Georgia Lynn's blog

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http://charms149.vox.com/library/post/amazingly-soft-oatmeal-cookies.html

My allergies made me feel puny and kinda got in the way of my baking Hackathon cookies. But I'm back today and sending in Amazingly soft oatmeal raisin cookies from a fellow Voxer's recipe. I couldn't bring myself to put in the raisins. But they're full of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Also, I use salted butter by default, so I didn't use as much salt as the recipe called for and slightly less brown sugar. They turned out lovely, soft and a good combination of salty sweetness. Sending 50+ cookies in with Brad tomorrow.

Annual Mother/Daughter Tea Party - April 2008

Girl Scouts of America

Walking 'round downtown, finding anything to climb on

Seth

and climbing at the library

Arwen

I won! Twice a week I take my own bags into Trader Joe's so I can add my name to the drawing. The winner gets $25 worth of groceries. I knew as soon as I saw the caller ID. I told y'all I'm a winner. It only took a year and half. And it's aaallready spent.

Yesterday I rolled Arwen's window down so she could say goodbye to a little friend, and her purple balloon got sucked out the window! If you've ever witnessed this, it is a true heartbreak for a child. Their tears are genuine.

Trying to put a good spin on her tragedy I said, "But he's free now! He got his freedom!"

I expected more tears, but she said, "You mean she."

Seth teased me by pretending to eat a big slice of apple, as opposed to the small bite that he knows I prefer. I ignored it.

"Seth, they say that an apple a day keeps the doctor away. What do you think that means?"

My interesting tone took his attention away from The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, and he said, "Doctors don't like apples?"

"What do you do EVERY day to take care of the earth's environment? What could you do more of?"

1) No paper napkins, Last year I found some cloth napkins on clearance at Target and dug through our wedding box of dining room linens. We have about 50 cloth napkins now, plenty. I just throw them in the laundry with all the kitchen towels, so it doesn't amount to the work you might think.

2) I use plastic sandwich bags as a last resort but pack lunches in washable containers.

3) We filter our water through a Brita pitcher and often drink from fountains at the park. I occasionally buy water bottles to stash in the van. (I hide them so the kids aren't too quick to reach for them.) This summer we'll draw from the bottles I keep in the freezer, when we're out and about. It's going to get hot!

4) We live in a very walkable city, school, preschool, post office, groceries, coffee shop, farmer's market, swimming pool, 3 parks, a lovely bakery.... all within <25 minute walk one way.

5) In summertime, I run the dish washer and washer & dryer in the evening. Using in peak hours drains the source and causes more blackouts.

6) I bring my own canvas and paper bags into stores, (not quite an every day issue). Most grocery stores round here reward you in some way.

7) Keep a mending basket of clothes and toys instead of throwing them out so quickly. Always something to mend in this house!

8) Family of 5 owning one vehicle, a rare thing in this part of the world. I drive my husband to and from the train station 5 days a week, so he's not driving in traffic up to 3 hours a day. Also, much more affordable this way.

Would like to do more:

1) Bought clothesline, need to install

2) When we buy a home, I'd like to install solar panels and such.

3) Walking every day can be difficult with 3 children, especially in the rainy season. As their legs get longer, I hope to walk more. They love it, and so does my waistline.

4) I also pray about taking care of God's earth, about global warming. Isn't God supposed to destroy the earth by fire?

Arwen climbed into bed with us yesterday morning, as she does every morning, and we oohed and aahed about her being 4! She said, "But I'm not big." I know what she means. She's been babied. She is the baby of 3, and she still looks like a baby. Her face is still round; her hands are still dimpled. Arwen is a peanut. All the strangers at Trader Joe's seem surprised when she tells them she's turning 4, not 3. Highlights: chocolate muffins, a tea party board game and cheeseburgers with her family. In 10 days we'll be in the middle of a princess party with her little cronies.