recipe sharing kind of blog day!
So, here's a recipe for Mmmm Monday! Now, be careful! These are Addictive!
And for a little Memory for Monday... I remember making these at home as a young one growing up. There was never a recipe, it was just a part of our brains! and
My Grandma and I would make a pan of these and eat them ALL by ourselves in two days!
I've had fun experimenting with these... and that's why there are so many ( )s.
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Thingys
1 cup sugar (1/2 brown, 1/2 white is interesting)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup Peanut Butter
6 cups Corn flakes (or Rice Krispies)
(I've also used Honey Bunches of Oats cereal )
Topping (is optional):
1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Butterscotch Chips
In a pan bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter.
Mix in cereal till coated then pour and press into a buttered 9x13 pan. Let cool
Topping (optional):
Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together either in microwave or in a double boiler, stir to blend. Spread over the P.B. Krispies mixture in pan. Can chill till firm or not.
Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Our Spring Break starts today and runs for 2 weeks. That's why.
February's calendar was SO FULL! March started out pretty empty and then has two weeks of Very Very Full Calendar (which is including this week ) and then next week has 4 days of kids off from school and Ross off from work.
We're so happy to have time off that we're not sure WHAT we will do with ourselves!
We want to see if the 26th is the last free zoo Wednesday, so we might go there... we want to watch a few movies that we have been WAITING for them to come out on video (DVD) all comfy in pajamas and wrapped up in blankets and take naps in between movies, and Ross wants all by himself time... and since it's his b-day at the end of the month... by George! he's gonna get it!
We NEED this time off. We NEED to rest and regain our strength and balance.... yay for days off!
How about another catagory for Monday? Mmmm Monday sounds like a perfect heading for a recipe sharing kind of blog day!
So, here's a recipe for Mmmm Monday! Now, be careful! These are Addictive!
And for a little Memory for Monday... I remember making these at home as a young one growing up. There was never a recipe, it was just a part of our brains! and
My Grandma and I would make a pan of these and eat them ALL by ourselves in two days!
I've had fun experimenting with these... and that's why there are so many ( )s.
Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Thingys
1 cup sugar (1/2 brown, 1/2 white is interesting)
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup Peanut Butter
6 cups Corn flakes (or Rice Krispies)
(I've also used Honey Bunches of Oats cereal )
Topping (is optional):
1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Butterscotch Chips
In a pan bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil. Remove from heat and add peanut butter.
Mix in cereal till coated then pour and press into a buttered 9x13 pan. Let cool
Topping (optional):
Melt chocolate chips and butterscotch chips together either in microwave or in a double boiler, stir to blend. Spread over the P.B. Krispies mixture in pan. Can chill till firm or not.
Cut into bars.
Enjoy!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Fluffy or Photograph Friday!?
I came up with a new category for Friday: Fluffy Friday! (or Photograph Friday?)
(so if I've been too crazy busy to talk about or gasp! even do Crochet, I'll post a Fluffy or Photograph Friday)
Today I think I can get both Fluffy and a Photograph in here all at once!
That's one cute little Fluffy Photograph of our cat Rain.
(my daughter took it. I thinks she's getting a kid's digital camera for Christmas so she won't use mine so much!) Enjoy the cuteness!
(so if I've been too crazy busy to talk about or gasp! even do Crochet, I'll post a Fluffy or Photograph Friday)
Today I think I can get both Fluffy and a Photograph in here all at once!
That's one cute little Fluffy Photograph of our cat Rain.
(my daughter took it. I thinks she's getting a kid's digital camera for Christmas so she won't use mine so much!) Enjoy the cuteness!
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Writing Wednesday
Please remember that I just typed this right out of my head with only a read through or two and a check of grammar and spelling. So, essentially it's a rough draft. Enjoy!
Existence by CraftyTeresa
"Was that tree there before?", she asked.
"Yes, it's been here the whole 3 years that we've lived here." I answered.
"Nu-uh!" My daughter likes to be contrary.
"Yes it has! A year ago or so you planted a clover that you picked right under this tree.",
I said, just to try to argue back a little and make my point.
Finally she was able to accept that the tree did exist before she noticed it.
'Wow, has she only now noticed that large tree? Or did she just forget it was here?', I thought.
We had walked past that tree every day of three year's worth of school years. When it was just her brother going to school, we walked past it twice a day. This year with her in kindergarten, we only walk past it on the way home... but, it's always been there. Hasn't it?
When she pointed it out to me today it was as if I had also seen it for the first time. It looked like it had been there for a long time. The school was built in in 2000 I think, so the tree had to be at least as old as the school. Right?
Maybe it didn't really exist for her until she really noticed it? Maybe I had forgotten the tree or ignored it and it didn't exist for me until my daughter pointed it out to me.
I've always worried about my memory. This was something to really think about.
"Was that bush there before?", my daughter pointed to a bush in a yard on our trip home.
I laughed a little, "Yes. That bush was there before. There used to be a little fence there too, but they took it out. I can't remember if the bush was there behind that little fence... it might've been. But, yes, that bush has been there for a while.", I explained.
'There we go again!', I thought. Was my memory playing tricks on me again? I couldn't really remember if the bush was there or not before or after the little fence was removed.
It started me thinking, 'Am I really walking through life with blinders on? I work so hard on putting one foot in front of the other that I don't really notice the world around me.
Am I losing the child-like ability to stop and look up and question and make the world really exist around me and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me?'
I sighed and shook my head to clear it and looked down again so I could hurry to the next place and remember everything for everyone. I tried hard to ignore the pain and forced myself to put one foot in front of the other and finished the walk home.
And the world disappeared once more.
Existence by CraftyTeresa
"Was that tree there before?", she asked.
"Yes, it's been here the whole 3 years that we've lived here." I answered.
"Nu-uh!" My daughter likes to be contrary.
"Yes it has! A year ago or so you planted a clover that you picked right under this tree.",
I said, just to try to argue back a little and make my point.
Finally she was able to accept that the tree did exist before she noticed it.
'Wow, has she only now noticed that large tree? Or did she just forget it was here?', I thought.
We had walked past that tree every day of three year's worth of school years. When it was just her brother going to school, we walked past it twice a day. This year with her in kindergarten, we only walk past it on the way home... but, it's always been there. Hasn't it?
When she pointed it out to me today it was as if I had also seen it for the first time. It looked like it had been there for a long time. The school was built in in 2000 I think, so the tree had to be at least as old as the school. Right?
Maybe it didn't really exist for her until she really noticed it? Maybe I had forgotten the tree or ignored it and it didn't exist for me until my daughter pointed it out to me.
I've always worried about my memory. This was something to really think about.
"Was that bush there before?", my daughter pointed to a bush in a yard on our trip home.
I laughed a little, "Yes. That bush was there before. There used to be a little fence there too, but they took it out. I can't remember if the bush was there behind that little fence... it might've been. But, yes, that bush has been there for a while.", I explained.
'There we go again!', I thought. Was my memory playing tricks on me again? I couldn't really remember if the bush was there or not before or after the little fence was removed.
It started me thinking, 'Am I really walking through life with blinders on? I work so hard on putting one foot in front of the other that I don't really notice the world around me.
Am I losing the child-like ability to stop and look up and question and make the world really exist around me and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me?'
I sighed and shook my head to clear it and looked down again so I could hurry to the next place and remember everything for everyone. I tried hard to ignore the pain and forced myself to put one foot in front of the other and finished the walk home.
And the world disappeared once more.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Miscellaneous Monday
Today my head is full of all sorts of dreams and thoughts and memories.
First I'll start with my dream:
For some reason I've been in re-runs lately. I specifically remember thinking in my dream last night, "Hmmm, I've had this dream before." "Last time the zombies laid a trap for me that would make my car jump up and then get skewered, so, this time I'll swerve around them."
Don't ask me why I dreamt about why I had a zombie movie type dream... I swear I didn't watch anything zombie like yesterday!
The other night I also remember thinking, "Hmm, I've had this dream before. How boring."
And yet, I went on with it anyway. My brain likes to keep really busy at night.
So, because of that zombie dream I watched a Chinese Zombie Vampire Kung Fu movie this morning. It was a free On Demand movie. Why not? I thought. Turns out (at least for this movie, I won't generalize) if a spirit is not at peace it turns into a zombie, then if it eats someone (by blowing it's acid breath at them and then sucking it back to them) it turns into a vampire wanting to eat people all the time. Then our four heroes and their Master come in and kung fu kick them around but, in the end have to blow up the big bad guy with dynamite, the Master sacrifices his life in order to kill him.
In the end the good guys leave each other's company, two of them "get the girl".
Yay! It's a happy ending!
Or is it?....
Last scene is the local town shrine/building FULL OF ZOMBIES kneeling down in nice orderly rows and waiting......fade to black. The End.
Isn't that a great ending?
The other things I wanted to talk about is that I've been reading a book called,
Controlling People
I think everyone should read this book. It's amazing.
It tells you that you cannot possibly know what others are thinking or feeling or what they like or dislike... If you think you know and tell people how they feel or think or like or dislike, you are trying to control that person by discounting THEIR experiences and treating them like they don't exist.
Here's some small memories that show an example of my mil trying to control me:
M: Here, wear this sweat shirt I got you for Christmas.
Me:No thank you. I'm not cold.
M: Yes you are! Put it on.
Me:No I'm not cold.
I was a newly wed and she was my brand new mil, so, I relented and put it on in the end to make her happy. I was controlled... But, this book made me think, 'Wait a minute! How could she possibly tell me how I feel?'
Anyway, so, that is your assignment. READ the book, CONTROLLING PEOPLE.
It's the next thing we need to fix around the world... if we respected each other and didn't try to control each other it would be a better, more respectful and happier world.
First I'll start with my dream:
For some reason I've been in re-runs lately. I specifically remember thinking in my dream last night, "Hmmm, I've had this dream before." "Last time the zombies laid a trap for me that would make my car jump up and then get skewered, so, this time I'll swerve around them."
Don't ask me why I dreamt about why I had a zombie movie type dream... I swear I didn't watch anything zombie like yesterday!
The other night I also remember thinking, "Hmm, I've had this dream before. How boring."
And yet, I went on with it anyway. My brain likes to keep really busy at night.
So, because of that zombie dream I watched a Chinese Zombie Vampire Kung Fu movie this morning. It was a free On Demand movie. Why not? I thought. Turns out (at least for this movie, I won't generalize) if a spirit is not at peace it turns into a zombie, then if it eats someone (by blowing it's acid breath at them and then sucking it back to them) it turns into a vampire wanting to eat people all the time. Then our four heroes and their Master come in and kung fu kick them around but, in the end have to blow up the big bad guy with dynamite, the Master sacrifices his life in order to kill him.
In the end the good guys leave each other's company, two of them "get the girl".
Yay! It's a happy ending!
Or is it?....
Last scene is the local town shrine/building FULL OF ZOMBIES kneeling down in nice orderly rows and waiting......fade to black. The End.
Isn't that a great ending?
The other things I wanted to talk about is that I've been reading a book called,
Controlling People
I think everyone should read this book. It's amazing.
It tells you that you cannot possibly know what others are thinking or feeling or what they like or dislike... If you think you know and tell people how they feel or think or like or dislike, you are trying to control that person by discounting THEIR experiences and treating them like they don't exist.
Here's some small memories that show an example of my mil trying to control me:
M: Here, wear this sweat shirt I got you for Christmas.
Me:No thank you. I'm not cold.
M: Yes you are! Put it on.
Me:No I'm not cold.
I was a newly wed and she was my brand new mil, so, I relented and put it on in the end to make her happy. I was controlled... But, this book made me think, 'Wait a minute! How could she possibly tell me how I feel?'
Anyway, so, that is your assignment. READ the book, CONTROLLING PEOPLE.
It's the next thing we need to fix around the world... if we respected each other and didn't try to control each other it would be a better, more respectful and happier world.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Writing Poetry Wednesday
Today's Writing Wednesday is going to be some poetry.
Poetry is really my forte, not writing stories. In college I took a Poetry class. The poetry class was right after I got done working in the Study Skills Center.
I dare you to say this 5 times fast: Hello! CSI Study Skills Center. How may I help you?
Anyway, they had paper and typewriters (yes, I said Typewriters! I'm old.) so I could type out a few poems every morning before Poetry class.
This was also a class that older people coming back to college or just taking a few courses for the fun of it would always join, so it was an interesting class. Then during the class the teacher would ask how long we've been working on our current poems....
Some would say "Two weeks!" Others would say, "I've been working on this poem for a whole year!"
I would never answer... but, in my head I would think, 'I typed out these 3 poems in the 5-10 minutes before class started.' Ahhh, I loved that class. EASY A! (and really, how do grade to poetry anyway... A's for Everyone!) Perhaps, if I get myself back to college I will take a writing class to help me get all these stories out of my head nicely... I already got poety down pat. :)
I Hear Hope
Head full to bursting
New Ideas, New Thoughts,
New Reasons for old problems
dropped in my brain. Plop!
Hope blooms from the pile of information
Now, we will hear each other...
Now, we will hear...
Hmmm, it was going to be a haiku, but, this is what needed to come out.
I love poetry.
This is all about my discovery and learning about Central Auditory Processing Disorder, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction and how it is changing the way I see myself and my family and how we are using the knowledge we have so far to help us help each other HEAR each other.
I like what this knowledge has done for us so far. We are definitely a little more understanding and compassionate with the kids. And I have hope that the more we learn and the more we are aware, and the more we change how we communicate and the more understanding we have and patience we have for each other the better things can get.
Because, "Knowledge is Half the Battle!"
Poetry is really my forte, not writing stories. In college I took a Poetry class. The poetry class was right after I got done working in the Study Skills Center.
I dare you to say this 5 times fast: Hello! CSI Study Skills Center. How may I help you?
Anyway, they had paper and typewriters (yes, I said Typewriters! I'm old.) so I could type out a few poems every morning before Poetry class.
This was also a class that older people coming back to college or just taking a few courses for the fun of it would always join, so it was an interesting class. Then during the class the teacher would ask how long we've been working on our current poems....
Some would say "Two weeks!" Others would say, "I've been working on this poem for a whole year!"
I would never answer... but, in my head I would think, 'I typed out these 3 poems in the 5-10 minutes before class started.' Ahhh, I loved that class. EASY A! (and really, how do grade to poetry anyway... A's for Everyone!) Perhaps, if I get myself back to college I will take a writing class to help me get all these stories out of my head nicely... I already got poety down pat. :)
I Hear Hope
Head full to bursting
New Ideas, New Thoughts,
New Reasons for old problems
dropped in my brain. Plop!
Hope blooms from the pile of information
Now, we will hear each other...
Now, we will hear...
Hmmm, it was going to be a haiku, but, this is what needed to come out.
I love poetry.
This is all about my discovery and learning about Central Auditory Processing Disorder, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction and how it is changing the way I see myself and my family and how we are using the knowledge we have so far to help us help each other HEAR each other.
I like what this knowledge has done for us so far. We are definitely a little more understanding and compassionate with the kids. And I have hope that the more we learn and the more we are aware, and the more we change how we communicate and the more understanding we have and patience we have for each other the better things can get.
Because, "Knowledge is Half the Battle!"
Monday, March 3, 2008
Museum Monday
Today my friend called and asked if I could go with her to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Museum. I had one and a half hours free... so I said, "Yes! Let's go!"
I can sum up the trip with one phrase: Sensory Overload
Oh, let's make that two phrases... Wonderful.
I've got tons of pioneer ancestory on both sides of my family. I kept my eyes open for a name or object that would belong to one of them.
I found this:
I can sum up the trip with one phrase: Sensory Overload
Oh, let's make that two phrases... Wonderful.
I've got tons of pioneer ancestory on both sides of my family. I kept my eyes open for a name or object that would belong to one of them.
I found this:
This is Alexander Neibaur. He was born a jew in Germany and moved to England to start his own dentist business and met his wife and the missionaries too. He was a Pioneer. He met Joseph Smith and Brigham Young and taught them Hebrew and German. He might have helped Joseph Smith not whistle when he talked (because a mob broke a tooth and maybe Alexander fixed it), and definitely made Brigham Young's false teeth.
He is my 3rd great grandfather. There is a sister in my ward for whom he is HER 3rd great grandfather too. That's fun... I call her "cousin!".
I would like to find out more about my other pioneer ancestors and need to put more effort into that. I am thinking about joining the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers and doing some more searching into the lives of my pioneer ancestors.
Anyway, This museum was wonderful and hello! chock full of pioneer stuff! I would love to be in charge of it and organize it!
There was a creepy room full of dolls. I felt very oppressed and couldn't breathe in there.
There was a beautiful room full of dishes and plates and it was a happy room.
There was a room dedicated to strong and intelligent women doctors and midwives and it felt good in that room too. Strong, intelligent, confident women! You could definitely feel that vibe.
There was a room with beds and cribs and rocking chairs that gave me an electric feeling and made me a little weepy as soon as I entered it... as soon as I stepped out of that room, weepy gone, electric pressure feeling gone. Wow. Also, while I was in there, I kept thinking that the rocking chairs should be rocking by themselves... but, they didn't.
And that is my report for Museum Monday! Next time I go, I will definitely take more pics. There were some gorgeous Early American style portraits that I want to have a pic of so I can look at it at my leisure. And so much crochet! etc.
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