The Potluck Club by Linda Evans Shepherd and Eva Marie Everson

I have mixed feelings on this new series. I do like it well enough to plan a trip to the library to pick up book 2.

It seems to me that another publisher/author team is trying to mimic the success of the Yada Yada series. This is another series centering on a church circle of friendship. This series is set in a small town in Colorado. The characters are older. I had a hard time feeling like they even LIKED each other and that this was more than a gossip circle (it's supposed to be a prayer circle). BUT I liked the recipes. I like Deputy Donna's character. I need something besides mystery to read and I'm all caught up in Yada Yada series. I don't like reading sappy romance stories and so this series fits the bill. LOL

I think the differences in the series are that Yada Yada is a diverse group of women, set in a big city and dealing with many of the church issues that I have dealt with in the Air Force. I like the characters. I can put myself and my friends into the characters of the books. This series reminds me of small town church life - and it 's also realistic....I can think back to our time in a small town at a small church and remember those escapades....and this series is also accurate. I just don't find myself wrestling with the issues in this series and often in Yada Yada I DID find the group wrestling with issues with which I myself have had to or am currently wrestling.

I guess I like both series well enough....but I really like Terri Blackstock and Tamar Myer's Penn Dutch much better. LOL

A plus for this series is their online resources. You can go here and find photos of Fresco, CO, recipes, etc.

Another one on the fall reading list.

Trial by Fire and Line of Duty by Terri Blackstock

Evidently, I've finished this series. I really enjoyed it. I'm not sure which Blackstock series I will try next. I'll have to see what the library has.

This series centers around the lives of First Responders (firemen, sheriff, paramedics). Mystery, suspense, romance...it's all here.

My only beef was an inconsistency in the character of Issie. In book 3 I KNOW we were told that her mother died when she was 8. In book 4 we are told that her mother died 2 years earlier and was a negligent bar hop/maid.....those sorts of things really bother me in a series.....but I CONTINUED to reading anyway as I really enjoyed this series.

These were on my fall reading list.

Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Courtesy of King Arthur Whole Grain Baking
Yield - 4 doz
Baking Temp 375*
Baking time - 12 - 13 minutes

{I don't know that I'd follow the directions precisely next time - but I wanted to give this recipe every chance to be good - so I complied. ::snort:: My few adaptations in ()}

3/4 C (1 1/2 sticks) melted butter
1 C packed brown sugar (Rapadura)
2 tsp vanilla (T)
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp espresso powder (opt - didn't use)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/3 c light corn syrup (agave nectar - though honey could be used)
1 T cider vinegar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 C whole wheat flour (hard white or red)
3 CUPS chocolate chips

Melt butter, stir in sugar. Heat until mixture bubbles. Remove and cool to lukewarm.

Stir in vanilla, salt, baking soda, espresso powder, baking powder, corn syrup and vinegar. Add the eggs. Beat well after each addition., then add flour, stir to combine. Finally mix in the chips. REFRIGERATE the dough, covered, overnight.

Preheat oven.

Bake until just brown around the edges , 12 - 13 min. Remove cookies from oven and cool completely on the pan, loosen after 5 minutes.

*My other new favorite cookies are great, these are chewier because there is no oatmeal in them. The family is split as to which they like best.

Red Letter Day

Over 20 years ago my little brother gave Mike, a new groom, a "hilarious" Far Side cup for Christmas.

It portrayed a couple driving in a car. The husband has turned to the wife and commented on how well the muffler is working.

For 20 years this cup has been a mild irritant...commented on by children and all manner of family guests through the years.

TODAY - I've been liberated!

WEDNESDAY

I've not been incredibly productive - but I did survive the day - and that sometimes says a LOT. ::snort::

I went to Curves, where I discovered I gained another pound this week. ::snort::

Yesterday we started cookies. Zander and Nolan were so excited. We finally go to the last line and it said, "put the dough in the fridge OVERNIGHT." Oh my WORD. I promised we'd bake them first thing this a.m. So we did.

Kim dropped by with her two little men. The boys had fun playing, we discussed earth shattering things like the type of honey I wanted and where to buy raw cashews now that SN won't be delivering to us. ::snort:: Actually, she brought me a gal of coconut oil and took 2 gal jars for me to purchase honey.

We had lunch.

We did school while Stacia napped. It's been in the 70's. Gorgeous. We did school on the swing.

Mike called and won't be home until after 9 or 10:00 tonight.

Took Jamin to work - played. Printed out the Holiday Planner....and now I'm going to maybe post a recipe or something.

An Organized Holiday

I got really excited when I saw this book advertised on Trish's Blog. THEN I went to one of Marilyn Moll's phone seminars. She and the author of this book were the hosts.

I bought it. It's a PDF file that you can instantly print. IF you are organized enough to hit the print button. I FINALLY did that tonight when I realized that the little counter says that my babies will be home in 7 weeks. I better get this planner working for me! ::snort::

I really am excited about it now that I'm actually printing it...though it is taking hours for my old printer to do the job. I'm going to see what to leave out and what to accelerate and see if this helps me actually get a CHRISTMAS LETTER OUT THIS YEAR! There's always hope.

If you are interested in checking this out - click the little link under the graphic in the side bar. I tried and tried and simply can't figure out how to get the graphic to link. Yes, I get a cut back if you click on the link and decide to order. ::snort:: STILL printing - maybe I should have printed out a few isolated pages. ::snort::

What I LOVE about this book is the timelines, the lists, the charts AND it includes a great Jesse Tree Devotional as well. How can you go wrong?

Poll Results

OK - trying to use the polls to find out more about you or share more about us.....

Results - Mike and I went to the OR coast for our honeymoon.

Check out the new poll in the sidebar