Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A New Kind of a New Year....

Here's wishing you all a Happy New Year.

Many of us look at each upcoming New Year with a mix of apprehension. After all, we tend to think of January 1st (and often every Monday) as the day that we will start a new life. We will be more in control, healthier, more patient etc. etc. etc. So we often make a list of things we hope to do differently, or over, or better. And, like in years past, we cling to that spark of enthusiasm until the first time we fall and skin our knees on our new path. Then we default back to the person who just wishes that things could be different.

But let's look at the hope of a clean slate/ a new year differently. Let's consider that this new year holds much promise BECAUSE every day is loaded with choices and opportunities. And if you really think about it, it's true.

What daily choices, Monday thru Sunday do I face? How can those make a difference?

For starters. We can choose our attitudes. If we wake up grumpy. We don't have to remain there. We can tell ourselves to smile even though we don't feel it, and eventually, that smile may become a real one. We can be kind to cashiers and co-workers and family members by remembering that sometimes they might need just a touch of kindness because they may be having a bad day, too. We can start out our mornings with a few minutes of prayer for our loved ones rather than cursing our schedules or others expectations on our schedules.

We can take each choice we make as an opportunity. Will this response to my friend build a bridge or tear one down? Will this item I'm putting into my mouth feed my body or poison my body? Will this item I'm buying stress my finances and my emotional well-being or add joy to my life? On and on. The choices are endless. 

Honestly, life is in the details.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ The Lingerings of the Ghosts of Christmases...Past, Present, Future

I learned a few things this Christmas, and relearned a few from previous Christmases Past.

Hopefully, they won't come back to haunt me.

1) Stressing details is ridiculous. The energy I put into cleaning spots that wouldn't be visited was wasted energy. The spots didn't get visited. Two kinds of soup crackers, three kinds of breads, multiple choices, matching tags and paper are details that no one is going to notice, and if they do, they can own that issue. I don't have to. Even though my freakishness makes sense to me at the time. It really doesn't make sense at all.

2) Quality vs quantity is a decent goal. I have this fear of people starving on my watch. If two soups is adequate, then three is better and four is what I need to do. And each soup needs to have it's own toppings. I'll need to provide lots of things to nibble in case people aren't rolling around, clutching their bellies and begging, "No MORE!" I'm guessing that the time together really is the important thing.

Decorating, too. I seriously put up two Christmas decorations this year. One was a gift, the second was a post-Christmas bargain that had gotten tucked away where I could put my hands on it. The stuff doesn't really add to Christmas. I have too much Christmas stuff. And if I paint a beautiful cozy looking nest, but am a stressed freak who snaps at her loved ones, that nest isn't exactly comfort and joy, merry or peace.

3) Kindness and patience make the whole Christmas season peaceful. From Black Friday to "Rush-to-return-em" 26th, patience will save some from stroking out while waiting in line, or flipping out on the Salvation Army bell-ringer. And if we'd all keep in mind that if we've got a wedge of stinky-crazy on our plate, others will have one, too. My stinky-crazy holiday need list really doesn't take priority because....it's not about me, or mine.

If I had gone ballistic on my husband, because I needed to use the stove on the 23rd, I wouldn't have the beautiful kitchen floor with the little island nest. That floor is a HUGE deal. And it's beautiful. And because I didn't flip out, he's patiently adding things daily. Yesterday I got a door on my pantry. (aka the Troll Cave)

4) If I start eating junk I will eat the junk til it's gone. My Vegan Thanksgiving was pure. Christmas started off that way. I had great intentions and was a good Vegan til about the 22nd. Then I began nibbling on treats that came to the office. Oh my, there were some treats. Boxes of candy, nuts, chips, popcorn, fruit baskets, baked goods. Though I pulled off vegetarian, I sucked in a lot of hidden dairy. The baked goods, the creamy ooey gooey treats, not like I poured milk or cheese directly upon them, but they all contained dairy. I succumbed big time. And paid for it. Am paying for it. I am lethargic and bloated and feeling a lot drawn to processed food.

Enough for now. There are probably eleven more points, now sure to be the ghosts of Christmases Future, but like I said, I've got a coating of dairy on the brain and I'm sluggish.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Pizza Soup

This is my husband's most requested soup. It was chock full of hamburger and pepperoni and covered with melty mozzarella cheese.

However, I think this version was sufficient to satisfy. (I did broil some real deal pepperoni for the omnivores in the house, and there was mozzarella cheese, too. I ate it plain and it tasted....like pizza in a bowl.)

Pizza Soup - Vegan Version

14 oz can/jar of tomato sauce

1 cup chopped peppers (green or mixed)

1 cup diced onions

1 cup mushrooms (you can do whatever veggies you like on your pizza)

1-2 TBSP Earth Balance

2 cans diced tomatoes with juice (14 oz)

1 jar (the standard size, 25 ozs whatever flavor, I used a chunky Vegan version)spaghetti sauce. You could make the equivalent amount of your favorite sauce.

1 and 1/2 cups vegan "hamburger"

1 and 1/2 spaghetti jars of water (or about 38 ounces or 4 and 1/2 cups more or less)

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp salt

2 TBSP dried Italian spice mix.

In a pan melt earth balance (or mix of EB and olive oil) saute the onions and peppers til tender, add the mushrooms.

Dump the veggie mix and all the rest into a 4 quart (or bigger) crockpot. Stir well. Simmer for at least six hours (low) so all the flavors marry. If the soup is too thick add more water or another can of tomatoes. It will cook down and thicken. If you want to stay vegan and need cheese go for Daiya. Dipping garlic bread or bread sticks into it is delicious. Rob said this version is as good as the original.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Wild Rice Mushroom Chowder

Hope you all had a terrific Christmas. Christmas Eve is a soup feed at our house. I've always prepped at least three soups. Baked Potato, Chili, etc. Two of my favorites (and Rob's) are Pizza Soup and Wild Rice Soup. Rob asks for Pizza Soup every year.

The challenge this year was to veganize these recipes and make them taste as good as the dairy/animal product versions. Could I do it?

I did serve a chicken curry chili, too. But the omnivores in the bunch ate up the pizza and mushroom soup. There ended up being a bowl or two of each.

Wild Rice Mushroom Chowder (VEGAN)

4 celery stalks (finely diced)

4 medium sized carrots (finely diced)

1 medium sized onion small dice

6-8 ounces of mushrooms small dice

1 cup uncooked wild rice (rinsed thoroughly)

1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice

2 TBSP Earth Balance

2 TBSP flour (whatever kind you want to use)

6 cups vegetable broth

32 ounces unsweetened, plain non-dairy milk (I used unsweetened shelf stable soy)

In dutch oven, melt Earth Balance. Toss in onion and saute until onions become tender and caramelize. Turn heat down, and add carrots and celery and cook til they soften. Add mushrooms and cook until they begin to soften. About three minutes. Add the flour until the veggies are coated. Add vegetable broth and simmer on low. Add brown rice and wild rice. Simmer at least two hours. If the mixture thickens too much you can add more vegetable broth. A half hour before serving add the milk and keep on low simmer until you serve.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Christmas Zingings and Flingings...Santa? Is that You?

I have 3/4 of a kitchen floor. By the time I get home from work...I'm hoping... it's going to be the whole shebang. Because if it's not, the finishing up of the soup detail duties I need for tomorrow afternoon's soups could be challenging. What's left to place is at the oven/stove/refrigerator and kitchen sink area.

I'm thinking holly jolly thoughts and refusing to look at my "WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF??????" mess of disorganized chaos. I now have two Christmas decorations hung because a friend gave me one yesterday. By hung, I mean laying on the makeshift counter/i.e. table. 

Oddly enough, I picked this morning (in case you don't know what time it is, 6:46 a.m. and I've been up since 5:15) to go over my lists and check them twice. There are a few names who don't quite have goodies yet.  And I think I need to go to the grocery store, too.

While chopping onions last night, my phone rang. I didn't get to it in time, which is good, because the voicemail picked up and I got to enjoy my message over and over. At first it felt a little like a call from kidnappers demanding a ransom. The caller knew who I was, where I lived and certain food items I like and catch phrases I use. The voice was pleasant but slightly mechanical. My detective instincts (from reading mysteries, of course) kicked in, as well as my flight or fight mechanism. But it turned out to be a friendly mechanical Santa (or one of his crazy fun-loving elves) warning me that he would be passing through and that I'd better leave him a Vegan cup cake or two. Ha. Ha. My crazy brother. The adrenaline rush did get me through a few more tasks on my list. Turns out anyone can send a friend a call from Santa. Here's the link should you be inclined. (Santa does respect the mere mortals need for sleep. So he won't call before 8:00 a.m or after 9:00 p.m. What a guy.) http://www.sendacallfromsanta.com/ 

Serials and Scenarios ~ Canteen Slim's Barrel of Laughs and the Circle of Grins ~ Reviewed

My friends, Nashville Kat and Canteen Slim are releasing books this month.

I featured Kat's Happy Husband Cookbook a few days ago. And today, I want to turn the spotlight to Canteen Slim's Barrel of Laughs and the Circle of Grins.

Here's what Kat has to say. "My husband's kids rhyme book is his creative outlet. He's an actor and singer/songwriter who loves to write and draw and paint. If you squeeze him, creativity just flows out. Plus he's really cute! His book is fun and silly plus it has important life lesson's in it. When I read his rhyme called 'Character Counts' to my cousin, she bought 10 copies - sight unseen. I know what he wrote was annointed and most just flowed off his pen."

And my thoughts.

I love the silliness of children's books. My favorites include those that contain creative writing, rhymes, fun tongue-in-cheek playful word play, quirky drawings/art, or absurdities. Barrel of Laughs and the Circle of Grins contains all of the above. A little bit of gross humor, a few creatively worded lessons, common sense delivered in a whimsical manner, and just plain fun. This little collection is just pretty darn enchanting.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Christmas Musings...

Christmas is just days away. 

Lentils are steaming on my stovetop. The piles of receipts, utility bills and statements for the year 2011 have been sorted and put in their proper place. My huge piles of books have been re-sorted and placed in more appropriate piles/areas. My clothes are hung in my closet rather than draped upon the HUGE Mount Clothing that tends to accumulate. Actually, Mount Clothing is a triple peak behemoth. One truly dirty sheer-face, one gently worn mount, and one even more gently worn hill. Hey, It's a system. It works. It's not pretty like the Rockies, but I don't know anyone who'd take Christmas card pictures in anyone's closet, no matter how nice it is. So, there it is. 

My friend suggested taking in a little play tomorrow night. My answer was this. " If I didn’t have a houseful of people coming on Saturday and DID have dust bunnies corralled and Christmas decorations up, and food further along in the process than vain imaginings….I’d be oh, so tempted. Oh, so. If I experience a Christmas miracle tonight wherein dust bunnies are slain, decorations throw themselves on trees, in windows, on doors, and somehow three bubbly delicious soups merge ingredients in preparation for Friday night Crockpot saunas, I’ll let you know tomorrow. Somehow, I think this is just a sugar-plum-bashing-repeatedly-into-my-skull-kind of dream. But, hey! I’m an optimist."

So. Right now. At 7:18 p.m. I have yet to see a fairy with a wand, or any elves. (My Mom is going to feel guilty when she reads this. She keeps offering to help, sweet, sweet woman that she is. I considered it. But. As I pondered which insane, Martha cartoonish moment I might thrust her into, I came to my senses and I just thanked her for the offer to bring tomato soup and a few other goodies on Christmas Eve. I think she's paid her dues. There was the Christmas Eve that Toad-Boy tried to chop the tip of his finger off while making Christmas gifts after all.) Thanks, Mom. 

My life is crazy, but it's a familiar crazy. And. Good news. My closet is clean, and my paper is organized. And darn it. I've got lentils done, at least five other things partially done, a dozen more just a few steps away from done. And I do hear a kitchen floor elf sawing and pounding as I type this. I won't be hitting the play, but I'm pretty darn sure there's some fairy dust somewhere in one of the corners I haven't started decorating. 

If I don't get back to the blog before Christmas. Here's wishing you a Merry, Merry, Merry and stress free Christmas.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ The Happy Husband Cookbook

The Happy Husband Cookbook

Nashville Kat

A note from Kat about her book, The Happy Husband Cookbook.

"My cookbook has 204 tried and true recipes, the things we eat at our home daily. It is filled with black and white drawings my husband did. I decided to start a cookbook when I got married a little over 4 years ago. The book came from this. My husband did the art work on the front. The picture hangs on our kitchen wall and one day while having lunch together I looked at it and said, 'there's my cover.' I had the title for the book first then it all came together at lunch that day."

And a note from me.

Kat introduced me to a whole lot of food adventures while she worked on The Happy Husband cookbook. I had the opportunity to join delicious parties where she'd assign recipes and a dozen cooks would get together to eat, rate and suggest.

Kat was the first truly diverse foodie I had the opportunity to cook and eat with. And I had never heard of Miso or considered raw food until she shared some of her experiences with those items and those she gained enjoying food from all over the United States as well as an European adventure. She collects recipes and techniques like others might collect shot glasses or refrigerator magnets from all the special places and moments in life. 

Though this cookbook is not Vegan, and my regular readers all know that's my current recipe book collection bent, it's a keeper. Her recipes, though occasionally heavy on ingredients, are ALL heavy on love of food and folks and chock full of taste. Many of her recipes have stories and helpful hints. Kat loves taste and mouth feel and will work until it's just right, while her husband is a meat and potatoes kind of guy. Her experiences and skills as a foodie all come together to make for some great recipes. Her midwest roots and country bent also guarantee that many of these recipes are comfort foods that will become some of your favorites. Her husband's art work adds the cherry-on-the-top charm.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Donating Without Writing a Check.

This is pretty cool.


Send a Lego e-Greeting card. They donate a Lego toy to Toys for Tots.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Peingle Bells...

Technology struck again. Tomorrow is the last chance for the current company to fix the problem. Of COURSE, since the major meltdown this morning that left me unable to even check email and drove me to complain yet again, it's been working like a dream. Now that I say that the internet will come to a sudden FREEZE mid-post. But. I'll have at least vented my spleen, I may be the only audience, but I'll have vented. 

I got my handmade gifts finished, complete and even beribboned. They will be the ONLY sort of Christmas decoration in the house until the weekend, too. Yikes. This is the least Christmas prepared I have ever felt.

There was quite a bit of crabby at my office today. I include myself in that description. I headed down the hall for a little R&R in the public restroom. I got settled in the stall, knowing that there is another person next door but not expecting anything out of the ordinary. I've vented about cell phone use in public restrooms before. You know I'm not a fan. So. All of a sudden this loud voice says. "Hi Blah, This is Blah! I'm just calling to double check and make sure you got my prescription because earlier, blah, blah, blah." My immediate dilemma? Should I just go ahead and pee, since I really have to, but, if I do, it's going to be background noise for my newly intimate stall neighbor. 

Awkward. 

Then I'm like. Really? Why would I be concerned about being polite? So. I did my business. The toilet is an auto flush. Had no control over that. At this point, the pharmacy or doctor's office on the other end knows for certain the call was taking place in a public restroom. 

Now. Here's the rest of the yuck. She was using the phone with those hands. Did she disinfect the phone? Heck, maybe she didn't even wash her hands. 

Maybe I'm being unkind. Maybe there was some sort of reason she had to make the call while on the toilet. Like I said, I felt a little cranky. But dang. There's a long hallway, an elevator, a stairwell and the great outdoors and all of those get pretty good reception, too. Who knows. If I was thinking a little clearer at the time, I could've tried to pee the Jingle Bells tune at least.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ BBC

No, not the British Broadcasting Company. Bad Blogger Confessions.

I didn't blog yesterday. I thought about it. I could've found a YouTube video or some great sites to send you to. I could've typed up one of the many recipe scratchings on various assorted pieces of paper lying about on my table and counter. I could have posted a picture and an encouraging verse for the busy season in which we find ourselves. 

Instead, I ignored Blogger. 

While soup bubbled (it was a double batch made weeks ago and frozen for such a day) (and it was also lentil soup, so it double bubbled if you get my drift.) I sewed my little brains out. First, I had to buy thread. I've purchased 6 spools of thread since I started this project. When I post my pictures of my finished items you'll see why I've kept Hobby Lobby hopping to order new thread spools. In the meantime, I'm almost done. I took a four foot pile of fabric and condensed the leftovers into a neat 8 x 10 stack. (And about a dozen gifts.) I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

I think I'll get em done today. And then. Then I need to clear the clutter of crafting, and life, put my thinking cap on, plan the soups for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and prepare to have some festivities in my house. Oh, I still need to decorate. Hey, it's only the 14th. No problem. And here's an aside. It is currently pouring rain. So. No shoveling today. If it was colder there would be a lot of snow. :  ). Iowa is weird that way. One never knows what might be coming down the pike or out of the sky.

Tomorrow's post may be a picture of me curled up in the fetal position. But today. Today, right now, I feel totally in control.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Citrus Sesame Glaze

Delicious!!!

I had a few oranges that had seen better days. So I squeezed them, measured the juice, calculated a few combinations and put it all together.

Citrus Sesame Glaze

1/4 Cup rice vinegar

1/4 Cup sesame oil

3/4 Cup orange juice

1/3 Cup maple syrup

2 tsps sesame seeds

1 pinch of garlic powder

1 pinch of ground ginger

Heat orange juice and oil in saucepan. Add vinegar, maple syrup and sesame seeds. Let simmer approx 20 minutes until sauce thickens and reduces to a syrupy consistency. Stir frequently but not constantly. When it's the consistency you want add the pinch of garlic and ginger. Serve over veggies, meat subs or meat. We braised sliced seitan in it for 20 minutes and served over brown rice. Yummy.

It would work as a salad dressing, too.

Scraps and Snippets ~ "Hamburger" Crumbles

I did not post yesterday. I can't blame it on my internet connection, which may or may not be fixed as I had to reboot it this morning. (Happy thoughts, happy thoughts, butterflies and daisies, ah yes, I feel better.) 

I spent the evening crafting. Why? Because I'm making a few gifts this year. Oh, and because I'm INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a closet full of craft items that I just want to use up. And since I'll be having company in about two weeks and that will require massive cleaning, I decided it's time to HAUL 

everything out. That way my stress level can be OFF THE CHARTS 24/7 until Christmas Eve morning. Ha.Ha.Ha (add the deranged, twisty-eye look and a touch of desperation to the ha, ha, ha, and you've got it.) 

However, while I'm crafting Netflix is making sure I'm catching up on all sorts of stuff. In the meantime, still looking for those recipe ideas to incorporate into the family file. Here's a great one. Really. And inexpensive, too. And if my grand craft ideas turn out, I'll even share those pictures and success stories with you all. (After I gift them, of course.)

"Hamburger" Crumbles

2 Cups brown rice

2 Cups prepared lentils

1 Cup oatmeal

1/2 Cup TVP (textured Veggie Protein or more rice if you prefer)

3/4 Cup finely chopped mushrooms (not minced, but small) (or extra pecans or rice)

1/2 Cup chopped (small) pecans (Or use more rice or more mushrooms)

2 tsp black pepper

1 TBSP garlic powder

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp cayenne

1/4 tsp cumin

1/8 Cup olive oil

1/8 Cup soy sauce

Mix this all together very well. Place in lightly greased 9 x 13 pan. Place in 300 degree oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so.

You don't have to use TVP, it doesn't hold the recipe together but does give a little extra protein. I loved the texture and taste of this. I probably got 6 or 7 cups. Keeps in the fridge for a week or so. I froze cup sized bags for future use and it freezes well.

Here is the original recipe. 

My tweaks made it way easier. It did not require a trip to a store and helped use up some of the stuff I have on hand.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Farm away from Farm Part 2

Yesterday I shared a bit about the grower's conference we attended. One of the experts is a tree guy who travels the world because of his knowledge of trees. With him he brought loads of pictures of places he's traveled. And the crops they grow. Golden wheat fields in Australia, corn fields in parts of Asia etc. Bottom line, exotic and different places with crops that look freakishly like our own heartland.

And then he shared some disturbing information. Disturbing because I really want to know what has touched my food. Disturbing because I think eating local saves so much wear and tear on the planet and makes for food that actually still retains taste and food value.

Shipping, exporting and importing of food is big business. If we don't eat local, we may be eating something grown in another part of the world and shipped to us. While this is pretty much necessary when talking about things like bananas, should it be when we are talking about apples? Do we not all live within 50 miles of an orchard?

He said that much of the fish that is caught in Norway is shipped to China for processing and then back to Norway before coming to the states. It's cheaper to ship it back and forth than to process it where it was caught. He said that China has a goal of supplying 40% of America's food by 2020. What? Yeah. China. He also said he is not surprised with some of the food issues and contamination problems as he has seen the quality and processing of crops first hand.

Like I said, disturbing.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Farm away from Farm Fun

& and I went to a tri-state farm conference put on by the three state extension offices. Fascinating information. 

I learned there are lots of ways to kill bugs. The key is to start early and show no mercy. Bad bug life spans are fleeting and impressive. Get em before they multiply themselves by thousands and you have a chance. 

Growing ethnic vegetables is a tongue twister adventure. Most can't easily be pronounced by the Midwesterner and apparently our tastebuds are pretty wimpy in America. Other cultures favor bitter. Most of the ethnic vegetables I learned about will not end up on my to grow list, but I’m thinking Bok Choy sounds good and possible.

A farmer who started growing strawberries and selling them to co-workers has built a multimillion dollar harvest empire out of that very humble beginning. Another speaker, a farm manager went into the ins and outs of his CSA (Community Sustained Agriculture) experiences. (After listening to his talk, I'm pretty sure our little CSA is way better than I even realized.)

A well-traveled tree expert shared much about what he’s learned on his travels, and as a grower who runs a pick-your-own raspberry farm. He shared the do’s and don’ts if you want to attempt to make any sort of money growing fruits or vegetables. His advice was to plan, plan, plan. With his power point expertise he shared an entertaining look at good get-rich-quick agricultural ideas gone bad. Christmas tree farms. (How difficult can they be? Grow and chop 8 years later, lots of pictures of abandoned farms.) Llamas. Emu’s. Loads of people invested a whole lot of money into ideas that sounded good but just never took off. The advice…go slow, have a plan, know that you aren't going to get rich quick, or without blisters. If you don't love getting dirty, you are going to grow to hate what you do. I think that's advice that covers a lot of areas.

This conference food was the best I've ever had. All locally grown and produced. Carrot cake, roasted root vegetables. Yum. After arriving back at the farm, the farmer gave us one last load of garden booty. She had harvested lettuces, kale, chard and had a few tomatoes. Unbelievable. Especially since the lettuce was picked just days before Saturday's snow. (Pictured).

All in all, it was a very good, interesting and tasty day. 

And there was an element of disturbing, too. Come back tomorrow for that. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Technical Difficulties...

I had the internet provider fix-it squad come to the house on Saturday. My internet suffers from a cute little ebb and flow nervous tic. One minute it’ll be fully fine, so much so that three of us can be using the internet at the same time. Speed? Check. Continuity? Check. But then. Something hiccups and we lose it. The cable company aka internet provider offers an automatic troubleshooter line and I have gotten very well acquainted with the computer who asks the same questions, tells me that my internet indeed is not working, resets it and all is well. For a time. The quicker, and more often, fix has been to reset the modem myself. But. As you can imagine, this is very frustrating. When I am posting a blog post and the whole thing goes down. BIG FROWNIE FACE. When I just want to check my e-mail. BIG FROWNIE FACE. When I’m trying to make payments or look up a recipe or zone out at Netflix instant streaming or Pinterest. GRRRRR BIG ANGRY FACE. The cable guy diagnosed the problem, but didn’t fix it. He put an order in with the guys with the big trucks. And this morning I got a trickle of internet, that’s all. TRIPLE FROWNIE FACE DOUBLE DOG DARE INTENSITY ANGRY FACE.

Then I went to work. And my tower is DEAD. It’s been acting weird every once in awhile. Today it refused to do anything but look at me with it’s green eye. No heat, no fan, no power up or down noises. NADA. At least the IT guy, who is located a thousand miles away, didn't ask me if I was sure it was plugged in. Whew. He pronounced it dead. A new one is on order. I do love technology. When it works.

All that to say. Guess I’m posting when I can, if I can, and don't expect it to make sense if it dies mi.....

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Road Trips and Word Clounds..

Thought I'd buzz over to Wordle to see what word cloud came out of recent Scrambled Dregs ingredients.


Today I head out with two farmers, & and an unknown earth girl for an organic gardening conference. Should be rich. I'll see what I can glean and share.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Fowl Score and Twenty...

Slightly odd happenings and happenstances over the Thanksgiving weekend.

A) Settlers of Catan. A favorite game. Kind of like Monopoly/Pit and not sure what else. You build little wooden empires. Usually, I lose. I'm pretty sure I can count my wins on one hand and I've played it a few dozen times. Pictured is one of those few times. I trounced the table of wannabe winners.

Skill? Luck? Hmmm. A little of both. And the pictured loser is one who usually eats no meat, and he succumbed to the siren call of turkey...dare I suggest it slowed him down a bit?

And he's also prone to gloating when he wins, which is frequently. His version of gloating is subtle, Tweeting about it, taking pictures. That kind of thing.

Can I resist? No. I'll be tweaking a link so he'll be sure to see it. Ha. Ha. Salt in wound, Scott. Salt in wound. You'll lay off the turkey at Christmas won't you?

B) My folks went shopping in Walnut. Home of many antiques and apparently the original Christmas Geese. They wear diapers, too. How cute is that? I'm tempted to visit just to see this is in person.