Lord save me from myself....

The deeper I got into Pinterest, the deeper I got into baking.  It has GOT to be the artist in me because Lord knows I really HATE the kitchen.  I found a few great sites that had some amazing pictures of decorated sugar cookies and after my Christmas madness, I have been itching to decorate again.  The baking is simply a by-product of the need to decorate.  So, I think when we get home from skiing and have a day or two left before school starts up again, I will use that leftover butter and cream cheese and bake some cookies.  Then Raechyl, Terri, Adam and I can have at it.  So many cookies....so little time.

I'm still sitting at the lodge in Jiminy Peak (Mass) waiting while my family skis.  I ski, but two shoulder surgeries in a row (exactly one year apart) and a back that never seems to stop throbbing these days means I am prudent, staying in the lodge.  Eric doesn't call it prudent....he would much rather be on the lifts with me (than alone) and skiing down with me and I get that.  Maybe next time I come I'll strap on those sticks and go for a run or two.  I said it THursday at Okemo....next race I'm buying a lift ticket cause I NEVER want to hike a mountain like that again.  Far better to take the chair lift UP and ski DOWN....rather than HIKE UP!  AND HIKE DOWN - that SUCKED (sorry but it did).  I was so irritated I wouldn't even take pictures (actually it was COLD up there....) Anna and Rae just came in for a food break.  Anna boards....always wanted to do that, but shoulders are an issue now so I'll stick to skiing.  Adam and Eric (as usual) won't come in until they are starving or til someone kicks them off the mountain.  I LOVE it!

The bloodspot I found with all the decorated cookies is Ali's Bee's Bake Shop (www.snargblog.blogspot.com).  It is an awesome website for ideas.  Last night Anna, Rae and Adam made a great short movie trailer called "Agent 84 - Jumping into Action".  It was SO awesome.  As soon as I figure out how to post it to fb I will.  Still on a learning curve with Mac....but making GREAT progress.  

My phone issues seem to have resolved themselves for now, but I'm not holding my breath.  The Mac seems fine also.  Even our TV is working now that we have a new box.  Yes I know, I'm ALL over the place here....welcome to my nightmare.

As I look forward to 2012 I want to wish all my loved ones blessings beyond their wildest imagination (thats the kind of God we serve - the kind that pleasures in blowing our minds with His love!), safety and health beyond measure.  As for me, I will cling tight to my Lord first, my family next.  My friends are my family, so you all fit in to the family category here,..I look forward to new friendships, growing in love and peace and finding my way in this every changing world....

Until next time....(and maybe next blog will have pictures of MY cookies - lol)...

adam skiing

Twas the night before CHRIST(mas)

Twas the night before Jesus came and all throught the house
Not a creature was praying not one in the house
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the east there arose such a clatter
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be the day.

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus, returning just like he said
And though I possesed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him, in spite of myself.

In The Book Of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man
He spoke not a word as he searched for my name
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose name had been written in love
He gathered to take to His Father above
With those who are ready He rose with out a sound

When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose name had been written in love
He gathered to take to His Father above
With those who are ready He rose with out a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees but it was too late
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate
I stood and cried as they rose out of sight
Oh, if I had only been ready tonight.

In the words of the meaning is clear.
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all.

Pinterest Anonymous...

OK...I think last time I blogged about a self help group was when I couldn't stop playing Word Challenge. Now, it's Pinterest.  PA....Pinterest Anonymous....Hi, My name Arrie Thieringer and I am powerless over Pinning.

I remember a friend mentioning Pinterest...and I was perplexed.  I wondered what on earth she was talking about.  And I am SSSOOO sorry I asked.  Pinterest is a website where you can find anything and everything under the sun.  It is kind of like Pin Boards (in your home or office) only its on the computer.  You can create your own pin boards - ANY kind you want.  Some of mine are "crafts", "my favorite recipes", "quotes", "birds", "horses", "my style" and one is even "because I can (and I have no where else to pin it!"....and that is just a few of them.  You create any and as many boards as you like and "pin" links to them.  Also you can see everyone in the free world's boards and "repin" to your own board if you like it.  Each pin direct links you to the original website.  Confused???  So was I until I checked it out.  It took about a second for me to want to start pinning, but you have to be invited.  I IMMEDIATELY contacted my girlfriend and asked her to invite me....and she did (Lord, forgive her!)

Well, I have shared Pinterest with a few friends....two of which are HOOKED (sorry Sara and Julie!).  Another is surfing but hasn't started pinning yet (Sharon, its just a matter of time, trust me).  Well, tonight I crawled into bed and Rae was here with her computer.  I grabbed it for a "second" to check out new pins on Pinterest....and here I am some 2 hours later.  Not asleep....Not even close.

I looked at someone's pin on decorating sugar cookies and it took me to the website "Sweetopia.com" and away I went....for over an hour on one website!  (Check it out bakers....it is AMAZING).  But that is the problem...you just wanna look, then you follow a pin to its origin, then you are checking out THAT website, then you are back to Pinterest surfing again...and if you aren't doing that you are pinning things you find while you work or surf elsewhere!

Glory Be!  Karen, I will forgive you, but that is only because I KNOW you understand the phenomena....it's down right ugly!  So many pins....so little time.

So, here I am...starting ANOTHER self help group....PA.  Yes, I am powerless over pinning....Consider yourself warned.  You can check it out and yes, you WILL be contacting me to invite you so you can pin and trace pins to their origin....and soon you will be up way too late, pinning and realizing you have been at the computer for hours and everyone else in the house is asleep.  In fact, if you look out your window you will see all the neighbors lights out as well.  I will say that I haven't YET pinned until I saw the sun come up (thank you Lord for saving me from myself!)  But I'm afraid thats just a matter of time.

Until next time....

EKISS.....

Electro Kinetic Interference Syndrome.  That's what I was told by a friend.  She made it up but it sounded good.  At least it was an attempt to understand what is up with me and electronic devices....like phones, iPods, computers and the like.  Once about 6 years ago, I had my phone set to vibrate when I got emails.  I plugged it in to charge it overnight on the kitchen countertop....about three feet from the end of the counter.  In the middle of the night I heard a "Ka-ching" followed by a splash and it woke me up.  I woke Eric up to tell him something downstairs made a noise.  He said he heard nothing and told me to go back to bed.  The next morning when I went downstairs, my phone was in the dogs water bowl....FOR REAL.  It had skipped its way off the end of the counter right into the dogs water bowl.  What is the chance of that happening!  For anyone else nearly impossible....for me, 100%.  And that is how it has ALWAYS gone for me with electronics.

Hence my blog tonight.  I have an iPhone.  Have had one for several years now and about a year ago upgraded to 4.  Gave Raechyl my 3.  Seems I got the one that had a defect in it.  A few months after getting the new phone, it started doing weird things....like screen turning white rendering it unusable.  And not backing up properly.  Now I know enough to ALWAYS insure (or extend the warranty) on my electronics.  So I went to Apple....seems it was a software "glitch" that they couldn't fix (perplexed even the workers at the Genius Bar) so they gave me a new phone.  But not before blowing out my old phone....contacts, calendars and all.  Yes I know what you are all thinking....my fault for not syncing.  Gotcha.  New phone lasts about 2 months and problems start again.  Only this time it won't hold a charge or will randomly say "charging not supported with this device"....Back to Apple I go for a second new iphone4.  Another "glitch" it seems.  No problem.  That phone lasted all of about one month before the same thing started happening and this time I knew enough to back it up on iTunes (even though I DO use iCloud) and when I did (knowing I was on my way back to apple) I actually killed the Mac.  For real.  The Mac died....my phone was dead and now my Mac was dead too.  And I mean DEAD.  Fully charged and black screen.  Cannot power down.  Cannot power up.  Cannot do a single thing except call Apple Support to make ANOTHER appointment for my iPhone AND my Mac (from my land line mind you).  So the next day I go to Apple.  I had two appointments back to back.  One at 2 pm for my phone and another at 2:15 for my Mac.  So I had one tech for my phone and another tech for my Mac.  The tech for the Mac said she has never seen someone come in and lay down a brand new dead iPhone AND a brand new dead Mac (it is 2 months old)....WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE!

Guess what happened?  I got ANOTHER new iPhone (this was last Friday) and they had to keep the Mac thinking it needed a new hard drive.  Side note....when I picked the computer up on Monday they said they ran diagnostics and the hard drive was fine, it seemed to be a "glitch" with the software.  Are you seeing a pattern here?  I seem to get the ONLY Apple products that have "glitches" (their word, not mine).  I get in my car to charge my NEW phone and got the SAME error message "charging not supported by this device"....with ZERO patience left, I drove home.  I reasoned with myself that these phones sit in boxes for however long and Apple CONSTANTLY does software updates.  I'll just go home and update my phone software....OR NOT!  By Saturday, my phone was completely unusable.  I had to start from scratch again. I have not brought it back to Apple....I'm pretty sure it's a "glitch".  I have REINSTALLED software half a dozen times....restored iCloud back up as many times....and am waiting til after the holidays to go back to the mall to the Apple store for I'm guessing ANOTHER NEW IPHONE.

One last side note (I can't make this stuff up)....Saturday night my kids asked me to turn up the TV (which I NEVER even watch) so I grabbed the remote to turn up the TV and the screen went blank.  YUP.....BLANK.  I tried power....all on.  Tried changing channels....nothing.  Finally Raech said "give that thing to me...you are deadly with devices" and after about 5 minutes she got it working again.  Today is Wednesday (5 days later) and we just got off the phone with Direct TV.  They are sending us a new satellite box.  Seems ours has a "glitch".....

Forgot the other side note....my Kitchen Aid started "spitting" stuff at me the other night.  I actually had to recalibrate the bowl and attachments.  who does that!  I DO.  It LITERALLY was spitting cookie dough out of the bowl all over the kitchen cabinets, my face and counter tops.  My oh My!

Until next time....

Another recipe....

This is a basic sugar cookie recipe but the dough REALLY holds its shape in the oven and the royal icing recipe is awesome.  It stays "workable" for a long time but once on cookie, sets up really quickly.

CREAM CHEESE CUTOUTS

1 C. butter

3 oz. cream cheese

1 C. sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

2 1/2 C. all purpose flour

1/4 t. salt

In large mixing bowl cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Combine flour and salt...gradually add to creamed mixture until blended.  Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to overnight.  On lightly floured surface roll dough to 1/8" thickness.  Cut out cookies and lay on ungreased cookie sheet.  Bake 375 for 7-8 minutes.

ROYAL ICING

5 T. meringue powder

1 pound confectioners sugar

1/2 C. water

beat together on low speed for 5-7 minutes until thick.

These are a family recipe (and if you know me, you know it didn't come from MY family.  It came from my husbands family).  It is easy and scrumptious.

CREME DE MENTHE BROWNIES

2 sticks butter - softened and divided

1 C. sugar

4 eggs beaten

1 C. flour

1/2 t. salt

1 (16 oz) can hershey chocolate syrup

1 t. vanilla

2 C. sifted confectioners sugar

2 T. creme de menthe

1 C. chocolate chips

6 T. butter

Cream 1 stick butter and sugar.  Add eggs, flour, salt and chocolate syrup and vanilla.  Blend well.  Pour into greased 13X9X2 greased pan.  Bake 350 for 22 minutes.  Cool in pan.  Mix confectioners sugar, 1 stick butter and creme de menthe until fluffy.  Spread over COOLED brownies.  Combine chocolate chips and butter in glass measuring cup and nuke on high 1-3 minutes or until melted.  Remove and stir WELL until completely blended.  Cool until thickened.  Spread over creme de menthe layer.  Chill brownies before cutting into squares.

What can I say here....arent they beautiful?  Super easy.  I bought the printed wafer paper from "fancyflours.com" and made sugar cookies and used light corn syrup to adhere to cookie.  It is the 12 days of Christmas.  I have been a baking fool.  OK....I think I may call it a night - or find something to blog about - like the madness of my phone, or computer, or television, or home....need I go on?

Until next time....