Mmm. . . Delicious!

"Mmm. . . Delicious!" is Rachel's seal of approval for everything yummy.  Of course, only I know that she's trying to say "delicious," because I'm her Mama and we speak the same language. :)

 

Today we made my favorite Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies from my childhood.  I thought I had posted these before, but it turns out I have not!  I much prefer these to regular chocolate chip cookies, and that is probably because it's the only chocolate chip cookie my mom made when I was little.  Then my sister came along and we expanded our horizons to chocolate chip cookies without oatmeal. 

I now make both for my family, and I'm not known to dislike any cookie, but as I said, these are my favorite.

 

Sharing this recipe is long overdue, so here you go!

 

You will say, "Mmm. . . Delicious," too!

 

 

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

1 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

2 eggs (well beaten)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp hot water

1 tsp soda

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups quick oatmeal

1 1/2 cup flour

1 pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips

 

Mix in order.  Bake on greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees until slightly browned.  (My Airbake pan takes about 14 minutes.) 

Daddy turns 36

Yesterday was David's 36th birthday.  Yes, for a little while I am married to a MUCH older man. :)

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Reunited

I didn't last very long . . . 3 days short of a month to be exact.

Today the appliance repairman came out and managed to get our dishwasher going.  One.  More.  Time.  Who knew the old friend had a little more life in it? 

At first, I didn't want to stick any more money into it--not even a service call that may or may not find a solution.

Well, the ball is rolling somewhere on our house project, but it's not rolling here yet.  And with a busy month of cooking and baking coming up, it was apparent that I wanted to do something besides stand in front of the sink. 

So, at the beginning of this week, I rationalized, (as I often do when it comes to spending money on myself), that I work hard around here and it was at least worth a shot.

Less than an hour later, I had it back! 

It really wasn't too bad, but if I have to choose, I will take the dishwasher any day.

The highlight reel, but still real

I have a confession to make.  (Well, nothing too earth-shattering, but still.)  I don't read many blogs.  The reason?  Blogs written by people don't know in real life tend to leave me feeling less than adequate.  If I know the writer, I know a few of their not-so-great moments and know they are human just like me.  I can appreciate their words.  But, if I don't, I can only assume the writer I only know through a blog lives the happy and charmed life portrayed in the always-positive posts.  Even though I know it, I FORGET

THIS IS THEIR HIGHLIGHT REEL.

 

What used to be reserved solely for Christmas letters can now be updated infinitely if the writer desires not only on a blog, but Facebook or Twitter or whatever.  (I still don't hashtag--I feel like I'm about 90 years old.)  I think there's even a coined term for this feeling of inadequacy--mom jealousy, or something like that.  

 

The best compliment I can receive as a blogger is that my blog is real or honest.  I don't want to portray some sort of perfect rural South Dakota existence.  If you think that we do live in a fairy tale, please come and visit.  After five minutes, your illusion will be shattered.  Guaranteed. :) 

 

But, there's a fine line when it comes to how much postive or negative to blog.  How real can/should I go?  Of course, I am not going to share anything too deeply personal for all the world to see.  (Not that I have any deep, dark secrets . . . unless the kids' bus drivers and teachers say otherwise!)  No one likes a Pollyanna, but no one likes a complainer, either.  Thanks to my genes, I wake up nearly every morning feeling nervous/anxious/worried for no reason and working out is my natural Zoloft. . . do people really want to read that?  Probably not.  Like everyone, I end most days stressed and needing to decompress . . . wondering if I planted any seeds in my children's lives that day.  I acknowledge that sometimes people can confuse sharing faith with preaching.  My faith is my foundation not because I am some holy person, but because I WANT to be.  To tell you the truth, I don't know how anyone could navigate this world without a faith life.  At least I can't.  And that's why I keep trudging on the faith journey and sharing it with you.

 

And, so, this blog will remain our family's highlight reel with a little real-ness mixed in.  Yes, my kids and I make real apple pies, but we eat plenty of hot dogs, too.  Yes, I have had the opportunity to be home with my children, but I have spent more days than I care to admit begrudging that I didn't have a job outside of home. 

 

I will continue to write is as I try to write our yearly Christmas letters--how I really try to live--acknowledging that our family faces adversity, but trying to concentrate on the blessings of life. 

 

Because none of us live a perfectly charmed life, no matter what impressions our blogs give.

 

But, we all are blessed--maybe in very different ways--but we are all BLESSED.

 

 

 

 

 



Just wanted to share . . .

 

We farm a field a couple of miles from our home and this gravel road runs beside it. 

I love to see this tree covered section all through the summer and fall.

In South Dakota, there aren't many places where trees canopy over roads.  Most of our trees are strategically planted in (boring, but functional) rows to slow the wind and protect our livestock.

 

That's why I love this natural little tunnel each time I visit.

No matter what the weather, it is always beautiful.