It's my life ....: 2009

12.20.2009

December Photo Project #9

Ruby Red Grapefruit

I am endlessly facinated by our fruit trees.

Look!

Fruit!

Growing!

In my backyard!!!

I'm such a city girl.

I played with the tint and saturation to get such vivid pics. I kinda like the look. And I figured out how to make my photos larger on the blog. Baby steps...it's only taken me a year!

12.17.2009

December Photo Project #7

Big day for my little sister, Faith....going to Houston to meet her birth family!

Bye-bye, Sissy...

Bye-bye, Mom...

12.15.2009

I love to put cumin in my coffee....I mean, I love to put cinnamon in my coffee.
SEE how amazingly easy that is to mix up!
What to know something else amazing?
Cumin can sort of even smell like cinnamon when you think it is cinnamon.
But, it's not.

No, silly, I did not mix and drink cumin laced coffee. (it was my second cup so I was actually awake enough to catch myself. lucky.)

I just came so darn close to it that I immediately thought "Oh, my! I should warn others. This could really happen! I need to take a photo and blog about this!"

Consider yourself warned.
Your welcome.

footnote: no tastebuds or fresh cups of coffee were injured during the making of this blog.

12.10.2009

December Photo Project #5

My sister and my puppy.

LOVE

12.08.2009

December Photo Project #4

BEFORE

AFTER

and the aftermath

We can't complain. The storm took out this Eucalyptus tree that we've been cursing about.

(it makes a mess)

AND it gave us a start on cleaning out the side yard to put in our RV

(more about that in the future).

And there was no damage at all to the house

eventhough the tree is just feet from the house.

Whew!

What a night!

12.06.2009

December Photo Project #3

I get more and more behind on this project every day but it's a fun challenge.
Today I discovered that the citrus is ready!
Beautiful, juicy & free grapefruits a la the backyard tree.
I miss peaches and blueberries in the winter but at least we get wonderful citrus in the winter.

Don't worry mom, I'll give you some next time I see you. ;)

12.03.2009

December Photo Project #2

I bought this in Caracas, Venezuela. Sooooooo long ago. I can hardly believe I even went there. I was an adult so why can't I barely remember?

I thought it deserved a more romantic setting

(that way you can't see the dust on it!).

O, Holy Night.

12.01.2009

December Photo Project #1

These cuties were handmade by a family member. I need to ask my mom who exactly. Aren't they too cute!? I have a few decorations out. Mostly candles and cinnamon sticks in mason jars...but it's something! Come back and maybe you'll see what else I've managed to do to the house. I will try to make my photos Christmas & Holiday related...I'll try.

Come back every day in December for a new photo!

It's the December Photo Project.

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake

I am not a recipe blog but I don’t mind telling you what I like to eat, right?
This is what I’m liking right now.

Sweet Potato & Apple Bake
2 sweet potatoes, peeled & cut into 1in cubes
1 ½ c. apple juice (I used pineapple juice and it was great)
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp each cinnamon, nutmeg, ground ginger (I used pumpkin pie spice)
4 apples peeled & cut into 1in cubes
1/3 cup raisins (I also added dried cranberries…as much as I wanted. No need to measure)

Preheat oven to 400.

Lightly grease 13x9 baking pan and add potatoes.

In a small bowl, combine juice, vanilla, and spices.
Pour mixture over potatoes, cover and bake for 50min. (until tender)

Add apples and raisins, mix, cover and bake for 30 min (until apples are tender)

Uncover and bake for 5 min to brown the top.

What I like about this recipe is
NO SUGAR!
NO BUTTER!
And it still tastes AMAZING!

Got this recipe from a health magazine. I know, you can't believe I don't have a picture of it!
(Next time I make it, I'll take some pics. I was too busy drooling while making it this time.)

ENJOY!

Here's the picture as promised. Smells so good, doesn't it?

11.30.2009

The amazing Mason Jar

It's about the simple things.

Well, either that or this post has no meaning.

Did you know the mason jar was so useful?

Candle Holder

Tea Cup

(for the biggest, warmest cup of tea you've ever had)

Storage

Smoothie Holder

It is about the simple things.

What simple things bring you joy?

11.28.2009

Cuter than Cute

Tell me she's not just the cutest thing you've ever seen!

Good thing she's so cute because...well, afterall....she is still a PUPPY.

Now, I'm off to clean up poop.

Just a little drive from my house....

This

and

this

and

this

is why

we LOVE

ARIZONA !!!

Oh, and this too...

11.18.2009

Wordless Wednesday

11.02.2009

Dr. Laura Speaks....

I've been listening to the radio talk show of Dr. Laura Schlessinger since this past summer.

Her clarity and advice have rocked my world.

After growing up on Oprah, I was not prepared for such realistic and logical information.

I bought her books.

I just read this and thought it was profound and worth sharing on my blog.

Dr. Laura writes

"Your thoughts and feelings are immediately accessible to you-you can know the thoughts and feelings of your spouse only if they tell you. But if they tell you and you refuse to listen, denounce their truths and perspectives, deny any culpability for their feelings, or excuse yourself from having to respond lovingly to their needs because you have hurts too-then , simply, you lose them-even if they are still under the same roof."

I guess this just hits me because it contains the very things I know we can so easily do yet that which I SO DON'T want to do.

It's something that I have experienced in life and have had done to others.

It's a warning and a motivator at the same time.

Can I just ask you a question?
Is there anything more important than a having a great marriage?