Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Circumstantial

I had nothing to say Wednesday when I was supposed to get a post ready to go and queued up for bright and early posting on Thursday. 

I had plenty swirling around in my head. Thoughts about the frailty of life and the fragility of bodies. I was also struggling with the depravity of humanity. 

I suppose these things were on my mind because of circumstances. Circumstances... the things that happen that make us stop and ponder and sometimes reassess. The unexpected deaths of loved ones of friends and the celebration of one month with sweet little foster grandchildren.  And having them share some of their stories. Heartbreaking. 

I love the days when I can move forward and embrace life and profess I know God is good. Other times, I am faced with the choice to BELIEVE that God is good. In spite of evidence that others have used since Eve's first taste of forbidden fruit, that far too often His rulership of the world looks nothing like mine would.

If I ran the world rights and freedom would go to those who value them, not abuse them. In my world the evil would live short and insignificant lives and the good-hearted would live long and do far reaching good all their years. The world I'd create would be full of loved and cared for innocents. And each of those precious ones would go, every night, to to a comfortable, safe bed with satisfied tummies and maybe a favorite story dancing through their thoughts or at least dreams of sugar plums or puppy treats. 

Therein lies my struggle.  Will I believe God is smarter than me? Better at knowing the outcomes of struggles? Is the sometimes hideousness of this world an opportunity to show how much He has to offer those who are willing to believe His story?

I know I cannot manage my own life, I have tried. And failed. What I think I need is often full of sorrow or remorse and what I would never choose for myself has radically changed my life for the better. 

So, in spite of circumstances that sometimes make me so burdened I feel 20 years older, I will choose to believe that God knows what He's doing. That He is in the process of restoring, healing, saving and redeeming. I have enough proof. 

Scrambles and Scribbles ~ An Ear by Any Other Name is Still an Ear?

It took me a bit but I just figured out that I subconsciously really wanted a Beagle apparently.

Some of the cutest videos I've seen are featuring Beagles.  This one. is the one I found a few months ago that involved the smart dog climbing up on the counter and liberating chicken nuggets from the toaster oven. Yup. She's a Beagle.

And the cutie who loaded up the baby with toys after stealing her favorite? A Beagle. Here's more of Charlie.

My dream dog was a Corgi. I love the off the chart cuteness, the short stubby legs and the color blocking. Their size is perfect. 13ish inches tall and 25 pounds. You can pick em up and have them on your lap but they are sturdy enough to act like a bigger dog. Turns out a Beagle is almost the same stats height and weight and the difference in my book is going to be flopped ears instead of bat ears. Hmmm. I'm pretty sure my babies are my dream dogs.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ What We Do While We Go Out for Potty Biznes...

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Link Fun

Baby and dog pictures. 

Melancholy Cats

Scraps and Snippets ~ Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread. Yes. Seriously. OVER THE TOP

Uh. This is pretty easy. And stinking decadent. I mean. It rocks in the worst way, as in it is a sugar slap upside the head and the little cinnamon crunch balls slide down oh so easy. 

Good Morning Sunshine Super Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread (realistically serves 6-10) (If it’s all you are making plan on 6.)

2 Cans of vegan friendly (TJ's) cinnamon rolls (12+ ounces). (You could try homemade rolls with similar results I'm guessing.)

½ Cup melted earth balance or coconut oil

1 Cup sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

Mix sugar and cinnamon together in one bowl. In another melt the Earth Balance or coconut oil.

Prepare a bundt pan with a good greasing. Preheat the oven to 350. Remove the cinnamon rolls. Set the frosting packets aside. Place the cinnamon roll sections on a cutting board. Slice each roll into four segments. Basically cut in half and then in half the other way. Don’t worry. They will start to fall apart a bit. Take each fourth and dip in melted "butter" then sugar and cinnamon mixture and drop into bundt pan. If the sections fall apart that’s okay. When it bakes they will all come together. Keep going until the rolls are all coated and stuck in the pan. If there is butter sub or sugar/cinnamon left just pour over the rolls. Place in oven and bake for 30-33 minutes. If you want, pull out a small piece from the middle after 28 or so minutes. You don’t want overdone but doughy is nasty. You should see bubbling caramelly deliciousness and smell cinnamon sugar. When baked remove from oven and allow to sit 10 minutes. Place plate over pan and flip so the bundt cake slides out onto the plate.

Cool another 5 min then drizzle (cut the tip off or puncture and squeeze) one frosting packet over the top of the monkey bread. Cut the tip off or puncture the second frosting packet and set aside for those who want more frosting.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Creative Dads I'd Like to Meet,,,

There is something both innocently sweet and horrifyingly scary when children spend time alone with Daddy. As demonstrated in these adorable videos...(warning to the sensitive...the 2nd one contains a bit of written indelicate language). I found them on a website I follow and had to embed and share them, too.

Mothers can sometimes suck the fun and the joy out of events because we can focus on the teensiest of important details. A man who hasn't lost his wonder and awe about life makes a great buffer. 

My life would not be complete had I not experienced a dad who was unafrsid of the unknown and knew important and dangerous science and stuff! 

My own kids getting filthy dirty and being used as tools/helpers have become richer human beings as well!

You dads who include your kids in your adventures...carry on. Your kids will be full of memories and possibly fodder for therapy sessions.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Wednesday Weirdos

The pups are totally mobile. Up and down the steps...easy peasy.

Can you see a problem with this scenario? Sometimes the up and down happen at times we want them to stay close.

There are a whole lot of things that can happen when a quiet puppy is out of eyesight.

So. We spend as much time as possible out of doors.

Oddly, I discovered, as Rob paced with Gertrude so she would focus on pottying, that one puppy makes for moments when one can see a pensive puppy pondering the grass. With two it's full on drama. Until they crash. Of course.