New!!!

Spring has finally sprung...and I couldn't be happier about it! Here are some pictures I took on Easter of the redbud tree in my parent's front yard:

I was just playing around with my camera but I really liked the way they turned out. But unfortunately, I have no idea what I did with my camera to get these! So I'm sure this is a one time thing.

And to wrap up this short post (but hey, at least I finally posted...right?!) , here are the flowers I potted for my porch. I hope they live!"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring time."
-Martin Luther

The Perfect Chocolate Croissant

Something I've always wanted to do is master some kind of European pastry. Both times I have been to Europe, frequenting pastry shops daily was vital. Those of you who have been with me in Europe can attest to this...such as this little lady:

(She loves me so much that she even greeted me at the airport with
a pastry when I went to visit her in Portugal!)

So, due to my love for sugar and carbs (oh how wonderful...it makes me happy inside just thinking of the two together...in one perfect treat!) I set out to find the perfect beginner pastry to try. After my internet search returned void, I decided I should venture to the local library to see what I could find. I carefully crafted my list of books to search out when I got there...you can see the list was quite extensive.

I should have guessed that when my list consisted only of 3 books that this search would probably return void as well...but I pressed on hoping that I would find that perfect gem among the rows of books.

(I apologize for the blurriness of this picture...I felt very stressed by
a girl ripping books off the shelf next to me only to look at two pages
and replace them. She didn't understand that the library is supposed to
be a calm environment.)

But after all that extra expenditure of energy...I could not find anything that grabbed me. So I decided I would give in and just make a good 'ole croissant since I had gotten so excited at Whole Foods when I found fresh chocolate croissants!

So, I went back to the vast portal of the world wide web and cast my request for the perfect croissant recipe. Unlike the others, this search did not return void and I was led here. I was a touch skeptical, but I decided I would try it out and hope to not have a disaster. This is where the journey to the perfect chocolate croissant truly begins.

First, I mixed all my ingredients:

Then the dough needed to rise:

While I waited for the dough to double in size I rolled out 12 tablespoons of butter...that's right twelve tablespoons:
The next steps took place over the 24 hours that followed. Rolling the dough out and folding it over the butter. Then chilling it, then rolling and folding again and then chilling it, then rolling and folding one more time and letting it chill overnight:

Then finally the time arrived to roll the dough out again, cut it into triangles, and add chocolate chips to roll into croissants:



And then finally...after spending over a day preparing these, the perfect chocolate croissant was in my kitchen.


Now, I must be frank...I'm generally not that impressed with myself, but these little croissants were literally perfect! They were just the right amount of crisp on the top and fluffy bread on the inside. They tasted just like they came from a beautiful pastry shop on the streets of a European city.


I was quite pleased to say the least. So, the next time I have you over maybe I'll make some of these little guys for you. They are a treat indeed!

The Fall Glow

Did you notice it this afternoon? The beautiful fall glow finally arrived...just in time. It reminded me of this:

I’d noticed that his eyes were black – coal black.

As promised...to all three of you reading this...I am beginning the week of new posts! Today's post is about reading. This is the fun little book I've been reading lately:

Indeed, it is true...I have given in. I'm only on the fourth chapter, but so far it's been pretty interesting. It is fun to read something a tad more entertaining and nonsignificant than all of my nursing books. Maybe when I'm finished I'll even have something insightful to share!

I love reading, but I often times don't make it enough of a priority. Don't you just love how reading takes you to a completely different place from where you are currently? I think that is one of the best things about books. So, if you haven't taken the time lately, you should find something fun and a bit inconsequential to escape from real life for a bit.


In somewhat similar news, have you heard about this?:
http://trueslant.com/nickobourn/2009/09/20/phillys-near-loss-of-its-entire-library-system/

I first read about this several days ago. At the time of the first article I read, it was certain that the Philadelphia free library system would be shutting down, doing away with all book loans, after school programs, and cutting nearly 3000 jobs. But today, thankfully I have read that the budget bill, number 1828, was passed in the state senate by a vote of 32-17. How sad to think that there were actually 17 people who wanted to do away with this wonderful free service. It made me appreciate our own library system here in OKC that I have been frequenting lately.

Well, that is pretty much all I have for today! Tonight I will continue my trek that began this weekend to mastering a french pastry. More on that Wednesday!

Have a lovely Monday!

*twilight photo found here

Back Again...like you're favorite rash

Well hElllooooo! That was quite the break, huh? What have I been doing since I last was around these parts you ask? Well wouldn't you like to know?! Let me tell you then... my life has consisted of:

Running to Chicago for the evening and wearing big girl clothes
to learn more about Plavix and a new drug like it and how
it can help my little patients not have heart attacks.
(pardon the toilet...my picture skills will increase as this blog continues)





Sitting at this desk daily looking on my computer
for patients I can enroll or waiting for my patients
to show up to ask them lots of questions and listen
to their hearts...literally and figuratively. These little
men like to talk!

And searching for one of these. LONGEST
search of my life. But we'll get there!

So, needless to say, I've been quite the busy lady! BUT...despite all of that, I know it is time for me to get back to blogging. That is why I am here to tell you that I have a full weekend planned for myself with activities such as:

Sleep!!

Reading

Writing

Sewing

Watching Movies

Baking

AND...all of these activities should inspire new posts for this next week! So, you just get yourself ready, I'm about to DO IT BIG!!!!

P.S. I'm just now ending this post after being on here forever and I am quickly remembering why it has taken me so long to post again! I just like pictures with my posts...but it takes forever!!!



*photo

Hello again, old friend

Well...It's been a while! Not much is new...but I have been sickly in my bed most of the day today, so I thought I would update. I rarely get sick, but when I do it can get pretty bad. So, I'm trying to knock this out pretty soon. Don't worry, I already ate lots of chicken noodle soup and crackers, and I used my neti pot to clear my sinuses and also gargled with salt water! Here I come health! I will probably give into some real medicine tonight.

In other news, it's the beginning of my FINAL semester of college. I can't believe it. I never thought this day would come...but here it is and soon I will be all alone and in charge of people's health care. Scary. But I think I can do it. This is what I've been learning this week in school:



Do you know how to read this? Yeah, neither do I. So, I've got a lot of studying ahead of me! Oh joy!

Well, have a glorious day or night, depending on when you read this...if anyone actually does.

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Maya Angelou