3-3-2010 Learn with Lunch

Today, DH and I took the opportunity to attend this "Learn with Lunch" seminar featuring Oberammergau, Germany, its Passion Play and a luncheon of German style foods.

3-2-2010 Unbelievable

I can't believe that I have not found a single thing to photograph these past two days~!!! I've been carrying my camera around with me each day, and nothing has caught my eye. :-(
Oh well, there's always tomorrow...

2-28-2010 Winter Olympics Close

What an exciting end to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada!!!
DH and I have recently started Cross Country Skiing,
so were enthralled to watch the final Cross Country Ski race:
the Men's Classic Style 50k/30 mile race...
(a real nail biter at the finish line!!!)
and the final Hockey game between Canada and the USA
(was a nail biter as well) ...went into overtime
with the win and the Gold going to Canada.
I was happy for them! :*)

2-27-2010 On the Road...

These vehicles speak for themselves...

2-26-2010 Green Bay Packers Cake

welcomed our dear friend Steve
to his new church home
in Council Bluffs!
(Quite a talented cake maker, ¿yes?)
Which reminds me...
I still have more pix from the weekend
that I need to send to you two!

2-25-2010 Insanity

DH & I went to see the movie "Shutter Island" today!
LOVED IT!!!

2-24-2010 The Sweetness...

...at the Bottom of the Pie...
~my current read~

2-23-2010 New Skis

Yesterday, on our way back home from Nebraska
we stopped at Iowa City and picked up our cross country skis...
today, we tried them out at Palmer Hills...

Me on my new cross country skis:


DH on his new CC skis:


and a license plate we saw...
how appropriate is that!?!?!?!?

2-22-2010 Happy 96th Birthday!

While visiting my MIL in Nebraska for her 96th birthday today,
these beauties arrived for mom from my sister in law in California!
What a beautiful arrangement it is!!!

2-21-2010 God's Calling...

God's calling
a dear friend of mine
and her husband
to minister in
a new church
a new town
a new state
a new circumstance
and we were blessed
to celebrate with them
at the installation.
God's blessings to you
in your new church!

2-20-2010 On the Road Again...

driving across Iowa
to Nebraska
in frozen fog
to visit friends and family
and celebrate
life
love
laughter

2-19-2010 Bruegger's Bagels

with Cream Cheese... What DH wanted to breakfast today.
We used to have to drive an hour to central Missouri to enjoy these delicious, chewy bagels.
Now they are just down the street, so we have to limit ourselves to the deliciousness once ever couple of months!

2-18-2010 Happy Birthday DH!!!

Chunky Chocolate Brownie à la mode @ Granite City
to celebrate DH's birthday!
We also went to see the new "Wolfman" movie!
Happy Birthday, dear husband!

2-17-2010 Chicago Auto Show

Dear Son called
and invited DH and I
to attend the Chicago Auto Show
with him today!

We had a 'Chicago Style Hot Dog' for lunch...

I haven't had a hot dog for... 10+ years!?!?!?!?!?

Me sitting in a 'Smart Car.'

These look like the cars I used to see in cartoons as a kid.

I'll take one of these, please!

Thanks for the invite...

the tickets...

the 'Chicago style Hot Dog' lunch...

and the pleasure of your company today, son!

2-16-2010 It's that time again...

Time for an oil change!
DH and I took my Subaru Outback to the dealer for an oil change this morning.
I love my car... it's 9 years old and still purrs like a kitten!
And the all-wheel-drive sure comes in handy during the long Iowa Winters!!!

2-15-2010 Holding It Together

...by a thread! (A metaphor for my life?!?!)
Today I seamed together my two shrug panels
using a vertical woven seam
for the very first time...
I think it was successful!
It's always fun to try something new
and have it work the first time!!! :*)
(Whew!!!)

2-14-2010 Golden Threads

Today I finished knitting the panels for the shrug I started last summer.

(See my August 27, 2009 post)

Tomorrow I will sew the seams together and have it ready to wear for Easter.

The yarn is a beautiful gold with metalic threads that shimmer and shine.

I can't wait to wrap it around me and wear it after working on it for months!!!

I cannot describe the satisfaction that I feel from turning a piece of string into a piece of fabric, loop by loop by loop. It must be similar to what a builder feels as he builds a house, board by board... nail by nail... until finally... you have a finished product. :*)

2-13-2010 Embracing What I Hate!

... IOWA WINTERS ! ! !
I keep asking myself, "Why the heck did I move to IOWA?!?!?"
As I endure the 6 month long bitter cold winters,
I cuss 'n complain 'n bitch 'n moan 'n.....
So, instead of hating the winters and fighting against them,
it was time to try and embrace WHAT IS ...
and learn to accept and love it!

So, with that said, I accepted
my dear daughter and son in law's invitation
to get out in the winter's cold and snow
and try cross country skiing...


There was a beautiful glistening rime on the trees, bushes and weeds!


This is me, bundled in 2 pairs of socks, 3 pairs of pants, and 4 long sleeved tops so I could spend 4-1/2 hours in the 16*F temps!


This is me on cross country skis for the first time in my life!


These are the culprits who invited us to come try cross country skiing!


Enjoying the groomed trail... and being with my kids!
(Thanks, hubby for taking this picture of us!)


Ooooops!
We practiced 'getting up' quite a few times! :*)
We had such a fun day...
and won't be able to move tomorrow!!!

2-12-2010 Nothin' says lovin' ...

... like somethin' from the oven!!!

(At least that's what the Pillsbury ad used to say!)

Today I made some 'chocolate valentines' for my sweeties in IC-IA.

I used my sister in law's "Ultimate Chocolate Cake" recipe,

and added a Hershey's Kiss into each cupcake!

2-11-2010 Brown Rice Lentil Turkey Soup

Cooked up another pot of soup today
as temps outside were in the single digits!

2-10-2010 FRAPP

YUM!
If I could just get some sleep at night
I wouldn't need this to keep me going all day!!!
It's a vicious circle...

2-9-2010 Beer & Chocolate Chili

Tonight DH & I finished off this Beer & Chocolate Chili that I made for Superbowl Supper!
It tasted so good after spending several hours shoveling snow outside today!!!
Recipe:
1 can (15 oz.) red beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz.) white beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz.) diced tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
1 bottle beer (12 oz.) ~I used Budweiser Select
3 TB. chocolate flavored syrup ~I used Hersheys Syrup/Special Dark
1 TB. chili powder
2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
1 lb. ground turkey meat, browned and drained

Mix all of the above together in a large pot and simmer for several hours... until it cooks down to the consistency that you like your chili to be. Enjoy!

Try it!!! You'll like it!!! I guarantee it!!!

2-8-2010 Winter Storm a comin'

Winter storm a comin'
bringing 8-12" of snow
which we shovel
an inch at a time
every hour

2-7-2010 Symphony

Last night DH and I attended a performance by the QC Symphony and guest conductor, soloists, and the Handel Oratorio Society... it was the most magnificent performance I have E V E R attended . . . in my entire 60 years of life!!! I was transported to another realm!!!!!
I have NEVER IN MY LIFE heard a soprano with such perfect pitch, control, and musical finesse: Mary Wilson.
Program notes quoting the Dallas Morning News, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the San Francisco Classical Voice said, "Her bright soprano seems to know no terrors, wrapping itself seductively around every phrase... a fine lyric soprano with focused, lustrous tone and sterling enunciation... her fast passages were flawless in intonation and seemingly easy in execution... her feel for the sound and meaning of words was impeccable... her mastery of Handel's grand leaps and wide-ranging runs was total." These high praises and adulations still do not do her justice! All I can say is, OMG!!!!!!

2-6-2010 Clock Tower Tour

Today DH and I took a tour of the local Clock Tower. After climbing 6 flights of stairs, we got to see the clock (from 1867) up close and personal. It was amazing!!!


After being replaced, old clock faces become ceremonial/meeting tables, set at 2:22.

2-5-2010 Parking Lot Face

Oil on water in Walgreen's parking lot...
makes for nice, abstract art!

2-4-2010 Gone to the Dogs!

DH has a carving class tonight.
I love the cartoon dog he made for his first project!

2-3-2010 Packing Heat!

Made some Caribbean Fish Stew...
and may I just say...
YUM!!!!!
(see post from 12-28-2009)

2-2-2010 It's a First!!!

Today I made my first TRES LECHES PASTEL !!!
I used the recipe I found at www.BettyCrocker.com
and the results were delish!!!
A single piece of this cake has more calories
than I consume in an entire day!!!

2-1-2010 Deliciosity

I made my DH waffles for the first time in 20 years or so, using our new Belgian Waffle iron (a purchase inspired by our son's recent purchase of a waffle iron) and indulged in the white poisons of the SAD (Standard American Diet): white flour and sugar... with a bit of yogurt on top to make it 'healthy!'

1-31-2010 The Sound of Music

I had Clavinova duty at the second worship service at church today.