You won’t believe the recipes I found for you…

You all need to hotfoot it over to Jan Can Cook just as fast as your little mouse will point you there.

I posted two cookie recipes, the first one is Copykat Momofuku’s Compost Cookies.  You won’t believe this one, girlfriends, dried coffee grounds, yes, dried coffee grounds, I know it sounds weird, but people are loving this recipe.  Also Fritos, crushed potato chips, pretzels, peanut butter chips and chocolate chips,  just to name a few of the ingredients.  It’s a wannabe recipe from Momofuku Bakery and Milk Bar, a  trendy New York City bakery,  where these cookies just fly out the door. 

And the second one is Lucy’s Salty Chocolate  Peanut Butter Cookies.  These have a chunk of bittersweet chocolate on top and a dusting of kosher salt.  Somebody please make these and report back.

Both of them sound wildly, fabulously different.

I know you are all thinking, has she totally lost it.  I’m just sayin’….

Here’s the quick click, you know you have to see what I’m talking about>>>

Sweet little naked baby…

Diner coffee mugs

If you’re of a certain age, you remember these diner coffee mugs.  I have several in my cabinet, I’ve gotten them on eBay thru the years, some of them have a Steak ‘n Shake logo on them, others are from the Original Pantry Cafe in Los Angeles, always a must go to hole-in-the-wall when we visited California.
I never used them that much, instead using my oversized Starbucks Mugs, or my favorite Rain Forest Cafe mug for my morning cuppa, because they were bigger and held more coffee.  I’m such a greedy be-otch, always going for the quantity instead of the quality.

But a few weeks ago, on a whim, I pulled one of these old mugs out of the cabinet, and fell in love.  I had forgotten the substance of them, they are heavy, and so thick that the coffee stays hot til’ the bottom of the mug.  It’s not that much of a hassle to refill them, I wish I would have discovered this long ago.

The older I get, the more nostalgic I am, I seem to be on a quest, going back in time, rediscovering things from my childhood.  Next I guess I’ll be playing with my Terri Lee doll. NO, remember, that’s the only thing my mother ever got rid of was that doll!!!

Maybe I’ll cough up the big bucks and buy one for Abby someday.  Then I can play with hers, and we can have a tea party, and drink tea out of these mugs, instead of china cups, and I’ll tell her boring stories of what life was like when Grammie was a little girl…

I’m trying to eat healthy, I’m trying…

I made hubby an apple pie this afternoon, yeah, I had a really little piece of it.  It’s now 9pm, I’m still hungry, so I go to the fridge, get out the unflavored yogurt, get out the applesauce, spoon about a cup of yogurt in a dessert dish, add a packet of Splenda to the yogurt, stir it up, and there sat that damn pie on the counter, just begging me to eat it, so instead of adding the applesauce, I added a tablespoon, yeah, it was a big tablespoon, okay, it was two tablespoons of apple pie, crust and all, to the yogurt. 

Lord have mercy, I’ve never tasted anything so good in my entire adult life!  It really wasn’t that many calories, honest, it wasn’t!

Oh my goodness, gracious, I’m doin’ the happy dance, here!!!

Here we go again sports fans......

Pepsi Throwback vs. Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry

Lawdee, was I ever a Pepsi drinker back in the day.   In the 50’s, you either drank Pepsi, or you drank Coke, both was not an option.  Kinda like you either drove a Ford or a Chevy.

I loved Pepsi, detested Coke, thought it was too syrupy and sweet, so a few months ago when Nisha told me that they are now recreating the original Pepsi, using sugar instead of corn syrup, and calling it Pepsi Throwback, I knew it was something I just had to try.  I even told Cousin Phyllis about it, because she too, even to this day, is a diehard Pepsi fiend.

But I couldn’t find it, it wasn’t in the stores, I heard rumors of it being in convenience stores, but I kept forgetting about it.

Fast forward to last week in Lexington.  Hubby and Ryan were out and they came home with a case of it.  Well, yours truly couldn’t wait to rip open the carton and pop a can.

So out came the ice, I poured it, the fizz was like the original Pepsi, the smell was just

like I remembered, I took a drink, and then another, and it was exactly like the Pepsi of my childhood.  And I hated it, I did, I absolutely detested the taste of it.  It was so sweet that it actually  made me nauseous.  I’ve drank too many Diet Cokes and just can’t handle the real stuff anymore.   So Phyl, I have a case of this stuff in the garage, I’ll bring it to you when I visit, maybe you will like it better than I do.

But, I do have a new drink of choice to report.  Diet Dr. Pepper Cherry.  Oh my, this stuff is full of cherry flavor, it’s absolutely delightful. Don’t confuse this with the Dr. Pepper Vanilla Cherry, that stuff is nasty, but this is awesome~

Dr. Pepper also makes a a Cherry Chocolate, but I haven’t found it yet.  So that’s my new mission, to see if I can find it!

Too bad about that Pepsi Throwback.  Just another case of not being able to go home again.  A time and a place for everything.  Kinda sad, isn’t it?

More winter forecasted for Heavensville....

Like all the rest of you, I'm sick of winter.  I'm longing for fields of green as the spring wheat makes it's appearance, I'm berating myself for once again not planting those damn tulip bulbs last fall, I feel isolated, confined, restless, and more snow is forecasted for tonight.

I'm a soup/stew/chili girl when we have this kind of weather.  Hubby has wanted beef stew for a few weeks now, so I'm going to make it tomorrow.  I was out this morning, in the rain, running a few errands, and needed a bottle of red wine to put in the stew.  I ran into Aldi's, bought a bottle of cabernet sauvignon for $2.99.  Yes, that's right, $2.99.  Will it be good, who knows, all I know is it had a cork!  Imagine that, a bottle of wine with a cork, for $2.99.  No screw caps for me, nosiree, it may taste like rotgut, but it has a cork!

Guess who gave Abby this bib?????

I know, I know, I’m always talking about how cute she is, but she is totally, adorably precious!  We’ve been visiting her for the past three days, and she has changed so much in the last three weeks.

She’s all smiles now.  She laughs and wiggles, grabs her toys and blows bubbles and goos, oh the goos, they are the best!  And she stands on her little legs, and marches on your lap.  Oh my, what fun I had.

So now I have my Abby fix, it will last for another 3 weeks or so, then I will need another.  It’s really hard to stay away at this age…

Aren’t they adorable…

I snagged this picture from Lindsay’s Facebook page.  This was taken Friday  night when they were getting ready for Abby’s first dinner party.  And I get to see her tomorrow.  Life is good….

Bathroom Scales that plug into Google Health

Well, this definitely screams A MAN THOUGHT THIS UP!!!!  Now they have scales that are wi-fi, they connect to Google Health so that your weight is posted online.

Is that the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard?  What woman would ever want her weight posted anywhere.  Women never tell what they actually weigh unless they have not an ounce of extra fat on them.  Have you ever heard a woman step on the scale, and yell out, OMG, I WEIGH 185 LBS?  Of course you haven’t.

If you want to read the article, even though I don’t know why you would, here’s the click!

And how are things in your world today?  We had snow last night, a lovely, fluffy pile of 4-5 inches of white sparkly snow.  Well that will be fun for about a day until it gets all tracked and dirty.

Maybe I’ll post a picture if I can get my nose out of this stupid windows rebuild long enough to do it.  I haven’t come up for air in days!!!!

I'm still kickin...

I've had computer problems all week.  Windows had to be reinstalled, and it's never simple.  I've messed with this for days, trying to reconstruct everything.  What a pain in the patootie.

Nothing is going right, I just need to give it up today.  It started bad this morning when I burnt my one, lonely pancake and made weak coffee, and it's been pretty much downhill since then.  I'll get it together and be back soon, hopefully tomorrow.

Hang in there with me, it will get better.  In the meantime, if you're really bored, there is a lot of new content on Jan Can Cook, new stuff on Eating Right, too and a new Abby section in the family area of Milly Scraps.  Access in the right sidebar.

~ jan

If I knew you were coming I'd've baked a cake

Talk about a blast from the past!  Daddy always sang this to me when I was a little girl.  Oh, this is just the cutest song I've heard in a long time.  If you're under fifty-five, you might not want to click on this.  You will just roll your eyes.  ~ jan

message-in-a-cookie-cutters from williams-sonoma

Isn't this just the best idea ever?  This was in my Williams Sonoma Catalog for the month of February.  I looked at these online, and they show this picture, but they say,  New, Exclusive, but not available. If you are interested I would call them direct, maybe they are available only through the catalog or in the stores.  I know, you want the number, here it is - 877.812.6235

  The item number is #28-1401132, and they're $19.95. 

I love the idea that you can customize them to say anything you want.  Does this look like something that bebe Abby and Grammie needs?  That's what I'm thinkin'...
 
~ Jan

Create personalized cookies for Valentine’s Day, birthdays and other notable occasions using our cutters in scalloped-rectangle, heart and star shapes. Customize the cutters by sliding in letters or premade words to form a name or message. When you press the cutter into the dough, your lettering is imprinted on the cookie. The set includes three cutters, seven premade words (Welcome, Happy, Birthday, Holidays, Thank You, From, I Love You), three sets of alphabet letters (plus extras of vowels and other commonly used letters) and a dishwasher-safe mesh bag for easy cleaning and storing. Hand-wash. 3 3/4"–4 1/4" wide. A Williams-Sonoma exclusive.

Ivana Trump in her underwear....

Lord have mercy, why would this woman do this at sixty years old?  OMG, is that Spanx high rise panties we're seeing.  And panty hose?  And I'm not even going to talk about the camel toe.  OMG, is anybody else as appalled as me?

Cast Iron Cookware

I was on another blogsite yesterday, they were talking about the Lodge 5 quart cast iron dutch oven.  You can buy it on Amazon for $26.99 with free shipping.  Great reviews on it, except it's preseasoned, and some people think they didn't do it well, but that's no biggie, you can always reseason it.  Here's the link, if anybody is interested.

I'm a huge fan of anything cast iron, and Lodge products are really good...

It’s a narsty day, and I’m in a narsty mood….

And how is your day going????  It’s raining in Heavensville, more rain predicted through the weekend, so that’s not helping Miss Merry Sunshine here.

I was making breakfast, reached up in the pantry for my sugar free syrup, dropped a bottle of dark Karo Syrup, splat on the stone floor.  Yep, they still make the bottles out of glass, did you know that?  Hell yes, it broke.  And it was a full bottle, too.  There was gooey syrup everywhere.

Thank goodness for hubby.  It took him forever to get that sticky mess up.  And just now, I’m drinking my morning coffee, yep, spilled it on my desktop.

And Mollie had to be dried with a towel after her morning foray into the wilds of the soggy yard, she was one wet little pooch!

And it’s only 11am.  Oh joy, can’t wait for the rest of the day to unfold…

Let’s take a little vacation today…

Thanks to Seana for this adorable video….

Sunday Dinners….

In our family we have breakfast, lunch and dinner, except  on Sunday when the noon meal becomes dinner.  I’ve always loved it, too.  Just something about Sunday morning in the kitchen.  But now hubby works on Sunday, there is no family at home, so my “dinner”  is a soup and a salad “lunch.”  And even that is scaled back because I took a walk on the wild side and had a sesame seed bagel at with my coffee at Donut Bank this morning. Grrrr!  And all the time I was eating that damn bagel, I was watching all the other people scarfing down donuts, cinnamon rolls, long johns, muffins, all the good stuff. ROARRRRRRRR

But I remember when Sunday dinner was a big production, fried chicken, meat loaf,  roast beef, wonderful veggies in butter sauce, hot bread, killer desserts.  Oh, those were the days.  We just ate and enjoyed it.  Didn’t really think about the fat or the cholesterol, just enjoyed the meal.

Now that my brain is always conscious of what I’m eating, even when it’s bad, I don’t have that freedom that I once did, and I miss it. 

So tonight, I’m having Sunday “supper.”  I got some scallops at the store for hubby, salmon for me, a little garlic whole wheat pasta, a big salad, and voila, Sunday supper.  Not quite the same as pork chops, mashed potatoes, gravy and biscuits, along with a warm piece of pie. :o(

Is it worth it?  All this healthy eating?  Sometimes, I wonder, girlfriends, sometimes I seriously do. 

~ jan, feeling deprived ~

Here’s what I did today….

Time to get back to scrapbooking, now that I’ve got this adorable little granddaughter.  This was so much fun to do…  If you want to see details, click on it, it enlarges…

Elements  used to build this page by Lori Davison

I was watching Today this morning…

Bobbi Brown was  doing makeovers and she had a little trick that I thought I would share.  But before I do, I want you all to know that there is a fine line between dewy and greasy.

So here’s the trick.  After all your makeup is on, including blush, you put on lip gloss, then take your finger and put a “dab” of lip gloss on your cheeks to give them a dewy look.

“Dab” is the keyword here, girlfriends.  A little dab will do ya… I tried it, of course, I got too much, and it was, well, shall we say, “a wee bit greasy.”

It’s a great trick though, once you get the hang of it.

Give it a try, and yep, it’s okay to laugh at the thought of me with greasy cheeks.  And if I run into some of you with “dewy” cheeks, I won’t say a word.

~ jan 

A girl can dream….

I’ve always been a fan of Currier & Ives.  Another lifetime ago,  I had their seasonal prints hanging in my library.  They’re long gone now, and it’s a shame, because I would hang them again. 

You’re probably wondering why I didn’t show a winter scene, it’s because I’m sick of cold and snow and ice underfoot.  I’m longing for budding trees, rides on Milly with the dogs, sipping my morning coffee by the babbling creek.  So this is my little treat for you all today, a look at summer’s long past, the way life used to be…

January

Carlene sent me this today.  It’s perfect…

Every year I embrace the stillness that follows the holidays with open arms and mittened hands.  The reflective calm is therapy for my soul.  It’s almost as though nature casts a spell upon crystallized days; white snow seems to absorb all sound and lays an immaculate blanket upon the earth’s imperfections.  The smoky aroma of charred logs is married with the fragrance of candle wax and pine.  Jack Frost dabs intricate masterpieces upon our windowpanes.

This a time to savor the fruits of our fall labors when those nesting instincts overtook us last October, a time for rest – to wallow in cashmere throws with a good book, to sip raspberry cocoa and languor in a steamy tub  of rejuvenating bath salts.  Rather than a “holiday let down”, January should be perceived as a pampering respite.

So as you wrap your chilled fingers around a piping hot mug of mocha, ponder the curly steam that arises from it and breathe deeply.  This is a time for you.

I wish for you only good things this upcoming year.  May you find many winter comforts.

Your daily dose of cuteness, with sound…

Isn't our our Abby  just about the cutest little baby, ever?  Well, except for all of your grandchildren, of course…

 

 

The song is “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts

Oh, is this good, ladies…

The family was coming this weekend. I wanted to make chocolate cake, but didn’t have a great recipe, and Veronica told me the Hershey Chocolate Cake was really good.

So I went online, found the recipe for Hershey’s Perfectly Perfect Chocolate cake, made it and it was hands down, the best chocolate cake I’ve ever made, ever!  Everybody loved it, Deanna so much that she wants it for her birthday next month!

If you haven’t made this, it’s just amazing, 3/4 cup cocoa in the cake and in the frosting, so it’s really chocolaty, really moist, just like the recipe says, it’s PERFECT!  I owe you for this one, V!

I put it on Jan Can Cook so we’ll always have it – link to it here>>

How sweet is this?

My buddy, V came to see Abby.  That’s pure joy you’re seeing on her face. 

There is nothing quite like seeing your friends with your grandchild.  It’s pretty amazing…

Need a laugh?

This woman is absolutely hysterical! Deanna has seen her speak before, she’s a huge fan, me, too! Oh she’s funny…

 

Your daily dose of cuteness…

Why email was invented

Thanks for the giggle, C.  This is so funny!!!

 

Why do we want to eat so much when it’s cold????????????

Now that we’re in the deep freeze, all I can think about is food?  I’m starved all the time.  What is it about cold weather that makes you want to eat?  Even the M&M’s are extra hungry.  They have their little bodies parked in front of the fireplace all day long.  They just lay there, gnawing on their Texas Toothpicks.

I made lima beans tonight in the pressure cooker, and my version of healthy cornbread – a box of Jiffy mix, a can of cream style corn and an egg white, stir, put in a 9” skillet, sprayed with Pam and bake at 425 until golden.

It’s really yummy, really moist, not quite a spoonbread, just a moist cornbread.

My one and only New Years resolution was to start doing my Yoga workout every morning.  Have I started it yet, of course not!  But I will, I’m really gonna do this!  Well, I am!!!

This really wasn’t that hard, mindless, actually…

LAST NAME GAME…. It’s harder than it looks! Use the 1st letter OF YOUR LAST NAME to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real places, names, things, nothing made up. You can’t use your name for the boy/girl question.
ONE-WORD ANSWERS ONLY!

1. What is your last name?……………………………… C*****
2. A 4-Letter Word:………………………………………………Card
3. A Girl’s Name:…………………………………………………Caroline
4. A Boy’s name:…………………………………………………….. Curt
5. An occupation:…………………………………Chef
6. Color:…………………………………………………………Chartreuse
7. Something you wear:………………………………………Coat
8. A beverage:……………………………………………Coke (Diet)
9. A food:…………………………………………………………Corn
10. Something found in the bathroom:……………Comb
11. A Place:…………………………………………………Caracas
12. Animal:……………………………………………………… Cougar

Five favorite products of 2009

1. Caress Body Wash.  I’ve tried so many different kinds, this one smells so good, and is so moisturizing, I always come back to it.
2. Paul Mitchell’s Skinny Serum.  Deanna and I both love this.  It defrizzes your hair, gives it shine, only takes a drop and you’re good to go.
3. Lacura Skin Care Line from Aldi’s.  I told you all about this a few months ago, and how good it is.  It’s an awesome product, and so inexpensive, it’s crazy cheap.
4. Lip Smackers, thanks to Lori, I’m enjoying the big fat tubes.  I have them in Dr. Pepper, Strawberry, and Cotton Candy.  Love these!
5. Nice N’ Easy Natural Blonde #103 – best hair color I’ve found yet, no brassiness no green, just a nice blonde color…

Top five highlights of 2009

I’m not normally a fan of reflecting over back over the past year, but there were milestones this year worth mentioning again.

1. Well, the biggie of course was the birth of my Grandaughter.  Abby was born October 8th, and we are all gaga over her. She’s now eleven pounds of wiggling, smiling , sweet smelling baby.  What sunshine she has brought into our lives.
2. I had a lifestyle change, I really did change the way I eat this  year.  I follow the 80/20 rule, eat healthy almost all of the time, and it’s working.
3. I’ve dropped 26 lbs. since last April, and I’m keeping it off.  MAJOR MILESTONE…
4. I stepped back from the computer a bit.  I realized I was too immersed in it, and I’ve taken a break.  I spent more time outdoors this summer than I have in years, I read a lot, I’m focused on different things for a change.
5. I can’t let this year pass without mentioning my ongoing love affair with the fur kidz.  Maggie and Molly are always a highlight of my life.  They make me laugh every single day, and there is nothing I enjoy more than having their little furry Yorkie bodies cuddled up next to me.  If you don’t have a dog, you’re missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. 

Handbook for 2010

Jean sent me this today.  I usually don’t get into this kind of stuff, but this is right on the money.  Just skim over it if you don’t want to read it all, some good advice here…  It should be our goal in the coming year to live like this….

Happy New Year!!!!

~ jan

Health:
1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4.       Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.       Make time to pray.
6.       Play more games.
7.       Read more books than you did in 2009.
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9.       Sleep for 7 hours, 8 preferably.
10.    Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11.    Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake.
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20.    Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25.    Call your friends often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything.
28.    Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33..    Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    Nature is a healing force.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come.
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, be grateful and live in the moment.
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

I know, I know, she’s just the CUTEST baby….

Butt Ruffles and Mary Jane Socks…. Soooo Sweet!!!

Here’s my girls, aren’t they sweet????

Our own little Christmas doll…

Merry Christmas from our house to yours...

Christmas Time’s A Comin’

A few of my favorite things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

My friend, Mary,  triggered memories today when she sent me an email  about black walnut divinity.  I started thinking about my favorite Christmas memories when I was a child.  Here are some of them.

• Big, fragrant oranges and grapefruits, a whole box full of them
• Nuts and an old fashioned nut cracker, watching tv,  and picking out my favorite ones, pecans and brazil nuts
• Snow ice cream
• Drinking steaming mugs of hot cocoa after playing outside in the cold
• Orange rinds and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove
• Russian tea, Mother always made it with Tang, spices and instant iced tea, then we would spoon the mix into mugs of hot water to drink
• Lebkuchen, we made those wonderful, spicy cookies every November and then stored them in big tin containers until Christmas, they were so good, I have the recipe, handed down for generations, I need to make them again…
• Chex Mix, cousin Sue’s was always the best, chocked full of pecans and cashews, not only Chex cereal, but Cheerios and Kix, too,  and Bugles and pretzels, and seasoned with garlic, and spicy hot with lots of Tabasco
• Midnight mass on Christmas eve, the candles, the poinsettas, it was just magic when I was a child
• Opening gifts on Christmas eve, the anticipation of what doll I would get for Christmas. That was the best part, I always got a new doll, every year…
• Aunt Ruby’s Mexican Wedding Cookies, still a family tradition
• Homemade candy, my favorite was called bologna candy, it was a date nut roll, we made it every year.  And that wonderful black walnut divinity and homemade fudge, chocolate and my favorite, peanut butter

As I reread my list, it was all about food, wasn’t it? And it’s still all about the food…  That little girl never quite grew up, and this year I have a new doll to play with, a real, live one.  Baby Abby’s first Christmas.  What a wonderful Christmas this is for our family….

A Christmas present that won’t cost you anything….

I’ve gotten older, hopefully a bit wiser, and my life experiences have made me realize that this moment is all we have, seize it, live it, tomorrow may be too late.

One of the things that I do, and I’ve touched on this before, is that when I say goodbye, I always tell my family I love them, always.

I never leave them without hugging them and telling them “I love you,” and I never hang up the phone without saying it.  It comes as natural to me as saying “goodbye” does.  You may think, “my family doesn’t do this, I would feel awkward, or embarrassed.”  So, what if you do?  And so what if it’s awkward, or maybe even uncomfortable at first, you’re telling them what’s in your heart.

And you don’t do it once and quit, you keep doing it over and over again until it’s as natural for you to say it as it is to say goodbye.  And I’ll just bet you that they will start saying it back to you, and maybe even saying it first.

It’s a wonderful gift you can give the people you love, it doesn’t cost you anything, and the rewards are amazing.  And if, god forbid, it’s the last time you see or talk to them, they will always remember what your last words to them were. 

If you never try anything new, you will always get the same old results, but if you go out on a limb, and take a chance, a whole new world opens up. 

Just take a deep breath and say it, ”I love you,”  it’s a wonderful gift.

~ jan

Rub-a-dub-dub, look who just got out of the tub…

This Grammie stuff  just ROCKS!!!!!  Oh, Abby Leigh, what a sweet little soul, you are….

Thanks for the giggle this morning, Hooterville…

Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
Tiger Woods came a flyin', chased by his spouse.
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry,
Cause a bimbo’s phone number was in his Blackberry.
He’d been cheatin' on Elin, and the story progressed.
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed.
He’d been cheatin’ with Holly, Jaimee, Linda and Cori,
With Joselyn, and Kalika. The world had the story.
From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues,
Tiger’s sad sordid tale was all over the news.
With hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of sex,
When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.
Despite all his cryin’ and beggin' and pleadin',
Tiger’s wife went investin' -- a new home in Sweden.
And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade,
"If you’re gettin' laid then I’m gettin' paid." 
She’s not pouting, in fact, she is of jolly good cheer,
Her prenup made Christmas come early this year.

Robyn Carr’s Virgin River Series…

I’m a total trash reader, I always read women, too, I never read men as I don’t care for the way they write romance novels. I’m always looking for new authors, because when I find someone I like, I read everything they have ever written.

I’m hooked on Robyn Carr and her Virgin River Series.  There are seven books in this collection so far, and this woman weaves wonderful stories.  She incorporates several families into each book, instead of focusing on one relationship, and taking the whole book to establish it, she forms relationships early on and then moves on to other people.  It’s a great twist, the way she writes, and the town of Virgin River, population 600, and it’s cast of characters is totally entertaining.

If you haven’t read her, give her a read, or if you’re a fan already, tell us what your favorite books are.  If you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, the first book in her Virgin River series would be a great idea….

~ jan

This is spectacular, thanks Barb for sending it…

Amazing Grace Techno - Computer Controlled Christmas Lights from Richard Holdman on Vimeo.

Abby’s first playdate….

This is Abby on the left, with Julieanne.  Looks like she wore her little friend out.

Oh little girl babies are just too cute for words!!!!!

Hungry Girl Liquid S’Mores

I posted this on my Eating Right Blog, it looks absolutely to-die-for…

It’s a healthy version of Liquid S’Mores. Everything we love, hot chocolate, marshmallows, chocolate chips, graham crackers.

 

Here’s the click to them, you’re going to want to try this one…

~ jan

Thanks for the laugh, Seana…. oh this is a good one, girls….

Such bliss……

There’s been a lot of cuddling going on. Home tomorrow….

Having baby time…

We’re in Lexington for a couple of days.  Oh my, how Abby has changed just since Thanksgiving.  She breaks into big smiles now, follows us with her eyes.

She’s like a soft little bundle of heaven.  I’m finding out what a lot of you already know, what a wonderful gift grandchildren are.

I’ll be back, with a new picture soon.  Pinky swear.

~ jan

I’m in love….

What was your favorite Christmas gift as a child?

With me, it was always dolls.  Oh, I loved my dolls, played with them constantly, never had a doubt that I would be a good mother, because I always loved dolls and baby animals so much as a child.

When I was seven, I got a little red trunk, filled with doll clothes and a bride doll.  I can still remember how I felt when I opened that trunk and saw that doll.  It was pure magic…

Update…

Carlene just emailed me to ask, “why no blogging?”  Just like the rest of you, I’ve been super busy.  I did redo the header, that other one was pretty lame, so I got up this morning at 4am, redid the header and got the link up for the holiday recipes.

If you’re new to the blog, this recipe collection is another goodie.  All my friends tried and true favorites. 

Baby Abby is just doing great.  She’s smiling now and trying to laugh, we’re going to visit for a couple of days next week.  It’s just so hard to stay away from her.

Check out my Christmas recipes, if you’re looking for something new to try this year.  I’ll be back, soon.  I’m starting to get a handle on things.

~ jan

A doggy Christmas surprise

I saw this on Hooterville’s blog earlier today.  Had to snag it to share.  This is positively adorable!!!

 

Baby, it's cold outside...

We've had a blustery day in Heavensville, 50 mph winds, falling temperatures.  I've had a tri-state boomer of a headache all day.  Stayed in, made soup, read by the fire, cuddled the M&M's.  It was a perfect day for this.

I did some Christmas shopping online, too. Don't you just love sitting around in your jammies ordering things? 

Poor Deanna is flying into Nashville tonight in this windy weather, I'll be glad when she arrives safely.

And that's it from my little corner of the world.  I hope you and yours are tucked in safely tonight...

As The World Turns is biting the dust…

I just read tonight that CBS is cancelling As The World Turns.  And Bonnie Hunt is getting cancelled, too.  Is The Young and the Restless next?

I still have fond memories of Carol Burnett parodying, “As The Stomach Churns.”   No more sitting around Emma’s farmhouse table, no hospital talk with Bob and Kim, all the familiar faces will be gone, soon.

I don’t like all these changes.  I want things to stay the same, and they never do.

It’s kind of sad, even though I seldom watch it anymore.  The end of an era.  But they had a great run, I believe I read 76 years, starting on the radio and then going on to television.

I can remember watching it in black and white when I was a little girl.  I used to be a sucker for the soaps, but that was before the computer, I seldom watch anything anymore….  I guess even I am changing with the times.

This is pretty funny…

I keep forgetting to tell you…

For the last year or so, I’ve had so many problems with my eyelashes thinning, even little clumps falling out.  I attributed it to aging, but a couple of months ago, I switched mascara. 

My eyelashes are coming back in, thicker and fuller, apparently I was allergic to the one I was using.  I’ve used Maybelline forever, tried a badzillion other brands, but always go back to it.  But a year or so ago, I started using their Intense XXL Volume, it had fiber builders on one end, and then mascara on the other.  I’m thinking I must have been allergic to those fiber builders.

So now I’m using the Maybelline Colossal Volume, in the fat yellow tube, and not having any problems at all, but it still bulks up the lashes.  I keep meaning to tell you this, maybe some of you are having problems as well.  It wouldn’t hurt to switch product and see if it helps…

Random Thoughts for the Day:

My friend, Janet, sent  me these.  Oh, they are all true!!!

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer's history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my damn neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to the ten-page paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14.. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever.
15. I hate it when I miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!)but when I immediately call back it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. My 4-year old nephew once asked me, "What would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?
19. I think the freezer deserves a light as well..
20. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Tiger Woods is such a douchebag…

Lori, over at Pugsplace nailed it today on her blog post about Tiger Woods, calling him a sleazy little a man-whore.  He is such a creep.  Drudge is reporting that a divorce would cost him $300 million dollars, the most expensive in history.  If I were his wife, I would take the money and run as fast as I could.

LC and I were having lunch today at my favorite chinese restaurant, discussing it, and I was telling him that I hope she beat the hell outta him with that golf club.  He kind of laughed when I said it, but I got him to admit that he agreed with me.

Women are coming out of the woodwork about affairs with him.  TMZ has an audio tape of him telling a woman to erase all her cellphone messages.  His poor wife, kids or no kids, how can she ever trust him?  She will always wonder when he’s on tour what he’s up to, or she’ll follow him around like a groupie trying to keep him in line.  He’s sorry for his transgressions, yeah sure thing he is, the only thing he’s sorry about is that he got caught with his hand in the nookie jar! What a jerk.  Boy, he sure had a lot of people fooled, didn’t he. 

Men Schmen, what fools they are.  They ruin their reputations and destroy their families, all for a tawdry piece of ass…

Baby Updates

Lindsay called me today to tell me that Abby is laughing out loud, and this afternoon she rolled over.  Amazing, huh.  The child is going to be a prodigy I  just know it!!!

Dang, girlfriends I have had zero computer time.  I’ve got that Christmas shopping almost finished, though.  I’m going to work on a new header, it’s time for Thanksgiving to go.

I’ll catch up on emails, and get back in the groove, pinky swear…

~ jan

Grammie , Grandpa and bebe Abby

I’m not dead, Fred….

Law-dee it’s been a whirlwind.  Having the big 60th birthday, Thanksgiving, bebe Abby, family, I haven’t had a minute for blogging.

John and Deanna brought me home, they’re leaving today, life will be back to normal.

I’ll be back soon! Pinky swear…

~ jan

Happy Thanksgiving from Grammie Jan…

 

Cheesecake update…

It’s an awesome recipe.  I still think I would cut back on the butter in the crust to 1/2 cup, since I blotted a lot of excess with paper towel.  But it’s a keeper, it was yummy!

Tonight we’re going to do the bourbon sauce with it… Healthy eating is going all to hell this week.  Scarlett will worry about it Monday…

A quick update for you…

It’s a busy day at Ryans, as we’re having Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, doing prep work today. 

We’re making Nisha’s Chicken Velvet Soup later in the week with turkey breast leftovers, she wanted me to remind you all of this great recipe.  If you want something special, ladies, this is it.  And so easy to make, too.  You’ll love this one, pinkie swear…

Here’s the click…

I’ll be around, hopefully with baby Abby pictures for you.

~ jan

It’s finally out of the oven…

Okay, here’s the scoop.  I used a 9” springform pan, instead of a 12” because I like a thick, dense cheesecake.  Well this puppy just wouldn’t get done.  I cooked it an extra 50 minutes, no that’s not a typo, 50 minutes longer than recipe called for, and it’s still pretty jiggly.  It was so thick, no wonder it took forever, but it seems like I’ve messed with it all day!

However, it smells awesome, and I think it will be great when it cools.  I did tent it for the last 15 minutes loosely with foil, because it was starting to brown.  And yep, it cracked, but I think it will be a goodie.  I’ll let you know the results when we cut into it at Ryans…

Oh, one other note, if you’re not a cheesecake baker, always take a piece of foil, I usually double it, even with heavy duty foil, and set the springform pan on it, then mold it around the outer sides of the pan.  If you don’t, the butter from the cheesecake will leak out in the bottom of your oven and you will have a mess!

If you’re confused about how long to bake it – when it is set all around the edges, and a good way into the middle, it’s done.  I never cook cheesecakes that come clean with a toothpick in the middle.  I would rather undercook it just a bit then have it dry.

~ jan

Cheesecake tweaks…

When you make a recipe for the first time, it’s a learning experience.

The crust recipe called for 2/3 cup butter, that’s a LOT of butter, I usually use 1/3 cup in a crust, but I followed her recipe, baked it for 10 minutes, and it was super oily.  So I took paper towel and blotted the excess, next time I will use less, maybe cut it back to at least 1/2 cup.

The recipe also calls to do to it in a water bath, but my cheesecake pan won’t fit in a 9x13 pan, and my jellyroll pan is one of those air kind, so I was afraid if I used it the bottom wouldn’t cook, so I just put it directly in the oven.  That’s what I always do, it may crack a bit, they do sometimes, but that’s no biggie.  I will watch it tho, and if I think it’s getting too brown before the center is no longer jiggly, i’ll loosely tent it with aluminum foil.

I tasted that batter, it was excellent, I’m thinking this is going to be a great recipe.

I’ll update you on how it cooks, not going to cut it until Monday or Tuesday, though…

I always watch FoodTV while I’m cooking, and today Paula Deen’s cousin was on her show, the lady owns a bakery so she should be a good cook.  Paula said her pumpkin pie recipe was the best she’s ever eaten.  Great reviews for it online.  Check it out here….

I’m not running the show this year…

We’re going to Ryan and Lindsay’s this year for turkey day.  We went last year as well.  Before that I made Thanksgiving dinner every year since LC and I have been married, well except for one year when we went out, and John threw such a hissy because he hated the food and didn’t have leftovers that I never tried that again.  I was an only child, so was hubby, no siblings to trade off holidays with, it was all up to me. 

Well, girlfriends, the times they are a changin’ and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m tired of cooking all that food!  Oh, I’ll still be in the kitchen working alongside the family, but if I want to take time out and rock sweet bebe Abby, I can…

Ryan has a big kitchen with a big working center island, it’s so much easier this way. 

And today, I’m making the pumpkin cheesecake.  I decided to make the one from Susan Branch, here’s the click again in case you missed it when I posted it a few days ago.  That’s the good thing about cheesecake, it’s better after it ages for a few days. I’m also making another batch of caramel corn, the family can’t seem to get enough of it this year.  I made a batch last week when Charlie and Nish were here, he loved it, so she made it yesterday. Yeah, here’s the link for it, I know you want to look at it, too.

We’re also going to try the pumpkin streusel rolls for Thanksgiving morning.  Carlene sent me this recipe last week, and I was intrigued, as our family loves cinnamon rolls, it will be interesting to see how these turn out.  It’s a recipe from Cooking Light, only 214 calories per bun and rave reviews.  Here’s your click….

Okay, I’m outta here, I got work to do girlies…

Salsa Dancing Dog

This is possibly the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.  I want this dog!!!

 

Thanks for sending this to me, Carlene, I’m in awe….

Hey Aldi snobs, you’re missing out….

I know some of you think Aldi’s food is “inferior” and I have to laugh, because at one time I thought the same thing.

But, oh are you wrong if you think that way.  I tried their Kona Coffee today, $3.99 for a 12 ounce bag, and omg, it was an awesome, awesome, coffee.  Premium quality, full bodied, wonderful, rich tasting coffee.

I also picked up fresh cranberries for $1.00 a bag.  None were mushy, I didn’t have to throw out any of them.  Made then like my buddy V does, a cup of sugar, but I used Splenda instead, a cup of water, boil for 5 minutes, take off the burner and squeeze in an orange.

Sooooo, good – 30 calories for a half a cup of cranberries, too.  Works for me.

They also have a special buy right now, 28 ounce cans of Priano Crushed Tomatoes for $.89.  They are the best I’ve ever had.  Forget  Hunts, these are so much better, so good in fact, that I went back and bought a case of them… 

So all you hard sell people, go outside your box this week and just try a couple of things from Aldi’s.  You just might be surprised, and you will save 50% over supermarket prices.  Pinky swear…

~ jan

Farewell, old friend….

John had to say goodbye to his best friend, yesterday.  He had Oreo for  fifteen years, and she was a sight to behold to the very end. 

You’ve never seen a feistier, prettier dog than his little Oreo.  She was a wild child, tearing around the house, playing in the yard, and in her last years, doing her perimeter check in the back yard hourly, as John had installed a doggie door to his fenced yard, and she was totally enthralled with the freedom it gave her to go in and out at her will. When people came to visit, especially little children, she was absolutely estatic.  She loved people, and was irresistible to everyone, she was quite the charmer…

He built a fishpond in his backyard just last year, and she supervised every rock that was put into place.  Then she would stand on the rocks, drinking from the pond, watching the fish, and more than once falling in.  Nothing deterred her, nothing, she was totally fearless.

John got “O” when he was in graduate school.  He had just moved to Lafayette, didn’t know anybody and decided he needed a dog. She was just this little bundle of puppy fur, and oh was she a cutie.   He would come home to visit, buckling her in a seatbelt, she would ride the entire trip, three hours, buckled in beside him.

They traveled a lot of miles together in the last fifteen years, and were quite a team.  He was a great doggy dad to her, loved her dearly, and spoiled her daily.  It was more difficult than words can say to have to say goodbye to this dog, but she’s soaring with the angels now.

Godspeed, sweet girl, we will miss you greatly, but you will always live on forever in our hearts…

Johnny Depp, Sexiest Man Alive! What’s wrong with me???

My buddy, V, has always been a huge Johnny Depp fan.  She thinks he is just awesome, and I just don’t get it.  Now People Magazine says he’s the sexiest man alive.  Johnny Depp?  Huh? For real, they do.

I just don’t understand.  And I think the underlying factor is that he just appears to me to be the type of guy, ummmm, how do I say this politely?  Oh hell, there is no way to say this politely, he just looks to me like he would have a really small penis!

And that is definitely NOT sexy, IMO.  Bad girl, bad girl, shame, shame, shame on you Jan, such impure thoughts from an old broad….

Rules for Thanksgiving….

A bit of what we do year, after year, after year, after year…

Rule #1:  We always buy at least an 18 pound turkey,  some years it’s even been an  20-22 lb. one.  We don’t even like turkey all that much, but we always buy a big bird. Turkey soup is a must the weekend following Thanksgiving.

Rule #2: Always check the carcass for the paper packet with the neck, liver and gizzard inside.  Yes, I baked the damn things in the turkey one year, and nobody has ever forgotten!

Rule #3: A double batch of broccoli casserole,  just for Ryan.  We all complain about being tired of it, because we’ve had it so many times,  but do we eat it?  You’re darn tootin’ we do!  Ry can always be found in the kitchen after dinner shoveling copious amounts of the stuff in his mouth with a serving spoon.

Rule #4:  Don’t burn the sweet potatoes.  They have to be watched carefully, very, very carefully, and guess who’s job that is these days.  Oh joy.

Rule #5:  Some sort of cranberry concoction is the rule of the day.  Ryan swears that no man ever liked cranberries, and I do believe he may be on to something, but the girls love them, it was Deanna’s specific request this year.   Lindsay’s family recipe  is the best,  it’s awesome!

Rule #6:  Never, ever even suggest using Pillsbury Already Piecrust for the pies.  Don’t even go there.  I’m so lucky that Lindsay makes the world’s best piecrust.  This year, I’ll hold Cuppycake while her mommy rolls the dough. :~)

Rule #7:  When putting the pumpkin pie in the oven, look straight ahead, never look at the pie, if you look at the pie you tilt it and it dumps on the oven floor.  Isn’t that right, John?

Rule #8: Turnips for LC are a  must have.  The man adores turnips, the rest of the family not so much, but we always have them for him. 

Rule #9:  Regardless of what yeast roll recipe we use, we  always think that we can do better next year, so every year we try a new one, and we’re never satisfied.  John and I always make the rolls together, it’s what we do…

Rule #10:  Always, always after Thanksgiving dinner, both of my sons will be found lying on the floor, stretched out to their full 6’+ length, writhing and moaning in agony because they ate too much. And do we feel sorry for them, not!  And yes, I have pictures to prove it.

Rule #11: Always be thankful for another year together, especially this year with the birth of our little Abby.  Reminisce about years gone by and the people and pets we loved who are no longer with us.  Families are a wonderful thing, and the older I get, the more I appreciate how lucky I am to have this wonderful cast of colorful characters that are my family…

About that soup…

It was really good!  I’m not a rosemary fan, but it was subtle, it worked.  It would have been better with homemade bread, but I have no willpower with the bread.

And speaking of food, which is what we do around Thanksgiving, I have a husband that adores turnips, so when I saw this recipe earlier today on Simply Recipes for Turnip Gratin, I just had to share.  Interesting, huh? 

Here’s the click…

I made Tuscan Bean Soup this morning…

A one pound bag of great northern beans, a can of diced tomatoes, chopped onion, carrots, garlic, fresh herbs from the garden, thyme, rosemary, and lots of sage.  Then I added 6 cups of chicken broth, just one slice of thick pepper bacon, a teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper, and now it’s in my pressure cooker for an hour and fifteen minutes.  I’ll update you and let you know if it’s good…  I’m actually productive today, laundry is going, housework is finished, life is smooth… Just the way I like it!

Geezy Pete, what a mess…

This new Droid phone is going to be the death of me yet, I swear it is!  Earlier this week I was complaining about misdialing people constantly.  Well that was nothing compared to tonight.

I had been reading online about voice to text, an app you download, then all you do is talk into the phone and it converts it to text and then you send it to whatever contact you want.  Sounds pretty cool, huh, no typing, just talking.  WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!

First of all, when I tried to download the app earlier in the week, it wouldn’t work.  So I emailed the guy who wrote the program, he said he was still “tweaking” it for the Droid and that he would email me when it became available.

Well tonight was the night, I got the email, I coughed up my $.99 for it.  Yes, just a measly dollar, this stuff is cheap…

And I started talking into my phone.  OMG, you wouldn’t believe all the stuff that came up.  It wasn’t recognizing  my voice at all, and was making up crazy phrases.  But I was sending stuff out anyway, to Ang and to Hooterville, and to the kids, and all of a sudden I got this “No Comprende” text from my cousin. 

When I checked my messages, I discovered that I had sent her eighteen messages.  Everything I was sending to people wasn’t going to them at all, it was going to her!!!!

Holy Schmoly, when I reread what I sent, it sounded absolutely STUPID.  It made no sense at all, she must have wondered what was going on.  So I have now sent her numerous email messages explaining what I did in an effort to not look like a complete dodo.

And the guy that wrote the program? He now tells me he is having issues with the Droid, he doesn’t actually have that phone himself, so it’s tricky.

Tricky?  TRICKY? You got that right, dude!  Oh, what a mess, what a mess!!!

The key to dying happy…

The following article is a reprint from Zen Habits, a daily blog I read.  This guy really makes you stop and think about what your life is about, and how you can make it better, he’s really thought provoking.  I thought this article was especially enlightening.  Take a minute and read it, it’s such a simple little thing to do, and it just might make you a better person.

And what’s my life purpose, here’s a start.  I want to be…

• A safe haven from the storms of life for my family to come to. I may not always be able to help, but I will always be able to listen, give them a hug and tell them how much they mean to me.
• A loyal and thoughtful friend.  I’m blessed with such good women in my life, and I treasure their friendships.
• A non-judgmental, dependable and  loving  grammie that Abby can trust and always depend on
• And most of all, and this is the hard one, I want to be true to myself and live my life with the daily goal of achieving  inner peace and contentment with a few giggles thrown in to spice it up a bit.  I want to do it my way.

Ahhhh, such deep thoughts from your usually ditzy blogging buddy. 

~ jan

Live With Purpose — A How-to Guide
If you want to live a life of purpose, here’s a method for doing so (you were wondering when the list would come!):

• Your purpose. Start by taking 10 minutes out of your life to find some quiet space, and to close your eyes, and to think. Ask yourself: How do I want to be remembered? What do I want people to say about me at my funeral? Think about that for 10 minutes, then write down your answers. There may be a few different things, or 10, or just one.
• Write it down. Put your purpose — how you want to be remembered — on a sheet of paper. Type it out, or write it lovingly with a Magic Marker — it doesn’t matter. Put it in nice, big letters. This is your life mission. Post it up somewhere visible, or make it your desktop background. Be reminded of it every day.
• Morning ritual. Every morning, rise with the sun (or at the crack of noon, it doesn’t matter), and look at your purpose. Read it out loud, and give it some thought. Ask yourself: what can I do today to help fulfill my purpose? Now write that down on your to-do list — even if it’s something simple, like “Smile at my co-workers” or “Give my kids a hug”.
• Align your actions. As much as possible, make your actions move your toward your purpose. Keep that purpose in mind throughout the day. If it helps, send yourself email reminders. After awhile, it’ll become a part of your nature.
• Evening ritual. Take a few minutes before you go to bed to look back on your day, on your actions, on what you accomplished. Perhaps write about it in a journal (this is best, but it’s up to you). Look at your purpose again, and think about how you could have lived today differently. Then figure out how you can live your purpose better tomorrow.

These simple actions aren’t that hard to do. They might take some energy and focus in the beginning to make it a habit, but with focus, you can make it happen. And your life will be filled with purpose, and you will live your life with happiness, and eventually, with a little luck, die happy. May your life be blessed.

Read the article in it’s entirety here…