Baking, Blogging, and...Singing...yeah

Right now I am enjoying a seriously awesome lazy Sunday afternoon. Sunday afternoons have come to be probably my favorite time. Sunday afternoons are the time when everyone just chills. There's no running off to get to work or school or softball practice or book group. Dad has Truth Project in the evening but other than that, there isn't usually anything set.
Today, after church, we had lunch and then everyone except Joel went to go see Pixar's Up. I won't say much about it except that it is very good and I'm recommending it to everyone I know. We went to the 2:40 showing so Dad could get out in time to go to TP so the sun was still shining when we got out. A weird phenomenon, I gotta tell you. When you get out of a movie theater, in my opinion (I refuse to stoop to the texting/IMing jargon IMO), it should be dark out. However, when going as a family, especially when you are a large family, it is best to take advantage of matinees. So when we got home, Nenu flopped down on the lawn in the sunshine and I quickly followed suit. There are few things in life more satisfying than lying on a nice green lawn in the sunshine. I almost fell asleep but it was a tad too cold with the wind blowing.
Since there is nothing that says summer like iced tea, I made some, however, it was rather weak and just kind of blah. The iced tea put me in a baking mood though so I got on my absolute favorite site in the world, Foodgawker. However nothing really caught my eye as easily makable. In a flash of genius I thought shortbread and honey. Honey Shortbread. I googled it and got this. I know, shortbread is rather Christmas-y but it's nummy and I've been on a wicked honey kick lately. The shortbread just came out of the oven and cooled a bit. Verdict: Pretty good. Not amazing. If it wasn't for the honey, the shortbread would just be so-so. The actual shortbread part is weird and when I was pressing it into the pan I got a little worried because it was really floury and crumbly and it was rather difficult to prick it with a fork without completely ruining the top. This was my first attempt at the recent fad of kosher salt on top of a sweet and I gotta say I rather like it but I only used about half the amount of salt the recipe called for and I think I would reduce it still further. I think I may have over-baked the shortbread too. That being said, I have already eaten two of the sixteen pieces and I really should leave some for my family. I know for a fact that Dad will want some, he loves all things shortbread.
I found two of our Classic Disney cds earlier, imported them to itunes and have been listening to them for the last couple hours. Classic Disney makes me so happy, it makes me feel like a little kid again. I want to go to Disney World and see the Main Street Electrical Parade now and watch all of the classic Disney movies. However, I think I will just settle for the old Hayley Mills version. However, I will leave you with this: The Power of Suggestion.

Friday Mood

I made scones again today. Barefoot. With country music on in the background. I just love that feeling. There is just something about cooking and baking barefoot while listening to country music. It makes me feel so old-fashioned and house-wifey. Especially when the house is quiet and there's no screaming children running through or obnoxious teenagers stealing ingredients and demanding you make them breakfast.
Since my new-found freedom began, I have been feeling more and more in baking/cooking moods. Not sure if that sentence made any sense but I'm sticking to it. If I had the quietness and lack of little ones running around, I would probably keep this house in pretty constant supply of scones and other yummy baked goodies.
The hospital messed up somehow and is charging me some crazy amount in lab fees. I'm not supposed to pay anything because I have Healthlink but apparently, they didn't get the memo. I'm off to write a rather annoyed letter telling them in polite but no uncertain tones that there is no way in heck-fire I'm paying that bill.

Summer!

Today, I am totally and completely enjoying my summer. The first summer I've had off in a very very long time. Because while homeschooling, I was a total slacker who ended up doing my school through the summer. Actually, I usually didn't but I was constantly reminded to do my school through the summer and so I wasn't really able to fully enjoy the summer. This summer, however, I have finished my two courses, applied for next fall, applied for FAFSA, and am working a part time job that I've been at for four years, so I'm not worried about that. I have my passport, ticket and everything (I think. I hope.) for New Zealand in a couple months.
I slept in til ten or eleven today. *contented sigh* Worked on a little project I'm attempting. I have a few pretty awful books that mum bought for ten cents at a book sale. So I am attempting to dye the paper and then fade it to use as stationary. However, the paper doesn't like the dye I'm using (although my fingers do :P) and the only way of fading I can think of is putting it in the sun which is highly obnoxious and I would only able to fade on sunny days. I was hoping to make a fair amount and sell them on etsy. Because etsy is one of the coolest sites ever.
Oopsies. I just got lost on etsy for a half-hour or so. I gotta make dinner. :-P
Hopefully more posts soon!