Blogworthy?

Sorry for the lack of pictures with this post.  I took a blogging break as my parents came to visit for a week and I just spent all of the time with them rather than on the computer.  Of course I kept my iPhone handy to keep up with Facebook!

Let's see, things that have been going on:  We have a third cat.  Sigh.  Yes, I know.  That's the limit.  We really tried to find this little third cat a home but had no takers.  She is sooooo sweet and such a good kitty. Can't be more than a year old.  The other two cats are not yet too fond of her.  Mark was in charge of naming her:  Cleocatra.  Very original.  But I just hope we're not now known as "those people with all of the cats."  You know, those people.  It kind of  bothered me that when Mark was outside petting the cats and all three came up around him, a neighbor walking by said "Are you the Pied Piper of Cats?".  Yeah.  That's what I mean.  Two cats is okay, but three?  Eh.  People start to notice.

I had a really good visit with my parents.  We ate well and did lots of just being lazy.  It was great.

Today I was off work and went shopping and to lunch with a friend.  I FINALLY after like two years got my engagement ring fixed so I can wear it again.  Platinum is a soft metal and I was wearing my ring at work when I bent the prongs by putting on/taking off gloves.  I won't be wearing it to work again.  We ate at Macaroni Grill for lunch and did you know that they actually have a decent selection of lower calorie options?  I had a chicken shish kabob thing except that they call it something else.  It was incredibly filling and 360 calories!

Back to work tomorrow but thankfully I'm off this weekend.  So, kayaking it is!

Recipe Thursday: Chocolate Chip Scones

I love scones.  I love that they're not very sweet and you don't feel all too sugared up after you eat them.  Yet they are still a wonderful treat.  It's what I get almost every time I go to Starbucks.  But you can make these at home VERY easily.  You don't need a scone pan or anything special.  

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 stick of butter (unsalted, or if all you have is salted then just don't add the extra salt)
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 8 Tbsp of orange juice (I didn't have any OJ; just an orange so I squeezed the juice out of it. Also, the OJ is completely optional.  I think it does give it a little extra flavor, but if you don't have it then just use milk or water instead and it will turn out just fine.)

Next, mix all of your dry ingredients together.  Then cut your butter into the dry ingredients a little pat at a time until your mix is all nice and flaky, just as if you were making a pie crust.  Once it hits that consistency, you can toss in your chocolate chips and then the orange juice.  You will get a doughy consistency.

Put some wax paper out on the counter (or you can do this directly on a clean counter, but the wax paper makes cleaning up the mess easier.)  Then toss some flour on the wax paper.  You can dump your dough right in the flour.

Put flour on top too so it's easier to work with.  Now make a rectangle with the dough.  Then cut it in fours and then into triangles.

Place them on a baking stone or baking sheet.  It will be easier to transfer then with a pie server or spatula so the dough doesn't break off.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 12-15 mins or until it is a nice golden brown on top.

Mmmmm.  These are so yummy.  They are a great treat for when company comes as you can make them ahead of time and they're ready!

First Kayaking trip

Mark and I went on our first kayaking trip at a lake very near our home.   Yall, it was FUN!!  I have a bit of learning to do as you are not supposed to paddle with your arms and shoulders (as I was doing), but with your core muscles.  And mine are uber weak.  So, I'll be giving that a little try next time.  We did a round trip of about 6 miles.  The lake was absolutely FULL of pollen.  This is going to be a fun was to get some exercise.  Beats running on a treadmill. 

Our 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago today I married my best friend.  I never knew what an incredible ride our life would be.  We have lived in many different places, traveled all over, supported each other in tough times and celebratory times.  Some people wait a long time to find each other.  But I was lucky enough to have met you early in life.

The picture above was taken right after our wedding.  We had a dinner reservation at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Nashville.  I had forgotten about this picture until I found it on an old CD Rom.


Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8