can cookies smell clean?

Had to report on the seedlings. I now have two sprouts! Both are lettuce. Here's a butterhead one. Tiny!! I'm a bit worried because I have no idea what I'm doing and I've noticed some mold on the tops of some of these pods. If there wasn't so much snow out there and if I had my soil mixed I'd get out there today and plant the peas and onions. I hope next week wont be too late!

And here's the latest soap un-molded. It's the oatmeal, goats milk, honey soap. It smells so yummy!! Kinda like...clean cookies!

lilacs in the snow

I took this photo last week. It's a lilac bud from my lilac bush. It was 73 degrees that day. Today its about 36 degrees and we woke up to 4 inches, and counting, of SNOW! I'm trying to stay positive because we do need the water.

In the meantime I've been enjoying the lilac scented soap my mom and I made on Saturday. It's a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter. I can't use it just yet though. It has to cure for about a month (3 months for superior lather). But the smell is filling our home with Spring!

Doesn't it look like white chocolate fudge or a cream cheese treat? I think today I'll make a goat's milk, oatmeal, honey blend soap. The goat's milk I picked up from a local goat dairy. I love it because all the goats have names! Next time I'll try to get a picture of them. They are just hilarious.

My james thinks I'm crazy because I dream of living on a small working farm with a goat, a few sheep, some bunnies, maybe a cow and 4 or 5 chickens. Why is that crazy, you ask? Well, I'm severely allergic to any animals with fur. But I can handle it, I think. I grew up living with cats and we have 2 dogs-only one I'm really allergic to mind you (Sebastian has hair, not fur). I'm accustom to living on decongestants and antihistamines. Dimetapp and I became good friends when I was little. I think I could maybe survive a season of farm life experience.

Aida update: We've made a few batches of my "Becca's Best Chocolate Chip Cookies" since she's been in time-out. Most were given away but a few were eaten and a much welcomed treat.

gasping at the grocery store

I have to share about these ginormous peppers. I was in my local grocery store yesterday and found these two lovely ladies! The produce guy was unloading some veggies next to me when I gasped and practically yelled the following... "Oh my goodness! These are the biggest peppers I ever seen outside of the state fair! Seriously! They are bigger than my hand! Look! I can't believe it. Have you seen these? They're HUGE!! I'm buying two just to show my husband!" I could tell he was trying to hold back from laughing at me, not to mention the 3 or 4 other shoppers standing around me. Then I realized they were a mere .89 cents each and let out another gasp. Crazy! I have chose not to believe that they use extra amounts of growth hormones to get them this big. I choose to believe the farmer was highly blessed. The pictures really don't do them justice. I was so excited I don't even know if I grabbed the biggest of the lot. Anyway, I placed a dime next to them so you have some reference to how big they really are.


Oh yes, and my james was more entertained by my retelling of the story that the enormity of the peppers. He said, "You are so like your mother."

secret knitting revealed

I've started several posts this month and have not posted any. Why, you ask? I guess they were just not deemed worthy enough. I dunno. I am at a loss for words lately. Literally. Anyway, here's a picture of that secret project I was working on. I can finally reveal it because the baby shower was yesterday.

(The colors in the picture are sort of muted due to overcast skies.) It's for baby Cole. I think mom liked it. I can't wait to meet him and see him in it. It's 9-12 month size and I hope it fits by the time it's cold again.

That's it for now. I've gotta get back outside in that sun! My james is working on the garden sight as I type.

seeds and green observations

I've got Spring in my bones! Seriously I've never pined for Spring like this before. Which was odd because I think the Winter last year was quite a bit harder. Anyway, my wonderful james and I spent some time this morning planning out our garden. We are going to try the square foot gardening method this year. I saw the creator of this method on t.v. when we first moved to our house and have been wanting to try it ever since. You can read more about it here. I've done some research on what to plant when and bought some seeds for the first cold crop. Now let's see how my seeding skills are. I'll be starting peas, spinach, onions and asparagus indoors within the next couple of weeks.

Here's the current knitting project! I'm super excited about it because it's a gift for a dear friend. Can't show too much or give too much info because I want it to be a surprise but here's a little peek.

If you are truly a fan, you'll notice that it is green and that I for some reason favor green yarn. If you didn't notice don't worry you're still a fan because I didn't really notice either. Verla at the Unraveled Sheep pointed out that I seem to favor the greens. She's right. I do love green. I wouldn't say it's my favorite color, but I really can't stay away from it.

And here's my current delight. Along with some other fun goodies, L n L brought this back from London for me.

The mug is handmade. Lance picked it out at a cute, little pottery shop in London. Nice eh? My new fave for tea. They brought James a beer, a beer glass and some neat beer coasters. They just know us all too well.

heart day happiness

My James surprised me with flowers the day before Valentine's Day. (He has a hard time hiding surprises from me.) These little purple ones in the bouquet are my fav. He also got me a little box of chocolates and a cute, lovey card. He's not a greeting card holiday kinda guy, but he sacrifices his "anti-ness" because he's knows I would probably be sad if he didn't celebrate it with me. What a great guy he is.

I made him Kahlua flavored chocolate fudge. It was quite good. I made it with Kahlua that Lisa made. Next time though I think I'll make it with a bit more Kahlua because the taste is just too faint. I also handmade and water colored a card with a lovey quote on the front, something that I think will be a tradition. (I made him one last year, too.)

And here's our Valentine Dog Bosco. (Pardon the fuzziness. His face was just too cute in this one.)

PS the leftover fudge has been sent with James to his guys night tonight because we are, after all going to Powell in 90 days! Yay!!

PPS the treadmill is being well used :)

I've been pulled out of powder sugar heaven

In the time Aida has come to live with me, I've made:

• cranberry oatmeal cookies


• marshmallows


• the best chocolate chip cookies


• 2 lemon cakes that both fell but were divine (I think it was the recipe)


• regular oatmeal cookies


• bran muffins


• shortbread cookies


• fettuccine pasta

Most of the said items I've given away, but as always some do end up in my mouth.

This has got to stop. Aida will be taking a rest for a while.

Why, you ask? Shocked? Your shock cannot match the shock I had when I was suddenly pulled out of my powdered sugar heaven and came to a dreaded realization. Here's what happened...

Thursday night my mom called me to come down to Kohl's for the most fabulous sale. Great items. Some at 80% off. She was buying. How could I say no?

I found mounds of items that were just gorgeous! Sweaters marked down from $65 to a mere $10! Pants for $12 that I desperately need. Shirts that reminded me of my dear friend Lisa for yes, $8! With my arms full and barely making it to the dressing room without dropping anything, I quickly began to try on my amazing finds. Oh did I come off of that high quickly...Gulp. Oh the horror of trying on my usual size only to find it does not fit!! What have I done?? What will I do?? We are going to be living in swimwear for a week at Lake Powell in 3 months and I cannot bear to even think of putting on my swimming suit. I was furious and disgusted at myself! And the whole dressing room knew it! I refuse to buy a size bigger!

OK I really don't like it when people constantly complain about their weight (because it annoys me when I do it), but I had to get it out there so I can move on, hold myself accountable and get going to work this off.

So if you hear less about Aida and more about vegetarian cusine and treadmill-ing, don't worry the excitement of being a KitchenAid owner has not worn off. And Aida will still be making the oh so healthy bran muffins.

My question now is...does KitchenAid make a scale attachment? Calorie counter attachment? Or better yet an attachment that screams, "Stop!! Put that cookie down! Remember the dreadful Kohl's experience??!!"

P.S. I did end up with some much needed pants and a few tops that are pretty cute. Thanks mom!!