DreamChallenge: May 2010

Welcome to DreamChallenge

Having a dream to share my knitting creations, cooking adventures and caregiving stories with others is now a reality. I bet you know someone right now who is at home taking care of someone they love. A phone call, e-mail, note card or some food would all be appreciated. Sometimes an offer to stand in for that person is a wonderful gift. Think about getting a hair cut, what if there is no time or person to sit with your loved one? What can you do to help someone else, or if you are that caregiver, how can you get people to understand you would like to see them or have their help? Knitting helps me stay calm. Knitting helps my blood pressure stay normal. What helps you? Cooking is an adventure for me. My husband is a dedicated 'clean-up' person. Join us on this part of our life's journey.

Choosing to send out cards is one way I stay in touch with others. I address cards on Sunday and my husband puts them in the mail on Monday. There is always someone who needs a card.

After several months of blogging there is a reality that lots of people really enjoy this activity. Positively delightful people, living life to the best of their ability. There is such fun in hearing from others who have ideas, stories, crafts all to share with those who choose to read. Thank you my new friends in this unknown world/way of communicating.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Go HERD Sweater

The local university is Marshall University. Some of you will remember the movie about the airplane crash that took the lives of so many of our friends in this area. "We Are Marshall". All the football players, coaches and fans on the plane were killed when the plane crashed into the hill side as it approached the home airport. I will never forget that night. The movie was particle filmed in the Huntington West Virginia area where Marshall University is located.

Now to the sweater just knitted. It is for one of our neighbors who graduated from MU. She and her family are great MU fans as is all my family. Her baby is due in the summer and I wanted the little princess to have her first MU outfit to wear to the ballgames. Of course, you know she will be a HERD fan. The Buffalo is the mascot. I love this pattern, but it needed a ruffle for little princess, so I made up this pattern and am really happy with the way it turned out. Let me know what you think by posting a comment.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Birthday Celebration Weekend

Birthdays are such fun when your family shares in the joy of the day. Both daughters and granddaughters joined Bob and I at the Biltmore after church on Sunday for a fabulous brunch. I was surprised by a beautiful hand decorated (with Chocolate) dessert plate, the center of which were candy daisys. Gerber daisys are some of my favorites and there their were in the middle of the plate. Of course, the meal was wonderful, but the added touch of a surprise was lovely. The little girls were such polite young ladies. We all had a great time.

Since I am so new to adding pictures and blogging, this little sessions has taken over an hour, so pictures of the flowers will come soon. Thank you all for wishing me a Happy Birthday. It was joyous.

Muffin Recipe: Banana, Cranberry, Pecan Muffins

Preheat Oven to 400 degrees.

Place the papers in the muffin tins or spray with baker's joy to keep muffins from sticking. The tin foil holders are better than the paper ones for this recipe. The paper liners tend to stick to the bottom of the muffins.

Mash three bananas with one tablespoon of lime juice, four ounces of sugar free appleasuce, one teaspoon of vanilla and two eggs until blended. Add one ounce of Cranberries (next time two ounces will be better), one cup of chopped pecans and mix well. Blend 1/2 cup whole wheat white flour and one cup and 1/4 cup of whole wheat flour (or could use 50/50 white and wheat mix) add two tablespoons of sugar, 2 1/2 teaspoon of Baking Powder and 3/4 teaspoon Salt. Blend together and then add to the wet mixture. Mix until well blended. Three different sizes were made from this one mixture. Twenty-four small muffins scooped with a size 70 scoop. Twelve medium muffins using a size 50 scoop. One small bread pan with the remaining batter. You can see the size in the pictures.

Bake small and medium muffins for 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Add another five or so minutes to complete the baking of the bread. Cool on cooling rack for ten minutes before removing papers or from pan. Some people leave the papers on. What ever makes you happy. Enjoy.

The cream topping was made with equal parts of low fat cream cheese, sour cream and a couple of tablespoons of honey. Delicious.