Aren't people amazing?

I find myself constantly amazing by the things people say.... I am guilty, surely more often than I even realize, and I could share some of my 'the time I said something stupid' stories, but it is much more fun to tell other people's stories and laugh and shake our heads...pretending we would never say anything so completely devoid of intelligent thought. (Devoid; not possessing, untouched by, void, or destitute) HA! I know you know what it means but the definition drives my point home. :)
Yesterday, I was working at our coffee shop deli and a lady came in, who was just passing through, as became glaringly apparent. She ordered her latte and then snickered as she was leaving, "Cowboys drink coffee?"
What?!
The girl I was working with is very sweet, she is bright and bubbly, I am sure there are few who don't like her. Well, she was fired up. Just because we live here we are all cowboys and cowboys are too...whatever? to drink coffee? First of all, I know they do drink coffee, b/c I have been reading Louis L'Amour(so there, haha) and those tough ol' boys drink something a site closer to coffee than what this lady had ordered...full of milk and flavored syrup. Second, out of all of the people we have met that live here, I can only think of a couple who actually ARE 'cowboys' or ranchers. (And who knows, maybe they do like coffee, and when I say coffee now, I am talking about lattes) The rest of the people we have met here are just like the city-folk only we live in a small town. We don't ride a horse to work, or only drink...I don't know what stereotype she was even referring to! "Cowboys drink coffee?" What in the world... beg yer pardon, w'sure do, maam, 'scuse me fer smellin' like cows an' all. Y'know we ain't got runnin' water an' I gots to get down to the creek an' warsh up so's I can build me a fire an' rustle up sum grub. I'm plumb empty. No, we ain't got none o' that there city coffee, t'ain't good 'nuff fer us, y'know. Sure, thanks fer gracin' us with yer presence. Well, yup maybe one day we will get 'nuff educatin' an' "drink coffee," but I can't say as I'd bet on it.
Y'all come back now, y'hear!

More cooking....

I have a new-found desire and enjoyment in cooking. This morning I made these Oat Cinnamon Scones (would have been perfect with some glaze or whipped cream....just now thought of that). But I have been wanting to make 'scones' for some time, any kind, I tried some out on our poor Mcfam when they were here @ Christmas, but they weren't very good. But today's were very tasty! :)
Recipe:
Preheat oven to 400*.
Combine 1 C flour, 1 C rolled oats, 1/4 C brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
Cut in w/ pastry blender 1/2 C cold butter or margarine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
(Optional stir in dried fruit at this point)
Add 1/2 C milk; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened.
Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead gently 8-10 times. Roll out dough onto 13" baking stone into 9" circle, about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into wedges; separate slightly.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Bake 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.
Delish!!!

And....drum roll please....(believe me these are worthy of it!)
MOLTEN CHOCOLATE MINI CAKES
Preheat oven to 400*.
Generously spray wells of Silicone Floral Cupcake Pan w/ nonstick cooking spray. (wipe excess cooking spray from top surface of pan)
Coarsely chop 6 oz fine bittersweet chocolate (60% cocoa). Combine chocolate and 1/2 C butter (DO NOT substitute); microwave on high 1-2 minutes or until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, stirring after every 30 second interval. Remove from microwave; cool 5 minutes.
Whisk 3 whole eggs and 3 egg yolks into chocolate mixture. Add 1 and 1/2 C powered sugar and 3/4 C all-purpose flour; mix just until dry ingredients are incorporated.
Divide batter equally among cupcake pan wells (using slightly mounded PC Large Scoop).
Bake 13-14 minutes or until outside edges are set and center is still liquid. (Cracks will appear wet. Do Not Overbake)
Remove pan from oven; immediately, carefully, invert onto large platter. Gently press on tops and sides of wells to loosen. Slowly lift pan, checking to see that all cakes have released. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve warm.......WOW.
Even the next day these are YUM!

Updates...

The beautiful, amazing, one-of-a-kind Phoebe has gotten an adorable haircut! CUTE!

She reminds us of a little pixie fairy. She also has two loose teeth, finally!

Ellie is hoping to play soccer...we will see!

Also, Jacob is wrestling, and really enjoying it.

Phoebe is signed up for T-ball.

Nate is going on a ski trip with the youth group tomorrow for the day.

And we are hoping to be home to visit this summer! The children and I for a month or so! So excited... hope it works out. Want to be there and see you all so much!

It has happened...

My oldest son is taller than me! He is 5'3 1/4"! I am 5'2". It is a milestone event.

Are you excited? (hee-hee) We are!

excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest

Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer.

What have I been hoping or trusting God would do?

Is today "the third day" and He has still not done what I expected? Am I therefore justified in being dejected and in blaming God?

Whenever we insist that God should give us an answer to prayer we are off track.

The purpose of prayer is that we get ahold of God, not of the answer.

It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected, because dejection is a sign of sickness. This is also true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.
We look for visions from heaven and for earth-shaking events to see God’s power. Even the fact that we are dejected is proof that we do this.

Yet we never realize that all the time God is at work in our everyday events and in the people around us. If we will only obey, and do the task that He has placed closest to us, we will see Him.

One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent deity of Jesus Christ.

Philips, Craig & Dean

I didn't realize these guys were doing new stuff still! Wow, I just heard a song called 'Your Name,' loved it!
http://www.phillipscraiganddean.com/
Went to the site and listened to preview of new album. Good stuff! :) And I recognize a few of them. Love 'Amazed,' too.

Asian Slaw

I made this last night and it was a hit....(a hit in our house is the parents like it and at least ONE child) thought I would start posting recipes. I wish I would have taken a picture before it was consumed, it looked very lovely! :)


Dressing:
3 T cider vinegar
3 T water
1 T vegetable oil
1/4 c sugar
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 1/2 T Pampered Chef Pantry Asian Seasoning

I poured the dressing over 10 oz of uncooked, chopped cabbage, and 3-4 chicken breasts cooked and chopped. I toasted some almond slivers and added the whole package, it was one of those Salad Accents packages, probably about 3/4 of a cup give or take. And I added some cooked peas, about a cup or so.
We threw some chinese crunchy noodles on top.

It only made about 4 servings.
Mmmmmm!