Scraps and Snippets - Easy Candy Cookies

Easy Candy Cookies

1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1 TBSP  peanut butter or coconut oil
1 to 2 Cups of miscellaneous add-ins.

dried fruit (cherries, blueberries, banana chips, cranberries, raisins)
nuts (peanuts, chopped pecans or walnuts)
other (shredded coconut, broken pretzels, crushed potato chips, crispy cereal, granola)

Melt chocolate, add peanut butter/coconut oil and stir well. Add mix ins and stir. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet and refrigerate until hardened.

I made peanut butter with broken pretzels and dry roasted peanuts. And another batch with chopped almonds, coconut oil and dried cherries. 

Makes about 20

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Different Twist With Practice...

Sometimes, I get frustrated and bored when practicing my violin. One can only play Happy Birthday so many times, ya know. Happy Birthday and Bingo. And other odd snippets with quirky titles like "Snow Day" that may or may not really be written sound like what I'm producing.

Then, while I'm squeaking along, I might notice that I'm not alone. And that the creature who is with me is very fascinated by the mesmerizing movement of the bow. Then... I feel a little tempted to use my bow in other ways. Yeah. Very mature. But fun. 

Scraps and Snippets ~ Flawless Brussels Sprouts

Brussels Sprouts. So tasty. Unless they are wimpy mush. This guarantees no mush. Preheat oven to 425.

Peel the top layer off, chop the dry stem end off. 

Bring water to a boil. 

Drop the sprouts into the water and boil for two minutes. 

Grease a pan large enough to hold your sprouts.

Place sprouts in pan and drizzle with a little oil and spice of choice. I used garlic flavored oil. 

Roast for approx 25 minutes. Some of the outer leaves may crisp and darken which only makes them more tasty. Check sprouts for preferred texture. If you want them more tender, add a few more minutes.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Strange Thoughts...

If you ran away and joined the circus, what would your role be? Would you run a concession? Would you train elephants? Be a clown? Ringmaster? Why? 

I would NOT be a clown. I would NOT want to taint another generation of innocent children. In case you don't pick up on the tone, clowns are not my favorite critters. FEARFUL and a little creepy. But, I did have a bad clown experience. I was five...something unexpected and loud happened, I spilled my popcorn. And another incident at a circus had me spilling a very large, very sticky pop down the back of the person in front of me. But that had nothing to do with clowns.

What I would do? Feeding peanuts to elephants. Yes. Low level trapeze. Six feet off the ground. I'd do that.  Maybe five feet.

 

 

Glimmer...

It feels like the world is growing darker. Deception is piled up like steaming piles of excrement wherever we turn. Opinions are becoming so deeply ingrained that the only way to win an argument or make a point is through dramatic emotional attack or physical violence. 

Why does our society think screamed words or social media bullying or fists of fury are going to buy them respect, converts or supporters? Or is the crown "earned" when standing over a bloodied victim and donning the self-awarded title of King of the Mountain? 

I am so grateful for the glimpses of good that we can still see in the aftermaths. Those who treat others with respect and kindness....even if that other person doesn't agree or will ever agree. I am so grateful to see forgiveness change the darkness to dawn. I am awed by the moments where I witness true love for humanity and life. I'm encouraged by those who choose to get up every morning, in spite of their struggles, and make the effort to go out and face the day. And smile, and offer kind words, and a human touch, and hope in a very, very dark world. A small flame of light puncturing the darkness, adding a glimmer where there had been only dank.

There is the truth. Right? Life matters. Living it matters. Treating it as precious and fleeting and beautiful, even in the raw grittiness of it, matters. Please. As you struggle with your emotions and fears, your doubts and your sorrows today, remember that life matters so much. And that the way you treat life makes ripples that lap into eternity. Choose to live life today and to make a difference in someone else's life. Reach out to, touch, laugh with, cry with, smile at, extend hope to, hug or love someone today. 

Prayers

Blather. Just can't do it.

My violin teacher went to Boston to support his dad as he participated in the Boston Marathon.

They are okay, even though his dad was very near one of the explosions.

My prayers are with those who were injured, those who's lives will forever be impacted by this afternoon, and those who lost a little more innocence, a little more peace and gained a new layer of fear.