Fall

For a video this month, I decided to do another series of pictures (I hope you don't think that's cheating!).  Our neighbor across the street has a beautiful tree that was just starting to turn colors for Fall.  I thought it would be fun to take a picture of the tree each day and then watch the progression.  Of course, this is a short video because there are only about 25 pictures, but I still think it's cool.  For the last three years, I've missed seeing the seasons change so this video was especially fun for me.  I hope you enjoy it too!

As always, click on the "HD" letters to watch the video on Vimeo's website with better quality.

I Peter 3:15

Week 44 - I Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,

Joshua 24:15

Week 43 - Joshua 24:15
But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Pizza Crust

The recipe this month is one I use often.  Well, I used to use it weekly...then I stopped...now I started again.  Since I have more time now, I've re-started my tradition of making pizza once a week.  We now have home-made pizza every Friday.  So, I thought I'd share my pizza crust recipe, which I got from my sister (who got it from Allrecipes.com).  It does require a bread machine, but I'm sure you could make it without the machine - it would just be more work.  If you use the bread machine, it's easy and delicious...enjoy!

The ingredients...pretty standard.

Add water, oil, salt, and sugar to bread machine then cover with flour and sprinkle with garlic.

Sprinkle on yeast and herbs.

Let your bread machine work it's magic!

Roll out dough and place on lightly greased pizza pan.

Top with your favorite pizza toppings 

(for this one we used pesto, garlic chicken, and red onions).

Bake for 12-15 minutes at 475 degrees.

Slice and enjoy 

(in my case, with a Diet Dr. Pepper!).

Ricardo's Pizza Crust (from Allrecipes.com)

1 cup warm water
3 Tablespoons olive oil
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour (I always add more flour as needed)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (I usually use a little more...we like garlic)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

Directions:
-Combine water, olive oil, sugar, and salt in pan of bread machine.  Add flour, then sprinkle garlic on flour.  Lastly add yeast.
-Turn machine on dough cycle.  As the dough mixes, sprinkle on oregano and basil (I usually just add this when I add the yeast).  Let mix for about 15-30 minutes.  Let the dough rest from 5-30 minutes (the longer it rests, the thicker and more tasty the crust).  Meanwhile, heat oven to 475 degrees.
-Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface.  Spray a large pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Place dough on pan and add your choice of pizza toppings.
-Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes.

Dirty Dishes - I forgot to take a picture!

But it was just the bread machine pan, the pizza pan, and the pizza cutter...not bad!

Pizza Crust 

Taste: 5 out of 5

Dirty Dishes: 5 out of 5

Time/Effort: 3 out of 5

TOTAL: 13 out of 15

II Timothy 2:22

Week 42 - II Timothy 2:22
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

October 13 - A Day In My Life

This weekend, our city had a festival to celebrate the re-opening of the bridge in downtown Oregon City (the bridge has been closed for renovations for over a year).  As part of the festival, they had a Geo-cache challenge.  Bill and I decided to participate and we had to look for clues at specific coordinates and then turn in our answers.  It was a fun day and we learned a little about Oregon history while we discovered beautiful parks that we never knew existed!

Sleeping in - that's what you do on the weekend!

A bowl of cereal for breakfast...so many choices.

Bill and Bacon playing before our adventure begins.

We bid my parents farewell as they left for the weekend.

Looking for Geo-caching clues.  Oregon City is really beautiful.

Time check.

Bill working hard to find more clues.

We discovered a famous meteorite replica along the way.

Bill rode the famous Oregon City Elevator for the first time.

We turned in our answers for a Geo-cache Challenge Coin.  

We were very proud of ourselves!

Then we strolled on the newly re-opened bridge.

We went to Shari's for dinner and I had my usual Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshake...so yummy!

Then we headed back to the bridge to enjoy the fireworks over the water.

Oooohhhhh!!!!!

Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!

After a day full of activity, we relaxed with an episode of House Hunters.

And now it's time for bed...see you next time!

I Corinthians 13:4-7

Week 41 - I Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

5 Perks of Unemployed Life

Now that I've quit my job, I'm enjoying the time off.  Everyone told me I would get bored without a job, and I probably will, but for now it's wonderful!  I thought I'd share with you a few things that make it great.

5 Perks of Unemployed Life
1. Sleeping In.  I love to sleep!  I could sleep all day, most days!  I am NOT a morning person so getting up for work was always hard.  Sleeping in each morning (or just knowing that I CAN sleep in) makes me happier than you might think.  My favorite moment each morning is when Bill gets up and goes to work and I roll over and go back to sleep!

2. Cleaning The House.  OK, so I don't really love this, but I love that I have the time to do it.  I have the time to spread my chores out during the week and get everything done without spending ALL my time on housework.  Its rewarding to have one or two chores each day and get them done!

3. Grocery Shopping.  I love grocery shopping.  It's an event I always look forward to.  Now that I'm home all day, I can carefully plan the menu and make detailed shopping lists.  Then, I get to spend lots of time shopping and comparing prices and using coupons and getting the best deals.  I love it!

4. Volunteering.  OK, I haven't done this one yet.  But, I've looked into different volunteering opportunities and it's exciting.  I'm looking forward to helping with something, I'm just not sure what yet.  But, I love the fact that I have the time to volunteer somewhere!

5. Classes.  I've already started one and I look forward to more.  I am taking a cake decorating class at Michaels.  It is really fun!  I've learned things I didn't know and now I can apply them to future desserts.  I'm also thinking about taking some sort of home improvement class at Home Depot, that should be interesting.  I just love having the freedom to participate.

*I think this blog post was previously posted before it was ready.  Oops, sorry!