tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15048051186162714662023-11-16T04:24:32.819-06:00Pear Flavored BeanFood blog, life blog, exercise blog, horse blog. Not necessarily in that order!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-15911351373517378082012-08-19T11:02:00.000-05:002012-08-19T11:02:16.249-05:00CSA Challenge!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My goal this week is to use all of the vegetables we received in our Driftless Organics CSA box. For those not familiar with CSAs, it stands for "community supported agriculture" and every other week we get a box filled with fresh, organic, locally produced vegetables. We pay up front and receive 10 boxes over the course of the summer. Our insurance reimburses us for 2/3 of the cost, along with a note that thanks us for eating healthy! </div>
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Click <a href="http://www.driftlessorganics.com/081612.pdf" target="_blank">here</a> to read all about this week's bounty.</div>
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So many delicious vegetables! It's a mighty goal and I'm up to the challenge. Tonight's dinner used two items from this week's box and two items from a previous box. I stole this idea from my MIL who made this for us the week we came home from the hospital with our little dude: salad Nicoise. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salad Nicoise (sans tuna)</td></tr>
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The cucumber and grape tomatoes are from this week's box. The potatoes and green beans are from a previous box. The eggs are from the lovely ladies (chickens) next door and the olives, lettuce and artichoke hearts are from the Willy Street Co-op. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paired with crusty bread</td></tr>
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I paired the salad with locally made crusty bread. My mister had a hankering for meat, so he paired his elegant salad with a hotdog. I'm not kidding.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZYtpF2hDWZn09ThnzPw3NXJKhuKCZ87nceImGRs3hZ38x610_6s-1esWdG4zpuh7Oqh5CQHuRiI8LzOYn7oj3PBjN1hrs_9groUv5r6cd8nyjeddxySIy7B4LLPhHWbPLoIHw7q28pY/s1600/IMG_4377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIZYtpF2hDWZn09ThnzPw3NXJKhuKCZ87nceImGRs3hZ38x610_6s-1esWdG4zpuh7Oqh5CQHuRiI8LzOYn7oj3PBjN1hrs_9groUv5r6cd8nyjeddxySIy7B4LLPhHWbPLoIHw7q28pY/s320/IMG_4377.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Topped with homemade honey mustard vinaigrette </td></tr>
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I had an almost-empty bottle of mustard in the refrigerator, so I made the vinaigrette right in the bottle. I added honey, olive oil, brown rice vinegar, fresh chopped garlic, salt and various spices. It was easy to shake in a tightly sealed bottle and even easier to squirt on the salad. So good!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4TqquHGGu4oB7PkHNcIkAd7gtzx2vVVoUPuOvvqeeW9XuZbDVhCPwTMZXKbVk82D2NKixbwivb7Id-FM1kIcs4u7YxfztBOGct0vX7myXbelnMEla2CExfl5gKcscCX3Ef9a33xyz98/s1600/IMG_4376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4TqquHGGu4oB7PkHNcIkAd7gtzx2vVVoUPuOvvqeeW9XuZbDVhCPwTMZXKbVk82D2NKixbwivb7Id-FM1kIcs4u7YxfztBOGct0vX7myXbelnMEla2CExfl5gKcscCX3Ef9a33xyz98/s320/IMG_4376.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a Lake Louie Coon Rock Cream Ale</td></tr>
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I rounded out the meal with a tasty handcrafted brew. It was a great meal and I look forward to the others I will make this week!<br />
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Tomorrow morning: mellon!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-10089732488146871192012-08-15T23:08:00.001-05:002012-08-15T23:08:48.326-05:00Babies and MashHello out there! It's been far too long, I know.<br />
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See, I had a seriously cute baby and that's taken up some time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mister Dude</td></tr>
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For a while I blogged over here: <a href="http://inmytummy2011.blogspot.com/%C2%A0">http://inmytummy2011.blogspot.com/ </a>... but that is really a pregnancy blog, so I decided to return to my original Pear Flavored Bean to start back up!<br />
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Today was a busy day, I took Mister Dude into work for a retirement party, we swung by the Co-op for some quick grocery shopping and then we went for a walk with Red, who is expecting her own little bundle of joy in January!<br />
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For dinner I made a dish I'd been dreaming about for days. I'm not sure if it's the excessive amount of British mysteries (Foyle's War, Inspector Lewis, Midsommer Murders, etc...) that I've been watching during my maternity leave or the Olympics, but I've had a serious hankering for bangers and mash. And tonight was the night to make that dream come true.<br />
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I started with the following: chicken apple sausage, potatoes, apples, onion, chicken stock, mustard, red wine, worcestershire sauce, olive oil, earth balance buttery spread and flour.<br />
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I browned the sausages in a skillet, in about 1 T of olive oil.</div>
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Then I added the sliced apples and another tablespoon of olive oil.<br />
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Then I added some chopped onion and a tablespoon of mustard.<br />
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This is where I forgot to take photos. I added about 3 Ts of flour and whisked in about a cup of chicken stock, a few splashes of worcestershire sauce and a about a quarter cup of wine. Then I simmered for a half an hour, while the potatoes boiled. I mashed the potatoes with earth balance because I'm staying away from dairy while I nurse.<br />
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I have a good little helper in the kitchen!</div>
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I paired the delicious meal with a locally brewed porter. It was so enjoyable!</div>
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Cheers!</div>
<br />Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-37186054529218605112011-05-15T20:57:00.006-05:002011-05-15T22:12:57.128-05:00ArtMr. Z and I took an impromptu trip to Dubuque this weekend and had a really great time! It was a weekend filled with two of my favorite things, good food and fun art. In fact we found art everywhere we looked!<br /><br />Our first stop was in Dickeyville to see <a href="http://dickeyvillegrotto.com/">The Grotto</a>, a beautiful shrine erected by a Catholic priest in the 1930s.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnx83iAMC6WX5M8NFrmXDPO7jr72S8tv-Fm3S9kA2f1pEfdOqYTPdFp4fGU03Ob_C0pixKid0rFKFlol7tOBlAlTTJj5a-WgzFtlFoizq2bYDGMqZBsEZ30oxKFUBkn5pstFBUcugH88/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOnx83iAMC6WX5M8NFrmXDPO7jr72S8tv-Fm3S9kA2f1pEfdOqYTPdFp4fGU03Ob_C0pixKid0rFKFlol7tOBlAlTTJj5a-WgzFtlFoizq2bYDGMqZBsEZ30oxKFUBkn5pstFBUcugH88/s400/IMG_0496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607132919632644306" border="0" /></a><br />It's made up of colorful rocks, shells and glass and it's quite a site to see.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S6slCbQhFwKpokQWoS-2c9WliFzbtIbFQ6uo0dVuvHUouiZwdX_W9Uu8N89o0bfRjiXdcSZGFLrAz3l1C9oMxj2Ame8uZoQvvGqI0vfcWTrH3YF8JcxQcC_hws-wJtvr1lWwoBGiIPM/s1600/IMG_0495.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6S6slCbQhFwKpokQWoS-2c9WliFzbtIbFQ6uo0dVuvHUouiZwdX_W9Uu8N89o0bfRjiXdcSZGFLrAz3l1C9oMxj2Ame8uZoQvvGqI0vfcWTrH3YF8JcxQcC_hws-wJtvr1lWwoBGiIPM/s400/IMG_0495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607128723178724626" border="0" /></a><br />Next stop, Dubuque. A river town filled with tug boats, and barges and locks... oh my!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATvH9PSq0XQBn4x88rhX8PCO_ZSmoqjabxC__ZfQkc_FUEa7psWRL2YcH6Lj04XuE11k9UioId8r6ZpwVU9dm9kdiQ_JBe8DB7Vnj8GQofY6hp3gbUzd_oebozMShUuBorbdhe8Z5lmc/s1600/IMG_0560.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATvH9PSq0XQBn4x88rhX8PCO_ZSmoqjabxC__ZfQkc_FUEa7psWRL2YcH6Lj04XuE11k9UioId8r6ZpwVU9dm9kdiQ_JBe8DB7Vnj8GQofY6hp3gbUzd_oebozMShUuBorbdhe8Z5lmc/s400/IMG_0560.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607128694580820594" border="0" /></a><br />Dubuque also features an "elevator" or little street car that makes its way up a very steep hill in the middle of downtown. After a tasty lunch at <a href="http://www.bankdbq.com/">The Bank</a> (a restaurant that used to be a bank and still features old, original vaults) we took a spin up the elevator. It was a little scary, but lots of fun.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO7eMEHZzA9fMdMu8ZVYyRJYZyTIqxnx-vUiLTtg_m3lzal8AgL_8lJRm6789vT4fEZjlkONzE0KNaN5uT5lJ5_WpsUKcZO79N6Xw3pwkKZHg4LJxJcOfwO4xX5YL4HI_FKTEIclGPOU/s1600/IMG_0508.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizO7eMEHZzA9fMdMu8ZVYyRJYZyTIqxnx-vUiLTtg_m3lzal8AgL_8lJRm6789vT4fEZjlkONzE0KNaN5uT5lJ5_WpsUKcZO79N6Xw3pwkKZHg4LJxJcOfwO4xX5YL4HI_FKTEIclGPOU/s400/IMG_0508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607128707894429714" border="0" /></a><br />After our trip up and down the hill, we walked over to the river walk, which features some <a href="http://www.cityofdubuque.org/index.aspx?NID=311">beautiful art</a>.<br /><br />These two horses are amazing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozLDmVOLiQgCQ-DJSZm06yx_ts2tpllLO4hXbdVbyu8cvnvHfPlOCx3DH5-Pq0EWvmBG1HcW3-dTcD-pUaeb1HppIq2JXdmeeTLMe-x-Y1GwC4gM9yHKo8zNGFC4Ln-PER31EtGbnfrs/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozLDmVOLiQgCQ-DJSZm06yx_ts2tpllLO4hXbdVbyu8cvnvHfPlOCx3DH5-Pq0EWvmBG1HcW3-dTcD-pUaeb1HppIq2JXdmeeTLMe-x-Y1GwC4gM9yHKo8zNGFC4Ln-PER31EtGbnfrs/s400/IMG_0520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607128715561700050" border="0" /></a><br />The attention to detail is unreal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYjtyVzY7AsiX_Ts1i3ZNP_3I5CNQyAtoGmVmhdV8RLBgOg8S9_irLmVCW1sp5ry_ERHKkC6bzbXaBLPOzhvXsD6zmSMOvCgDBLRBGT_JD8eU7n4N49UgnR4VN1_vgjg_fae5CnspBOg/s1600/IMG_0527.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYjtyVzY7AsiX_Ts1i3ZNP_3I5CNQyAtoGmVmhdV8RLBgOg8S9_irLmVCW1sp5ry_ERHKkC6bzbXaBLPOzhvXsD6zmSMOvCgDBLRBGT_JD8eU7n4N49UgnR4VN1_vgjg_fae5CnspBOg/s400/IMG_0527.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607130304065487714" border="0" /></a><br />Another stop along the river walk was this old phone booth converted into a prayer station. We weren't sure if this was another piece of art or not. Either way, it looks like it's being used (knee pad is worn) and it's pretty cool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNH5mLnwL_KW2FqC_4HOtX5jzjb1cvet8R71hZ2Z6hAZbDz5O2ttQkaYh-w99sHLeoTk71H13jNXq5HKpScYPtX7jKnsCPEE-TO98r63R08GvKus0pUJHpD-jXrVp0_91jcfMmDmYYlY/s1600/IMG_0532.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNH5mLnwL_KW2FqC_4HOtX5jzjb1cvet8R71hZ2Z6hAZbDz5O2ttQkaYh-w99sHLeoTk71H13jNXq5HKpScYPtX7jKnsCPEE-TO98r63R08GvKus0pUJHpD-jXrVp0_91jcfMmDmYYlY/s400/IMG_0532.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607130310134426994" border="0" /></a>After our walk about town, we stopped back at the hotel for a cocktail and then decided on a place called <a href="http://www.peppersprout.com/main.htm">Pepper Sprout </a>for dinner.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskQCfkenyS6eJ4Wvj-H8HEX-FYnE9eb_7-n_sT4oefOtV7u9F8n_PfXSQrrpoezeFfhWaSAZZVrlwldvaRO9f78qLW97HhyphenhyphenhIbOa1mLalwvBah6gDrDgpAJwzppwM3AsNs1keV5YzyBs/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhskQCfkenyS6eJ4Wvj-H8HEX-FYnE9eb_7-n_sT4oefOtV7u9F8n_PfXSQrrpoezeFfhWaSAZZVrlwldvaRO9f78qLW97HhyphenhyphenhIbOa1mLalwvBah6gDrDgpAJwzppwM3AsNs1keV5YzyBs/s400/IMG_0542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607130315114512802" border="0" /></a><br />I had the bison tenderloin with balsamic onion jam and horseradish cream sauce over garlic mashed potatoes. Yes, it was as amazing as it sounds. I think (I've never tried) it's hard to get bison right, because it's so low in fat it dries out quickly. But this was seriously delicious stuff.<br /><br />And we even found art at the restaurant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyJ8K6kxW0J6ETuo-EoypJS0vQ1Abe6rtoOBWJD_NZ8twOnj1ubWzwsmRr-Ix4Fvzc5jWyu8WXJ-168M-XqWG1dd5u8KqoRFxzfYsru8-aDx_-19A82OQuo_0SZ64y2AMpjW5hVEdze0/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyJ8K6kxW0J6ETuo-EoypJS0vQ1Abe6rtoOBWJD_NZ8twOnj1ubWzwsmRr-Ix4Fvzc5jWyu8WXJ-168M-XqWG1dd5u8KqoRFxzfYsru8-aDx_-19A82OQuo_0SZ64y2AMpjW5hVEdze0/s400/IMG_0539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607130321752918658" border="0" /></a><br />Don't be fooled. I ate my entire meal, these are Mr. Z's leftovers.<br /><br />Most of today was taken up at the <a href="http://www.mississippirivermuseum.com/#images/Homepage/Thumbnails575/Summer%20Camp%20homepage%20slide1.jpg">National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.</a><br /><br />When Mr. Z and I go to museums, we have a plan. We pick a time and place to to meet up and then I cruise the museum stopping at all the audio/visual displays and anything else that's pretty or sparkles and he reads every single sign and description posted. So you see, every time I go to a museum with my mister, I can plan on substantial "me time" built in at the end and Mr. Z gets to take his time pouring over the artifacts.<br /><br />Today, I spent some of my extra time snapping photos (do you see Mr. Z way back by the propellers?).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFx6qlEOZoClAuwhulKTE_z-Rko6nZARWuuU70mZIa_6OijrdKDVbFM7bkn2HcXk7Jl-QWP8dwLB6uaacFvKWXw-VlWAjfkLKqIUs-_N5K86seUIu3W2Y5pwnoZMNgGsBnn9sj0Tau_I/s1600/IMG_0543.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFx6qlEOZoClAuwhulKTE_z-Rko6nZARWuuU70mZIa_6OijrdKDVbFM7bkn2HcXk7Jl-QWP8dwLB6uaacFvKWXw-VlWAjfkLKqIUs-_N5K86seUIu3W2Y5pwnoZMNgGsBnn9sj0Tau_I/s400/IMG_0543.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607130326807654978" border="0" /></a><br />Of course we couldn't leave the museum without saying hello to our favorite river friend Samuel Clemens, a.k.a. Mark Twain.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTcFny0XE9qgob1blGpRXTeGgWApYBRORxUbE10qosm4mufwyFmSxtoY1QzmTuvQwm9AtrfGcuJ5mMQGwwbYrgeo5a-M9eQ3YIT2oSwmKIgqTxXjJi93ozvAzGZA6vCZzcbv45LvuylY/s1600/IMG_0546.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTcFny0XE9qgob1blGpRXTeGgWApYBRORxUbE10qosm4mufwyFmSxtoY1QzmTuvQwm9AtrfGcuJ5mMQGwwbYrgeo5a-M9eQ3YIT2oSwmKIgqTxXjJi93ozvAzGZA6vCZzcbv45LvuylY/s400/IMG_0546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607128699162410674" border="0" /></a><br />All in all we had a wonderful weekend. If you haven't spent time in Dubuque I highly recommend it!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-5680582037802626032011-05-14T09:55:00.003-05:002011-05-14T10:07:53.963-05:00The incredible, edible egg.One of the things I like best about weekends is making breakfast. Especially when our neighbors are supplying us with fresh eggs from their backyard chickens.<br /><br />This morning I whipped up two different egg dishes to suit our individual tastes...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XnYHq9jICRz-GO8ECWHXOUdF_pYmgNIXlA-w-RgRu5opNUK-qMPhDz_fJfCadmh8vqMTmQjtFG6w6SKmGA3nFOZOO6JHT0Z30nOJz6kfexWz_7_RcadziaWcAr_RGTKDONIusonKCgc/s1600/IMG_0489.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_XnYHq9jICRz-GO8ECWHXOUdF_pYmgNIXlA-w-RgRu5opNUK-qMPhDz_fJfCadmh8vqMTmQjtFG6w6SKmGA3nFOZOO6JHT0Z30nOJz6kfexWz_7_RcadziaWcAr_RGTKDONIusonKCgc/s400/IMG_0489.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606586174519598866" border="0" /></a><br />Mr. Z enjoyed a two egg scramble with chorizo, red onion, bell pepper and cheese along with two pieces of peanut butter toast.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSkCs-C3Y6kOQA5iYNeoFEEJZ1zqAt4fyU5pVOsJ_THUK09zt43P3HiwULmi6MAxOxQEvCan0ZjwM74PKLgbOvOv5bXYZWqQfAo8-eEu781HGnrz_Irm9Y4EWd8ZVjzdAe0uFRuMCj3c/s1600/IMG_0491.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSkCs-C3Y6kOQA5iYNeoFEEJZ1zqAt4fyU5pVOsJ_THUK09zt43P3HiwULmi6MAxOxQEvCan0ZjwM74PKLgbOvOv5bXYZWqQfAo8-eEu781HGnrz_Irm9Y4EWd8ZVjzdAe0uFRuMCj3c/s400/IMG_0491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606586170769227426" border="0" /></a><br />I fixed myself two open faced sandwiches on wholegrain toast with cream cheese, sauteed red pepper and spinach and an egg on top.<br /><br />Both plates filled with protein and nutrients to start the weekend off on the right foot!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-18355078914014400882011-04-11T07:09:00.002-05:002011-04-11T07:21:08.348-05:00Spring (or summer?) is here!Yesterday was so beautiful. Mr. Z and I took advantage of the weather by cleaning the house. I know... not exactly fun. But it's great when you can do spring cleaning with every single window in the house open!<br /><br />We finished off the day with pineapple shakes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpCBEh3cD5iVAujTnt_tTNAh2RMWAASaGXwp-XPcXBrCo62ycCT-bdnmZqNVFOWz8aJsiVGAWB3VlE-JgnnRbNy6kCQSDqb2neTtdv__ocZWp3dO9D-5HRmMlvg886LM4kkvUXNYMS3o/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpCBEh3cD5iVAujTnt_tTNAh2RMWAASaGXwp-XPcXBrCo62ycCT-bdnmZqNVFOWz8aJsiVGAWB3VlE-JgnnRbNy6kCQSDqb2neTtdv__ocZWp3dO9D-5HRmMlvg886LM4kkvUXNYMS3o/s400/IMG_0229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594297354653887938" border="0" /></a><br />Very simple recipe: fresh pineapple and vanilla frozen yogurt in a blender. Blend and serve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRfC7dGG8e1iY4V6zs3Mdewyd3dUviLurEcbbaNxxkAdK8y7j1_kq_cFGB2ZjNamQ4uxJzB2-wiYkJqwpsbfYSIDbEJty0QMFOdIJ28yBNa-73eVHcTM92IBCog5JM8bGNlHuqzoukf4/s1600/IMG_0228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGRfC7dGG8e1iY4V6zs3Mdewyd3dUviLurEcbbaNxxkAdK8y7j1_kq_cFGB2ZjNamQ4uxJzB2-wiYkJqwpsbfYSIDbEJty0QMFOdIJ28yBNa-73eVHcTM92IBCog5JM8bGNlHuqzoukf4/s400/IMG_0228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594297345546340962" border="0" /></a><br />Days like yesterday are so good for the soul. After a long, stressful Madison winter, it was heartwarming to see families on bike rides, kids playing in the yard and tulips poking their head out for sun. These are the ingredients of a good life.Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-51549722231452200762011-02-22T07:18:00.002-06:002011-02-22T07:21:19.160-06:00Whatever happens....WE SHOULD BE SO PROUD!<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="500" height="311" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MNJdJbpj1GE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-31838525264605229742011-01-30T19:30:00.002-06:002011-01-30T19:54:32.656-06:00Dinner is served!Mr. Z returned home last night after a week on the road. We had plans to drive to Milwaukee for a post-Christmas party, so I hadn't planned something for dinner. However eight hours on the road was enough for him in one day, so we decided to stay home.<br /><br />Gasp! What's a wife to do when her husband is hungry, tired and been eating at restaurants all week? Tear apart the kitchen, that's what!<br /><br />I had some kale sitting in the bottom of the fridge for almost a week. This was the perfect night to turn it into something delicious. I sauteed onions and garlic, threw in some balsamic vinegar and red wine and reduced it until it was a thick sauce. Then I threw in the chopped kale.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_sTHuyMK_CMSNOb2FmqLrN9EC-CoeRN1O2qqMBkJjbxc42Gl8Pl0H5m_p_csxlM5F8J0mU1wj-0W9zUH5HjfQUkGfl2aFzR4uT69SMzk66uSChA3oHqk3DHhFhUO1BSneDLQzt7df-0/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_sTHuyMK_CMSNOb2FmqLrN9EC-CoeRN1O2qqMBkJjbxc42Gl8Pl0H5m_p_csxlM5F8J0mU1wj-0W9zUH5HjfQUkGfl2aFzR4uT69SMzk66uSChA3oHqk3DHhFhUO1BSneDLQzt7df-0/s400/IMG_0048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568157326040060402" border="0" /></a><br />Then I used the spinach I had been saving for green monsters as the base for a salad. We had some sad carrots begging to be used, along with a stalk of celery. Presto! A healthy salad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5mDrnTn_l5iy-LZ6Y0aBaF6vyjlLubEcCZQjNjT4IG7EFsVN0FpAAAW_fkxsYfvCrXmREUxppYfK5aDrMNnMWLXfmfmMgfNgYeF3_-vGMgUkINxCtOV3WADEBam7ftrbP8pn7vqdx3c/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5mDrnTn_l5iy-LZ6Y0aBaF6vyjlLubEcCZQjNjT4IG7EFsVN0FpAAAW_fkxsYfvCrXmREUxppYfK5aDrMNnMWLXfmfmMgfNgYeF3_-vGMgUkINxCtOV3WADEBam7ftrbP8pn7vqdx3c/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568157321007162722" border="0" /></a><br />And for the main course, you ask? Stouffer's! This lasagna magically appeared a few weeks ago in our freezer. It didn't look like something Mr. Z would have purchased on his own, especially since I do most of the shopping. As you can see it is "large size," which means it's more than enough for two hungry nibblers. But still... where did it come from?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkaPezbNhvy1mAg7R3RUzcse_WKivgJ3uyFE_ZoAvgd43dXVcgvBbLcVZ4jUsCmJHAcb-AgTLO4fROCLZN1e6QGS3jONQp0tGF0My5coZNBMV8N6lsGVnQfnXpQHxeXfJWmUtV9H6DY/s1600/IMG_0053.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PkaPezbNhvy1mAg7R3RUzcse_WKivgJ3uyFE_ZoAvgd43dXVcgvBbLcVZ4jUsCmJHAcb-AgTLO4fROCLZN1e6QGS3jONQp0tGF0My5coZNBMV8N6lsGVnQfnXpQHxeXfJWmUtV9H6DY/s400/IMG_0053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568157318613242530" border="0" /></a><br />It turns out that this was a gift from Mr. Z's lovely mother. She a no-cottage-cheese-in-the-lasagna kind of girl. Which is perfect, because I LOVE cottage cheese in the lasagna! And this unexpected treat completed the dinner perfectly!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9nA2xtJjzye4RU2kVpsG6JbGLexEW-Qw3nulWSw4W21JEUbWGsMKRpk5ath9__6a0lvlAdJ059HzVUEj7mQS83JUJyDIQNnS-GRT31Hxha2uxVPQZO3LLdkEzgpPwUrHHE7A3JeH_4/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmu9nA2xtJjzye4RU2kVpsG6JbGLexEW-Qw3nulWSw4W21JEUbWGsMKRpk5ath9__6a0lvlAdJ059HzVUEj7mQS83JUJyDIQNnS-GRT31Hxha2uxVPQZO3LLdkEzgpPwUrHHE7A3JeH_4/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568157309233496626" border="0" /></a><br />Thank heavens for microwavable main courses, mothers in law and safe returns home!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-52525966570240823392011-01-16T10:32:00.006-06:002011-01-19T07:52:47.124-06:00For my birthday, Mr Z got me a new camera. I love it! Although my iPhone takes great pictures, my new camera is fantastic. Note the difference below in a series I call "Two P's in a Pod."<br /><br />Mirror, mirror on the wall...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OmGZOJZw9SohdghZ1Ztqprp5nkngBtgwQ4aYll_85xeuJmTxOQE1qT3_2-WBi7Jm7-qTKUwRd2xr7WSbhuNJz7LhVZvCqBBQTXYZs_aQ0y06Vbh-51N6fNR_rW8d6q0fi2ZTlueLh48/s1600/IMG_0194.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 533px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OmGZOJZw9SohdghZ1Ztqprp5nkngBtgwQ4aYll_85xeuJmTxOQE1qT3_2-WBi7Jm7-qTKUwRd2xr7WSbhuNJz7LhVZvCqBBQTXYZs_aQ0y06Vbh-51N6fNR_rW8d6q0fi2ZTlueLh48/s400/IMG_0194.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562828567471849362" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">i<span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>hone<br /><br /></span></div>Who is the fairest of them all?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaotQM5wm82YavpkJ5CFbzgJX8juMrPcfVtnoRpIpl9NGtGkeNBOOvf-VtI5rKGDwR17Ivabd7n_fqmUR64B6F_Sz44UMqApEGu0l-6QqVCq0G-qYjQrjCon2LjIjLCB1zXxXEa3gWS0A/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaotQM5wm82YavpkJ5CFbzgJX8juMrPcfVtnoRpIpl9NGtGkeNBOOvf-VtI5rKGDwR17Ivabd7n_fqmUR64B6F_Sz44UMqApEGu0l-6QqVCq0G-qYjQrjCon2LjIjLCB1zXxXEa3gWS0A/s400/IMG_0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563728086525913250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Canon <span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>owerShot</span></div>The pretty princess in the stall?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarbVJfGMwJ10L5TfgdmQYz8RHgTzhsq-bX3Mq-j3PjXTzoc5dOEV1EyfIrtvMouAErk_SICaLeeu91OW7Z8-VhlfiNUKGZSh8fRRZKfFxHVSb2INGBvqxR6YoPx2-V0F3DtpEjZ6B04g/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 396px; height: 531px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarbVJfGMwJ10L5TfgdmQYz8RHgTzhsq-bX3Mq-j3PjXTzoc5dOEV1EyfIrtvMouAErk_SICaLeeu91OW7Z8-VhlfiNUKGZSh8fRRZKfFxHVSb2INGBvqxR6YoPx2-V0F3DtpEjZ6B04g/s400/IMG_0195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562828559953065410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">i<span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>hone</span><br /><br /></div>The one against the bathroom wall?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBGNIWmcmm8WSjdqN3T0dvR8Z7qUKFJrsP8XXRHxAYNEWHVFJzAIpLEucLJS6MXg217bmcg4UaQJHLbyi7ovjCuOZ5OmJp4WPv9c5xxR_z80Wqh-cbVjlBiiPUxuE4oKqquK4kV1RMlg/s1600/IMG_0025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEBGNIWmcmm8WSjdqN3T0dvR8Z7qUKFJrsP8XXRHxAYNEWHVFJzAIpLEucLJS6MXg217bmcg4UaQJHLbyi7ovjCuOZ5OmJp4WPv9c5xxR_z80Wqh-cbVjlBiiPUxuE4oKqquK4kV1RMlg/s400/IMG_0025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563728093091794914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Canon <span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>owerShot</span><br /><br /></div>I guess the stud will have to say.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShKsA9GpYhdm5AX9j7Aih0ika6It-G6ZVxvWtuXKG9u7vW_xbmt85dPfa5BYvujF9Z1r8K3himjr5fvhXRY9A7uS7Qcfnh4S0meLjUDmSRJ8zaeh1-CNRx5eE9xKahI4-8IWhDWW5RJw/s1600/IMG_0203.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 397px; height: 534px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShKsA9GpYhdm5AX9j7Aih0ika6It-G6ZVxvWtuXKG9u7vW_xbmt85dPfa5BYvujF9Z1r8K3himjr5fvhXRY9A7uS7Qcfnh4S0meLjUDmSRJ8zaeh1-CNRx5eE9xKahI4-8IWhDWW5RJw/s400/IMG_0203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562828535502705474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">i<span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>hone<br /><br /></span></div>But wait. Which one? For beer or hay?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdg_5mqyw8_msCGm1v_Ntsde9iKF9ydHBVTH9xv__koYaPkw22u0noDBGxdF4j1II-E7Y7KYFxFgWIgZ5gpOpqJHtdqYNkNleGfS_M6H5TX6WD9CcNSexwZa3OS5KQ3WQAOV0PwbF-eg/s1600/IMG_0005.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdg_5mqyw8_msCGm1v_Ntsde9iKF9ydHBVTH9xv__koYaPkw22u0noDBGxdF4j1II-E7Y7KYFxFgWIgZ5gpOpqJHtdqYNkNleGfS_M6H5TX6WD9CcNSexwZa3OS5KQ3WQAOV0PwbF-eg/s400/IMG_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563728543476878866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Canon <span style="font-weight: bold;">P</span>owerShot<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Ahhh....my prince charming!<br /></div></div>Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-12247698673750804872011-01-06T06:57:00.001-06:002011-01-06T06:57:56.738-06:001. Last night I made some new friends. It was Red's birthday and we went out for drinks and pizza after work. She has some really neat new friends from work and it was nice chatting with and getting to know them!<br /><br />2. Today I learned that something really <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> be to sweet for my palate. I made Bob's Red Mill 8 grain hot cereal for breakfast and added two dried dates and 1/2 T Skippy peanut butter. WAY too sweet! We have Skippy left over from Christmas baking and since I'm used to spreading the all natural (only peanuts) peanut butter on my bread, eating Skippy straight up was kind of a shock.<br /><br />3. And even though it's 6:30 in the morning and I'd much rather be in my cozy bed, I'm grateful for today. A good job waiting for me, Bikram yoga after work and a dinner with family to top it off. I'm a lucky lady!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-10639768030151300502011-01-04T20:31:00.003-06:002011-01-04T20:44:29.279-06:001. Today I made a friend laugh so hard that his drink went down the wrong pipe. I can't even remember exactly what I said (or I can, and it's not fit for grandma's eyes) but to me laughter is such an important part of life and it's nice to know that I share it with others.<br /><br />2. Tonight I learned a new yoga practice: <a href="http://www.perfectknot.com/classes.html#alex">Yin Yoga</a>. I'm going to start taking yoga again and I thought I'd pair a weekly Bikram class with a new class at the studio called Yin Yoga. Tonight was the first Yin class and I really liked it. It was a lot of long, deep stretches. Very soothing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGI9mGBXKXjzt8WqhhduWKWPGT9dhSs99IeV0PxtR45lx8hO5PABr6RctLwXWVACCcorP6dvPDRfchYAzBDQxfYhLMtV1haWsr6qc-ahawxy1WfsFq3NVOMwHf3Ld5mt2AhoBSP_ghMg/s1600/IMG_1556.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGI9mGBXKXjzt8WqhhduWKWPGT9dhSs99IeV0PxtR45lx8hO5PABr6RctLwXWVACCcorP6dvPDRfchYAzBDQxfYhLMtV1haWsr6qc-ahawxy1WfsFq3NVOMwHf3Ld5mt2AhoBSP_ghMg/s400/IMG_1556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558526376223549474" border="0" /></a><br />3. And I'm thankful that my brother-in-law is flying in tonight to celebrate Christmas with us this weekend. He and his lovely wife weren't able to spend any time with us in December, but he's flying in as I type and will be spending a week with us! As I mentioned yesterday, I love family time. And I love it when Mr. Z and I get to spend time with his family making memories that will be shared for years to come!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-80461088712088152042011-01-03T19:25:00.004-06:002011-01-03T19:57:44.042-06:001. Today I made a delicious dinner of whole wheat pasta, chicken sausage, red peppers, onions and red sauce. Yummmm!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2a_DrwqnbLetTnKGQOeGnxx1A1dIUGJ-bsVK978OygyFgAsfKnccY-IEd4yOukEc6oKnzITx1aA_W9UPQFOibxtXgBuP12L5WXsQK-QFcjEdM2g2nioL-HySj7Jh5GFdcm8wnDSP268/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2a_DrwqnbLetTnKGQOeGnxx1A1dIUGJ-bsVK978OygyFgAsfKnccY-IEd4yOukEc6oKnzITx1aA_W9UPQFOibxtXgBuP12L5WXsQK-QFcjEdM2g2nioL-HySj7Jh5GFdcm8wnDSP268/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558140532881164818" border="0" /></a><br />2. I learned that the iPhone carries an awesome Weight Watchers app that even includes the particulars for the new <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/index.aspx">Points Plus</a> program. And I used this new tool to learn that you can enjoy (or waste) two points on 18 milk chocolate M&Ms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzNqXK8U1h4ty3FYZIDQ7uPan1f2PvOHCPErLzKe51ji8CqCwDT5_5bnrHr3vwKsX0M3fAs_qzAA_neasmxwGJbHWlw7jsrs4uf5QX8AsOsV5zILdXhqSf-ojd0KWgncKOcbq9fAFNBc/s1600/DSC03083.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzNqXK8U1h4ty3FYZIDQ7uPan1f2PvOHCPErLzKe51ji8CqCwDT5_5bnrHr3vwKsX0M3fAs_qzAA_neasmxwGJbHWlw7jsrs4uf5QX8AsOsV5zILdXhqSf-ojd0KWgncKOcbq9fAFNBc/s400/DSC03083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558135984195995474" border="0" /></a><br />3. And not just today, but everyday I am so thankful for my family. Around this time of year I get to see them A LOT! We've spent almost every weekend together since Thanksgiving, which is such a blessing. I'm grateful to have parents that set an example with 34 years of marriage, brothers who are as smart and funny as they are kind, a sister (in-law) who is as close and wonderful as any sister I could have imagined and a husband who I love beyond words.Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-57540658037290240842011-01-02T17:51:00.002-06:002011-01-02T18:14:06.084-06:00Today was a pretty lazy day for me. In the past ten days, I've worked one. Between the holidays and furloughs, I've been spoiled (well, except for that whole leave without pay thing....).<br /><br />I spent the day lazing about and watching movies. I also cleaned the kitchen, which was a chore. Anyway, here are my <a href="http://pearflavoredbean.blogspot.com/2011/01/three-things-day.html">daily three</a>:<br /><br />1. Today, I made a family budget and debt payment schedule. I recently took a new position that came with a raise (yay!) so we're sorting out how we are going to pay off certain debt quicker.<br /><br />2. I learned about autism, squeeze machines and slaughter houses. I watched Temple Grandin, the HBO feature film and it was really good. My favorite part of the whole movie is when she is describing why it's important to implement systems that will keep the cattle calm up until the very last second before slaughter. She says (referring to the animals), "Nature is cruel but we don't have to be. We owe them some respect." As an omnivore, I completely agree.<br /><br />If you haven't already seen the movie you should check it out: <a href="http://www.hbo.com/movies/temple-grandin/index.html">Temple Grandin (the movie)</a><br /><br />Plus, I just learned that Temple was inducted to the Cowgirl Hall of Fame! Lucky lady! <a href="http://www.templegrandin.com/">Temple Grandin's Official Autism Website</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoJClcsLpIruXlY6m4Dia2vBKHYQsT0_UGYy95NVshqHWRE0yvOPECfWHBsRgLWSMwelmabmZwM9eFrCveacLA4rw5jHoeJQi3FieBCsgSFlF6YlNbTCp22rzyK9I0cTGB0thpxNa3yY/s1600/DSCN5622.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoJClcsLpIruXlY6m4Dia2vBKHYQsT0_UGYy95NVshqHWRE0yvOPECfWHBsRgLWSMwelmabmZwM9eFrCveacLA4rw5jHoeJQi3FieBCsgSFlF6YlNbTCp22rzyK9I0cTGB0thpxNa3yY/s400/DSCN5622.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557746047217475170" border="0" /></a><br />3. And I give thanks to credit. Although it can be a nasty curse, I've used credit to finance my college education, purchase a safe vehicle and put a roof over my head. I am thankful that I have the resources and education to use the financial opportunities presented to me in a responsible way.<br /><br />I hope you all have a restful Sunday!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-38207427152639098682011-01-01T21:32:00.005-06:002011-01-01T21:48:28.970-06:00Three Things a DayI've been inspired by a new blog: <a href="http://elevenin2011.blogspot.com/">Eleven in 2011</a><br /><br />For me, eleven things a day is a lot, but I LOVE the idea. So I'm going to scale it back to three things. Every day I'd like to:<br /><ol><li>Make something</li><li>Learn something</li><li>Give thanks</li></ol>And I'll keep track on the Bean Blog!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDapB0t3hin0eGgEltc-zpoRpxr6gMiil8gltC3x-JnzzdtFEIBGORArlQcDZtuk9bExotkujkh3vuGCAnGqZLi8Nfu5KKZJKU0JKFiz5hKZDg30DsDjLSiw_zZYOkNUEV1td_GkvFNYI/s1600/bags.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDapB0t3hin0eGgEltc-zpoRpxr6gMiil8gltC3x-JnzzdtFEIBGORArlQcDZtuk9bExotkujkh3vuGCAnGqZLi8Nfu5KKZJKU0JKFiz5hKZDg30DsDjLSiw_zZYOkNUEV1td_GkvFNYI/s400/bags.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557429707408017906" border="0" /></a><br />Today I made two more re-usable Christmas bags out of festive fabric that can be used instead of wrapping paper (see above photo).<br /><br />I learned that Rose Bowl Parade floats must be made of all organic material (flowers, plants, food, etc.) and that Al Roker loves him some Bucky Badger!<br /><br />And I am so thankful for our warm, cozy house that keeps us comfortable in this frigid weather.<br /><br />Feel free to play along in the comments!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-66231396450349332882010-12-05T17:39:00.002-06:002010-12-05T17:55:15.867-06:00FootprintsI was anxious to get to the barn this morning. The sun was out, the air was crisp and I hadn't been out since last Sunday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bGqBDZnLigi8boWh7Yhwa-ID3U7V_-1i0tHqEWLAGUojUnbt1R3iRwQTc75p8sO6QGe8c9xQ72skbYWGz-hWgtG_h7pF8TErBZT8who_TaxHbe0NlS7LzZnjk2Th8IMG_6z1yPkYHdM/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bGqBDZnLigi8boWh7Yhwa-ID3U7V_-1i0tHqEWLAGUojUnbt1R3iRwQTc75p8sO6QGe8c9xQ72skbYWGz-hWgtG_h7pF8TErBZT8who_TaxHbe0NlS7LzZnjk2Th8IMG_6z1yPkYHdM/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347467034675426" border="0" /></a><br />I started a new job this past week and last night we hosted our annual tree decorating party with friends. It was a busy week filled with lots of "to-dos." Now, don't get me wrong... I'm so very thankful to have a list filled with tasks and reminders that point to an awesome job, a group of super friends and the best family a girl could ask for. But sometimes, the brain needs some quiet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXzvHWKRHnZeTCNIGOwksoCBK4kt-o3dhpJ84624WOu6RRbjxh8FYhrCm-ZgQxZ-MRRPf5xKPKRUB75OS-1KQ3cMft4Vv0xO73tYPLmrDTHzRgJcwnnrWGCqLF7rng7U2Gk6EkyrIacI/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXzvHWKRHnZeTCNIGOwksoCBK4kt-o3dhpJ84624WOu6RRbjxh8FYhrCm-ZgQxZ-MRRPf5xKPKRUB75OS-1KQ3cMft4Vv0xO73tYPLmrDTHzRgJcwnnrWGCqLF7rng7U2Gk6EkyrIacI/s400/IMG_0111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347482495979858" border="0" /></a><br />Pixie and I took a walk around the back of the farm. It's a beautiful area and as we crunched our way through the fresh snow I felt completely at peace. This beautiful black mare never fails to bring me the peace I seek. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WEsPGC4UfTMmaHxLLxQor_A-Z25yi9iVnG5ycpIeEPG13zC3hYr3AOSxVd-aCsk6Sj0-V90icsFYRCDhrw0ENTeEwjSTcNR2wG-5dKuBWBRM6Jp2-Jfy6xaKjXOigBacG_WzG-mWyWo/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WEsPGC4UfTMmaHxLLxQor_A-Z25yi9iVnG5ycpIeEPG13zC3hYr3AOSxVd-aCsk6Sj0-V90icsFYRCDhrw0ENTeEwjSTcNR2wG-5dKuBWBRM6Jp2-Jfy6xaKjXOigBacG_WzG-mWyWo/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547347475361614770" border="0" /></a><br />One more thing to be grateful for! Life is good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7yqmgpI3bIsl40mrSeY4D0aernzJC6FtXpf3Fxf6RV8NBeyiSDt5_Xw8BEGsitcLfh_CJqWQtuNXsOFFPnjfpr4qid1rGAePs8LSXjWatouJ5DQLZpagm84WlF0u2MB00W8v8NjLVcQ/s1600/IMG_0104.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bGqBDZnLigi8boWh7Yhwa-ID3U7V_-1i0tHqEWLAGUojUnbt1R3iRwQTc75p8sO6QGe8c9xQ72skbYWGz-hWgtG_h7pF8TErBZT8who_TaxHbe0NlS7LzZnjk2Th8IMG_6z1yPkYHdM/s1600/IMG_0095.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXzvHWKRHnZeTCNIGOwksoCBK4kt-o3dhpJ84624WOu6RRbjxh8FYhrCm-ZgQxZ-MRRPf5xKPKRUB75OS-1KQ3cMft4Vv0xO73tYPLmrDTHzRgJcwnnrWGCqLF7rng7U2Gk6EkyrIacI/s1600/IMG_0111.JPG"><br /></a>Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-16674176365381579282010-11-29T20:03:00.002-06:002010-11-29T20:19:03.301-06:00Time to bundle up!I remember being 15 years old and doing whatever I had to do to get out of the house on a freezing cold Wisconsin morning... without a hat on. Seriously. It went something like this:<br /><br />Dad: "Bell, put on a hat. It's below zero out there."<br /><br />Me: "Do I have to wear a hat?! It's going to mess up my hair. What if so-and-so (insert crush of the week) sees me? I'll die! I'm only going to be outside for 10 minutes total. I'm not wearing a hat."<br /><br />I relived that conversation (in my imagination) this weekend when I brought out the winter coat for Miss Pixie. She was SO not into it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6J5l_MXtcDw11FM2HxeIRWsbjLM7Mw-bsLLMJgtnXFvd_b86rDP9uqGnF0XgSGfKrvNNLW4Vbeb-6SfN7x1hwipSdtJYQX3WN22i7z8J_1P8LBSbj3BHH_qF_01IvTwxQRUKxk2ZtRs/s1600/IMG_0061.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6J5l_MXtcDw11FM2HxeIRWsbjLM7Mw-bsLLMJgtnXFvd_b86rDP9uqGnF0XgSGfKrvNNLW4Vbeb-6SfN7x1hwipSdtJYQX3WN22i7z8J_1P8LBSbj3BHH_qF_01IvTwxQRUKxk2ZtRs/s400/IMG_0061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545158692611334018" border="0" /></a><br />Yes. It's pink. BRIGHT pink. Like highlighter pink. I love it. Not so sure about her. Mr. Z says she's probably embarrassed in front of her buddies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpO784yCg0qdBiWFyO_WBXm-aANFIVaNh6L02U85h4IeswHRMS06GtkXj3UcZeXRfgMDzRW6XI4eMWHuTkL_wfMaHnmUuSfyDPTxSdcRwK9OTHqW-D1igT4OgNnUC2A1B5VZuJRvoPNg/s1600/IMG_0066.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMpO784yCg0qdBiWFyO_WBXm-aANFIVaNh6L02U85h4IeswHRMS06GtkXj3UcZeXRfgMDzRW6XI4eMWHuTkL_wfMaHnmUuSfyDPTxSdcRwK9OTHqW-D1igT4OgNnUC2A1B5VZuJRvoPNg/s400/IMG_0066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545158651813026994" border="0" /></a><br />Is that the look of a teen-aged girl or what?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBj5LzyjWqOU5zY-r3mz4x24lVjCGN1A15V91SICsLerI8JRQHZVK4T8SP4oYgFdJRSbH3Yg-KeeKno0QYMj5XAdse4AHP29uH2tc3km5U148zMhXt2pknY6p5if2pG2CmrEGEDB-clE/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBj5LzyjWqOU5zY-r3mz4x24lVjCGN1A15V91SICsLerI8JRQHZVK4T8SP4oYgFdJRSbH3Yg-KeeKno0QYMj5XAdse4AHP29uH2tc3km5U148zMhXt2pknY6p5if2pG2CmrEGEDB-clE/s400/IMG_0067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545158619556243986" border="0" /></a><br />"Come on mom, leave me alone, I'm hanging with my friends." (All of whom are wearing their own spiffy jackets!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPnPv5TCFv37HRauDlcMBgxluxfApdx4gFGd1cX33oyhmI3ZoskqJOgKedZvk3X0IGVFoV_HVk98TKHHT-FaI1YvPq0ku-FY5RYQEPLPcedW5V_LxC_jtPzhOiYIZwUi_y2tAF9mr02w/s1600/IMG_0070.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMPnPv5TCFv37HRauDlcMBgxluxfApdx4gFGd1cX33oyhmI3ZoskqJOgKedZvk3X0IGVFoV_HVk98TKHHT-FaI1YvPq0ku-FY5RYQEPLPcedW5V_LxC_jtPzhOiYIZwUi_y2tAF9mr02w/s400/IMG_0070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545158611730276114" border="0" /></a><br />I snapped away, taking many pictures, even though it was freezing outside. No need to worry. I was wearing my hat!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-51247709991581487292010-11-26T11:13:00.002-06:002010-11-26T11:21:43.966-06:00French Toast SandwichI've got the "post Turkey-day time to eat healthy and work out" motivation coursing through my veins today. How about you?<br /><br />So I started the day with 20 minutes on the elliptical, followed by 10 minutes of yoga and this tasty delight for breakfast:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0haWpl67UCImgUoEiez_hM6QxgllpQkgZp5fEGrhgsmt3jqiFSsxEIovedV7yxOTKY2JcAABevEvLV4DlRndAOnKBUJyAOCpCxxxuAFTrI8GGThoYHTM1ru_DY7T91SDWEFmVaKeqzow/s1600/IMG_0054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0haWpl67UCImgUoEiez_hM6QxgllpQkgZp5fEGrhgsmt3jqiFSsxEIovedV7yxOTKY2JcAABevEvLV4DlRndAOnKBUJyAOCpCxxxuAFTrI8GGThoYHTM1ru_DY7T91SDWEFmVaKeqzow/s400/IMG_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543908241110424610" border="0" /></a><br />It's a french toast sandwich made with flax and sesame seed rustic sourdough bread, eggs from the ladies next door, peanut butter, banana and a teaspoon of maple syrup.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTyQ51HlIWiFywE8QEGbD7WUVmrE8HRqw6F5X4faB9cNKlvlrENd99geVgi3R_l2K3EWuLlUxAfNeu9tFkt04BB34iExtEk5qiw96kANyJll2Ozb3-ivIO5s_vHINHeewgYNwTtCi2b8/s1600/IMG_0056.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTyQ51HlIWiFywE8QEGbD7WUVmrE8HRqw6F5X4faB9cNKlvlrENd99geVgi3R_l2K3EWuLlUxAfNeu9tFkt04BB34iExtEk5qiw96kANyJll2Ozb3-ivIO5s_vHINHeewgYNwTtCi2b8/s400/IMG_0056.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543908259811208658" border="0" /></a><br />So tasty!<br /><br />I'm starting a new job on Monday, so I'm trying to get my life in order this weekend. Clean the house, clean out my closet, organize everything. If you know me well, you realize this is no small task.<br /><br />I better get going while I still have some of that pumpkin pie motivation pulsing through my body!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-3781944130170504652010-09-27T07:18:00.004-05:002010-09-27T07:47:28.482-05:00So much good stuff!What a busy and wonderful weekend!<br /><br />Friday night began with serious Pixie triage. My little mare managed to cut her leg up pretty badly and I had to make my first call to the vet. She'll live, although she's a tad dramatic about the bandaging process (she must get that from her mother... her human mother). I didn't get home until well after 8 PM and my wonderful Mr. Z had a delicious hot meal waiting for me. With a very fancy place setting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_WY4Uk6T3PLIHpAW5BCfzg2sCqrKpIofJuUQk5xuhb0xpOoSy9pTNAKH91A1APBoVPbHyE6G9isSIuzQZ_RDMa8qUZFfv6XiDw2NIbKugIY0DUkcmHJQ190dbVvQdtfSg9k3cBBlR_o/s1600/DSCN5858.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_WY4Uk6T3PLIHpAW5BCfzg2sCqrKpIofJuUQk5xuhb0xpOoSy9pTNAKH91A1APBoVPbHyE6G9isSIuzQZ_RDMa8qUZFfv6XiDw2NIbKugIY0DUkcmHJQ190dbVvQdtfSg9k3cBBlR_o/s400/DSCN5858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521570736673944818" border="0" /></a><br />And an even fancier menu...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLIEiObHRA79wxaqeZBSgX6q3w7yPRIA_UEOm0NYVxK7X6L-TYPK_jkZmNzOTuJRT4VZQa6vLIw2k48FyKY4IFbVVK0-UGS8B5y0cljr_5US0goS3oM1kmsjnkzwF5p4gL0G1g2SbtSg/s1600/DSCN5859.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHLIEiObHRA79wxaqeZBSgX6q3w7yPRIA_UEOm0NYVxK7X6L-TYPK_jkZmNzOTuJRT4VZQa6vLIw2k48FyKY4IFbVVK0-UGS8B5y0cljr_5US0goS3oM1kmsjnkzwF5p4gL0G1g2SbtSg/s400/DSCN5859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521570740832284354" border="0" /></a><br />After a stressful, chilly, looonnnggg night, I laughed so hard at this set up. A handsome husband who can cook and makes me laugh every day. Seriously, could I be ANY luckier?!<br /><br />Saturday began with another trip to the barn to make sure Pixie made it through the evening without tearing off her bandages. I was out there for four hours, rushed back to town, picked up our CSA box, made my way home, threw myself into the shower and welcomed my wonderful lady family to my house... for we were off to see the wizard!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVrx28GU4JA39yIhp_Btws8AW2Y_dFvbUPXpNHCjbN5iZ2Ye9fgqCDg2PvrjyekiBuaFvCNRdnGMYVsUrdSBYKGUBZ5vvEGSL08BtJF4L36ngJwqysZxixm-BWnl_KByS0Icl5Bo4pG8/s1600/Wicked"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 236px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVrx28GU4JA39yIhp_Btws8AW2Y_dFvbUPXpNHCjbN5iZ2Ye9fgqCDg2PvrjyekiBuaFvCNRdnGMYVsUrdSBYKGUBZ5vvEGSL08BtJF4L36ngJwqysZxixm-BWnl_KByS0Icl5Bo4pG8/s400/Wicked" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521572266165474386" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Wicked</span> is playing at the Overture Center for the next week or so and it was FANTASTIC. I knew nothing about the show, I haven't read the book or listened to the music, and I really, really enjoyed it. I kind of thought it might be one of those things that everyone raves about and doesn't live up to expectations... not so. A really wonderful production with awesome messages, entertaining characters and really clever lines.<br /><br />After the show we went to an Irish Pub for a delicious meal and Irish car bombs. Yes, even Nana did one. I wish I had pictures.<br /><br />After a long weekend of eating and drinking I knew it was time to get back on track. I've been following weight watchers for a couple of months now. I've lost almost 10 pounds, but the last couple of weeks have been a little stressful at work and that threw any healthy eating plans out the window. So it's time to buckle down!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx6tPC0L8E42G3TffaiD_DK7BVb4rGLmUHISlwvJFWdAPd7qeW6gKTexSAa4-IqsKC8zeP09QHE_uCmy5Owb8MGEA1efJYWuyUdMDiowpVwJU6dxrcF62NQZNmKt8JgwRzWWr0G6EBV8/s1600/muffins.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMx6tPC0L8E42G3TffaiD_DK7BVb4rGLmUHISlwvJFWdAPd7qeW6gKTexSAa4-IqsKC8zeP09QHE_uCmy5Owb8MGEA1efJYWuyUdMDiowpVwJU6dxrcF62NQZNmKt8JgwRzWWr0G6EBV8/s400/muffins.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521566756334519570" border="0" /></a><br />Breakfast was 4 points. Cinnamon raisin Ezekiel muffin with 1 T cream cheese and blueberry tea.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ5O2rMbkRvHwxDdLGY8oJoIpwouWtpVIXyeHDjLI3GeBId8H7wQlCTbELkryS6qincyt_jMPbJ6F8EeY_A9kjUee6LoRcdBZ4cnJlpy97LN309P-nDLUyNMOTl1UR0Rgnq29qODkf1w/s1600/fruit.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ5O2rMbkRvHwxDdLGY8oJoIpwouWtpVIXyeHDjLI3GeBId8H7wQlCTbELkryS6qincyt_jMPbJ6F8EeY_A9kjUee6LoRcdBZ4cnJlpy97LN309P-nDLUyNMOTl1UR0Rgnq29qODkf1w/s400/fruit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521566750434174386" border="0" /></a><br />Snacks for 2 points. A small banana and bruised pear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZo9PgWe-At-V3rs08NX3kWgyfN5lSere0WvcXdewaD9RPil6QbMIvczhL4_cjk8bv5zRQHLHqZ2lCjKfXa_gCdpNdqa0jXubJS1vMC9O6oymmfaBwSGJQPYpJuTGEIrQmlvZo6MbWEY/s1600/chicken.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZo9PgWe-At-V3rs08NX3kWgyfN5lSere0WvcXdewaD9RPil6QbMIvczhL4_cjk8bv5zRQHLHqZ2lCjKfXa_gCdpNdqa0jXubJS1vMC9O6oymmfaBwSGJQPYpJuTGEIrQmlvZo6MbWEY/s400/chicken.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521566749394333330" border="0" /></a><br />Leftovers for lunch for a total of 5 points. This handy dandy tupperware consists of 2 T of my mom's homemade hummus, 3 1/2 oz chicken breast and loads of veggies.<br /><br />I'm dreaming of future leftover lunches. I feel like fall weather really lends itself to leftovers: chili, soups and stews...OH MY! Speaking of soup, I have three different squashes sitting on my counter that need to be turned into something soon. Perhaps I'll have a recipe update later this week!<br /><br />Happy Monday!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-51504408263945003392010-09-10T09:00:00.006-05:002010-09-10T09:17:11.991-05:00A good man is worth a zillion-bajillion diamonds...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8jfmHfLlofH-ipQPiB0s9Qyw9j0UlsHouRgGYNeOHkIqk8DHLsZiSgeDCEuXUYLyV5HNOiCNgaXWxmAmRNFFF2CvxtEbTPBLNEmtZ0UBmPqmum4u2hPTTju3HqYJa4ENbdL6qMdXJak/s1600/nut.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8jfmHfLlofH-ipQPiB0s9Qyw9j0UlsHouRgGYNeOHkIqk8DHLsZiSgeDCEuXUYLyV5HNOiCNgaXWxmAmRNFFF2CvxtEbTPBLNEmtZ0UBmPqmum4u2hPTTju3HqYJa4ENbdL6qMdXJak/s400/nut.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515285681706773378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Mr. Z carrying our nephew Cooper around the Milwaukee airport at midnight upon our return from Jamaica.</span>Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-23631858962368758382010-08-31T20:18:00.002-05:002010-08-31T20:30:47.812-05:00The Simple Woman's Daybook<strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm copying this from a favorite blog of mine. I thought it would be an easy way to get back into the swing of blogging.</span><br /><br />From the simple woman's daybook...<br /><br /></strong><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BL2IUyEiGDBJeQRUUzQnD1ddUQfYftWdvRHRQRtZmbmqqXPZ9MsM6_XRj64e_1JFM3qT3KA-Htxp0czKq7V_EEDaUSCFe4uT3YDJCDc99qqBTNlEDK_b17oTfmkcu4XwKYtET2N0cGk/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BL2IUyEiGDBJeQRUUzQnD1ddUQfYftWdvRHRQRtZmbmqqXPZ9MsM6_XRj64e_1JFM3qT3KA-Htxp0czKq7V_EEDaUSCFe4uT3YDJCDc99qqBTNlEDK_b17oTfmkcu4XwKYtET2N0cGk/s400/IMG_1937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511751259149695298" border="0" /></a><strong></strong> <p><em>Outside my window</em>… is an amazing piece of art created by my brother.<br /></p> <p><em>I am thinking</em>… of how lucky I am to be employed.</p><p><em>I am thankful for</em>… my home that I can fill with new art and lots of love.<br /></p> <p><em>From the kitchen</em>… I am dreaming of fall baked goods I will make.</p> <p><em>I am wearing</em>… a miss-matched pair of undergarments (it's hot!).<br /></p> <p><em>I am creating</em>… beautiful memories with my husband each day.<em></em></p> <p><em>I am going</em>… to Maine in October to visit family. Yay!<br /></p> <p><em>I am reading</em>… a book about Frida and Diego and the communist revolution in Mexico by Barbara Kingsolver. Kind of boring.<br /></p> <p><em>I am hoping</em>… for peach in my mind. Always.<em></em></p> <p><em>I am hearing</em>… my husband eat his dinner. Munch, munch, munch.<br /></p> <p><em>Around the house</em>… is cozy and warm and lots of dust bunnies.<br /></p> <p><em>A few plans for the rest of the week</em>: Ride pixie for the first time since hurting my back, catch up with friends, work my body (elliptical!).<br /></p>Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-9790953778491527932010-08-04T11:42:00.003-05:002010-08-04T11:48:15.624-05:00Pixie and I on the Playland!This has been one of the hottest, buggiest and busiest summers on record!<br /><br />But I love it all!<br /><br /><object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EMw9F-qCrlQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EMw9F-qCrlQ&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object><br /><br />This is Pixie and me horsing around on the teeter-totter (hehehe). It may not look like a big deal, but horses don't love things that move under their feet. This was our second time going over it under saddle and it went pretty well!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-58632677871613803342010-07-15T12:52:00.003-05:002010-07-15T13:09:29.504-05:00My Favorite Visitor!Another summertime visit with my mom! She's here for a week and we've really done nothing but yoga and eating.<br /><br />After breakfast with Red, we ran some errands and wound up at a French pastry shop that I've been dying to try.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JoeMGv3vfcEjVeMoF1NwBrM3MygIEWUjqNjyz-JrEm2xozrWr5Gy-LdhEy3CN5g_nuiM9BETU4JyfGhM3VoIZZM9i43pMSn_ae9oS9HJJpJcUj-Eu5POm4PkZtKHMXhQ53pERL0LayM/s1600/IMG_1534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JoeMGv3vfcEjVeMoF1NwBrM3MygIEWUjqNjyz-JrEm2xozrWr5Gy-LdhEy3CN5g_nuiM9BETU4JyfGhM3VoIZZM9i43pMSn_ae9oS9HJJpJcUj-Eu5POm4PkZtKHMXhQ53pERL0LayM/s320/IMG_1534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494193239566544354" border="0" /></a><br />My mom got a chocolate eclair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-uNbjgud51Teb7iXntofH7mv7psYe-TEA3gyY9Jcx7x4E7uSAMjKMC500r-xLdzWsJ444AfQpvInmSvNQPykc46ivP0ddiqDHiRCR1HspbBmGnLvFRiA0NMYTY5PsIkuQypur3vHbw0/s1600/IMG_1533.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-uNbjgud51Teb7iXntofH7mv7psYe-TEA3gyY9Jcx7x4E7uSAMjKMC500r-xLdzWsJ444AfQpvInmSvNQPykc46ivP0ddiqDHiRCR1HspbBmGnLvFRiA0NMYTY5PsIkuQypur3vHbw0/s320/IMG_1533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494193231181375970" border="0" /></a><br />And I got the citrus tart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfKzEuYof6B6htw8xZvYXotot8mlRj313WyzcnEWvjVRjQYMzRMlV_Z6xbpdCTKbgGpn89RoEc-rxaD-4yBORCB6HSGqV5idRm0RGCztAul2HcOi7e_23wG9qd0-WY4wwpjpOKPb11Zs/s1600/IMG_1535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfKzEuYof6B6htw8xZvYXotot8mlRj313WyzcnEWvjVRjQYMzRMlV_Z6xbpdCTKbgGpn89RoEc-rxaD-4yBORCB6HSGqV5idRm0RGCztAul2HcOi7e_23wG9qd0-WY4wwpjpOKPb11Zs/s320/IMG_1535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494193002436132530" border="0" /></a><br />As we nibbled our tasties, we wondered whether bakery just tastes better in France or if it really is better there. Because sadly, these guys didn't even come close to our Parisian delights.<br /><br />Of course we ate every last bit... we wouldn't want anything to go to waste.<br /><br />We continued our errands and I got three dresses from St. Vinnie's! I even found a dress for Mr. Z's sister's wedding that's coming up in August.<br /><br />When we got home we made ourselves a lunch/afternoon snack/dinner treat and ate it on our new deck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXrAdIiNYpF1a-OHOKrGbHvmxP92Z3DzEDd5ubjzq_mJdr2erq5Y0lglNRrH-qSfh4M4pOQlmxSPGQi7BKgaIJ9vR8tWxkxS5aWvDRDnveUvgdhG1Y9DePytMEVnshM0wWh8UKovTYBU/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXrAdIiNYpF1a-OHOKrGbHvmxP92Z3DzEDd5ubjzq_mJdr2erq5Y0lglNRrH-qSfh4M4pOQlmxSPGQi7BKgaIJ9vR8tWxkxS5aWvDRDnveUvgdhG1Y9DePytMEVnshM0wWh8UKovTYBU/s320/IMG_1536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494192996322931682" border="0" /></a><br />These are the best meals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOWQKN5zzBvU0KMBiWOEBPJEBilhqmSrhVxy7RdtufMRX81GeDL6B0a7fjvZlTTrg-pfMewgOwIbL6lOZ-XFUoSUYW-3-i3VrNXRRPxoNuVgkEtORub5MOt3-yFY2QrNxd6rlTLUZ8Ao/s1600/IMG_1537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOWQKN5zzBvU0KMBiWOEBPJEBilhqmSrhVxy7RdtufMRX81GeDL6B0a7fjvZlTTrg-pfMewgOwIbL6lOZ-XFUoSUYW-3-i3VrNXRRPxoNuVgkEtORub5MOt3-yFY2QrNxd6rlTLUZ8Ao/s320/IMG_1537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494192990419080930" border="0" /></a><br />We had a baguette from the French bakery, olive oil and balsamic vinegar, Irish cheddar....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmCXmi8yk_oDmDGInlnYp9DRfuZgqepF02FTRvkOPXWAoZBJQ1noaGgt3CSrpDvEQkiBWQ2NVUp7YMrtMhYxvM4d11lASCMRa2ITUibMfK5kZhVrqkwinvGmnx6O5iwu1nYNGlnFQe8g/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmCXmi8yk_oDmDGInlnYp9DRfuZgqepF02FTRvkOPXWAoZBJQ1noaGgt3CSrpDvEQkiBWQ2NVUp7YMrtMhYxvM4d11lASCMRa2ITUibMfK5kZhVrqkwinvGmnx6O5iwu1nYNGlnFQe8g/s320/IMG_1538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494192980750479138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Kohlrabi, mushroom tofu spread, Mr. Z's homemade salsa, chips and a refreshing beverage made of juice and fizzy soda.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pPuCDEfND7nzCkCJTePfabGVmlGx8S-GeZSstckHMTZPrz6LMCPaIUPGZi-hwP01SkUzoUb6EYVbHgZgW-WUZWD3XZpn_AgbPYQ0RGDujM1g-ukNQnG_J2HjT-ng4MuBuSH6XwVK3c0/s1600/IMG_1539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pPuCDEfND7nzCkCJTePfabGVmlGx8S-GeZSstckHMTZPrz6LMCPaIUPGZi-hwP01SkUzoUb6EYVbHgZgW-WUZWD3XZpn_AgbPYQ0RGDujM1g-ukNQnG_J2HjT-ng4MuBuSH6XwVK3c0/s320/IMG_1539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494192973927423762" border="0" /></a><br />After our meal it was finally cool enough to go to the barn, but I forgot my camera!! We had such a great time. I gave my mom a ride on Pixie (I led them around with a rope) and I showed her how far we've come with soccer, cantering and bareback riding. It was really, really fun!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-2962831981392062622010-07-04T13:56:00.003-05:002010-07-04T16:39:20.537-05:00Finally: The Birthday Post!Pardon me for my recent absence. Some of you may know that a recent flash flood ruined my trusty Saturn. I've been dealing with insurance issues all week and haven't been in the mood to blog.<br /><br />Luckily, everything worked out for the best, the weekend has been beautiful and I figured it's time to upload some birthday pictures!<br /><br />Here is Julia enjoying her very first alcoholic beverage: a pear cosmopolitan. Nana really had to put the peer pressure on this one.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwezm4icv3qDc-I2xk4nk3WfEGn-cstfU3e0AoVokb8QhC3eovbqNI1M_1cAtsZvzJck7UTWwPOdmg6rdOQooohVDwalpei5gfTiOTd8CR21plH6IX-Vm-_eBxBttPIdlC80NI-i5Clxs/s1600/DSCN5625.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwezm4icv3qDc-I2xk4nk3WfEGn-cstfU3e0AoVokb8QhC3eovbqNI1M_1cAtsZvzJck7UTWwPOdmg6rdOQooohVDwalpei5gfTiOTd8CR21plH6IX-Vm-_eBxBttPIdlC80NI-i5Clxs/s320/DSCN5625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490128164651807362" border="0" /></a><br />After dinner we went back to the house to enjoy cake, games and conversation.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamsZiGPnQDS_tzcKKJ7XpgeYfugXHXHwg2xDde-wNbmu3hXpsevhnXHZ87cT61LI9zFT0kbwHLRV1RkNpW0KV2LqGnnJHYNe-SjUiVXfjIVmqs3qFidFnkFwcMhpYcl6lYOzpfa1zVA0/s1600/DSCN5629.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamsZiGPnQDS_tzcKKJ7XpgeYfugXHXHwg2xDde-wNbmu3hXpsevhnXHZ87cT61LI9zFT0kbwHLRV1RkNpW0KV2LqGnnJHYNe-SjUiVXfjIVmqs3qFidFnkFwcMhpYcl6lYOzpfa1zVA0/s320/DSCN5629.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490128157171739442" border="0" /></a><br />I decided to decorate the cake with chocolate chip cookies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMX8we_LSaGk9d9jr3ZTHKfhyphenhyphenLvNwRohybCks4l3iYDaMLRL2mn2Me6s3BUJygr1Y9wg9Uoh4AhcMHP1hDXjBOsJ6w-Qaf1DBzoXKG-HfX-sJsQlvGlXkWvkE_jTPucclylleGqpJ_vs/s1600/DSCN5630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMX8we_LSaGk9d9jr3ZTHKfhyphenhyphenLvNwRohybCks4l3iYDaMLRL2mn2Me6s3BUJygr1Y9wg9Uoh4AhcMHP1hDXjBOsJ6w-Qaf1DBzoXKG-HfX-sJsQlvGlXkWvkE_jTPucclylleGqpJ_vs/s320/DSCN5630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490128146754120274" border="0" /></a><br />The birthday girl totally dug it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AOOseAJLQ2IUPQrk-iP0jmHEyNkMNLXST96pxNJGOM3uoY0iXchNZ29_wNss6vGQqE8MyEbxrPrdL8T5PUUxsiY6KPSzxSsrN2cBRp9v4kBj-twoC8nHShLQfG5LMqAO50lgHhBqXwI/s1600/DSCN5632.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AOOseAJLQ2IUPQrk-iP0jmHEyNkMNLXST96pxNJGOM3uoY0iXchNZ29_wNss6vGQqE8MyEbxrPrdL8T5PUUxsiY6KPSzxSsrN2cBRp9v4kBj-twoC8nHShLQfG5LMqAO50lgHhBqXwI/s320/DSCN5632.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490128125199222210" border="0" /></a><br />It's so wonderful to have a tribe of amazing women to call my family. In all there were 14 of us! We are each unique in many ways, however our commonalities include inner beauty, a sense of humor and love for the curly-haired birthday girl (ok...I'll add "outside" beauty as well, we are a group of fantastic looking women and girls!).<br /><br />Happy birthday Julia!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-51639262333943593062010-06-25T08:00:00.004-05:002010-06-25T08:20:55.179-05:00Babe...Our dear friend Miss Leslie took some trips this spring to exotic places near and far and brought us back some yummy gifts!<br /><br />And by yummy, I mean a really spectacular Cher magnet from Las Vegas:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMlvLsKDjOEU6ZHVbeEmA91L9M1XuXhgaQqVA0HYCwrHrpYkzBMEX8hVUOMMAdSYg1VdypUov6UbojUz0sxZPfnJUj7j0hI3d1gQD8rYz1eouIt-ldPXPXmiqAic4mnNnmb4obuhV0TE/s1600/DSCN5620.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjMlvLsKDjOEU6ZHVbeEmA91L9M1XuXhgaQqVA0HYCwrHrpYkzBMEX8hVUOMMAdSYg1VdypUov6UbojUz0sxZPfnJUj7j0hI3d1gQD8rYz1eouIt-ldPXPXmiqAic4mnNnmb4obuhV0TE/s320/DSCN5620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486696640066108434" border="0" /></a><br />Just how big <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> that magnet you wonder? Well, let me give you some perspective...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXFWlpRtr7WC-iaEKvMMkjRJBgzwRfnsNOi2Fx0hB8c6_EAB_mEemJtUsTe90sMTEDuMAVOOwJVTHrRWCJqy0UVa7ST9r-Wc13PNDeQ62VsIMj4msqVST9nJaXsY1KP6ED-ZNyUkOd5s/s1600/DSCN5619.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXFWlpRtr7WC-iaEKvMMkjRJBgzwRfnsNOi2Fx0hB8c6_EAB_mEemJtUsTe90sMTEDuMAVOOwJVTHrRWCJqy0UVa7ST9r-Wc13PNDeQ62VsIMj4msqVST9nJaXsY1KP6ED-ZNyUkOd5s/s320/DSCN5619.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486696632636782194" border="0" /></a><br />Yes folks, that is one sweet treat gracing the travel section of our refrigerator door!<br /><br />But the real star of Miss Leslie's travels (sorry Cher!) is the Mexican vanilla that she brought back just for me!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rS8Et1dXme7JHi8hMS_lPDCmrZti7YTuhnN2-iGpwQU4xPFxFeZnMM38T7TKSOKraCP6n386Ixonv6fvkxMEV8fCG5Gn4zzXHVrg-tam-1jqv5RHfm_AFWQ1YuhiVSHNwRh-J4iLNKU/s1600/DSCN5612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rS8Et1dXme7JHi8hMS_lPDCmrZti7YTuhnN2-iGpwQU4xPFxFeZnMM38T7TKSOKraCP6n386Ixonv6fvkxMEV8fCG5Gn4zzXHVrg-tam-1jqv5RHfm_AFWQ1YuhiVSHNwRh-J4iLNKU/s320/DSCN5612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486695864812460274" border="0" /></a><br />I can't explain how it's different than vanilla you'd find in specialty stores here, other than saying it's just better. It's fuller, softer, more vanillaier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvkAxe08O7VmCrqYmy_2Dcm9fhaFHFxaf4o-uc8WX3QRCLT9wTao2Aeft-ABabPD8gv-msenm-FqGgD6pvHjAYXzZO3U-0sWcw8IADPcdSKVVy9eTKisuAS43lfARMMvT_tx-tW31hQc/s1600/DSCN5614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvkAxe08O7VmCrqYmy_2Dcm9fhaFHFxaf4o-uc8WX3QRCLT9wTao2Aeft-ABabPD8gv-msenm-FqGgD6pvHjAYXzZO3U-0sWcw8IADPcdSKVVy9eTKisuAS43lfARMMvT_tx-tW31hQc/s320/DSCN5614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486695872702298786" border="0" /></a><br />I'll be busting this open tomorrow when I make a very special birthday cake! Perhaps I'll crank up some Cher as I'm mixing, beating and frosting....Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-57680669953401254512010-06-19T10:23:00.004-05:002010-06-19T10:48:19.768-05:00JugeThis beautiful girl turned 21 a couple of weeks ago and we're finally getting around to celebrating next Saturday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQSKgZd0YYEvU-OPKVNvZ-LRznAak5S1sCjh1VFO45tZTBJoY-1FQvsj25b9COEOq996YgWcqJoLlx-G6W1MMB73hk3BVR8LCNJEH4RIqVyHIpdWXbk92Ca10Ahw1JGfWxqfhPp_lr5Y/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQSKgZd0YYEvU-OPKVNvZ-LRznAak5S1sCjh1VFO45tZTBJoY-1FQvsj25b9COEOq996YgWcqJoLlx-G6W1MMB73hk3BVR8LCNJEH4RIqVyHIpdWXbk92Ca10Ahw1JGfWxqfhPp_lr5Y/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484507322778675442" border="0" /></a><br />The wonderful ladies of her family are getting together for dinner, games and drinks and I'm guessing it may get kind of rowdy. We're kind of a rowdy bunch...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65-hLvmac24BsaykAAR49r35HCSjs-moEF9Uys55Zx9JmZXx-RxKelkArw-UKTCh7PEh8rBzkMd4KzNc-vLmIHWOhAK5ywxMbUy3aE59ty8u94pVZDG1C4goida0Z299oEI-VDHtFQ6I/s1600/DSCN2320.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65-hLvmac24BsaykAAR49r35HCSjs-moEF9Uys55Zx9JmZXx-RxKelkArw-UKTCh7PEh8rBzkMd4KzNc-vLmIHWOhAK5ywxMbUy3aE59ty8u94pVZDG1C4goida0Z299oEI-VDHtFQ6I/s320/DSCN2320.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484507301083417970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(Grand Canyon 2009)</span><br /></div><br />Anyway, I'm extra excited because I get to make the cake! I gave her a list of choices for cake, filling and frosting and she just got back to me with her selection: chocolate cake with whipped cream filling and vanilla butter cream frosting. A very tasty choice indeed!<br /><br />When I know I'm going to make a cake, I can't stop thinking about it. I'll dream up different recipes for the individual parts and imagine creative ways to decorate it. I'm really excited about this cake because the frosting will be vanilla butter cream, so there are endless decoration ideas: writing, "happy birthday!" or other well wishes across the cake, decorating with shapes or designs, adding other sweets to the top, finding a crazy cake topper that may or may not be appropriate for a family birthday party... like I said, endless ideas!<br /><br />And of course, most of all, I can't wait for the birthday girl to taste the creation I made especially for her. Hopefully she won't be so tipsy that she can't discern it from HoHo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVPl1dwOwoP1dFzrkA9JAHC0-IQBPI1_ZNHAMJb1NKHd4rtYl7cP7OQhMXhUoXMVoZfCBLNiAZbPmE-Xps6oId2cVBS_SZnDbymsVWZONxUDIFjBmlQjEb0LpRKA_xKbsUcL36fYaM3s/s1600/hostess-ho-hos.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 217px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwVPl1dwOwoP1dFzrkA9JAHC0-IQBPI1_ZNHAMJb1NKHd4rtYl7cP7OQhMXhUoXMVoZfCBLNiAZbPmE-Xps6oId2cVBS_SZnDbymsVWZONxUDIFjBmlQjEb0LpRKA_xKbsUcL36fYaM3s/s320/hostess-ho-hos.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484510778438219538" border="0" /></a><br />Of course there will be pictures to come!Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1504805118616271466.post-90910206539777362212010-06-13T20:20:00.003-05:002010-06-13T20:43:28.538-05:00Ok, I feel better now...My Nana is the cutest woman on the face of the planet. Seriously, she is.<br /><br />Just look at this picture of her taken last year at the Grand Canyon. She's holding a little step stool Mr. Z made for her so she could get into the eight passenger van the ladies of my family rented to get us to the park (it reads: "Grand Canyon or bust!")<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4yWpHKm1nH-nvGdvuq9_9detZYUTmC_12YiukQJ5ONM3BVkNtaKf2i786UwqoeMxAOIF4yZognTKnfkpQBO1YD4I_ERBZbBNIT5E_SRM1d3cTCSg42Hmrg8sMo4X7D7oijrXAvEF3M8/s1600/IMG_0267.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4yWpHKm1nH-nvGdvuq9_9detZYUTmC_12YiukQJ5ONM3BVkNtaKf2i786UwqoeMxAOIF4yZognTKnfkpQBO1YD4I_ERBZbBNIT5E_SRM1d3cTCSg42Hmrg8sMo4X7D7oijrXAvEF3M8/s320/IMG_0267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482435283917358674" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, she's a cutie-patootie (and probably my most loyal blog reader).<br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">When she read my post about the <a href="http://pearflavoredbean.blogspot.com/2010/06/oh-no-she-dint.html">boxed cake</a>, she sent me an e-mail that began like this, </span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span></span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color:#000000;">I loved reading your blog today. So the princess made a box cake...welcome to the rest of the royal family!</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"<br /></span><br />That Nana cracks me up sometimes! I sure do love her.<br /><br />The yellow cake with milk chocolate frosting was a huge hit at the birthday party. Only one person asked if it was from scratch (why do people ask that?) and I had to admit it wasn't and try to explain that I really<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> am</span> a great baker and yadda yadda yadda, like she cared...<br /><br />Thankfully I had time today to whip out a masterpiece: a whipped cream yellow cake with strawberry jam filling and lemon buttercream frosting. Delicious! <br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpPC7F7Cmc7P8YU_u7jjE0x8VatM3kbRJfrkdZ1Os0tJ74FCcibLteTArPShFzAQoQF1JgfpFmXGyuNbndIaq5JDHrEA_DpvQmcgYTxKaJGKusEFHZ4pobcT3VMZfuB7Malf_uhDYPbM/s1600/DSCN5576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpPC7F7Cmc7P8YU_u7jjE0x8VatM3kbRJfrkdZ1Os0tJ74FCcibLteTArPShFzAQoQF1JgfpFmXGyuNbndIaq5JDHrEA_DpvQmcgYTxKaJGKusEFHZ4pobcT3VMZfuB7Malf_uhDYPbM/s320/DSCN5576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482435267439336130" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://pearflavoredbean.blogspot.com/2009/12/betty.html">Betty</a> worked her tail off today and I could tell she was smiling the whole time.Bonniejeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01780850670092780360noreply@blogger.com2