Thursday, November 18, 2010

Tomorrow...

I was 11 when the school library had announced about the new book Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  In fact, I had just turned 11.  I was a lover of books, my favorite at the time being the Bunnicula Series... so I decided to give it a try.  I was hooked from day one.  I felt like I was part of the story, I felt a special bond between the main characters and myself that made me cry and laugh out loud while hidden in the corner of my room with a blanket.  I never put it down, I didn't even sleep... by the end of day 3 I was finished with it.... A week later I read it again.  I am now 22.  I have read the first 4 books 7 times a piece and I have read the last 3, 3 times each.  When the first movie came to theaters, it was like Christmas for me. I remember the magic and enchantment that movie brought to my heart.  I was entranced by the words and music.  I left the movie theater with the theme music echoing in my ear (only to beg my mother to take me to walmart so I could spend what little money I had on the soundtrack)  I had a portable cd player in which I listened to that cd everywhere. In the car, on the bus, while at home, I even had it playing while I slept. I was at every midnight release of both book and movie.

Harry, Hermione, Ron and I grew up together. Now, we are coming to a close.  I am not afraid or ashamed to say that the Harry Potter series are my favorite books of all time, they have not only been a good read, but a very special friend to me.  They have been with me through sickness and grief. They have been a very welcomed escape from a sometimes depressive and dreary world.  The wizarding world was real for me, it was a place that I spent most of my childhood.  It has shaped me into the person I am today, I have no doubt of that.  Some may think I am crazy, or immature... They can think that if they want, I am only speaking the truth.  Tomorrow night, the first part of the last installment is released.  I will be there holding hands with my husband as we search for horcruxes and battle death eaters together alongside my lifelong friends in their world that was for so long my world as well. I hope to leave with a smile, but I will undoubtedly lose some tears.  This is the beginning of the end, a relationship that has lasted through the most pivotal years of my childhood.  I will continue to visit Harry's world the rest of my life and I will share the same magic with my children and their children.
Harry, thank you for being a constant friend and companion, I owe so much to you. We will be together at your end, and I know that you will be with me until I come to my end.

Friday, November 12, 2010

cozy morning

Autumn Rain Pictures, Images and Photos
I woke up this morning to a crisp, rainy autumn morning.
This day is the perfect day to relax, eat good food, watch movies, and sit by the fireplace.
Luckily today is also a day off for husband and I
Charlie made us a fire...


 and I made hot chocolate and Pumpkin Waffles.
I decided to post the recipe so that others can share in the wonderfulness.

 Ingredients...
batter...
 cooking...

 tools...
 final product.
yummmm....
( I have never attempted taking photos while I baked/cooked/grilled anything, so please forgive the photos...) 

Here's the recipe:
(you can also find it here)
INGREDIENTS
makes 4 round “Belgian” style pumpkin waffles
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ginger
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg*
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and warm
*Grated and lightly packed into the spoon, use 1/2 tsp. Grated and loosely scooped, this is about 1 tsp. of nutmeg. If you have to use pre-grated, dried nutmeg, use 1/4 tsp.

DIRECTIONS
1. Lightly oil the waffle iron with vegetable oil, and set it to the desired temperature.
2. Combine brown sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Whisk together to break apart the cornstarch. Add the remaining dry ingredients, and whisk to blend.
3. Separate eggs: yolks go in a medium sized bowl and whites get set aside in a smaller bowl.
4. Add pumpkin and milk to the egg yolks. Whisk to blend and set aside.
5. Whip egg whites with a hand mixer on high until stiff white peaks form – about 1 1/2 – 2 minutes. Set aside.
6. Pour melted butter into the yolk/milk/pumpkin mixture. As you pour, whisk to combine.
7. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix them together until just combined. A little lumpiness is fine. That will smooth out when the egg whites are added.
8. Slide the whipped egg whites out of the bowl and onto the mixture you just prepared. Gently fold them in until no white bits are obvious.
9. Once the waffle iron is heated, you’re ready to pour the batter!
10. Top with syrup/powdered sugar/whipped cream/roasted pecans/honey/butter/peanut butter/cream cheese.... :) 

--- I was out of some of the ingredients, so I substituted fast-cooking tapioca for corn starch... I also added vanilla for some extra flavor---
Hope your morning was as cozy as mine :)



Tuesday, November 9, 2010

List

Here is a list of thoughts that have been on my mind lately:



1. Organization

2. More time at the Zoo

3. Christmas

4. Crafts for Christmas

5. Winter clothes

6. Christmas gift list

7. Christmas baking

8. Rent a cabin for Christmas

9. Cleaning

10. Grocery list

11. Thanksgiving shopping

12. Planning cooking for Thanksgiving

13. Heat the Chicken's house

14. Love my Children more

15. Love my Husband more

16. Love my life more

17. Be more grateful

18. Give thanks everyday

19. Be more loving to everyone and everything

20. Just love.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

The end

13 Days, 5 hours, 10 minutes and 11 seconds... 



Not that I'm excited or anything... 
What a bitter-sweet moment this will be...

Friday, November 5, 2010

Sound of Music

This puts a huge smile on my face... Enjoy!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

babbies!

Everyone is getting ready to have babies! 

It's so exciting! 

Just counting off the top of my head I know 15 ladies who have either had a baby in the past couple weeks are are currently baking babies

Our good friend Lissa is actually at the hospital as I type this getting ready to welcome her new baby boy to the world. (Good Luck Lissa! I'm SO SO SO SO SO excited for you and Bryce!) 

It's so crazy! 

I love babies! 

...It's time like these that make me wonder if I'm really sure I want to stop with two...

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Duke

I grew up with two fathers... My dad and the Duke.  I have seen every John Wayne movie at least 20 times and I don't plan to stop watching them over and over.  My father installed in me an undying love for him since I was old enough to pay attention to a movie.  


Charlie and I went to the movies last night to see Hereafter (which is very good and refreshing, by the way...) and a movie preview came on that really shook my core.  As soon as I heard the name Rooster Cogburn I knew it could only mean one thing...

Someone has taken on the ultimate challenge of remaking True Grit.  I was shocked yet highly intruged.  These directors better do justice, or they are going to have a lot of very sad and unhappy people, me being the number one. 

True Grit was my favorite movie growing up and still holds a very important part in my life.  You may think I am crazy, but this is who I am. If I could meet anyone that was already passed on it would be The Duke, and I would make sure to give him the biggest hug I could muster.  Like I said, he feels like a father figure to me.  

I look forward to watching the new film and hope with all my might that it is at least half as good as the original.
Here's the trailor, in case you want to check out what I'm talking about.

 

P.S. If you have not seen the 1969 original, you must. 

Monday, November 1, 2010

October 31

What a good day! 
It started with a party for Liam :) A lot of loved ones showed up, thanks to all that came! 
We had a baked potatoes and cake and ice cream. 
I was a little zombiesque thanks to staying up all night working on the cake... Here was the final product:






Liam was spoiled in new clothes and toys. 
I can't believe he is getting so old!

Afterwards it was time to go trick-or-treating in Uncle Josh's neighborhood.  Liam was a Ninja and Autumn was Ponyo. 


If you haven't seen Ponyo yet, you really should.  It is a beautiful movie, and Autumn's favorite.

I don't have any pictures yet of Liam, but I got some cute ones of Autumn.





I hope everyone was able to have a safe and fun Halloween this weekend! 
Next up, Thanksgiving!!

What are you doing this Friday?

I think we may go to the


Anyone want to come with us?