The Kobialka Family

Zingerade

2011-04-29T20:13:00.002-07:00

With lemons and limes incredibly cheap right now, I decided to make up some homemade lemon-limeade. It's so simple and good, and takes but a few minutes for a treat far superior to that which comes in containers of dyed pink or yellow powder. I like a 2-1 ratio of lemons to limes, but this recipe works perfectly as an orangeade, limeade, tangerineade, etc. Squeeze, blend, sip, enjoy.

Trish's Zingerade

1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 cup citrus juice (fresh squeezed is best)
2 quarts ice water
frozen raspberries, optional
sprigs of mint or lemon slices for garnish

Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/2 cup water over medium heat in heavy saucepan until sugar completely melts and light syrup forms. Set in fridge to begin cooling, if desired.
Juice enough citrus to make 1 cup of fresh juice. I used 3 lemons and 2 limes in mine today.
In pot or pitcher that will hold several cups more than 2 quarts, combine ice water, juice, and syrup. Stir until completely blended.
Pour into glasses. Frozen berries may be used in place of ice to add flavor, color, and spunk!

Taking pictures of lemonade can have its quirks.

Well, they may think the lemons are too sour,

but the lemonade? It was perfect.

Rootbeer Float Cookies... Mmmmm!

2011-04-25T17:18:00.003-07:00

Taste of Home asked on facebook today, what everyone's favorite lunchbox cookie is. I answered "Rootbeer Cookies". I was inundated by requests to post the recipe, so here it is! Enjoy!

Trish's Rootbeer Float Cookies

Yields 5 dozen cookies that taste just like their liquid cousins!

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons root beer extract
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon half-n-half or cream

2 teaspoons softened butter

1 teaspoon root beer extract

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Mix all but the flour, soda, and salt together.

3. Separately mix flour, soda, salt and then gradually add to other ingredients.

4. Drop by teaspoons 2" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.

5. Bake 10 minutes. Do not over bake.

6. Let cool completely before frosting.

7. For frosting, beat all ingredients together until smooth.

8. Frost completely cooled cookies and allow to dry before stacking in a container.

9. These will stay good in your air-tight container on the counter all week long... but you'll likely devour them before then. ;)

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

2011-03-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

Chilly weather.

2011-02-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Last week while the rest of the country froze their toes, it got downright chilly here, too. It's not the same, of course, and when it gets cold here, we don't have anything to grumble about, but it was fun to see our koi pond covered in

The pond wasn't the only body of

The kids got all

Some more than others.

With less than two weeks until our

"last chance" of freeze, we were

The things you missed.

2011-01-30T21:23:00.001-07:00

So, I have taken a terribly long hiatus from blogging, followed by a brief moment where I promised I'd be back, followed by a terribly long hiatus where I wasn't really back after all. Yes, well, you know. This time, no promises.

It has been the better part of 2 years that I haven't blogged much. It started with some nasty health issues, and it snowballed from there. I'm not going to try and catch up on all of that. I'll just have to have some "remember when" posts down the road. However, I shall do my darnedest to at least make up for lost time since Shane left.

It would be positively evil of me to make one extremely long, hideously picture encrusted post to catch you up. But I have just enough evil in me to do it. You can't see me, but as I type this, I am wearing this face, minus the 112 o'clock shadow.

Here's some things we did in May:

We went to Freestone Park one day.

We proudly wore homemade hair things,

But

We waved at trains,

stale bread we brang.

Wanessa had a birthday

(and so did I).

We got more chicks (but they can't fly).

Hungry strays our pond devoured.

Cleaning made me feel empowered.

Of course, all this was for a reason:

May is the start of our swim season.

We started getting eggs each day,

We took Sprite to the yard to play.

I got sick, the kids picked flowers,

and left them whilst I was under covers.

The grapes ripened upon the vine,

Ice cream for dinner, was just fine.

We got our first photos from Dad.

Things are different in Afghanistan.

Mosquitos slurped on Meeka's eye.

Mayzie learned to pop a fly.

That was fun, but pretty soon,

we found ourselves inside of June:

Last day of School, it's time for summer!

You can see, that Nev thinks it is a bummer.

We went to Goldfield mine to play.

It was too hot to stay all day.

But we managed to see some pretty snakes,

who ate mice-stuffed fish, in lieu of steaks.

June is when the cacti bloom,

and neon toes could light a room.

Meeka learned to roller skate.

I served Luciana a melting cake.

"THAT-A-WAY" if you need to pee.

I cleaned this ugly battery.

55 pounds of love for Dad;

we hoped Father's Day would not feel sad.

On the Sunday when the primary sang,

my heart broke.

And that doesn't rhyme because it didn't feel rhymey.

Soon enough, we found it was July,

and I needed to get out so I would not cry.

We went to Prescott, my home town.

We paddled Lynx Lake and did not drown.

We ran the boot race, then we did go

to the World's Oldest Rodeo.

I visited with the famous Nelson's,

while Nevan gorged on watermelons.

With 9 days until school would resume,

I felt I must road trip and soon.

Without much plan, we left our place,

and 'round the Western States did race.

California had some giant trees.

From the top, no doubt, I'd have weak knees.

Big pine cones, and the Sentinel.

Next day we saw the Portland Temple.

For we desert rats, green is a dream.

It comes with bugs, though, it would seem.

We sure did like the colder clime

of Seattle in the summertime.

We played at the beach...

and nearly felly,

right onto this water jelly.

We'd never seen a polar bear,

'till we went to the zoo up there.

We gave up sleeping, we were northward bound,

to board a ferry on the sound.

Meeka tantrumming, tired, and cranky.

I was not much better, quite frankly.

An hour later, no time to spare,

it was already time to leave there.

On a boat, not much different than Gilligan's,

I pierced the glass

with my hooligans.

Eyes on the water,

because you never know,

What you might see at sea,

you know.

It might just be your lucky day,

if the orca come up for air and play.

When the orca started down below,

back to shore, Captain turned to go.

Back on San Juan, we each penned a letter;

This day just kept on getting better.

At the stroke of midnight, we were beneath the steeple,

of Seattle's very own Space Needle.

We'd been up for 20 hours, but how

could we miss this view right now?

We slept 6 hours. Back on the road again,

we stopped for burgers in Spokane.

We planned to make Idaho Falls by dark,

but when we saw this old mission, we had to park.

We explored and hiked as the sun got lower,

but it was good that we were moving slower,

for had we not made time to pick the cherries,

we would have missed our moose, just barely.

Idaho Falls would have to wait, alright,

as it was, it would be a very short night.

Early risen, for we had miles in bunches,

to travel to have with-friends lunches.

The timing was perfect to visit there,

as we chatted out back, Blue Angels were in the air.

I didn't want to leave their homey hospitality,

but we had only three days 'till school in our locality.

We stayed that night, just north of Salt Lake,

and I slept well for the first time during out vacay break.

Though we did take time to swim at Cowabunga Bay,

we managed to still see Bryce Canyon that day.

It was lov-e-ly at sunset.

It's a stop, we'll ne'er regret.

One last shot of God's creation,

As we headed home from our vacation.

Next morn, it was in Page we woke.

We'd been far, but the car never broke.

When it finally looked like Arizona,

There was no doubt, we were heading home-uh.

While in Flagstaff, we got our haircuts;

first day of school, can't look like mutts.

With our sharp hair,

and clean underwear,

the limit's the sky,

in Junior High!

At the end of July, we did discover,

that some of our "hens" would never be mothers.

We sought homes on craigslist for our roosters,

who sang quite keenly, like Mr. Schuester.

In August, it was fun to hear

the sounds of trombone in my ear.

Too hot to swim in the day,

we had to wait 'til night to play.

On August 8, we packed a fine spread;

and to the future site of the Temple did head.

The heat may make us humans swoon,

but it sure does make the pond plants bloom.

Monsoon storms broke the coop,

but the chickens didn't cease to poop. :(

September flew by lickity-split

because Dad came home for a visit.

In October, running club began,

'round and 'round the block we ran.

Kids woke early to get in shape,

but in lieu of running, they snuck cupcakes.

Next came severe rain in the air

followed by mosquito warfare.

Grandma made a red riding cape.

For this donkey, Nev went ape.

In this corn maze, we trusted our shoes,

to lead us to the vital clues.

I added 'mallow to my gut,

Made glow my favorite chicken's butt.

Fresh apples made for lots of canning,

Zoo trips made us value fanning.

We enjoyed Beauty and the Beast.

Saw a rainbow o'er head to our east.

I made many cakes and then

the kids dressed up as army men.

November started at a run,

on the 1st, I bit right through my tongue.

Went to the Gilbert Temple Groundbreaking,

'twas great to witness history in the making!

My brother's family came from Georgia way

to eat some food on Thanksgiving Day,

but somehow the pictures from then,

have disappeared from my web album. :(

Shane came home, and as I feared,

he had gone and grown a beard!

I loved him; kissed him anyway.

No beard could ruin that great day.

His visit was a whirlwind.

We had Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas in three days time. (And when life is that nuts, it doesn't have to rhyme.)

I was asked to be part of Love a Family,

which left my living spaces walking-room-only.

And since that took most all my time,

December seemed to fly right by!

Mayzie rode the Shamrock Polar Express,

While Nevan served the dinner guests.

We made science project preparations,

and hung stockings, lights, and decorations.

We stayed up half the night to watch the sky,

and to the moon, we said, "Bye, bye."

Tix for Forgotten Carols, Mom's friend gave us

at the mall, I sang the Hallelujah Chorus.

The Temple lights, as always, glowed.

The Duttons's gave a really great show.

We loved to feed Santa's reindeer,

And spend time with (what's left of) family here.

New Years Eve was fireworks zen!

And that's what I missed blogging in 2010!

Whew.

Dear Shane,

2011-01-11T11:53:00.002-07:00

I hope that if you could see me this week, you would be proud of your wife. I am jumping through hoops trying to get all of this paperwork in order for the various ways we can either delay our sale or better. I am not ruling out any options. I won't go down without a fight.

I've dug up my power of attorney paperwork, made loads of phone calls, sent in the paystubs, sent faxes (who knew if I copied documents to a thumb drive I could take it to UPS and they would fax them for me?-- so much closer than OfficeMax!), and am waiting now for the copier repair guy to swing by and give me an estimate/diagnosis on your copier. Meanwhile, I am throwing away crap, have the dog at her hairdresser, will be leaving soon to pick up Nevan for our lunch date, then on to get Mayzie so she can get her apparatus in, and afterwards, home to finish obtaining more paperwork. I've gathered eggs, swept around the chicken coop, made exchanges at Ross and Target, and made a full breakfast of Churro Muffins and Sausage this morning, did the dishes, and put them away. We read scriptures, had family prayer, signed agendas, did Mayzie's make-up work, and put away laundry. Not to mention finding your thumb drives. All this, and it is only 11:30. Oh, and perhaps the greatest achievement: I have had a shower. Before noon. Woot!

So, if you ever wonder why I'm always tired, and I don't have time for all the things I want to do, it might be because at the end of the day when you ask what I got done, none of this comes back to me because I'm in the middle of some hair-brained thing that I feel is keeping me from some other more important hair-brained thing while I see full laundry hampers, or floors in need of mopping, or (for Heaven's sake) those picture frames on the stairs with all the people behind the plastic wrap that we don't know, even after 5 years...

The Elusive Moosive

2010-08-11T00:50:00.000-07:00

CONFESSION:

I have an obsession.

And despite my good intentions,

I just can't help myself.

For as long as I can remember, I have

wished for,

hoped for,

prayed for,

& full-heartedly desired with faith for

a chance to see a moose in the wild.

It's ridiculous, this obsession of mine.

Silly.

Odd.

Crazy.

Insane.

And I know it.

I live at least 500 miles from from the nearest moose habitat, after all.

Whenever I head north, I watch hawk-eyed for the off chance that I will catch a glimpse of the elusive moose. I try not to pester Shane to drive too slowly. I ask locals where to look. I go sleepless, waiting on the edge of marshes where I'd been advised that I would see one without fail, after making up excuses as to why I need to run to the market at 5:00 am for some item that can't wait, when in fact, I just hope that the early hour will increase my chances of a sighting. I keep my telephoto lens on my camera, ready at all times, at a moment's notice, to shoot like crazy. All true. All proof I've gone bananas.

You need to understand that on more than one occasion we have left the North Country while I fought back tears, knowing they were ridiculous, because I hadn't seen a moose. So silly, I tell you, and I knew it, and I still got beat up about it. What does that tell you about me?

Shane has been known to try and stop people from telling me that they saw a moose because he knew it would upset me that I wasn't there.

My parents aren't crazy like me. It was not inherited from them. They are normal.

I don't get jealous of other people's possessions and lifestyles, but if I hear that someone has seen a moose, well, I'm green with envy. I have often wondered at the "unfairness" of the experience when someone else fails to be in awe of their moose sighting. Don't they know how blessed they are?! When I, who has always longed to (in a ridiculous, crazy, shouldn't-admit-it manner) see one, has been denied?
I should admit my own hypocrisy right here and now. The day before my moose adventure, while on a whale watching boat (pictures to come), a woman explained how seeing the orca on our excursion had made that day the best day of her life so far. I thought to myself, "I can't imagine being so obsessed with whales!" while inwardly, I rolled my eyes. *sigh* I'm so terribly human, that I make the "natural man" look good! *sigh, again* Good grief, Charlie Brown.

So, while driving in hopes of making Butte Montana by nightfall, I was having my standard North Country conversation with the Lord to "please, I don't need this to know Thou dost love me, but if Thou wouldst not mind, it would be perfectly wonderful, and I would never forget, so long as it isn't Thy will that I get Alzheimer's, this tender mercy, if Thou wouldst please bless me
to get to see a moose, and maybe even get a picture so that I never forget ever (unless, with Alzheimer's, I should wonder who took that lovely photo of a moose), and can show Shane in Afghanistan a bit of his Montana heritage, that would be wonderful. But of course, if there is anything I've learned from these past few years of tender mercies, it is that I am loved, and I don't need this to know that, and I love Thee, with or without seeing a moose, but it would be so great, and please, if it be Thy will, pleeeeeease let me see a moose." And yes, that is probably pretty close to verbatim to my prayer, except exponentially less run-on-sentency, if that is even possible, of which I know it is, but that is how I pray, and I never really thought about how grammatically wacky it all is until now that I tried typing the short-hand version for you here. But you already knew I was quirky. No surprises there. Yikes! Someone get me an editor.

So... I was having this conversation, when I immediately saw an exit and thought to myself, "I wonder if I got off at that exit if I would see a moose..."

I didn't take the exit. I had a time frame, after all. The time frame being, the get-to-a-hotel-before-nightfall-at-which-time-this-driver-goes-blind frame of time. That and the fact that we were nearly out of gas.

1 mile down the road, in a little marshy area right by the I-90, I saw her.

Of course I was going 75 miles an hour on a twisty mountain interstate and couldn't stop. I decided to take the next exit, which wasn't for several more miles. I thought there must be a frontage road, even a dirt one, that followed the river, so I turned to look, and found one, that obviously was not used much, but nonetheless there. Of course, I took it, assuming that it would take me right back to the last exit along the creek.

Well, it went in the right direction. I shifted the Tahoe into 4-lo, because it was primitive, and had the kids scouting for wildlife. We went about a mile and a half on it and found a "road closed" gate.

The road was too narrow to turn around on anywhere because it was on a mountain cutaway and dropped steeply down. I think I made about a 28-point turn-round, but we managed, despite Mayzie's surety that we would roll down the cliff (which was, of course, outside of my fabulous mountain driving skill capability, Mom, so don't worry).

Of course, we were no longer worried about getting to Butte by sunset, we were only concerned about capturing a glimpse of the moose, and hopefully getting a picture. But I said to the kids, "well, even if the Lord doesn't bless us with getting to see the moose, at least He blessed us with The Adventure of the Moose Chase and the memory this will make for us that we will never forget!" We were all having such fun, that we all agreed that was enough of a blessing in itself.

We headed all the way back down the primitive road to the pavement, put it back in 2wd, hit the interstate in the other direction, got off at the very exit that I had been wondering if I could find a moose at, turned around down the interstate as slowly as the law would allow, turned on our hazards, so that everyone would pass us, and prayed that the moose would still be there, now some 20 minutes later.

I said, "I hope the moose is still there!"
Nevan said, "don't say 'I hope' the moose is still there, say 'when we see the moose'. You gotta have faith!".

So, we were driving slowly, verbalizing our faith that we would see the moose.

"When we see the moose, we'll take pictures!"
"Was the moose we are going to see a boy or a girl?"
"I can't wait to see the moose!"
"That moose must sure be hungry to still be sitting there eating while it waits for us!"

OF COURSE, my telephoto lens was already on my camera, just because I knew we were in moose country. Because

if you go to the beach, you have your sunglasses on.

If you go to the moon, you have your spacesuit on.

If you go to moose country, you have your telephoto lens on.

It is just the way it is,

and everybody knows it.

Just in exactly the spot I had sighted her 20 minutes and 2/3 of an adventure earlier, was our

It amazes me that I never named her. It never occurred to me until now.

Her name is Mossy. Mossy Moose.

No sooner did we stop the car, than what

Of course moose mosey.

What else would they do?

It could be said that she left because we pulled up and spooked her, but she was in no big hurry. I like to believe that she didn't leave because she was spooked, but because she had been ready to go all along and was just waiting for us, holding out to answer our heartfelt prayers. Because it was special for my kids, but for me, it was evidence again, unnecessary and un-required, that I am loved. That even my most luxurious desires are known, and understood. That this very small thing to someone else was a monumental thing for me, and my Heavenly Father wanted for me to have it, even though I didn't need it to be happy, healthy, or comforted. Just to spoil me, because He loves me so much. And I do feel spoiled, in an edifying, loved way. My run-on sentence prayers are heard, and returned with run-on blessings.

And the kids know me. They know I'm crazy-- no surprises there for them. So, when I got choked up, they simply said, "Mom, you are so happy that you're crying!" And I was. Because I figured out that lady on the boat. It wasn't the sight of the whales that made it one of the best days of her life, it was the luxury of the blessing, unneeded, un-required, but poured out to fill her with pure joy. It was the love attached to such luxurious blessing. It was all about the love.

I took only 8 photos, and I am excited about them, but honestly, even though it is special to have self-shot photos of a moose, it is the memory of the experience, and the true Tender Mercy of the Lord that it was for me, that the photos will always bring to mind, that I will cherish most. Hopefully, even Alzheimer's couldn't take that knowledge and feeling away.

All amazed, awed, and grateful, we set on our way. I had forgotten that we were out of gas. Nevan reminded me... right AFTER we passed the exit for a station.

He asked, "How low are we on gas?"
I said, "we are in the red."
He said, "how far to the next station?"
I said, "no idea. I forgot about the gas-- all I was thinking about was the moose!" Then I added, "but it isn't 'I hope' we make it to the station, it is 'when we get to the station!'"

And we proceeded on with our conversation about when we got to the station, and what we would do.

"When we get to the station, we will pump the gas!"
"When we get to the station, we will wash the windshield!"
"When we get to the station, we will go to the bathroom!"
"When we get to the station, we will look for postcards for Dad!"
"When we get to the station, we will all get drinks!"

And when we got to the station, we did all of those things.

I hope I can follow Nevan's example, and Christ's teaching, to "Be not afraid, but believe." That, and that I gain an ounce of humility, and not begrudge any moose glimpser, ever again.

So, this started as a quick road trip update, and ended as an insight into my mind, my run-on sentence prayers, and the frequency that my brain hits upon the subject of Alzheimer's, which, if I have it, I can't remember. Hope you enjoyed the journey. I enjoyed sharing it with you. :)

Love and moose pics,
Trish

Breakfast at the Gilbert Temple Site

2010-08-08T22:09:00.017-07:00

And such a lovely rug, too.

I'd like to thank my Mother for taking this photo from the perfect angle to make me appear to be a pregnant beflowered hunchback. ;)

Just us crazy people and the trencher.

Prescott's World's Oldest Rodeo 2010

2010-07-03T22:33:00.002-07:00

Free Bosch Mixer. Nicey nice.

2010-06-07T09:25:00.001-07:00

Are you familiar with Deals to Meals? They are pretty much awesome. This month, they are giving away a Bosch Mixer. For FREE. And we all know that FREE is pretty much my favorite price point. Ever. Go and check them out! Let 'em know I sent ya. ;)

Jack Sparrow

2010-05-26T21:44:00.029-07:00

Mayzie walked into my office today with this little lost baby sparrow. We fussed over her, worried about what to feed her, mushed up some of the baby chicken food in some water and attempted to nurse her with a dropper. She was with us for about an hour, then, out of nowhere when I was holding her, she clumsily flew away! All that worrying for nothing!

Of home runs and care packages.

2010-05-24T20:57:00.001-07:00

Today I readied our very first care packages for Shane. and discovered that

It wasn't long before I had 4 boxes

It was a big job getting these puppies into the post office. We packed them TIGHT and HEAVY!

After sending Shane's packages, we rushed home.

We couldn't miss our

appointment on the ball field. No.

Grandma, Grandpa, Wanessa, and Bea all came to our house for some pizza, salad, and ball. After dinner, they all went on ahead to the school, while I stayed back to put away the leftovers. When I arrived, Nevan was ready for action.

Pretty soon, he was

After Wanessa hit a fabulous ball that earned her second base, and Nevan third,

Mayzie was up to bat.

There was a lot of excitement on the ball field, but that wasn't the only place to have fun. While the big kids and Grandpa
played a little hit-n-run,

After everyone had worked their appetite back up, we all headed home for the perfect ending: peanut butter pie!

Rainy Knight

2010-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

These pictures are from February, but let's face it-- I've barely blogged this year, let alone in February.

By the way, have I ever mentioned that I LOVE to say FebRUary? I love it. Join me. Feb-RU-ary. Nice, isn't it?

Anyhonkinwho, I just wanted to document that when it rains, Nevan is fully prepared.

He made this lovely helmet out of black construction paper and blue duct tape.

And yes, he really did walk to school like that.

He's in the Army now.

2010-05-17T06:24:00.000-07:00

I doubt anyone still reads this neglected blog, but here goes, anyway...

The past few months have revolved around one goal: Find Shane a job. He's been "under-employed" for about two years. We've sent out no fewer than 300 resumes to companies in every corner of the country and world-wide, too. And, no. That is NOT an exaggeration, if anything, it's an extremely modest estimate. So, anyhow, after sending out so many resumes, you would think that a highly qualified, highly educated professional such as Shane would be lining up the interviews left and right. But no. Civil Engineering is one of the hardest hit industries in this economy. It's the work that gets done months or years before building begins. And nothing is being built, and what little is, is being built with engineering that was completed years ago and put on hold. So, all those hundreds of resumes got him what?! NOT ONE INTERVIEW.

About six months ago we started thinking about Afghanistan. It's a long story, and I'm not going to write it here, at least not today. Afghanistan is one of the few places in the world where building is going on, or I should say, re-building. Getting work there with the Army Corps of Engineers is no simple task, it takes months of hard work and diligence, but finally, about 6 weeks ago, Shane was offered a position to begin May 9, Mother's Day.

Blogging has taken a back-burner to job-finding, but now that Shane is away and we won't get to talk every day or see him for months on end, blogging is taking a front burner again. It's time to document our lives for posterity, but for now, it's for Daddy. Expect a comeback! :)

Wanessa turns 12.

2010-05-11T21:55:00.010-07:00

My niece, Wanessa had a birthday. And if she had one, I must have a birthday lying around here someplace, too, as we share the glorious day of May 11 as our very special day every year. Happy 12th, Wanessa!

Luck O' the Irish Oreo Mint Ice Cream

2010-03-17T09:26:00.100-07:00

We made an extra special treat this week.

Extra special.

The kind of treat that makes you feel lucky when you're feeling down and blue. Or green, as the case may be.

And let me just say, we are feeling lucky, very lucky. Mmmmmm-mmm-lucky. Yep.

You know us too well to think we would ever deny a little luck or happiness from you! And so... here is what is in the pot at the end of the rainbow. It's chock-full of

Oh, yes it is.

But just in case the leprechauns 'round your way are too clever of hiders, I will share with you the recipe for

Luck O' the Irish
Oreo Mint Ice Cream.

I got it straight from our heirloom copy of the Book of Kells, gifted from St. Patrick himself. Or perhaps I found the recipe on recipezaar... Either way, it's simple dimple. You'll love it.

You will need:

2 large eggs

3/4 cup sugar

2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 cup milk (I use whole)

2 tsp. peppermint extract

coloring, if you wish

1.5-2 cups oreo chunks (reserve until the end)

1. Chop your oreo chunks and place in a dish. I don't dump the whole chopping session in the dish, I just pull out the large chunks. You can reserve the mutilated bits for topping. My cookies are probably chopped in sixths. Not too small. I like a healthy size cookie in my ice cream. I used about 1.75 cups per batch. Now refrigerate those cookies. It's best if they are cold when you add them to the ice cream.
2. Beat the eggs with a whisk and mix the sugar in until fully blended.

3. Add remaining liquid ingredients: cream, milk, extract, and color. Blend very, very well with your whisk.

4. Add to the mixing bowl of your ice cream maker, hook it all up, and start it. Don't forget to layer the ice and rock salt!

When the churn is finished, it will look like this (except smaller--this is a triple batch):

Why not add the cookies at the beginning? Because that's how you get ugly, gray cookies 'n' cream. If you want chunks, do it my way. It also preserves the color without murking it up.

5. It's time to add the oreo cookies. Dump them in and

6. Now the patience test begins. This puppy needs to freeze over night. While you wait you can earn a bowl in a nice, friendly game of hurley or camogie. Go on! Get a workout!

I have to admit here... we cheated a little. The kids had a bit of this ice cream a few hours later, but it was really soft. Shane and I waited for the full setting effect. We have just a little more self-restraint-- we have seen a few more St. Patrick's Days than the kids, after all.

I guarantee you won't have to play games with the food to get people to eat this one. Nope.

From the Kobialka's to you:

Wiggle Worm

2010-02-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Meeka hasn't seen her fair share of school this week.

Monday was President's Day-- No School.

Tuesday Mayzie felt sick and opted to stay home.

Meeka, mysteriously, was sick as well.

Well, not really but she wanted to miss kindergarten.

In our home you only opt to stay home from school if staying in bed all day actually sounds inviting, because the rule in this house is:

You stay home, you stay in bed.

ALL day long.

Miraculously at 10am, Mayzie was well. She went to school. Imagine that!!

Meeka, on the other hand, stayed home.

And stayed in bed. All day long.

We checked on her a few times, and of course invited her to eat lunch with us, but she didn't complain once. Each time we checked on her, even by surprise, she was there, quietly laying in bed, not sleeping, not reading, no radio, just the bed and the girl. She never tried to wiggle her way out of our "stay home, stay in bed" policy.

If anything, she is obedient. In the extreme.

Wednesday was a half day. Parent-Teacher Conferences.

She'll be repeating Kindergarten. Too shy, shy.

She spent Wednesday helping me finish planting the potato patch. It was such a joy. I thought I would get a kick out of all day kindergarten. I really, truly, do not.

Today was another half day, conferences for someone else. And then it was play time. Meeka couldn't wait to get home and help me in the garden. We pulled weeds, planted seeds, and made friends with a

We quickly remembered this bit of pre-winter gardening knowledge:

When you hold a wiggle worm,

It's only the beginning of Spring planting, but I'm sure there will be many more adventures for

How to easily make chocolate bowls.

2010-02-10T19:32:00.000-07:00

I like to serve fruit salad in mine.

On Valentine's Day, I've been known to

fill them with chocolate dipped fruits.

Or... you can use any shape of

Don't forget to chill them!

For a clean finish,

If you are feeling fancy,

you can make these:

Begin by releasing the

In a squeeze bottle, heat

(I add just a small amount of shortening to make it more squeezee.)

Invert and

Grab a clean paintbrush and

Choose your favorite color sugar.

Don't be discouraged.

There will be a few

Simply put them in a bowl and

Or you could

It's delicious when

a good thing goes bad.

Watch out, or owl hoot you.

2010-01-26T18:10:00.000-07:00

Last Spring, after a bike ride to the dollar store, I dragged the kids into the garden center at Lowe's so that I could soak up the smells of the unaffordable flowers for a while.

And they smelled divinely expensive.

Since we are unemployed, I take my luxuries where I can find them. Lowe's is good to me. They charge not for smelling, nor touching, now gazing upon their lovelies. Not ever. That's good recessionomics, I think; Drawing me in so that I am indebted to their kindness for life.

With three children, a large, bulky camera, and a few bikes in tow, the young fellow working in the garden center recognized folks who are easily awe-struck. He knew we would appreciate the secret he was keeping.

And we did. We very much did.

You see, perched high atop a load of mulch on one of their towering shelves of goodness was her ladyship, The Greateth Hornedeth Owleth. And opposite her position on the other side of the garden center was her faithful guard, his highness, Lester the Mage. Or at least I think that was his name. It's all a bit foggy.

Between them on the floor of the Lowe's Garden Center, I felt a bit like Atreyu trying to pass between the staring laser eyes of death at the Southern Oracle.

I'm fairly certain that those birds could blast us to pieces with their penetrating gaze.

"Or I'll bomb you with my digested field mice!"

That bolthead is about an inch across. It holds up twenty foot tall iron fencing. That's a big bird poop.

Even as we left, Lester watched, eyes fixed upon our every footfall, as we, whistling, strode to our bikes and rode away.

Weightless

2010-01-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

I found these pictures today from one day last Spring when we went as a family to walk the mall.

Meeka, wore her necklace in her favorite way:

in her hair.

Little did Nevan and Mayzie know that we came with a purpose.

Torture.

But our evil plan failed.

They liked it.

They spun 'round and 'round

and upside-down.

Not once did they even

barf chunks.

Our evil scheme failed.

We should have known better than to think we could get the best of kids who are

From March 21, 2009.

Where I've been.

2010-01-09T00:46:00.001-07:00

It started with the ulcers, then it was the boutiques, then it became the bakery. Now it's all three compounded with a broken tail bone.

I'm a lot of fun.

I've tried five times to upload pictures. Each time has been a failure. So, HERE is a link to an album of things I've been doing instead of blogging for the last six months. Enjoy!

Please visit my Fans of Swirl Bakery Facebook Page.

Bridge to a bygone era.

2010-01-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

Day 14, Part 1

I thought I would share with you, the

I've been visiting it for as long as I can remember.

It is a

We drove through it in Vanbi, but we returned as

And as explorers.

Another place, once passed by my ancestors,

then by my parents, by me, and now by

my children.

Finally, we turned around and drove back through it, rewinding time, in search of the

Grandma's Front Porch

2010-01-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

Trip*Day 13

The morning started right. The sun was out, the weather not too humid, the forecast seemed perfect for an excursion.

Well, it wasn't so dry that the lense didn't fog when I went outside. That would never happen on a sunny desert day back home. Never.

It should have been my warning sign.

We were ready for a little hiking adventure.

We hadn't been at Fox Ridge 5 minutes when we were already making fast friends.

Do you think that Harriet would like to meet ol' Grandpa?

She'd probably like to meet him for dinner.

Another thing we don't generally find in our desert habitat:

skyward vistas of green.

It was serene.

The longer we hiked, however,

the more humid it seemed to become.

It was wearing us out.

We passed this path, which we would ordinarily have taken,

but it was sooo mugggy.

We had enjoyed our exploration,

but my munchkin was tired.

And so we left the woods in search of refreshment.

Heading up the highway to Charleston, I snapped this shot when the Farmer wasn't looking.

We were so hot and drippy from our hike. We knew just the place to go for an ice-cold and frothy root beer.

It is the "World's Creamiest" after all!

Before heading back to Neoga, I had one more stop to make. I wanted to visit the Genealogical Society and see if they had a plot chart for a specific cemetery. But that's another post.

When I see these old lamps and clock with the "1834" at the top, it makes me wonder at what life would have been like here, when going to Greenup was going to Town. I can just imagine the life of my ancestors.

We had been out for several hours by this time and were ready to head back to our favorite little Grandma.

It's a marvel to think how much imagination can be wielded on the little lot whereupon Grandma's house resides. It's no bigger than a giant's footprint, but it holds so much happiness at it's heart.

My kids leaped countless times across the rain ditches that serve as moats to hGrandma's little kingdom, just as I did as a child. They walked to the little corner grocery all alone to purchase candy or the last ingredient needed for supper, just as I did as a child. They rediscovered the secret passageway of the adjoining closets in the back bedrooms and every well-used hiding place, just as I did as a child. They caught many a small creature under leaf, just as I did as a child. In fact, one of my favorite photos of the trip is of just such a catch, taken on this very afternoon while we sat on the porch with Grandma, just as I did as a child.

This toad is quite possibly the many-greats-grandtoad of a hoppy progenitor caught by my own hand a generation ago.

Eventually, our little friend jumped away and took refuge

It wasn't long before we were making acquaintance with this

We left our new friend to guard the begonias.

We did all of this, with Grandma

right there with us,

laughing with us,

chatting with us.

It was wonderful.

With all of the friendships we made on that front porch,

Grandma, is our favorite.

My Grandma is just a little person...

...but she has made a big impact on me. From her example, I have learned

kindness,

patience,

optimism,

frugality,

friendship,

service,

compassion,

forgiveness,

endurance,

good cheer,

charity,

a love of creatures and growing things,

and to always keep a sense of humor,

especially about myself.

I have a long way to go, to walk in her tiny size 4 footsteps.

I hope I can be some small replication of her goodness someday.

I love her. It's been no secret who my favorite person has always been. So much so, that I have a daughter by her same name.

We spent the afternoon on that front porch and in the evening, we were joined by my beautiful Aunt Connie.

Meeka just LOVED Connie! And I'm pretty sure the feeling was mutual!

While sitting on the front porch watching the little white fluffs fall through the air, Mayzie caught one. I tried to tell her that they were cottonwood seeds, but she would hear none of that. She was certain they were creatures. She brought it over to my doubting eyes, and lo and behold, she was right!

It was a tiny wooly aphid.

Next she'll be catching faeries, I have no doubt.

Eventually, night fell and after catching and releasing more than our fair share of lightning bugs, we went inside to get

Just another perfect day, as they all seem to be, in Neoga.

Quiet Time.

2010-01-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Trip*Day 12

We had logged a lot of miles,

seen a lot of places,

met a lot of people,

trekked a lot of trails.

On day 12, we stayed home.

Not every minute has to be planned, entertained, and busy. I'm grateful to say that my children can find joy in quiet moments, and Day 12 was full of them. And so there is less to say, and less to show, but more to feel.

Nevan stayed in pajamas late, playing competitive sports.

Later, he and Mayzie, together, made up

Meanwhile,

Even after a few years of neglect, Grandma's yard sports bounties of flowers.

It's amazing to me that Meeka can pick flowers from the same beds that I did as a child, and put them in the same pitcher, and give them to the same special person. I am very lucky. To this day, and because of this memory, hydrangeas are my favorite flower.

Giving makes Meeka dance.

We spent a lot of time just circling the yard, finding flowers, insects, toads, and allergies.

The kids took over the camera for a while and got these shots of Grandma telling me stories

and she and I laughing it up.

They also entertained themselves by taking pictures of each other.

Meeka spent a good part of her day following the life of this little guy. He really was

She loved putting out the dried corn cobs for him to eat. While she watched the squirrels, the birds watched her. They were waiting for the corn cobs.

We enjoyed watching the tree dwellers. We don't have squirrels in our neck of the desert.

Here's one of Grandma's squirrels with Meeka's empty corn cobs in backdrop. She sure did love the squirrels! I think in some way, they loved her, too.

It was a day of "nothing much to talk about."

We played,

we imagined,

we picked flowers,

we gave presents,

we fed squirrels,

we entertained the birds (and each other),

we told stories,

we laughed,

we danced,

we talked,

we explored,

and we did it all at Grandma's house,

without an XBox,

without a DS,

without a movie theater,

without a swimming pool,

and without neighbor children.

We were our own best friends and entertainment.

It was a perfect day.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

So... how out of the blogging loop am I?

Very out.

I apologize. I haven't written, read, checked, skimmed, updated.

So sorry.

But that's changing. I'm tired of my blogcation. I'm coming home.

I'm going to keep chugging along with last summer's giant road trip, but I hope to throw some other goodies in here as well.

I'm back in the computer chair again.

Pause the music and give this a go.

2009-10-20T04:21:00.001-07:00

Swirl Bakery

2009-10-19T09:22:00.001-07:00

So... I have this nifty new blog (SwirlBakery.blogspot.com) and I want to put all of my nummy pictures on it, but alas, my computer has gone kaboom and my camera has gone kerplunk. Until I de-boom and de-plunk, it shall have to wait. Meanwhile, look for me, and the fabulous vendors below, this weekend at Shop Chic Boutique!

Still alive. Seeking ulcer remedies.

2009-10-14T05:15:00.004-07:00

I have so much blogging to write and read, and I am so excited to get to a point in my life when I can do it. Unfortunately, I've just been nasty sick, and can't get to it right now. I feel nauseous every minute of every day when I'm not eating. Yep. While I'm eating, the pain is relieved. Within a few minutes of stopping, I feel like I'm going to die from the pain. So, while the usual benefit of being sick is that you lose a few pounds, I'm not really finding that to be true for me this time--more like the opposite, actually. Bummer!

So, until I'm cured, don't expect to find me here, nor reading your beautiful blogs. *sigh* It's going to be wonderful to feel better someday. Meanwhile, if anyone has a great remedy for Peptic Ulcer Disease that they would like to share, do tell! While I've been to the ER, I have not been able to follow up with my doctor due to a lack of health insurance and cashola (still seeking a Civil Engineer job for Shane-- please check your local newspapers), so healing is very slow, if at all. I can't tell. The good news is that I'm a professional at fake-it-till-you-make-it, and should be able to function, at least occasionally, in public. :)

Well, that's it. I think ulcers eat the sense of humor. Hope to read you all soon!

GASP a new post!

2009-10-02T12:08:00.003-07:00

There has been a lack of blogging going on here at the Kobialka household. I know... I know... *hangs head in shame* I need to come back. I want to. I mean to. I will. Don't give up on me. I'm strengthening up, and doing better, but not so much that I don't run out of breath going up the stairs yet. And here's the proof that I'm still not feeling well: I haven't cooked or baked in two weeks, and as yet have no plans to return to it in the near future.

As you may remember (click here), I have fallen prey to the Peach Siren Call before. So, the day I started moving around again after The Attack of the Ulcers just happened to be the day before The Attack of the Flu. But of course, I didn't know that at the time. And on that Blessed Day, I bought two lovely boxes of fresh peaches.

They were perfect. Oh, so perfect. However, I've been sick ever since and just haven't had any time to take care of them and now they are no longer perfect. They are downright wrinkly. Would anyone like to can/slice/freeze/pie/syrup/jam/ or juice them for me and in exchange keep 1/2 for free? I hate to see them go to waste, and I don't care what they become, just so long as they don't die a slow and moldy death on my counter top. Let me know! Thanks!

P.S. I have lots of clean and sterilized jars ready to go. :)

Blackberry Lemon-Lime Bars, finally.

2009-08-27T17:39:00.004-07:00

These are tough economic times. Tough, indeed. Many of us are trying to make lemonade out of the lemons we're being dealt. But I say, when life gives you lemons, make

Or, if your culinary Jane is rather plain,

make old-fashioned

As serious as these two are about

what they do, they are both

Since I posted these pictures on Facebook last month, I have had SO many requests for the recipes. And you know me... what's mine is yours.

This is a Trish Original, so if you make them, you may very well be the 2nd person in the world to make these. If you try them, please tell me what you think, and if you blog it, please credit me and leave a link.

Trish's Blackberry Lemon Lime Bars

For Shortbread Crust:

1/2 lb unsalted butter, room temp.

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Combine flour and salt and add to the butter mixture just until blended.

4. Dump dough onto well floured board and gather into a ball. Knead a few times.

5. Flatten dough into well greased 9x13 pan.

6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned.

For Blackberry Lemon Lime Filling:

4 extra large eggs (5 large)

1+1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup lime juice

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup all purpose flour

12 extra large blackberries, gently cut in small pieces

lemon zest, if desired or available

1. While shortbread dough is baking, begin the filling.

2. Whisk together eggs and sugar well.

3. Add lemon and lime juices, mixing well.

4. Add flour, and zest (if desired).

5. Gently cut berries, but do not add to liquid.

6. When crust is finished browning, remove from oven and immediately pour over lemon filling.

7. Drop berry pieces over the surface of the lemon filling.

8. Reduce temperature to 300 degrees and bake an additional 25-35 minutes, or until set when touched with the pad of your finger.

Let cool completely before cutting. Keep refrigerated.

9. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar and garnish with an additional berry and mint leaves.

Lemon & Lime & Blackberry:

I don't make plain lemon bars the same way, but you could. I like this filling for plain lemon bars:

Trish's Plain Jane Lemon Bars

6 XL eggs

3 cups sugar

2 T lemon zest

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup all purpose flour

Prepare the same as my Blackberry Lemon Lime Bars EXCEPT do not reduce temperature to 300, keep it at 350, and bake for 35-50 minutes or until set when touched with the pad of your finger.

Enjoy all that

It's nice to have a little dessert with your

*HINTS* Do not dust entire pan with powdered sugar unless you are prepared to eat them all at that time (like for church or something). Just dust them individually, they stay pretty that way. Otherwise the moisture in the bars wets the sugar and makes it ugly over time. ;) Also, if using a glass dish, reduce temps by 25 degrees.

Here there be Dragons and a Graveyard Dog

2009-08-25T06:23:00.005-07:00

*Day 11*

Day 11 did not contain any fairs, tornadoes, parades, or historic sites. It was mostly a day with Grandma, watching Lucy, playing more checkers and chess.

It was one of my favorite days of the trip.

We did manage to get out of the house for about an hour and do nothing.

Nothing is one of my favorite things to do in Neoga. Nothing is like it's own little exploratory adventure. While the kids played at the park, I tried to capture dragon flies in my camera.

They would sit very still, then fly out suddenly for two or three seconds and return to the very same spot to sit still again.

I wondered what the purpose was of this. It reminded me of our hummingbirds at home and how they can't stay still for long because their itty bitty legs can't support their bodies. It wasn't until I got home and put the pictures on the computer that I discovered the answer:

They were on the hunt.

Can you see the little white fly he's holding?

Now I know that they are aptly named,

DRAGONS.

When taking pictures of quickly flying creatures, many pictures come out, er, uh, empty. This one did, but it turned out to be one of my favorite pictures of the day.

The kids kept busy playing volleyball in the wet sand.

Beach balls are much lighter and more flighty than real volleyballs. Someone didn't know their own strength and kicked the ball so hard that it flew up and out away from the court and into the rain-filled ditch.

11 Days away from home was having it's effects; we were

I was just happy to be beneath the ancient canopy.

When Nevan was in a Kindergarten, I had the opportunity to help in his classroom a lot. I remember the teacher frequently saying, "Hands aren't for hitting!" She was right;

Meeka had this worm

After the park, we hopped into the van to return to Grandma's, but as I pulled around the corner to cross Trowbridge Road, I felt drawn to the country. We took a vote. We turned toward the bucolically beautiful right.

It's a tradition of sorts to take a drive through the countryside when we're back there. There is a little spot near Trowbridge that I consider

It has no sentimental significance to me other than the fact that it was always my favorite part of that area to drive through, even when I was a little girl. It used to be a pastoral plot, too steep to grow corn, where cows could be seen grazing with the occasional horse or scattering of woolly sheep. There were no meandering livestock this trip, and the land that had once been a grassy teeth-mown dinnerplate, was now 3 foot tall saplings and brush. No animal had grazed there this season, and the forest was taking back it's inheritance.

We decided to stop to see if they still leave the doors unlocked at

Gaskill Church is where my Mom grew up attending Sunday services. It's just a little brick chapel in the middle of the country, bordered on the cemetery side by a creek, and on the yard side by soy bean fields. Remarkably, it has never been kept locked.

The register by the front door, if you turn back the pages, contains evidence of my family from years past. On this page from August 28, 1960, you see my Grandma's handwriting, "Mr. and Mrs. Leo Carruthers, Bobby, + Connie."

I think next time I see my that particular Uncle Bob (I have three Uncle Bobs), I should call him Bobby. Tradition dictates that we must sign the register. We did.

I plinked out a few lines from the hymn book on the out-of-tune piano, while the kids found a few toy cars between the pews. We left them there to be found by their owners the following Sunday, looked for familiar faces in the black and white photographs by the front door, and exited the single-room building with it's huge Bible at the front and coat tree at the back to see what could be found outside.

Walking into the cemetery to find our progenitors, we found someone already there.

Do you remember Happy Mutt? Well, this dog was so sweet and gentle, brimming from ear to ear, that we called him

Happy Mutt II wasn't the only friend we found there, we found many a bug and amphibian pleased to make our acquaintance.

Unfortunately, the mosquitoes were a little too pleased. Those darn buggers were downright enthusiastic! We needed to leave. Meeka, especially, was being eaten alive. But, there was truly a bond between

The kids were worried that Happy Mutt didn't have a family, but he had a collar and I figured he probably belonged to the pastor or to a nearby farm. The idea of a roaming dog was new to them, but it's just a way of life in Rural America. We sat down to say goodbye.

But,

We drove past the farmhouse where my Mom was born, and then past this old barn that I always loved,

but instead of heading back into Neoga, I wanted to drive the kids past the spot where their Grandma Carruthers lived as a child. We drove around Lake Mattoon and through this little hollow.

Like everything else, it was wet.

We finally arrived. Of course, the house is no longer there, but you can see where the ditch crossing had once been. I snapped a shot of the new resident, who was so frightened by our unannounced arrival that she was frozen

Down the road a little further I found another token of times past, this beautiful

The light on the barn told me that it was time get back. As we pulled into Grandma's driveway, I couldn't help but remember the way Grandma's yard had always been a matter of pride to her. Not only was she renowned as a marvelous cook and baker, she had once held quite the reputation as a flower gardener as well. The beds were always bursting with blooms, the lawn kept tame by diligent edging and mowing. It is amazing to me how time can grow your talents, and time can take them away. Saplings are coming up in all the flower beds now, and these (below) litter the ground.

Each is a

Her once tidy and lush lawn, is now so shaded by the massive trees that grass barely grows there. In it's place is a

It's a miracle, really, that anything could grow there, with only the slightest amount of sun filtering through. It was fitting. As beautiful as Grandma's yard once was, I loved that moss carpet. As active, and fast, as talented and beautiful, as kind and generous as my Grandma had always been, she is like that moss carpet. Beneath that green rug is fertile soil, enriched with years and years of fall's mulch, winter's rest, and spring's renewal. The soil beneath has all the potential for goodness that it ever had when in it the roots of sweet smelling grass did drink and reach and grow. It has a new beauty now, fitting of it's time and age. So does Grandma. She's not so dependent on the sun, relying on her inner soil, enriched by years of experience to grow. She no longer needs clipped and cut to be kept tame. Her limbs are brittle, her spirit is bright. Her memory is failing, her love is undiminished. She is a testament to the years of service she's given, growing moss when she can no longer support grass. She is a miracle.

2009-08-24T14:38:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to my Tupperware Online Party! I am hosting this Online Party to tell you about all of the great products Tupperware has to offer to simplify your kitchen, home, and life! Please click any of the shopping links to begin browsing through products and special offers available through my Online Party.

Be sure to click on any shopping link to ensure that you're participating in my Tupperware Online Party. My Tupperware Online Party will last until Aug. 27, 2009 (EST). If you have any questions, please let me know. Or you may visit my Tupperware Consultant's Web site, Karen Christner.

Thanks for participating in my Tupperware Online Party,
Trish