It Is What It Is

Something I've been saying a lot lately, "It is what it is". Now stop and think about that a minute....

My husband and I have been trying to avoid the negativity in our lives lately. That could mean, avoiding certain people, keeping the TV news off and avoiding so much time on Social Media.

I'm personally sick if hearing about politics, gay rights and animal abuse! People are finding a way and reason to argue about everything. The world is getting worst every day. Insurance is getting more costly and doctor bills are on the rise. But, "It is what It is". Its not going to do any good to stress about it. We need to just focus on happiness and do the best we can.

I want to live in a happy world. That's going to be a hard thing to do with so much hate and crime that's lingering in our home towns. I can let it bother me and it will not help at all. I have the right to pick and choose the places I want to go and areas I want to avoid. I'll do just that. 

For now on, I'm going to try and get through my days without complaining so much, "it is what it is". Friends have turned from me and I have family members that make me upset by avoiding me. I have to let it go and stop worrying about it. If they don't need me, then they don't need me. However, Ill always be here for them when they do. I think they have way more problems than I have.

The work place is not fair. Favoritism is a problem, Language and actions are a pain to deal with every single day. It does no good to gripe about it. I try to ignore it. All I can do is the best I can. My reward is my paycheck.

Complaining and getting mad does not show my Christian roots. It feels so much better to walk by all people and smile at them. Yes, I smile at every person I walk by. Showing them whats really in my heart, not whats in my mind. You never know what they are going through or what they have been through. Instead of grinching at the car that just cut me off or the man that let the door slam in my face, I'll just let it go. Again, you never know whats going on there.

Not everyone is respectful, nice or generous. Its just the way it is. I will no longer let piddly little things get me in a tissy. People need love and kindness shown toward them. Not everyone is raised in a Christian home, have parents that show them love and support, or have anyone thats taught them respect or care. It's my responsibility to show them that there is still good people around. The world will let us down every day. Its not a fair world, but I have to live in it and even though I cant make a better world, I can make a better me.

Saturday Outing

Saturday was such a beautiful day. It was sunny and 75 with a mix of a few clouds that came over just in the times we needed a little shade. The perfect weather to go for a walk. We have had a few bad experiences the past couple days while walking around the neighborhood. We are either running from stray dogs that are coming out of nowhere or hiding from the Opossum that scavenges the properties.

We wanted to get out a little while, but still wanted to get some walking in. So, we decided to head down to the county Museum and walk the nature trail. I remember this trail from when I was a little kid. It just seemed a lot bigger then. Its only a 1/2 mile loop.

We forgot that it was Earth Day weekend. The trail was full of activities and kids so we couldn't really get the speed up for a power walk but we enjoyed it all the same. Along the trail there were booths set up with information about things such as "how plants grow", "kinds of rocks you see" and "how bees make honey". We stopped at a few displays and actually learned a few things.

On down the path we came to the old farm area of the museum trail where you can tour old country living. We saw how they shear sheep (the old way way). 

Then we saw how the wool was spun into thread. 

It was interesting to also see the people were dressed for the occasion.

We walked inside the museum lobby to say hello to T-Rex before leaving.

Before heading home we stopped by Sweet Frogs yogurt shop for a tad of yogurt . Yes just a tad..... oh and I had to have those wet nuts on mine and a gummy frog for fun.

We also visited an Antique shop and a thrift store where I found this tapestry runner. I wanted something to cover a vintage vanity in my daughters room. I needed something to cover a bad spot on the top surface. It was driving me crazy and I don't have the means to fix it.

I think it fit perfect and has just the right colors to match the coral and tan colored bedding.

Later we headed out to dinner and back to rest. I need to catch up on some crocheting and laundry....wait, that's not resting!!!

Low Fat Peanut Butter Cookies

I made peanut butter cookies and I'm not even a fan of peanut butter.

I like peanut butter flavor but I can't eat it right out of the spoon like my daddy and daughter often do. These cookies were so good that I'm going to share the recipe with you.

First I want to thank my friend Anne for sending me this recipe from "Taste of Home". She is just the best. She always remembers things I say even if it was months ago. She remembered I'm always looking for low fat healthy foods to make. She helps me out ever chance she can and I don't even have to ask. She is such a good friend.

I actually have a few old "Taste of Home" Cookbooks at home lingering somewhere in the back of a cabinet. My favorite cookbooks, however, are the old church cook books. They are just full of simple and easy recipes you can find at most church or family dinners. Cookbooks are becoming a thing of the past as you can find anything on the computer now days.

Now back to this delicious Peanut Butter Cookie recipe.

The recipe was so simple and I had all the ingredients on hand. That can be dangerous for me.
Part of the recipe says to chill the dough for a couple hours. That made me throw it down at first. I mean, I want cookies when I want cookies. I'm like the cookie monster on that phone commercial. ha.

After pondering about it, I thought my daughter was coming by the next day, so I whipped up the dough and put it in the fridge overnight so it would be ready to cut and bake once she came in. She ended up not coming but that didn't stop me from making them anyways. I just have to eat them all now.

So get out your bowl and peanut butter stuff and make some cookies!

Low Fat Peanut Butter Cookies By: Taste of Home.

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter
• 1/2 Cup packed brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Sugar
• 1 Large egg white
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• *1 Cup all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/8 cup salt
• *(I used self rising flour and omitted the salt and baking soda).

Directions:

• Cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
• Add egg white and beat until blended, beat in vanilla.

• Combine flour mixture and gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
• Shape intp an 8 inch roll; wrap in plastic wrap and place in freezer for 2 hours or until firm.

• Unwrap dough and cut into slices approx. 1/4 inch think.
• Place 2 inches apart, on a greased baking sheet and flatten a little with a fork. 
• Bake 350 for 6-8 minutes for chewy cookies or 8-10 minutes for crispy cookies.
• Remove and place on wire rack to cool a couple minutes. 

Yield: about 2 dozen.

1 cookie equals 62 calories,

2g fat, 

4mg cholesterol, 

64mg sodium, 

11g carbohydrate, 

1 gram protein.

I thought they tasted a lot like the Nekot cookies you can purchase from the store or most vending machines. Except these were soft and chewy.

Thanks again Anne!

The Cook Book

If you think your having deja vu, you are. This is a rewrite of an old post. Enjoy.

A few years ago, my husband had bought me a new camera for my birthday and it came with an offer from Shutterfly that I could not turn down. Well, I did turn it down until two days before it expired. I kept getting emails reminding me of my free photo album. I didn't know what kind of photo album I wanted to make but I didn't want my free offer to expire.

So, I went to the site and looked through what all they had to offer and there it was, "make your album into a cook book". I could do that! I only had two days to put it together to get it published and it took me every bit of that time. I wish I had looked into it sooner so I could have taken more time with it and make it more creative. Two weeks later, it came in the mail. I was pretty excited.

Most of the recipes are from the ones I have posted before on my blog. I didn't have much time to think it out a whole lot.
But here it is a sneak peak at a few pages in my twenty page cook book.

Does the cover look familiar? Yep, Its from one of my paintings I posted about earlier.

You can check it out again HERE.

Thanks Shutterfly!

One day I would love to go through some of the recipes I have collected from my mom and mother in law and create a big cookbook including all the recipes we love. That would be a big project. It would literally be like writing a book. I have so many recipe boxes around the kitchen it would take forever to go through them all. Maybe this could be a winter project to tackle. 

Sunday Tour

The weekend was so nice. We were able to get a nice walk in, do some shopping, and visited a camper show at the mall.  

Later we washed the cars and headed out to one of our favorite Mexican restaurants uptown. 

After church on Sunday, I suggested we attend a historical open house event that was going on near by. 
Most everyone from North and South Carolina has heard of Loray or Firestone mill. Its was the largest mill in Gaston county sitting at 600,000 square foot, 7 floors and over 110 years old.

The mill was originally named Firestone Mill and employed over 3,500 employees. It was the site of of Gastonia's bloody labor strike in 1929. It was later called Loray Mill. 

After sitting empty for years and an eye sore for most, they have turned it into residential and commercial space. There are 5 floors of residential loft apartments and two floors of available retail space including a brewery and a fitness club.

It was so neat to see the inside of this mill as they have kept most of the old structure in place. I fell in love with the rustic yet modern style in each apartment. 

We had a good time seeing some historic slide shows, listening to mill village style music and running into a few old friends. We ended up walking two hours and about three miles during our self tour. We also found the stairway the led to the top of the peak tower which was also housed a water tower at one time. It was needed in case this giant caught fire. 

From the top, you could see the mountains on one side and as far as Charlotte on the other. I'd say that's at lease a 20 mile view.

The halls were long, the ceilings were high and the first two floors were like a mall as you could look down over the railing. 

The retail spaces are still in process but the apartments are ready for rent. The prices range from 800 a month to 1800 a month. As much as we would love to live here, that price is a little steep for our budget right now. We'd rather invest in beach property. 

You can check out more photos and history of the old mill HERE.

Leaving the mill, we saw something else old. 

Nice huh?

Later we did some grocery shopping and then home for some salmon on the grill. It was a nice day.