Arizona Sky.

Hard to beat.

†

*heart* my home

abi
†

I MISS MY CAMERA!!

Growing Boy.

Won Ton Soup

1/2 lb boneless pork loin, coarsely chopped or 1/2 - 3/4 lb ground pork browned
1/2 tsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp (or more) soy sauce
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 Tbsp rice wine
1/4 c. finely chopped carrots
1 Tbsp chopped green onion
1/2 can chopped water chestnuts
40 won ton wrappers
6 cups chicken stock

1. In a large bowl, combine pork, sugar, wine, soy sauce, green onion, ginger, waterchestnuts and carrots. Blend well and let stand 25- 30 minutes.

2. Place about one teaspoon of the filling at the center of each won ton skin and fold. Continue until all wrapper are filled (keep under plastic once folded to keep them from drying out).

3. For Soup: Bring the chickenbroth to a rolling boil and cook carrots. Drop wontons and any other desired ingredients (i.e. shrimp, spinach, chinese cabbage, mushrooms, etc...) in and cook for 5 minutes. Garnish with chopped green onion and serve.

Prep time is about 30. Ready in a little over an hour. Servers 6-8.
________

I have modified this recipe from one i found on allrecipes, and was tempted to add extra salt, but it wasn't necessary, especially if you use regular (not reduced sodium) soy sauce. We have rated this a whopping five stars and can't wait to eat the leftovers for dinner! enjoy!

Pax.

Abi

†

::edit:: apologies for the wretched photo. forgot to tell you that my camera blew over (yes...) into a pile of rocks/sand and some must have gotten lodged in the shutter/lens area... so for now, phone pictures will have to do.

We don't believe in "date night"...

How was YOURS??

wishes won't make time travel possible.

One Year,Three Months, Four Days, Eight Hours, 28 Minutes

Ean Michael Kramer likes:

eating. stomping. being silly. making truck noises... or any noises at all. helping load the washer and "helping" fold clothes. ice cream. oatmeal, oatmeal and more oatmeal. melvin the koala. making faces. playing with mom's (or anyones) keys. all of his books (over and over), but especially his color book (a boy after his mother's heart). animals. being chased. dancing to rihanna, the eurythmics or most anything with a beat. toy cars. going places. his mommy and daddy.

and much, much more. pretty much life. he's got it so good... and doesn't know it... or does he?
I like to think he does. at least i want him to know how much he is loved.
loved to the moon and back.
and then back and forth again.

There. I Blogged.

A Few Things You Might Not Know About Me...

but probably wish i wouldn't tell you.

• love my family.
• has donated blood 9 times.
• has eaten a sandwich while standing in the circle sculpture outside Target in negative degree weather.
• Only two of the five rings i normally wear belong to me.
• have broken a toe whilst setting the table.
• One of my older brothers almost chopped my toe off with a shovel when i was six.
• twirls hair compulsively.
• have done a front flip off my bike.
• When i was four, I pushed my brother off my parents bed and he broke his arm.
• My sister had my name for 24 hours.
• becomes hyper when over-tired.
• didn't talk aloud (only in whispers) until I was 3 years old.
• At one time I had 8 pen pals I kept up with.
• have always dreamt of traveling the world.
• am (maybe more than) slightly old fashioned.
• I like doing laundry but very much dislike ironing.
• have seen 4 people faint in front of my eyes.
• Considered careers such as therapist, dental hygienist, astronaut, archaeologist and chef.
• Have attended more symphonies than rock concerts.
• an avid people watcher.
• was mistaken by a girl for someone named Stephanie who she swam with in high school.
• has been skinny dipping.
• has given birth naturally.
• builds cairns
• loves childrens books.
• needs to go make dinner.

but really... i do...

now you have some terribly useless and trivial facts about me which you didn't need to know and will never use. happy day.

Abs

Multicolor mugs in Rainbow Bubbles

Frye Mesa Reservoir

a better day.

†

This morning... i felt like i had it all under control. Everything was good and wonderful. Ean and i are a blue and white striped checkerboard (if you can picture it...), we spent time at the park, an hour at the library, picked up our 25 lb order of oatmeal from the heathl food store, etc... sometime during all that good, the smallest grain of sand must have shifted and Ean wouldn't eat his lunch (his favorite lunch in the world - oatmeal), he was terribly, terribly tired but didn't want to nap (though he did eventually), got a request for prayer that weighed on my spirit, i tried to knit, but failed five or six times at the very easiest bit i know, decided to put myself down for a nap and then the boy decided to wake up an hour and a half early from his nap screaming bloody murder for no apparent reason, so i soothed and comforted and eventually he was off and running again like a banshee. The man is home from work and is keeping Ean preoccupied and i am taking a much needed opportunity to stuff my face with chocolate chips (it happens to be the only chocolate in the house).

...ahh... the healing power of chocolate. I bask in it.

peace †

June One, Two Thousand and Eleven

So... as you can see, i am having a very hard time deciding on a blog template. tis harder than it would seem.

I have been so productive today. you should be proud of me! ^_^

My mum, dad and two little brothers are coming in less than two weeks! I am so thrilled and blessed. To have seen my lovely sister last weekend and to see more family from far away in such a short amount of time is more than i could have hoped for!
The man is at Bible study tonight. Ean is freshly bathed and fast asleep in his bed.

I am listening to my story: The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas and enjoying my clean and quiet house... and feeling a tish sick.


Look ma, I'm knitting!! *grin*... it has actually become a little bit of a thing with me, i even attempted a dishcloth with a basket weave stitch and it turned out great! (pictures to come). Guess i must have gotten my fill of crochet for a while after finishing the fairytale afghan from a few posts back!

It's terribly hot here. and so dry. My fingers and lips are splitting at the seams. The other day there was so much dust blowing in the air that we couldn't see the mountain and it looked like the sky itself had turned tan. I'm used to whiteout blizzards, but tanout sandstorms... not so much.


Tis good to be blogging again. I forgot how very enjoyable it was.

It's a pretty good life all in all.


peace out.

Abi

†

Eight Dollars.

Look at my new favorite piece of furniture!!! It's a sewing/craft table! It's already jammed full of cotton yarn and that handy center tray is holding all my stitch markers and crochet hooks. so wonderful to have it all contained!

I <3 Savers (especially it's memorial day 50% off sale). And even though i had to battle an angry mob to retrieve the above table and all my other assorted treasures, it was so very worth it!

Along with this i got some much needed summer clothing staples for myself and the man and some shoes for Ean. To be more specific... i pair of cropped pants and shorts (Tommy Hilfiger), 5 tank tops (good brands - loft, banana republic,etc..), a couple bras (also good brands) for me, 4 t-shirts and a pair of black pants for Michael, a onesie and a pair of shoes for Ean... you curious to know the grand total i paid for this haul... $55. *happy dance*

I was pretty pleased.

peace and love.

Abi

†

Currently

listening.

watching.

reading.

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffins

Blend:
1 whole orange (quartered, seeds removed)
1/2 c. orange juice

Add and quickly blend:
1 egg
1 quarter lb. (1/2 c.) butter, softened

In mixing bowl, sift:

1 1/2 c. unbleached flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp salt

Pour orange mixture into dry ingredients; stir only until moist. Add 3/4 c chocolate chips (semi-sweet). Drop spoonfuls into muffin tins &/or papers--- approx. 2/3 full.

Bake 400ºF. ~ 15 min or till light brown and centers are set.
___________________

We enjoyed these with some English breakfast tea the other afternoon and the rest the next morning for breakfast (also with tea), and in case you were wondering... they are delicious with a cup of tea ^_^.

Abi

†

Journaling

It has been a part of my life off and on for the past, oh.. (counting backwards, trying to remember how old i am)... fifteen years or so probably. pretty rough and first and probably still pretty rough to anyone besides myself looking on, but i love it. and I need it. Just recently i have been thinking about/exploring the possibility and looking for inspiration to start an art journal. I can't bring myself to show you today's page, but I was rather pleased with it. Not art, just doodles and the joys in my day... but it brings a different sort of peace to have written the good things from my day and focus on them surrounded by my multicolor designs and not anything negative that might try to creep into my mind and heart. It's good. And it's fun. Try it sometime.
Peace.
Abi
†

My boy

Sweeter, cuter and more challenging every day.