shopping for jeans

Ok, so ask just about any female and she’ll tell that shopping for a new pair of jeans is a pain in the butt. (Perhaps not literally in all situations. And yet, it can also be taken quite literally.)
I went shopping for jeans yesterday. I’m down to one single, solitary pair of jeans. And they are beginning to wear out in a few signficant areas. So I broke down and went shopping. The salesfolk at Reitmans were quite overbearing, and were driving me insane, so I left. Warehouse One had nothing. Ricki’s had nothing. Reitman’s had nothing. Suzy Shier had nothing. Bluenotes had nothing in either the girls or guys sections. Zeller’s didn’t even have my size. Then on to another mall. None of those stores had anything either. Finally I entered Smart Set. They have 2 styles of jeans to choose from. None are in my size. Then – what to my wondering eyes should appear – but a pair of cords, and “on sale” I did cheer. So I bought cords instead of jeans. Still comfy, still casual. Yet the jeans still elude me.

The Ministry of God’s Word

I really haven’t been keeping up in my blog reading. I’ve found some good new ones, and am distracted from the old good ones too.
A quote from a comment on Palmer’s journal:

We have to learn our lesson in the depths of the valley before we can announce it on the heights.
Watchman Nee, The Ministry of God’s Word

These past few months have been my own lesson learning in my valley (although I called it a desert). Thankfully, I had a couple of amazing friends to provide insight along the journey.

I also came across a link to Heather Camp’s fotoblog on Jordon’s blog.

Here is one of her photos

And you can’t forget the Biblical curse generator that I found on blog one another

Macaroons au chocolat

I promised some of you this recipe. A tad time intensive, but well worth the effort.

Cookie
1 1/2 c blanched almonds, ground finely
1 1/2 c icing sugar
3 tbsp cocoa (get the kind that says “Dutch processed”, or “alkalinized” , or if the ingredients read “Cocoa, sodium carbonate” [e.g. Fry's cocoa]… don’t use the kind with ingredients “Cocoa, salt” [i.e. usually the cheaper stuff])
3 large egg whites
1/8 tsp cream of tartar (to stabilize the egg whites)
3/4 c icing sugar

1. Grind almonds to fine powder (a coffee grinder works well). Pulse in icing sugar and 1 1/2 c icing sugar. Set aside.
2. Beat egg whites until frothy. Add cream of tartar, then beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3/4 c icing sugar until stiff, but not dry, peaks form.
3. Fold in nut mixture.
4. Pipe, using 1/2 inch round tip onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper to form 1 inch rounds. Let sit for 10 minutes. If the cookies still have little ‘peaks’ on top, flatten with a spoon.
5. Bake in preheated oven to 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. (Unfilled cookies are good for 1 week in covered container.)

Filling
3/4 c heavy cream
4 oz bittersweet chocolate, broken into small chunks

1. Place chocolate into heat resistant bowl.
2. Bring cream to a boil. Pour over chocolate. Stir until chocolate is melted.
3. Cool to spreading consistency over ice bath or leave in fridge for about 1 hour.
4. Spread or pipe onto 1/2 of cookies. Form sandwiches with remainder of cookies. Enjoy. (Makes about 3 dozen.)

24-7prayer.com

“Nobody finds time for prayer. You either take time for it or you don’t get it. Without prayer the fuel runs out. The energy goes down. I become my own enemy. I can no longer remember why I ever decided to do this… I’m tired and the vision just gets dimmer and dimmer.”
(Joan Chittister OSB)
from 24-7

Weapons of mass destruction?

Type in “Weapons of mass destruction” in the google.com search and click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” bar. Then read carefully – it’s not what you think.
(This fun moment has been brought to you by Baghdad Burning)