The beginning travels into the vegetarian world

This is my first attempt at vegetarian cookies. Mind you they do have butter, but it could easily be margarine to become a vegan recipe. I found it on an eggless website. I used chocolate chips instead also. I have to let you know they are a bit dry, but that's the butter. I think margarine would make them much more moist. They're different, but they worth the adventure. Will I visit the Krispie Kookie realm again? Probably not.

I plan on becoming completely vegetarian this year. It's best for my body. I'm not doing it for ethical reasons. I come from a long line of cattle ranchers. Now, my parents do ranch Irish Dexter Cattle, but they raise them as pets. Seriously! My folks do not sell or kill their cattle. It's costing them a fortune, but my Dad is happy. My Mom loves the calves, and names them all. They raised ducks and chickens as well. All of the chickens have been killed by wildlife, and not my parents. They do eat the eggs though. This is where I make the stand as well. I will not turn from dairy or eggs.

This choice is also for me, not any other reason. I enjoy eggs, and I like cheese. I like a good ice cold glass of chocolate milk as well. So, I will remain an lacto/ovo vegetarian. I have no desire to go vegan. I am happy for those that do it, that is fine for them.

I do not believe that ranchers and farmers are causing global warming. I do believe that if these people are left to keep all of their animals that the methane would be determintal to the earth. So, I support all ranchers and farmers. I have no problem with hunters either. As long as they don't sit up on a blind and shoot deer/other animals like they are fish in a barrel. That annoys the hell out of me. Be more like my Uncle and get down with a bow and arrow and hunt like a real hunter.

Okay, I didn't mean to get on a box about vegetarianism. I'm simply trying to post a decent cookie recipe.

So, here it is:

Krispi Kookies (the way I made them)

Krispie Kookies
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups plain/all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup soft butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 cups rice krispies/puffed rice
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:
Sift together the flour and cinnamon.Set aside.Cream together the butter, sugar and vanilla until fluffy and light. Add dry ingredients with the rice and chocolate chips. Mix well.

Drop by level tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cookies are a pale golden brown.


Try them, you might like them...they're like a sweet crumbly butter cookie.

Lines and Shadows

Lines and Shadows
Originally uploaded by NikonLady

In life I have always loved butterflies. In the last three years I've really been compared to butterflies as well. My growth in my spiritual path and in general.
A very dear friend told me when I left Fort Hood that it was if I came out of my chrysalis and was finally learning how to fly. When I got my assignment in Germany he told me it was time for me to truly stretch my wings and fly free, discover myself and life. I've been doing just that for six months. I'm truly at peace and I'm flying again.
Recently I found out that my assignment was going to be cut a bit shorter than I was led to believe. Instead of taking the same road all the others did. I chose to be positive about it. A co-worker even told me that I was taking quite a positive attitude towards everything. Well, growing up as an Army Brat the one thing that is constant in our lives is Change!
I will live where I'm meant to live as long as I'm meant to live here, then I'll move on to the next place.
Just as a butterfly's life is designated to be for a certain amount of time, so is mine. I'll cling to the mesh for as long as I'm meant to. Then, I'll let go and float.

Blessed be...

Discovering

Oh, joy and oogie happiness! I've discovered Crafster.org (thank you DD!), and I am completely addicted.
You know what I love about the site? You can't join a swap until you've been part of the site for at least a month, and have posted 15 times. Now, babbling people like me can do that in one sitting. However, you can't just be on there racking up points for saying things like - "great" "wonderful" "hi" - no you have to make a contribution, or sincerly ask questions. It's truly a wonderful new addiction.

Now, because of Craftster I've discovered a bunch of incredible crafty people. I'm reading blogs, and learning stuff. I'm loving it. Really I am.

Discovering - it's what life is all about!

Giggly time

I've found that thing called PEACE again. I'm curling up with it and holding on tight. I'm so happy right now in life it's awesome. You know what? I deserve it. I've had enough strife in my life. I'm thankful for the choices I've made, the friends I have, and most of all the family I have in my life.

I've been quite giggly lately. Actually, down right silly. But I'm glad. It's a nice change of pace. I know...those of you that KNOW me...are thinking...Um, Dee??? When are you NOT happy?

Well, I have been way too much in the last few years. Some of it had to do with some friends, or people I THOUGHT were friends that walked out of my life - and left an ugly mark as they did. Kind of like that mark that you get in your...well, you get the point.

I'm happy...and I just wanted to say thanks!

Take the time to care.

It irks me when people ignore how to spell my daughter’s name. They just ass-u-me it’s spelled the normal way. I did not pick the spelling of my daughter’s name. This is where people tend to want to pat me on the head and tell me it’ll be okay – my daughter came to me in a dream while I was pregnant with her and told me her name and the spelling of it – only the first name. I chose her middle name. Before that her name was going to be Meghan Crystal. Well, it’s a good thing I didn’t name her that, it would not have suited her at all.


If you have a friend who has a child and you are corresponding with them, and you intend on mentioning the child’s name – take the time to 1. Learn the child’s name
2. How to spell the name, nine to nothing that child is the most important thing to the person you’re writing too. 3. Either care or don’t be friends.


Now, I’ll admit I fail to remember a person’s name, or their child. So, what I do is I actually tell the person I’m old and I forgot it. I will ask the name, I check to make sure I spelled it correctly if I’m unsure.


I am so sick and tired of telling my “friends” how to spell my daughter’s name. Some that have known me for more than five years still spell it wrong. That screams – “I don’t give a crap about you or your daughter.” So, please learn how to spell it – it doesn’t take much time. If you’re really bad at remembering it – put a note on your phone or email it to yourself and mark it on the child’s birthday.



Maybe this ignorance is due to lack of care, or because we just don’t write to one another anymore, all I know is that I try to spell my friend’s name, and their children’s name correctly.

Heidelberg Germany - The Real Side

Heidelberg, Germany
Beauty - awesome and there
Kindness - obviously hidden under a rock under the back of the castle
Love and Compassionate People - still seeking
Happy to be here - Yes...I will remain happy.

I have lived in Germany three times. So, my feelings here caught even me off guard. I have never experienced such a level of dislike for others, especially Americans, as I do here.

I have decided to start blogging about Heidelberg Germany. We moved here in January. We have talked with maybe ten people that are plesant while here. The rest of the people are down right rude and uncomfortable to be around. I have never in my entire life been to a place where there are so many people that stare, speak ugly to you, and are just down right unhelpful.

I keep hearing, the people are nice. NO! If they are then I haven't found them. People wonder why the American's come here and stick together. Well, if you go out all excited to be in a new place, try to use their language, and still get treated ugly; then, you stop trying. You become filled with anger and hatred towards things. People kept telling me they are so nice and helpful. Really? Are they only out on a certain day of the week? I know they are not out when we are.

No, wait that's not true - Dubliner in Heidelberg is AWESOME! The employees are kind, helpful and if you stumble on a German word they help you pronounce it correctly.

I will be using this blog to show you places NOT to eat while here, and places to avoid if you're looking for kindness.

I didn't become like this overnight. The rudeness and arrogance has built up a bad taste in my mouth and I will now display it to the world. I'm a very, happy person and I'm 99.9999% sweet and bubbly to all those around me. However, too much of a bad thing can begin to kill the happy person. I don't want that to happen. So, if I take all the ick and bad that happen, and start posting photos of said people and the places they workd. It will make me chuckle. Plus, it will warn travelers where not to go - maybe.

I will not stop trying to make this a happy place to be. Shoot, I'm here for five years...I better make the best of it! Also, I will be kind to all - always. That's just who I am. But be ye warned...if you're ugly to me...you and your store will show up here! I have an iPhone and I know how to use the camera well. I will of course ask to take the persons photo. I will then take a photo of the store or place to eat.

One more side note: If you're looking for a pet and you're American - FORGET IT! Because of the stupidity and bad judgement of a few we all pay the price of not being able to adopt or purchase a dog. They will not and they're open about it...well on their websites they are. In person they lie and tell you someone came by yesterday and is interested in it.

Oh, it's on now! LOL

44 Years Ago Today. . .

On a Tuesday, in December 1965 on the 28th I was born. My Dad was stationed on a hardship tour in Korea and wouldn't come home for another five or six months. I still treasure those photos more than anything, now I understand why. I'm the daughter of a Soldier, and damn proud of it. The only thing more important than my love of country is my daughter, but I digress.
On Christmas this year my Dad hugged me and said, I remember 44 years ago I was in Korea and I got a phone call telling me my daughter was born. It caused the hard outer shell I have around me to melt a little. It was the glimmer of love that I cherish from my Dad.
I'm thankful to my folks for being born, and for the way in which I was raised. It's tough growing up an Army brat, but I wouldn't change a thing if I ever had the opportunity. I loved my life with my family.

This 44th year of my life is going to be an exciting one. One full of adventure, life, and love. I'll be moving to Germany in 20 days, and I'm completley stoked about it. I will be over there serving my country as an Army Civilian. I love my job, and the people of whom I work for, it is truly an honor for me to work for the best Military force in the world. They have given me the freedoms I enjoy so much. I thank them every day.

As I head into this new life I think about my life for the last 43 years and smile. I've had a good life with just enough terror, true struggles, anguish, hard work, determination, kindness, and most of all love to make me truly thankful for all I have had in my path. Without the terror I would not have had the love. Without the struggles I would not have learned determination. Withouth the anguish I would not have learned kindness, and without the love I would have not survived to this point.

I am one of those half full kind of people, and I won't change that about me. However, I hope to continue to learn and love life. I embark on this new journey into my new life with a smile on my face, love in my heart, a song on my lips, my daughter by my side, and my camera in hand.

Here are some cool things that have happened on this my day of birth...some before and some after my birth, but we share this one day. So, to the first I say happy birthday to my fellow Capricorn Elizabeth Carr the first American IVF child born in 1981.

Being an Army brat military facts always fascinate me...on this day in 1965 not only was I born but, the Viet Cong offered a four day truce in honor of the Vietnamese lunar new year. (Explains my lunar obsessions I suppose...lol)
44 years ago VP Humphrey's arrived in Tokyo to begin his goodwill tour of Asian countries.
Italian Prime Minister Amintore Fanfani resigned on the day of my birth.
In 1895 the first movie screening took place in Paris at the Grand Cafe.
1957 saw the 2 millionth VW completed today.
Iowa became the 29th state in the union in 1846,
"Cyrano de Bergerac" premiered in Paris in 1897. (One of my all time favorites!)

I share my birthday with the following people:
Elizabeth Carr, the IVF baby 1981
Nichelle Nichols is 77 today. Happy Birthday you Star Trek Goddess! (is my geek showing?)
Stan Lee is a tingly 87 today. My hero! I'll always love Spiderman and The Incredible Hulk. (Spiderman is the ONLY super hero that is a photographer by day, and the actor that played the Hulk was hearing impaired like me.)
Edgar Winter
Denzel Washington
Joe Diffie
Chad McQueen
Woodrow Wilson
Maggie Smith (bows and thanks her for playing such an incredible witch! See, we're not all bad!)

and ME!

Candy of Christmas Past

Have you ever sat and reminisced about Christmas past? Not the Christmas Carol kind of Christmas past, but things you did when you were young? Maybe it’s me, but I think about the traditions, the places we went, and the stuff we ate. All of it makes my heart puff up and go POOF! Ah, the feelings of Christmas past are, well, fluffy.

Growing up an Army brat is different than a normal childhood where you stay home every year, or at least you have a place to call home. I’m not knocking it. Nope, I’d never do that, in fact I LOVED being an Army brat. I wouldn’t have changed anything in the world for the childhood I had. My Dad was in the Army for over 21 years; we physically packed and moved 19 times. I am sure I didn’t love or even treasure every move. However, I know I still love to move. It was an adventure, but to keep us tied to “home” Mom and Dad gave us the “traditions” they had growing up. You know family, friends, travel, and oh the smells of the food.

Candy, candy was one “tradition” that kept all of my family together. Everyone had something they cherished from their childhood and it was passed on to us, the new generation. Well, I too passed that on to my daughter. Some of my candy past was Lifesavers Books from my Papaw, candy canes from my Grandma, Dots and fudge from my Mom, and for me it was Pez and candy cigarettes. Now, for my daughter’s new candy tradition it is Hershey’s Kisses – the big one. I gave her one every year. It would take her about a month to eat it all, but she did it. To this day she gets one, although I can’t always find the really big ones, I can always find the medium sized ones. So, this year she got the medium size, after all she wants to be more conscious of her diet. Whatever – it’s Christmas. Go forth and make candy memories, exercise later.

I can’t wait to see what tradition she’ll pass on to her children. I hope everyone had a festive holiday, and have a wonderful and memorable New Year.

The Hurried Holiday

It came upon a midnight clear.
The movers were already here.
Dressed in blue from hat to their sneaker.
They annoyed and mispacked until I was all a quiver.

They took things they shouldn't and things they should.
Why do I feel so exhausted?
I wish I could sleep like a bump of wood.
There will be no rest for me this holiday season.
Although, there rarely is,
I want to rest and celebrate,
but can't seem to find any reason.

I know we'll be gone soon,
and living in the land we so long desire.
But, alas there is so much to do,
and it is there I hope to retire.

So, dig up some cheer,
and try to be merry,
for it is only a few weeks
left in this land,
with people that I will miss so badly.

Life Changes

Once upon a time there was a little girl that loved to live and travel around Germany. She had the opportunity to do this thanks to her Dad being a Soldier in the U.S. Army. (Hooah!) Because of this fact they lived in Germany in several different locations, to include Frankfurt, Fulda and Stuttgart. There were other places, but they were very small, and they didn't live there long.
The last time they lived in Germany she was 16 years old. Her Dad had the opportunity to retire and get out of the rat race. He asked her if it was okay if he did, it would mean they would be leaving Germany in the middle of her Junior year in high school. She didn't think twice about it, how could she? Although, she didn't really want to leave - ever, she knew it was something she couldn't say no to. She felt honored though, after all how many teens are asked by their parents if it's okay if they retire, move and change their lives? She guessed very few. She knew saying no was not really an option, Dad wasn't happy anymore, and it was time to go home. So, she began to pack her bags, boxes and prepare to say good-bye to all of her friends. She looked back on all of the moves she had made in her lifetime as a military dependant and came to realization that she had moved, (packed and moved), at least 19 times in her 16 years of life, and she had just turned 16! She loved the life of a military dependant. There was no other life for her. She got to see so much!

Well, fast forward many, many years, now she's 43 years old, with a daughter of her own. Since that move in 1982 she has moved 12 more times, and she's getting ready to make another move making this 13 times in in 27 years. Better than before, but this move is back to the place she was happiest, and the place she has promised she'd take her daughter since she was a baby. They are leaving for Germany, not the place she left when she was a teen, but very close. Inside she can barely contain her excitement, but has realized how much her parents did with each move, and moving overseas is HUGE!

There is so much we take for granted when we are young. Does anyone really understand how much our parents do for us, especially military dependants? Seriously doubt it. Well, I do now and I appreciate them so much. Thankfully, they have been through this move and they understand what is needed and how much preparation is needed. They can help with must go, and what can stay. How to ship a car, and prepare stuff to go into longterm storage. WOW! There is so much to do when you move overseas.

The little girl has grown up, has a daughter of her own, and is ready to go back to the place she was truly the happiest in her life. As she gets ready what sits at the back of her mind now is - are you ever going to come back? The answer always comes back to - NO! I want to stay over there, I love Europe, my soul belongs there.

I will try to keep up my journey here. Europe is going to be a whole new adventure for this little girl in a grown woman's body.

Everybody look what's going down...

Stop! What's that sound?
Everybody look what's going down.


I recently had an old friend tell me she has an issue with my beliefs.
It caught me off guard and angered me. When I was a Christian I never
had a problem with someone else's religion or beliefs. Does that make me
a better person? No, I don't think so, but I do believe it makes me a
more loving person. I never had a problem with someone's sexual
orientation, or the color of their skin. I will admit that I've had
problems with people's attitudes, arrogance, stupidity, ignorance, and
their bigotry. I've always, I do mean always, felt the reason I am here
on this earth is to spread LOVE.


I'm not talking about being easy, or sexually promiscuous. I'm talking
about loving everyone, the way God and Goddess have told us to. It's
really not hard to love others. All you have to do is drop your guard,
and love someone without conditions. You know that thing called
"unconditional love." This does not mean that you must believe in what
they do, or want to live the lifestyle they live. It does mean that you
love them for who they are.


For instance, one of my friends recently told me that they don't stand
up for the national anthem, or say the pledge of allegiance. Did I get
pissed off - hell yes! However, I maintained my composure and listened
to what they had to say about why they didn't do it. Then, I remembered
that is their unalienable right to do just that as an American. A few
years ago I probably would have told this person to get out of America
then, but I truly believe that we have these rights to protect all of
us, not just a chosen handful. This is also why I have the right to
believe the way I do. I'm not asking for anyone to accept or believe in
my path. This is right for me. I don't force or convert others to
believe in my beliefs. I never will - again.


When I was a Christian I believed what the preachers told me, that I had
to go out and "spread the word." Well, I don't anymore. My eyes were
opened when I took an Art History class and found out that Christians
are the ones that have primarily gone into areas and demolished other's
religious icons, places of worship, and lives in general. This saddened
me to know that I had been a part of something that was so arrogant and
cruel. I had just been focusing on the man that I worshipped, and not
the people that followed him as well.


So, now I focus on loving and being there for others, and all the other
stuff I was taught. I don't consider myself a Christian anymore. I don't
want to be associated with the followers of that religion. I think the
lessons are wonderful and you can be a good person, but for the most
part "Christians" think their way is the only way, and if you don't
follow the path they think you should then you're not living right. It's
sad really, I know it makes me sad.


So, I'll keep on loving the world and trying to make it a better place
for all...the way God has taught me to, not man!

Sea Bound Trash Zone?!?

Maybe I'm really behind on my news. I've just recently become interested
again in that subject. It used to annoy me. Know that my interest had
nothing to do with the Presidential elections, or the cost of
unemployment, or even the war. No, it had to do with America in general.
When did we become such a nasty country? For instance did you know that
the Pacific Ocean has an area where we throw garbage? I didn't. I'm
sickened by this fact.
Sea bound trash



So, our landfills are full? So, we have to start throwing garbage away
in the ocean? No! Given the fact that we barely occupy 35% of the land
in this country, quite frankly disgusts me to know that we're doing this
sea bound dumping. No, I'm not for filling up the land with garbage.
However, we do have this little know idea called recycling. Maybe we
should ALL start doing it. How hard is it to separate your garbage as
you put it into the bin? Buy one of those garbage cans that have three
bins, or have three bags or buckets. You know the ones your kids used to
use, but now are filled with toys they haven't touched in years. Try
putting your garbage in those. Then, take them, if you don't have
recycling in your city, to the recycling place.


Did you know that you get money, cash (mullah, deniro, cha-ching) back
when you recycle? Okay, you won't get rich on it (although some have).
The simple fact that we're throwing stuff into the ocean is completely
disgusting. When did this become legal? Good grief! There are creatures
out there that we have no clue about, and we're probably killing them
now.


So, come on people, either cut down on the waste, or recycle. You know
that heat you've been bitching about? Well, it's due to the fact that
we're killing our planet. So, take a moment, and if you don't care about
anyone other than little 'ole you, then okay. Care to be cooler? Then
take care of the planet that you live on. Hey, the idea of living and
trashing the atmosphere of another planet is a long time away.

Single Life - it isn't so bad, is it?

I'm a 43 year old single woman. I raised my daughter mostly on my own.
Yes, my folks were there for us and I had a common-law (CL) husband for about five years. The rest of her 21 years have been on our own. I'd say it w as about 75% alone. I never minded it, not for a moment. If I had any kind of thought that I would not have been able to be a good mom to my daughter. I would not have: 1. become pregnant, or 2. kept the baby. (Yes, this does mean I'm pro-choice.) So, this is about me, not about being a single mom, that's a whole other blog session. ;0)


I am an attractive, albeit voluptuous, 43 year old single woman. I've
not had even had a date in over 13 years; since my CL husband committed suicide in 1996. My priority until 2006 was raising my daughter and getting her out of high school and into college. Well, she's done that quite well. So, it's time for me to shift some of the time back onto myself, right? Not really. See, I still have to get her through college. She's got two and a half years left. She spent a half a year working as an intern for the Walt Disney Company in Florida. Then, by the time she got back home she couldn't register for school because it was too late. When the next semester came around my job was moving. So, we moved, and then two months later moved back. (Again, that's another blog.) Now, she's back in school full time this semester, she should graduate with an AA May 2010. She'll move on for her BA at one of the four year universities here in our area. Okay, so back to me right? Well, I'm finishing my AA, finally after 26 years. I do work full time, and I'm one of the lucky ones - I love my job and the people I work with and for right now.


However, this doesn't leave a lot of time to date, well maybe it does.
But, I can't seem to find a man. I'll get down on myself and think -
"hey, it's 'cause you're fat." Then, I look around and realize, no
that's not it. It's then I hear my Grandparents telling me "you'll meet him when you aren't looking /or/ least expect it." Well, I've not been "looking" or been "expecting it" for years now. No, I haven't stooped to looking under rocks, or in bars.


I'm outside and quite active for my fatty size. That's about the time I hear my daughter, and friends tell me that I'm too down on myself. Well, just because I'm REAL about being fat, does not mean I am down on myself. Do I have body issues, sure...again another blog. I do love to hike, I love to do touristy stuff downtown San Antonio - often, and I love riding rides - like Superman and other roller coasters. I have a type A personality stuck beneath the layers. Which reminds me of a
comment a co-worker said to me a couple of weeks ago, when I showed him a photo of me back when I was 17, or 18. He said "damn, you were HOT!" Ah, that little four letter word - WERE, it's a tough word to hear. I smiled and told him, I know, but I didn't know then, which is really too bad. Well, I'm still "hot," it's just that now the hot 'little' girl is inside me, and the woman 'outside' with more knowledge and love is what the world sees.


Right about that time I begin to see the new show "Drop Dead Diva." I
can relate to it so well. See, my skinny girl didn't have to die,
literally, but figuratively. She is still in me, looking me up and down in the mirror the way all you skinny girls still do me now. Funny thing is, I will catch myself doing it to them and not thinking "OMG look how fat she is," but I catch myself thinking "does she realize how beautiful she is now, and does she truly love who she is?" I become sad for the skinny girls that don't get it. I get it, I really do.


So, back to the point - why am I still single? There are men out there
that like big women. They also come in all shapes and sizes. So, where
are they? What do I have to do to find them?


I've often thought of starting a website for big beautiful people in
Texas. We're still beautiful, and have a lot to offer a relationship,
besides the numbers on a scale. Shoot, most of us know how to cook – and NOT burn the stuff we're making. We know how to laugh and mean it. We also know how to love someone without looking down on the other person. It doesn't have to be a hetro thing, mine would be, but not all big girls, or boys are hetro and that's cool. I'm a fan of all walks of life. I don't judge on who you love. That's up to you. Everyone knows what's right for them.


So, if you're between the ages of 38 to 50 and you're single, you're not afraid of a woman with some meat on her bones. You can handle being outside and walking around, or in a park riding rides, or traveling to just that one spot to get just that right photo at just the right moment. Then, shoot me an email.


Website for us lovely big and beautiful people...I will seriously this about it. It's worth trying.