Starting back up again

It has come to my attention that perhaps the time has come to start up my blog again. I am starting to get into designing thoughts and sayings, and some people would like to pin them, but they can't do that from Facebook. So I thought I would put them here. First off, let me say that I love doing this. I have done some fun things for my Young Women (did I tell you I was in Young Women's now? It HAS been a long time!) But before I begin, a word of caution. I am going to fill this blog with my philosophy in life. I make no apologies. I am targeting no one. My philosophy might not be your philosophy. Please play nice. I have recently had an episode in my life where I put my philosophy out there to share and someone thought I was targeting her. I was not. I was defending my philosophy. I also have seen in a group that I belong to that some people get really offended when someone posts something they don't agree with. Honestly I could go around with carrying my fence around all day (personal joke, don't take a fence (offence)) about things people say or do, but it would give me too many wrinkles, and since I am a grandmother now, I already have my fair share. So take this in the Spirit it is intended, and we will have some fun. I will post some of my design work, and you can pin it on pinterest. Yeah for us.

Happy Bean Soup and Being Brave

So, little did I know when I woke up this morning I would be making a pot of my delicious Happy Bean Soup. I have been toying with the idea of entering Deseret Book's soup contest. The prize is for a $100 gift certificate, but that isn't why I wanted to do this. I reinvented this soup a few years ago when Randy asked me to make him some white bean soup. I had no idea how to make white bean soup. The only thing I did know was that you needed a ham bone. So I looked up a recipe and it seemed good to me. It had parsnips in it. I had NEVER eaten parsnips before, and wasn't sure what they looked like. (4th picture down on the right) I had never tasted them before either. Here is what I did to make this soup mine: First of all, I replaced most of the butter used with truffle oil. If you have never had truffle oil, well, it is heavenly. It is pungent and earthy and makes things taste amazing. Truffles are one of the most expensive foods on the planet. The way to get around the cost is to use infused oil. Try to find the smelliest oil you can. Price doesn't always determine this. A bottle costs anywhere between $11 and $23 depending on where you shop. I think we decided that the best was from Williams and Sonoma. Worth the investment, really, I kid you not. The other thing I did to tweak the recipe was to double the amount of ham. More ham more good in my book. The final thing that makes it mine not theirs and I think adds tremendously to the taste is to use vegetable stock instead of water. I think I used water the first few times I tried it and then decided to try veggie stock. IT TASTES TOTALLY BETTER! Mine is way better than THEIRS. So I made soup today and took pictures. You had to add a picture to your entry. I don't know if I will win. But I have shared with you a wonderul recipe and if you like it, and you smile, it will make me happy.

Texas Caviar

What my husband is obsessed with lately. And it's tasty too. Being the gringos we are, we don't add the jalapenos, but you can do what you like with it. Oh and I've discovered we like either nice cherry or grape tomatoes quartered in this better than regular big tomatoes because they have more flavor. Enjoy....

The first and the last. Last time for Stephen to start school (he's a senior); Last child to go to elementary school in her final year... first time driving to A hour which I am blessed (no sarcasm here, is there???) for an entire year. What a day

This Is Me Challenge: Challenge #17—You say “Yes”, I say “No”

This Is Me Challenge: Challenge #17—You say “Yes”, I say “No”http://scatteredsunshine-mommabees.blogspot.com/2011/08/yes-and-no.html

Yes and No

A New entry to the This is Me Challenge: What I would always say yes to and what I have a hard time saying yes to...

This is me....

So I found this fun blog with great ideas on keeping a personal history on sugardoodle.net. There are actually two websites, one that is just for Mormons and one that is for anyone. I decided that this is going to be my challenge for the next little while. I will play with this and upload it to my blog. I think I should also add some of the about me layouts I did for a 30 day challenge in May. That way you can get to know me.... or not... your choice.