Today we had sewing circle. We each brought pizza for lunch . . . either a veggie pizza or a dessert pizza. Scrumptious! A"banana split" pizza was a big hit. Yummy crust with pudding or yogurt ? on top then sliced bananas on top of that and maraschino cherries and drizzles of chocolate over everything. Maybe some nuts and just a hint of granola . . . I must get that recipe!
on second thought maybe not
lovely fruit pizzas
and four or five veggie pizzas
Here is the recipe for the vegetable pizza I brought. I found out (at the last minute) I didn't have all the ingredients so I improvised.
2 pkg. crescent rolls
Press into large jelly roll pan and bake according to directions until light brown.
cool
Mix:
one 8 oz. container of whipped cream cheese
(original recipe calls for 11 oz. regular cream cheese, softened)
1/3 cup salad dressing (Miracle Whip)
1 heaping tablespoon sour cream
1 tsp. dill weed
1 tsp. powdered ranch dressing
Here's where I put on my thinking cap. I didn't have a pkg. of ranch dressing. I dumped in garlic powder, onion powder, lemon and pepper, extra pepper and extra dill weed. I figured it couldn't hurt.
Spread this mixture on crust. Top with chopped vegetables and grated cheese.
My variation for the veggies . . .
sauté in a small amount of butter -- chopped green peppers, chopped onions and sliced mushrooms (fresh)
Cool and put on the pizza. Add grated cheese. Cut in pieces and serve.
I am listening to Swiss Girl yodel in the back ground so if this is disjointed and scatterbrained you will know why. That and this unbelievable fact . . .
Krysta is taking driver's training. How can that be possible? Two weeks of three hour classes every night. Yes, it's wild and crazy here. She is taking the class with two friends. I think the girls are enjoying the class. The chairs are hard though! The instructor told the class they can bring pillows if they want to. Last night was my turn to drive. I walked around the lake at the library and talked to Deanne on the phone.
Tonight it's pouring rain.
Tomorrow they are calling for snow!!!
It is possible. In 1988 we had a blizzard the first or second of May. Ellis stayed at work and I was home alone with two little boys. And then we had a very very hot, dry summer. We had that hot, dry summer last year so maybe this summer will be lush and green.
Until next time --
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Vacation in Western Montana March 22nd - April 1st
We went to MT to see Miss Dea. She is teaching school at Trout Creek.
Krysta went horse back riding with a friend.
Miss Jo Miss Dea Krysta Jorgan
Swinging bridge at Kootenai Falls
Pizza supper at the park
We visited my brother over Easter week end. And here they are at a cave Sunday afternoon.
When we were packing Krysta said this would be her first *real* vacation.
She was quite small in 2000. We were in Idaho for Hans and JoAnna's wedding.
In 2003 Evan went to a boy's camp.
Jorgan, Krysta, Evan and I drove out for that.
Timothy was a baby - now he is 10! Krysta was five - now she is 15!
She got to celebrate her birthday while we were out west.
In 2005 we had a family reunion in Idaho.
All of Krysta's *vacations* were in the first seven years of her life.
Until now she has had to put up with week end jaunts.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
My Great-Grandpa
It happened to me again that Sunday evening. We were singing at the local nursing home. Our leader picked Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me and as we started into the old familiar song my throat choked up. I sang with tears sliding down my cheeks, paying close attention to the words.
A picture of a flock of little girls came to mind. My sisters and I all had brown hair falling to our waists. We had dresses with full swirling skirts, belts tied in big bows and puffed sleeves. White socks and black patent leather shoes finished off our Sunday best. We tiptoed along as we followed our aunt Leah like shadows. We were a subdued group, quite a change from our normal hopping and skipping and chattering. She took us to visit our great-grandpa; an old, old man he seemed to us.
An adult lifted me up on my great-grandpa's knee. I was afraid to breathe for fear I'd be too heavy for him. Someone suggested we sing a song. Leah is three and a half years older than me . . . almost like a big sister to my sisters and me. She leaned against the arm of Grandpa's chair and started singing Rock of Ages. Grandpa's deep voice joined her. I tried to help but I didn't know the words.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure; Cleanse me from its guilt and pow'r.
Not the labor of my hands Can fulfill the law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone, Thou must save, and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress; Helpless, look to Thee for grace,
Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Saviour, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath, When my heart strings break in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, See Thee on Thy judgement throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee.
-- Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778 Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872
Later my dad recorded Great-Grandpa and Leah singing together on his old-fashioned tape recorder. My sisters and I loved to watch Dad set the tape player up and wind the open reel -- getting everything just right. There was a distinct smell of the tape that is hard to describe. (We miss all of this drama when we casually pop in a cassette tape now. . . these cassette tapes that are going out with the 8 track tapes.)
Get ready, get set, go! Breathless and wide-eyed we'd wait impatiently for just the right moment and . . .
there they were . . . Grandpa and Leah singing Rock of Ages just as if they were in the room with us.
I can't explain my tears. This song stirs up a lot of memories.
---------------
Friday, April 12, 2013
Spring Songs
Yesterday I heard the spring song of a chickadee as I filled the bird feeders with sunflower seeds.
Phoebe Phoebe Phoebe
Almost as if that little bird was perched on my shoulder -- it was so clear. It seemed that even Ellis could have heard it if he had been there. This sound is just out of his range of hearing. The stories behind his hearing loss have something to do with a big fire cracker as a child and target practice without hearing protection as a young man. One of the jobs he had involved feeding hungry pigs that screeched for their breakfast. But the guys used hearing protection then. Yes, I'm almost sure they did.
At any rate, now he can't hear the spring song of the chickadee. . . . or half of the things I say because I mumble. =) riding in a car and trying to have a conversation is very interesting when he is driving and I'm in the passenger seat. You guessed it, the hearing loss is worse in his right ear.
We have had some go-arounds about this whole thing. Sometimes I get seriously peeved - like really irritated, cross and annoyed all at the same time. Ellis does too. That would classify as a pity party wouldn't it? Both of us have worked through this and it's much better than it used to be. By this time you would think we'd be all grown up and past this type of behavior.
Maybe this is a continual work like the verses in Philippians 2:12, 13 . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.
Since God is working with me I am trying to memorize this math *problem* in II Peter 1. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord . . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
I am thankful -- God doesn't give up on me.
Phoebe Phoebe Phoebe
Almost as if that little bird was perched on my shoulder -- it was so clear. It seemed that even Ellis could have heard it if he had been there. This sound is just out of his range of hearing. The stories behind his hearing loss have something to do with a big fire cracker as a child and target practice without hearing protection as a young man. One of the jobs he had involved feeding hungry pigs that screeched for their breakfast. But the guys used hearing protection then. Yes, I'm almost sure they did.
At any rate, now he can't hear the spring song of the chickadee. . . . or half of the things I say because I mumble. =) riding in a car and trying to have a conversation is very interesting when he is driving and I'm in the passenger seat. You guessed it, the hearing loss is worse in his right ear.
We have had some go-arounds about this whole thing. Sometimes I get seriously peeved - like really irritated, cross and annoyed all at the same time. Ellis does too. That would classify as a pity party wouldn't it? Both of us have worked through this and it's much better than it used to be. By this time you would think we'd be all grown up and past this type of behavior.
Maybe this is a continual work like the verses in Philippians 2:12, 13 . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.
Since God is working with me I am trying to memorize this math *problem* in II Peter 1. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord . . . giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
I am thankful -- God doesn't give up on me.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Handicaps -- continued
pet peeves and other annoying things . . .
Without knowing it at first - I may have stumbled on to some handicaps in my life. What has God been teaching me through this unexpected turn in life? How about those pet peeves of mine? They trip me up too often to count.
When someone does something that *bugs* me . . . an automatic reaction - I must correct this. At least I will point it out so this person can quit doing this annoying thing that is bothering me before I go stark raving mad.
Could I ignore this pet peeve instead? Concentrate on the person instead of the gyrations he/she is going through? Pray for this person instead of thinking things unlawful to be spoken . . .
Remember --
I remind myself -- even now at this moment I might be doing something all unbeknownst to me that is a pet peeve for some one else. Blissfully unaware of any trouble I go on my way while the other person is quietly going into a tizzy. (or loudly as the case may be)
pet peeves are funny like that.
I looked up peeve in the dictionary - an object of dislike or annoyance
peevish - 1 hard to please, fretful, cross 2 showing ill humor or impatience as a glance or remark
ooops I guess that would be *The Look*
I have to run -- more later
pet peeves and other annoying things . . .
Without knowing it at first - I may have stumbled on to some handicaps in my life. What has God been teaching me through this unexpected turn in life? How about those pet peeves of mine? They trip me up too often to count.
When someone does something that *bugs* me . . . an automatic reaction - I must correct this. At least I will point it out so this person can quit doing this annoying thing that is bothering me before I go stark raving mad.
Could I ignore this pet peeve instead? Concentrate on the person instead of the gyrations he/she is going through? Pray for this person instead of thinking things unlawful to be spoken . . .
Remember --
I remind myself -- even now at this moment I might be doing something all unbeknownst to me that is a pet peeve for some one else. Blissfully unaware of any trouble I go on my way while the other person is quietly going into a tizzy. (or loudly as the case may be)
pet peeves are funny like that.
I looked up peeve in the dictionary - an object of dislike or annoyance
peevish - 1 hard to please, fretful, cross 2 showing ill humor or impatience as a glance or remark
ooops I guess that would be *The Look*
I have to run -- more later
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I'll have to say -- finishing my list of things to be thankful for in the month of February took longer than I expected. And I was slightly derailed about the time I was ready to post my list for the letter H. This is what happened. Krysta was excited about a special day at school. It was coming up soon.
"Mom, next week we are having Handicap Day! What handicap do you think I should have for that day?"
My response was not kind. I replied that I didn't care what she did for handicap day and don't expect any help from me because I am not rounding up any splints or bandages or crutches or anything this year.
I was jerked back to reality when Ellis gave me a look that said, "Cool it, Hon!"
The evening before this special day I started asking questions . . . "What is the purpose of this day? Do you learn how to treat handicapped people? how to feel more comfortable around a handicapped person? how to start a conversation and just be yourself and especially the best rule of all -- "Don't stare."
Krysta said, "I think we just put ourselves in someone elses shoes for a day."
That brought me up short. But then I started in again -- "Does your teacher read you stories about people with handicaps who have learned to overcome the difficulties they are facing?"
Krysta said, "No, not really. I think we mostly just do this day for fun."
Just as I suspected . . .
By this time I was asking myself -- "What's with you this year? Why are you so bothered? after all your kids have been doing this every year for the last how many years?"
But this is the first time it ever hit close to home. This year my twenty-five year old, newly-wed son is handicapped. He spends his day in a wheel chair. He goes to out patient therapy three days a week to try and learn to walk. He is learning to transfer from wheel chair to a lower chair/bench to the floor for exercizes and then back up again. And lots more stuff that I don't know anything about. We hear about muscle memory and the length of time it takes nerves to heal.
And we keep on praying and continue to hope that God and time and therapy will help our son be able to walk again. We keep cheering Evan and Chelsea on in this new life they've been given. We are amazed at their strength and fortitude and ability to keep on keeping on. We are so proud of them both. Chelsea is sticking to Evan like a burr -- always there to help and encourage. Evan has kept an amazing attitude of, "We'll get through this. God has a plan. He is with us. He will see us through."
Somehow he is an encouragement to all of us.
The morning of *handicap day* came. Krysta walked into the kitchen. I said, "Good morning, Krysta. What are you going to be today?"
She held up a notebook with these words written on it. I am mute.
And she spent the whole day being silent . . . writing everything down when she needed to say something . . . until after school when she started chattering to Jorgan without even thinking about it.
. . . and so ended her day of putting herself in the shoes of a person who cannot talk.
"Mom, next week we are having Handicap Day! What handicap do you think I should have for that day?"
My response was not kind. I replied that I didn't care what she did for handicap day and don't expect any help from me because I am not rounding up any splints or bandages or crutches or anything this year.
I was jerked back to reality when Ellis gave me a look that said, "Cool it, Hon!"
The evening before this special day I started asking questions . . . "What is the purpose of this day? Do you learn how to treat handicapped people? how to feel more comfortable around a handicapped person? how to start a conversation and just be yourself and especially the best rule of all -- "Don't stare."
Krysta said, "I think we just put ourselves in someone elses shoes for a day."
That brought me up short. But then I started in again -- "Does your teacher read you stories about people with handicaps who have learned to overcome the difficulties they are facing?"
Krysta said, "No, not really. I think we mostly just do this day for fun."
Just as I suspected . . .
By this time I was asking myself -- "What's with you this year? Why are you so bothered? after all your kids have been doing this every year for the last how many years?"
But this is the first time it ever hit close to home. This year my twenty-five year old, newly-wed son is handicapped. He spends his day in a wheel chair. He goes to out patient therapy three days a week to try and learn to walk. He is learning to transfer from wheel chair to a lower chair/bench to the floor for exercizes and then back up again. And lots more stuff that I don't know anything about. We hear about muscle memory and the length of time it takes nerves to heal.
And we keep on praying and continue to hope that God and time and therapy will help our son be able to walk again. We keep cheering Evan and Chelsea on in this new life they've been given. We are amazed at their strength and fortitude and ability to keep on keeping on. We are so proud of them both. Chelsea is sticking to Evan like a burr -- always there to help and encourage. Evan has kept an amazing attitude of, "We'll get through this. God has a plan. He is with us. He will see us through."
Somehow he is an encouragement to all of us.
The morning of *handicap day* came. Krysta walked into the kitchen. I said, "Good morning, Krysta. What are you going to be today?"
She held up a notebook with these words written on it. I am mute.
And she spent the whole day being silent . . . writing everything down when she needed to say something . . . until after school when she started chattering to Jorgan without even thinking about it.
. . . and so ended her day of putting herself in the shoes of a person who cannot talk.
Monday, April 8, 2013
February 26, 2013
1. zebra
2. zucchini
3. zzzz's
4. zest
5. zoo
February 25, 2013
1. yoyo
2. yogurt
3. yarn
4. yard
5. year
6. yellow
7. Yellowstone National Park
8. yucca
9. yuletide
10. yorkshire pudding
11. yak
February 24, 2013
1. x-ray
2. xylophone
3. xxooxxooxx
February 23, 2013
1. wagon
2. water
3. walks
4. winter-wonder-land
5. wheels
6. wintergreen berries
7. wild flowers
8. west
9. wonder
10. worship
11. wind
12. windmills
13. whippoorwill
14. whistle
15. whipped cream
February 22, 2013
1. Victory in Jesus
2. voices to sing this song
3. valley
4. village
5. voyage
6. velvet
7. violin
8. violets
9. vitamin C
10. vegetables
1. zebra
2. zucchini
3. zzzz's
4. zest
5. zoo
February 25, 2013
1. yoyo
2. yogurt
3. yarn
4. yard
5. year
6. yellow
7. Yellowstone National Park
8. yucca
9. yuletide
10. yorkshire pudding
11. yak
February 24, 2013
1. x-ray
2. xylophone
3. xxooxxooxx
February 23, 2013
1. wagon
2. water
3. walks
4. winter-wonder-land
5. wheels
6. wintergreen berries
7. wild flowers
8. west
9. wonder
10. worship
11. wind
12. windmills
13. whippoorwill
14. whistle
15. whipped cream
February 22, 2013
1. Victory in Jesus
2. voices to sing this song
3. valley
4. village
5. voyage
6. velvet
7. violin
8. violets
9. vitamin C
10. vegetables
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)