Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Screechy, Screechy, OH! I Get It

Seems little tiny details really do make a difference when playing the violin. 

Like knowing where your fingers are supposed to go. A teeny bit up or down and not good. Then there's timing...you all know about my whole rhythm ridiculousness...well, I think I figured something out. 

My teacher explained it to me again, for the tenth time, maybe twentieth, and I think I understand, kind of. 

In my book there was a little section when I started learning eighth notes that had 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & underneath the score. And it said I should count those out loud while playing. Well, I didn't. I had enough trouble just counting 1 2 3 4. I thought I couldn't add the &, too. And still learn the crazy-backwards-but-not-really G string. So I kept kinda counting 1 2 3 4. What difference would it make and why clutter up the simple tap, tap, tap, tap of 1 2 3 4? And, of course, I didn't ask my teacher. Though I'm sure he appreciated that there was one thing I didn't ask him to explain again. He probably assumed that though I'm slow, I was still trying to obey the basic, iron clad rules.

Now. I maybe got away with this for a bit. There were the few times he nailed me for not actually counting because he could tell by my note issues that I was a bit off. He can tell by my behavior issues that I'm a lot off, but that's another story. 

Turns out, that 1, 2, 3, 4 isn't necessarily how I was supposed to be counting. I'm supposed to count the lowest denominator of notes. So if a piece has eighth, quarter and half notes, I need to count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 because the eighth notes follow that pattern and nail number and & and the quarter notes hit on the number and play through the &. Hello!

So life lesson. Little things do matter. They add up and make the musical score that follows us through life. I don't want to screech or be three clicks forward or two clicks behind all the folks playing alongside of me. For reals.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Road Trippin with Gratitude

Our Easter weekend was rich with sensory details. 

I took a whirlwind trip (10 hours) to Kansas City with Lindsey and & (the Vegan cheese girls) to help with an Arbonne party. Why would I go to Kansas City to help with an Arbonne party? Well, because I'm an Arbonne girl, now. (A mature woman, extremely professional and mature, actually.) I'm a huge fan of the products and the business is as good or better than the products. Just sayin. And feel free to ask questions about either one. 

But I digress. The cheese girls went along for moral support and because Cafe Gratitude was exactly 25 minutes away from our party. We not only managed a meal at Cafe Gratitude, but a side trip visit to FUD for a shared dessert. Oh, and hit a cute shop that looked like &'s Pinterest board. 

Anyhoo, I digress again. 

If you happen to be Vegan, vegetarian or love flavorful food served with charming quirk... and passing through Kansas City, give Cafe Gratitude a shot. I'm pretty sure you'll leave as impressed as we were. And full. 

We split one of the bowls. Not sure what it was called. I'm E-something. Each of the names is an I statement...or I'm statement. Like I'm Amazed. I'm Beautiful, I'm Positive, I'm Upbeat, I'm Creative. And none of those may actually be the names of the dishes. However, whatever I'mer's we chowed were delicious. Like I said, we split a brown rice/quinoa bowl of deliciousness....and a CLT (Coconut Bacon) YUM sandwich with the best black bean soup ever. And shared a raw nacho appetizer with a blob of -bury-your-face-in-it's-so-stinkin-good guacamole.  

Fud was a few blocks away. Would have loved hoofing it there and checking out the quirky neighborhood, but we did have a reason to be in KC, and time was ticking, so we drove. 

We shared a Vegan brownie sundae. Cashew ice cream and nine toppings. That sucker was amazing. Seriously. Nuts, chocolate and caramel drizzle, goji berries, blueberries. So good. 

Highly recommended by all three of us. And Kansas City is seriously just three hours away. Who knows what might end up happening there that will need our time and attention, ya know. Also. Heard IKEA is opening up there, too. Hello! 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Buffalo Scalloped Potatoes

Buffalo Scalloped Potatoes

5-6 medium potatoes thinly sliced or diced
1/2 onion thinly sliced or diced
1 TBSP Earth Balance
1 tub Vegan cream cheese (8 ounces, I used Trader Joe's)
2 stalks finely diced celery
1/2 tsp celery salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried parsley
1 and 1/2 cups of the following liquids...water and red hot/pepper/wing sauce. I uses 1/2 cup Frank's hot sauce and 1/4 cup of habenaro hot pepper sauce and 3/4 cup water. This was a spicy combo. Nicely spicy for heat lovers, too much for weenies. :  ).

Instructions:

Dice or slice the potatoes and onion. Heat the Earth Balance in a skillet and toss in onions and potatoes and brown so they are semi-crunchy and caramelized. 

While the potatoes are browning, preheat oven to 350 and slightly spray 8 x 11 or 10 inch round pan. 

In a medium bowl mix liquids with the cream cheese. Add the spices and mix very well. Add the diced celery and blend. 

When your potatoes and onions are cooked to your preference slide half into the baking pan. Pour half of the buffalo sauce over the potatoes. Add the rest of the potatoes and repeat with rest of the sauce. Bake at 350 for approx 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and the sauce is bubbling.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ 11:11 Revelation

What shall I post? It's 11:11 p.m. on the eve of a long day, toward the end of a busy week. 

A recipe would be easy. I have one, sitting there, waiting for me to copy and paste. More silly ramblings are also a strong possibility. 

But. What's on my mind is a jumble of deep thoughts. I suppose late and tired is not a great time to churn out thoughts. But that's never stopped me before. 

I'm thinking about worship. And about interactions and about faith. 

I love Jesus with all that I am. But, I hate so much of what is said and done in His name. And I hate religion. Why do we think we can understand, let alone dissect, the God Whom spoke us into existence from dust He created? Why do we think we can label and classify the importance, the value and significance of people around us when each one of those people was hand-crafted by the One Whom holds all things together? Why does He allow us to choose to follow Him, rather than demand it? Why does He respect and honor our choices to push Him away or deny Him His deity, His birthright, His honor and His glory? And the biggest question of all...why would He humble Himself and become human so that He could be tortured and killed for the sins and forgiveness of those who were wielding the whips, the hammers and the vicious words? 

I can't understand a God who would become man. Who would take my place and my well-deserved consequences. Why would the Lion of Judah, the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the very Son of God die for me? It makes no sense. It feels like a fairy tale, or a fable that some day will be revealed to be a small, weak figment behind a large magnifying glass and a puff of smoke, and clash of cheap cymbals. 

But. There is a flame in my heart, flickering, and bursting into full roar at times that tells me that what I believe is mind-bogglingly real. And that this life is the shadow, and the small, weak figment behind the puff of smoke and the clanging racket. That fire also reminds me that this life is where I can choose, and where I can change, where I can practice loving, where what I do, what I believe, sets the course for my eternity. 

Maybe it's the late hour. Maybe it's because I had two long conversations about worship and Christian music today. Maybe it's because two thousand plus years ago Jesus wasn't understood, wasn't honored, wasn't worshiped and was nearing the end of His physical ministry in a horrible slaughter. Or maybe it's because I've listened to the words of the Revelation Song over and over again, and can't get the image out of my head that this God I love is beyond description. And that maybe "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty Who is and was and is to come. With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings" is almost all I need to say to the God Who died for me, and rose again and went to prepare a place for me, and left the seed of His Holy Spirit planted deeply in my heart, and Who will come back for me. 

Call me simple. Call me foolish. Call me wrong.  Tell me that there is only one acceptable style of worship. Or that I am beyond forgiveness. Or that I'm not following the right Ten Step Pattern to Spiritual Wholeness. Tell me that there is a limit to the number of times we can sing a song per month, or the number of verses or times we revisit a chorus. Or that I'm listening to the wrong channel in the universe. And I'm still going to love you. And I'm still going to love Jesus Christ, my Messiah, my God, my reason for joy and peace and wonder. And I'm still going to feel the flames in my heart stir when I sing "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty Who is and was and is to come and with all creation I'll sing praise to the King of Kings Who is my everything" and I will adore Him.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Twists of Tongue and Tweak of Mind

You never know what you might find....
 

You know how I lapse into bizarre poetry at times? 

Well, I don't very often, fortunately. But you need to see how I come by this naturally. 

These are extra special snippets from the family Easter dinner email discussion. No names will be used to protect the innocent...of which are few...very few. 

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To set a time to meet would be quite a feat ---- night, noon, or morning as long as there is warning.  Where we go, just let me know.  Of course we'll meet the vegan wishes for some plant-based dishes

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Egad, egad, no prose is had--

I cannot rhyme for lack of time--

So I shall bring some veggie thing,

Like peppers milled & onions grilled 

With mushrooms sliced & olives diced:

Random shopping, taco topping.

You may desist & shake your fist,

But dear Shakespeare has naught to fear.

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Me, who eschews 

words of superflous
wonders what is left
that leaves the table bereft? 

 

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Around 21 our number should be,
 which rules out a sit down As you can see.
  So, plan on buffet style, and casual attire
If you see a hole in the menu, then ready, aim, fire,
And fill it up to your heart’s content. 
A good time of fellowship is the intent.
A time to praise God for His magnificent ways
A time to thank Him for the Ancient of Days. 
(Gotta love the nice reason for the season plug! 
Impressive word wrangling, said with a smile and shrug. )
 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Random Words of Kindness Day

I just made that up. As far as I know there is no such thing as Random Words of Kindness Day.... 

But wouldn't that be pretty cool? 

I mean I love the concept of Random Acts of Kindness. But sometimes paying anonymously for someone's meal is simply money and good intentions. Words, on the other hand, are both cheap and powerful. They cost a user time and thought. And they can make a receiver's day, week, month or even life. 

Look for someone, anyone, to say something kind or encouraging to. Don't praise and pull out the dusty list form the 90's that tells you the 100 best ways to praise a child. Instead. Focus on who they are, and what makes them seem to thrive. Don't kindly mention how cute an outfit is, that doesn't count. Instead look beneath that and find something that is them, and then remind them of that important fact about themselves. 

Want examples? Tell someone whom you love that knowing them has added color and laughter and joy to your life and that you are grateful to have them in your life. Or if you see a mom struggling to love her kids the best way she can in spite of hardships, tell her you see her struggle and that she's doing a good job. One of the best compliments I ever got as a mom was when someone told me that my kids were old-fashioned kids, respectful, polite, interested in life, and sweet. That clearly left a mark since they are all adults now and I still remember that comment. If someone you work with is a hard worker and dependable, tell them just that. 

Your words are powerful tools to change lives. Try it.

Scraps and Snippets ~ I've Found the Trick to Crunchy Roasted Chickpeas ~ A Sweet Version and A Savory One, Too.

I love the idea of roasted chickpeas. Chickpeas (garbanzo beans) are packed with protein and fiber. These little guys, when done right, can conquer the need-to-crunch craving. And the extra fiber and protein mean that a small handful can go a long way to satisfy.

I've attempted recipes I've found on blogs which require baking/roasting the chickpeas for 45 minutes at 425 to 450 degrees. I've been disappointed in the crunch factor. But roasting longer means some of them or all of them are going to burn. The trick is letting them dehydrate after roasting. (Go ahead and make these the day before, they don't lose their crunch when packed in a lidded container.)

Mixing is quick but baking takes a bit longer. You will bake/roast them at 425 for 40 minutes turning them at 20 minutes. Drop the oven temperature to 300 and let them bake another half hour or so. Turn off the heat and allow the pan to sit in the oven while it cools.

Thai Chickpeas

Rinse and dump one can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in a bowl. (If you do your own beans from dried it is 1 and 2/3 cup cooked beans). Add.
1 TBSP soy sauce
½ TBSP peanut butter
½ teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix well.

Dump coated beans on a greased cookie tray. Bake at 425 for 40 minutes turning at 20 minutes. After 40 minutes turn oven to 300 and cook an additional half hour. Turn off oven and leave the tray alone until it until it cools. (an hour) (These make fun croutons.)


A sweet version: Cinnamon Maple Chickpea Crunch

1/2 TBSP melted coconut oil
2 TBSP maple syrup
1/2 TBSP brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix ingredients in a bowl and add a drained/rinsed can of chickpeas (if you make your own beans from dry this will be approx 1 2/3 Cup of cooked chickpeas.) Mix well and dump on a greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 425 for 40 minutes turning at 20 minutes. After 40 minutes turn oven to 300 and cook an additional half hour. Turn off oven and leave the tray alone until it until it cools. (an hour)