.. BrainFreeze!!!!!!!!

Hey YOU! 

Remember me? I used to blog here. 

I’ve been unable to string words together lately. So I hope you forgive me while my brain undergoes maintenance.

I have some contractors working on it and they think it is limited to my temporal lobe, which controls semantics and word meaning. They think if I just practice writing every day, words will make sense to me again and twelve potatoes dance in the moon river when the 33rd of May takes a bubble bath.

What?

Nevermind!!! Apparently, my brain still needs work.

In the meantime, I will leave you with some silly snowmen for you to mull over. And just in case YOU are building a snow(wo)man-creature-thingy .. please, please share a picture!

I hope I get to see you soon again .. but for now, I wish you a VERY

                                                                       
                                                                           🎅

just a .. Doodle

Today I was finally in the mood to do another Doodle! Here is a little step by step of what I drew!

At first, there are only a few lines!

More lines are added!

And then the filling in starts!

Let me add more shapes!

And replace the pencil lines with ink!

Add more shapes and more ink!

And some shade!

VIOLA!!

🎨

Spicy Chocolate Brownies

Oh, it is getting cold outside and I don't like it  -  at all. The weatherman even predicted some snow for this weekend! So I decided that I need some comfy food to warm my spirits! How about some ooooey goooey brownies? Yes, but not the store brand .. I have to whip them up myself!!! 

Red's Spicy Chocolate Brownies

1 cup butter, melted  

3 cups white sugar 

1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

about 1/4  teaspoon of ground cinnamon 

about 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.

Combine the melted butter, sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each until thoroughly blended.

Sift the flour and cocoa powder in a bowl. Gradually stir flour mixture into the egg mixture until blended.  Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

I have also tried these brownies with walnuts, and another time with mini chocolate chips and I am planning on adding some coconut next time!

Enjoy!!!!

The Art of Stacking WOOD

Stacking logs is never a fun chore, but with the right amount of creativity and patience, it can be a pretty neat art-form.

The firewood is kind of like building blocks for adults. All of the different textures and colors from the various types of wood really do lead to some incredible works of art. Just take a look for yourself at these awesome stacks below.

Isn't this amazing? Makes me think about starting some wood-stacking projects (on a smaller scale fitting for a frame) and makes me wish I had a fireplace!

:(

.. what's for dinner on TurkeyDay??

I don't want to bore you with another recipe for another ThanksGiving dinner, I would be a little late for that anyway, right? I didn't even prepare a turkey this year!

 I opted out for .. CHICKEN .. a bird is a bird is a bird after all! This year's ThanksGiving dinner, my TallGuy and I were the only invited guests! So why would I run around in the kitchen for hours like a chicken with its head cut off (yeah .. pun intended) preparing a turkey that we would have to eat for days over and over again?? None one of us likes turkey that much!!!

 The chicken I picked out was not too small and not too big .. a nice 5pounder! After defrosting it in the fridge like a chef I decided to brine it! Hey, only because it is not a turkey I still want to do the right thing! It's still a bird that I want to digest this holiday !!!

And just in case you want to use this brine for your bird (good for turkey and chicken) next year ... here is what to do!!

16 cups of water

3/4 cup of salt

2/3 cup of sugar

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup Italian spices .. basil, thyme, rosemary etc

1 head of fresh garlic crushed and chopped

Put all that together in a big pot, mix and make sure all the sugar and salt are dissolved .. and drown that bird over night!

  

Of course, before you roast your birdie, make sure it has a nice bed of vegetables to rest on!! Chop those onions, potatoes, carrots and celery like there is no tomorrow, toss them in some olive oil and then off into the baking dish ! Oh, and don't forget to powder that chicken butt with a few more spices like onion salt, paprika, and garlic powder, inside and out, before you shove it in the (385 degrees), preheated oven! Every 38 1/2 minutes (or something like that) I checked and poured some melted butter with more spices over the skin and ....

... after 2~3 hours (depending on the size of your wing thing) you have a crispy skin but juicy meat bird-meal. YUMMM...

I also decided to make some homemade mac and cheese and some dressing as sides! And of course, there was pie .. sweet potato pie .. storebought ... but sssssshhhh don't tell!

So until next year, gobble 'til you wobble!! Just don't blame it on me! 

;)

Life-Update

I just wanted to swing by and announce that my TallGuy is back to work and on a roll! Who would have thought that it is possible to heal after a silent stroke .. a partial foot-amputation and the loss of a son to the point where you can go back to work and function like nothing ever happened! But my TallGuy is living proof that everything is possible! Yes, we still have to worry about his heart-failure and his foot is not 100% healed .. but these are things that can be monitored with the right care and medication!

All I can say is .. NEVER give up .. when life hits you hard, do NOT curl up and give up .. GET UP and get moving! 

Just one more thing ... show your LovedOne how much you love them .. hug them .. kiss them and support them .. you never know how much time you have with them!!!!

My latest Jewelry Creations

stay tuned! .. there will be more soon!

And please don't forget to check my sozial links in the sidebar to your right! ;)

THANK YOU!

... Let me get this off my chest!!!!!!!!

I am so ashamed of America right now.

I have to say, some part of me didn’t think you would do it. Some part of me held out hope for the good in people, that you wouldn’t actually let an unqualified reality tv show host who throws tantrums when people question his character  into power. Some part of me honestly thought you would make the right decision here. That you would choose the lesser of two evils. That you would know how to make a decision that considered the needs and well being of others.

Boy was I wrong!!!!

Between two choices, you made the worst possible choice. 

You chose intolerance. 

You chose sexism. 

You chose racism. 

You chose violence. 

You chose a sociopathic thug who tells his followers to attack those he dislikes, those who question him, those who stand against him. 

Well, I hope you are happy, America. You made a horrific choice and now innocent people have to pay for it. Good people who just want to live their lives are going to suffer and maybe even die for your decision. And you know what? That makes you responsible. For every life Trump ruins, for every person endangered by his ideas and his followers, the American people are now responsible. You wanted this pathetic would-be tyrant? You got him. And now, because this is what you demanded, everything that comes as a result of this decision is on your hands.

Way to go, America. You disgust me right now.

How long will it take before America is listed as his then 5th (?) bankruptcy??

my Jewelry-YouTube Videos

Hello to the Non-Scrollers! 

Here is something for you to watch ;) 

     Hope you enjoyed my little visual!!

Update on new Jewelry

Yes .. the Holidays are coming closer and closer and i have been busy making jewelry .. and I even sold some of my creations!!! :P

Here are a few pictures of what i have made yesterday and today! 

Yeah .. told you i was busy!! 

Please, consider ordering one of my unique and affordable pieces for your Loved one for the Holidays! Come on .. where else do you get a handmade ring and the matching pair of earrings for under $20?? Right????