Sweets for My Sweetie on Valentines Day........

Well it is here - Valentines Day. I just couldn't decide on a gift this year so I decided to make something homemade. I decided to try a Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie & boy it is really yummy. I will share the recipe below as well as a picture. Keep in mind my crust doesn't look perfect but it did not affect the taste one bit because it is sinfully delicious. Maybe I feel this way because we have been cutting back on sugar over the last few months but anyway I think this recipe is a winner that you will really enjoy!!

Chocolate Chip Pie

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup all purpose flour

2 eggs

1/2 cup butter melted and cooled

1 cup pecans or Walnuts or a mixture of both

1 cup chocolate chips (semisweet)

1 tsp vanilla

Optional add in - flaked coconut

In a bowl combine sugar and flour. Next mix in eggs, butter, chocolate chips & pecans. Pour mixture into a pie crust(for 9" pie). Bake at 325 degrees for one hour. Serve with whipped cream on top!!! Extra easy - very good - tastes like a cookie!! Hope that you get a chance to try it and that you enjoy

Its A Beautiful Day......................

I especially love to see barns in the area - although this is not my barn I thought someone might appreciate its beauty. Locally there is a project to place painted "quilt" squares on many of the barns across the area which I find especially captivating because all of the ones that I have seen so far have been different.

Just a week after the cold and ice storm that blanketed our area today we experience highs in the 50's and sunny blue skies (Hurray). I just can't wait for spring to arrive here but we have a couple more months of the cold (historically). I am already planning out my small vegetable garden and dreaming of wearing short sleeves and flip flops. Winter is great for some things such as reading/computers/movie watching/and indoor chores(ugh!!) but I long for the days of spending more time outside in the sunshine and warm air.

Sometimes I wonder if I am living in the right part of the country but then again there are also so many things to appreciate about seeing the seasons change. I especially love the fall with all of the autumn colors. I always think that the mountains look like one giant painting during that time of year. Time passes, seasons change, things are moving at an ever faster pace but those mountains and their beauty are a familiar constant that I truly love!!

Icy Day in WNC

Today we experience somewhat of an ice storm. Amid falling tree limbs, flickering power and freezing rain somehow I was still able to look out and enjoy the beauty of it all. Although treachorous for travel nature sometimes puts on quite a wonderful show. Tommorow we are supposed to see the mid 50's in temperature but today we just got a reminder that YES it is still winter!!!!!!!!!!

Recession in US - What do you think?

I try to be optimistic about the economy in the US and I want to have faith in our elected officials to "do the right thing" for the people that they serve but sometimes it is difficult.

As I watch the nightly news I find myself wondering how the downturn in the economy is effecting other families across the US. It seems that at least weekly I hear of another manufacturing facility that is closing or laying off workers. Here in the south these closures have made a drastic impact on the local rural economies. Many laid off workers are now returning to school for retraining. The mortgage crisis is effecting real estate prices and driving sales down. I notice each time that I go shopping that grocery prices are higher and I am sure that everyone notices the rising price of gasoline each time that he/she makes a stop to fill up at the gas pump. I continue to read about tentative deals on tax rebates to help stimulate the economy but I wonder how long that this band-aid will remedy the problem. In the meantime we the citizens will reap either the benefits or consequences of the politicians actions.

In trying to regain optimism about the situation at large my best bet is probably to turn off the TV and quit watching the nightly news for a while!!!

SNOW DAY

A Snowy Day in Western North Carolina means many things -
(1) School Cancellations/Delays
(2) Grocery Stores with empty shelves where bread could once be found
(3) Warm Fires, Hot Cocoa
(4) Snowball fights
(5) Four Wheel Drive Rides in the Snow
(6) Frequent updates from checking "The Weather Channel"


Today I spent some time outside enjoying the views, playing in the snow and taking a walk in the cold. I enjoy the snow when I don't have to venture out in it otherwise it is quite a nuisance at times. I don't know how often I have listened to Friends from the North laugh at the reaction of WNC when the snow arrives. I always like to remind them that we have curvy roads here in the mountains that are unforgiving if you make the wrong driving move. Sometimes I think that it is good for things to slow down a little and give people a chance just to "be still". Tommorow all the snow will melt away and life will return to normal but we got a chance today to enjoy the beauty of the handiwork of the creator.

Going Green.................

Lately, I have made extra attempts to adopt a more "green" lifestyle. I am still taking baby steps here but the older I get the more important it seems to be to me. There have been several changes that I have embraced to begin to make a difference. I have to admit I am not totally "earth friendly" yet but the effort is being made to improve.

(1) I recycle paper, plastics & glass products. This not only ends up being a positive for the environment but it saves me money by not filling up my garbage bins so often.

(2) I have replaced traditional light bulbs with the new energy efficient flourescent bulbs. (This has also resulted in great saving on the electric bill.)

(3) I conserve water by only doing "full" loads of laundry & dishwasher loads.

(4) I use a reusable coffee filter (hey I know its a small thing but it still helps to save some trees)

(5) I drive a fuel efficient car

(6) I buy "some" organic foods

Hey I know that I still have a long way to go but at least I am trying and I am getting better each month. Not only is going green good for the environment but it also ends up being good for your own pocketbook in the long run.

Hilary - emotion or political manipulation?

Just the other day the headlines were dotted with stories about Hilary Clinton shedding tears on the political trail. Well whatever she did apparently it proved effective. I have to wonder if this newfound emotional side of Hilary is the real one or just an image put forth for the media attention that it would obviously generate. Of all the political candidates that we currently have running I find it the most difficult to support Hilary. Although she does have "experience" in the political arena I don't think she represents the type of real CHANGE that most Americans are looking for. What was once a political asset to her (being associated with her husbands administration) now I think is actually a liability. Yes, it would be progress for women to see a woman elected as President but I just don't know if she is the woman for the job. I don't see her as providing real change from the status quo in Washington. I actually tend to see her still as an extension of her husband and his administration. Maybe I am one of only a few that feel this way but somehow I doubt it. I feel more excited about seeing some of the newcomers blazing a fresh trail in Washington and giving the middle class more of a true voice - that would be real change in my opinion. I still haven't decided who I want to support yet for President but if Hilary is the nominee for the Democratic party it will more than likely affect my choice.
I want to see something different coming out of Washington and in my opinion it is going to require someone with some different perspectives about the way things should be done. Oh well on to SC I guess we will see what happens next......... What do you Think??

American Politics - What do you think??

Lately, All I seem to see or hear when I turn on the news is about our current political candidates. I am not sure what to think about who is the best person for the job yet. As a registered "Independent" I have tried to watch some of both debates but so far I am not overly excited about any of the candidates. I do feel that it is a positive step in the right direction that the American people are looking for a change from the status quo. The country is definately at a crossroads in my opinion and we need strong leadership. I have often thought that we would all be better off if some of the career politicians step out of the ring and let some average hardworking Americans try their hands at it for a while. I think it is hard for most of the people in politics to identify with the middle class America that make up the majority of those who elect them. I will continue to watch and listen and hopefully when it is all over with we will wind up with (2) good candidates to choose from. What do you think??

New Year - New Resolutions..........

Hey -

We had a first official snow here in the Blue Ridge Mountains a few days after New Years - not a lot but enough to make sure that I knew Winter is officially here. Although I checked the weather & it is supposed to be in the high 60's this week (odd for January but hey I'm not complaining.

I haven't checked in here in a while so I guess I will make it my New Years Resolution to start updating my blog on a more regular basis. Although I am about 6 days late I will still post my Resolutions and maybe just maybe it will make me more accountable for keeping them.

(1) Lose Weight (Isn't this one on everyones list?)

(2) Exercise at least 3 times per Week

(3) Write more frequently

(4) Find a new job

(5) Start a Roth IRA (I watch Suze Ormon a lot!!!)

(6) Live a more healthy lifestyle

(7) Adopt a charity/cause to support on a regular basis by some sort of volunteering

I hope I can keep a few on the list at least. It feel good to be in 2008 - A new year - anything is possible - Everything is possible!!!! I think it is going to be a great year full of new things, new dreams and hopefully lots of surprises(good ones of course)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR