A Thankful Heart

Father, please accept our thanks today as round this table here we pause to pray;  Our grateful hearts are warmed as we recall 'tis from Thy bounty that our blessings fall.  This gladsome feast with loved ones now to share is but a measure of Thy tender care.
                                                                                                          Eleanor Lyons Culver


What a wonderful Thanksgiving at the Klotz home.  Caitlin, Connor, Ahlden, Megan, Grandmother Barbara, Megan(my niece) and Rob (Megan's boyfriend) were all here to pass the 'thankful spoon" around the table.  There is never a dull moment when it comes to my family...the stories and 'sharings' at the table were very interesting and maddening at times, but we were together as a family and that is what counts.  Poor Grandmother Barbara never got a word in...she sat quietly and listened with an amazed look on her face at times. After dinner, the guys played pool and the girls painted their fingernails as we all watched The Grinch.   I made all of my grandmother's recipes and every year I still get a smile on my face as I remember Thanksgiving at my grandparent's home.  I always looked forward to the food and I couldn't wait to see all of my cousins, but more importantly... to see what table I would be sitting at that year.  The Shankle clan was such a large family and there would be at least 25 of us at any holiday feast.  There was a kiddy table, a teenager table, and of course, the Adult table.  I graduated every table to get to the Adult table and you would have thought that I had won the lottery when I finally got there. We were not a perfect family and certainly had our moments with each other, but we always came together during the holidays and made some wonderful and lasting memories.  I am thankful for those memories and blessed to have my own family to share the holidays with. 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Bittersweet

As my son, Ahlden, is getting ready to take his senior pictures, I keep thinking of how I have looked forward to this moment since he was a baby.  It's finally here and I'm wondering why this is more upsetting than joyful!  Well, of course, I know why!!!  I keep checking in on him as he is changing into his third outfit and I see a young man who has the world at his feet and has no idea that he does.   I would love for his future to be predictable and planned (less worry for me).  I think if we plan carefully and thoroughly enough, we should be secure. Right??  I read something the other day that said,"If we follow perfectly the itinerary of the trip, we miss out on the funny Italian vendor who sells us our favorite cerulean water pitcher.  If we never vary our routine, we may not get caught in the rain with the person who eventually becomes a close friend.   We miss out on life's richest experiences.  That popped into my head for some odd reason, but for the most part, I believe that to be true. I don't think the water pitcher would be a rich experience for him... but then again, you never know!   My hope for Ahlden is that he finds true happiness in whatever path he takes and that he never forgets how much I love him!

Kindergarten 

 

Senior

 

 

 

 

 



My Creed for Life

I believe that God created me to be happy, to enjoy the blessings of life, to be useful to my fellow-beings, and an honor to my family.

I believe that the trials which find me today are but the fiery tests by which my character is strengthened, ennobled and made worthy to enjoy the higher things of life, which I believe are in store for me.

I believe that my soul is too grand to be crushed by defeat; I will rise above it.

I believe that I am the architect of my own fate; therefore, I will be master of my circumstances and surroundings, not their slave.

I will not yield to discouragements, I will trample them under foot and make them serve as stepping-stones to success. I will conquer my obstacles and turn them into opportunities.


My failures of today will help to guide me on to victory for tomorrow.

Tomorrow will bring new strength, new hopes, new opportunities and new beginnings.  I will be ready to meet it with a brave heart, a calm mind and an undaunted spirit.

In all things I will do my best, and leave the rest to Infinite.

I will not waste my mental energies by useless worry.  I will learn to dominate my restless thoughts and look on the bright side of things.

I will face the world bravely, I will not be a coward.  I will assert my God-given birthright and be the woman God made me to be.  For I am immortal, and nothing can overcome me.

Autumn 2012

 

 

Autumn Leaves

 

P.F. Freeman

 

There's a murmur of reluctance

From every leaf

As it Flutters an' falls to the earth -

Reluctant to leave a motherly branch

That had given it life and birth.

Branches that rock to a turbulent wind

Give forth a weird an' mournful sound,

When once gay leaves go tumbling down

to cover an' blanket the frozen ground.

 

Leaves that fall lay in bounteous heaps

To swiftly decay on an autumnal plain,

Leaving but the memory of a summer pass'd

Unto occult space, me'er to return again.

Creaking branches left bare an' lonely

Sing a mournful dirge as each one grieves

For the wanton departure of favorite offspring's,

And the passing of the Autumn leaves.



 

 



Do You Ever Wonder?

Do you ever wonder if this is all life has to offer?  Do you ever wonder if the world and the people in it squeeze you into its own mold?  I've been doing a lot of  'wondering' lately.  It's not that I'm unhappy and don't appreciative what I have... I'm thankful everyday that my family is healthy and what a blessing that is.  Up until now, my purpose in life has been my children.  The second they were born, I knew what my purpose in life was!  I knew why I was on this earth!  My children are grown and living their own lives. Caitlin and Connor are doing what makes them happy and I am so proud of them.  And while I still have Ahlden at home for one more year, he is definitely independent and begging me to loosen the grip.   I have tried many things to 'reinvent' myself... culinary school, piano lessons, more tennis, etc.  I feel pretty darn good about myself and what I am achieving.  So... Why do I still feel so empty???  As I write this, it is becoming very clear that perhaps I have lost my purpose in life.  I have been trying to stay busy with actions instead of living from my heart.  I have lost some of my pathways training but I do know that living from my heart has great value.  Living my life with passion and enthusiasm fills the void.  Somewhere along the way, I have forgotten that!

Again, God has put the right scripture in my path.  I smile as I am typing because I truly believe that there are no coincidences. Thank you God!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.   - Romans 12:2

Back to School

At the age of 45, I'm starting to think that Summer is over-rated!  First of all, living in Texas with a heat index of 100... is definitely not paradise.  Second of all, living with an 18 year old son certainly has it's challenges... especially the "going and blowing" all the time.  I have to say, it's been really nice getting back to a schedule and I am looking forward to Ahlden's senior year.  Now, bring on the cooler temperatures and let's enjoy some Fall!

TENNIS GIRLS - Destin, Florida 2012

What an amazing trip with NINE amazing women!  I have to be honest, I didn't think we could pull it off.  I mean, really, ten women in one condo for seven days!!!  We had so much fun on the beach, drinking red snappers, girl talking, seeing Magic Mike, and dancing the night away at AJ's.  We did get our tennis in every morning and what fun that was, even when I could barely move my feet.  I hope that this becomes our annual tennis trip! Thank you - Janice, Shirly, Monika, Kayla, Chris, Sally, Suzanne, Denise and Marie for a great week!

REALLEY?

 

CAR BATTERY DEAD BECAUSE SWEET JANICE LEFT THE LIGHTS ON THE NIGHT BEFORE.  SALLY HAD NO PROBLEM RAMPING THE CURB TO JUMP US OFF.

ME, MONIKA AND SHIRLY WORKING ON OUR FITNESS.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT. 

EATING TACO BELL AFTER GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

OUR BAR ON THE BEACH.

WAITING IN LINE TO SEE MAGIC MIKE!

MONIKA CAPTURING ME AND SHIRLY COMING BACK FROM OUR WALK.

JUST ME!

Life's Seasons

It's been a while since I have blogged!  I have been tossing and turning since 3 o'clock and decided to just get up and feed my mind with something positive.  I started reading my Experiencing God devotional because I knew that God was nudging me to get up and find peace in His word.  My reading this morning was about Life's Seasons. 

To Everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1

     The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that , though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth.  Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity.  Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors.  Winter is the season of dormancy and closure.  Each season has it's own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.
     Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well.  In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity.  He will also build in times of quiet and rest.  There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day.  But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings.  By God's grace we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness.  By God's grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring.  Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us. 

Well, I am definitely experiencing the cold winter in my life with some hardships, but I remain hopeful for the Spring that is just around the corner.  My prayer this morning is for grace, mercy and peace in my life.  His Grace brings us good things every day (1 Tim. 1:14).  Peace is a state of mind and heart that we experience when we are confident of God's grace and mercy toward us. Peace comes in knowing that God's grace will sustain us, even in our most difficult crises (Phil 4:7).  The peace that only God can give us goes right to the soul, relieving the heart and mind.

   

Day of Lounging and Cooking!

A much needed day by the pool!!! Yesterday was probably the most relaxed I have been in a while.  Caitlin came over and joined us for the day and Ahlden's girlfriend, Brianna.  I actually floated around the pool for about an hour, which is very hard for me to sit still that long.   The day was nice, but even nicer was when Caitlin joined me in the kitchen to cook.  We made crawfish etouffee,  grilled scallops with a salsa verde and grilled peach salad.  Caitlin took over the peach salad and she did such a great job, I have to post the pic. 

A Mother's Tears

"A little boy asked his mother, "Why are you crying?" "Because I'm a woman," she ...told him.

"I don't understand," he said. His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will.

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"
...
"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally he put in a call to God. When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed."

"You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides." ♥ ♥

Mother's Day 2012

MOTHERHOOD is a choice you make everyday to put someone else's happiness and well-being
 ahead of your own.  To teach the hard lessons, to do the right thing even when you're not sure what the right thing is... and to forgive yourself over and over again for doing everything wrong.
- Donna Bell

Happy Mother's Day to me!  I woke up to a card and flowers on the island from my son, however, he didn't grace me with his presence until around noon.  I had a very quiet morning, enjoying coffee on the back porch and listening to the birds sing.  That happens to be one of my favorite things to do!  Caitlin came over and we made lunch and played the piano.  The goal for the day or should I say, the "selfless act" that my kids wanted to do to show me that  they love me, was to go to the movies.  Well, let's just say, "The place was PACKED!"  We decided to go eat instead and, yep, we went to Fish City to eat Crawfish!  23 pounds to be exact! Thank you for making my Mother's Day a great day, I Love you!.  I hate that I didn't get a picture of the gang, so I posted a few of my favorites.



Grandparent's Legacy

This is my Herb and Vegetable Garden.  This makes me happy!  Some of the plants have just been planted, so they may look small at this point... but they will be knee high in a month.  I have always had a love for gardens and I have my grandparents to thank for that.  Leon and Helen Shankle left many legacy's, but for me,  it was watching my grandfather in his garden and my grandmother in her kitchen.  My grandfather's garden was at least an acre!  I remember corn, peas, okra, potatoes, tomatoes, and so much more.  Most of all, I remember shelling the peas!  We would sit with our bowls of peas and shell for hours.  Little did I know at the time that it wasn't so much the shelling as it was all of us around the table bonding.  I truly miss those innocent days with the cousins and how life was so simple.  We had a huge family... I was one of 16 grandchildren and most of us lived within a 5 mile radius of each other.   We were the Shankle clan and we were proud of it.    Unfortunately, my children will never experience that, other then me asking them to go cut an herb from the garden that I need to cook with.  I guess that is "some" exposure.  May you rest in peace grandmother and grandfather and thank you for all the sweet memories that will never be forgotten! 

Leon and Helen Shankle

The Truth Shall Set You Free

Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.  Corinthians 6:19 - 20.

Funny how you pull a book for your quiet time and God has placed a scripture just in the right place for you.  My prayer today is that I will value my body and take proper care of it. I pray that I will have a desire to eat healthy food and drink less wine.  I pray that I will not be critical of my body, nor examine myself through the microscope.  I pray that I will see what makes a person truly attractive is Your Holy Spirit living in me and radiating outward.  Lord, your word says, You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free" (John 8:32) Help me to see the truth about the way I want to live so that I can be set free of unhealthy habits.  Amen!

Create Your Own Happiness For Your Mind And Body Health

This sounds pretty easy, right?  Well, it's NOT!  Do you wake up most mornings and tell yourself that "today" is going to be "the day" that I am going to make changes in my life that will make me healthy and ultimately happy?  Your day starts off  according to plan and all is going well and then it takes just ONE THING to throw you off your "beautiful journey"! You start the whole thing all over again the next day, feeling yet dissapointed once again.   STORY OF MY LIFE!   The sad thing is... I really don't have that high of expectations, so why is it so freakin difficult?  So, I did a little soul searching tonight and started reading articals about health in your 40's.   I came across this artical and I wanted to share.  It spoke to me as well as some other readings.  I am excited to see the fruits of my labor!

• Regard every day as a clean slate you can paint anything on. The possibilities are limitless. Hence each day, with this attitude, you have the aptitude and capability to create your own life as you want it. Happiness comes when you see the fruits of your labor. You become the farmer who takes the virgin land, clears the weeds, ploughs the soil, fertilizes and seeds it. Imagine the glee in your eyes as you see the fruits of your handiwork blossom in front of your eyes.

• You cannot live in the future if you want to be happy. The future with its uncertainties give you the creeps. The magic for living a healthy happy life is to live one day at a time. Even a day is too long. One moment at a time is better. Because if you are able to provide for this moment, the next moment will take care of itself. However if you let your moments slip away empty, you come to the end of the day with nothing to show for it. Many such empty moments let go, can impact your happiness negatively.

• Make it a choice to be happy everyday. This way, you can look at the brighter side of things as you're going to be challenged everyday. When you're prepared to face your world every thing comes to your aid to help you go through the day to give you a smile at the end of the day. This is a recipe for your mind and body health.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes YOUR DESTINY.

To love is to make of one's heart a swinging door

     Love isn't just a kind of soft feeling, a thrill of honeysuckle fragrance while being kissed on a June night.  Love isn't just happiness in ideal situations with everything going according to daydreams of family life or married life or parent-child closeness and confidences.  Love has work to do!...
     Husband-wife love, wife-husband love, and parent-child love - in times of weakness and failure, when forgiveness must be asked for and given, in times when suspicions have been right- love goes on.  A child needs to grow up knowing that love never faileth, in spite of each other's weaknesses as well as strengths, but that the door will always be open, the "candle in the window" will never go out...Love keeps that door open, the light waiting, and the dinner in the oven for years.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7

Beautiful Weather and Burning Thighs!

We could not have asked for better weather!  The sun was shinning, temperatures in the 60's and Beaver Creek was not over crowded.  Skiing, however, presented a more difficult challenge...  my 45 year old body was not in ski shape!  On the first day, we get to the top of the mountain and we take a wrong turn.  Yep, we entered into the black diamond zone and it was not pretty.  5 of the steepest freekin slopes, 1 mogul trail , 10 falls and 45 minutes later, I finally make it down the mountain.  I really tried not to blame Phillip, but my anxiety took over and I couldn't get back to the resort fast enough! And have a drink fast enough!  After calming down for a few hours, we were back on the mountain.  We skied the next two days and by the end of the trip, we were spent physically.  We really enjoyed the local restaurants and listened to great music.  Oh, I did get some great spa services.  There is nothing like a massage and pampering when your on vacation. 

Where to next...

Colorado Bound

Phillip and I are headed to Colorado to snow ski. This should be very interesting as I have not skiied in years. We are staying at the Hyatt Resort in Beaver Creek. Can't wait to blog about our trip! The flight attendant is asking us to turn off phones.

The Art of Homekeeping

     All of us carry in our hearts and minds the image of our ideal home, realized or not. It is a place where we feel we belong, a rightness, at-homeness, a knitting together of self and world.  Home is a place to become yourself, to rest and surrender all pretense. Home is the place where you can restore your mind, body and soul.  It is a source of emotional nourishment.  It's where you can close a door and open your heart.
     We often take our homes for granted.  But when we steep ourselves in our home, a deep sense of place begins to emerge.  Life becomes more meaningful.  We begin to have a greater spiritual awareness of what our home is and should be.  Perhaps that our most inspiring thoughts is that our homes, if we are to live well in them, require and deserve a lifetime of the most careful attention.  A home absorbs care taking like a sponge.  All the hours we spend tending to it are never in vain, for everything we give to our home, is in turn, given back to us.  Our homes will be only as generous and nurturing as the effort we invest in them.

"Home is the definition of God." - Emily Dickins


 Recipe for a Happy Home

Half a cup of friendship, and a cup of thoughtfulness, creamed together with a pinch of powdered tenderness, very lightly beaten in a bowl of loyalty with a cup of faith, one of hope, and one of charity.  Be sure to add a spoonful of gaiety that sings, also the ability to laugh at little things.  Moisten with sudden tears of heartfelt sympathy, bake in a good-natured oven and serve repeatedly.

Near Miss

Having lunch with Caitlin, Sawyer, Will and Susan yesterday at Mijo's when a car plowed into the restaurant 2 feet from where we were sitting.   An older gentleman in his 60's thought he had it in reverse when it was in drive and slammed into the building.  There was definitely an Angel watching over us yesterday.  We were at a table that was up against the glass (that was from floor to ceiling) and we were in the direct line of his car.  Somehow he swerved, just missing us and hitting the brick wall instead.  I still can't quit thinking about it, I was sitting next to the glass (literally a few inches from it ). I am really trying to focus on the positive and that nothing bad happened to any of us.    It made me think how in the blink of an eye, something could change your life forever.  So grateful that we are safe and that the gentlemen was ok, too!

Quiet Time. Sending the Roots Down Deep

I love my mornings!  6:00 a.m comes and I hop up, grab my computer, grab a book filled with positive thoughts for the day and a cup of coffee.  Before I start pinning on Pinterest ( that will take up most of my morning if I let it),  I look through my book collection to see if anything "hits" me.  This morning I pulled the book, "Home with a Heart", by James Dobson.  For some reason the title tugged at me this morning.  As I am flipping through the pages, I came to this page titled, "Sending the Roots Down Deep" and I began to read.  It's funny how God just KNOWS!  I have been questioning things in my life lately and of course as mothers, the biggest question of all is, "Am I a good Mother? Am I doing the right things to influence my children in a positive way?  This is what I read:

CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME PARENTS may believe, the ideal environment for a child is not one devoid of problems and trials.
     Though it's hard to accept at this time, your children need the minor setbacks and disappointments that come their way.  How can they learn to cope with problems and frustrations if their early experiences are totally without trial?  Nature tells us so.  A tree that's planted in a rain forest is never forced to extend its roots downward in search of water.  Consequently, it remains poorly anchored and can be toppled by even a moderate wind.  By contrast, a mesquite tree that's planted in a dry desert is threatened by its hostile environment.  It can only survive by sending its roots down thirty feet or more into the earth, seeking cool water.  But through this adaptation to an arid land, the well-rooted tree becomes strong and steady against all assailants. 
     Our children are like the two trees in some ways.  Those who have learned to conquer their problems are better anchored than those who have never faced them.
     Our tasks as parents, then, is not to eliminate every challenge for our children.  Rather, it is to serve as a confident ally on their behalf, encouraging them when they're distressed, intervening when the threats become overwhelming, and "being there" when the crises come.  Above all, we need to give them the tools with which to overcome the inevitable obstacles of life. 

Be Devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.  Romans 12:10

And so my day begins...

Lincoln Klotz

This week did not start off very well!  My puppy, Lincoln, got out of the yard and did not come back.  He and Boudreaux got out of an open gate and went on a "walk about" Saturday morning.  Boudreaux came back Sunday morning, but Lincoln was not with him.  He has tags so I thought if someone found him,  they would call. I have called everywhere and put up signs... still  nothing.   I have a sad feeling that something happened to him out there.  My heart is hurting because he has slept with me every night since we got him several months ago and I got very attached to that little guy.  He was the sweetest dog and followed me around the house and kept me company.  I pray that he is safe somewhere and that maybe his tags came off and a loving family has him. I miss my Lincoln!

Bread Making Class

Who knew that making bread could be so much fun and yet take so much time!  Having to take a semester in Pastry was not on my "to do" list, but I understand that it is a must if I am going to understand the culinary world.  I definitely prefer the savory side of culinary school, but pastry is growing on me and I am learning so much about the science of food.  The Focaccia bread was so easy to make and had a good flavor to it with the rosemary and the onions.  The soft yeast dinner rolls were so good that my family literally ate the entire batch as soon as they came out of the oven.  I guess you could say it was the appetizer because they didn't make it to the dinner table. I can't wait to try more breads and hopefully I will get better each and every time I bake.

Soft Yeast Dinner Rolls

I cut this recipe in half.

Yield:  64 rolls,  Approximately 1 oz each.
Method:  Straight dough
Fermentation:   1 hour
Proofing 30 to 45 minutes

Active dry yeast               2 oz.
Water                              1lb, 8 oz.
Bread flour                      2lb, 12 oz
Salt                                 1 oz.
Sugar                              4 oz.
Nonfat dry milk powder  2 oz.
Shortening                       2 oz.
Unsalted butter, softened  2 oz.
Eggs                                2
Egg Wash                        As needed

1.  Dissolve the yeast in the water in a bowl.  Combine the flour, salt, sugar, milk powder, shortening, butter and eggs in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook.

2.  Add the water and yeast mixture to the mixer bowl; stir to combine.

3.  Knead on medium speed 10 minutes or until the dough reaches 77 degrees.

4.  Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover and place in a warm spot.  Ferment until doubled, approx. 1 hour.

5.  Punch down the dough.  Let it rest a few minutes to allow the gluten to relax.

6.  Divide the dough into 1 oz portions and round.  Shape as desired and arrange on paper-lined sheet pans.  Proof until doubled in size.

7.  Carefully brush the proofed rolls with egg wash. ( I used eggs without any liquid added).  Bake at 400 degrees until medium brown, approx. 12 to 15 minutes.

FOCACCIA (ROMAN FLATBREAD) with Rosemary and Onions

Yield: 1 Half-Sheet Pan, 12 in. x 18 in.
Method:  Straight Dough
Fermentation:  1 to 2 Hours
Proofing:  15 minutes

Granulated sugar                       1 Tbsp.
Active dry yeast                        1 Tbsp.
Water                                       12 fl. oz
All-purpose flour                       1 lb. 2 oz
Kosher salt                                2 tsp.
Onion, chopped fine                  3 oz.
Olive oil                                    0.5 fl. oz.
Fresh rosemary, crushed           2 Tbsp.

Total dough weight:                   2 lb. 2 oz.

1.  Combine the sugar, yeast and water.  Stir to dissolve the yeast.  Stir in the flour, 4 oz at at time.

2.  Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt and the onion.  Mix well, then knead on a lightly floured board or in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a dough hook until smooth.

3.  Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover and ferment until doubled.  1 to 2 hours

4.  Punch down the dough, then flatten it onto an oiled sheet pan.  It should be no more than 1 inch thick.  Brush the top of the dough with the olive oil.  Let the dough proof until doubled.  Approx 15 minutes or longer.

5.  Sprinkle the crushed rosemary and remaining 1/2 tsp. of salt on top of the dough.  Bake at 400 degrees until lightly browned, approx 20 minutes.

Mud Bugs!!!! It's that time!

How many pounds of crawfish can one person eat?  Well, in our family, we can put away more than the average person.  Why?  Because we LOVE them.  Crawfish season is in full swing and for the first time in years, they are a good size this early in.  Our family likes them extra spicy.  As we say, "Bring on the Nitro"!
I prefer to boil them at home on the back porch, however, the clean up is not fun.  We have a couple of restaurants that we have found to be the best, according to our taste buds.  They are Rock Fish in Arlington and Big Fish in Grapevine.  And yes, we "suck the heads"!  If you don't , then why bother?  Just go back to your pretty little pasta dish.  Looking forward to a great crawfish season!  BRING ON THE NITRO!

Tennis At Its Finest

I have watched a lot of tennis matches over the years, but never have I been so excited to get up at 2:30 am to see Novac Djokovic and Rafa Nadal play for the championship at the Australian Open.  Novac beat Nadal in the longest grand slam final ever!  I sat there glued to the television for five hours and fifty three minutes. Djokovic is my favorite player, so to see him rally back in the fifth set despite fatigue was amazing.
I am fired up about tennis and watching that incredible match has inspired me to be a better player.  I look forward to my tennis season in the spring and can't wait to get out there and  "kick some butt". 

Rain Rain Go Away!

It has been raining for three days now and the sun has finally come out!  I am so ready for spring.  I love my back yard, but I miss all the green leaves, flowers and my birds.  My kids refer to me as the " Bird Lady" because I love to get my binoculars out and find birds perching in the trees.  Now the squirrels are a different story!  I have been known to get my pellet rifle out and start shooting at them as they are tearing through my chair cushions.  That has to be my Arkansas roots coming out in me! Ha!  Speaking of roots, I started a new board on Pinterest this morning titled, Country Living.  Just pinning photos of what country life means to me really took me back to my childhood.  I was such a country girl and loved growing up in a small town with fields and farms within reach.  Funny how I couldn't wait to get away from it at the time, to be more citified and sophisticated.  This saying comes to mind, "You can take the girl out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the girl".  I think of that often when my country accent comes out every now and then.