The Evolution of the Gingerbread Man

I tried. Really. Twice.

You might not think it's that hard to make frosting. I didn't either until I ventured blithely into unknown territory armed with my Kitchenaid mixer and ingredients. It only called for 3. How hard could it be? Apparently one should not try to accomplish this task unless they are proficient in making souffle'. I am not.

The first time I made the frosting the perfect blend of creamy and frosting-like. Then I made the mistake of wanting to color it red. Christmas red! What better red is there? I guess the gel I used to tint the frosting has limited powers compared to its cousin the liquid food coloring, because I could only achieve a sad pepto-bismal pink. Yeah.

I threw the batch away. Nothing will break my optimism - how hard could frosting be?

Hard.

Actually it quite literally was hard: too stiff. For my second attempt I vowed to keep the frosting white. But I overdid the powdered sugar. It looked great, but when I put it into decorator tubes...let's just say it would take a gorilla's grip to get that sugary goodness out.

The picture could be seen as a gingerbread man evolving into it's beautiful traditional form. You also could see it backwards though (right to left) cause that's the order I frosted them. Is that devolving?

Questionable

Have you noticed there are standard questions that are asked all the time? If someone is pregnant you first ask: When are you due? And: Are you going to find out if its a boy or girl?

Then you ask when the gender is found out: What are you going to name him/her?

Then when your cute baby is born and you are grocery shopping the standard question is: How old is he/she?

I find it fun that in each stage of life there is some sort of question that is universal and asked at least once or twice.

People still ask me how old I am...I'm not sure I'm at the right stage for that question. The jury is still out on that one.

I give D. Chupp an A for asking thoughtful questions that almost always have to be answered with more than a yes or no. Not that standard questions are bad - I mean I've asked them and wanted to know the answer to them myself - but I think it's fun to think of creative questions.

Do you like white or black socks as a rule?

Early Bird

So...Miss Sparrow has started listening to Christmas music. Now I am of the belief that Christmas music should be saved until Thanksgiving starts, but I was thinking...if one starts listening to Christmas music early it may help get Christmas shopping finished early? I tend to put it off unless I know for sure what I want to get someone. The hard part is waiting until Christmas for them to know what it is!

Coming up next

I saw a sign the other day that said "fast food fast". It struck me that everyone here seems to want things as quickly as possible going on to the next activity or thing just as quick. It's true that some of those activities take time, just as shopping, but once it is over there is a feeling of "what next"? The feeling of contentment seems to lie in an endless succession of activities with convenience thrown in.

Work is a necessary evil. We want more time to play and less time working toward having time to play. But isn't working something that ought to be enjoyed just as much as "play"? Can't we be content in each moment we are living without wishing the next thing were already happening (and while that "next thing" is going on we wish another moment were upon us)? It would then seem like we were rushing and hurrying in hopes of contentment and never truly finding it because we are so busy looking to "the next thing".

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content...I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:11;13

Camels ... still recent

I'm feeling parched right now. That reminds me of camels and how they can last a long time without any water. They must get some serious dry throat issues - have you seen how long their throats are?

We saw some camels in Texas on a recent trip. A year ago. That is still recent. Just like I married my best friend a year ago. It's still recent.

I still need to get pictures developed from the wedding. But it's still recent right, so I don't have to worry about it yet...

I'm still parched. Off to find some water!

Falling for you

Today was a perfect Fall day. It was windy and cool with sunlight streaming over the trees creating shadows that danced across the walls and window shade. I had the windows
open all day!

By the way...when do we "fall back" in the time change stuff?

Maybe I should unpack...

I'm on a caffeine buzz right now. It's fun. But. It. Is. Late. I have to be a normal person tomorrow. I could unpack with all the energy I have right now. But it's much more fun to blog. :)

Can do and ought to...hmmm

I know I shouldn't try sleeping because it will only result in frustration. Maybe if I read something really boring I will go to sleep.