My "Currant" Disposition

Ever feel like the currant bush? I think it goes without saying I have.
An excerpt from one of my all-time favorite talks explains what-the-heck I'm talking about:
“I went out one morning and saw a currant bush. It had grown up over six feet high. It was going all to wood. There were no blossoms and no currants…So I got some pruning shears and went after it, and I cut it down, and pruned it, and clipped it back until there was nothing left but a little clump of stumps. […] You know, I thought I heard that currant bush talk. And I thought I heard it say this:

Read the Gardner’s reply here.
What a wonderful promise.
It fills me with peace and brims me to tears.

November 19: Doing the Math

Rewrite

After October 25 our mailbox has been full.
Hungry no more.

Thank you, everyone, for your sentiments: the cards, the blues, the letters, the bouquet of books instead of fresh flowers. Even Deseret Book got in on the postal pleasantries- by rejecting my manuscript. : )
Just in case you are wondering what a Dear John from DB looks like: From the title you can make a safe assumption what the manuscript is about. Those of you who thought I had submitted a creative work apparently are not familiar with my attention span’s height. It’s short, for future reference.
Instead of a novel, I submitted an activity book. My manuscript has over fifty ideas with instructions pertaining to family history for the enjoyment of the family and especially children and youth. It also includes with each activity a purpose statement (i.e. Purpose: to become familiar with the contents of a Family Group record sheet ) and the table of content is conveniently organized into descriptive categories for easy selection.
So, now what should I do with it? I guess it will just collect dust on the hard drive.
It has served its purpose: to keep my mind off things.
Those of you who keep tabs on my FB status updates, know I’ve been looking into MLS degree programs. I narrowed my sights down to two online programs: Florida State University and North Carolina Central University…. THEN I got my Simmons information packet in the mail with a nifty fact sheet about their dual major MA in Children’s Literature and MS in Library Services for Children... They really need to come up with a universal emoticon for salivating. It would probably look like this:

: P - - - O
(notice the puddle of accumulating drool?)

But the degree is not offered online.

: '(

And, being honest, I probably don’t have the drive to go back to school like my incredible husband. I’ll leave the graduate work to him.

Complacency is a dirty word in our house. When I told Mike about my new goal he was … {insert a word here that is not as strong as “offended” and not as concerned as “worried”}

Maybe a better word for my goal is “content”?

Yeah. That looks better.
In ideal circumstances I’d still be pregnant. And I wouldn’t be three weeks postpartum in November. Instead, it’d be January and I would be sleep-deprived and plenty busy with a newborn, juggling both Caleb and Emma.
But instead, because this situation is not my ideal, I’m three weeks postpartum and wondering what I should be doing because naturally, biologically, I would/should be doing something.
So, I guess with the manuscript, and with the interest in graduate school I’m trying to fill a void. When instead, I really should just try to be content to be where I am.

Which is hard.

Which makes my goal more of a challenge.

*You may have noticed a new button on our sidebar. Click it!

Make Room.

Make Room this Season:

“The innkeeper missed the greatest opportunity that an innkeeper could ever have had.
Years later it would not do him any good to say,
‘If only I had known who they were.’
In our busy lives, with ever so many others competing for our attention,
it is essential that we make a conscious, committed effort
to bring Christ into our lives and into our homes."

-President Thomas S. Monson

"We need to take the time to worship,
to meditate, and to develop a more personal relationship with the Lord.
We need to get acquainted with his teachings.
We need to fill our hearts with the things of the Spirit.
We need to be more practical and to begin to think today
what Jesus thought. We can fill our minds with our Heavenly Father’s purpose
and our hearts with an understanding of his ways.
We can open the door of our soul and make room for the Savior to come in."

-Elder George P. Lee

"Make room for the Church in your life. Let your knowledge of its doctrine grow.
Let your understanding of its organization increase.
Let your love for its eternal truths become ever and ever stronger."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley

"Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus!"

-Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Another How-To

How to Create a Line Drawing or “Stamp”
in Photoshop CS2

Yes, I’m aware there’s probably is an easier way to do what I do. A way my husband will enlighten me about, I’m sure, right after I publish this post. But this is how I do it. There may seem to be a lot to it but just like any project in photo editing once you do it, the next will be easier.
I don’t claim to be a know-it-all or a professional.

Disclaimer over.

Photoshop Tip: Create and label multiple layers. This will allow you to compare, backstep, and stay organized.

Step 1: You want to select a photograph that has obvious contrast, a balance of darkness and light. You will heighten this contrast further by adjusting the Brightness/Contrast of the layer. First duplicate the original layer (ctrl + alt+ j), label and adjust. Like So. See the difference between A & B?
Don’t forget to “hide” the original layer.

Step 2: Now you will create a desaturated layer or a “grayscale” layer. Duplicate the edited layer (the one labeled B above). Then press ctrl + shift + u.
Step 3: Duplicate desaturated layer and inverse that layer. To inverse the layer use the following key stroke: ctrl + shift + i

Step 4: Select Linear Dodge for the layer bending option. The layer will appear blank. Breathe. It’s still there. : )

Step 5: Select the Gaussian Blur Filter. Adjust the filter and using the preview provided adjust the layer to look like a line drawing.

Step 6: Merge the three layers: The edited layer, the desaturated layer, and its duplicate (now the line drawing layer).

Step 7: Select Color Range. Click the dropper over the white hue of the newly merged layer. Adjust fuzziness to a higher quantity. I can't give you an exact number here since it really depends on the image and what you want. Confirm your selection. You’ll see on the layer what is called “marching ants” press Backspace, this deletes the selected hue. Now instead of “white” your layer will have the checkered transparent void.

If you have any questions,
you know how to get a hold of me. : )

Also, if you readers

ever see something on the blog that you like such as stamps, silhouettes or fonts, let me know. I'm always happy to share!

The Admission

How goes the boycott? I swear, if I see any Michael McLean contraband at your homes this Christmas, you’ll be blacklisted. Forgotten Carols indeed. Moohahahaha…

Whoah. Halloween is over, better put the crazy away there, Angela.

Anways, there’s something you should know about me. I was not primed to be a domestic... well, anything, in any way. Well. That’s not true. My mother is a very clean person, so you’d think it would have rubbed off on unto me, but alas, it was scrubbed away in her efforts. Sorry, Mom.
But, that is another topic for another day.

Today, I’d like to tell discuss admit to you my cooking habits.
A term coined by Sandra Lee, Semi-Home Cooking is an accurate description for my culinary concoctions. If it isn’t cheap or easy, it isn’t on my menu.
First step in the program is admitting I have a problem:I am a wife and mother who serves her family seven-layered dip, tortilla chips and cheese crisps for dinner one night, then chicken salad sandwiches and a bagged green salad the next. I have canned soup in my pantry! And I have every intent of using it – and none of my plans involve a casserole! Just a side of grilled cheese. (Oh the humanity!)
I like tried, tired and true. Recipes that give me consistent results, even when I don’t use exact measurements because I used all my measuring cups the day before and don’t feel like washing them... or let’s face it, I never measure-out any ingredients anyways so how those instruments got dirty is a mystery. I suspect Caleb.
A Kerri-Strugg-kind-of-a-recipe. That’s what I like.
One-legged and bringing home the gold. USA! USA!

Whew. Got sidetracked there. Again.

Ever heard “misery loves company”? Well, so does sloth and gluttony.

So here are some of my moose fool-proof recipes:

A Chicken Salad for all Seasons…

First thing you need to know is I love chicken salad sandwiches. I have fond memories of Girls’ Camp that involve consuming chicken salad-filled pitas. Second thing you need to know is that it just isn’t chicken salad without grapes. I know there is an anti-grape sentiment regarding chicken salad in some communities that rivals that of the great pickle and tunasalad segregation, but I’ve already admitted that I have no conscience, grudges, or scruples so I am blameless therefore, do not judge me.

Every General Conference I make chicken salad. I have mentioned that before. My recipe is similar to Pioneer Women’s recipe found here. But my sauce is pretty basic:
Now. While ca-ruising the grocery store yesterday, I noticed that grape prices are on the rise again. This happens if the state you live in doesn’t directly touch or touch a neighboring state that touches California or Florida. So, what does a member of the pro-grape party like myself do come winter?
I’ll tell you…
Craisins. That’s right my friends. Craisins. Omit the dill weed and add some rosemary or thyme.

Thank me later.

Crockpot Chicken
A recipe properly renamed from Cream Cheese Chicken since if I have chicken and if I plan on using the crockpot sometime that month I make this recipe, no matter what. It is the absolute.

It. is. CrOcKpOt ChIcKeN!

I serve it over rice with a side of bread or cooked frozen veggies. A popular leave-it-and-go-to-church Sunday dinner at our house.

So Easy You’ll Feel Bad Cobbler
So you eat it all and feel better

1 can of cherry pie filling
1 can of pineapple pie filling
1 box of yellow cake mix
About ½ C of melted butter (I don’t measure!)

Mix fillings together and pour into a long cassie dish. Sprinkle cake mix over the top. Cover cake mix layer with melted butter. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let setup for ten minutes before serving.

This past week I received the token week-worth of meals
from my Relief Society sisters.
Thank you for cooking with compassion and a conscience.

My family is grateful.

Every now and again
we need some comfort cooking.
Then again, maybe just comfort.

PS Brownie points if you know the pickle-tunasalad debate reference. Leave a comment. And admit you had to look it up. : )

Needlesstosay

I’m going to say something, something that seems not needed to be said,

a needlesstosay,

but I’m going to say it anyways, so you know and so I know, for our benefit.
In the past I have discussed many topics on this blog. I have written about marriage, genealogy, moosen, religion, fears, weaknesses, and shortcomings in faith, motherhood, and domestic skills that are close to godliness.
But there comes a time when every blogger needs to draw a line when typing.

This is me drawing the line.

I will not be publishing any post about Emma’s delivery or funeral service. Why? In the eloquent words of someone I blog stalk, regarding her own daughter’s funeral,

“because the events were far too special and sacred
to be written on anything called a blog…"

Don’t misunderstand me. I will be recording these experiences, just not for the general public.
I feel driven to record and preserve this journey for other generations. Genealogy has been a great comfort to our family during these events, in several ways. For one, since no one in my immediate family has suffered a miscarriage or stillbirth, it was comforting to be able to identity with my grandmother Kappes, and great, great grandmother Peterson, who both endured losing children. Drawing from stories my father had told me and census records, I established a bond with my foremothers over tragedy and hope.
Several instances, I have wished I could talk to my grandmothers or read their thoughts.
Whenever I instruct about personal history, I always prompt, “If you could interview an ancestor right now, what would you want to know?” Your answers are what you should be writing about for future generations RIGHT NOW.
Practicing what I preach, here. Just not here, in blogdom.

Thank you again, for everything, and especially for reading. I have a special reader out there that doesn’t comment, and I just want her to know the unwritten comments are often the best. : )

Soon I will be posting an actual full-fledged Angela post. Soon.
Sooner than later. Maybe this week.

PS My mailbox is still hungry. : (
Begin the Deseret Book boycott now.

INSIDE: Where The Wild Things Are...

Happy Halloween!

From Michael, Angela and the monkey