Musings of a Muse

The World’s Best Tasting Healthy Brownies

2012-01-30T17:37:00.002-06:00

The World’s Best Tasting Healthy Brownies

Yields: 16 Brownies

• 9 organic prunes
• 1 ripe banana
• 2 pastured organic eggs
• ¾ cup cooked cannellini beans (note: if using canned beans be sure to rinse beans with water)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup extra virgin coconut oil, melted
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (such as Ghirardelli)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ cup chopped raw walnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8 x 8-inch glass baking dish with extra virgin coconut oil.
3. Place prunes in a microwave-safe dish, cover with water and microwave on high for 2 minutes. Remove prunes from microwave and let sit in water 5 minutes. Drain water and set prunes aside.
4. Add the prunes, banana, eggs, cannellini beans, and pure vanilla extract to a high speed blender. Process on high for 1 minute, or until all ingredients are well blended.
5. In a medium-sized bowl mix together the melted coconut oil and cocoa powder. Stir in the sugar and flour. Add the prune-banana puree and mix until all ingredients are well blended. Stir in the nuts.
6. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes clean. Remove brownies from oven and set aside to cool. Note: brownies taste best after having been refrigerated for at least 30 minutes. *Sprinkled w/ some sea salt, makes them perfect**

Overnight Oatmeal

2012-01-29T08:15:00.000-06:00

Overnight Oatmeal

McDonalds and the ugly truth

2012-01-26T17:54:00.001-06:00

A doctor bought these McDonalds meals and has left them out for years, without them rotting. That's how much crap is on processed food. Real food rots or molds. Next time you head for a drive thru...think of what you are doing to yourself and your family!

26 days of Clean Eating and fitness update

2012-01-26T16:39:00.001-06:00

After 26 days of eating clean and going to the gym, 4 to 5 days a week, I'm feeling really good. Hit a speed bump this week though. Monday, I pushed a bit too hard working my upper body, and aggravated an old neck injury of mine. $80.00 later, I have a week of prednisone to take for pushing too hard. Really frustrating. I can't work upper body for a week, only cardio and lower body. Not to mention the bloat and crankiness that comes with the steroid, but at least I will feel better soon, and avoiding a much more expensive trip to the E.R. Aside from that, things are going very well. I've kept my diet 95-98% clean. The missing percents are from moments when an old, unclean favorite sounded yummy at the time. After eating it though, I felt so nasty! What a difference eating good unprocessed food makes! Those little moments, of eating something I shouldn't, will probably start to get fewer and fewer. I wish everyone would give clean eating a chance. Just try it for 2 weeks, and see how good you will feel. It's a simple concept really, just eat foods as God intended, before man gets hold of it and strips it, adds stuff to it and ruins it. Your palette becomes clearer, so does your skin. :) Although, the scale isn't going down as much as I would like, the inches are coming off, and my clothes are getting loser. I'll keep plugging along to reach my goal, and beyond. I've even got my assistants at work doing it! I fix the usual meal for my Seniors, then something clean for us to eat. It's nice to have people doing it along side you, to inspire you and keep you going.

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain Lyrics

2012-01-21T07:38:00.000-06:00

Do you remember the rain?
That's when it all began....

Eating Clean Journey

2012-01-14T08:18:00.001-06:00

My 40th birthday is right around the corner, and for my birthday (and beyond) I've set a goal to finally get fit and fabulous! I have a young child, and I've made a promise to her, to get 'as old as dirt' so I can live to see her 'get old as dirt'. Being a Chef, I understand diet and nutrition, but that doesn't mean I've always followed it. In the last few months, I've discovered Tosca's books, and fell in love with them and what she has done. After seeing her before and after pictures, I thought, why can't I do the same thing? Well, I can and am well on my journey to transforming my life and keeping my promise to my daughter. At the beginning of the year, I started to eat totally clean, track my calories and excercise. I've made it to the gym 4 days a week for the last two weeks, and each time, I push myself a little bit harder. Each time I do, I feel that much more awesome!
For me, the hardest thing with food to abandon, or limit, is the sweets. I'm a cake maker, and I love the sweet desserts. For 2 weeks, I've left them alone. Occassionally, I'll have a piece of chocolate, but I find that it just doesn't taste that great to me. Since going off the sweets, I've noticed I can detect sugar in things better. I had a piece of my daughters peppridge farms 12 grain bread the other day, and I could taste the sweetner in it. I've been eating Ezekial 9 mostly. That's pretty amazing!
During this journey, my assistants at work, have been trying to do the same. One of them is eating what I do at work, and going with me to the gym. The other one, well, she's just not convinceable just yet. She is accustomed to the taste of processed foods, and turns her nose up at the healthy stuff I prepare for myself and my other assistant. I'm afraid, her mind isn't quite where it needs to be to make a change yet, although, out of the 3 of us, she's the one who needs it most. :(
I'm proud to say, that over the last year, while I've been teaching my daughter about nutrition, to see that it's sticking. She is the only kid I know that gets excited about raw carrots or cooked beans. I hope what I teach her sticks, and she makes wise food choices for the rest of her life, so she doesn't have to struggle with weight and body image the way I have. I would like to see a day, when I feel good about myself and can let a man hold me again, without worrying about the lumps and bumps. That's a secret secondary goal of mine, to feel good about me.
I wish more people would read Tosca's books. It's what this country needs. To put their feet down, and tell the manufacturers NO MORE! They are killing us and most people aren't even aware of it. If it would make a difference, I would go up to the roof tops and scream about the benefits of going back to basics, which is what clean eating is all about!

My baby loves her veggies. :)

2012-01-11T08:25:00.001-06:00

Once again....

2012-01-06T18:24:00.000-06:00

You are allowed to see your daughter. I have NEVER said otherwise and don't have a problem with it. What I have a problem with, is your total disregard for her education. And the fact that it's no big deal to think it's okay for her to miss a week or two of school. As a former teacher, that really surprises me. You know the importance of an education, yet out of your own selfishness, you think you will bully me into allowing you to piss on her education. Well, you're wrong. I know I'm right in standing behind my decisions. If your 'keeper' would loosen your leash a bit, perhaps you could see her more often on her own turf. There's a motel across the street that you can stay in while you visit with her. It makes more economic sense to buy one round trip ticket compared to 6, and I'm not referring to a single for this 6 year old to fly solo either. My gut tells me it's a bad idea, and knowing her as well as I do, it is a bad idea. I wish you could understand that. It's not out of some mission to make your life any more cruddy than it already is. It is to protect the most precious thing in this world, our daughter. Maybe one day, you will see that I've always had her best interests at heart. It's not a war or a vendetta. You chose your path, and that path leads away from us, not toward us. Maybe it's your mission to make me as miserable as you are with yourself. Whatever. I know I tried with you. Tried till my heart bled dry and in the end, none of it mattered. Since you said you are going to be marrying her, maybe you should start focusing your energies on that marriage and not the other stuff. I'm not here for you anymore, haven't been for a while. Didn't you figure that out the other day?

A list for a father

2012-01-04T12:07:00.001-06:00

http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters

Merry Christmas Ava!.

2011-12-25T10:14:00.000-06:00

The End of the stocking

2011-12-25T09:54:00.000-06:00

Ava and her stocking again

2011-12-25T09:51:00.000-06:00

Ava in her stocking 2011

2011-12-25T09:22:00.000-06:00

Anniversary

2011-12-24T18:20:00.001-06:00

Six years ago, today, you loaded up everything you had, a pre-lit Christmas tree, some gifts and some very belated flowers, and headed back to Florida from Ohio. You had left me and the baby, 5 days after she was born, to chase your wife back to Ohio. How you thought that was the thing to do, is still beyond me. You left me alone, in Florida, to care for a newborn. I had no one to lend a hand, except for Denise, my doula. That was the toughest thing I have ever done in my life! I remember sitting there, in shock, listening to you tell me that you had to try to work it out with her, she was your wife, blah blah blah. With Ava in my lap, I watched you walk out the door. After you left, I sat there, cried and looked at the beautiful angel in my lap. She just stared up at me, wrinkled her forehead at me. I wondered if she could hear my heart shatter. So that was it. We were on our own. The man I thought he was, wasn't. We made it, it was hard. The lack of sleep was horrible, and as a new mom, I couldn't identify what she needed. It was rough on us both. You cheated us out of those beautiful first days. Instead it's a fog. A tired , exhausted fog. When she would be up crying, I would call you, and cuss you, I hated you for leaving us. Sometimes, I still do. Your wife had plans for you alright. She wasn't going to be taken advantage of again, so when the house sold, and you put your name on the check, she kicked you to the curb. That's probably when you decided to come back to me. Yeah!.... not so much. By the time you got back, Christmas day, my heart had hardened toward you. You were pretty much the last person I wanted to see. "Here's your birthin flowers" What a joke. Where were those flowers after I had our baby? You barely came to visit us in the hospital. A girl I worked with brought me flowers, you didn't. I found out just how strong of a woman I can be, and even though it was hard, I'm glad for it. As for you, I don't think you ever really grasped the magnitude of what you did when you walked out on us. You still don't. You think you were some kind of hero coming back to Florida for us. You would have been more of a hero if you had stayed. I was second best, I'm sick of second. You were the last man I loved. I haven't opened my heart to anyone since. Even though I had a brief marriage since then, I didn't love the guy. I guess I gave it all to you and there's nothing else to give as far as a man is concerned. Ava gets all of my heart now. She is my heart. A while back she was sitting with me on the couch, and she put her hand on mine and says, "Mommy, when I was in heaven with the angels, I chose you to be my Mom, I knew you needed me." So, she is very much my angel, my saving grace, my heart. Too bad you couldn't have seen what you had with me, and still don't.

Britney Spears - Out from under (video with lyrics)

2011-12-22T16:04:00.000-06:00

2011-12-21T20:09:00.001-06:00

Ava and Santa 2011

2011-12-21T20:05:00.001-06:00

Dear Thorn in my side,

2011-12-21T19:49:00.001-06:00

Contrary to what you believe with such conviction, I do NOT live and breathe to make your life difficult. That whole game lost it's charm somewhere years ago. You left us, chose to live your life with someone willing to pay your expenses, and that someone didn't include the Mother of your child. I have no problem with you having a relationship with our child. I have a problem with you taking things for granted, like her safety, because it suits you. It scares the hell out of me, that you have no issue leaving her alone for the length of a flight. With a stranger. What if, God forbid, that was a plane taken by hijackers? or if she was seated next to a pervert, and while the stewardess was tending her other duties, that jerk put his hands on her??? It really bothers me, that you don't think of those things, and think I'm stupid because I do. I look at the BIG picture. She is the most precious thing on this planet to me and should be to you as well. Sometimes, I think you stay in the picture, just to pester me and make me miserable, because that's how you get off. I've seen how you operate in the past, with the other people in your life, and this possibility isn't that far fetched. It bugs the hell out of you, that I can think on my own, and that you are unsuccessful in manipulating me into doing whatever you want. That time has come and gone. You got away with that when we were seeing each other, but not since. I was sincere when I told you to come visit her here, in her home town, with out worry that I was trying to cause problems in your relationship with 'her'. I've got no interest in you, I really don't. I have been with out a guy in my life for a long time now, and it really isn't all that important. Just like you, null and void. You should be man enough, to do whatever you need to, to visit with her. And it would mean a lot to her, if you would do it, here, where she is growing up. She would like to share things with you, things that you miss all the time. It's not my fault that you live where you do. You make those choices. You are just a coward. Grow up, realize that I will forever have her best interests in mind. Give me an ounce of credit for caring about her so much. A lot of parents out there don't. Quit being a thorn, and be someone your daughter can look up to. She see's your flaws, and she's seeing them earlier than I thought she would. I never say anything negative to her about you. She knows you will always be her Dad, just like I will always be her Mom, and how you and I feel about each other, has nothing to do with how we feel about her. She comes first, and she knows this. So, could you please get over yourself, and do the right thing for once. Quit making me miserable, because you are miserable. Take a long look in the mirror, obviously you don't really like what you see.

Eating Clean

2011-12-10T08:29:00.001-06:00

It's been almost a week since getting back into Clean Eating and I've done really well. Feeling much better and lighter by a few pounds. Had some serious detox at first, but that is subsiding. Managed to avoid the sweet stuff and stick to fruit if I got a craving. Still need to tighten up on the diet a bit more, but you have to do a little at a time. This morning I made some applesauce oatmeal muffins for breakfast, but couldn't convince Ava to give them a try. She likes everything they are made of, but sometimes she's just stubborn. Can't complain though, how many kids request veggies? We ate at Pei Wei last night, I love their Japanese teriyaki with tofu and veggies over brown rice. It's probably not totally clean, but OH SO GOOD! Ava always gets the honey chicken and white rice, sometimes she gets brown, but she requested broccoli and snap peas in it this time. :) Good girl. I'm glad she is learning nutrition from me, and it's sticking. At school, she likes the fruits and veggies off the salad bar and is probably the only kid that gets excited about brown beans. I'm so proud of my little girl. :) Anyway, now I need to add exercise to the mix, to see some really good results. The holiday season is making it hard to fit in, but hopefully I can get that ball rolling ASAP! Viva la Clean Eating!!!!

Food Dude: Nonny's Harvest Loaf becomes a holiday tradition | NewsOK.com

2011-12-07T16:31:00.000-06:00

Food Dude: Nonny's Harvest Loaf becomes a holiday tradition | NewsOK.com

Clean Breakfast

2011-12-05T17:23:00.001-06:00

Whole oatmeal w dried cranberries and an egg white omelet w spinach

7 Foods Experts Won't Eat | Wake Up World

2011-12-05T05:18:00.000-06:00

7 Foods Experts Won't Eat | Wake Up World

Getting back on the clean eating wagon

2011-12-04T19:03:00.001-06:00

Last year at this time, I fell off the wagon. Gained back the weight I had lost and have made myself miserable. Stress and exhaustion has had me reaching for all the wrong foods all year and it shows. I've been reading my books for inspiration and have cleared out the pantry of unclean food. My new goal is to be where I want to be physically by my birthday. That gives me 7 months to get my act together. I want to be healthy for Ava. I want to see her grow old.

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day

2011-11-30T14:58:00.000-06:00

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer---Dr. Elmo

2011-11-23T17:23:00.000-06:00

Throckmorton Family History of the Throckmortons

2011-11-22T15:12:00.000-06:00

Throckmorton Family History of the Throckmortons

The Sundays - Wild Horses

2011-11-06T13:32:00.000-06:00

5.6 Quake rocks Oklahoma!

2011-11-06T06:06:00.000-06:00

Oh, Oklahoma: Quakes rock state used to tornadoes

(AP)–7 hours ago

SPARKS, Okla. (AP) — Oklahomans more accustomed to tornadoes than earthquakes suffered through a weekend of temblors that cracked buildings, buckled a highway and rattled nerves. One jolting quake late Saturday was the state's strongest ever and shook a college football stadium 50 miles away while another of lesser intensity struck before dawn Sunday.
"That shook up the place, had a lot of people nervous," Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon said of the late Saturday quake, the strongest of a series of quakes that began hours earlier. "Yeah, it was pretty strong."
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake Saturday night was centered near Sparks, 44 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and could be felt as far away as Tennessee and Wisconsin, according to reports received by the U.S. Geological Survey. A magnitude 4.7 quake early Saturday was felt from Texas to Missouri.
The Survey said the latest quake hit at 3:39 a.m. Sunday, measuring 4.0 in magnitude and centered 36 miles east of Oklahoma City.
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries or major damage from the quakes or many small aftershocks, but a number of homeowners and businesses reported cracked walls or fallen knickknacks. At Shawnee, the fire department said one spire on the administration building at St. Gregory University had been damaged and another one was leaning, according to KWTV in Oklahoma City.
"Earthquake damage in Oklahoma. That's an anomaly right there," Todd McKinsey of Moore told The Oklahoman newspaper after a magnitude 5.6 temblor centered 50 miles away left him with cracked drywall.
Oklahoma typically has about 50 earthquakes a year, and 57 tornadoes, but a swarm of quakes east of Oklahoma City contributed to a sharp increase in the number of temblors. Researchers said 1,047 quakes occurred last year, prompting them to install seismographs in the area. A cause of the uptick wasn't known.
Saturday night's earthquake jolted Oklahoma State University's stadium shortly after the No. 3 Cowboys defeated No. 17 Kansas State. The crowd of 58,895 was still leaving when it hit, and players were in the locker rooms beneath the stands at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The temblor seemed to last the better part of a minute, rippling upward to the stadium press box.
"Everybody was looking around and no one had any idea," Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden said. "We thought the people above us were doing something. I've never felt one, so that was a first."
An emergency manager in Lincoln County near the epicenter said U.S. 62, a two-lane highway that meanders through the gently rolling landscape between Oklahoma City and the Arkansas state line, crumbled in places when the stronger quake struck Saturday night. Other reports in the early hours Sunday were sketchy and mentioned cracks in some buildings and a chimney toppled.
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck the area early Saturday — and a number of aftershocks following both large quakes — rattled homes and businesses, but emergency officials said no injuries were reported and that there had been no immediate reports of major damages.
"Nothing is destroyed or anything like that," Prague City Police Department dispatcher Claudie Morton told the Tulsa World after the Saturday morning quakes.
But authorities said they would need to await daybreak for better light to assess any damages from the later, more powerful quake.
The late-night quake was slightly less in intensity than a temblor that rattled the East Coast on Aug. 23. That 5.8 magnitude earthquake was centered in Virginia and was felt from Georgia to Canada. No major damage was reported, although cracks appeared in the Washington Monument, the National Cathedral suffered costly damage to sculpted stonework, and a number of federal buildings were evacuated.
If the 5.6 magnitude from Saturday's late quake is confirmed, it would be Oklahoma's strongest. USGS records show that a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck El Reno, just west of Oklahoma City, in 1952 and, before Oklahoma became a state in 1907, a quake of similar magnitude 5.5 struck in northeastern Indian Territory in 1882.
"Oh, man. I've never felt anything like that in my life," Morton told the Tulsa newspaper. "It was the scariest thing. I had a police officer just come in and sit down and all the sudden the walls started shaking and the windows were rattling. It felt like the roof was going to come off the police department."
Morton said the office was flooded with calls, but no one reported any severe injuries or damage. She said residents told her that picture frames and mirrors fell from walls and broke, drawers worked loose from dressers and objects tumbled out of cabinets.
"We do have several damaged buildings downtown, but it's just cracks and things like that," Morton said.
Oklahoma Geological Survey researcher Austin Holland told Oklahoma City television station KOTV that the earthquake and aftershocks occurred on a known fault line.
Residents in Prague and Sparks felt an intense shaking, but for those farther away the quake was more of a dull rumble, he said.
"It shakes much more rapidly when you're closer to it," he said. "Because it's a large earthquake, it's going to rumble for a while."

Oklahoma shaken by 4.7 magnitude earthquake
Baltimore Sun-14 hours ago
Oklahoma rattled by 5.6 magnitude earthquake
KRTV Great Falls News-5 hours ago
Magnitude 5.6 quake hits near OKC Saturday
NewsCow-7 hours ago
More coverage(1) »

Map

5.6 Quake hits Oklahoma, Largest in it's history.

2011-11-06T05:44:00.002-06:00

Earthquake Details

This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude	5.6
Date-Time	Sunday, November 06, 2011 at 03:53:10 UTC Saturday, November 05, 2011 at 10:53:10 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	35.537°N, 96.747°W
Depth	5 km (3.1 miles)
Region	OKLAHOMA
Distances	34 km (21 miles) NNE of Shawnee, Oklahoma 63 km (39 miles) SSE of Stillwater, Oklahoma 68 km (42 miles) ESE of Guthrie, Oklahoma 71 km (44 miles) ENE of OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 10.5 km (6.5 miles); depth +/- 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
Parameters	NST=189, Nph=192, Dmin=26.7 km, Rmss=1.06 sec, Gp= 29°, M-type=centroid moment magnitude (Mw), Version=C
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usb0006klz

Kale Chips

2011-11-03T16:10:00.001-05:00

Tried something I've been seeing in magazines and on T.V. lately. Kale Chips! So very simple and super addictive (but healthy). Destem a bunch of Kale leaves, put in a bowl, sprinkle lightly with EVOO and sea salt, mix to coat, then layer onto a baking sheet, bake @ 325 until crisp. That's it! YUMMO!

Fun Halloween Foods for my Seniors

2011-10-31T17:23:00.002-05:00

As always, I wanted to do some fun, special things for my Seniors for Halloween. They had a blast with everything we did. I put cotton balls all over the center, and when one of them asked about them, with a grin, we replied...well that's ghost poop of course! The look on their faces was priceless. I make a chocolate rat with a red velvet cake pop interior. Dirt cake with worms and tombstones. Eyeball salad, Werewolf fingers, Witch Fingers, a kitty veggie platter, brain salad, and a Witches Brew for the soup. We also made a blood red jello with grapes and gummy worms. It was Fantastic! Every one gave great compliments, but the best one was this...A couple, that had started coming, let me know they would be leaving. They were snow birds, traveling all over the US. She told me that my food and center was the best they had visited in all their travels, from the Oregon coast to Florida. Now that is one amazing compliment! I LOVE MY JOB!

Iowa Couple Married for 72 Years Dies Holding Hands, 1 Hour Apart - ABC News

2011-10-20T05:27:00.000-05:00

Iowa Couple Married for 72 Years Dies Holding Hands, 1 Hour Apart - ABC News

Meagan Hope Wilburn

2011-10-15T09:09:00.000-05:00

My dear friend Rebekah, lays her beautiful daughter Meagan Hope to rest today. She was taken in a tragic accident. My heart aches for my friend, and I wish so very much that I could be there with her, and hug her tight, and cry with her. Meagan was the sweetest most wonderful little girl. We had the pleasure of spending time with them this summer while on vacation. I still can't wrap my mind around this loss. I can't imagine the pain my friend must feel. It makes me realize anew how very precious and fragile a life is. I hug Ava just a bit more than before, which was already a lot, and never want to let her go. In the blink of an eye, they can be gone. Meagan, we will miss you and every time we go to the beach with your Mother and sister, you will be on our minds and in our hearts. We love you!

My Mom is a Survivor

My mom is a survivor,
or so I've heard it said.
But I can hear her crying
when all others are in bed.
I watch her lay awake at night.
and go to hold her hand.
She doesn't know I'm with her
to help her understand.
But like the sands upon a beach
that never wash away...
I watch over my surviving mom
who thinks of me each day.
She wears a smile for others,
a smile of disguise.
But through Heaven's open door,
I see tears flowing from her eyes.
My mom tries to cope with my death,
to keep my memory alive.
But anyone who knows her
knows it's her way to survive.
As I watch over my surviving mom
through Heaven's open door...
I try to tell her that
Angels protect me forevermore.
I know that doesn't help her,
or ease the burdens she bears.
So if you get a chance, call to her
And show her that you care.
For no matter what she feels,
my surviving mom has a broken heart
that time won't ever heal.
~K. D'Ormeaux

NorthEscambia.com

2011-10-13T16:09:00.000-05:00

NorthEscambia.com

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories - 9 Year Old ATV Death

2011-10-13T16:07:00.000-05:00

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories - 9 Year Old ATV Death

Nine-year-old killed In ATV accident | Fox10tv.com

2011-10-13T16:04:00.000-05:00

Nine-year-old killed In ATV accident | Fox10tv.com

Fourth Grader, Age 9, Dies After ATV Accident : NorthEscambia.com

2011-10-12T05:13:00.000-05:00

Fourth Grader, Age 9, Dies After ATV Accident : NorthEscambia.com

OSSAS facebook link

2011-10-08T07:22:00.002-05:00

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-State-Sugar-Art-Show/55672596911

OSSAS 2011

2011-10-07T21:15:00.000-05:00

It's sugar show time again. This year, Ava was old enough to compete, she did very well, bringing home a 3rd place ribbon in her Division. So very proud of her! For my piece this year, I chose to do a Lion fish out of gum paste. It brought home a 1st place ribbon and Best of Division ribbon. My first B of D. That's just HUGE! So excited! I really love the sugar show. It gives cake artists a great opportunity to network and share ideas. The last 3 yrs, I've met several of the Food Network Cake Challenge folks. Such a great opportunity and right in my own back yard! Looking forward to next year!

Tulsa State Fair: How Sweet It Is - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Coverage You Can Count On

2011-10-07T18:19:00.000-05:00

Tulsa State Fair: How Sweet It Is - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Coverage You Can Count On

Cost of Raising a Child Calculator | BabyCenter

2011-09-26T16:49:00.000-05:00

Cost of Raising a Child Calculator | BabyCenter

Wonder if you are aware...

2011-09-18T07:33:00.000-05:00

That your 'boyfriend' is still a womanizer. That he has sent inappropriate pictures of his personal anatomy, with your nightstand in the background. That when he calls to talk to his daughter, he knows he's on speaker phone, so he whispers sexual innuendos to me, like I'm interested. I'm not. He nauseates me. I tell him to go get it from his girlfriend, that I'm not interested anymore. Makes me wonder if you are aware of how he acts, and just overlook it because you are so desperate for a man in your life, you endure it anyway. The last time he spoke with her on SKYPE, she ran off to find a toy to show him, so he stood up, turned to the side, so his crotch was visible, just to show he had a boner. Whoohoo, whatever, don't care. Really, I DON'T CARE. Is this really the guy you want to spend your life and money on? He has never wanted to be the man in the relationship. He prefers to be kept. That's why he chooses older successful women with money. For some reason, they have no problems taking care of him, like a little child. Why though??? I just don't get it. I've tried to warn you in the past and you laughed it off and believed whatever bull he spouted to neutralize the situation. But I assure you, if he does all this innuendo with me, then he does it elsewhere too. If you choose to put up with it, if you are that weak minded, then I guess you deserve what you get. No one, regardless of how I might feel about them, deserves to be treated this way. A woman deserves respect and should have the dedication of the man in their lives, not a philandering loser, with nothing to offer. Just saying. You know who you are, and I know you view this. Take the information to heart, it could save you down the road.

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T08:20:00.001-05:00

I was working at UROCOR, as a medical billing specialist, on September 11, 2001. I liked to listen to my radio in my cubicle. The music was interupted by an announcement that a plane had crashed into the World Trade center. I popped my head out of my cubicle, and so did a row of my co-workers. All of us with blank worried expressions. I slid my chair back into my cube, and started working again. Then the announcement came that a 2nd plane had struck the other tower. We all popped out of our cubes, and said, "That was no accident". Everyone on my team, piled into the conference room, and flipped on the TV. We sat and stood in stunned silence as the tragedy played out on the set. I remember standing there, numb, not believing what I was seeing. I couldn't process in my head how bad what I was seeing really was. Then we saw the 1st tower fall. The room gasped, several people braced themselves, I heard people starting to cry. I may have been crying myself. It was such a shock, I can't remember. I heard someone say, "all of those people..." Shortly after the 2nd tower fell. We stood there for what seemed like forever, staring at that TV in that little room. There were no words. None of us knew what to do or say. Our normal work day had become something else. There was no way any of us were going to be able to crunch numbers and be productive, so they sent us all home, to be with our families during this horrific time. I didn't have anyone to go home to, my husband had left me the year before. I was still trying to come to grips with my own loss and failure. I went home, turned on the TV and watched. The news reporters kept stressing how important it was for people to try to go about their lives in a normal fashion, and not to watch so much of the coverage. But how could we not? I know I couldn't. I don't remember much else from that time. It's still hard to believe that our country suffered such a loss. All in the name of hate. Another country, another group of people, hate Americans SO much, that they had to slaughter all of those innocent people. Senseless.

Lady Gaga - Poker Face

2011-09-09T18:04:00.000-05:00

Grant Lee Buffalo - Honey don't think

2011-09-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

Grant L. B. - Demon called deception

2011-09-09T17:47:00.000-05:00

Maple Syrup Pudding Cake Recipe - Food.com - 173250

2011-09-08T19:08:00.000-05:00

Maple Syrup Pudding Cake Recipe - Food.com - 173250

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain Lyrics

2011-08-30T16:44:00.000-05:00

Beautiful - Storm Large

2011-08-29T17:13:00.000-05:00

Tori Amos - God

2011-08-29T17:00:00.000-05:00

Tori Amos - Precious Things

2011-08-29T16:56:00.000-05:00

Evanescence - My Immortal (Video)

2011-08-29T16:41:00.000-05:00

Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You

2011-08-29T14:59:00.000-05:00

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

2011-08-29T14:46:00.000-05:00

The Anne Boleyn Files

2011-08-28T08:30:00.000-05:00

The Anne Boleyn Files

The Haunted Chef

2011-08-25T17:04:00.000-05:00

The Haunted Chef

What's really in the food? The A to Z of the food industry's most evil ingredients

2011-07-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

What's really in the food? The A to Z of the food industry's most evil ingredients

The Path to a Clean Eating Lifestyle.

2011-07-24T09:02:00.007-05:00

Recently I've been reading a lot of information on healthy eating. Not unusual in my line of work, except it is for my family and not work. My Seniors prefer their 'home cooking' although I do slide healthy fare in there when I can. It started last year after seeing an interview with Alicia Silverstone and her new book, "The Kind Diet". It's a vegan lifestyle, something I'd never tried, but after reading the book, became inspired to make some changes myself. I followed the vegan way of life for 2 months and lost 20# without ever feeling hungry or deprived. I didn't know you could 'diet' and eat so much!I had given up dairy, meat, and refined sugars. It was great, but hard to follow outside of the home. Ava was less than thrilled, being a natural carnivore. I did manage to switch out her regular milk for Organic Hormone free milk, and try to give her good quality meats without hormones and offer various fruits and veggies to her at all times. We discuss nutrition quite a bit, and I want her to know that putting good foods into her body, instead of junk, will help her grow up strong and without health issues. I want her to have a chance at a good life, one that will carry over into adulthood for her. Unfortunately, her father, who is also a Chef, doesn't share this enthusiasm. :( I'm doing something for us both, that can improve the quality of her life and mine.
Anyway, now I've started reading and researching Clean Eating. Simple principle and one that makes perfect sense. Eating foods unprocessed and in as close to their original state as possible. Fruits, Veggies, whole grains, low fat dairy options, and low fat cuts of meat, hormone free of course. (the reason for the concern on hormones, studies are showing that the growth hormones in meat, may cause children to enter puberty prematurely and affect adults hormone regulation and possibly cause cancers, and since my Dad's sister has breast cancer, a legitimate concern) With this life style, you eat 6 mini meals per day, each a lean protein and complex carb as the center point. The frequency keeps the insulin levels even, and your bodies metabolism consistent. Doing this is challenging with what I do at work, but I'm putting forth an effort. One that I'm going to push myself to be more consistent with. Getting Ava on board is a challenge, she's at a picky stage, and green things turn her off. I have to be creative with the home meal with her, offering whole grains and whole grain pasta dishes for her. She has free access to washed fresh fruit and veggies in the fridge as well as dairy snacks. Thankfully, the free access makes her more open to it.
With myself, I plan to write more about this journey, to make myself more accountable. I have an extra 45# that I'd like to lose, and am in dire need of more exercise to build more muscle tone. I'm a yr away from my 40th birthday, and would like to be 'fit and fabulous by 40'. This is my goal. My biggest addiction is to sugar. Most notably, CHOCOLATE. With the clean life style you can have clean treats, in moderation. That is the key here, MODERATION. I need to become friends with that word and concept. My health depends on it. Tosca Reno has become my mentor and provider for the majority of my information. So now the journey begins...

Tracing my family lineage to the English court

2011-06-05T17:54:00.003-05:00

Thomas THROCKMORTON of Coughton

Born: 1533, Coughton, Warws. and Weston Underwood, Bucks

Died: 13 Mar 1614

Buried: Weston Underwood, Buckinghamshire, England

Father: Robert THROCKMORTON of Coughton (Sir Knight)

Mother: Muriel BERKELEY

Married: Mary WHORWOOD (b. ABT 1535 - d. 28 Apr 1607) (dau. of William Whorwood, Attorney General and Cassandra Grey) BEF 14 Feb 1556

Children:

1. Muriel THROCKMORTON

2. Elizabeth THROCKMORTON

3. Margaret THROCKMORTON

4. Ralph THROCKMORTON (b. ABT 1570)

5. Eleanor THROCKMORTON

6. John THROCKMORTON (Esq.)

7. Mary THROCKMORTON

The details in this biography come from the History of Parliament, a biographical dictionary of Members of the House of Commons.

Born by 1536, first son of Sir Robert Throckmorton of Coughton by his first wife, Muriel, daughter of Thomas, 5th Lord Berkeley. Educated Middle Temple, admitted 20 Mar. 1555. Married by 14 Feb 1556, Mary (or possibly Margaret), daughter and coheir of William Whorwood of Putney, Surrey, and Cassandra Grey. Succeeded father to the estate of Coughton Court 12 Feb 1581. Justice of Peace 1564, rem. 1570.

It was to a quasi-hereditary knighthood of the shire that Thomas Throckmorton was elected in 1558; his grandfather Sir George had sat for Warwickshire in the Parliament of 1529 and his father Sir Robert three times between 1553 and 1555. In the circumstances it is hardly suprising that the writer of the election indenture should have styled him knight, an error which was only corrected after it had been repeated in the Crown Office list of Members. Then in his early twenties, Throckmorton had become a substantial landowner in his own county and elsewhere by his recent marriage to one of the two daughters of a former attorney-general; her wardship had passed in 1553 to Sir Henry Sidney, from whom it was presumably acquired by Sir Robert Throckmorton. The other Whorwood daughter, Anne, was married to Ambrose Dudley, son of the Duke of Northumberland, and died 26 May 1552, with his little son John, of the sweting sickness.

Thomas Throckmorton was a staunch catholic who suffered much persecution and loss of property during the reign of Elizabeth.In the time of Sir Robert Throckmorton, and his son and heir Thomas, Coughton became a centre for Catholic recusants. The Tower Room of Coughton Court with its panoramic view for monitoring any approach to the house made it an ideal location for the secret celebration of the Mass, and there was also an ingenious double hiding place built by Nicholas Owen in one of the turrets for the priests in the event of a raid. The Throckmortons not only provided a relatively safe place for people to worship; they also assisted in the underground movements of the priests and established colleges abroad for training English clergy. They were a crucial part of the network of families that enabled Catholicism to remain alive throughout the reformation.

My Family Tree

Robert Lord deTHROCKMORTON (1330 - 1362)
is your 19th great grandfather
Thomas DeThrockmorton (1356 - 1411)
Son of Robert Lord
John Throckmorton (1382 - 1445)
Son of Thomas
Lady Elizabeth Throckmorton (1408 - 1483)
Daughter of John
Robert Russell (1435 - 1490)
Son of Lady Elizabeth
Lady Jane Russell (1473 - 1502)
Daughter of Robert
Thomas Harwell (1501 - 1564)
Son of Lady Jane
Edmund Harwell (1524 - 1594)
Son of Thomas
Edmund Harwell (1567 - 1614)
Son of Edmund
Thomas Faulk Harwell (1606 - 1704)
Son of Edmund
Edmund Harwell (1639 - 1698)
Son of Thomas Faulk
Thomas B Harwell (1661 - 1719)
Son of Edmund
Samuel Harwell (1664 - 1753)
Son of Thomas B
Mark Harwell (1700 - 1785)
Son of Samuel
Ishmael Harwell (1742 - 1783)
Son of Mark
Nancy Harwell (1770 - 1858)
Daughter of Ishmael
Mary Ann Ray Wray (1820 - 1853)
Daughter of Nancy
Carroll Newton Thompson (1844 - 1919)
Son of Mary Ann
Arria Jefferson Dock (Enio?) Thompson (1883 - 1962)
Son of Carroll Newton
Ira Monroe Thompson
Son of Arria Jefferson Dock (Enio?)
Larry Gene Thompson (1950 - )
Son of Ira Monroe
Tracie L Thompson

Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show 2010

2010-11-13T07:52:00.006-06:00

This was the 2nd year of attending and entering the OSSAS. This year I brought home a first place ribbon, which is incredibly exciting!!! I look forward to and just love this show. It's the biggest in the nation, with cake artists traveling in from all over the world. Kerry Vincent runs the show, and she is just the classiest lady I've ever met. She is a guest judge on Food Networks Cake Challenges. Amazing that we have this awesome show, right here in Oklahoma! The first time I heard of it, I lived in Florida and saw it on Food Network. When they said where it was, I could not believe my ears! This was in my home state? NO WAY!?! lol, last yr I entered a little tiered cake, just to enter. I really had no idea what to expect. After seeing the show, my mind started whirling around for the upcoming year. I entered 3 different categories, and placed in one, the new couture jewelry category. I'm ever so slightly obsessed with the Tudor era of history, and have wanted to make replica's of Anne Boleyn's jewelry for quite a while. When this category came to light, I thought, what a perfect opportunity to do it in SUGAR! I love how it came out and it was so much fun to do! My other entries where another fan, with hand painted flowers and I entered the bake-off. All in all, it was just a fabulous weekend. Ava went with me this year, so she could finally see what Mommy has been working so hard on. She loved it too. Can't wait til next year! Already have some ideas swimming around in my head too...

Playing with Cake

2010-08-14T08:03:00.004-05:00

I've been getting into the groove and playing around with cake more lately. Often when I'm daydreaming these days, it's of cake. Can I do this? Can I do that? How would I do that? Is it possible? Ect...Ect.... Cake even wakes me from my sleep with it's ideas. Guess it's my obsession, but at least it's a healthy one!

My first Gold Medal

2010-05-06T17:43:00.002-05:00

Recently competed in another cake competition for Ben E Keith, in April. This yr I did a Asian themed fan cake. It took first place and a gold medal. So happy with the results. Never imagined I'd get a gold, but goal achieved!

Bon Appetite by The Newcastle Pacer

2009-11-21T11:04:00.002-06:00

News November 18, 2009

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

10/28/2009 9:24:00 AM Email this article • Print this article

Traclyn Barrett at her first competition in Atlanta, Ga. where she placed for her cutting skills. Photo provided

The Mother's Day-themed cake that Barrett made for the Ben E. Keith Show in Oklahoma City. Photo provided.

Did You Know?
• Tracyln's first cooking job was at an assisted living center.

• She said she would have loved to get into pastry, but "not a big calling for pastry chefs."

• For now, she enjoys making cakes for family and friends, and also entering cake competitions when she can.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bon Appetite
Award-winning chef comes home to cook quality food for others

by Victoria Middleton
Managing Editor

If Traclyn Barrett wants to know how her cooking goes over at the Newcastle Senior Center, she checks the trashcan.

If the trashcan is empty, she knows the meal was a success, and if it's full, well, you get the picture.

Since March, Barrett has been serving meals five days a week at the Center. She's been cooking up a storm providing the seniors' their favorite dishes. She has also diversified their taste buds by coming up with dishes that wouldn't normally grace the menu.

Each week, the Center receives slightly out-of-date produce from Spencer's in Blanchard. So, instead of seeing any of the donated food go to waste because she doesn't know how to cook with it, Barrett finds a way to make it work by putting her culinary skills to the test.

As it turns out, all of her hard work and food knowledge have paid off because attendance at the Center is up - way up.

A Chef is Born

Before working at the Center, Barrett embarked on a chef's journey that took her from Florida to Colorado, before coming back home to Newcastle with her 4-year-old daughter.

The 1990 graduate of Newcastle High School first learned how to cook from her mother at age seven when she taught her how to fry eggs.

Although she loved to cook at a young age, Barrett wouldn't realize cooking was her calling until later in life. She said she found out while attending USAO to earn a commercial arts degree.

"I thought I wanted to do fine arts, but that turned out not to be the case."

Barrett said the opportunity to go to chef's school came after getting a divorce. She wanted to start a new chapter in her life. She sold her house and much of her belongings, and bought an RV and set out for Florida.

While in the Sunshine State, Barrett attended Kaiser University, where she graduated top 10 in her culinary class and earned a membership into the prestigious Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society.

Then with the encouragement of her cooking instructor, Barrett started entering competitions where she put her newly earned chef skills to the test.

Her first competition was in Atlanta, Ga. where she won a silver and bronze medal for her knife cutting skills. She then moved on to the American Culinary Federation's Florida Pastry Challenge, where entries are judged on taste and appearance. Barrett said she did this competition for two years; taking home two bronze medals for her fall themed cakes.

She even gladly described one of her award-winning cakes in yummy detail - a pumpkin spice cake with caramel filling.

Moving on, Barrett came back to Oklahoma to enter the cake competition at the Ben E. Keith Show in Oklahoma City. In this appearance-based competition, she entered the "novelty division" in which she made a cake that resembled a Mother's Day vase with flowers.

Most recently, Barrett competed in the Tulsa Sugar Art Show where she made a two-tiered cake titled, "A Mermaid's Dream." Although Barrett's cake did not place in its division, she said next year she would have more of an idea of what to do and expect because this was her first year to enter the competition.

A Love of Everything Food

To Barrett, Gordon Ramsey is like the James Bond of chefs.

She has seen the internationally known chef at some of the competitions she has entered, and would have loved to have her picture taken with him or pick his culinary enriched brain, but that would have taken some nerve, lots of nerve.

Actually, Barrett is a big fan of the popular reality TV show "Hell's Kitchen," which is hosted by Ramsey. She would even love to be a contestant on the show, but she doesn't think crying on national TV would be a good thing.

She also considers the late Julia Child to be one of her cooking idols, and Baklava is her signature dish. She enjoys cooking lamb and using herbs to make dishes taste extraordinary.

She said cooks not using herbs and spices and not tasting their own dishes are the most common mistakes people make in the kitchen.

For now, and hopefully for many years to come, Barrett has come back home to Newcastle and is doing what she loves at the Senior Center.

"It's awesome here at the Center. The people are great and I love planning the menus."

Speaking of menus, watch out seniors because in addition to diversifying the menu, she is also putting in her own twist.

Barrett said she likes to change up the titles of food items, so that quiche becomes egg, cheese and ham pie.

"They don't always like to eat things they don't know how to pronounce," Barrett said with a smile.

My Birthday

2009-07-11T09:07:00.003-05:00

Unlike last year, where I was stuck in a car, on the 3rd day, of a 4 day journey to Vermont, fighting with my now ex-husband the whole way, this years birthday, was spent with friends. It turned out to be an awesome day. I had to work, but since I love what I'm doing, that didn't bother me. My seniors, 30 or so of them, embarrassed me by singing "Happy Birthday" to me and gave me a great card, they had all signed. I love being a part of thier lives and getting to spoil them each day. The other part of my day, was going to dinner and a movie with some great friends. Cathy made me a cake. (she does cake for a living) We went to see the new Transformers movie at the Warren theatre. It was awesome!I heard from several friends and family also. So, for my birthday, I got to do some of my favorite things. You can't beat that.

25 awesome foods you never knew could be deep fried!

2009-07-04T19:57:00.001-05:00

25 awesome foods you never knew could be deep fried!

Shared via AddThis

Personal Bailout

2009-05-23T09:10:00.003-05:00

Of all the men who have come and gone through my life, one guy has remained and been a constant, as well as the one to which I compare all others, and that is my Dad. He has always been there for me, and never broken a promise to me, even when it galled him to keep it, he did. What's upsetting to me, beyond measure, is that he is so unhappy with his life, and the course that it has run, never mind the happy moments, that if he were to become sick, with a curable illness, he says he'll just skip any treatments and let it take him. I can not even put into words how much this hurts me. I love my Dad with all my heart, and for him to just want to lay down and give up, it's unthinkable! It's selfishness to do that. It's along the same lines as suicide and it pisses me off. I can not imagine a life with out my Dad. He has been a rock in my world, as well as my daughter's. She adores him, as he does her. Why then would someone with truely a lot to live for, just lie down and die? Shit happens sometimes, and it sucks when it does, but you pick yourself up, dust off and keep plowing forward. You do it for you, and you do it for the ones in your life that love you and need you. You don't curl up and give up. It's been a while since I've cried, and this topic has brought a flood of tears to my eyes. I just don't know what to do, other than to vent on this blog, where it's out there, but still squeezing my heart enough to break it.

Thank you for purchasing 'Bubba & Cooter's Book of Sure-fire Pick-up Lines'brought to you by Bubba & Cooter . Enjoy!

2009-05-15T17:28:00.001-05:00

1) Did you fart?
cuz you blew me away.

2) Are yer parents retarded?
cuz ya sure are special.

3) My Love fer you is like diarrhea
I can't hold it in.

4) Do you have a library card?
cuz I'd like to sign you out

5) Is there a mirror in yer pants?
cuz I can see myself in em.

6) If you was a tree & I was a Squirrel,
I'd store my nuts in yer hole.

7) You might not be the best lookin girl here,
but beauty's only a light switch away.

8) Man - 'Fat Penguin!'
Woman - 'WHAT?'
Man - 'I just wanted to say something that would break the ice.'

9) I know I'm not no Fred Flintstone,
but I bet I can make yer bed-rock.

10) I can't find my puppy, can you help me find him?
I think he went inta this cheap motel room...

11) Yer eyes are as blue as window cleaner.

12) If yer gunna regret this in the mornin,
we kin sleep til afternoon.

AND.. the best for last!

13) Yer body reminds me of a wrench, every time I think of it, my nuts tighten up.

Old Homestead

2009-05-03T08:46:00.003-05:00

Recently, Dad and I took a tour of my childhood homestead. It's been on the market for quite a while, and I've dreamt of buying it back, since the day my Mother sold it. I haven't stepped foot on that land in 20 years. What really struck me, was how much of it was the same, even some of the smells were the same. Funny how smells take you back. The barn had that old, familiar smell, the earth itself, had that same smell. Nothing that can be described in words, but is recognized in my memories.
Our old house has been replaced by a bigger one, but the old tractor tire, that my Mom had roses planted in, was still there. The only reason I knew what it was, was a memory, the roses are gone, and it's now covered completely with a vining plant. My favorite black jack oak tree is still standing, but looking really haggard after last winters ice storms. One other thing that I noticed, was how small it seemed. When I was a kid, that land went on forever, but now as an adult, it had shrunk. This is 5 acres of land, not a lot, and it still seemed small. Maybe something will work out, and I can get that place back. I would love for Ava to have as much fun as I did there. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

New Gig

2009-04-18T08:29:00.004-05:00

About a month ago, I started Chef'n again. It has turned out to be a very happy thing. The hours couldn't be more perfect for me and Ava, and the people I serve are the nicest a person could ask for. I work for the community center in my hometown,where the local seniors gather for games and socializing, serving lunch throughout the week. It allows me to create my own menu each month, and cook whatever and however I please. The people that come in have been wonderful to both me and Ava. They love the meals I prepare for them, and show thier appreciation freely. It makes me feel great to be doing what I love to do, and be appreciated for doing it. Unlike my experience up north, but that just shows me that my experience there was just a bad one and the person I dealt with, something else entirely. In this new role, I look forward to work each day. Spoiling the folks that come in, brightens my day each time. They were behind me 100% during my recent competition, and my creation has been donated to brighten the center. I'm glad to have found a happy place again.

2009 ACF Competition

2009-04-15T19:43:00.003-05:00

For the first time in 3 yrs, I decided to compete again. This time, I decided to go totally outside my box, and comfort zone, and do something unique, to me at least. I designed a vase with poppies. It's all edible, and was a huge learning experience for me. I'd never made gum paste flowers or tried to "construct" something like that. I was really pleased with my results. It wasn't perfect, but it earned me a Bronze medal. Now that I have the "bug" again, I'm thinking of doing another major show in the fall. Have to get the idea's going.....

You know you grew up in Tornado Alley if....

2009-03-29T19:56:00.000-05:00

You know you grew up in tornado alley if...

The first thing you do if you hear tornado sirens during the day is check your watch to see if it's noon...or run outside to look.

You don't get worried unless the sky looks "green".

You use the word "tornado" as a verb.

You chuckle at all the facebook groups called "I survived the ___ tornado."

You might go indoors when there's a tornado, but you won't "seek shelter" for anything less than an F3.

You know what Doppler radar, Hook echo, wall cloud, and rain-wrapped all mean.

You've never exactly memorized the tornado precautions, but you've heard them enough times that you know them by heart anyway.

Watching the weather is entertaining. And red on the Doppler radar is exciting.

The phrase "Tornado on the ground, take your immediate tornado precautions" sends exciting shivers up your spine.

You've seen photos/videos of tornados and said, "Wow, that's a nice one!"

You can feel/smell tornado weather brewing a few hours before the storm actually begins.

There's an odd feeling as though you've misplaced something if you make it all the way to June without a tornado warning near you.

You think people that live in earthquake and/or hurricane prone areas are crazy.

You know what people are talking about when they mention the "May 3rd/Moore" tornado and the "Greensburg/May4th" tornado.

You watch the movie "Twister" just so you can point out all the inaccuracies in it.

You know your weathermen by their first names. i.e. Gary.

When you hear the tornado sirens go off, you go outside to watch the storm and take pictures.

Most of the tornado video footage comes from everyday people with camcorders instead of from actual news/weathermen.

You're sure there's a giant tornado magnet hidden somewhere in Moore. And that there are smaller ones distributed throughout trailer parks.

You know that the four seasons are actually: summer, late summer, winter (if you're lucky), and tornado.

You don't consider it windy until the windspeed is faster than 30mph.

You are highly entertained by people from outside tornado alley when there is a tornado watch.

You learned that some other states don't have tornado drills from this list.

There's enough random stuff in your tornado shelter that you could live there for a year.

You stand under your carport or open your front door to watch hail and/or thunderstorms.

You know the difference between a basement, a cellar, and a storm shelter.

The weather is a completely acceptable subject for conversation, at any time, for any occasion.

Your local mall has "tornado shelter" signs posted.

It doesn't bother you the next day to find out that your area was under a tornado watch the night before and you had no idea. Unless, of course, it caused you to miss some interesting cloud formations.

Getting to "play" in the basement/cellar/storm shelter numbers among your favorite childhood memories.

You keep matches, candles, and candleholders in more than one place in your house.

Your town will never get hit by a tornado because you're between two rivers or because an old Indian legend says so.

You complain about severe weather reports that interrupt the TV show you're watching.

You can get together all your most important possessions in 2 minutes flat.

When tornado sirens woke you up in the middle of the night...you rolled over and went back to sleep.

You've ever tried to reassure someone by saying that "if anything forms it will only be a little tornado"...and couldn't understand why this didn't calm them down any.

It's normal for your area to be under a tornado watch for multiple days in a row.

When looking at houses/buildings you give them a "tornado survival ranking". i.e., how big of a tornado it would take to destroy it. Also, if you are in a new building or house, you evaluate in your mind the best place to take shelter.

You've ever asked (probably w/ disdain) "Don't they know the difference between a warning and a watch?"

You know what towns/cities a tornado normally passes through before coming your way.

From watching radar maps, you've heard of almost every small town in your state. And you know what towns are around them, but you have no idea where in the state they are.

You know what the freight-train noise sounds like from personal experience.

You laughed at everything in this list, but you also respect a tornado's power. And you know that after it's over, clean-up and re-building has to begin

Gearing up for Competition

2009-03-29T08:09:00.003-05:00

It's competition time again, for me anyway. It's been 3 yrs since my last, and I'm itchin' to get in the arena again. I've got my design down, now it's just time to get it made and ready to go. It feels so good to be creating again. This one is like nothing I've ever attempted before, so it should be interesting. They like you to test yourself, and go beyond the box, and that's what I'm planning to do....

Here's my last cake, it took 2nd and a Bronze.

The Quest for Piggy

2008-05-09T08:54:00.003-05:00

Well, the pig I ordered from Amazon came in the mail yesterday-wrong one. Too small, wrong type. He's now officially Piggy's cousin. GRRRRRR. So, now I'm on a mission. My baby will have her Piggy back. I started cruising the web again, how hard could it be right? You have NO idea. Ridiculous doesn't even cover it. Page after page of plush pigs, and Nada. Finally, I stumble onto EBAY, where I find him, tucked in a collection of other pigs. I know it's him, he has the same sheer bow around his neck. The problem, I don't want the other pigs. I ask the seller if I can just buy him, and how much, but nope. It's an all or nothing deal. Okay, 19.99 later, I have a collection of pigs on it's way to the house. There was one other seller, with a piggy in the box, just as he had come to us originally. I tried searching for the brand, "loveable huggable" online, and got absolutely nothing. *sigh* I bought that piggy too. It's good to have a spare, ya know?
You're probably thinking I've officially lost my mind, right? Well, any parent out there can totally relate to this. For the love of your child, I think most parents would saw off their leg.

Part of this madness stems from an experience of my own, as a child, with a lost lovey. My Grandmother had given me this poseable soft bear when I was 5 or 6. I loved him. As a kid, I didn't clean my room when my Mother told me to, and she would eventually get disgusted and clean it for me. Throwing things out, she said. One day, my bear became a victim of this cleaning binge. I just knew he was gone. Years later, my Dad tells me that they didn't really throw the things out. They ended up in hefty sacks in the attic. Problem was, when we moved out of that house on Fox Lane, they forgot to check the attic. To this day, I wonder if my beloved bear is sitting in a hefty bag, with all my other toys, wondering why he was forgotten.

George Carlin's Views on Aging

2008-05-05T22:31:00.001-05:00

George Carlin on aging!
(Absolutely Brilliant)
IF YOU DON'T READ THIS TO THE VERY END, YOU HAVE LOST A DAY IN YOUR LIFE. AND WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED, DO AS I AM DOING AND SEND IT ON.
George Carlin's Views on Aging
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.
'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.
You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life ! You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?
You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.
But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!
So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.
You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!
You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'
Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them.'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever, even ham radio. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love , whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them , at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
And if you don't send this to at least 8 people -- who cares? But do share this with someone. We all need to live life to its fullest each day!!

The Lost Lovey

2008-05-05T09:10:00.003-05:00

When I was pregnant with Ava, I would read all those parenting magazines, priming my brain for what was about to be, never thinking I'd be like one of those parents. Well, it's happened, at least on one account. I'd read a tale about a parents search to replace a lost lovey. It was funny, this poor father searching far and wide for a replacement to his sons lost lovey,and I thought, surely this won't happen to me....Parents take note! It happens, be prepared. This poor guy, looked forever, and finally found what he was missing. Then when they got it, they had to put it through all sorts of tortures, to make it seemed "used". The boy had rejected it for being new. Kids know. After running it over with the car a few times, he was set. Sounds totally ridiculous, right? *sigh* I wish.
Ava just got back from a visitation with her Bio-Dad. After being home all day, and bed time rolls around, we realize with horror, that Piggy, has not returned with her. She's tired, cranky, and wants her Piggy. Turns out, her Dad left it in the airport. *grrrrr* His only reply on the situation: "well, don't know what to tell you...." Typical.
So, now I've become like that Dad, searching online for another Piggy. After 11 Internet pages, I find one on Amazon. Thank God. I won't have to run him over with the car though, he was pretty new, having been a gift from my Mom at Christmas. Don't know why, out of all her stuffed animals, and there are PLENTY, she absolutely adores Piggy. Maybe she feels the love Mom took in finding him. He'll be here in a few days. When he arrives, I'll tell Ava he was on vacation, and just got home. Sounds good to me.
And for the poor lost Piggy out there, I'm sorry. I hope some other little girl found you and loves you as much as Ava did.

Betrayal

2008-05-04T10:07:00.003-05:00

Betrayal. It seems it's everywhere in today's world. Perhaps it has always been there, it is just a natural part of human nature. It should be one of the 7 deadly sins. I guess you could log it under Greed. Because it is a form of greed. What leads a person to betray another, but their own coveting nature. To be betrayed, is the sickest of feelings. Like a baseball hitting you in the gut at 100 mph. The initial breathlessness, followed by the sinking. I've felt this emotion more times than I care to recount. Because of how badly it feels, I can not myself intentionally inflict it on another. That is my Achilles heal. To be selfless, and not wanting to play a part in hurting someone else. Also, there is the laws of Karma. Reaping what you sow. I've done enough bad in my life, through bad choices, and wants that I could not control. I fear the retribution of the law of 3, getting back what I've sown. I know it's there, and I take responsibility for my actions, and will take whatever punishment the planets deem fitting. It doesn't make it any easier. So, is it possible for us not to betray those we love, even those we don't? Is it just a part of existing that we have to live with day to day? Fighting those inner demons of the past, trying to look to the other side, and give the benefit of the doubt. Not wallowing in the past like a living ghost. The hope that the grass is as green as it will ever be on your side of the fence, and not wanting to peek over the other side, and then be faced with our own twisted natures. Just some thoughts I wanted to throw out there.

Where did the I that was Me, go?

2008-05-01T18:44:00.002-05:00

Being the ever evolving creatures that we are, do you ever look in the mirror and wonder where the you that you knew, went? I've been thinking that for some time now. Maybe this is my version of a midlife crises? Don't really know??? I miss the old me though. The person I'm referring to, is the me right out of highschool. That's when I think I actually started to figure things out. That's when most of us probably start to put the pieces together. I wore converse tennis shoes, cut off army pants with hippy patches, and tie dye t-shirts. I was more quiet and shy then too, but I don't miss that. I think my husband does though. He's always asking me what happened to that sweet girl he grew up with. My answer is all the bumps and bruises of the past. I'm still me, although, a rougher, more cranky version. I don't put up with a lot of bull off anyone, even strangers if that is the mood of the moment. I've been known to embarrass the hell out of some folks, but I'm not bothered by it. It's funny, the things I would never have done a few years back, I don't even bat an eye at now. I speak my mind when I need or want to. I don't lie, never have, and if you don't want an honest answer, don't ask.
My daughter is picking up the sass from me, I hope it will serve her well in school, and she won't go through what I did, being picked on and bullied. I think she'll hold her own. One day, at her daycare, this little boy had been picking on her for quite some time, I later found out. She'd had enough, and she pushed him down and sat on him. Gone was the little girl, who had previously balled up and cried, she got even. That was when she was just past her 1st birthday.
The one part of who I am now, that I love, is being a Mom. Now if I could be a Mom, with some splashes of the former me, that would be nice. Maybe I'll break out the converse again, and embarrass the hell out of my hubby. Couldn't hurt.

What is wrong with this country!?!

2008-04-30T16:41:00.002-05:00

My husband is a firefighter for the US Forest Service, and he also volunteers for the El Paso County Wildland fire dept. A wonderful thing, especially if you live in an area that is on fire and your home is about to go up. The kicker, is the US Forest Service is threatening to fire my husband if he doesn't give up his volunteer work. What is wrong with these people? I'm trying to find out as much as I can about what we might be able to do about it, and there's a Bill that may protect him. But this is just the tip of the iceburg when it comes to things this country is fouled up on. Our skyrocketing prices, and a President pointing the finger at Congress, instead of owning up to his mistakes. UGH! Pisses me off. Below is an article I found on the Volunteer subject:

DENVER - Edward Chapman heard his fire chief pleading on the radio, "I need help. I need help." However, the volunteer firefighter in Fountain, Colorado was told by his boss he couldn't leave work to respond, so Chapman quit his job instead.
"As a volunteer fireman, it's in my blood to help when I can," he told the Senate Local Government Committee at the State Capitol on Thursday. "I can't turn around and walk away from somebody in need." Chapman and other volunteer firefighters testified in favor of Senate Bill 116, which prevents an employer from firing a volunteer firefighter who leaves work to respond to an emergency. Current Colorado law states employers could not fire a volunteer firefighter if they were off shift when they were called to an emergency and then, subsequently missed the next day of work. However, they shared stories of how leaving work presented an entirely different challenge. "I was called out to a fire scene and I couldn't go," said Tammy Kuzmic, who at the time worked for a health care company. "I was told I'd be let go if I left work." The Colorado State Fire Chiefs Association says 62 percent of all of Colorado's fire departments are entirely dependent on volunteers. An additional 26 percent are so-called combination departments with some career firefighters supplemented by volunteers. The all-volunteer departments serve roughly 650,000 people in Colorado. Windsor-Severance Fire Chief Brian Martens told senators it's becoming increasingly difficult in times of emergency to get help. "It's not uncommon for smaller departments to put out three and four (calls) to get some help," he said. "It's so important those volunteers are allowed to leave work. What they're doing is protecting the community." The measure passed out of the committee unanimously. It will be heard by the entire State Senate within the next week. Click here for more information on Senate Bill 116.

The Story: Short Version

2008-04-29T11:00:00.002-05:00

Just realized that if anyone should read this, they might not get what is going on, since it would be like beginning a book in the middle...so...here's the gist of it.
2005 began with me finding out I was unexpectedly expecting. When I told the father, his first comment, was for me to get an abortion. Needless to say, the relationship tanked at that point. It was just not an option for me. I wanted a little girl more than anything in this world and was willing to hang up my toque for the opportunity to be a Mom. October 2005 she was born. Beautiful and healthy, I fell instantly in love with her. This little person became everything to me. After she was born, the father left us, she was 5 days old. I lived away from my family and friends, and had to take care of her by myself. Not an easy task, and one I will never repeat. It was hell. I just began to hate the father and all he stood for. There are other bits to this part of the tale, but I don't want to air that.
The day after Christmas, he showed back up, and wanted to be a father. Now by this time, I was over it. I'd had my fill of his BS, and there had been some bitter fighting about him taking her from me. He'd said a single mom could not raise a child properly-BS! So...the battle began.
Eventually, I moved home to be with my family and left him and that state behind. New Years day I got served papers, he was taking me to court for custody.
We went to court, I won and got primary, he got about 30 days a year. He came across as a real piece of work. But the battle rages on and he's tried everything under the sun to try and take her. Every time he has her, something happens and that's what scares me. He put her in ICU once, gave her back with horrific diaper rash, etc...the list goes on and on, and what really frustrates me, is the court systems won't listen or help us.
If anyone out there can offer a suggestion, I'd really love to hear it. I want to love my daughter in peace and not be put through the ringer by this idiot. Okay, there ya go, that's the gist of it. I'm sure this scenario plays itself out all over the country, this is just my version of it.

Wake up call

2008-04-29T08:43:00.003-05:00

All day yesterday, I didn't get to talk to my baby. Her POS Dad, just wanted to argue with me. He doesn't get the fact that if he would just stop all the crap, and be decent, things would go so much easier on all of us and he might see her for more than 30 days a year. But I don't think he's gonna get that fact any time soon, especially since he chose to have her call us at 5:15am! Since it's my baby, I don't mind hearing her voice anytime of the day. It just shows his level of inconsiderateness to her and the other people in her life. She sounds more than ready to come home. She kept saying, "talk mommy" and "miss you". She sounds sad, and I hate that. At 2, she doesn't really understand what is going on. I fear that she thinks I'm sending her away because she was bad or something. Or that I don't want her, which is far from the case. I wish I didn't have to do this to her at all, and that her Dad was a descent human, and would work with us, to make this more comfortable for her. But he can't see past his own ego, and what he's doing to her is irrelevant. Hopefully, we can get someone to listen to us, see the evidence, and stop all this or at least change it to better suit her. I love my little girl more than my own life, and I'd give anything to stop all this confusion and angst for her.

A place to hang my thoughts...

2008-04-28T19:42:00.003-05:00

Well, I never thought I'd do it, but I'm putting out a BLOG. I have a myspace page, but I don't feel quite right venting on it. So, we'll use this space to place my mulititudes of misc. thoughts. (thanx Ron). What are my thoughts today, well, I'm wondering why the bio-a-hole father of my daughter has not called today. What could he possibly be up to now??? It's a never ending saga, and one that I am SO tired of. He's jealous that I moved on with my life, and refuses to accept the fact that I'm happy and content in my marriage. He dropped the ball and instead of owning up to his mistake, he uses his time to torture and torment me using our daughter. What else am I thinking?? That I can't wait to hold her in my arms again, and that I'm so incredibly grateful to have such a wonderful man as my husband. Sounds completely nauseating, but true. So...this will be a work in progress. The saga continues.....

Musings of a Muse

The World’s Best Tasting Healthy Brownies

The World’s Best Tasting Healthy Brownies

Yields: 16 Brownies

Overnight Oatmeal

McDonalds and the ugly truth

26 days of Clean Eating and fitness update

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain Lyrics

Eating Clean Journey

My baby loves her veggies. :)

Once again....

A list for a father

Merry Christmas Ava!.

The End of the stocking

Ava and her stocking again

Ava in her stocking 2011

Anniversary

Britney Spears - Out from under (video with lyrics)

Ava and Santa 2011

Dear Thorn in my side,

Eating Clean

Food Dude: Nonny's Harvest Loaf becomes a holiday tradition | NewsOK.com

Clean Breakfast

7 Foods Experts Won't Eat | Wake Up World

Getting back on the clean eating wagon

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer---Dr. Elmo

Throckmorton Family History of the Throckmortons

The Sundays - Wild Horses

5.6 Quake rocks Oklahoma!

Related articles

5.6 Quake hits Oklahoma, Largest in it's history.

Earthquake Details

Kale Chips

Fun Halloween Foods for my Seniors

Iowa Couple Married for 72 Years Dies Holding Hands, 1 Hour Apart - ABC News

Meagan Hope Wilburn

NorthEscambia.com

WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories - 9 Year Old ATV Death

Nine-year-old killed In ATV accident | Fox10tv.com

Fourth Grader, Age 9, Dies After ATV Accident : NorthEscambia.com

OSSAS facebook link

OSSAS 2011

Tulsa State Fair: How Sweet It Is - KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - Coverage You Can Count On

Cost of Raising a Child Calculator | BabyCenter

Wonder if you are aware...

Remembering 9/11

Lady Gaga - Poker Face

Grant Lee Buffalo - Honey don't think

Grant L. B. - Demon called deception

Maple Syrup Pudding Cake Recipe - Food.com - 173250

Adele - Set Fire to the Rain Lyrics

Beautiful - Storm Large

Tori Amos - God

Tori Amos - Precious Things

Evanescence - My Immortal (Video)

Kelly Clarkson - Because Of You

Adele - Rolling In The Deep

The Anne Boleyn Files

The Haunted Chef

What's really in the food? The A to Z of the food industry's most evil ingredients

The Path to a Clean Eating Lifestyle.

Tracing my family lineage to the English court

Oklahoma State Sugar Art Show 2010

Playing with Cake

My first Gold Medal

Bon Appetite by The Newcastle Pacer

My Birthday

25 awesome foods you never knew could be deep fried!

Personal Bailout

Thank you for purchasing 'Bubba & Cooter's Book of Sure-fire Pick-up Lines'brought to you by Bubba & Cooter . Enjoy!

Old Homestead

New Gig

2009 ACF Competition

You know you grew up in Tornado Alley if....

Gearing up for Competition

The Quest for Piggy

George Carlin's Views on Aging

The Lost Lovey

Betrayal