Eat, Pray , Love...

I just finished Eat, Pray, Love. I really liked it and was captivated until the very end.

Now, any suggestions for another fast read? I don't want a heavy read right now with the holidays coming up.

about me...

I got this meme from Auburn Kat.


Where is your mobile phone? In my purse in the kitchen.
Where is your significant other? Dropping Kendall off at school and then out in the woods (It's a federal holiday and he is off work).
Your hair color? brown with some gray.
Your mother? In Harrison, Arkansas
Your father? In southern Arkansas deer hunting
One favorite thing? chocolate covered Brazil nuts
Your dream last night? I don't remember
Your dream goal? to be out of debt!
The room you're in? kitchen
Your hobby? cooking
Your fear? not being able to take care of myself as I age
Where do you want to be in six years? On a round the world trip!
Where were you last night? On the interstate driving back from Boston
What you're not? eloquent
One of your wish list items? cookbook holder
Where you grew up? Fayetteville, Arkansas (Go Hogs!)
The last thing you did? filled my coffee cup
What are you wearing? PJs
Your TV? Curious George
Your pets? Buddy, the cat. Cody, the black lab. Lilly, the tyrant (oops, I meant puppy).
Your computer? from best buy. windows, blah blah blah
Your mood? discombobulated
Missing someone? nah
Your car? Toyota corolla
Something you're not wearing? earrings
Favorite drink? coffee, coke zero
Your summer? not long enough
Love someone? of course
Your favorite color? green (after all, my name is Kelly)
When was the last time you laughed? this morning
When was the last time you cried? I got teary eyed last week, but a real cry, it's been a while

Random and disjointed.....ha ha.

This is totally random today. Heck, I really have no idea why I'm blogging. But here is a picture of the kiddo's from the other day. Pete was burning some stuff and the kids were hanging out with him.

It's Friday and I'm so glad. I usually sleep in on Saturdays (wow! 8am), but tomorrow we are driving up to Boston. It seems I've been thrown some curves regarding my health and I have an appointment with a doctor up there on Monday. We'll hang out with Pete's parents for the weekend.

And if you have a Williams-Sonoma near you, walk, no run to it and buy this Maple Pecan spread. I bought this a few weeks ago in Harrisburg when I drove my mom to the airport. It is so yummy on toast.

A new day.

The first time I ever realized that the "N" word was bad was in second grade. I had moved from an all white town to a college town. My family was originally from rural, South Arkansas but had been living in Northern Arkansas for a few years. I was the only one born in that part of Arkansas. And I would be glossing over things if I didn't mention that my family (extended and some close) were bigots. I'm not proud of this fact, but that's what it is, a fact.

I was new to this school and was out on the playground with my friends. We were doing Eeny many meeny moe when I inserted the "N" word and everyone gasped. I stopped and innocently asked, "what?" "You said ______." I realized that day that it was a bad word. When I saw my parents after school, I brought up my new found enlightenment. It didn't go over well for a 7 year old to be correcting her dad. I think that was the beginning of mine and my dad's strained relationship. And I know that we can't pick our parents, nor would I pick anyone different, but we can make decisions for ourselves. I do love my parents and am thankful for all the good things they have taught me in my life. I'm sure no one has perfect parents and I'm proof that it is difficult to always be the best parent.

In 7th grade English class I met a new friend. Her name was Tiffany and she was Black. We sat by each other and really enjoyed each other's company. One day the teacher gave all the students "money". She had written words on the chalk board like wealthiest person, smartest person, tallest, strongest, etc. She had written all kinds of values on the board and we were to bid for them. The one I bought was "to rid the world of prejudice." I remember Tiffany saying to me,"I'm glad you bought that one." Yes, Tiffany, I wish I could really buy it to this day some 27 years later. I've struggled with the notion that someone is better than someone else simply because of color.

I voted for Obama. I am a registered Republican but I like the party of years ago. The party of Lincoln, our greatest president. I am for responsible government but a government that treats everyone like the valuable person they are. I am for peace, another reason I voted for Obama. I like McCain but I feel like we would have continued to waste lives and money in Iraq longer if he had been elected. I feel like those innocent Iraqi lives are valuable, too.

It did not matter to me that Obama is Black or mixed-race. He just seemed like the right person. But for those people who have dealt with prejudice because of their color, I'm happy for you this day. I'm happy for my children, too. I hope this is a new day for us all--A day to rid the world of prejudice.

Pumpkin roll dessert....

The public schools were out today for an in service which meant Kendall and I hung out together until Clayton got out of preschool. We then met the play group at the bowling alley. The bowling alley lost partial power so we left and went out for ice cream. It was sort of a crazy day but ended nicely for me with a scoop of chocolate almond ice cream on a sugar cone.

I'm hosting play group tomorrow (yikes! I have got to clean this house!), but did manage to make a new dessert that I've been looking for an excuse so I could make it.
Pictured above is the cake. It is really thin and I am spreading cream cheese frosting on it. Below is the finished dessert. It is called a pumpkin roll. I can't wait to taste it. I don't know why, but this year I have a hankering for pumpkin flavored desserts.

I found this dessert in my Southern Living cook book. There are pecans in the batter and then you roll it up as soon as it comes out of the oven. The white stuff is powered sugar.

I have another picture from this evening:


I can only imagine what is going through each animal's head.
Lilly: Dang door.
Buddy: Thank goodness for that door.