I will not rant about s.n.o.w. today.

Because I am sure that y'all are tired of hearin' it - almost as much as the stories about Brit's coochie.

So, first I was going to post about horoscopes. I have mixed emotions about readin' them - ever since I attended a sermon about the *evils* of horoscopes, zodiac signs, Ouija boards, tarot cards, physics and the likes.

Now, I was never a fan of the Ouija board. I have never had my cards read and I have never seen a physic. But horoscopes ... yea I can relate to them. Well, when I want to. SO maybe that will be a topic tomorrow ...

Anywho ... I said I was going to write about horoscopes ... then I decided that I would try out the THURSDAY THIRTEEN thingy that I have read on other blogs before - and when I say before, I guess I mean before TODAY. Because I did a quick search around to my favorite bloggin' gals, thinkin' I could get a clue from them - and NO ONE in my 30-40 daily reads (ok, maybe every other day) actually had a THURSDAY THIRTEEN (or THIRTEEN THURSDAY ... whatever it is) post. So, although I have read them before I am not sure that I understand the basic premise, so I am skipping it (at least for now) today.

So, here’s what happens to Frannie … I start out readin’ a few of my favorite blogs and then I end up readin’ the comments and then I start readin’ the blogs of the commenters and – well you know the rest of the story – it is a never ending process, if you let it be. My favorites list is ginormous and if I actually could, I could spend all day just hoppin’ from one groovy blog to the next.

But usually I get to readin’ and such – hopin’ to catch up this blogger or that one … and them one of the kids (darn ‘em anyway) goes and needs somethin’ from me. You know what I mean? And then I almost never get the momentum back … and certainly not the posting momentum. I guess that’s why my posts are generally so all over the place – I tend to write them in bits and pieces.

Oh see, there I go ... I had a point here. Really, I did.

One of my favorite bloggers, who I have read for quite some time, is Manic Mom over at Manic Mom's Mental Myriads. Manic is a very talented writer, just waiting to land her agent - and I know that she will. She has a great banter with Swishy, Hotwire, Drew, Trish & Trish Ryan, Karitown, Ramblin Rose , TTQ - ALL on my favoites list, throw in T-Girl, naivehelga, HolyMama!, Equipped to Fascinate ... oh heavens ... can you see how easily I am sidetracked??

Soooo ... anywho, off I go again. Manic Mom is hoping to increase her readership. Now y’all know that I am all for helpin’ out a fellow mom so off you go now … all 3 or 4 of you that visit here, that don’t already read Manic’s daily musings. It will be fun or at least very funny, I promise.

Now, I just wanna also let you know that this post took me approximately 3 hours to complete. No, I wasn’t just sittin’ here at the computer tryin’ to think of witty things to say … heavens; I would hope that I could come up with somethin’ better in 3 hours … no, I was up and down, up and down; helpin’ sick children, snow drenched children, hungry children, grumpy children, Mr. Farmer … y’all know the drill right?

Final words … I did accomplish some good things today – I actually went to the grocery store ALONE (Hallelujah!). I did buy fruits, veggies, and good healthy foods. But I also bought some *junk food* - I got some Ritz Crackers, but they are whole wheat, them makes 'em better right? I also got some lays - the wavy kind, but I haven't opened them yet and it has been a good six hours since they entered the house. WooHoo.

I wish I could say that I accomplished more today ... but I think I am doin' pretty good since all of the children have been fed, most of them have been bathed and I haven't yelled at anyone today - pretty good for nearly 5pm!

Wishing you peace my friends ...
~ Frannie

The awareness of our own strength makes us modest. -Paul Cezanne

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us that someone might be looking.- HL Mencken, author, critic and newspaperman

The day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. 2 Peter 3:10-11

**oh look** … did you notice that there are 13 bloggers listed above ... maybe that can count as my THURSDAY THIRTEEN …

***oh wait*** No one should assume that the above mentioned 13 are my only favorite blogs - they aren't, really, truly, honestly! I have sooo many that I love, I just couldn't add everyone ... well because I started out by talking about Manic Mom ... and and there I go gettin' all tongue tied and stutterin' and such. What I am tryin' to say is that I like ALL of you, and ALL of you will be mentioned by and by.

This should have been my quote for the day.

"Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing." -- Phyllis Diller

Because I have been doin' both all day .......

Fat cells expanding.

That's what happens when you are stuck in the house for a freakin' WEEK!

Because, really what do you do when you are STUCKINTHEHOUSE?

You graze like a farm animal. Who needs a full on meal - I just keep munchin' all day, never quite feelin' full and never actually reachin’ hungry mode. I can't even recall my last *meal* ...

And here is what I am also learning - I do NOT have enough Junk food in my house - conversely, I do NOT have enough Healthy food in my house. I am, as usual, stuck in the middle.

No chips, but no carrots. No candy, but no actual fruit. No cookies, but no fresh veggies (except the wilted lettuce) - ok, I guess the *no cookies* thing isn't completely truthful ... there are some Oreo's in a Ziploc, but I am NOT trying them, they are Halloween Oreo's and they just don't look right.

We did have one box of Macaroni and Cheese, but SweetiePie was quick to lay claim and now it is gone, gone, gone. So, here I sit, munchin’ on saltines and drinkin’ my Diet Pepsi.

Anywho … I am sure that I will come out of my week of seclusion with thicker hips.

On to another *issue* in the Farmer household.

PAINT

Are we the only couple to get into heated arguments about paint?

Let me back up ... our home is in a constant state of remodel, in one form or another. Mr. Farmer is what you would call a 'Do-It-Yourselfer' ... so he randomly tears down walls or rips out cabinets to make them *new and improved* in a somewhat Tim Taylor sort of way.

So, when he does this, he generally has some specific *ideas* about what the new improvement should be; usually with little account for those who actually use or reside in said space.

One of his recent projects has been to expand the laundry room. Now, don’t get me wrong, I am thrilled about this; with a brood our size a larger, more efficient laundry room is much desired and needed.

However, as I mentioned, Mr. Farmer has some pre-conceived notions about how the room will work most effectively. Now, I can absolutely appreciate his ‘planning’ and ‘graphing’ it all out – planning is a good thing. But, if one doesn’t actually ever do laundry, it is tough to determine the best, most efficient use of the laundry room.

Really, I digress here. I need to stick to one topic – unfortunately with this particular issue there is just sooo much to say.

So, PAINT.

Mr. Farmer has the ideal color in mind for the laundry room. His color choosing process is fairly simple; check the left over cans in the shed and see which color we have the most of, tada … we have the perfect color.

Now, you might imagine that Frannie has a wee bit different determining process. I actually like to look at the room, the space as a whole, the person or objects that will reside in the room and the chose accordingly.

Usually I try to pick my battles. If I am not effected by the odd color choices that are made, I try to let it just slide. But the laundry room, as well as the kitchen, are my domains; the places that I spend the most time, the spots that I almost exclusively use.

Therefore, I think I should be permitted to choose the color of those particular rooms. Especially the laundry room; to me it needs to be a soothing place. I don’t want bright white walls screaming at me, nor do I want to feel like I am in a cave …

Now, Mr. Farmer is generally a fan of white. The entire place would be white – or a very light cream – if he had his way … but we all know that that isn’t how it works. I like color. Not flashy, gaudy color, but some color. So, a few rooms have been painted, with much consideration and a fair amount of relinquishment from Frannie.

This time though, I am not backing down. No way, no how!

My battle?
Mr. Farmer wants to use the leftover aqua blue paint from the kids' fishy bathroom ... Now this color does NOT relax me. I don't think that it will, at all, motivate me to do laundry. Because it certainly doesn't motivate me to clean the kids' bathroom. It actually seems *loud* to me ... maybe that doesn't make sense, I just don't know how to describe the less than pleasant feeling this color gives me.

My color?
Something along this line. A dusty rose, or even a *dusty* lavender. These colors are soothing to me.**I just look @ this on my blog - trust me, (please) it looks much better in real life.**

What is Mr. Farmers gripe with my color? Besides the fact that we would have to buy more paint, he thinks this color is too dark! Too dark? I am so confused.

But mostly, I am just standing my ground, because the laundry room will not be aqua blue - nope, nuh uh, not happenin' ...

OK, well I am off to munch some more, do another load of snow drenched laundry ... and think about makin' an actual meal for the kids.

Oh, by the way ... it just started snowing again. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

~ Frannie

I believe in fate. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but I think it's important to seek out that reason. That's how you learn. -Drew Barrymore

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1

umm, yea, you guessed it.

Still stuck.

Oh my stars. I just can't believe this.

It is so cold out that the brood doesn’t even want to play outside. Well, except for the sick one … of course the sick one tries constantly to make a run for it.

The big rig is out of the ditch, but we can’t get to it. We are hoping for tomorrow, but even now that seems a bit dicey.

So what is a gal to do when she is stuck at home … clean, bake, sew, start a novel (writing or reading, really either would be acceptable), bind with the children? Umm, yea, not so much. I have done NOTHING productive since my marathon on Saturday (it was Saturday, right?)

I have leafed through a number of magazines. Done laundry as needed. Reheated the previously cooked turkey too many times to count. Tried to nap, but never really succeeded. You would think that I would spend a profuse amount of time on the computer, but since we only have one, the kids have had claim. I have watched Lady and the Tramp (1955) more times than I care to share.

Right … I can’t even think of what else I’ve done. I have NOT, NOT, NOT, played in the snow at all. Which is good and bad. Good because I would either hurt myself or get sick – neither one would work well … Bad because I think I would really feel soothed if I could make just one Snow Angel.

Another celebrity marriage bites the dust … Pam files for divorce from Kid Rock. Celebrities? I guess that is taking it too far.

And what about Hilary Duff and what's his name - because we couldn’t see that one coming either??

There is so much to dish about this week.
Brit lookin’ ultra trashy showin’ everyone her coochie
Everyone is weighing on "Kramer's" rant
Anna Nicole Smith continues to speak – come on, can’t some one tell her that she sounds like a drunken idiot. I feel for her, I do … she has probably spent most of her life be exploited by people because of the way she looks and acts – but can’t someone help her out???
Derek Jeter and Jessica Biel Hookin' Up - wow! Could two people make a prettier couple?
Chad Lowe still loves Hilary Swank - am I the only one that says - 'yea, until you figure out that you are actually gay' ... Chad has always seemed a little *closeted* to me. .

Ok, the list goes on. Just like my 'to-do' list. It seems to be multiplying.

Did I mention that I am grateful? I am, really, I am!

~Frannie - buried under 5 feet of snow and grateful darn it!

The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings. -Kakuzo Okakaura

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8

Stuck X's 3!

I could tell you the story, but you wouldn't believe me. Seriously!

There is more snow here than we ever receive in an entire year. My big rig is in the ditch. My children are goin' stir crazy and I am fairly sure this is how many divorce proceedings begin.

Just a thought ...

I am, however, exceedingly grateful. I am, really. We have everything we need. We are all safe and mostly well - LittleMiss is still vomiting, but ... I think that is par for the course when you have little ones. We have power - a lot of folks out our way don't. It's just a car - we can replace it. I am grateful - even though I am so irritated I could ... Damn, I don't even know what I could ...

I will try, really hard, to send out a positive post tomorrow. Although there is no school again tomorrow, so my promises may ring hallow.

~ Yours,
Frannie


I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it. -Maya Angelou

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16

Stuck again.

{Rant} Different day, same shit crap stuff.

Oops, does that sound bad? Sorry. Feelin' a little bit grumpy today.

We had a snowstorm last night and I, wrongly, assumed that it would be gone by this morning. Yea, not so much. We now have feet of snow.
And Mr. Farmer had to go back into the city, after getting home at 9ish last night. Thus, he took the big rig and there is too much snow for me to drive the commuter car.

So, I missed church today – never a good way to start (or end, however you look at it) my week.

Ok, not that I could have gone anyway. LittleMiss has a horrendous cough and spent a profuse amount of time vomiting last night … but I would have liked to have the option.

I am sorry if I sound like a whiner. I really am. But even though I am a stay-at-home-mom, I don’t actually stay at home all that often. And I am generally NOT cooped up with all of the kids the entire time.

They are grumpy … and then happy because they can play in the snow … and then grumpy because they missed Sunday school and didn’t get to practice for the Christmas recital … and then they are happy because they can play in the snow and maybe just maybe they will miss school tomorrow … and then they are grumpy because they know it isn’t so … and then they are happy because they get to play in the snow today (be grateful y’all, we don’t normally get snow) … and then they are grumpy because the don’t have the uber cool snow gear and gadgets that the fancy schmancy family across the way has.

You see my battle? It just doesn’t end. And Mr. Farmer won’t be home until late and when he arrives home he will be cantankerous, as he always is when he has to make this trip, and of course he will be hungry and tired and he’ll eat and then head off to bed. Grrr.

So, you see, there will be no break today. Church is a break, but it is also rejuvenation for me. It is the time that I can sit quietly, reflect on the week I have had and prepare myself for the week ahead.

Ok, I am movin’ on now.

Tell me what is up with this Beta Blogger thing. I know that I asked the question before, but now I am getting annoyed. Every time I log in I am inundated with the ‘switch now’, ‘take a tour’, ‘it’s so much better’ .. blah, blah, blah. Leave me alone. If I wanted to switch, I would. But I don’t wanna. I have heard that it is a pain in the ass patootie. Whew, look at me. I miss one day of church and I turn into a heathen.

Alright, so if you haven’t checked out Atomictumor yet. I am askin’ ya nicely to do so. This is a family that needs some support. I have no doubt that they need financial support, but I am also certain that they are in need of some good ole prayer. Lend your heart, won’tcha?

Just finished readin’ Rebecca Wells' Ya-Yas in Bloom. It was okay. Not as good as Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, but entertaining none the less. It was an easy read. Something you could put down and pick up again later, with ease. So it wasn’t riveting. Which I guess is okay, right?

Finally, I must ask the question. What in the world is Britney doin' hangin' out with Paris? Is she trying to prove K-Fed right? Or the tabloids? Or just what? I don't get it. I have felt bad for her in the past, thinkin' she gets a pretty bum wrap ... if people saw how Frannie sometimes parents ... well ya know - there could be trouble for any of us. But seriously, Paris 'IamnmsoselfishIdon'tthinkotherpeopledeservetobreaththesameairasme,
butheylookatmycootchiewon'tya' Hilton?? What the heck? I'm just askin'. {/Rant}

Yep, I am done rantin' now. I'll come down off of my soap box and let y'all get back to your day.

~ Peace Friends ...
Frannie

If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.-Booker T. Washington

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

Stuck at home.

It snowed last night.
It's gone now.
Too bad, the kids would have liked to play a little and I would have liked for them to play a little. Since we are stuck at home today ... all day.

Mr. Farmer had to leave at the crack of dawn, well actually before the crack of dawn, he had an appointment in the city and his isn’t a 4-wheel drive, so it wasn’t going to cut it in the snow and ice - so he took my big rig.

It was so early and my brain was still foggy, as I bid him adieu I failed to remind him to take the car seats out of the big rig. Alas, I am stuck at home all day.

Not that I need anything. Not that I have anywhere special to go today – I don’t. It’s just that feeling … you know the one – when you can’t do something, of course you want to do it.
So, of course I want to leave the house.

But I won’t. Instead, I will remain indoors and cook a second turkey. Yippee. The leftovers from the Thanksgiving turkey are long gone and I am coking for a few families this week. So, what better than Turkey Noodle Casserole or Turkey Pot Pie.

I had to clean the oven before I could put the turkey in. It seems someone, no names shall be given, let the yams runnith over on Thursday and there was an almost ashy residue on the bottom of the over.

So since I was cleaning out the over, I should really clean out the fridge … yuck – the grime and nameable sticky substances were just too much for me to take, and I can only say that you know they are bad when they are bothering Frannie. I can overlook almost any kind of grime if it means that I don’t have to clean it.

With all these kids and animals, I am pretty immune to messes per se … but this time the gunk in the fridge had gone too far.

And hey ... while I am at it, AngelBaby is pretty messy - so I think I'll just throw her in the sink for a bath. That is the great thing about having a giant farmhouse style sink - it is big enough for a toddler! Hooray.

Well you just know ... if you give the toddler a sink bath and don't pay enough attention - you are gonna end up cleanin' the floors. Yep - I have now mopped the floors, cleaned the fridge, the oven, given the baby a bath and written a lengthy post. Heck, its only 12:30 - I think I deserve some sort of prize! Oh wait - I haven't taken a shower yet, I guess I'll have to give back the prize, darn it!

So speaking of messes … I am not sure if I have introduced you to Messy Mom at I Am Tired Of This Mess. I love this gal; she is truly a woman after my heart. I also recently discovered Slacker Mom at Slacker-moms-r-us – gotta love a lady with her sense of humor. If you don’t know these ladies … you should absolutely check them out.

On a more serious note, I was led to this blog earlier in the week: Atomictumor.
It's heartbreaking. I keep going back and reading more and more about BJ's life, she was not even thirty years old, had two small children and a husband who calls her his soulmate ... and she died. As CHML said, it could happen to anyone. There is an anonymous fund there, if anyone wants to donate. Please take a look, it really is heartbreaking and should serve as a reality check for those of us who are fortunate enough to have our loved ones with us during the holidays.

Blessings to you, my friends ...
Frannie


Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like.-Will Rogers

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Perhaps I should have posted this yesterday .. or even the day before :)

The best tip for roasting meats ~

To have a crispy skin on chicken or a deep brown color on other meats, roast them uncovered. If you cover meats that you are roasting, they will not be as crisp or brown. But they will cook faster because the steam stays inside. Be sure to baste the meat with the liquid in the bottom of the pan to keep it from drying out.

Crunchy Turkey Flautas

Want to use your Turkey leftovers and actually enjoy them?

The Farmer brood loves to eat Flautas, althought I think it is because it sounds like a bad word to them, anywho... they are so easy to make.

INGREDIENTS:
5 flour tortillas
1 cup shredded turkey
1 teaspoon chile powder
salt to taste
2 tablespoons red chile sauce
oil for frying

PREPARATION:
Add chile powder and sauce to turkey and toss to coat. Divide the turkey evenly between each tortilla. Roll each filled tortilla and place seam side down to rest until all of them are rolled.

Heat oil over medium heat, and fry each flauta until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels and serve with guacamole or salsa.

Cut each flauta in half and serve as an appetizer, or serve up enough for a main dish. This recipe makes 5 full sized flautas.

A Thanksgiving Prayer - by Charlie Daniels

A Thanksgiving Prayer
Heavenly Father we give you our praise,
For your bountiful blessings which sweeten our days,
For the bold blazing patchwork of the bright autumn leaves,
For each step that we take and each breath that we breathe,
For the soft breeze that whispers and the ocean that roars,
For the hummingbird's shimmer and the eagle that soars,
For the tall stately mountains that are older than time,
For the vast waving grain fields and the fruit of the vine,
For the thunder and lightning and the tempests that rage,
For the wonder of childhood and the wisdom of age,
For the shimmering cities with their millions of lights,
For the hamlet, the village and the wonderful sight
Of a storm in the making bringing life giving rain,
A late summer sunset or the moon on the wane,
For the luscious green forests all tangled and wild
For the love of a woman and the trust of a child,
For the loyal policeman who stands in harm's way,
And the brave men and women who day after day,
Are the keepers of freedom the bearers of arms,
Who watch and protect us and keep us from harm,
For the fireman who goes where no other would dare,
For the doctors and nurses and the people who care,
For the sick and the needy and those who are kind,
For the homeless, the hungry, the lame and the blind,
For the tellers of tales and the singers of songs,
And the old man who passes his knowledge along,
For a child's giddy laughter at a birthday surprise,
And the soft tender wonder in a new mother's eyes,
For the clean virgin beauty of the new fallen snow,
For the vast sandy deserts where the wild west wind blows,
For my Tennessee valley in the cold morning fog,
And the unfettered love of a faithful old dog,
For the late April buttercups in golden bloom,
And the silvery fullness of an October moon,
For our little brick church and the songs of the choir,
For the snuggly comfort of a warm winter fire,
But most of all Heavenly Father above,
For the blessings of mercy, forgiveness and love
And of all of your sweet gifts the most precious one,
Is the wonderful glorious gift of your Son.
No words can describe the supreme awesome cost,
That you paid for the souls of the wicked and lost,
So now as we pause and look back through the year,
With our bountiful table and our loved ones all near
My cup runneth over as I humbly pray
to my Lord and my Saviour on this Thanksgiving day.

---Charlie Daniels

I was just wondering ...

If you are sorely disappointed when you do a google search for one of the following and end up here?

Unscramble
unscramble the scrambled eggs
unscrambling words into smaller ones
poop-art photos
unscramble the eggs that are scrambled
"frannie farmer" celery stuffing
you cannot unscramble egg
rum balls with sesame seeds
how early can you put whipping cream on cake
how to cook a turkey breast
freezing uncooked scrambled eggs
is it ok to prepare mashed potatoes 4 days ahead?
can you feed babies scrambled eggs
scrambled eggs with blue cheese
pumpkin torte vanilla wafers
vanilla scrambled eggs
how far ahead can you toast coconut for ambrosia
scrambled eggs flour
unscramble nuts
frannie farmer
candybar dolls
leftover oatmeal pancake
you can't unscramble eggs
spiced scrambled eggs
cooking scrambled eggs in oven
***

I can't imagine that for the most part, I provide the answer to any of your questions. But I do find you queries pretty humorous. I have to wonder what exactly a 'candybar doll' is or why you would want to unscramble nuts. But I am hopeful that the person seeking a solution to the leftover oatmeal dilemma found our recipes adequate.

If I don't get a chance to post tomorrow, I want to wish everyone a blessed holiday. Please be sure to eat some green beans for me ... and of course, be safe.

~ Frannie

He who cures a disease may be the skillfullest, but he that prevents it is the safest physician.- Thomas Fuller, British clergyman and author

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

***I didn't include any of the x-rated ones for fear of offending those that actually stay and read.

It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without ...

Green Bean Casserole ...

Let me just say that this isn't your mother's green bean casserole! There will be no French Fried Onions here. I hate to admit, as it seems a little un-American, that I can't stand those things. So tomorrow I will be making two batches, one with the French Fried Onions and the one I will eat!

INGREDIENTS
4 slices bacon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/2 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic
3/4 teaspoon seasoned salt with no MSG
1/3 teaspoon white pepper
2 (15.5 ounce) cans French cut green beans, drained
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and fry until crisp. Remove from the skillet to drain on paper towels. Pour olive oil into the skillet, and reduce heat to medium. When oil is hot, add mushrooms and onion; cook, stirring frequently until the onions start to become translucent. Add garlic, and fry for a couple of minutes, just until fragrant. Stir in the mushroom soup and almonds, and bring to a boil. Season with seasoned salt and white pepper, and crumble in the bacon. Gently stir in the green beans, then transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Let it go.

Here is an email I got today ...

What should you let go of?

If I Were Lucky
By Avis Drucker

If I were lucky in this lifetime,

I would learn the art of letting go.
I would start with the bathroom scale,

that little square joy buster.
Gone!

Next would be my watch,

keeper of rigid rituals and joyless appointments.

Gone!

Perfection, next big hit.

Let the housework pile up and invite lots of friends over.

Just put the vacuum cleaner in the middle of the living room

and leave it there for six months.

Next, get rid of that worry dance I do.

The health of my husband,

the safety of my children,

not enough money,

what people think,

being alone,

not being alone,

terrorists, tax collectors,

termites . . .

get a grip!

Let it go.

I would travel the world

and take lots of black and white photos

of all the wonderful faces.

I would sit on the beach with my friends

nd eat junky hot dogs.
I would take long walks with my husband

through the village to the lighthouse.
Sometimes I would sit quietly on my porch

and listen to the birds for hours.

Sometimes I would put on jazz or opera and turn it up really loud.

I would surround myself with people

who love nature, laughter and dessert.
I would spend my time living large and doing nothing.

I would sit back and enjoy the journey.

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them.- George Bernard Shaw, playwright

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in him you have been enriched in every way -

in all your speaking and in all your knowledge. 1 Corinthians 1:4-5

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

I see your comments and know that I should reply and I will ... but today I am letting it all sink in. No, I didn't do anything horrible, but that doesn't change the way I feel inside. Who wants to do something out of charachter and possibly be remembered for it? Yep, me neither.

Maybe my icky feeling has something to do with this terrible weather we are having ... maybe.

~ Frannie



If you get busy serving God, you're too busy to sin. -Chuck Baker

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:1-2

Using Blenders and Food Processors

They will work best if they are filled only two-thirds full. If the blender doesn't operate, it may be too full. Don't try to grate hard frozen foods because they could cause the blade to break.

Ginger Pumpkin Mousse

Ingredients
1/2 cup sugar or sugar substitute* equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3/4 cup fat-free milk
3 egg yolks, beaten
1 15-ounce can pumpkin
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger or 1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 of an 8-ounce container frozen light whipped dessert topping, thawed
3 gingersnaps, halved

Directions
1. In a medium saucepan, stir together sugar and gelatin. Stir in milk and egg yolks. Cook and stir over medium heat until gelatin is dissolved and mixture just begins to bubble. Remove from heat. Stir in pumpkin, ginger, and vanilla. Transfer mixture to a large bowl. Cool about 20 minutes.

2. Fold dessert topping into pumpkin mixture. Spoon into six 6-ounce tall glasses or serving dishes. Cover and chill about 5 hours or until firm. To serve, top each serving with a gingersnap half. Makes 6 (1/2-cup) servings.

*Sugar Substitutes: Choose from Splenda Granular, Equal Spoonful or packets, or Sweet 'N Low bulk or packets. Follow directions to use amount equivalent to 1/2 cup sugar.

Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare and chill as directed. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Serve as directed.

Walnut and Sage Pesto Turkey Breast
Ingredients
2 3- to 3-1/2-lb. fresh or frozen bone-in turkey breast halves
Nonstick cooking spray
2 7-oz. container refrigerated basil pesto or 10-oz. jar purchased pesto
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh sage
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 recipe Onion-Thyme Gravy (optional)

Directions
1. Thaw turkey, if frozen. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large shallow roasting pan and rack with cooking spray. Place turkey breast halves, bone side down, on rack in prepared pan. Set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine pesto, sage, walnuts, salt, and pepper; mix well. Reserve half the pesto mixture to pass with turkey. Cover; chill until serving time.

3. Starting at the breast bone, slip your fingers between skin and meat to loosen skin, leaving skin attached at top. Rub about two-thirds of the remaining pesto mixture under the skin over the breast meat. Rub remaining pesto mixture over the skin of each breast halve. Insert an oven-going meat thermometer into thickest part of turkey breast, without touching bone. Roast, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Roast 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours longer or until thermometer registers 170 degrees F., juices run clear, and turkey is no longer pink. Cover with foil the last 30 to 45 minutes, if necessary to prevent overbrowning. Let stand, covered with foil, for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve with remaining pesto mixture and the Onion-Thyme Gravy. Makes 10 to 12 servings.

Onion-Thyme Gravy: In a medium saucepan melt 2 Tbsp. butter over medium-high heat. Add 1-cup chopped onion, 3 shallots (about 2/3 cup), and 1 tsp. snipped fresh thyme (or 1/4 tsp. dried thyme crushed); cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables are tender and browned.

Stir in 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add 1 14-oz. can reduced-sodium chicken broth, 1 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce, and 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce. Cook and stir until mixture comes to boiling; reduce heat to medium. Simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 9 minutes or until slightly thickened. Stir in 1/8 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper. Makes 2-1/4 cups or nine 1/4 cup servings.

Losing your inhibitions.

So, here is my question; what does it take for you to lose you inhibitions?

For a lot of people, a glass of wine or four will do the trick. Other require stronger stimulus … I was actually going to include a list of other stimuli but the internet search was so vast and my personal knowledge so limited that I will just leave the ‘other’ stuff up to your own imagination …

I can sometimes be in the glass of wine category, in actuality I almost always lose my inhibitions with wine. However, I don’t always need to lose those pesky inhibitions. Every once in a while it just takes a few people in the room to cheer me on, tell me how witty or funny I am and throw in the plants being aligned - I am good to go. I can make a completely sober ass out of myself.

I guess that’s why it is easier to make an ass out of yourself when you have been drinking. You have an excuse then, it isn’t just your naturally peculiar self coming out to play. You can look back and blame it all on the Australian Sauvignon Blanc talking.

Although, at this particular moment I almost wish I didn’t have the wine to blame for my latest outing. I knew better. I started out the evening so well. So sober. ‘No thank you, I’ll just have wine with my dinner.’ And I did that. I waited until dinner, except I didn’t actually eat the dinner. And they kept bringing more wine and the evening had started off with numerous people inflating my ego with kind words and accolades.

One of the ladies asked me, early in the evening, to give her a heads up if I thought she was indulging a bit too much at the Chardonnay table. I guess my mistake was thinking that the responsibility was mutual; she in turn would let me know when my glass had been filled too many times. Yea, not so much …

So, my memory of the evening continues to be a bit cloudy … fuzzy … and a little painful if I am truly honest.

I am hoping that if I done anything TOO terribly wrong, I would have gotten a phone call by now. Mr. Farmer was in attendance but he is fairly lenient when Frannie actually has a night out on the town, so I’m not sure he would say anything … also, this was a schmoozing party so we didn’t spend much time together as a couple … we were merely ships passing in the night. But no, I didn’t pass out or anything like that …

I just thing that I might have had a few too many in.detail.colorful.full.disclosure.I.love.you.man type of conversations, ya know what I mean?

Although I did have company over last night - they had the pleasure of my ramblings the night before and they still came, on time, with smiles and when asked if I had morally offended them at any point during the night, they looked genuine when they said no … but they are city folk, so it just might be that they are used to it …

The thing I am having the most trouble with is … oh I just can't post it ... Next year – no heart-to-heart talks. No, no, no, no, no!

A little hair of the dog?

Well, not really ... but Frannie is movin' a little bit slow today.
My adult night out went ok, I think. Spirits we in abundance ... my memory of the late, late, late night is rather foggy, but I believe that my schmoozing skills were acceptable. My shameless flirting? Well that is another post all together.

Time for a nap.
~ Frannie



As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.-Victor Hugo


Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17


Holiday Rum Balls

INGREDIENTS:

1-1/2 cups vanilla wafer crumbs
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
3 Tablespoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Rum to taste
Confectioners' sugar

TO PREPARE:

Combine the vanilla wafer crumbs, 1 cup confectioners' sugar, pecans, corn syrup and vanilla in a bowl and mix well. Add just enough rum to make a mixture that adheres.
Shape the crumb mixture into small balls and coat with additional confectioners' sugar. Store in an airtight container. May be prepared 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

YIELDS: 1-1/2 to 2 dozen rum balls

Source: Cooking by the Boot Straps

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Leftover Bits of Cheese? Don't feed the mice ...
Melt any kind of cheese bits with canned skim milk and you will have a delicious cheesey sauce that can be poured over pasta, tortilla chips, vegetables or baked potatoes.

Chicken Quesadillas

This is a healthy version of a tried and ture quesadilla recipe.

INGREDIENTS
4 (7-inch) whole wheat tortillas
1/2 cup shredded light mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded light cheddar cheese
2 slices smoked chicken or turkey, slivered
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 tomato, finely chopped and drained
2 teaspoons pickled jalapeño peppers, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS
1. Place tortillas, one at a time, on a preheated nonstick skillet.
2. Evenly distribute 1/4 of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, chicken, onions, cilantro, tomatoes and peppers over top.
3. Cook over medium heat until cheese melts (tortilla shouldn't brown).
4. Fold to make half moon and press firmly in place. Transfer to baking sheet or platter in warm over. Repeat with remaining tortillas and remaining ingredients.
5. Cut each into two or three wedges, and serve immediately.

Serves: 2



Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in God so assured that a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake. -Martin Luther

Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21

I know I am not the only one ...

That hopes, prays even, that Britney doesn't take K-Fed back. I am sure if you look up the word repugnant in the dictionary, you will find his picture ... he makes me sick - almost literally.

The picture in this article seriously made me want to vomit ... K-Fed wants Britney Back!.

Ok, well maybe you didn't need to know that but urgh ...

I also know that I am not the only SAHM that shudders when faced with the idea of making actual adult conversation; conversation that has nothing to do with children.

This weekend I am faced with such a situation and I am nervous, beyond nervous actually. I have to talk about ‘businessy’ stuff .. small talk, you know topics that don't inclue poop-art,the Reese and Ryan split or how to appropriately grind nuts … yea, I am just not sure how this is going to go.

Usually I am ok When I attend adult functions, but I sorta have a stake in this one going well. It could mean potential, and much needed, income for Frannie … so I have to schmooze and talk myself up - I am soo not good at either of those things ... anymore.

Oh, back in the day I was an excellent schmoozin', small talkin', deal makin' pro-fess-ion-al! YOu bet. And I was ruthless. I could intimidate grown men with my knowledge and tenacity.

But it is different now. I became more sensitive after having children, less able to intimidate or exaggerate the benefits of something that is without merit. It is harder to put my ‘game face’ on, far more difficult to just ‘fake it’.

I was smaller, cuter then too. I am sure that didn't hurt. I feel ok now ... not too bad, but certainly not at the top of my game.

But I will try. I will put on an actual dress, with hose and high heels. I just might wear earrings and a little blush. I will make sure that I don't have any schmutz on my clothes before I walk through the door and I will do my best to impress.

Wish me luck! Please.

~ Frannie

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. -Eleanor Roosevelt

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

A sweet treat.

Ambrosia Layer Cake

If you have all day ... well close ... and want to make a special treat for the family, this delicious cake will be a hit!

Ingredients:
For cake
2 3/4 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising; sift before measuring)
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 large whole eggs, at room temperature for 30 minutes
1 tablespoon finely grated fresh orange zest
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup whole milk

For orange filling
2 large whole eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh orange zest

For seven-minute frosting
1 (7-oz) bag sweetened flaked coconut (2 2/3 cups)
2 large egg whites
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Special equipment: 2 (9- by 2-inch) round cake pans

Preparation:

Make cake:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour cake pans, knocking out excess flour.
Sift together flour (2 3/4 cups), baking powder, and salt into a bowl.

Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (fitted with paddle attachment if using a stand mixer) at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then beat in zest and vanilla and continue beating 5 minutes more. Reduce speed to low, then add flour mixture and milk alternately in 4 batches, beginning with flour mixture and mixing until batter is just smooth. Divide between cake pans, spreading evenly.

Bake cake layers until they begin to pull away from sides of pans and a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pans on racks, then invert cake layers onto racks and cool completely. (Leave oven on for toasting coconut.)

Make filling while layers bake:
Whisk together eggs in a heatproof bowl until combined well.

With clean dry whisk, stir together sugar, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, then whisk in water and juices until smooth. Bring to a boil over moderate heat, whisking, then reduce heat and cook at a bare simmer, whisking constantly, 2 minutes (mixture will be thick).

Add half of hot juice mixture to eggs in a slow stream, whisking, then whisk egg mixture into juices in saucepan and cook over moderately low heat, whisking, just until it reaches a boil. Remove pan from heat, then add butter and zest, whisking until butter is melted. Chill filling, its surface covered with a buttered round of wax paper (buttered side down), until cold, about 30 minutes.

Make frosting:
Spread coconut in a shallow baking pan and toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

Beat together egg whites, sugar, water, corn syrup, and a pinch of salt in a large metal bowl with a handheld electric mixer (clean beaters if necessary) until combined. Set bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and beat mixture at high speed until it holds stiff, glossy peaks, 5 to 7 minutes. (Humid weather may necessitate additional beating time.) Remove bowl from heat, then add vanilla and lemon juice and continue beating until frosting is cooled and very thick, 6 to 10 minutes.

Assemble cake:
Halve each cake horizontally with a long serrated knife. Put 1 layer on a cake stand or large plate and spread with about 3/4 cup filling. Stack remaining cake layers using about 3/4 cup filling between each layer. Spread top and side of cake with frosting and coat cake with coconut, gently pressing to help it adhere.

Cooks' notes:
• Cake layers (not split horizontally) can be made 3 days ahead and chilled, wrapped individually in plastic wrap.
• Filling can be chilled up to 8 hours. Stir before spreading.
• Frosting can be made 4 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
• Cake can be assembled and frosted 2 hours ahead.



Makes 10 to 12 servings.


Source: Epicurious.com

Baby it's cold outside.

A little something to warm the body and soul.

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients
3 Tbsp. butter
1 large onion, finely chopped (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
2 14-oz. cans chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked orzo or wild rice
1- 1/2 cups half-and-half, light cream, or milk
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
1 15-oz. can pumpkin
Cracked black pepper (optional)

Directions
1. In a large saucepan melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in crushed red pepper; cook for 1 minute. Add broth; bring to boiling. Stir in orzo or rice. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, about 10 minutes for orzo or 40 minutes for wild rice or until orzo or rice is tender.
2. In a screw-top jar combine half-and-half and flour. Cover; shake well to combine. Stir into orzo mixture; cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in pumpkin; heat through. Transfer to an insulated container. Sprinkle each serving with cracked black pepper. Makes 6 to 8 side-dish servings.

Pumpkin Seed Breadsticks

Ingredients
1 13- to 14-oz. pkg. refrigerated pizza dough
1 egg, beaten
1 to 3 Tablespoons shelled pumpkin seeds, plain sesame seeds, and/or black sesame seeds,
Coarse salt or salt

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease two large baking sheets. Unroll pizza dough on a lightly floured surface. Using your hands, shape dough into a 12x9-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with some of the egg. Sprinkle with seeds and lightly sprinkle with salt. Use a floured long knife or floured pizza cutter to cut dough crosswise into 1/4- to 1/2-inch wide strips.
2. Place strips on prepared baking sheets. Bake, one sheet at a time, for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. Makes about 24 breadsticks.

Goldilocks lives here.

emmm, k. Where do I start.
1) with a warning ... ummm don't try to blog when you have had a WHOLE glass of Shiraz ... and you aren't really a drinker any more and you are somewhat of a stickler for grammar and spelling and such ...

2) I truly think that Goldilocks lives in my house - ok, well Goldilocks morphed into three or four beings ... Tonight I heard - these mashed potatoes are too runny ... these mashed potatoes are too lumpy ... yum, MaaMaa these mashed potatoes are just right. What gives? Everyone had the same mashed potatoes.

3) While I am a roll ... a semi-stupered (is that a word?) roll ... I must ask - how is it that I have sooo many visitors and so few comments? I mean, seriously, I have between 20-30 visitors stopping by day (wow!) and maybe 3 comments. Am I boring, if so please tell me ... I will try to come up with something new and exciting. If I can .... but really I am shocked at the number of people that stop by - I never expected that - at all.

4) It's bed time at the Farmer house. AngelBaby is running around saying 'isnotfairisnotfair' - she wants to watch 'nkatenashkley' ... we have about 15 old Mary Kate and Ashley videos and AngelBaby loves them .. I never want her to see the 'current' MaryKate and Ashley - well her, LittleMiss and SweetiePie would all be crushed if they actually knew that the Olsen twins were .. um .. sortof grown ups (??) now. Same with Lindsey ... they still watch The Parent Trap and think that's Lindsey ...

5) k .. well I should go now, before I say anything I will regret ...

Hugs,
Frannie

Stop living life for what's around the corner and start enjoying the walk down the street.- Grant L. Miller, motivational guru

Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit.
1 Peter 3:18

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Tilt Saucepan To Avoid Splattering Injuries
A common injury incurred by beginner chefs is burning themselves while sauteing food in a saucepan. The oil, butter or grease can easily splatter from the saucepan to the chef and cause serious burns. To avoid this potential injury, tilt the pan in the opposite direction whenever you add food to the pan before laying it flat again. This short, easy method can prevent any splatters and burns.

Old-Fashioned Pumpkin Torte

Ingredients
2-2/3 cups toasted slivered almonds
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (about 15 square crackers)
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1-1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
8 eggs, separated
3/4 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
1-1/3 cups sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese , softened
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
2/3 cup finely chopped pitted dates or raisins
1/2 cup chunk-style applesauce
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel

Directions
1. Grease and flour three 8x1-1/2-inch round baking pans; set aside. Process or blend almonds in small batches in a food processor bowl or blender container, covered, until nuts are finely ground but not oily. Transfer to a mixing bowl. Stir in crumbs, baking powder, 1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, and 3/4 teaspoon orange peel; set aside.
2. Beat egg yolks and 2/3 cup of the sugar in a small mixer bowl with an electric mixer on high speed for 6 minutes. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla. Fold in nuts.
3. Wash beaters. Beat egg whites in a large mixer bowl on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add remaining 2/3 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until stiff peaks form (tips stand straight). Fold 1 cup of the egg white mixture into pumpkin mixture. Fold pumpkin mixture into remaining egg white mixture. Spread evenly in prepared pans.
4. Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool thoroughly on racks.
5. For the filling, in a small bowl beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Add the brown sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice; beat well. Stir inthe dates and applesauce. Set aside. For the whipped cream, in small chilled mixing bowl beat the whipping cream, 2 teaspoons sugar and 1/2 teaspoon orange peel with an electric mixer on medium speed just until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
6. To assemble torte, split each cake layer in half horizontally. Place bottom of one split layer on a serving plate. Spread with about 2/3 cup of the Apple-Date Filling. Repeat with remaining cake layers and filling, ending with top cake layer. Spoon Sweetened Whipped Cream on top layer. Serve immediately or cover and chill up to 4 hours. Makes 16 servings. .

Make-ahead tip: Wrap baked cake layers for freezing and freeze up to 3 months ahead. Thaw before using. Prepare Apple-Date Filling, cover, and chill up to 2 days ahead.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Hangover without the Hang.

Does that make any sense at all? Doubtful, I am sure, but I am not likely to make any sense today.

I really hate to go on and on about these effing migraines, or rather this effing migraine, but I am really to the point of insanity. It seems to lull slightly, I try to explain it to Mr. Farmer like this; on a scale of 1-100 I am always at least hovering around 30-40 … for the last 5-6 weeks I am maintaining at 65-75 and then every once in a while I hit 110. Last night was a 110.

I know that these are just random grumblings and I apologize. I started this blog with the intention of finding my inner wit, to discover my true ability to write – if I have any – to talk about my passions; family, food, Faith … instead I feel like I am just stuck in this whiney place and it really agitates me. I had plans and this on going migraine wasn’t part of it.

Ok, there you go … I hope I haven’t put you off at all.

So, the title … yea, well that is what I feel like after a 110 night – like I was out all night boozin’ it up and havin’ a good ole time. Except, of course, I wasn’t … instead I just get that hungover feeling. Blech!

Monday questions:
1) Why, oh why, do some people insist on sending out those 1,001 daily forwarded, please forward or something bad/good/special/life changing will or will not happen?
Do you get emails from certain people and instantly delete them because you know it is just going to be one more of those completely idiotic emails?
I have people that I get them from that I want to immediately delete, but I don’t because I am always afraid that this will be the one email that actually contains important information and I might miss it.
2) Did y’all notice that straight-legged jeans are popular again? What about leggings and leg warmers, ankle boots or knee-high boots, big ole belts, black tights … and so much more… I did not look good in those things in the 80’s and baby I am not going to look good in them now! Grrr…
3) Ok, so what is up with the “Your new version of Blogger is ready!”? Is anyone using it? Should I be using it? Will it really make my life easier/better/more fulfilled? Just wondering.
4) Any feelings about the Jude Law and Sienna Miller Break Up? Yea, me neither.
5) Nicole and Keith reuniting in rehab ? Please tell my why this is our business?
6) Have you checked out these blogs yet?
pretty* in the city
Orchestrated Happenstance
reality rant
Waiting for My Real Life to Begin
T's World
If you haven't, you should. They are all great ... and I will be adding more tomorrow ... so, don't feel left out :)


Happy hangover Monday ... lol!!!
Frannie


The truest characters of ignorance are vanity, and pride and arrogance. - Samuel Butler

It is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.
1 Peter 2:15-16

Sunday Confessional

Ok, well I am not Catholic, but sometimes I wonder what it would be like to actually ‘give’ my confession .. do you give it, make it – or what?

I can picture myself saying, quietly, “forgive me Father, for it has been … umm, Father, excuse me but what do I say if I have never actually confessed my sins, I mean I am a Christian and all and I did ask Jesus to forgive my sins … but confession of the actual sins, yea well umm no I don’t think I have actually ever said those … um you know … out loud or anything …”

Right, well my confession; it isn’t nearly as exciting as some of the stories I read when I googled “Forgive me Father, for it has been”. I might just be boring, at least currently. If I had to go back and lay it all on the line … well I would be blushing and I just don’t think I could get through it all.

Ok, yes, I remember ... the confession. Geez now I have made such a big deal about it I feel like I should spice it up a bit … but I won’t.

Every Sunday I am eager to get home from Church so that I can read the most recent installment on the PostSecret site. Sometimes I sit in church and wonder what new secrets will appear. Will I recognize any of the handwriting? Will someone else tell my secret? Which ones will be true?

I will stop short of saying it is an addiction, but I do look forward to it and I do miss it during the week.

Foe a while there was a site called secrets, it was similar to PostSecret in that people could anonymously post their secrets. I am sure that the intent was good and that some people really felt a release from it, but mostly I think it turned into a raunchy bitching spot.

I read it for a few weeks, off and on, and started to get a little put off by the contents. The next time I went to read it, I got an error message and I googled it and I saw messages all over asking “What happened to ….” – so who knows.

It could have been interesting, I am not sure if I would be more willing to send a secret via the internet or via the mail. Both certainly have privacy drawbacks. I am not enough of a computer person to know if my post could be tracked, but I am betting it could. And I am sure that a postcard could fairly easily be tracked as well …

Either way, I haven’t sent or posted anything … not that I don’t have any secrets, just that I don’t really know how to put any of them into words.

At one time, I thought that a blog might be a good place to make ones confessions. I quickly learned that this isn't exactly a safe forum either.

Maybe the best place is the confessional, with the Father who can dole out your penance and offer up absolution. This might be the one place that is still protected, although I am not sure about the ‘rules’ of Catholicism … I thought it was a little like The Attorney-Client Privilege .. but I don’t know much about that either.

What about you? How do you handle your confessions? I am curious .. there are things in my head that torment me somewhat .. that I just need to get out - I am not an axe murderer or anything, but just demons from the past that can keep me awake at night.

~ Most Humbly,
Frannie

The present is what slips by us while we're pondering the past and worrying about the future.- Ziggy, cartoon foible

This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. -John 15:12-13

Saturday Sunshine

It is a glorious day today. The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. But don’t let that fool ya … it is cold out – darned cold.

We are having a church clean up party today - woohoo! So, I am going wrap my gals up in their warmest duds and head on out to spit shine the ole church.

Our church does this once a year, why they pick November, I just don’t know. Perhaps it is to signify Thanksgiving, or maybe it is in preparation for our Annual Christmas Program; our program is fairly popular and it’s imperative to make the ‘right’ first impression

I am sure that there are good reasons … I just wish that it wasn’t during such a cold time, however I am sure that if it was in the summer, we would all be wishing it wasn’t during such a warm time … always wanting something different … Frannie

With Every Breath

With every breath I take today,
I vow to be awake;

And every step I take,
I vow to take with a grateful heart--

So I may see with eyes of love
into the hearts of all I meet,

To ease their burden when I can
And touch them with a smile of peace.

Blue Iris Sangha

I may have the body of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king.
-Queen Elizabeth I

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Making Bread Crumbs
Need to make bread crumbs? Use frozen bread because you can grate the frozen bread into crumbly pieces more easily than using fresh bread.

Substitute for Sour Cream
If you've run out of sour cream or cream cheese, you can put cottage cheese in a blender and process until it's smooth to use in dips or spreads. You also can thin it with a bit of yogurt.


Broiled Roquefort Steaks

INGREDIENTS:

4 ounces Roquefort (or a Bleu) cheese, crumbled
6 Tablespoons butter, softened
Dash or two of Worcestershire sauce
4 (8-ounce) strip steaks or fillets, 1/2 to 3/4–inch thick
and at room temperature
Pepper to taste
4 slices rye bread, toasted and lightly buttered
(butter optional)

TO PREPARE:

1. Place cheese in a small bowl. Add 4 Tablespoons butter
and Worcestershire sauce and mix with wooded spoon
until smooth.
2. Wipe steaks dry and sprinkle with pepper. (The
Roquefort topping will provide enough salt.) Saute
steaks over high heat 2 – 3 minutes on each side in
remaining butter. Remove pan from heat.
3. Spoon Roquefort mixture over steaks, and put under
broiler for a few seconds, until mixture melts.
4. Toast rye bread and butter lightly. Arrange steaks on
top of toast and serve at once.


Source: California Sizzles


~ Peace be with you my friends ...
Frannie

I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.
-Henry Ward Beecher

God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, 'Be a mighty downpour.'
Job 37:5-6

Thanksgiving Menu II

Now ... fast forward 100 years.

You know what they say … the more things change the more they stay the same. True? Perhaps there is truth to that; at least in the Farmer household.

The menu will still be diverse. She (being Frannie) will work hard, cooking for the brood. They have expectations, promises have been made all year; it's up to me to keep them, regardless of the challenges ...

The men will still retire … to the den, to watch football and maybe have a beer or two, if they have room. The kids will still nap on any available surface … preferably a cozy chair or sofa.

And the women… yes, we will still gather – comparing our successes and failures; regarding this Thanksgiving and so much more. We will attempt to comfort and reassure one another, as out challenges this year have been many.

On our menu, there will be many similarities; it will be beautiful, but simple - not so much. It will be elegant ... I wouldn't have it any other way.

The island in the kitchen will be filled with an array of hors d'oeuvres and starters;
Vegetables, pickles and olives of every color and size
Baked Brie stuffed with mushrooms and goat cheese
Stilton and Hazelnut spread with garlic toasted rounds
Nuts, crackers, fruit, assorted chips for the kids (ok, for the men…)
and of course the always necessary Hidden Valley Ranch Dip.

We’ll start the meal with
Calvados-Laced Squash Soup with Cinnamon and Bay Leaves
Wilted Spinach Salad with Dried Cranberries, Pecans and Feta Cheese

Our main course will consist of
Roast Turkey with Herb Butter and Caramelized-Onion Gravy
Wild rice, Apple, and Dried-Cranberry Stuffing
Cornbread Stuffing – because you have to have two types of stuffing in our house …
Slightly Lumpy Mashed Potaotes
Maple-Glazed Baby Carrots
Green Beans with Lemon & Pine Nuts
Cranberry Apple Relish
Honeyed Chestnut Corn Bread
Drop Biscuits

For dessert, we will feast on pies o’plenty …
Dutch Apple Pie, Maple Pumpkin Pie, Sour Cherry Pie
Of course we’ll have other goodies:
Maple Crème Flan with Maple-Glazed Pears
Cranberry Bread Pudding

A little chocolate to round out the day "Death by Chocolate" Truffle Tart W/Espresso Sauce ...
and then maybe (hours later?) a good coffee .. a nice tea or a lovely dessert wine.

Yes, we do things big at the Farmer house - really I wouldn't have it any other way.

Blessings my friends,
Frannie

With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD : "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever." And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Ezra 3:11

Thanksgiving Menu

Then .. 1906

The menu was diverse. She worked hard, cooking for the clan. They had expectations, promises had been made all year; it was up to her to keep them, regardless of the challenges she was facing.

The menu was beautiful. Simple in so many ways, but elegant none the less, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Starting out with Oyster Soup with Crisp Crackers
Of course there would be Celery and Salted Almonds
The dinner table adorned with Roast Stuffed Turkey
Accompanied with; Giblet Gravy, Cranberry Jelly, Mashed Potatoes, Onions in Cream, Fresh Turnips and Chicken Pie.
Papa had requested Thanksgiving Pudding and Sterling Sauce. His favorites.
For the neighbor she added Mince, Apple and Squash Pie's with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and her special Fancy Cakes.
The day wouldn't be complete without the Fruit, Nuts and Bonbons.
Still she would serve Crackers and Cheese with her almost famous After-Dinner Coffee's.

The men would retire with their Brandy and Cigars. The children would nap on any available surface. The women would gather, as they always did … talking about the day, comparing failed recipes, preparing each other for the hard winter to come – always a comfort to one another, they could count on each other. This they knew.

Yes, the day was always a success; the work well worth it.

She would be fifty in the spring, she had taught many to do what she did, just as Mary had taught her. She had so much more to do, she knew this, lives to impact. But there was an ache in her bones, a chill that never seemed to diminish.

So much to do … yes, she would make it to fifty. It was required of her.

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Too much Oatmeal?
I always over estimate the amount of oatmeal my children will eat in the morning ...
If that sounds like you - try these things with your left overs:

Add to your meatloaf recipe instead of bread crumbs.
Make Oatmeal Sourdough Bread or Leftover Oatmeal Pancakes
Add to muffin mix, cookie or almost any batter.


Pantry Corn Bread

INGREDIENTS:

1 (9-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 egg, beaten

TO PREPARE:

Prepare the cake batter using package directions, being careful to beat air into the mixture. Combine the cornmeal, flour, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl and mix well. Stir in the milk, butter and egg. Fold the cornmeal mixture into the cake batter.

Spoon the batter into 2 greased 8-inch round baking pans or a 9x13-inch baking pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean and the top is light brown.

Source: Cooking by the Boot Straps

It was great fun!

Really, truly great fun.

However, I am so exhausted today ... physically and emotionally ... that I can hardly keep my eyes open - or my body movin' for that matter.

I am exhausted from lack of sleep, walking many miles to get to and fro, climbing stairs that seems to go on forever, and sleeping on a bed that absolutely MUST have had rocks in it! Certainly, I am exhausted from all of that.

But it is the other exhaustion that is weighing me down today.

The exhaustion of having laughed too much, cried too much, pondered my life too much, bonding more than I thought I could - more than maybe I was ready for.

Now I know that those are good reasons to be exhausted, I do ... but they are also making me a little melancholy today.

Maybe it is because I revealed more about myself, to people that I know but don't (didn't) know, than I had intended - EVER.

Maybe it is because I listened, really listened, to the speakers and took to heart their words - God's words - and the implications of the words on my life.

Maybe it is because it isn't often that I feel accepted, truly accepted, for who I am at this very moment.

Maybe it is because, as I looked around the giant room, at thousands of women – each of us different and unique and yet each of us with something in common … I digress … as I looked around that room I knew that I needed to do something … something different, bigger, better – something on purpose.

Maybe it is because, when I looked around the room, when I heard these women speaking, when I paid attention to the issues of others, I realized (of course) that my problems are just not as big as the seem … that is kind of a let down, in a strange mind altering way.

Or maybe it is because it is all just a little too anticlimactic. Like Thanksgiving. You plan and arrange and tweak and plan some more. You spend hours on the minutest details, revel in days of anticipation and then it is all over … done … finished, and you are forced to wait an entire year to repeat it all.

But really, could you handle it more than once a year. Probably not, but it sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Frannie's Fixin's & Cookin' Tips

Let's talk NUTS

If your recipe calls for ground nuts, be sure you don't overprocess them - if ya do the nut oils will be released, and you will certainly end up with nut butter.

Instead, to get your nuts evenly ground, use the following rule of thumb:
Dont use more than 2 cups of nuts at a time and be sure you ground in 3-second intervals, check the texture as you ground, until your mixture is finely powdered.
For particularly oily nuts like pecans or cashews, add a little bit of flour or bread crumbs to absorb excess oil.


Frannie's Famouse Chocolate Fudge

2 tablespoons butter
4 cups granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
4 squares GOOD dark chocolate
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt butter in a pan, add sugar, cream and chocolate, stir gently until chocolate melts. Boil without stirring to 238 degrees F or until mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Remove from heat, let stand until cool and add flavoring. Beat with a wooden spoon. Pour 3/4-inch thick into a buttered pan and mark in squares.

Off to the City ...

So did I mention that I was a little bit jealous about all of the super power bloggin' ladies gettin' together .. yeah, I still am.

However, I am off for a miniature ladies weekend myself. I am attending a Christian Women's retreat with a number of ladies from my church. We leave in 2 hours - URGH! I have so, so, so much to do before then! But once I am on the road, it is goin' to be great!

We will return late tomorrow night, but I won't likely post until Sunday - because I hope that I have sooo much fun that I 1) am exhausted 2) lose the migraine 3) forget that I am spending an ENTIRE night away from Mr. Farmer and the brood. I can not recall the last time I did such a thing!!!!

Blessing to one and all ...

Frannie


Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.
-Annette Funicello

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
Romans 13:1

My Heritage & My Jealousy.

Ok, so I am a new(ish) blogger; at least with the blogs that I have been reading most recently. I have been pretty much sticking to the Mommy Blogs, Christian Blogs ... well truthfully I have been kind of going down the lists of other people's favorite bloggers and checkin' 'em out for myself.

Is that a bad thing?

I am just unsure of the blogger etiquette. I feel a little like a stalker when I just sit back and read the thoughts of these amazing women (and a few good men) – not saying anything but still forming opinions about them, anticipating their next post so I can learn more about their highly entertaining families. I spend a certain amount of time feeling a little less than adequate, as I am certain that my brood does not provide nearly the same level of entertainment.

Or perhaps it is the author? I am just not as witty, as quick as these Blogging women. I try, really I do … but it never sounds quite as funny when I put into words the trials and tribulations of my day.

I digress … the purpose of this post was supposed to be more about a specific group of women than Frannie here.

There are a handful of Blogging gals that got together last weekend in Texas – Dallas Fort Worth to be exact … now I am not from that side of the mountains per se, but I think I would risk the trek to hang out with these gals.

I have been readin’ Kelsey over at HolyMama! for quite some time. Her tag line: ‘True confessions from the everyday life of a sorta shallow Christian mom.’ Now she may call herself shallow, but I think she is one of the most down to earth gals I have stalked lurked around.

Through her I came to read, religiously; Jeana at Days to Come, Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer and Chilihead at Don't Try This At Home – just to name a few.

Each of these women are incredibly bright, thoughtful and inspiring to me. I am sure that sounds corny, but really when I am feeling down I can go to anyone of these blogs and get a pick-me-up. When I need some wisdom, they always seem to be on the same page as I am.

I have no idea how old any of these women are, I think most must be close to my age … and we certainly have a common ground with our children and spouses. None of them really sugar coat things, they all seem to be pretty real about the daily challenges of motherhood, marriage and life. I appreciate that.

I guess that’s why I am more than a little jealous that they all got to get together and commiserate. We all need that, don’t we?

I am, however, glad that they did because I got to read each of their blogs to discover a new side of the people that I already find so fascinating. I also got to ‘meet’ a few people I hadn’t yet met.
I am enjoying this blogging world.

Ok, so my heritage … I saw this over at Chilihead's – not that I haven’t heard or seen myHeritage.com before … I have, I just haven’t had the courage to actually see who I might resemble. But hey, if Chilihead could do it … I thought I would give it a try.

So, I took my very own picture … I haven’t allowed anyone to photograph me in eon’s – hey 4 babies and a serious weight issue will do that to a gal – but since December of last year I have managed to lose almost 60 pounds – slow but sure. I felt like I could maybe put my face up there and not come back as they heavy Kirstie Alley, Roseanne or God forbid, maybe Elvis.

Now, I don’t know who Patricia Velasquez, Fiona Xie or Melinda Clarke are … but hey, they are all gorgeous, so I am not complaining – not that I even remotely resemble them – I don’t .. but it is a little flattering. And who wouldn’t want to be closely associated with Gina Lollobrigida or Liv Tyler? But Hilary Duff, come on … I am almost (almost!) old enough to be her mom!

Of all of them, I think that I most closely resemble Suzanne Vega … Now, I don’t know much about her, so I am off to stalk read more about her.

Yours,
Frannie

Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.
-John Milton

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 2:9

The bad day.

It started with the fall down the stairs.

This much I know …
The throbbing in my head significantly increased after the tumble. If you have ever had a migraine, you know that every little think can adversely affect you … lights, noise, smells, crying, laughing, reading, cold, heat or even breathing.

So, the day was going to be brutal no matter what, because as I mentioned (too often I am sure) I have had said migraine for well over two weeks – closer to a month.

The brutality of the day was compounded by the fact that I had to drive approximately 300 miles during the day. I knew that wasn’t going to be easy; since I was driving I couldn’t really take any migraine medication per se, I had to settle for Advil Migraine liquid-filled capsules, which sometime help but never ‘cure’ the actual migraine.

I hit the road mid afternoon; one kid in tow – Sweetie Pie was attending a ‘thing’ that evening and I was her chauffer. I would also be meeting up for a brief visit with a person who shall not be named but causes me a lot of heartache.

I made it to my destination, mostly intact but head throbbing with slightly more vigor and a nagging dizzy sensation.

I dropped off Sweetie pie and went to meet with pwsnbn. We had chosen an open, mutually comfortable restaurant. Of course I was in the big city now and the lights, action, and smells were in abundance. I tried to maintain my balance and perception; fending of sensory overload.

If you haven’t ever suffered from a ‘true’ migraine, all of this might sound a little dramatic to you. Let me assure you a full on migraine is dramatic. I haven’t ever taken any hardcore drugs, but from what I understand the aura that one can have during a migraine can be similar to tripping on acid or lsd.

I was just trying to get through the meeting with out vomiting in front of pwsnbn. I managed that; barely.

Upon leaving the restaurant; after picking at the most generic non-smelly sandwich I could find on the menu; I hit the highway headed for home. It was dark.

That’s when the real trouble started. Flashing lights, zigzag patterns, confusion, numbness in my fingers – objects appearing far away and then suddenly too close for comfort. Weird stuff, even for this ‘seasoned’ migraine sufferer. It was like a segment of Alice in Wonderland. Trippy!

And of course, I was driving. Smart!

Of course not … smart that is. I pulled over at some point … where I tossed my cookies in front of many strangers. Not a pretty picture. I was beyond caring though.

I got back on the road. Yep, that’s me – eye on the ball … I needed to get home. The ‘ball’ as it were, was my big king sized bed.

I made it for about another 45 minutes and had to stop again. Repeat former cookie tossing. By this time it was late and I have no doubt that people thought I was more than a little wasted.

I thought I should probably call Mr. Farmer … knowing that there was little he could do … but you know, misery loves company – right?

Mr. Farmer was adequately freaked out. Stuck at home with the remainder of the brood and trying to figure out how to pick up Frannie with out leaving the big rig on the side of the road.

Let me tell you, if I needed any reassurance that Frannie was the family organizer (no matter how bad I am at it), this situation was a clear indicator or Mr. Farmer inability to thrive in a crisis. While he asked me what he should do, I continued to alternate between crying, vomiting and hyperventilating.

Can you imagine what the people around me were thinking? Oh my goodness, I can almost laugh today – but not quite.

So, since Mr. Farmer was no help ... I once again hit the road. Only an hour to go. I could make it – eye on the ball!

I made it. Eventually. More than a few stops, surprisingly I was not stopped by the local patrol. I can’t believe it really. In hind site it was quite foolish. But at the time, I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave the big rig on the side of the road. I couldn’t coherently figure out who to call so late on a weekend night.

Now, of course, I have a list – posted on the fridge for Mr. Farmer. The ‘who to call if Frannie loses it’ list. Nice huh?

BTW … I still have the migraine. Thus, the lack of posts.