Hello Friends, and Happy Friday!

I’m here, but have been busy. Between family, and getting myself situated to be ready and organized to begin working, and as usual, there are just not enough hours in the day for all I want/and need to get accomplished!

Tonight I had a craving for molasses cookies with raisins, so I ran to the grocery store for raisins and extra flour, and used this recipe after doing a search.

Well. Seriously, if it’s not macaroni and cheese [homemade of course], or spaghetti and meatballs, I should not be allowed in the kitchen. I blame this on my nannie. Nannie cooked great meals, but her theory about the kitchen was:

1. You can never cook it too fast. Cook everything on HIGH!
2. Get in the kitchen and get out!
3. If a fork isn’t touching a plate the person is done and it’s time to take their plate so the dishes are all done, so we can get out of the kitchen!!

Yeah. That’s me. I find no enjoyment in the kitchen, because something will be overcooked, or undercooked, no matter how hard I try.

So…the molasses cookies. I made two batches one with raisins and one without. First batch comes out and I realize why the recipe said to drop the dough 2 inches apart.

Thankfully on the second batch I decided to keep the dough 2 inches apart–and we went from square to round cookies.

Of course, by time I got to the dough with the raisins, they came out beautiful!

What else did I learn tonight? When you take the cookies out of the oven you shouldn’t immediately try to place them on a wire rack, and square cookies taste just as good as round cookies. And I know that nannie would agree!!

Have you checked out my One World-One Heart 2010 post? My post has 378 comments right now. Right now there are 828 participants, and I still cannot believe that my ticket number is #14!

Have you stopped into the Log Your Memory Community? There is a Sweet Talk Journaling Challenge beginning February 1st, so stop in and join in on the fun with us!

Much to do this weekend, and hoping time will be on my side. Until tomorrows Unscripted post, have a wonderful remainder of your night, and stay warm!

xo-Jenny

Happy Thursday friends!! Woke up this morning to a chilly beginning [no complaining], and 101 ideas/plans and schemes. Well, I didn’t accomplish all 101 but I did accomplish a few, so life is good.

After the afternoon chores, Keith and I made a trip to Goodwill and it’s Thrift Store Thursday. I found this brand new rolling suitcase and inside was the samsonite carryall…Grand total: $1.99!

On the way home we stopped at an antique store and I found this lovey to add to my collection…

In the first photo, not sure if you can see it clearly, but the case is monogrammed L.A.K.E. There was no price on the suitcase so I asked the gentleman expecting to have to walk out the door ‘without’ it and after a moment of thinking he said, $5.00! WAhooo!!

Inspire Me Thursday topic for today is Pears.

Pear, Apple and Cranberry Crisp recipe by Ina Garten [The Barefoot Contessa].

Oh, and if you’ve been wondering where I’ve been running off to with my boys for a month now in the big city, here’s my Project 365 photo for today.

They are a little late going to drivers ed, but driving is a priviledge and unfortunately they made some wrong choices when it came to school grades so they were not rewarded.

They are going to be the death of me….but, I’m being told there are a lot of women still walking around that survived their sons, so maybe I’ll be one of those lucky ones!!

Well friends, I hope your day has been a beautiful one, and until tomorrow…

xO-Jenny

Funny how you bring home a puppy and the two cats who have been together for about four years now are {finally} best buds!!

I may be getting a little carried away with my pursuit of books to read. Here’s a look at what I have been able to pick up at Goodwill for super cheap! Of course Twilight is #1 on my list. {the top three books on the pile are for Toni}. 

Today I was able to get a few ‘little’ things accomplished off of that to-do list. I am pecking away slowly, but surely, and hoping by the end of the month this entire house from attic to basement will be completed fully, then outside here I come.

Last summer I purchased a huge box full of Home Interior magazines that were a few years old and this morning I went thru each and everyone cutting out a number of ideas with step by step directions to build…a garden table, a pantry, a greenhouse…man, if only I could measure correctly and use a skill saw.

Kitchen is half down. #1 Priority in the morning so that room will be completed. So far we’re 1:1. 1 garbage bag for the dump, and 1 garbage bag for goodwill.  

I ordered Everyday Food quite awhile ago, and was just recently able to peruse a few for some new recipes. Tonight we had a Tarragon Chicken Salad, and I have to tell you that it was delicious and have enough left overs for another meal {I LOVE leftovers!!}. Here’s a picture of my Tarragon Chicken Salad. I do want to add that the calories are pretty high– 355 calories per serving. Because I eat 1/2 of a serving typically, the calories are perfect for me, and 47.3 g of protein is an added bonus for me.

Season 5 of LOST concluded last night and all I have to say is holy effers!! I do not want to wish my life away, but dang, I will be looking forward to next season!!

Tonight is the season finale of Hell’s Kitchen. Danny and Paula are the last two, and I have to tell you, they both truly deserve to win. Not sure how I’ll continue my weeks without wondering if that will be the night that Chef Ramsay will have an embolism!! And of course, I’ve gotten pretty attached to his favorite words, “piss off” and “you cow”. Has to be a British thing. lol

Well friends, I have about 30 minutes before Chef Ramsay comes on, so in an attempt to use my time wisely, until tomorrow…

xO-Jenny