<------ZOOM!!!!!!!----------

Um what happened? Where did all that time go? I could a sworn January wasn't that long ago.
I guess having a two year old just makes things fly right on by. Granted it sometimes does take quite a bit to keep her entertained. A bored two year old will always find a way into mischief.

Peeps a new way

Tis the season for peeps, and I am ready to stock up on those babies.

About 4 years ago I found a new way to enjoy Peeps. You roast them over the fire. I love the way the sugar coating gets all crunchy and the center all gooey. A few people have told me that it just seems wrong to do that to Peeps, but it makes perfect sense to me. Then again I am not fond of eating "raw" marshmallows.

It all happened when my husband and I when to get some food for a camping trip one fall. It was just before Halloween and I saw some pumpkin, and cat shaped Peeps. I just stopped and thought why not, they are marshmallows after all, so I grabbed a couple boxes. I did have to explain to my husband what the Peeps were for. In his defense, there are not many people that would think of roasting them. Many people I have told this to look at my like I discovered this new wonder. Often they mutter "I have to try that." That or I get looks like I've lost my mind.

As the phrase goes though "Don't knock it till you try it."

To Do Lists

• Speakers need to be put on stands
• The rest of the kitchen needs cleaning
• Bathrooms need scrubbing
• Laundry
  
• Clip Lynn's nails
• Straighten Dinning Room and gather papers
• Music needs to be transferred
  
• De-ice porch (going to wait a little longer to figure out what weather is really going to do)
  
• Vacuum

Probably more to come, OK defiantly more to come.

Winter

So it snowed on Tuesday, and snowed for about 6 to 7 hours. In all we got around 3-5 inches of snow.

You could hardly see the difference between the sidewalk and the parking lot. Perfect sledding conditions, or about as perfect as we could get.
This was my daughters first snow, keep in mind she is not even a year old. She liked being pulled around in the sled though. Next time I will get to show her how to make snow angels, snow balls, and maybe even a snowman.

There was ice after that. Obviously is has been very cold. It wasn't until I saw this critter that I really thought about it.

She or he is the biggest squirrel I think I have seen. Then again it is a tiny bit colder here then where I grew up.

Warm Thoughts

So I am sitting here waiting for the Inauguration to begin, looking at the mass of people that are standing on the national mall lawn. The temperature out there is 27 degrees F, but it "feels" like 12 degrees. As much as I would wish to be out there with them I am glad to be warm. My husband and I had wished we could take our daughter to see it. Instead we are snuggled on our couch with some hot tea.
After the swearing in ceremony I will be making a lovely Cinnamon Apple Cake. I promise to post pictures.

OK here are some pictures.

So I thought I would share this yummy recipe. It has become a family favorite, and when made for potlucks and other group gatherings it is highly praised.

Apple Cinnamon Cake:
recipe from Celtic Folklore Cooking

2 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup cream
1 stick butter, softened
1/8 teaspoon salt
5 apples, peeled, cored (1 grated, 4 sliced thinly)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, ground

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 9x9inch baking pan.
In a medium bowl beat eggs and 1 cup of sugar. In a small saucepan heat the cream, butter, and salt until almost boiling. Pour directly onto the egg mixture, then fold in the grated apple, flour, cinnamon, and baking powder. Pour mixture into the greased baking pan. Place apple slices on top (in a decorative manner if you wish), sprinkle with the leftover 1/2 cup sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until firm to touch. I normally bake it until a toothpick comes out clean from the center, at most I think it has taken me 30 minutes.

I like serving plain or with scoop of ice cream if we have it. I will also use nutmeg and or allspice if I am making it during the holidays.
This cake is pretty simple to make and turns out so moist and delicious.
Trial and error has taught me that if I make this in advance for an event I had better make two or there will be a few slices missing when I go to pack it up.

CRAP!!!!!

OK so I did something stupid, really stupid. I cracked the glass screen on my laptop. Yeah I will admit it..I cried.
I can't believe it happened, I have been so careful not to have something get caught in my laptop as I close it. Not only did I do that, but then proceeded to leave it on the couch where it got covered by an afghan. Then it was sat on.... yup sat on. The sitter will remain unnamed as the blame is mine for putting it there so carelessly.

My husband has told me stories of what people have tried to claim has happened to computer equipment that was turned in to be fixed. Oh like someone turned in a cracked screen and said they left it near a cold window and the drastic temperature change made it happen. Such drastic freak weather in Virginia..yeah right.

So the search began to see how much a new screen was going to cost. It was really depressing. Oh don't get me wrong they had them, several sites that is. $$$ All I need is the screen, I have someone who can install it thankfully. Yeah I love my husband. You don't even want to know the look I got after he looked at my screen. I should have been more careful. I looked at him and told him the truth. Hey at least I didn't say I left it near a window.

The Sarah Palin issue

So Gov.Sarah Palin is doing these interviews (keep in mind that no I have not watched them I have only seen clips) to talk about how unfair she feels she has been treated. She has been made fun of that much I think. Reasons: Maybe because she does not exhibit the traits we have be come accustom to in our politicians, she was virtually unknown to most Americans before she was announced as the Republican VP running mate (don't know if that is the right term), when it came to unscripted speaking she lack an easy flow to conversation. That and other things I alone could contribute it to.

Does she understand that she is feeding the flames sorta speak. The media is going to bring up negative things from her past, they are going to critic her on everything, and make cracks about her. Sometimes I believe they do this to, yes be informative, but also to see how the person responds to such. I mean come on when you were in school and kids made fun of you for something if you don't give them the response they are looking for they normally go looking for someone else that will give them the entertainment they are looking for. Yeah there will be a few people the will keep it up because they obviously have an issue with you.

Ok enough of that. This is not a political blog so please don't feel the need to beat this subject to death. I am not a political mastermind by any means. I just happened to catch a show that was mentioning the fact that Gov. Palin was saying she wanted to see how the media was going to treat Caroline Kennedy (sp name right??). If it was going to turn into a class issue like she feels it was for her.

Hey next time I might talk about.. oh who knows.