Facebook and Happiness

I have been feeling a little depressed the last few days. Nothing serious, just a few things that haven't been going my way, and very little that has. Not the least of which is the unseasonably warm weather we've been experiencing here in So Cal this month. I don't like heat, it makes me uncomfortable, irritable and can even cause me extreme fatigue. Since it is almost always hot here, I spend a lot of time fighting these detrimental effects. It can be exhausting. I usually don't complain, no point since there isn't anything anyone can do, but with it being so hot when it is supposed to be at least on the cool side, I'm having a really hard time.

I made a comment on Facebook expressing my unhappiness. I got the usual comments, agree/disagree, I love it/I moved away, etc, but one comment from a friend really hurt. “Count your blessings, we're having snow flurries, my husband is out working in it”... She accused me of hating a lot of things most people would count as blessings. I went back in my profile for previous comments regarding things I “hate” and most of them are regarding the weather. It's no secret I dislike the heat, I've mentioned it before. I also make a lot of positive comments about things I enjoy doing, places I went to have fun, and people I love. I can't find anything I've posted saying I “hate” a lot of things. Not true, and I can't figure out why she said that.

No one forced her and her husband to move to where they are now, and no one forced her husband to go into a profession that requires him to work out-of-doors. I'm not going to feel guilty about my own feelings just because someone else thinks I should. I would LOVE to live where there are snow flurries, rain, lightening, thunder, cold temperatures, ice, blizzards, I just would choose to work INSIDE.

A friend of mine “Carrie” went through a similar situation recently, but hers was much worse. She was going through a truly horrendous time, her Marine husband was in Afghanistan, she lost two very close family members within a couple days of each other, and the Holiday season was fast approaching. She made a comment on FB criticizing the military. One of her friends stated that they were “offended” by her opinion, and proceeded to roundly chastise her for having the audacity to criticize the government.

Carrie wrote another comment cursing God and blaming Him for all the difficulties she was experiencing at that time. One of her own cousins took her to task for having these feelings and the comments got a little hot for a while resulting in Carrie unfriending her cousin, and almost leaving FB herself. Luckily, her real friends talked her out of it.

EVERYONE has the right to their own opinion, if you don't agree, that's your right too, but you don't have the right to tell someone that their opinion is wrong, opinions cannot be wrong, and a person cannot be wrong in having one.

I thought Facebook was a place where you could express anything you wanted to, your opinions on anything, your feelings about everything, not just the hearts and flowers, sunshine and rainbow, smiles and giggles side of life. I guess if I can't truly say whatever I want on Facebook, I'll just stay off for a while.

Apple Honey Dutch Baby

Breakfast this morning was phenomenal!! A gorgeous Apple and Honey Dutch Baby. SOOO GOOOOOD!!! Jim says I should open a restaurant, but I vetoed that idea pronto. I really don't want to work that hard.

But this was a perfect weekend meal. Sweet, thick, full of tart apples and rich honey. Just the way to start a lazy weekend.

We don't have much planned for the next few days. We are getting away for the Thanksgiving weekend though. We're having dinner on Thursday at Jim's sister Mary's, then bright and early Friday morning, we are leaving (hopefully before first light) for a few days in the upper Mojave Desert. We have two favorite spots, one off of Trona Road just outside of Johannesberg, and the other just a quarter-mile from Bickel Camp in Last Chance Canyon.

The place off Trona is our favorite target shooting site. There is a large hill behind us where we set up our targets, paper, steel, or 1 liter water bottles, and blast away to our heart's content. But there is really nothing else to do there.

The Bickel Camp place has a less desirable shooting area, but there are coyote holes to dig for gold in, and the caretaker of Bickel is a good friend of ours so we have shooting and digging fun during the day, and good conversation around the campfire at night. We'll probably go to Bickel.

Here is the recipe for the Dutch Baby

3 eggs
2/3 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
pinch salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon pie spice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
1 large Granny Smith apple, diced large
3 tablespoons honey

Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a medium bowl or in blender, beat eggs, flour, milk, salt, sugar, pie spice, and vanilla until smooth.  Heat  butter in a 10-inch cast iron of oven proof skillet. Add apples and saute until softened. Pour honey over apples. Turn off heat and pour egg batter over apples. Place in oven for 25-25 minutes. The baby will rise, but could fall after it's removed from the oven. It's fine if it does. Baby should be slightly browned at the edges and nicely brown on the bottom. Serve with additional honey, maple syrup and/or jam, your choice. This will serve 3 to 4 people.

Creamed Corn

I forgot to take my camera to the Luau last night, so no pictures. I will try to import some of my sister's shots so you can see how beautiful my grand niece is.

I took a recipe for creamed corn I found on the Taste of Home site and ran with it. SO GOOD!!!! I had it with my special pulled pork sandwiches. Amazing dinner!!!!

2 strips of thick cut lean bacon, cut into pieces
1/2 a medium onion, cut into medium dice
1/2 a medium red bell pepper, small dice, (about the size of a kernel of corn)
1 small zucchini, (about the size of a kernel of corn)
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
3 large cobs of corn, cut off of cob
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 to one cup whipping cream
1 cup parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

I sauteed the bacoThen I add the corn and the broth.Simmered until corn is done, about 15 minutes. Add the cream and cheese. Heat through, season with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Can also add a little sugar to make the corn a little sweeter. I did and it was delicious.

I'll post the pulled pork recipe at a later time.

Still working on Jim's afghan, but as soon as that is done I will start mine. Can't wait to cuddle my little angel Grant under it!!

It's Meatloaf Friday

I've decided to make meatloaf today. It's usually quite a production, I use three kinds of meat and lots of other ingredients, but I love it and it's worth the work. Plus, I get to play with the meat mixture with my hands. Always so much fun!! If anyone wants the recipe, let me know and I'll post it.

Tomorrow is the Luau my grand-niece Hannah is dancing in. I get to see my sister Karan and my niece Kelly too. So excited! I'll try to get pictures, and maybe even video of Hannah's performance. She is really beautiful and such a pleasure to watch.

Gotta go, have to make lunch and I'm still working on Jim's afghan, can't wait to finish it so I can start on mine!

Welcome to my blog

This is the first post on my new blog, if anyone is interested. I'll be logging on from time to time to let you know what I've been doing, cooking, crocheting or just thinking.

Right now, I'm just hanging out, taking a break from working on my sweetie's afghan. I can't wait to finish it so I can start on mine. I also have to plan dinner, (so what else is new). Any ideas?