The Bars

If you ever overhear two Eureka alumni, who are probably within a decade either way of 40, catching up, the conversation will probably go something like this:

"How's your family?"
"Great!"
"Wow--it doesn't seem like we graduated that long ago."
"I know!"
"Hey. . . remember the peanut butter bars we used to have at school?"
"And the cookies!"
"And the peanut butter!"

. . . wistful sighs . . .

I have had several conversations like this over the past . . . um . . . 21 years. In fact, the hardest things to leave behind after graduation for many of us were the peanut butter bars, cookies and the peanut butter at school. It wasn't like the recipe was under lock and key or anything; I just got busy with life and forgot about it . . . until those conversations would arise.

I was looking through cookbooks a few months back and saw a recipe (in a book that I've had since college) that looked like it might be THE peanut butter bars. First I didn't have corn flakes, then I didn't have corn syrup. (I generally can't be trusted with Scotcheroo ingredients in the house.) I finally got my ingredients together and made them on January 6. Even after I made them, I still wasn't sure if it was IT. It sure tasted like them, but it had been so long that I didn't know for sure. Thankfully, I know the cook who submitted the recipe quite well. She confirmed that, yes, it was the same recipe. I was SO excited. It was a true EUREKA moment. Ha!

Unbaked Peanut Butter Brownies (Eureka School Peanut Butter Bars)

1 3/4 c. peanut butter

1 1/3 c. sugar

1 c. corn syrup

1/2 c. corn flakes

1 c. ground peanuts (can be chunky if you want)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and heat peanut butter, syrup, salt and vanilla in a kettle and heat until lukewarm, stirring constantly. Mix corn flakes (crush slightly) and peanuts in large mixing bowl. Pour peanut butter syrup mixture over corn flakes/peanut mixture and mix together. (You can save on sticky dishes by pouring the flakes/peanuts into the warm kettle.) Press into a grease 9x13 pan.

Top with chocolate frosting. 

I mix 1/2 stick butter, about 2 cups powdered sugar, vanilla, milk, and about 1/2 cup cocoa to make mine. You can also use melted chocolate or peanut butter chips. I wouldn't recommend a can frosting though, if you want the true effect. 

Tomorrow . . . the Cookies.

Happy 2019!

As is usual for January on the Melius farm, it has been a busy year so far. Calving is in full swing, we continue the remodel on our home (which will hopefully be completed in February) and the remainder of our time is spent at church, basketball games, and the occasional Saturday volleyball game. We are truly blessed by our church and school families. Go Wildcats!!

So, there you go--my excuses for a lack of blogging as of late. That, and I have rediscovered by love of reading since Christmas vacation. I am currently working my way through the Kate Morton novels at the library after reading her latest novel, "The Clockmaker's Daughter."

I hope you are enjoying your 2019 so far as well.  Hopefully I will check back in again soon . . . . :)

December 2018

December was full of music, a birthday and preparations for Christmas!

Child labor is great when you have lots of Christmas cards to get in the mail. :)

Rachel turned 7! Teresa decorated a unicorn cake for her and she received a bike, which she was able to ride for a little while before our first winter snow. 

We held our annual RE Christmas Program and . . . 

celebrated Christmas Eve in Eureka.

It was a wonderful 2018!

Be still my heart . . .

One thing is certain--Rachel has been paying attention in reading and writing classes this year.
While we were reading a bedtime story earlier this year, she told me, "'Too with two o's means also."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing! (I've become convinced that most of the adult population of this country doesn't know that.)

Last night, we were reading a story together. I read this page.

There was something that caught her attention in how I was reading it, maybe a pause after "to."

She looked back at the page and said, "Oh, yeah, because there's elipses."

I seriously could not believe my ears.

Trying to hide my bubbling excitement, I asked her if she learned that at school.

She nonchalantly said, "Yes."

Teresa then walked over to see what we were talking about. She said, "I didn't even know that was called that!"

Hmm. . . I may have someone to take over the freelance proof reading gig one day. :)

And a bonus note I want to remember . . . Yesterday morning I found a sock in her chapter book. She was using it as a bookmark. :)

40 . . . and One Week

I turned 40 on November 12. It seems pretty crazy since I still feel like I am in my late 20's, but, yet, here I am! I do want to declare publicly (since not even my husband realized my current hair color is my real color), that I made it here without a gray hair. Find one and I will claim it, but I seriously haven't found one myself. I would like to thank my Grandma Joachim for those excellent genes. 

Big time fist bump for that 40th birthday gift. 

What I really felt in the days leading up to and on my 40th birthday was an abundance of gratitude. Mostly, it was gratitude for the beautiful people who were a part of my life from the start and all those who God has provided at all the right times in my life, my husband and children, and both the family and friends who have walked with me in the good days and the bad. 

I am also thankful for the experiences I have had in my 40 years. I've had some pretty great days among the 14,600-ish days I have been here. And the older I get, the more I realize how great even some of those "ordinary" days were spent with those I love.

I recently saw a sign that said, "I remember when I prayed for what I have now." Truly, so many of my prayers as a child have been answered--probably the biggest being that I am still here at 40 to experience the blessings.

Here's to the next 40 years! Thank you for joining me on the journey.