Mango Shaved Ice

Chunnan found a new restaurant called "Facing East" with Taiwanese
cuisine. We had sliced lamb with pepper sause and stir fry green beans
and rice with pork sause and a Taiwanese pork burger. I forgot to get
pictures of all that but did manage to snap a photo of the mango
shaved ice that we had for dessert. Yummy, but too cold to be
comfortable on my sensitive teeth. :-)

Dinner At Taquiera Guymas

Pampered Chef

I have successfully met the goals to receive my free website for 90 days. After that I have to pay for it. Hope I make lots of money to keep the website and to pay my bills.

Anyway, here it is:
www.pamperedchef.biz/tarjakeddrell

Check it out and let me know what you think!!

Cinnamon Honey Glazed Sticky Buns

Merle found this recipe in his RFD TV Magazine and wanted to try it. They turned out pretty good and are easier than mixing your own dough.

Cinnamon Honey Glazed Sticky Buns

Makes 12 buns.

2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
1/3 cup honey (Merle poured 1/2 cup and I don't think that was too much)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
(No raisins were mentioned but Merle wants to add some next time we make them.)
(No icing was mentioned except the residual honey drippings, but I think I'd add some white icing like you see on regular cinnamon rolls.)

Grease 12 muffin cups with butter. Roll out thawed dough on lightly floured board to 12 x 8 inch rectangle. Mix honey and cinnamon. Using back of spoon, spread in even layer over dough. Sprinkle with nuts. Roll up dough, starting from long edge and end with seam on bottom. Cut dough roll using a gentle sawing motion into 12 equal-size buns. Place buns, spiral side up, (I can't figure that one out. No matter which side you put up it's going to look spiraled!... unless you put them in there sideways and that would look kind of silly.) in muffin cups. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap and let rise 30 to 60 minutes or until buns puff and fill cups. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven and carefully turn pan upside down onto board, letting syrup drip onto buns before removing them from pan.

***

Another one that looked good, but which we have not tried, is...

Bee Nutty Choco-Chip Cookies

Makes 16 servings.

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 oz. chocolate morsels
1/2 cup roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Combine honey, peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar in a large bowl; beat until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix thoroughly. Combine flour, soda, and salt; mix well. Stir into peanut butter mixture. Stir in chocolate morsels and peanuts. Using a 1/4 cup measure for each cookie, drop onto ungreased cookie sheet; flatten slightly. Bake at 350 degrees F 8 - 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to rack and cool.

***

And, if your having a problem with dry skin, there was even a recipe for...

Smoothing Skin Lotion

1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix together honey, vegetable oil and lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes, Rinse off with water.

Ya'll have fun now and no getting kinky with the honey skin lotion!

For the Adventurous Among You

I saw an article in the Gainesville Sun today which featured a couple of interesting places that I thought some of you more adventurous folks might want to check out on one of your trips to Florida. Take a look at...

http://www.foreverflorida.com/

and

http://www.revolutionoffroad.com

Peggy and I went to a quilt show in Ocala today. This is NOT my quilt in photo above. I did not enter any. More photos at http://www.quiltshow.snapfish.com/snapfish.

If that link doesn't work, try using http://www2.snapfish.com/groupview/groupname=quiltshow/groupid=60741007/groupownerid=24284069/

Arizona Happenings

Hey everybody. I just want to share some of the things happening around here lately, in no particular order.


A couple weeks ago we finally got an approval from the bank for our house. The proceedings which had been going very slowly suddenly got on the fast track as we were attempting to close by Friday the 19th so we would have several days to move out of the rental house by the end of the month. Everything looked to be on pace, however we now have an issue that is causing a delay. Unbeknownst to us, our credit union in NC requires authorization be on file there allowing them to wire money from our account without us actually being present when we request the wire transfer. So I had to fill out their form and express mail it to NC. Once they get it on Monday and process it, probably by Tuesday, then we can do the wire transfer. It looks like Wednesday the 24th is the soonest we will get the keys to our house, which leaves only a few days to get moved out of the rental by the end of the month. But it's doable, I think. I will post a comment to let you know when we actually have the keys.



Here is Alice at shooting practice. Remind me never to get on her bad side.


We occasionally get sandstorms. I don't know if this picture shows it well, but visibility can be greatly reduced at times. This is a picture of the most recent one, though it's not the worst I've been in. There have been ones that cause all traffic to stop.



I got a surprise in the mail recently form my favorite Mother-in-Law. Ain't she sweet? I think so.



For Valentine's Day I got Alie a durian fruit. Aren't I sweet? She thinks so.



Here she is attempting to not give herself a hysterectomy while she opens the durian.



We warned (promised?) John that it was going to stink, as is its trademark. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of experiencing a durian, here is a description of it from Wikipedia. "The edible flesh emits a distinctive odor, strong and penetrating even when the husk is intact. Some people regard the durian as fragrant; others find the aroma overpowering and offensive. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust. The odor has led to the fruit's banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in southeast Asia."



Concerning the smell of the durian, here is more from the Wikipedia article.

The unusual flavour and odour of the fruit have prompted many people to express diverse and passionate views ranging from deep appreciation to intense disgust. Writing in 1856, the British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace provides a much-quoted description of the flavour of the durian: “ The five cells are silky-white within, and are filled with a mass of firm, cream-coloured pulp, containing about three seeds each. This pulp is the edible part, and its consistence and flavour are indescribable. A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy. It is neither acid nor sweet nor juicy; yet it wants neither of these qualities, for it is in itself perfect. It produces no nausea or other bad effect, and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop. In fact, to eat Durians is a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience. ... as producing a food of the most exquisite flavour it is unsurpassed. ”

While Wallace cautions that "the smell of the ripe fruit is certainly at first disagreeable", later descriptions by westerners are more graphic.

British novelist Anthony Burgess writes that eating durian is "like eating sweet raspberry blancmange in the lavatory."

Chef Andrew Zimmern compares the taste to "completely rotten, mushy onions."

Anthony Bourdain, while a lover of durian, relates his encounter with the fruit as thus: "Its taste can only be described as...indescribable, something you will either love or despise. ...Your breath will smell as if you'd been French-kissing your dead grandmother."

Travel and food writer Richard Sterling says: “ ... its odor is best described as pig-shit, turpentine and onions, garnished with a gym sock. ”


So after all this hype, and all our malodorous expectations, I am sorry (pleased?) to say our durian was absolutely unscented. Nothing at all. It is possible our durian was either not yet ripe or over-ripe. Alie thought it tasted wrong and may have been spoiled. Nothing in the extensive Wikipedia article suggested the possibility that one might not have an odor at all, so we have no idea what the deal is. Very little of it was eaten, and the rest thrown out.

Today is 2 weeks

Today has officially been 2 weeks since my marriage came crumbling down. But you know, as I have had time to think and keep my self busy, I am at peace with it. The one things that puts me at peace with it, is knowing that I have an incredible support system, which is something that I will always appreciate. I also know, that I would never want to be the other woman in someone's relationship, but in this marriage I am the other woman and I just can't have that. He has continued to apologize and while I will in time accept the apology, I feel that if I do, then i will be condoning his behaviors. I have also realized that perhaps we were growing apart all along and it took this low blow for me to open my eyes to this possibility. Don't get me wrong, I was very much in love with him and thought we had a good thing going on, but I also know that things change, feelings change, and sometimes its hard for us to acknowledge that.

So I am happy to say that I am at peace with the situation. I am starting to make plans on how I am going to survive as a single woman. Something that I haven't been in quite a few years. I am possibly planning on relocating back to Bath for work purposes, or if I can find a roommate that will care for my dog, while I am away, then I will consider that.
I am surrounding myself with work and with friends and family. Like I said, that support system is amazing. I am remembering that it is okay to have fun and to truly laugh, even despite the situation. I am learning that an emotional situation such as this, doesn't require tears all the time. Rather I acknowledge that emotions come in all different forms, tears, laughter, anger, happiness.

Now on to David for a minute. He is still very confused. He refused couples therapy because he dreams that he will be with fantasy woman someday in the future. However, fantasy woman in unattainable at the time with her new boytoy in NH. He is finally accepting that he was the final nail in the coffin of this thing called marriage and at times he is broken up about it. But honestly he is more broken up about things that happen with fantasy girl. For instance, she had told him that she was proposed to last week. He was completely devastated and I had to see and hear about it. but he was so much happier the next day when he learned that she said no.

And yesterday, he decided to find GOD, under the urging of fantasy girl. So, he went to church in the am and the pm and he was Baptized. While I hope that this will provide him some solice in all that has taken place, I hope that he is doing it for himself and not her. This transition is awkward for me to see for a couple of reasons. 1 being that as long as we have been together, he has not appreciated organized religion or wouldn't want to go to church freely. In fact, he was a bit uncomfortable when I had my mom's pastor Felipe marry us. So, to me, this is an unusual transition. And 2, he has not been honest about his home life situation with his "coaches" as they are called apparently. They know that he is having some marital issues, but they think its something that "we" can work through. My mind and heart tells me that he really needs to be forthcoming and honest with them about the truth. That way he can truly get the help and answers that he deserves.

From someone that does not practice religion, but doesn't object to it, I am curious...Isn't it frowned upon if there has been infidelity in a relationship. And how does one go from the extreme of ending a marriage for an affair, to finding god, all within a two week period.
Would love to to hear some insight on this, just so it can help me to understand how this works.

Now my next question I am sure doesn't have an answer, but I would welcome insight on this too. How soon is too soon, to start meeting new people? I mean David has already checked out of the relationship and I am at peace with it ending, but is there a protocol for a grieving time or gotta pick up the pieces of my life time. For instance, I am going out with a friend today, that has been a mutual friend of ours for practically our entire relationship. But it has come to light, that we enjoying talking with each other and we enjoy spending quality time together. Is it wrong for me to want to see if in time this is someone that could be more than a friend? Should I feel guilty for even considering it? I mean, I know my marriage is over, but my life is once again just beginning.

Ok, that's it for this rant. Thanks all!

Happy Valentine's Day

Just a note to tell you all that I love you and to send along the last stanza of a poem, "To Be in Love with Love" from Garden of Faith just for Tarja.

To be in love with love
is to see in each day's dawning light
the promise of a new beginning,
and, in each tear, not sorrow or sadness,
but release and anticipation
for what yet may be
just beyond our sight
and feel with our hearts
not a painful ending,
but just a hint of gladness
in the teardrop's fall.

Big Hugs!
Ruth

Pics

My new hair. Just thought I would share, phase one of my post seperation transformation!

Movado Surrendered

Just dropped Movado at the adoption agency. He didn't want to look at
me too much. Fighting back tears.

Bye Bye Movado

I've decided to return Movado to the adoption center where we got him in Sept 2005. He has been causing too much stress with the other cats, chasing them around and starting fights. He's really being disruptive. Of the three, I think he will be the most easily adoptable to a new home. He's beautiful and has such a pleasant personality with people. Putting him in a one-cat home, he will probably be a joy to his new humans.

He goes back on Saturday afternoon.

Bye bye Movado.

It's Over

So hard to believe that I am saying its over, but it is. And that's the way it needs to be unfortunately. I never thought I would be one of those couples that divorces after like a year of marriage, only after being together for years and years before the special day. But I am not a statistic.
I am thankful for my wedding day, because I was able to share my days with lots of loving family and friends. And honestly it was one of the happiest days of my life. So thankful that both my parents were there for my special day. But the grieving side of me wonders, did something really change our relationship the day we took those vows, to make it so David wanted to check out of the relationship and pursue other options?
I find that when I am in a time in my life of uncertainty, anger, frustration, sadness, and more, writing is my best outlet. So please bare with me if I have lots of random posts. I really just need a place to vent my feelings.
This is short but sweet, but thats cause I gotta get ready for my short day at work.

Can't believe it's happening...

My world has been turned upside down as of Monday night. Peggy contacted me and I told her I would blog.

Dave has asked for either a seperation or a divorce. Not quite sure what it is really. Apparently he has been having feelings for months that he wanted out, but didn't want to hurt me. Well, the past couple of days he had been acting kind of strange so I called him on it. Finally he fessed up and said. "I don't love you like I used to and I have feelings for someone else." And to make matters worse, is he wants to end our 8 years together for someone that he can't have. How sucky is that. But he now says that his feelings changed long before he reconnected with this girl from his school years. And that his feelings for her, weren't the only reason he requested this.

And what this is, I have no idea. Monday night it was almost guaranteed divorce and by Tuesday afternoon, it was I don't want to rush in to divorce. Well make up my mind.

So right now, it is still a tolerable envrionment to be under the same roof, so until we get financially figured out, we will co habitate as roommates, until an agreement is made of when an actual divorce should take or until he is willing to accept counseling as an option to try and work on things.

Once upon a time with my ex, I was in the same exact position...He got the best of both worlds, having a committed relationship, but at the same time having all the freedom in the world. I told Dave, I will fight for you if you want me to, but I will not reside in limbo for long. It is not fair to anyone, especially me, who seems to have been given the most hurt of it all.

So, effective Tuesday afternoon, we opened him up a seperate bank account and I gave him a break down off all the expenses and made him a calender of what he owes me when. He is gonna find that without a job, his unemployment is not gonna be able to pay all the expenses he owes and still give him fun money. Hence the reason that our partnership with the money and bills, was great. So, now we will both be prioritizing how to pay the bills and for once in a really long time, begin paying our own share.

I have not been on my own financially for a really long time, so this transition, should it be final, will be an extreme adjustment. I will learn how to reevaluate spending and how to prioritize. For the most part I have done this all along, just this time, the monetary contribution will be different.

As I learn the fate of our union I will keep everyone updated. I would love for everything to work itself out or for him to get the help he needs for all of his "I don't know" answers, deep down I know that this is the end.

I will perservere and in some way I will succeed. It may take some struggling and misteps along the way, but I will be okay. And eventually one day, a long way down the road, maybe there will be some happiness once again.

Thanks for listening.....a very confused, me.