...jane and barbara...

Remember this?

Although Jane and I are still in the process of becoming well acquainted, I was contacted by Barbara, who very well may be Jane's best friend.

Barbara sent me an email asking me if I would be willing to make a copy of a cookie recipe for her. Well duh, of course I would! As a cookie lover myself, saying no wasn't an option. As we started emailing, it became clear to me how sentimental and important this recipe was to her and her family.

Although she grew up eating Jane Christopher cuisine, there was one particular recipe that she was ready to have back in her possession. Section 7, Oatmeal Cookie Mix Cookies.

This recipe is a family favorite. Barbara's mother, Edith, used to make cookies every Thursday for Barbara and her three siblings, (LOVE that!!), and it was a good day when these cookies filled the jar.

Edith originally purchased the box in the 1950's at a Weingarten's grocery store in Bayton, TX. Every week, Weingarten's would sell another section of the recipe's for the box, and Jane Christopher also published a recipe weekly in the Houston Post.

Somewhere along the road, oatmeal cookie mix cookies went missing...and they've been looking for it ever since! The Houston Post is no longer in print, and google is pretty sparse in Jane Christopher hits. (In fact, my blog is the top hit for the recipe file...) What I LOVE, is that Barbara's mom is the one who found my blog and post on Jane Christopher. Way to go Edith! :)

From left: Dad (Jack), Barbara, Martha (sister), Lynn (sister), and Mark (brother).

Mom (Edith) in front.

This is what a well used recipe file SHOULD look like! :)

It turns out, the Jane Christopher Recipe File is something of a classic, even holding a spot in the Americana section of the Library of Congress. Boo Yah!

It was such a pleasure emailing with Barbara, and I'm so glad I was able to have a small part in reuniting her with her favorite cookie recipe! And lest you readers think these cookies are just going to be made for her family, you are wrong! The first thing Barbara said to me was "I work for a chemical company in Houston (sit at a computer processing railcars-no outdoor work!) and I can't wait to make these for the always hungry railcar loaders who work very hard all day in the south Texas heat and humidity." Have fun re-filling that cookie jar Barbara!

Here's to happy tummies!

p.s. if anyone else decides to make these cookies, let me know how they are!! They are in my kitchen's immediate future for sure!

...malin marie king...

A very happy birthday to the newest member of the family...

Malin Marie King!

07/08/11

5 lbs, 6 oz.

How perfect is she?!

Her gender was a surprise to her momma and daddy, so we are all off to buy lots of incredibly girly things for Malin.

Tim and I can't wait to see her in August! Stonybrook, NY...here we come!

...flags...

Brooke Fraser is one of my all-time favorite musicians.

She has the most incredibly clear voice, and a god-given talent for writing beautiful music. She has written some great contemporary worship songs with Hillsong Church (one of the BEST: Desert Song), but she has equally awesome solo albums.

Her latest CD, Flags, is so great. I'm pretty obsessed with the following song.

I could listen to that on repeat for a long time. (In fact I have been).

If you have the time, read through the lyrics (below). They're incredible. Such a blessing to have someone using their talent for the glory of God!

Come, tell me your trouble

I'm not your answer

But I'm a listening ear

Reality has left you reeling

All facts and no feeling

No faith and all fear

I don't know why a good man will fall

While a wicked one stands

And our lives blow about

Like flags on the land

Who's at fault is not important

Good intentions lie dormant

And we're all to blame

While apathy acts like an ally

My enemy and I are one and the same

I don't know why the innocents fall

While the monsters still stand

And our lives blow about

Like flags on the land

I don't know why our words are so proud

Yet their promise soothing

And our lives blow about

Like flags in the wind

Oh oh oh oh

You who mourn will be comforted

You who hunger will hunger no more

All the last shall be first

Of this I am sure

You who weep now will laugh again

All you lonely be lonely no more

Yes, the last will be first

Of this I'm sure

I don't know why the innocents fall

While the monsters stand

I don't know why the little ones thirst

But I know the last shall be first

I know the last shall be first

I know the last shall be first

...when did this happen?...

Upon facebook stalking my own flesh and blood (aka my brother), I stumbled across his high-school senior photos.

One word.

Stud.

He's such a handsome guy! I'm a lucky girl to have such an awesome little bro, who is not only a looker, but has a matching personality.

He's one of the funniest people I know. Hilarious, in fact. Anyone who disagrees with me can BRING IT, because I'll defend him to the grave. THE GRAVE!

Oh, and did I mention he's on a D-1 golf scholarship to Oral Roberts University.

Yeah. D-1.

Let's talk about it.

...visitations...

I, as a Chicagoan, have hosted my first guest in our apartment.

We pulled out all the stops. Gourmet food. Delightful breakfasts. The best accommodations and sleeping conditions. Everything was simply perfect.

Who was the visitor? None other than the great Abigail Davis.

No, she is not, nor will ever be a politicians wife, even though I still claim her name sounds very regal.

And no, accommodations were anything but perfect. Even though I had the best intentions of testing our air mattress before Abbey arrived, somehow it just didn't happen. As a result, the plushy air mattress I had promised her ended up being more like a paper thin layer of padding against the hard-wood floor.

Abbey ended up sleeping on a "pallet," (her words, not mine).

The pallet was a camping pad.

She's a good sport.

After the failure of her sleeping situation, I tried to woo her affections with food.

Making her latte's in the morning...

And the best of my Italian cooking work at night...

And of course, the finest wines.

That's just how we roll.

...oprah...

Oprah and I go way back.

Way back to the time when I tried to go trick-or-treating at her Montecito mansion in California, and was promptly turned away by her gate security.

That's how far back we go.

Obviously Oprah and I have a bond, so I thought it only fitting to try and go to a filming of her show. Besides moving to Chicago for my husband's schooling, a chance to see Oprah was a close second in terms of reasons to move.

Not really....

Actually I can count the number of times I've watched the show on one hand. HOWEVER, I have heard tale of her "favorite things" episodes--because who hasn't--and I think I'd really like to get a bunch of free stuff from O herself. So I've been visiting her website daily to see if the reservation window will open and give me a chance to get my name in the lottery for seeing a show.

BOOM.

I knew Wednesdays could be good for something! I officially have my name in the lottery for seeing an Oprah show. Apparently I'll know in 48 hours if I'm in or not...so I'm taking all the support I can get.

Prayers.

Positive thinking.

Incense burning.

Sun salutations.

Finger crossing.

...and obvioulsy...

Tattooing.

I might go there. I really like free stuff!

Hang on Dolly-Lou!!!

Last night, a major breakthrough took place.

Location: Castle Rock

Sub-location: Rockyard Brewery

Event: Cousin get-together

Attendee's: Laura, Danny, David, Andrea, Abbey, Josh, Stephen, Sarah, Tim, Annie, Brandon

Result: Successful

Because Tim and I are moving to the windy city, we wanted to have an "older cousin" hang out sesh one last time. We're pretty lucky to have almost everyone in the same state...so we really had no excuse for not seeing each other.

This particular event was a breakthrough on several fronts. One: No "adult" supervision--and by adult supervision I mean no parents, aunts, uncles, or wayward guests that seem to appear out of thin air. Two: Location change. Our first meeting as a group, EVER, that hasn't been at a family members home. (barring the barrage of weddings that have been happening the past couple of years) Three: Enlightenment. Now that the ice has been broken, we cousins just might do this again sometime.

Thanks so much to everyone for coming! It meant a lot to Tim and I, and we really had a great time. Come visit in Chicago!

Look how happy we are!

Oh and P.S. cousins...I was serious about the camping trip. Let's make it happen.

SHNOW!

One of the great things about Colorado is the fact that it snows. Or shnows, as I like to call it.

Sometimes it's predicted. Often it's not.

Other than the fact that it took me 45 minutes to drive 3.5 miles last night due to icy conditions, and getting the beginning stages of frostbite while trying to scrape the ice off off my car (Blanche) so I could see out the windows, there's NOTHING I don't like about shnow.

Ignore the naked trees. A pox upon the Pine Beetle!

Jacob Sheets

Jake Sheets LOVES the snow!

the little things

Yesterday my husband left on a jet plane, heading East to thriving Langeloth, Pennsylvania. Before last week, I had never even heard of this city. Obviously I did some googling. Wikipedia has some GREAT information on this American treasure. Some choice lines include,

"Langeloth has three businesses; Valina's Market, All American, and the Metallurgical Company."

"Langeloth is home to the regionally renowned Langeloth Softball League. Games are played at the Gus Barbush Memorial Park, where hundreds of locals gather to drink beer outside the outfield fence. The league slogan is, "We play fastpitch.""

Is anyone jealous that Timmers gets to spend five whole days here?! I digress.

Being all alone on a lazy Sunday afternoon, I went on a quest for a pleasant atmosphere and warm drink. I found both about two blocks away from our little apartment. The Tattered Cover Book Store, a Denver classic. Walking into the Tattered Cover is like walking into a best friend's house; a best friend who has a wonderful and extensive book collection. They have unique wooden desks, tables, and chairs strewn throughout the whole store; and not a two of them alike. LOVE IT.

I found my place among the furniture and booky goodness, and settled in with the best chai I have ever had in my entire life. I did some research and found out it was made by a fresh-pressed ginger, microbrew chai company; Bhakti Chai. Who knew chai could be microbrewed?! "Fresh pressed organic ginger and fiery spices in a brew of antioxidant rich organic fair trade black tea." Their words, not mine. The chai had just the right amount of spicy, kicking my taste buddies into gear. Maddie, you might want to order some of this goodness from the website. (Either that, or wait all the way until your half-birthday.)

I went to the store with really no intentions in mind other than to simply bask in company of literature. However, I happened to start listening to the most recent Sara Bareilles CD. I have never been a HUGE fan of hers; but after going to her concert a few months ago I've started listening to her music with new ears. She has a beautiful voice. Give a listen to these songs; you might just fall in love with them like I did.

Basket Case

Breathe Again

I could sit for hours and hours listening to music, which is a lot to say for someone with (self-diagnosed) ADD. I left the Tattered Cover after having done nothing but listen to Sara (many songs on repeat...and then repeat again). It was a lovely afternoon.