Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Squeak-A-Long

cool sculpture in a violin repair shop...

Violin story...

Did I mention how hard this is for me? The complete and total remodeling of my brain...intense. For starters reading music...little black dots on series of a vertical and horizontal display of clotheslines. Easy enough, right? Those clotheslines have letters assigned to them. The lines are E(very) G(ood) B(oy) D(oes) F(ine) or Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge. The spaces are FACE.

Easy. UNTIL one has to take those little black dots and figure out which space or line it falls upon and WHICH corresponding string and finger placement is required to make the proper sound. I'll let you know when I actually pull this off. 

Then, the G string. The queen mother of low notes has a logical placement below the clothesline. And these. Whew, these totally mess with my mind. Though it makes total sense on paper, the way these notes are supposed to be played, it makes very little sense to my eyes, my fingers and my brain. 

Also, to complicate things, the notes on the pages are repetitious. Like A through G over and over again. And those notes all have special places on the strings of my violin. And bowing must be just so, if not, all manner of screeching ensues. 

 Oh, and, the little black dots can morph into connected dots, flagged dots and open centered dots....and dots with special tiny dots, too. Each of these means something. That something is a whole lot of CHALLENGE.

Note to all you children out there. If you ever think you might want to make pretty music someday, learn it now, while your brains are still elastic and limber.  

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Ridiculous

My sense of humor is a little off the wall.

My family used to watch me during sad/touching scenes in movies because I'd always cry. But not that long ago someone made the startling realization that when I watch anything that others might be rolling around on the floor laughing at, I may remain stone cold sober....until someone gets hurt.

Sick and twisted I know, but I love me some good physical humor. And I love ridiculous and clever one-liners. I also kinda love jokes that are "innocently" socially unacceptable.  Along the lines of little Susie swallowed a spoon....or "Cat's Revenge"...

Anyhoo. As I got into the truck to head home after work, I saw a shopping list Rob had written that included some supplies for &'s apartment. One of the words triggered a memory of one of those socially unacceptable jokes that I find to be hilarious.

And I seriously chuckled all the way home.

I can't tell you what the joke is because a) it's socially unacceptable and b) because you would be so confused as to why the incident triggered the giggles...really...not that funny.....unless you are me...then it's stinkin hilarious.

Here's hoping you witness something that tickles your funny bone today.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Squeal-a-thon...

Time to fess up and tell those of you who don't know that I've embarked on one of the more challenging adventures in my life. I mean seriously challenging.

The picture is a clue. It's an unfortunate picture because I hit a little snafu this week. (story coming)

Here's the explanation...since sometime around Christmas, I picked up the violin again.

Let me clarify.... when I say "picked up the violin" I basically mean I pick it up and make it squawk in ways it should never squeak.

I now "know" and by "know" I mean kind of recognize and, if I stand just so, and hold my right hand, elbow and shoulder just perfect and contort my left arm, wrist and fingers into intense positions, can play 13 notes.

Trust me, 13 notes is almost a miracle. And this is one of the hardest things I've ever done. What I learned in 4th grade, I do NOT remember. What I tried to learn by teaching myself via books and the internet two years ago was surpassed in the first ten minutes in my first lesson.

And from what my teacher tells me, 13 notes is the tip of the iceberg.

Trust me, there will be more coming....

Scraps and Snippets ~ Garlic French Bread Pizza

Garlic French Bread Pizza

Make sure your bread is dairy-free, some bakeries may use an eggwash. 

Slice the bread in half lengthwise.  And then in half horizontally so you have four pieces of approx the same size. 

2 TBSP Earth Balance 
1 tsp (or to your preference depending on how much you like garlic, you might want to start with 1/2 teaspoon) garlic powder

Mix together and smear the mixture onto the four pieces of bread. (You don't want it to be thick, just a nice flavor enhancing covering.)

Let sit while you saute your vegetables. 

I used thin sliced asparagus, mushrooms and onions on this one. 3/4 to 1 cup of mushrooms and asparagus should do, the onion about half of that. Basil, tomatoes and garlic slivers would be amazing. As would olives. Just about anything you'd love on your vegan pizza would be tasty. This is a great way to use up extra veggies or leftovers.

Saute the veggies to doneness you desire. 

Broil the bread until the Earth Balance begins to brown. Don't let it get too brown. Ha.Ha. Like I did. When the middle of each section appears golden, add the veggies. Sprinkle. Really, lightly, you just want to enhance the flavor, not bury it in cheese, sprinkle, Vegan mozzarella over it. (Daiya or Trader Joe's are good choices) About 3 ounces or so. Broil again until the cheese melts. 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Cinnamon Pecan Date Bars

I found a date bar recipe online last week. Rob loved his Mom's date bars and I had a church potluck coming up. So I tweaked the recipe making it Vegan and decreasing the sugar and added cinnamon and pecans. Let me just say, Yum. 

Cinnamon Pecan Date Bars

Filling
 
12 to 16 oz chopped dates  (about 3 cups cut up)
1 1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Combine chopped dates and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer, stirring often.  Simmer gently until thickened, about 10 - 15 minutes.
 
Add lemon juice, stir well. Add cinnamon and stir again.

Crust and Crumb Topping

1/2 cup coconut oil softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup large flake oatmeal
1 Cup chopped pecans

Grease a  8 X 11 inch or 9 inch square pan or line with parchment paper.  Preheat oven to 350 F
 
Cream coconut oil and sugars together well. 
 
Add flour and baking soda and stir to combine.  Add the oatmeal and pecans and mix the ingredients with your hands.
 
Press 2/3 of the mixture into the pan firmly. Spread the date filling evenly over the base and sprinkle with remaining crumbs.  Spread evenly and pat gently .
 
Bake for 25 - 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and cut into bars or squares.
 
Keep covered in the refrigerator or freeze.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Would You?

Plinky asked. 

 

If you could live your life over again, would you choose to do it? Why or why not? 

 

My answer? 

 

Hands down YES. 

 

Every mistake, every error, every challenge and every hurt has taught me, changed me and made me cling all the harder to life and what that means. 

 

I have found blessings in the darkest nights of my soul. God has proved Himself to me and given me reason for hope, regardless of circumstances. 

 

The people in my life, those near/dear ones have shaped me and  loved me, and I'm eternally grateful for their fingerprints on my life.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Summing...

Plinky to the rescue again. 

Choose and write about 5 (or 10) possessions that sum up who you are. 

 

 Hmmm. This may be easy...or then again, not. 

 

1.)  The item that makes me feel righteous to mention as number 1 is my Bible. Just like a little kid who answers all his Sunday School teacher's questions with God, Jesus or the Bible because chances are one of those will be the answer.  But the absolute underlying truth is that I want my life to spark in people a desire to know Jesus. And He is the central person in the Bible.  And He was not about religion. So. I hope as I walk with Him I grow more to look like Him. Knowing Him means I read His words and talk to Him. The Bible it is then.

 

2. )  Family pictures. My little band of six. There is nothing I love more than spending time with my kids and my husband. 

 

 3. ) Cookbooks and cooking tools. I don't need to explain that one further, right? 

 

4. ) This one is imaginary because it does not exist as one of my possessions, but I kind of wish it did. A DVD of all my favorite laugh out loud clips from my favorite movies and television shows. Not the full shows, just the clips. How fun to be able to watch all of those hilarious moments whenever I was having a bad day. The twist here is that my sense of humor is skewed and most of my favorite clips involve someone taking a tumble. And a book of stellar writing moments, too, would be amazing, all of those favorite turns of phrase or word art. Strange that my writing collection would be deep and mind tweaking. I don't know that I'd have much funny in the word keeper department.

 

5. ) Color. Seriously. Color. I need a variety. It makes me happy. Just like polka dots. And color and polka dots are the best combo. And texture. Gotta throw that in there. I need to get one of those super fuzzy floppy rugs in multicolored polka dot.  Then that would be me and my number 5.