Sweet

While researching some fun Christmas recipes, I stumbled on this goldmine of a recipe site - mindspring.com.I did find something rather delicious, which I am very eager to try out on my hubby. I'll let you know how it goes - this looked a little more complicated than the twisted bread recipe I mentioned (which is (as I remember it) basically bread dough twisted together and glazed in a butter/sugar mixture and baked till golden) but sounds even more delicious.

Almond Pastry Ring - Mandelkrans

Makes 1 large or 2 small

• 4 cups flour
• 2 eggs -- beaten
• 4 tablespoons sour cream
• 2 tablespoons white wine
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 package dry yeast
• ½ cup warm water
• 2 cups butter

• 1 cup raisins -- coarsely ground (hmm . . . not a big raisin fan - maybe I'll try craisins :)
  
• 6 tablespoons sugar
• 6 tablespoons almonds -- finely chopped
• 1 lemon rind -- grated
• 6 eggs -- beaten
• 2 egg yolk -- optional
• 2 tablespoons almonds -- ground

• 8 egg whites -- beaten stiff
• 1 cup sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup almonds -- ground

PASTRY RING

Mix flour, eggs, sour cream, wine and salt, blending well.

Soften the yeast in the water. Add to above mixture and blend well.

Knead until bubbles appear on the dough.

Roll out to ¼-inch thickness. Place the butter on the dough, fold over completely, sprinkle with flour, roll and beat gently with the hands until very flat.

Fold the 4 corners envelope style to the center of the dough and roll very thin. Repeat this procedure 4 times. The dough will be very flaky and rich. To make the ring for which the Danes are famous, fill as follows:

FILLING

Blend first five ingredients together well. Line a baking ring pan with half of the pastry dough. Place filling over this evenly. Cover with rest of pastry dough.

Brush with the beaten egg yolks and ground almonds to make the ring more decorative if you wish.

Let rise until doubled in bulk in a warm place.

Bake 40 minutes in a preheated 325º oven.

Grab Bag

My tummy is warm and full from delicious creamy tomato & basil soup and a grilled cheese sandwich (thank you Steph, you sweetie :)

I just pulled on my jammies and I am determined to go to bed before 11 tonight. . . we'll see if I hold to that - I have to get some laundry done first.

I am looking down at my napping pup - he was rather frustrated with me earlier because I wasn't playing with him. Poor little guy wore himself out being agitated. Now his little belly is sticking out from his sideways position as he snores. He reminds me of a college student, with his ability to sleep anywhere at anytime.

This Sunday is the first Advent - I am contemplating how to make it special. We have a candle wreath somewhere in our junk room - I cringe at the thought of trying to find it.

And food, yes, the food. I always look forward to the food. ;)

I am eager to twist some sweet bread braids this year. I think I have only made twisty bread once, a long while ago.

I am starting to get into the Christmas spirit, slowly, I have one more day to enjoy some sanity.

My lovey comes home tomorrow!

Christmas Delirium

I am confused.

When I walk around our neighborhood, I have to remind myself that Christmas is in 25 days and not tomorrow. But when I see people decorating in in flurries with their lights, electrical reindeer, snowflakes and santas, I can't help feeling a little 'behind'.

Am I strange in that I usually wait till December to decorate? Or that we usually get our tree the 2nd weekend of December or so?

I know that there is no rule of thumb (except for goodness' sake, wait until AFTER Thanksgiving to bring out the trimmings), but I feel off the wagon on this one. And the thing is, I am not going to change either.

We are still in November, right?

I'll see you in a couple days. . .

Just for laughs, of course

My hubby sent me an email with a link to a sled dogging supply, er, I mean, dog sledding site.

We are contemplating a great future for our canine . . . who cares if he's a lab amongst huskies?


* before you worry your little heads off, no, we are not really submitting our house pet to a life of snow-paws and confused identity - we will all stay nice and warm inside.

Jack Frost, you got my number

A cold front is moving in - fast-paced, loud and dramatic - winter's grand entrance.

Hector and I bundled up and went out to meet it. We skipped through the late fall leaves and tried not to get swept away. The rain is soon to follow, but we are now snuggly in our warm little house.

I am doing laundry and watching a delightful movie called 'Band Wagon' - a Fred Astaire movie I have not yet seen :)

The house is almost clean, and I am excited that tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Mom always creates such a feast and I am eager to get over in the morning to help her.

Haven comes home tomorrow afternoon - he has a four day weekend - the poor guy will probably spend most of that just trying to get over the flu he caught :(

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! May God richly bless you with His love through feasting and fellowship!

And one more thing . . .

Phew . . .

Today I was cleared from this charge :)

Things to be Thankful For

Its Thanksgiving week, and today I was beginning to reflect upon some things that I am really thankful for


Like:


God's hand over my life, and the privilege it is to be His daughter.

A Husband who loves the Lord, loves me and works so hard for us

Our families and friends daily reminding us of God's love

Provisions of a roof overhead, transportation, food, financial blessings


Just a few things, and there are so many more I could say. . .

Thank you Lord for Your Faithfulness!!!

Pooch Pillow

UPDATE: This looked hopeful ;)

*****************************************************************************************

Okay, to my dog-loving audience - (or, to those who love sewing things of this nature)

I have a little problem. He's my four-legged, adorable, BUT shedding monster who sleeps on our couch. I don't like this one bit. I always make sure that I have a protective sheet over the couch, but I am getting tired of spoiling him like this. Plus, I really want my couch back! And fur-free!

I want to make this pup his own place to plop. I am reluctant to throw down $60-100+ for a dog pillow, and I am feeling like it'd be fun to make a him cedar chip-filled pillow, just in time for Christmas. Strong fabric is a must - chew-proof would be nice too.

Any ideas? Thoughts? 'Amy-just go out and buy a dang dog pillow' s? ;)

Thoughts for this morning

My oh my, its a chilly day here. Chills being in the mid-40's (which seems the freezing point for us Texans) I am well aware of REAL COLD, mind you, I lived in Northern Idaho for 4 years. ;)

This morning I was encouraged by a little piece that Nancy Wilson posted. It was kind of convicting for me to read, actually.

Being at this 'phase' of life, I often feel like I am just a tree waiting to produce. Now that seems weird, but the status of being married and yet unchildrened sometimes makes you feel a little dormant in the fruit department. But this was again, convicting to read:

Women tend to think that children are the only kind of fruit there is. And, of course, those little olive shoots around the table are as fruity as can be. But for the unmarried woman, or for the wife without children, you must consider that God has other ways for you to bear fruit if He has not yet given you children.

The entire post is worth reading :)

H is for . . .

Haven, Hector, Hofwoman, House

Hofman

We seem a little partial to the letter

H

Here's the newest addition to our little collection

Which stands for

:)

Hi, my name is Accord.

I was born in 2004, but I still am young and full of spirit.

I have 33k.

I had kind of a big price tag but my parents said I was worth it.

I'm glad.

I'll take care of my owners better than those other wheels they were driving.

Yawn

So sleepy

So sleepy

SOOOO SLEEPY

MUST . . . wake . . . up

NEED COFFEE . . .

NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Humility, at 4am Lord?

This morning was just another reason why I need to seek a new heart from the Lord every MOMENT. . .
It began as it usually does - an alarm sounding at a painful 3 am; me, groggily waking up and trying not to wake my hubby. I pull on my gym pants and a big tee and gather a water bottle and a towel. Oh yeah, and keys. Oh, and my purse.

I then drive about 1/2 mile down the road to my little gym.

Now, there are seldom few who come to the gym at this time. I enjoy the peace and solitude, and the sole possession of the elliptical trainer that everybody likes. Its a funny thing, because there are 5 other elliptical trainers, but just not like This One. So, its sometimes a flip when I walk in to find that its in use.

I am a sharing person. At least I thought so.

Last Friday, there was a woman using it when I came in. She's a regular, and I also discovered that she works at our local HEB store in the deli department. We seem to get this everyother day. I get it first, so she treadmills, or she gets it first, so I treadmill. Its just not exactly what either of us want. We both want that stupid machine.

So, last Friday, I was grumbly. I was ultra grumbly because by the time I got to the gym, saw that she was on the machine through the window, and opened my car door, I realized that I had forgotten my swipe key at home. When I got back to the gym, she was still on it. I really had a bad attitude. I got on the treadmill facing the other direction and stomped out the frustration I was batting around. It was the crummiest workout ever because of my stinky attitude.

So this morning, I got there first. I got on the machine and waited for her to arrive. 15 minutes passed and then I saw her pull up. I suddenly felt uncomfortable and sheepish. I was acting like such a child hoarding this stupid machine. She got on the treadmill and I kept ellipticalling. I stopped at 30 minutes, 15 minutes short of what I usually do, and I got on another treadmill. I felt comfortable again. She didn't get on the elliptical trainer this morning, but I know she probably wanted to.

Its kind of a silly thing I guess, but its a my life for yours thing. I feel convicted when I think of how I have been acting, and what kind of witness I being. It reminds me that the Lord never shuts His eye on His children. He is constantly at work in our hearts, changing stinky attitudes to attitudes that are giving and loving.

Thank you Lord for your reproof, yes, even at 4 am

Waffles

This waffle recipe was lip-smacking good ;) The recipe is not mine, but belongs in an awesome cookbook called Hot Providence (many can attest to it!).

Grandpa's Waffles, submitted by Rachel Hoffmann

2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs


Preheat waffle iron or skillet. Sift together all dry ingredients and make a well in the center. Separate the two eggs, placing the whites into a 1 quart bowl and the yolks into a 2 quart bowl. Beat egg whites until stiff. Set aside. Measure the milk and oil, add to the egg yolks. Beat until frothy and pour into the well of dry ingredients. Beat only until mixed. Add egg whites and fold in gently until creamy. Let stand for 3 to 4 minutes. Cook.

*This made about 8 or 9 waffles for us. Course, we have a smallish heart shaped waffle-iron ;), so maybe 4 for a regular.

**I topped this with hot cinnamon apples :) It was MMMmm good!!!

Prayer

For Kelli
(Click to link to her blog)

She is such a sweet spirit, and a dear friend of our family. Please pray for her if you get a chance. Pray that God would lift her pain and her spirits, and provide for her financially.

Thank you

8 Things Random

Kristine tagged me for this:

1. I was born in Fresno, California - known as the 'Raisin Capital of the World'
   
2. Mom said that I didn't cry after I was born, I just looked around at the world
   
3. I love to figure skate and rollerblade
   
4. I used to watch soap operas when I babysat
   
5. I've driven the wrong way on a one way - on purpose
   
6. I have always wanted to go skydiving, but I am kind of a chicken
   
7. I played the violin when I was younger, but it didn't last very long
8. I played softball in elementary school, but quit just before a game when I learned that the boy I had a huge crush on was coming
   

P.S. I am not tagging anyone, this is just for fun. I still would love to hear 8 random things about you - leave it in my comments :)

Subway Love

There was a really sweet story on Good Morning America today, about this guy on a NY city subway train, who saw the 'girl of his dreams :)'

Hopelessly romantic? You might want to see how he found her again.

http://www.nygirlofmydreams.com/

and here's the story on GMA

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=3828525&page=1

Awww ;)

Zapata Dip Dapata

I am unbelievably happy.

Why?

Haven got the job in Zapata, which is pretty much 2 hours away!

Do you know what this means???

He is supervising this project, HIS OWN!

He gets HIS OWN crew!

He has a pretty manly truck!

He will be able to be home on the weekends!

He will be able to go to church again!

I am on schedule to cook again for awhile!

He can take car of these 'honey do's'!

WOHOO!!! Thank you Lord!!!

My Love

Oh . . . Did I fail to mention that my beloved is finally home?

He surely is!!! :)

We had a sweet reunion on Saturday, early afternoon. His plane rolled in right on time. I tell you, welcome home kisses are the best :)

After he was fed and showered, we went to check out the new Costco that opened in OUR neck of the woods. Can you imagine how happy I was to have HIM pick up that big ol' 65-lb bag of dog chow!? !

I made dinner for the first time in months. . . just getting out my pots and pans made me giddy. And, I have never been so happy to see so many dishes flood my sink! ;)

I made some delicious waffles from a Hot Providence cookbook recipe, and we savored each bite with coffee and the newspaper. (I'll post the recipe in a while).

After a wonderful church service and a bit of fellowshipping, we headed home. I packed us a little lunch and we went to a quiet spot by the Guadalupe river in New Braunfels and enjoyed the sunny fall day. It was so nice to celebrate the sabbath with my man! We decided to go see that movie 'Dan in Real Life' with Steve Carell (aka Mr. Michael from 'The Office"). It was actually pretty good :)

So okay, maybe it sound like we are newlyweds or something, but its really been too long since we lived in the same house TOGETHER :)

I am really thankful right now - he has the possibility of getting a project that is only 2 hrs away and so he'd be home on the weekends, for sure. We are both hoping for that, but we are praying to be at peace with wherever God wants him.

God is so good!

Misty Morning

As I drove back from my leader's meeting this wee morn ;), I was enchanted by the misty hazy, low-lying fog coating everything. The newly risen sun was giving it a warm golden glow, and it just made me feel so thankful. I kept thinking 'His mercies are new every morning' for some reason.

I love just love it when God tucks little blessings like these into each day.
Especially on Mondays ;)


How has He blessed you today? :)

Re: I wish I wasn't so blond. . . .

Au Contraire ;)

Today I got my hair 'lit' - she went all out - my hair is rather sunny and this picture doesn't even do it justice. . . trust me. I am blond.

And NO Whining!!!

Awww, shucks

I have a confession to make. . . a little bit delayed, but here goes. . .

I got a ticket for speeding at the end of August. . .

Yes, (shock) I do speed. Unashamed. And frequently.
This time, evidentially, I was going 63 or so in a 45 mph zone. I was in a part of the city that I normally never go, and over the span of 15 miles, it seemed like the speed limit changed at least 4 times. Or maybe I am just making excuses.

The thing was, when I was caught, I was going the speed limit. . . but anyway. . .

Well, like a good and honest citizen, I sold the city of Helotes the rights to my first-born, paid the hundred and forty dollar fine, bought the driver's training video, and now, yes, today, I have to watch the 6 hour thing.

I am not trying to make you pity me either.

Just thought I'd confess. ;)