16 ounces of happiness

"Oh dear, how undignified!"

= 1 lb of joy

1: Sleeping in an hour this morning with my beloved. (Oh happy mistake!)
2: Eating leftover peach cobbler. (The dumplings were soggy... :happy sigh:)
3: Making pastry for apple, lemon meringue and banana cream pies. (Lydia is making and eating the last mentioned because Jesse and I :dances of joy: are adults and don't eat bananas.)
4: Cleaning up our room. (It really needs it.)
5: Sitting at the table, talking with my sister Lydia. (We've nearly covered every topic under the sun.)
6: Anticipating Cilla's visit on Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7: Getting a $65 cheque from Homespun in the mail. (We never win anything and this Homespun found us winning twice: once in Jesse's name and once in mine.)
8: Helping someone print nearly a thousand wedding pictures this morning at Pharmasave. (Yes, I LOVE looking at wedding pictures.)
9: Getting ready for students and teaching and all things music. (Beginning of October, here we come.)
10: Listening to Liszt on the radio and daydreaming about someday...

11: Having running water and electricity in our house. (Makes my day every day.)
12: Kissing my husband goodbye (sad) and knowing we'll see each other again in 9 hours (happy).
13: Having a boss and coworkers who understand. (They are amazing... each and every one of them.)
14: Opening my kitchen cupboards and seeing the dishes my Grandma gave me for my hopechest. (I love you, Grandma.)
15: Buying ingredients for Lasagna. Enough said.
16: Thinking about one's life and realizing how wonderful it is. (Jesse, I love you.)

Life!

I've been busy. Really, really busy. I have pictures to prove this busy-ness. Unfortunately, the internet speed does not allow me to post said pictures. So you'll just have to believe without the proof. Hehe.

1: For two weeks, we practiced every other day with Downwind for the Oxbow Jamboree. I feel incredibly fortunate that Dianne asked for backup vocals and percussion. Not only did I get to experience singing with her, Paul, Jesse and Leroy, I got to meet the other band members. FYI, they all turn into superstars when behind their instrument and a microphone.

2: August 5th, 2012. Oxbow Jamboree. It was 32* C. If you don't know what that is in F. go to Google. Judging from the number of people who approached different members of Downwind with positive comments, I'd say we did well. My favorite part of the entire process was how the children came right up to the bottom of the stage and stared at us (in awe!) the entire time. I hope we inspired the next generation of musicians/artists.

3: August 7th and 10th were spent in Alameda at Wildflower Organics processing chickens. We did 100 a day. I got paid in chickens and this truly helps with the food bill. Surprisingly, I discovered that I really enjoyed my days, even if I was up to my elbows in chicken blood, feces, internal goo and feathers. The sunshine, the clouds, the wind... it was so nice to be outside for hours at a time. Plus, it feels so good being responsible and helping feed us.

4: Work, work, work. Yes. Plus I've been trying to clean house when I get home... and be a most attentive wife to my man. I love him so!

5: We celebrated 11 months of marriage yesterday and 2 years of first meeting on August 6th. We are so very happy. I wish I could spread the pure joy we feel around the world. People need it right now... especially in Syria.

6: You know our rhubarb plants that I was so excited about? The one that was red all the way through and incredibly sweet? Well, the neighbor may have accidentally killed it. I get tragically sad whenever I think about it. He offered to give us a new plant if ours didn't survive this. I'm really hoping and praying that it did...

7: I made tie-dye cupcakes last night and frosted them this morning. I love colors. Co-op was selling Neon food coloring so I used that. Such bright, magnificent shades!!

8: Eventually I'll try to post pictures of all of these events. But until then, I have to prepare myself for work (yes, I have to work this Saturday) (but next Saturday, I do not!)... Have a wonderful day. I am pretty sure I will. :-)

9: P.S. Jesse came down with a bad sinus cold yesterday. I hate leaving him when he's sick. (Welll... I hate leaving him at any time..)

From the Queen of Randomness

The show went well! In fact, it went really well. Once up on stage, my nervousness vanished and I was able to play and sing and enjoy myself.

Several musicians and friends of Michele's are coming to stay the weekend and we have been preparing. Last night, Michele made turtle cheesecake (it's a new recipe and she made her own caramels, which are wonderful but didn't quite turn out the way the recipe said so she is worried about serving the cake to company and I wondered since she had enough ingredients to make another one if we shouldn't sample this one just to make sure but she said no. Twice.) (there, I knew I could write a run-on sentence! ;-)) and lasagne, which I am quite looking forward to. I get to make french bread to go along with it!! Yay.

Went to the theatre meeting yesterday for the Easter play. It looks like it's going to be a murder mystery of sorts. I'm not sure if I am going to have a part or not. I have never memorized so many lines (well, I've memorized entire books of the Bible but that's a little different!) and I've definitely never been in a play that required so much  from me. It could be a good experience. :-) That being said, with everything else going on, I might regret committing. We shall see.

I've been reading "The Princess Bride". And laughing. Interesting thing: the book is not better than the movie. They're both equally creative. And funny.

One of my students wants to learn how to play "If I Die Young" (The Band Perry) on the piano. So I have been trying to learn it so I can teach her. I like the challenge. And I like the song. It's a bluegrass number with really nice words. Kind of a Appalachian Anne of Green Gables song.

It was *30 F (-1* C) yesterday!!!! Wow. I ran outside with no long sleeves on and I was not cold at all. I love this weather.

I watched "Appaloosa" the other day. I was so annoyed at the end of it. :sigh: Seriously, three very good actors. Three of my favorites. You wonder if any of them had ever read any westerns at all. :-P Plus, Ed Harris' character randomly loses his temper for no real reason and nearly beats a teamster to death. Interesting. I wonder why he put that into the movie? Just because he'd always wanted to randomly nearly beat someone to death? Can you tell I'm still annoyed? ;-)

And while we're on the topic of movies, has anyone watched "Young Victoria"? Opinion?

Anyone a Doctor Who fan?

I should go eat something and try to stem the tide of my cold. Or allergies. Or whatever it is. I started getting a sore throat when I began dealing with all of deceased Yoda's hair. Now my nose is running like a faucet. Lol. I'm taking zinc in case it is a cold. Maybe I should be taking more stuff. Hmm.

I am so glad God loves me.

Anyways, this is my random-ist post ever. Enjoy, Bekah dear! ;-) (And anyone else who may read this.) 

Because I'm Going To Enjoy Today

I woke up this morning feeling so much better. :-) I have discovered how hard it can be to force yourself to eat but how necessary it is. ;-) Yesterday, I ate supper and drank ginger tea afterwards. It seemed to help settle everything. Hopefully I'll soon kick this and have my usual dosage of energy!!

"...if anything matters then everything matters. Because you are important, everything you do is important. Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen, my purposes are accomplished and nothing will be the same again."  -- William P. Young (The Shack)

Random thoughts of the day:
1: I love Jesse.
2: How much God has blessed me.
3: God gives us a free will but wishes for our fellowship.
4: True happiness is found within that fellowship.
5: Making meals is awesome.

Yesterday, for supper, I made burritos (black beans, garlic, Thai Chili sauce, black pepper, salt, sour cream, cheddar cheese) and salad. I rolled them up, place them on a cookie sheet and baked them for 45 minutes or so.  They wouldn't have to be baked that long, it just happened that people weren't ready to eat until that point in time. (I was also making the salad/setting the table/etc.) Today, I have roast in the crock pot and Yorkshire pudding on the menu. It's a lot of fun experimenting. I also love that I can run and ask Michele for advice. She's such a good cook and so creative in creating meals! This is definitely the best way to gather experience.

I have always worked in the kitchen and know how to cook a lot of meals but we always used ingredients in different quantities ... and from different sources (i.e. in bulk, from the garden, etc). I want to learn how to cook economically but tastefully. What a challenge! However, this is something worth learning well.

Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you'll be able to see further. -- J.P. Morgan

I have been learning a lot lately. It seems that no sooner is one lesson complete, another begins. I suppose that it is either moving ahead or falling behind. I would rather move ahead. I am learning about love. It is such a little word but the world balances on it. Love is many faces. What can I do today that will cause God's love to be shed abroad in hearts? What will brighten the faces of those I am with today? How will love appear in lives I touch?

I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall always rest in hope. -- The Psalmist

This morning, I was feeling frustrated. I finally sat down and thought through what I was feeling... and realized my feelings were centered around myself. It was about me. Then, I began thinking about everything I had to be thankful for (not me!) and suddenly, I was the most blessed. Truly. I have so much to be glad about!

May each day find our hearts seeking and finding love... and enjoying very random blog posts from a much better Naomi who has decided she is going to enjoy today and the people in it.

Don't find fault. Find a remedy. -- Henry Ford

Energy! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Thank you to all who prayed for me. I had a really good day today. And it wasn't just good in the sense that I am feeling much better today than I have in a long time (yay!!) but God has brought some understanding to me about certain things in my life. Even though this or that may be less than comfortable, and maybe even a little embarrassing, it's ok. He will make all things beautiful in His time. Right now, I need to sit back and enjoy the ride. :-) I need to trust in the Driver. :-)

This morning I...

Got up.

Tidied room.

Practiced piano.

Prayed.

Prepared for teaching tomorrow.

Turned computer on.

Ate lunch.

Asked if I should make cookies. (Positive.)

Answered phone.

Walked to Main Street.

Mailed parcel.

Got cookie making ingredients.

Got Vitamin D.

Got candy for my kids.

Came home.

Watched movie.

Made soup (which is a story all in it's own... someday I shall tell you).

Made cookies.

Ate supper.

Helped with kitchen clean-up.

And am sitting before you now, with some energy left. I can hardly believe it. :-) I feel *so good*. Thank you, Lord! :-)

Btw, I bought some liquid Vitamin D3 today. Has anyone ever used something like it before and what is your opinion of it?

Italian Cheese Bread

Last night, we had one of my favorite snacks. It's called “Italian Cheese Bread”. We don't have it often since cheese is so very expensive, but when we do have it, it disappears very quickly! :-)

I got this recipe from my friends Erin and Lindsey S. The latter sent the recipe to Tammy Luna, who posted it on her cooking website. That being said, I changed the recipe a little when I made it (due to not having their recipe on hand) but the idea is the same. I'll post my version but I'll also post the link to the original.

Italian Cheese Bread

1 C. water (70* - 80*)

1 ½ tsp dry instant yeast

2 TBSP melted butter/olive or canola oil

1 TBSP sugar/honey

1 tsp salt

3 C. flour

¼ - 1/3 C. Ranch or Italian dressing

¼ tsp. onion salt

½ tsp. thyme

½ tsp. oregano

1/8 tsp (or less, I just shook the shaker over it a few times) black pepper

1 C. mozzarella, grated

1 C. cheddar, grated

In dough mixer, put water, yeast, butter, sugar and salt. Let sit for a minute. Add a cup of flour and mix. While mixing, add the rest of the flour. The dough should be firm but not stiff. Let knead for five minutes.

Roll dough out into a 12” - 14” circle and place on a greased pizza or cookie sheet.

Spread the dressing evenly over the surface of the dough; sprinkle the onion salt, thyme, oregano and pepper, then spread the cheese over that.

Bake at 400* F. for 14-15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and bread is golden brown around the edges.

www.tammysrecipes.com/italian_cheese_bread

Be sure to check out Tammy's website for more excellent recipes!