My Cyber Bake Shop on the Net

When a 5 year old worries...

2010-11-08T03:47:00.000-08:00

Our country really does have alot to fret about.

My DH forwarded me this link. I encourage everyone to read it. It really drives the point home well. Why should a 5 year old worry about a costume choice?

http://nerdyapplebottom.com/2010/11/02/my-son-is-gay/

Garden produce

2009-07-05T08:50:00.000-07:00

My first haul of items from the garden; zucchini and a cucumber the first time, but this picture was taken a few days ago. Last night I harvested 9 large zucchini from the garden, then this morning 2 more zucchini, 2 cucumbers, and 1 yellow squash !! Our first summer squash, too bad my hubby doesn't like squash (he gets it in every meal though and doesn't realize it most of the time).

Pictures of flowers around the yard.

2009-07-05T04:19:00.000-07:00

The roses were here when we moved in, but they bloomed so beautiful this year all around the yard.

Pictures of the Garden

2009-07-05T04:14:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture I took of the garden when it was 4 days "old". I wanted to try to take pictures every week so I could watch the progress, but, I didn't get them taken very timely. It looked so small and barren this day. Oh and I love my pink gardening gloves.

It is now July 2009

2009-07-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well my little plants I started in the house did miserably. In fact they all died. So much for my green thumb and my trying to grow from seed. They did well until I forgot and left the tender little plants outside during a long rain storm. My little tomato plants were literally flooded out of their little pots. Oh and the boys decided to drag the cute little pots around the yard like they were a new chew toy.

Oh and yes I said "Boys". We now have two pup's. We had Shooter, the cute little cocker spaniel and now we have Buddy - a large lovable black lab. Buddy was found by someone I work with wandering along a busy road. She took him in for a few weeks and when no one claimed him asked if we wanted him. Shooter loves having a playmate and the fenced yard let's them be outside all day long.

I hired a crew to turn over a garden plot for me, 25 by 6, so I had to go buy my plants to put into it. I got a few plants down at a local greenhouse and rounded it out with tomatoes from the local Lowes. I am so very proud of my garden !! Last evening before we started the fireworks we picked 9 zucchini from my garden, all very good size. I'll post a few picks of the garden.

This morning I went out and watered the flowers in the front flower bed and it is starting to fill in so nicely. I really have never been that much into outdoor flowers and gardening, but I have to say it is a great way to relieve stress.

Time to celebrate the green

2009-03-17T03:23:00.000-07:00

It is a rainy Tuesday morning with a bit of fog which seems so appropriate to be celebrating St. Pat's day today the air is dense, moist, and the grass is green. It reminds me of those pictures of Ireland my uncle Matt had. He had married an Irish lady before marrying my Aunt Lorena and so part of my cousins are Irish.

We are having a pot luck at work today. I had planned to bring Corn Beef, but, um, well, the grocery store was sold out last night. I could not believe it out of Corn Beef the night before St. Pat's. Change of plans and so today I am bringing BBQ Pulled Pork.

I am so excited to see March start to go by and April start to blow in. I am looking forward to working in my yard this year and growing tomato plant or two. Obviously this is true as I keep mentioning it. Every morning I walk outside on the deck with my coffee in hand and look around. One of these days it will be warm and not rainy!

With today being St. Pat's that means tomorrow they will decorate the office for Easter. I made some cute lil bunny craft's for Lucy (my dear lil colleague who could retire but refuses to). She loves Easter and I knew the Bunny's would make her smile. I'll have to take the camera in and get a picture of the bunny's and post it here.

2009-03-14T09:01:00.001-07:00

Here is the photo of the pup. Isn't he just the cutest little guy you ever saw? And those eyes? Trust me when I say he gets whatever he wants.

A year went by

2009-03-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

I could not believe it had been over a year since my last post. Then I thought about my last year and realized how very possible it was.

Let's see what happened last year: I fell ill and was seeing alot of different specialists trying to figure out what was wrong. My mom was diagnosed with Cancer in March, my sister-in-law has been hospitalized 14 times in the last 12 months and has recently been in for two months straight, work became a nightmare, and the family fell apart over Mom's illness and passing in late October. Oh and the most important note was I turned 40 on February 28, 2008. Everything above happened after my 40th birthday.

So what happened? I LIVED THROUGH IT. I finally got through it, the cloud lifted, and my life is returning to normal which during the events of last year I never thought I would see. So we are going to focus on the positive.

I am feeling better. I was finally referred to a specialist who was able to diagnose what he thought the problem was and he sent me to a specialized specialist (I did not know they existed) who has solved some of my problems. I am continuing to see him so I hope to have my body back to normal (as normal as it can get as it is my body after all) by summer or around there.

My yard went to hand-basket land since I was out of town most of last year with the family, so this year I am trying to start early. I planted my items as they suggest inside 6 weeks before what would be planting time (Mid April) and I already have 1 little sprout. I am so excited. I am only doing flowers and tomatoes this year, but, if it works out well next year I will be prepared for a larger garden and be able to grown zucchini, which I love prepared in every imaginable way. I am planning on planting these seeds I bought which are suppose to guarantee giant sun flower plants. I hope they are giant enough that they will block my deck from neighbor's view! They are the nosiest folks around.

The Great nephew. I was so lucky last year, since I was home alot with Mom I was fortunate enough to spend alot of time with the nephew who going forward will affectionately be called NOODLE. Auntie nicknamed him Noodle and it stuck. He is such a wiggle worm. Well he just turned 1 last month and he is a gem. Here is one of my favorite pictures of him.

Mom is so missed. I forgot until she was gone how many times I called her just to vent. The best part is she is out of pain, the worst is she had to leave us to leave the pain behind. She was an incredible woman.

A positive note is I have a new puppy. His name is Shooter. He keeps me busy, and he needs training. I am working on his favorite hobby right now which is to jump on folks and sit in their laps! Soon he may be ready for interaction again with the public. I'll have to take his photo and put it up later today.

Other than that, I have spent time sorting through Mom's items, putting away things in the house, and focusing on my health and rest.

I am still baking cookies and I will soon begin posting recipes here. I have also found I enjoy baking cakes now. I like trying new combinations. I think my favorite has been the banana bread cake I found a recipe for on cooks.com. My friendly taste testers said it was to die for.

Ice Storm

2008-02-12T17:32:00.000-08:00

We are in the middle of the worst ice storm I have encountered since I moved to Maryland 7 years ago. I was fortunate enough I made it home, safe, sound, and with the vehicle in one piece. I was so happy, and then I stepped out of the vehicle... slid across the driveway, down the sidewalk, into the Toyota just so I could lift the windshield wipers up to avoid them sticking to the windshield over night. So much for being proactive!

What grabbed my attention today? Well the net did. I admit lately I have found I really enjoy blogs. Especially well written OPB's (other people's blogs). I know alot of folks read blogs and are vocal if they agree with the opinions or comments on the blogs and do not always pay much attention to the writing or the quality of the information. Opinion isn't always what wins me over, sometimes it is very critically important, but more often than not, if they have a well supported, or just plain interesting POV (point of view), I am going to enjoy it. If they blog like I do? I'll probably enjoy it while downing 1/2 a bottle of KJ or something similar such as Schnapps, Vodka Tonic, etc... (GO ahead it is OK to laugh here). I see these blogs just like I do people watching. They are entertainment, and if I am a truly lucky person, I'll learn something.

Why go through one day without learning SOMETHING... anything... a tidbit, a snippet, a new word or phrase. Go ahead say it, "Are you kidding? You really strive to learn something new everyday? " and my answer will be something similar to, "I believe it is an easy daily goal to achieve. I feel cheated if I don't learn something each day."

For instance, today I learned that really cheap yucky wine enhances the slow crock pot cooking of a boneless pork loin. Typically I'm very particular about what kind of wine I put in my food. yet this turned out pretty good. So ... never bank on the cost of the bottle. However, I must say for the record, I am very partial to Kendall Jackson... it has great flavor, goes down easy, and tastes good with many dishes I like to cook.

WOW - American Idol... I have always enjoyed this show. I think it is because I love how great upbeat music makes me feel. It makes my blood pump, go crazy, get me out of my chair and up and moving around. I love to feel I can't get enough done because I am so very excited and so very energized. Yep, if you know me, this really made you laugh. However, you are not allowed to laugh or even smirk at this potential mental image unless you personally have had to endure my singing/rendition of Bon Jovi's "Living on a prayer" sung out loud with my headphones on so I can't hear myself sing and I think I can win American Idol... I am terrifically horrible, but I think I sound like Bette!

What is the best thing you can do when the weather is rotten, you can't go out, and you are tired and cranky? Pour some wine and watch the TV until the ice causes the lines to snap. Then you get to read that new book you have been wanting to start via the battery operated reading light you bought on clearance at B&N.

That was a hint regarding what my plans are for the remainder of this evening.. Here I go again on my own... Now... who in the heck sang that song? I know it was someone I was crazy crazy teenager in love with 20 some years ago....

Spring Fever

2008-02-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

I love Spring. For some reason I am always rejuvenated when I see Spring is starting to emerge in the flowers and the trees in my yard. Mind you, I am not crazy about the pending yard work (I should have bought the condo), but I love the season!

It took everything I had to stay at work until 4 today. Barely made it to 8 hours. All I wanted to do was grab my book, a blanket, and a hot thermos of coffee and head to the park. It was windy but I wanted to smell the air and feel the wind in my hair and on my face. Well since I couldn't get out of work today, I took tomorrow off. I was very excited, and then I learned about the weather forecast for tomorrow: it is calling for snow, wet, icky white stuff.

BUT never one to let a day off go to waste, I have planned to bake tomorrow. That is correct, I will be making those wonderful fabulous things called COOKIES - the world's perfect hand held dessert. The only question is: which kind? Peanut Butter? Chocolate Chip? Walnut? Oatmeal? Sugar ? I have so many options.. and do not forget the caramel chocolate center cupcake brownie that is topped off which mini marshmallows and a yummmy cocoa glaze.

I am still reading anatomy and I need to finish my coding book before the class. I sincerely hope to pass the certification exam after this next seminar.

A pure lazy day

2008-02-10T17:32:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but if I do not accomplish a great deal during my weekend days, I feel like I was nothing but lazy and I should have to work twice as hard all week. Yes, I realize that makes absolutely NO sense, but remember - I, as the author of this blog, is slightly scatter brained and always feels guilty even when she has nothing to feel guilty about. Which means I feel lazy and guilty for being lazy because I did not work myself nuts today...

However I did get a few things accomplished this weekend. I did some laundry, clean towels are always nice to have around. Then I went shopping, which while this may not seem like an accomplishment, I only bought what I actually went to get, which for me is a huge! Then I cleaned up around the house a bit, gassed up the van for the week (OUCH $46 bucks), baked some chicken, stitched up 3 rows on the Valentine quilt, sewed the basic panels together for the curtains that will match the baby quilt I started for a colleague, cut the 50 some strips for the spacing on the valentines quilt and heated up the rice to go with the chicken. So perhaps I wasn't as lazy as I originally thought.

Now let's get to the best accomplishment of the day. I finished a book today. I started it last night, finished it today. It has been awhile since I was able to do that. No, it isn't anything earth shattering, just a funny humorous book that made me laugh and relaxed me. The book is called Shopaholic and Baby - by Sophie Kinsella. I have read most of her books and they always make me laugh. Her character, Becky, gets into some extremely creative situations normally revolving around her incredible shopping addiction.

Well I just realized it is nearly 9 PM and I need to study my Anatomy. I am going to get my soda, my napkin and my anatomy book. Wish me luck.

Title Change: Now a Great Aunt

2008-02-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

When my first nephew was born I figured oh I'll see him now and then and babysit when they need me to. How naive I was.... the first turned into four between my siblings and they became the light of my life. I spent part of every day with them, helping them learn to walk, run, potty train until I moved out of state.

Last night I became a great aunt with my youngest niece giving birth to a beautiful baby boy. He weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 3 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches long. Pretty good size for a first baby is what I was told.

I am waiting anxiously for pictures to arrive, I mentioned they can use the cell phones they all have to send some pics hint hint hint ... I was rather shocked I had to tell members of the techno savvy generation to use the camera phone.

That changed my whole outlook today. Those calls last night put me in a different direction. I decided rather than painting and scrapping the guest room (which desperately needs painting) that I would work instead on some unfinished baby quilts.... they are so precious... they need lots of beautiful soft cuddly blankets and throws to cuddle in.... I'm a silly ole sentimental fool I guess.

I had the greatest intentions to make cookies for my colleagues for Valentines... I keep saying I need to make them cookies, and I keep putting it off thinking I'll do it next holiday, but this time it has been about 4 months since I made cookies for each and every one of them. They do love their treats. Besides, everyone knows I think a cookie a day keeps the DR away and tastes better than an apple.

The weather is nice today and I am staying inside, I should be outside raking up the leaves I missed before and cleaning up my yard, but ... I want to stay inside and do hobbies and fun stuff. I'm being a terribly spoiled child right now. It must be my inner child coming through.

OK as you can tell --- today is a true scatter brained day ... I'll go look for cookie recipes.

Why a blog?

2008-02-06T16:46:00.000-08:00

Why a blog? I love to talk. Ask anyone who knows me and they will agree with this statement. However, my life is busy and full. I love to work and my schedule does not always allow me the luxury of having time to sit and talk.

In order to give myself the ability to "talk" to my friends and family I decided to use a typervation. I heard this word somewhere and it is the perfect descriptor for my blog. What is a typervation? It is a typed conversation via an electronic medium to share information, ideas, and thoughts with those you want to talk with but life doesn't always allow time for.

You will soon figure out my personality is very scatter brained. It took me a long time to figure this out and I am proud of it. The person I am allows me to love or hate anything on any given day, but if I am passionate about anything, everyone knows it. I may talk about 13 different things in a 30 minute conversation, but you will leave the conversation knowing my true feelings on any given subject and what I am passionate about. I tell you this so you are prepared for a roller coaster reading adventure on my blog.

Now let’s talk about the topics and threads of information that I know will appear on this blog:

Questions - I love to ask questions. I am always trying to understand people, learn about them, see what makes them tick etc. Unfortunately I can be rather direct when I want to know something. I know some people are very taken aback with my style, and I am trying to "soften" it, but I doubt it will ever be as polite as most would like. Take note: If I ask a question and to you it seems very direct and slightly offensive and you want to know why I asked? Tell me that! I'll be happy to explain why I asked or what I was thinking about when I asked.

Cookies - I love to bake cookies. I think the cookie is the perfect hand held dessert. It is compact, travels well, can be composed of any combination of all of the other wonderful tasting tidbits the world gave us for snacking, doesn't require tons of prep work to whip up, and almost everyone loves them. Well everyone I know loves cookies, if you don't like cookies I probably don't know you, or I would have converted you.

Recipes - I love to cook. Right now I am reading an incredible Greek cookbook I received for the holidays. Once I finish it I will decide which of the recipes I will try first and then I will post my comments about the success or failure I had in trying the recipe (or more).

Quilt Talk - I love to make quilts, well blankets actually because I am not a hand quilter. My hands are just not flexible enough for that. I machine quilt the smaller items, and hand tie the larger. I love to give a gift of a blanket and see people throw it over their bed or cuddle up with it on their couch. The best ones to give are baby blankets: soft warm cuddly fleece or flannel backed blankets that the child is engulfed in when being held and it is cold, or when sleeping and needs covered.

Customer Service - This is my soap box. I am just annoyingly adamant that if you want my money to be spent in your store, establishment or on your items you have available for my purchase, you need to recognize that I am the customer and you have to convince me to spend my money and/or purchase with/from you!

Coffee - I’m a Java Junkie. I drink a pot or so every morning, love great decaf in the evenings and on cool fall days. To be perfectly honest, one of the best ways to spend a rainy spring afternoon is to drink great coffee, nibble on cookies and read a fabulous book.

Books - I read daily which translates to 2-3 books a week, 3-4 magazines, and at least an hour everyday on the web reading everything I come across. Finally - I have a lot to say - I love to talk and yet (yes it is OK for you friends to laugh now) I am actually quite shy and don't say much until I get to know you.

If you made it this far, you are now officially a Sunnny blog-splainer - in other words you have been warned about the items that will most likely be discussed here or more accurately rambled on about here. I truly love to talk, and a fun typervation can be as fun and captivating to me as genuine face to face conversation.

Thanks for stopping by, be sure to leave a post by the cookie jar.

They WON!

2008-02-04T16:19:00.000-08:00

I was so excited over the end of the game yesterday! I suddenly remembered WHY I love watching College Ball. They players are not there for endorsements, paychecks, or to see their picture broadcast across the front of USA Today. They are there to play ball. Win or lose they do it for the love of the game. Last night the Giants and the Patriots both showed up to play ball. They both wanted to win, but they knew to win, they had to play.

It was a long Monday today, Dr Appointment, lots of emails, playing catch up from closing out January. I was so glad to come home. I'm cranky, I hope it goes away by tomorrow. The Dr said the IV should help. My fingers are crossed. I hate being cranky.

Still no word on the my great-nephew and when he is going to arrive. I hope to hear from my niece tonight on her progress. I am thinking of making a few more throw blankets for the Lil guy. Can a baby ever have enough blankets? I think not.

7:30 PM and I feel like I have had a 45 hour week already. I think once I figure out what to have for dinner, and finish my emails, I'll just rest some more to try and get my energy back. It will give me a chance to finish one of the books have started and figure out what the next chapter in my Colleague Resource Manual will be about. I started working on this guide to assist my colleagues. I want them to have everything possible at their finger tips to make them as successful as they want to be. I never realized the volumes of information we toss at them and ask them to remember.

I think I will concentrate and think about what kind of cookies I want to make for the team next week for Valentines Day. I typically make Cinnamon Oatmeal Walnut, which they love, but I think I need something different this year. I guess I will be looking at cookie cook books won't I?

Krispy Treats

2008-02-03T17:47:00.000-08:00

My first post. I wanted it to be important and brainy and full of mind blowing facts and figures.

OK now that we are all done laughing, my first post will be as normal as I am. It is Sunday, I'm taking a break from doing laundry and cleaning house to watch the game. It is Super Bowl Sunday. While I really don't follow football anymore, and rarely watch it, the Super Bowl is an entirely differed event. You must watch the Super Bowl each year if ONLY to vote for the very best commercial of the year. So along with Super Bowl, I always make something in the crock pot so it requires very little attention. I ended up making Chili and Stew. Well at least lunch and dinner is taken care of for a few days !

Now for those of you who know me, if I cook I must have something sweet to go with whatever I serve to eat, and typically it is a cookie recipe I turn to. So what cookie goes well with Chili? I tried to think back to grade school days to remember what kind of cookie they served on the days we had Chili in the cafeteria. All I could remember was the cornbread. It was dense, slightly sweet and covered in honey butter. Who can compete with that? So I made cornbread - no honey butter though just regular corn bread, very tasty with the stew for dinner tonight.

OK, I still needed a cookie, a bar, something sweet to end the meal. I looked in the freezer, the cupboard, the everything and could not think of a cookie that would go well with Chili or stew. I decided to stop thinking about it and get the kitchen cleaned up (I can make a big mess when I try). While cleaning up I saw it; a bag of marshmallows. Oh heavens - why did it take me so long ...Krispy Treats! Simple, wonderful, easy to make, hold and serve. Now I realize most people would not call it a cookie. It is a treat. Well ... I think it fits into the cookie category and today that is all that matters. *laugh*.

However, as good as the Krispy Treats were, they were not chocolate. Now.. in the middle of the game, everyone needs a pick me up, what do you reach for.. CHOCOLATE... how can you have a Super Bowl without some Chocolate, preferably the warm oooey gooey kind. So ...there are now brownies on the counter cooling.

In between all of this I managed to finally clear off my desk in the spare room, finish my shredding, and I finished all 7 rows of the new quilt I am working on. I found some old squares and strips I had started a long time ago for a quilt, and decided to finish it up. It is shades of purple and green. Very Mardi Gras looking colors but rather pretty when I put them all together. I am now trying to decide if I should put solid color rows between these block rows. I guess it will depend on how large I want the quilt to end up.

My niece called, she received the three baby quilts I sent her. She is due any day now, last night when they called they thought she was in labor but the hospital nurse sent her home and said she had to wait a few more days. It is her first so I am sure she is very anxious for him (they know it is a boy) to get here.

Time for a calm 4th quarter of the game and then a few hours of shut eye before the work week begins.