Frosty ~Day #2

Kool & The Gang – ‘Celebration’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GwjfUFyY6M)

Man!

This morning was a frosty one – not dangerously frosty, but definitely nippy and ice-kissed.

I was glad I put that extra blanket on the bed last night 😉

Today was also my second {teaching} day, and on the whole (taking into consideration the full two hours) it went smoothly.

A hot cup of coffee was the first order of the day 😊

Then, I got my face on – dressed warmly – and headed off.

Sparly 'Gentle' for brow, & 'Tango' for eyelid.

Glittery Navy Blue for eye 'liner'.

'Coral Ember' Creme Blush, & sparkly 'Coral Crave' Lipgloss.

Auburn Eyebrow Gel & Black Mascara.

Before grabbing my purse, I had received a phone text from one of the participants needing a ride: I could do that, and company during the drive would be welcome. Shortly after turning off Coal Creek Road, I noticed a heron standing in the middle of my lane, on Old Pacific Highway; so, I waited until it strolled to the edge of the road before continuing on.

The roadway was clear … but I did see signs that Jack frost had been busy, on Terry Ave. Street., when I turned down that road to pick up my passenger:

A Great Blue Heron standing on Old Pacific Highway; off Coal Creek Road.

Frosty patch on Terry Ave. Street.

Frosted little red ornamental shrub; Terry Ave. Street.

But that’s the only place I saw Jack’s handiwork, the entire day 😉

Second Day: Topic today was peace and happiness. And I have to say that I am glad for every hurdle I cleared since September 2018: without those hard lessons I know I would not be able to do what I am doing today. As difficult as it is to face that knowledge, I am truly at a place in my New Life where I can honestly accept – and say, without tearing up – "everything happens for a reason."

Today’s objective was to ask everyone (including moi), to “put yourself in the driver’s seat of your life. Take control by asking yourself some difficult questions even if they make you uncomfortable.”

A little disruption occurred half way through the class – two people came in and immediately started disrupting things, like unruly high schoolers. We ignored the rudeness, and continued on with the discussion:

What kind of life do you choose for yourself?

Are you consciously living the very best life you can?

Are you making choices that support growth for a life that is meaningful and fulfilling?

THEN, we gave our attention to the rude intruders: they were not present to participate; they simply came to investigate, try to intimidate, and generally instigate problematic issues. Their actions were shut down by everyone else (except one, who obviously had been expecting them and their behavior); and they eventually got up and left ('the one' trailed out the door, too). I was proud of everyone else 😊

Already they are demonstrating that they are willing to seek peace and happiness.

Finding peace and happiness in life enables us to make better decisions, have better relationships, increased capability at your job, experience less stress … and enjoy better health. Finding personal peace and happiness is unarguably waaaay more fun than being miserable all the time 😉

Thrust of today’s discussion: THIS IS YOUR LIFE and you get to decide how you want to live it.

“Figure which parts of your life are causing you distress and start taking steps right now towards improving them.”

Be decisive in your quest to live the very best life you can.

Choose happiness.

Choose love.

Choose you.

Everyone got a hug before leaving … except the three that left earlier.

THIS CHAPTER

I am really enjoying these Mondays and Tuesdays 😊

I’m waking up happy, and motivated: purpose is a good thing.

The frosty temperature this morning, had me pulling my hiking boots our of the closet – they keep my feet warm, and have soles that will keep me upright even on the slickest surfaces.

1952 ‘Good Morning’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB2yiIoEtXw)

Sparkly 'Mauve' for eyeshadow; Sparkly Navy Blue for eye 'liner'.

Rose-tinted creme Blush & Cobalt Blue Mascara.

Auburn Eyebrow Gel, Rose tinted liquid Blush, Cobalt Blue Mascara, & Rose-tinted Lip Balm.

Face in place ... and a little flash of color.

Charcoal jeggings, lacey navy thermal top & traction-soled Hiking Boots (clod hoppers).

I’m meeting new people – potential new friends: these aren’t rigid meets, they are life-enhancing gatherings 😉

I’ve been chosen to lead Monday and Tuesday Meets because of my life experiences (I’m ‘relatable’, given I’ve experienced just about every life-altering lesson life can throw at a person over the past 62 months & 14 days). Life is about learning and growing and the really hard times are the very best teachers. Hardship makes us strong and resilient – and stretches our growth spurts in ways the cushy times never will. Life has an uncanny way of challenging us again and again until we absorb what we need to learn to move on from where we feel stuck. The primary question everyone is asking (including myself), is “Why am I in this predicament and what is life trying to teach me?” The breakthrough moment is much easier if we see ourselves as badass warriors (I’m a {natural} badass warrior 😉) rather than victims of our circumstances.

99% of the time, we will never know why life is throwing us curve balls; but through the process of careful and compassionate examination of our lives, we learn, we grow and we improve.

I’m also learning, and being encouraged … as well as teaching, and encouraging others. I am pleasantly surprised that I actually look forward to being in the thick of things concerning mixing with people – this developing {new me} is not someone I would have encouraged a few short weeks ago. But because others have faith in my ability, and actively nurtured this purpose for my new life, the “stepping up” wasn’t that hard 😊

Our meets are low-key, laid-back, and easy flowing; just like the coffee, brunch fare, and interactions. I don’t think I could be comfortable in a structured, ‘point-centered’ environment. I need flexibility – and so do those who are coming to the meets. And because the topics being discussed are personal topics, I won’t be discussing them with anyone but those who come to the meets.

But I can say here, that I like watching the wheels in people’s heads turn as they ruminate on what’s being said, and shared. And I love those “ah-ha!” moments when the light comes on, and they grasp the concepts they have been pondering 😊

This Chapter in my New Life feels really good.

FILLED SUGAR COOKIES Recipe

Ever since the temperatures started dropping, I’ve been hungering to bite into a filled sugar cookie – so, today, I declared a “Queen’s Day” … and did nothing all day long but laze around my humble castle, scenting the atmosphere with homemade cookies baking 😊

It was a fine day in the realm of Valerina, today 😊

I like cookies. Bob liked cakes. I catered to both our whims … and on occasion, I baked a pie just to even the playing field 😉

Heart – ‘Even It Up’ song: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLhxF-Un39k)

Today, I deviated a bit concerning the cookie filling for this particular recipe, because I had in mind a different {want}: **Apricot-Blueberry Filling Recipe follows at end of original recipe 😉 But I am posting this filled sugar cookie recipe in its original text … and you can do whatever filling you want to do.

I also do not cut out the center of the top cookie when I make my cookies: I like mine to look like little sugar cookie “pies”; and I don’t want to waste any portion of a cookie! 😊

FILLED SUGAR COOKIE Recipe ~2 dozen cookies

1 cup Sugar * ¾ cup Shortening (part butter or margarine) * 2 Eggs * 1 teaspoon Vanilla * 2½ cups all-purpose Flour * 1 teaspoon Baking Powder * 1 teaspoon Salt

Mix sugar, shortening, eggs, and vanilla; stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Cookie dough set to chill for 1 hour – it will still be quite soft, even chilled.

Heat oven to 400-degrees.

Cut dough into 48 rounds with a doughnut cutter (remove center hole cutting piece). Divide the rounds in 24 pieces x 2 – and placing the hole cutter back in place, cut center holes out of 24 of the rounds.

Filled Sugar Cookies; original recipe picture.

Place uncut rounds on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Top with Raisin Filling or Cherry-Apricot Filling (recipes follow); spreading almost to edges: top with remaining rounds. Press edges together with fingers or floured fork tines.

Sprinkle tops with sugar, and bake until very lightly browned – about 6 to 8 minutes.

Raisin Filling: 1¾ cups Raisins * ¾ cup Water * ½ cup Sugar * 2 Tablespoons all-purpose Flour * 1 Tablespoon Lemon juice

Heat raisins and water to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Mix sugar and flour – stir into raisin mixture. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in lemon juice; cool. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of mixture onto a solid cookie round as described in cookie recipe above.

Cherry-Apricot Filling: ½ cup Sugar * 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Cornstarch * ½ cup Water * ¼ cup Maraschino Cherry juice * 1/3 cup chopped Maraschino Cherries * 1/3 cup cut-up dried Apricots

Mix sugar and cornstarch in a saucepan. Stir in remaining ingredients; heat to a rolling boil. Boil and stir 1 minute; cool. Spoon 1 Tablespoon of mixture onto a solid cookie round as described in cookie recipe above.

**MY COOKIE FILLING: I have apricot preserves that needs eating … and I have an abundance of frozen fresh blueberries from my garden bushes; the combo sounds tasty, so that’s what I’m going to do 😉

Apricot-Blueberry Filling: 2/3 cup Apricot Preserves * 2/3 cup frozen Blueberries

Apricot Preserves.

Fat, juicy, frozen Blueberries; off my own berry bushes.

Blend the jam and berries; spoon 1 teaspoon of mixture onto 24 solid cookie rounds & top each filled round with another solid cookie round – closing each round with floured fork tines. Bake as described in cookie recipe above.

1 tsp. filling per cookie; bottom of filled cookie.

My filled cookie 'topper'; top cookie.

They smell SO GOOD!

They taste good, too 😉

Cookies are my #1 Temptation; I don't feel a bit guilty for staying home, and giving in 😊

Now, I’m going to finish the day with another pleasurable enjoyment – there’s only 43 pages left … easy peasy.

Clive is another pleasurable enjoyment. LOL

I love these laid-back ‘Queen days’; I’m going to have to declare them more frequently in 2023 😊

And I may just get rid of my “skinny jeans” pile, altogether 😉; at 66 years of age (December 29^th), I’ll probably never see my {normal weight} ever again, this side of Heaven (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/11/jeggings-updated-with-ease-patches.html).

And, honestly? That’s okay with me. Starvation doesn’t appeal to me.

I believe another cookie is calling out to me ...

JEGGINGS UPDATED WITH EASE PATCHES

I mentioned a few weeks ago, that I am now allergic to band-aids; that is concerning to me: I have been using band-aids to cover the metal shanks on my jean waist bands (https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2022/10/shabbat-smiles-lake-hike.html).

I can’t have any metal touching my skin. Anywhere on my body; if the metal doesn’t burn my skin and actually tear the skin away (like jewelry, and my glasses hinges), or make my earlobes swell and ooze (like pierced earrings do) … metal touching my skin causes a rash in the immediate area of affected skin, that nearly drives me crazy with the itching (like my jeans fasteners do).

No metal at all, on my skin.

And now – no band-aid adhesive in my skin: but, I’m going to do a length ability test in connection to my shoes (where the backs rub my heels), because I don’t wear my shoes as long as I wear my jeans. I may be able to skate by using band-aids on the backs of my heels for an hour or two 😉

But the band-aids are a {no-go} when it comes to being a buffer between the jeans’ fastener shank, and my skin ☹

So, yesterday, I forced myself to stay home and got started on {doctoring} the jeans I am currently wearing – the whole 9 ct. pile … and that went so quickly, I did all of the rest before day’s end 😊

How many, you may ask, is all?

21 count.

I have 3 stacks of jeans: my “fat” jeans (I wear this pile when I put those extra pounds on – this pile gets its wear and tear in the Winter months); my “skinny jeans” (this pile is my normal weight stack by starvation measures – according to doctor's assessment; they were bought following my bump from Wife to Widow, in the Winter of 2018 – I’d lost 30 pounds doing death watch: they still look kinda new. I started eating again in the Spring 2019); and my “in-between” jeans pile … the stack I doctored first, because they get the most active duty as my weight yo-yo’s 😉

The 'troublemaker' metal shank.

A folded-over flannel square from an old receiving blanket, to cover the metal; a soft cotton {buffer}.

Pinned into position ...

The stretchy jeggings material is hard to penetrate! OUCH

I dug out an old leather 'thimble' I made eons ago. Now the necessary work is not so painful 😉

Now I can wear my jeans with ease - and less itch.

First 9, of 21 ct. (fat, skinny & in-between; LOL) jeggings, & regular jeans, d.o.n.e.

Now, Monday … and every day following, I’ll be able to comfortably wear my jeans, again 😊