Downward facing dog? YOGA TODAY!!

Good Afternoon! I have been really busy here lately and haven't updated like I should but it has turned out to be a benefit for my family so I hope you understand. I have been pulling out all of my summer clothes. Now, that's a job. Somehow I got everything out of both dressers, and the walk-in dumped in my floor and my bed. There was not one square inch of floor or bed space available for one more item. When I shop I shop for everyone. When I say everyone I know all the sizes of everyone, including my bestie. I buy with the notion that I might be selling it on ebay (which I am not a fan of) or putting it up for credits on Listia. I just cant see letting something go on ebay for .99 cents when it costs me to mail and for the item. So, once I got it all sorted out I have a HUGE bag of donation clothes for our local clothing and food pantry, and another big pile of clothes and accessories for my Listia. I invited my bestie up last night for coffee, smoke and company. When she walked in she about had a heart attack. She could not believe the clothes I had. I actually felt bad. I am not a hoarder, its all organized, in the right spot but I have to admit it was a lot. I made the promise that I would list it today. Its kept me busy for a while now. I just had to take a break so here I am! 

I have also been interested in something so beautiful that it takes my breath away every time I log on. It's the Decorah Eagles.

Here is the site to watch them LIVE!

They are sitting on 3 eggs that are due to hatch in a couple weeks. 

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Here is their blog on Blogger:

http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&max-results=9

Watching these Bald Eagles have made me late for yoga twice this week. When I get up I immediately log on and look at their nest. Usually the dad is sitting and mom has taken off. I love to watch when both birds meet up. Its just so comforting, like waiting on the birth of my own babies. Please check it out!

Talking about yoga...

I started a class with my bestie. I don't need to lose weight but I do need to tone up. Bathing suit weather will be here before you know it and the way I bake I need to do something. I figured if it was a class setting I might be more apt to finish the whole program, not like I do on my yoga app here at home. We are going at 3 today, and I am yet to get out of my nightgown. Just been to busy. I wanted to finish this first. So off to yoga I go with my friend Kathy, who is older than I am, and we have the best time. I don't think yoga is for laughing but we get so tickled at each other. We just cant help but laugh when our butts are up in the air and we are looking at each other through our legs. Too much fun. I recommend taking a class with a friend. It gets you motivated and you have plenty of gossip for a major phone call later.

Spring is coming! I have noticed the crocus come up through the grass lately. The first sign of spring and Easter. I love Easter, its almost my favorite holiday. I just love the meaning, and Passover. The whole story of Jesus and the tomb. I will get my Bible out and lay it to the story so people that come into the foyer of my home will see it. We are Christians in my house, and proud to say so.

Have you done your yard work or planted any flowers? We woke up to snow this morning, but its gonna be 50's all week here in WV!

 I need to get out and plant my yard. I am yearning for some color and happiness in my yard, I want to fill my feeders, watch the humming birds and butterflies. 

Well, I have a date to make... 

I hope everyone has a beautiful day and please check out the Decorah Eagles and the RRP Blog.

Sunshine Visits...

Hello everyone! I feel like writing so here I am. Its a beautiful day here in West Virginia. I finally got dressed and walked to the post office. I had several Listia packages and Ebay packages to mail out. Every time I swear I will not list so many items so I wont have so much paperwork to do. When you deal with the public it's an aggravation. As soon as an auction ends I get emails from people who want to know when their item will be there. I have 7 days per listia rules. People are rude and expect the post office to perform miracles. I mailed out 20 nail stickers today. That's 20 envelopes, and more to come tomorrow. I love the 2 sites for different reasons. I use my ebay money for mad money. My listia is credits and like a swap meet. I love both. 

This is my son Shane and he turned 9 today. Wow. 9. Happy Birthday Baby! Mommy loves you, and we will celebrate at Easter.  He lives away from me and at times like this I miss him something terrible. He is the light in my day. Such a cutie, and I miss him. A LOT.

I went out to see my best friend today. I had a nice visit at her house. Its so nice to feel welcome somewhere. I am just as comfortable there as I am at my own home. Everyone needs a bestie like Kathy. She helps me through everything and I hope she can say the same for me. I love her. I need a friend. She's the BEST. Here is us at her birthday party. I made her a german chocolate cake and got her a nice gift. It was a great party and a great day. Here we are. I am the one in the black, Kathy is beside me. How many candles can you fit on a German Chocolate Bunt cake? Shhh.....55!!!!

Don't we look like we had fun. This is at the end of the night. I'll treasure these forever. Thank You for the friendship, Kathy.

I walked out to see my grandparents today. My grandfather has cancer and has missed a few treatments here lately because of the weather. He is pale, and I had to hold back the tears. He fell feeding the kitty's, he has no taste and is really cranky. My gran is recently diagnosed with a rare form of Glaucoma. It seems like they can never catch a break. I haven't been out much, they only live down street from me, but since Christmas I have been under the weather and he cant have any germs at all because he cant fight them so I have stayed away because a bout with the flu and strep. Now I am better, and have all intentions of spending as much time with them as possible. Spring cleaning will be here soon, and I will have to help. I hate to cry in front of my gran but I do it silently. I guess I think that if its silent tears she wont notice. It just hurts. I love them more than my own parents. It just makes me sad that I am not going to have very many years left with them. Today I have a smile in my heart. I went to visit. :-) This is how I feel often, I get so upset, but I get through it with family, hunny and GOD.

Last night I made nutella cookies. They were the gluten free kind. I had nutella, baking soda, egg and brown sugar. I thought I had a pic. Mixed them up, put a splash of van, and a dash of salt. Baked 7 min at 350. Anyway, they didn't turn out pretty enough to take a pic of.  I would say it was a big fail. They spread out all over the pan, the no flour option is NOT an option for me. I used an All Recipes recipe called Nutella Christmas Cookies because I wanted something sweet and that's what I had in the pantry. Needless to say, if they are still in the jar the next day they are not going to be made again. I should have known better. Gluten free is not for me. I guess it would be if I had to be.

This is how I am going to leave you today.  I am trying a new recipe tonight that I will post the outcome of. They are butter cookies that call for a semi sweet glaze, but I don't like semi sweet so I bought a king size Hershey bar to melt and drizzle on. I will let you know how it goes...

Did I post about my Mrs Myers Party items....?

Snowblind...

Hi guys! I am trying something new with the blog. This is the little piece of the world that is mine and I have come to view it as an escape of sorts. It's so snowy and cold outside, I just want to bake to warm my home and hearts, keep myself busy so the snowy days don't start getting to me. I don't know about you, but cabin fever really starts to set in once I know the time is going to change. I don't care that it goes forward, I just want the sun to come out! Remember how it feel's to walk in the wet grass to pick up your mail or how it feels to open your curtains and window's to the sun's full on shine. I am missing it. I need to make dinner! That's the perfect remedy for how I am feeling. We are in the middle of a ANOTHER winter storm warning with ft.'s of snow and freezing rain. I just wish it was over already.

We do have something to look forward to this month. We have Shane's birthday to celebrate. Those of you that don't know (HA! I am writing like someone is reading this, my therapy session) me, Shane is my 8 year old, soon to be 9! I can't believe it. My oldest Hunter is 18, and now Shane. Since he is in school at his dad's in Raleigh Co., I don't see him as much in the winter because of the weather and because of school/sports. I miss him something terrible but I know when it's not safe to travel and how selfish would I be if I put his life and those that were on the road in danger to make the trip. So I prayed last night that God would let me have a weekend in March for nice weather. I am not asking for 80 degrees, just a couple days with no snow (I just wrote sun and didn't realize it) and a couple beams of sunshine. His birthday is the day after St. Patrick's Day so we usually have some kind of green themed kind of party but this year I am not so sure. It's kind of hard to plan a party when you don't know what Mother Nature has in store for you.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not posting all these things I am doing. You know, being the "hostest with the mostest" kind of thing. Sometimes I don't have the interest or the time to be Betty Crocker/Martha Stewart. A lot of the day's I just have time to throw something in the pan and hope that the biscuits don't burn. I know I am not alone in that. I remember my mom scurrying to get dinner together when my dad came home and we were home from school. She did it though, we had supper every day about 4:30-5-00. That was everyday. Granted she was a stay-at-home mom but that doesn't mean a thing when you have 2 girls 5 years apart and a husband to take care of. Plus all the household stuff that we take for granted because life is a little more advanced these days. I am tired just talking about it. I do love to write though. If I had the imagination I would have been an author (its not too late, but sadly I am not that creative or imaginative) because I love to write. Is it self-centered to want to write about the things you find funny, sad or accomplished throughout the day? I don't think so. Honestly, what is so bad about this life?

Not a damn thing other than the weather. 

I am waiting on Bub (my S.O) to get home. It's pouring the snow and he is out taking care of the elderly people that he keeps shoveled out. He is a blessing. He will go out of his way, out of town, to go and help my grandma when it's bad out. He treats me good, and I am very, very lucky. It took me a minute to find him. Once I did we have never let go. Ok, if we are being honest, I did go. I went back to my then husband and children to see if we could give it a second try. Needless to say, it didn't work but I ask myself everyday, "what kind of mother would I be if I had not gone back and tried"? That is how I sleep at night. My children are safe and loved to the best of my ability. All you can do is give all of you, there is nothing else left once you do that. God Bless the Child.

Anyway it's supper time and I think I am just gonna make a home style meal. Some pork steak, crescent rolls, Cesar salad, sweet potato's w/ cinnamon butter and some homemade coffee cake for desert. Oh shoot, you want the coffee cake recipe? It's really easy and it has a simple crumb topping.

Coffee Crumb Cake

Active 15 min * Total 1 hr. 5 min.

Serves 10 * Cost per serving  24 cents

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces.

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup cold coffee

1. Heat oven to 375. Lightly coat 8x2 in round cake pan with cooking spray. (I use Pam for baking) Line the bottom with parchment and spray the paper.

2. In food processor combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder. Add the brown sugar and pulse to combine. Sometimes I do this step by hand. I am too lazy to dig out a lot of the kitchen items I have.

3. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Transfer 1/2 cup of the mixture to a small bowl and toss with the walnuts and set aside.

4. Add egg and coffee to the food processor and pulse just to combine. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. 

5. Sprinkle the walnut mixture over the top and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.

Transfer to a cooling rack to let cool for 10 min before serving.

This is so good and always a hit at our house. Its also super simple. It's going to be good on this freezing winter evening. Ok, I guess I should get off here and get the coffee on and dinner started. I wish it was desert already.

Keep warm or stay cool! Whichever you prefer. 

~Crystal