Cream of Mushroom Soup

I just made the best soup. I found the recipe on Chronicles of a Country Girl's blog and went from there. I'm not a big cream of mushroom soup fan unless it's in a casserole but I've changed my mind now.


Go check out her recipe. The only thing I did different was used a package of Knorr vegetable soup mix as I couldn't find the cubes.
And I think next time I'll try and cut back on the butter.

This only took a few minutes to make but tasted like you took all the time in the world.
Give it a try!

Winter is good for one thing..

Sunsets! There isn't much that beats a winter sunset. There is just something about the contrast between the white ground and the colors of a sunset, isn't there?




I'm baaaaccckkkk!

It feels like I have been away from blogging for an eternity. Between the holidays, a two week mission trip to New Orleans(check out the trip blog) and the startup of our campus Spring semester time has been at an incredible premium in the last month. I'm hoping it's now settling down to a dull roar. Time to hole up in the house in front of the corn burner and relax a little.

While at the doctor today (for a sinus infection I seem to have brought home from New Orleans), I mentioned to him a concern I have of the forgetfulness and inability to focus I've experienced lately.

After discussion about what has been going on in my life recently. His very eloquent $80 answer was "stop trying to juggle so many balls at once." How does one start dropping those balls out of the sequence? I've tried before somewhat sucessfully but then it seems I go back and pick them up again. Kind of like giving my concerns and worries to God...I lay them at His feet and then go grab them back again!
Does anyone else have trouble with this? What's your solution? What have you to backed away from recently?

Here's to the rest of the winter and dropping some of those balls! I'm really going to do it this time, really I am. Well, at least for a while.

Who are you? I'm a Grace!

Try this out - some of it was right on while a few of the statements are way off, but still fun to see the results. It's a quick quiz with only two questions.

My results for "Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn?" Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Grace!

I am a Grace -- "I need to understand the world."

Graces have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be independent, not clingy


• * Speak in a straightforward and brief manner


• * I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts


• * Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable


• * Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity


• * If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place


• * don't come on like a bulldozer


• * Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy

What I Like About Being a Grace
* standing back and viewing life objectively
* coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
* my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
* not being caught up in material possessions and status
* being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Grace

• * being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world


• * feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all


• * being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be


• * watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Graces as Children Often

• * spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on


• * have a few special friends rather than many


• * are very bright and curious and do well in school


• * have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers


• * watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information


• * assume a poker face in order not to look afraid


• * are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict


• * feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Graces as Parents

• * are often kind, perceptive, and devoted


• * are sometimes authoritarian and demanding


• * may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate


• * may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy