Ten things to make your day better in one minute or less...

I saw a list like this on How Does She the other day, and it was great.  It inspired me to make a list of my own that would work better for me at the moment.  

Minne...our 13-year-old German Shepherd

  1.  Pet your pet, and tell them how wonderful they are...it's good for them and good for you.

  2.  Drink a glass of water.

  3.  Look around whatever room you are in, and throw away any trash that may be hiding in plain sight.

  4.  Stretch.

  5.  Brush your hair 50 strokes, or massage your scalp with your fingertips.

  6.  Close your eyes.  Deep breath in...hold...exhale...repeat.

  7.  Smile at yourself whenever you are facing a mirror.  Or make a funny face.  :)

  8.  Do a super-quick purse purge getting rid of used tissues, old receipts, lists, etc.

  9.  After you tinkle and flush, grab the toilet brush and give the bowl a quick once 'round...with or without cleanser. 

10.   Before you toss that damp dish cloth or towel in the laundry, give your kitchen counters and cabinet knobs/pulls a quick wipe down.

What I'm reading Wednesdays...

I haven't started a new book, so I've been sitting here catching up on reading...obituaries.  Does anyone else do that?

I never did it until I started working for my current employer.  We work a lot with older people, and when one of them passes away it involves some extra administration duties, not to mention concerns for their loved ones.

I kind of like the recent trend of having vintage photos accompany the write up.  Seeing a sepia toned photo of a young soldier looking dashing in his WWII uniform is quite sweet.  

What I don't like is when a bereaved loved one writes a very wordy and poorly written tribute.  Which leads to one of my pet peeves: 'He married the love of his life.'  I'm not sure why this grates on me so, except that it's one thing for someone to say I married the love of my life, and quite another for someone else to say it of their mate.  At least, I assumed that it is the wife writing it...Carey said that it might be the children writing the obit.  Either way, it kind of bothers me.  

Tonight I saw one that was a first.  When listing the survivors, the author listed the deceased's dog before his children.  :)  

That's when I told Carey I was going to write my own and put it with the other important papers necessary upon my death.  I am fully aware that there is no way I can guarantee my family will not alter it or ignore it altogether, but I have to hope that by that point I will have escaped my earthly need for control.

Still having separation anxiety...

photo credit: CBS

I miss Craig Ferguson.  I occasionally have to re-watch the finale show, because I love the Bang Your Drum  intro so much...embodies everything I loved about Craig's time on the show.

Tip of the week...

I love pistachios.  When I was in high school, we used to walk across the street during lunch to a Gibson's store that had a nut counter to buy pistachios.  

In a bag of pistachios, most are easily opened, but then there is always the occasional tough one that you have to pry apart.  By the end of a pistachio snack, my thumb nails are usually a ragged mess.

Recently I picked up these Salt and Pepper Pistachios from Trader Joe's.  Mmmmm...really good.  

 And I caught myself using a tip that I read somewhere recently.  It worked like a charm, so of course I thought I should share it.

Start by eating some easily opened nuts.  Then when you get to one that is hard to open, grab a discarded empty half shell...work it's edge into the crack...and twist.

My thumbnails thanked me...especially that one that was already bruised from an unrelated injury.  :)

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Promise by Ann Weisgarber

Today on my lunch hour, I began reading The Promise by Ann Weisgarber which is set in 1900 Galveston, Texas

A young Ohio woman, fleeing a scandal which isolates and impoverishes her, agrees to marry a former acquaintance who was recently widowed and left with a four-year-old son.  She finds herself living on his dairy farm on Galveston Island right before the worst hurricane in Texas history strikes.

Cross my heart...

I saw a photo similar to this on Pinterest six weeks ago.  And since Kasey collects crosses, I thought if I could get a photo of the children forming a cross with their fingers, it would be a special keepsake.  I had hoped to have it done by her birthday last week.

Easier said than done.  

First off, it is nigh impossible to catch those five children in one place at the same time.

I finally found them all at home at the same time late one afternoon, but it had been raining for days, and the ground was wet, and the sky was gray and cloudy.  I tried lying flat on a deck chair and had them stand around me.  The height necessary made it uncomfortable for the little ones to hold their arms up while I attempted to get the layout just right.  They were troopers and got it done, but the gray clouds didn't look that great.

Finally yesterday we had a beautiful sunny day.  When we went over for Sunday dinner, Chandler wasn't there, but he was able to come back after a quick phone request.  

This time I was able to lie on the grass, which put their arms at a much better height for telling whose hands were whose.  And that clear blue sky is a brilliant contrast!

I'm really happy with how it turned out.  I've already printed it and delivered a framed copy.

Sunday desserts...

It's Sunday again, and so I went on the search for a dessert recipe that would not require a trip to the store.

I found a recipe for White Chocolate Snickerdoodle Blondies courtesy of Sally's Baking Addiction.  The only ingredient that I wasn't sure I had was white chocolate chips.  Luckily I happened to find some in the pantry.

The author suggested a 9 x 9 inch or 11 x 7 inch pan; neither of which I have.  So I doubled the recipe and baked it in a 9 x 13 inch pan and added about 5 minutes to the baking time.

They weren't the most glamorous looking thing I've ever baked, but don't judge this book by its cover.  That's cinnamon on top, not burned patches.  :)  

They were moist and yummy and a hit with the family.  I think this recipe will be one that will be made again and again.