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One Moment More

Feeling particularly mushy today.

Not sure what it’s about entirely, but the fact that my dad passed away–one year ago- this month–may have something to do with it.

My father lived almost ten years after my mother died, and yet, when he left, it made her–my sweet mama–so much more…gone.

It felt like they both floated away on the same morning.

Oh, I know where they are, and I know they are safe and happy and together. And I know that we’ll all be with them again, someday.

That’s not it.

The thing is, I’m a tactile soul–I need to smush and grab and hold and pat and squeeze and nuzzle and pinch and lean on…and touch.

I’d like to touch my daddy’s whiskery face again…

…and hold my mama’s feathery-soft hands…one more time.

That is how things stay real to me.

This world–my world–is a funny, foreign place without Andrew Kirby in it.

It’s like, without his physical presence–his twinkly smile, his enormous hands, his healing, engulfing arms around me–a bright light dims.

But I realize now, that it’s the same light I used, to see my mother by, when she wasn’t here anymore.

I just wasn’t finished with them yet.

I miss them so much.

Makes the Millennium sound really good, right now–you know?

*****

“One Moment More”

Hold me
Even though I know you’re leaving
And show me
All the reasons you would stay
It’s just enough to feel your breath on mine
To warm my soul and ease my mind
You’ve got to hold me and show me now

Give me
Just one part of you to cling to
And keep me
Everywhere you are
It’s just enough to steal my heart and run
And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You’ve got to hold me and keep me

Tell me that someday you’ll be returning
And maybe
Maybe I’ll believe
It’s just enough to see a shooting star
To know you’re never really far
It’s just enough to see a shooting star
To know you’re never really gone

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You’ve got to hold me and maybe I’ll believe

So hold me
Even though I know you’re leaving

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Freeze Dried Ice Cream

A million years ago, when my kids were littler, I was the refund queen.

No, really–I was. It took a full sized file cabinet to store my UPCs.

Ask around, I’m not lying.

Ok, it was nuts…or I was nuts. Not sure which.

Anyway…way back then, Kelloggs Raisin Bran had a special offer. For every 3 UPCs you sent them, they would send you a package of “Astronaut Ice Cream.”

Sounded intriguing.

So we gathered our codes, mailed them in and happily earned 38 packages of the stuff. I know, overkill. But luckily–it was “magically delicious.”

To say that we became addicted to crunchy ice cream would be putting it lightly. Oh, how we savored that very last package because after all, when it’s gone…

…where can you shop for Astronaut food?

I don’t know how we managed, but somehow we lived without it for many years. In fact, we lost touch completely. Yes, it was a meager existence–I must say.

The years went sadly by and one day, while dinking around in Emergency Essentials I came across this:

It said, “Freeze Dried Neapolitan Ice Cream.” Could it be? Did I dare hope?

I dared, and JOY of JOYS– it turned out to be the exact same stuff that Neil Armstrong took to the moon! WAHOO!

The Andersons and space food—reunited at last!

Just the other day, we tried to share this fabbo treat with some friends and the reception was less than positive. In fact, they looked at us like we’d fed them dried squid.

In a word…it tanked.

So, maybe some people just can’t appreciate wildly exotic childhood luxuries.

It could be that Freeze Dried Ice Cream is a particularly acquired taste.

Or perhaps, not everyone is suited for space travel.

I vote the latter.

Buzz Lightyear

To infinity and beyond…

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Soft Breadsticks

bread sticks

My wise and all-knowing daughter April made the most amazing bread sticks the other day…almost exactly like the ones that are famous around these parts. They were incredible. So, I begged and pleaded and she finally, finally said I could share the recipe…but only here.

So baby…

…you’re getting the exclusive.

Directions:

2-1/2 cups warm water

2 Tablespoon yeast

1 Tablespoon sugar

more yeast

Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water, let sit.

mixer hook

Pour into mixing bowl and then add the following:

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon salt

3-4 cups flour

dough hook

Using dough hook attachment, beat until smooth. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough. Knead in machine 2-5 minutes until smooth and elastic.

dough resting

Place in greased bowl then turn to grease the top.

covered dough

Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 45 min. to 1 hour…

dough rising

…until double in size.

punched dough

Punch down and divide in half.

cutter

Roll out on floured surface and cut into strips for small bread sticks.

Or divide into 10-12 pieces for large bread sticks or rolls.

Combine 1 beaten egg with 1 T milk.

Brush on breadstick and sprinkle with sesame seeds.

spacing

Or, dip in melted butter and roll in…

topping

…Parmesan cheese with garlic herb seasoning.

Then let rise.

golden

Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until slightly brown.

Remove and cool on wire rack.

garlic rolls

Now go–impress your friends.

You’ll be famous!


5.0 from 1 reviews
Soft Breadsticks
 
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Ingredients
  • 2-1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 Tablespoon yeast
  • 1 Tablespoon sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • 3-4 cups flour
  • 1 beaten egg'
  • 1 T milk.
  • or
  • melted butter
  • Parmesan cheese
  • garlic herb seasoning
Instructions
  1. Dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water, let sit.
  2. Pour into mixing bowl and then add butter, salt, and flour.
  3. Using dough hook attachment, beat until smooth.
  4. Add enough flour to make a stiff dough.
  5. Knead in machine 2-5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  6. Place in greased bowl then turn to grease the top.
  7. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 45 min. to 1 hour......until double in size.
  8. Punch down and divide in half.
  9. Roll out on floured surface and cut into strips for small bread sticks.
  10. Or divide into 10-12 pieces for large bread sticks or rolls.
  11. Combine 1 beaten egg with 1 T milk.
  12. Brush on breadstick and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  13. Or, dip in melted butter and roll in......Parmesan cheese with garlic herb seasoning.
  14. Then let rise.
  15. Bake at 375 for 10-15 minutes until slightly brown.
  16. Remove and cool on wire rack.

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Caribbean Camo?

Yeah!  What do you think of the latest greenWinkle BagBag made from solid colors? It was a bit of a gamble, but it turned out quite nice, after all.

It’s made of bags from all over the valley—Barnes and Nobel, Kohls, NuSkin, Crafty Copies and I don’t even know what else. Scads of soothing blues, greens and grays.

We’ve been working on a name for weeks now and finally decided that we love “Caribbean Camo” because this bag looks like a brochure mix of “an exotic swim with the dolphins” and a “sultry rain forest hideout.” Either way…

Please, please, please—tell me what you think. I’m pretty sure “comments” make the world go around.

Well, that…

…and Cheetoes.

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It’s a wrap…

Finally, finally—the pink, fluffy shawl for baby Chomp is finished. Phew!

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Since I’ve only been able to work on it on the weekends—it’s taken longer than usual.

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I personally think that somehow…it matches her.

Happy Six-week birthday baby Chomp!