I've some catching up to do...

It's been a while since I've posted on here. Many things have happened and I've realized that I need to use this as an entertaining form of therapy. Maybe some inspiring, thought provoking things might occur.

 Since our last visit I'm:

• still working on meeting my budget goals
• am closer to paying off my car. (man I will be glad to not have a payment. But isn't it just replace with repair bills?)
• changed jobs (not an easy feat when you're over 40)
• try a new recipe a couple times a month. (my new favorite is Root Beer Float cookies)
• had my gall bladder removed which has prompted me to change up my diet. (that was a whole experience of its own. Turns out I've been dealing with a "diseased gall bladder" for a number of years)
• went on a girls trip (yup. did it. and enjoyed it!)
• discovered I love photography and I'm fairly good at it. (note: all photos are taken with my cell phone. No fancy camera here. Hopefully, in the future. Maybe after I pay off my car?)

Ok, enough for now.

My goal here is to include something inspiring, whimsical, quirky, thought provoking or just plain filler for when you are bored.

So for now the best cookies ever...really. On my third batch I  was up to 3tsp of Root Beer concentrate. I think it's a nice blend. Try it out on your own.  I've also added the link for this recipe. She has some great stuff.
http://www.chef-in-training.com/

Let me know what you think. You will need to make more than one batch......

4.0 from 1 reviews

ROOT BEER PUDDING COOKIES

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These taste like a root beer float in cookie form! They are so soft and delicious!

Serves: 3 dozen cookies

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ cup butter, softened
• ¾ cup light brown sugar
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 small box instant vanilla pudding mix, dry, do not prepare
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp. Root Beer concentrate, can add more depending on personal preference
• 2¼ cup flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1-2 cups white chocolate chips

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cream butter and sugars together.
2. Beat in instant vanilla pudding mix well.
3. Add eggs and root beer concentrate and beat until well incorporated.
4. Add flour and baking soda and beat until well incorporated.
5. Stir in white chocolate chips.
6. Roll into 1" balls and place on greased cookie sheet.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.

Back for a moment to invite you to visit this blog.
sauceywench.blogspot.com

Life is interesting and surprising. I'm optimistic. This year has been full of life changes. I will get to that. But for now. Take a moment to visit Izzy Blu and Bubbles LaRue. I kinda like them.
J

Update...trying a new thing

It's been a long time since I last posted on here. My apologies. I do have some nice things to add as I've been trying to explore what is right around the corner. (without the cobwebs) I've become an amateur photographer. Surprised? Yes, me too. I don't have a fancy camera. All my photos are taken with my cell phone. (A 4S iPhone, in case your interested)  I've always loved taking pictures, of people, nature, interesting-unique things. One day a friend said...What don't you post this on a photography site and see what kind of feed back you get. Brilliant!  I didn't realize how my confidence would build. I've met new people on my adventures, realized I have a self worth that I didn't have before. Now, mind you, they are not all good, but even the bad ones make me smile. I did that. I DID THAT! On my own.  I traveled to a place I've never gone, found the beauty and have immortalized it.  Memorialized it? Anyway.... I will continue to hike, drive, explore the corners of this beautiful country we call the Pacific Northwest and you can tell me what you think. Pointers appreciated...except for "buy a new camera".  Carry on.

In Olympia WA. Pretty cool building don't you think? It was right by the Starbucks...most things I find are right by a Starbucks.

Long Beach Washington...I love light houses. This is probably one of my favorite pics

Morning fog in Woodland, WA. Really, it is beautiful ...and slowly rolls in eventually enveloping the whole area. Eeeeeeery. Natures cobweb??

But the next day...this beautiful cloud formation.

Lovin' the country. I think those trees on the hill look like the ones from Lord of the Rings. I expect them to start walking down soon.

thanks for visiting. More photos to come as I adventure on....

Sharing Gifts

I have always felt that each person is given a special gift. For some it is the loyalty they display in each friendship they acquire, for others it can be a great smile, the ability to make people laugh,being able to do a math problem without taking the class, being a great athlete, knowing when someone needs comfort, or one of those people that just...helps. I have always labeled myself as "the entertainer". I provide entertainment in many forms to those around me. Sometimes it is with chatter in an otherwise silent room, sometimes its making people laugh, other times it is to be a listener, sometimes it's making those comments that everyone is thinking but no one will say...(oops)  and then there's that gift of music.

I've been having this feeling for several years that I need to be sharing it. Not wanting, but needing. Not in the form of on stage with a mic, although I have done that, but just sharing.  I no longer really want to be up in front performing. I much prefer singing with friends just because we want to. The other evening I got a chance to do just that. A couple friends and I got together for a wonderful lady who is a hospice patient. We sang songs she picked out, songs others picked out and just enjoyed the night. 2 1/2 hours later....I walked out exhausted, but joyous.

 I had looked around to see the banjo player with the talented fingers pickin' out a tune, the guitar player who knows every song out there and plays with ease. Their wives, and children joining in. The wonderful lady on her last moments in this world holding a downs baby who fell asleep to the music in her arms. I looked at my very good friends who are guitar and piano players and wonderful singers and thought...wow...this is what I hope the next chapter of my life brings.

I was right in that I need to share my own gift.

When my father passed away I would play the piano and pretty much just read the music and follow along. Shortly after he was gone I felt this urging to fill in between the notes. I start adding things here and there and soon these songs became... me.  At some point I had tears running down my face as I heard my father say "that's it. Keep going".  Now I know that when I sing it's a part of me, my father and the gifts he shared (violin, mandolin, guitar,mouth harp, harmonica and singer) that molded me into who I am. I did need to share. I DO, need to share, present tense. I need to share for me, to bring smiles to others, to appreciate those around me and start filling a spot in my heart that has been aching for quite some time.

God gives us talents that we need to expand I guess. In order for me to fill full, I need to give. And that's what I intend to to.

Book 2

Today my youngest daughter received her graduation announcements. I guess it's final now. She is going to graduate and I will be an empty nester with all four of my kids off on their own. Did time really go by that fast? It seems like not so long ago that I had one child racing on her horse long curls flowing, a son mastering the art of southpaw pitching, the next child falling in love with every animal she saw and then this last one, toddling along behind everyone, fearless.  They have all started their own adventure and now, I guess, it is time for me to start my own. I'll be creating my own little bucket list. A list of realistic things. No bungee jumping for this girl. Crazies. But I may save money to go to Hawaii, or get back into singing, join a Zumba class, take an art class, spend more time at the lake, work on the landscaping or get back into growing flowers for my friend D. My life is no longer on hold. Maybe that isn't the right phrase because I don't regret it. Not for a minute.  I think I will look at it as one of those books that says "book 2" right in the middle. Now.....where to start....

Billy Joel - Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)

Memory of a father

Every Mother's Day I think about my father.  I remember all the Mother's Day's we had as kids and the things my dad would do for my mom. When I got older he would do those things for me. Buy me flowers, show up with a Rhodie or Rose bush for my yard. Sometimes it was just a candy bar, sometimes earrings. You never knew. Always a hug and kiss. I miss my dad more than I can say. I envy those who have their fathers into their own ripe old age. I have some friends who lost a parent at a young age and I am grateful to have had mine father into my twenties. But that doesn't stop the ache.  Recently on Facebook friends added their mom's picture in honor of Mother's Day. I added both my parents.  I found myself  looking at the smiling face of my father and a flood of memories came crashing in. It was nice to know that I hadn't forgotten how he looked, his laughter or his voice. It makes my heart flip flop to remember some of the teen memories and young adult memories. I sure could of used my dad's input and support on some of the adult life decisions I've had to make. I really think my life would of taken a different path if he had been here. Or maybe I would of ended up in the same place without so much heartache. who knows? Anyway, I came across a Billy Joel song that I hope one day will be how my children feel about me. As it is how I feel about my dad.

I didn't intend this blog to be sad or wistful. Nor did I intend "Cobwebs in the Corner" to be a therapy session. Sometimes things could out of our fingers that we have worked hard to seal in our brains. : )
Here is a list of things that remind me of my dad. Feel free to add your own.

Music

singing
laughing
working in the dirt
large sunflowers that are 8 feet tall
old vehicles
overalls
the smell of just cut grass
a breeze
Old Spice
"tut tut smells like rain" (and it does)
suspenders
dimples
warm hands
smile lines
a warm house
the Christmas tree lit up when I wake up in the morning

just to name a few...