Scrambled Dregs ~~~~~~~ tidbits on life, food, faith, and writing.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Fleeting Thoughts

2013-05-22T05:42:00.001-07:00

I've not been a "good" blogger this week. My weekend and Monday were consumed with moving/schlepping/prepping and painting two bedrooms and intentions to paint a sitting area, hallway and bathroom. (Yes. I do have something planned at my house....this weekend...that's how I roll. You wouldn't want to show up one second early, trust me.)

And while I was beautifying my house, people in Oklahoma were losing theirs...or worse, people they loved.

The tragedies feel like waves that just keep crashing, coming closer together. It feels like we can't even mourn or grasp the horror of the things that happened yesterday because something is looming on tomorrow's horizon.

My heart goes out to those in Oklahoma who've lost someone or every shred of their physical definition of home. On a small scale, I've decided to help by sending some helpful Arbonne products to aid the victims and workers over the next few months. So little in the scheme of things and it does feel a lot like the starfish story that so many use to illustrate how one choice, one person can make a difference. A kid walks on the beach as the tide ebbs, throwing one of thousands of beached starfish back into the ocean. An old man scoffs. "Kid, trying to save the starfish is futile...look at them, they line the beach for miles. Why bother, go on with your life, do something that matters?" The kid bends over, grabs a starfish and wings it into the ocean. "It matters to this one."

One choice. One person at a time. Each life is precious and earth-shatteringly important. Regardless of how it begins or ends. One person at a time, I want to do something that matters. A cold drink, a smile, a meal, a kind word, clothing, prayer, those add up, especially if we all set out to consider one step at a time we can make a difference. (If you want to help fling starfish (or provide meal replacement protein drinks for victims and workers in Oklahoma) email me and I'll give you the details and let you help this way if you'd like. kelly.klepfer@gmail.com.)

Scribbles and Scrambles - Really???

2013-05-20T16:53:00.001-07:00

So I thought I might be able to tell you all sorts of funny stories about my wild hair. Sorry! I still have it!

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Oh, So Not Cool

2013-05-16T18:46:00.002-07:00

So I learned something very important today. Apparently, I'm not up and hip and cool after all.

Here is a text conversation I had with my violin teacher. I offered to postpone my lesson because a) he mentioned being exhausted and b) I've done so little practice this week I knew for a fact that I'd be simply practicing the same old, same old.

So he responded that I should still show and then ended the our conversation with "word". Hmmm. Word? Thinking he may have the cursed autocorrect on his phone, but not 100% sure that our communication was clear I wanted to clarify... "Word???" I said.

Before he responded I called my mom to chat. And while talking I mentioned the exchange I had with my teacher. I said, "I don't know if his phone autocorrected the word good or what? I'm like what does "Word" means?" My mom. My mom who doesn't really like the idea of cell phones or texting or any such nonsense says. "Word is slang, it's rapper or hip hop or something meaning okay, yes, amen, that's true...something along those lines."

Then I get his response confirming my mom's awesome coolness. "Word Yo"

Really? My mom knows this and I don't. So, of course, I had to share that possibly embellished tidbit with the teach. He responded with a hearty...LOL...at least I know what that means. I think. And today in my lesson, he actually said beautiful...sigh...either a sympathy for the batty old idiot or his exhaustion pushed him into delirium. Word!

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Mactacular

2013-05-15T05:33:00.001-07:00

I bought a MacBook. My seven/eight/nine year old Sony laptop is about on it's last leg/gig. So, spurred on by my friends and family who are Macfans (do you suppose McDonald's has issues with Mac, it's awfully close, but maybe they just own the Mc combo and the super sized version, too, ) I visited Mac of All Trades and purchased a refurbed MacBook.

But. I don't really know what I'm doing. And I'm not patient enough to read and watch tutorials and so I'm working with two computers. A slow-as-molasses-in-January-Sony that holds all my pictures and documents, and a new one that challenges me and has nada in the form of documents or pictures.

And I'm being a HORRIBLE violin student this week. HORRIBLE. I've only practiced three times. And my lesson is tomorrow. I keep hoping that when I pick up the violin that some how, some way, I'll have gotten rhythm. So far that hasn't happened.

So. There it is. My current reality. Oh, and I just took this picture on Photo Booth so I now have 7 pictures on my MacBook. That's a huge relief. Maybe I can just used the confused and dazed me in all my posts so I think I can now blog from my MacBook. Hopefully, I'll figure out documents soon.

Scrambles and Scribbles ~ Spring Flung

2013-05-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

It appears as if Spring has sprung in our locale. It's hard to trust this "fact," though. Last week boasted freezing rain and snow and tomorrow is allegedly going to be in the 90's. I think our spring might possibly have been two days long. Sigh. Spring Sandwich anyone?

And while I'm pondering things such as the weather...let me also ponder things like, how is it possible to be SO tired that you can't sleep? Or why on earth it seems reasonable to cram so many things in in one day that one becomes too tired to sleep?

Or why leather couches only feel like they've ripped the top two layers of skin off of the back of shorts clad legs but never actually do anything useful like wax the back of thighs so one can avoid that pesky spring ritual?

"Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near?" Are you humming that song right now?

If a wood chuck could chuck wood, how much could he chuck? Where did the word upchuck com from?

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Rosy Nosed ~ A Modern Fairy Tale

2013-05-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a middle-aged woman named Rosy Nosed.

As a young maiden Rosy Nosed understood that she had been born into a land of plenty, with resources and raw materials all around her, some at her very fingertips.

Rosy Nosed felt an insatiable curiosity about life and had deep down in her soul the desire to change the world. Even the very good land of plenty needed some tweaking.

Armed with her curiosity, her desire to be a world changer, and an ever growing list of lessons learned and skills accomplished, she set out on a journey to find her story.

Early on in life, Rosy Nosed met a very wise guide who offered to come along. She accepted His terms, with a few unique edits, and would consult Him now and again. However, she would use earplugs if she wanted to veer a direction He wasn't keen on.

And this went on, this journey of discovery. It took Rosy Nosed through education, periods of creativity, passionate pursuits, and into sacrifice as she married her handsome prince and brought children into the world. These paths took Rosy Nosed through some very dark, haunted forests, as well. Her wise guide proved to be Her Savior many times during those dismal, dank, days. Those struggles in the gloom, where she battled inky black shadows, things that bumped and gnashed, groping fingers of trees... yes... those struggles brought Rosy Nosed to a few new understandings, and introduced her to a bravery she never knew she owned.

With a renewed awareness of her need to listen to her Guide and let Him show her the paths to step on, and that her bravery was a gift, she picked up the pace and became very aware that this journey didn't lead to her life, but that it was her life. And when she looked behind she could see places she'd been, and could see evidence that by trodding and trying and struggling and moving forward, that she had made a difference in the land. Not the whole land, not every citizen. But where she had been, she had left a mark.

The middle-aged Rosy Nosed smiles at these thoughts. She knows her journey has really just begun, today is, after all the present...the future is not promised and the past is used up, but the present is now and is indeed, a gift. Today, she decides that where she will walk will become a better place because she will pass through. With a hum and a smile, she moves forward, to change the world.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Lemon Garlic Avocado Tempeh Sandwiches

2013-05-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

1 Package Tempeh sliced into strips
1 TBSP garlic infused olive oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons lemon garlic pepper blend
1 avocado sliced
Thinly sliced onion
Bread/bun of choice

Mix the oil, seasoning and lemon juice together and place the sliced tempeh in it and turn to coat both sides. Place onions on the bread, buns and broil until bread is toasted and onions begin to caramel use. Remove. Brown tempeh. Place tempeh over onions and top with avocado slices. Serve.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Resonated...

2013-05-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's sermon was about role models.

How we need to align ourselves with people who live a life that exemplifies what it is we want to see in our own lives.

A statement my pastor made completely resonated with me, and it's such a simple and profound thought. And I want it to be true of me and surround myself with people who have the same mindset.

He said, "Surround yourself with people who don't define life by what they are against. Instead find people who define life by what they are for."

Amen.

I am for Jesus via relationship not religion.
I am for dreaming followed by action.
I am for loving, forgiving, encouraging.
I am for laughing, feeling, and moving forward.
I am for health, mental, physical, emotional and relational.
I am for moving forward and not getting stuck and not living in regret.
I am for the ones I love. I am for opening my heart to others.

I am for Love. I am for Life. I am for Living it to the fullest. I am for Truth. I am for Hope. I am for Joy. I am for Faith becoming Sight.

What are you for???

Scribbles and Scrambles~ Oddities

2013-05-02T20:46:00.001-07:00

Snow in May! Last year at this time we'd mown our lawn 4 or 5 times and had already gotten fresh organic produce. This year, snow.

Another oddity. A check in the mail.,.46 cents...to mail said check. Check amount. 4 cents. Just sayin.

Scribbles and Scrambles -blather

2013-05-02T04:43:00.001-07:00

Thankfully our veggie garden is still in our house because it snowed last night!!!

And that's about all I'm going to say.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Vegas Visual Highlights

2013-05-01T05:34:00.003-07:00

Here are some pictures representing the fun sights and moments in Vegas. And I'm guessing these are safe to share (ya know the whole what happens...stays) since TSA did not confiscate my phone.

Our hotel, the MGM Signature, which has great rooms, btw, also sports a Dr. Seuss tree in the lobby. Totally, totally loved it and clearly took a picture, or six.

Our elevator...oh, the stories I could tell, also had an Elf-worthy panel. (If you've not seen the movie Elf, don't try to figure it out, if you have, let's just say there was a slightly less mature person on board who may or may not have lit up a few extra floors, Buddy style.)

Our view included a huge mirrored building that made for some fun with reflections. I'm so weird. I know. But it made me happy to see lights and other buildings reflected back at me.

The Wynn casino (VEGAN YUM, we visited just because it has eight restaurants all with a Vegan menu. We chose the country club steakhouse and absolutely loved it.... we were too full to lick our plates but we woulda...bonus...our waiter was sarcastic.) but I digress as usual. The Wynn had a fairyland garden right in the middle of it with inlaid flowers on the tile floor and twinkle lights wrapped around the trees and huge polka dots covered in flowers, oh, and curtain with polka dot fringe. Happy indeed.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Lifeprints

2013-04-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

We just don't know.

We don't know how long we'll walk this earth. We can hope we'll live long, healthy lives and die full of days and peacefully in our sleep. But we have no guarantees of this.

I think we also forget how important we are in the lives of others. I keep learning this lesson over and over. One of these days I'll grasp it.

One of our customers at the coffee shop passed away last week. For the entire time & has been at the shop she's talked about Chuck. I only had a handful of interaction with him but could see why he had grown on her so completely.

Chuck ordered a large black coffee through the drive thru. And expected a few sarcastic moments of banter. He gave & and co-workers business and life advice. A successful encounter for & was when she'd get the final comment and watch him driving away shaking his head.

Who would think that a few minutes a week could add up to a real relationship? Or that the arrival of three baristas at the visitation would mean so much to his grieving family? We do make a difference. A positive or negative one, we make one.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Back in Central Time Zone

2013-04-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

I wish, Terri, I'd love to go to Paris...but alas I had to settle for a place offering a mini Eiffel Tower (said in my head in a cheesy French accent.) And there was more air than road involved in this trip.

This was my first time ever in Vegas. There have been moments of awe and wow, and those words actually covered all points on the emotional spectrum.

The Arbonne conference was amazing. Their new marketing guru is uber creative and has a great, artistic eye. The company has huge heart. And the new products = 2 thumbs up.

A highlight of the trip was going to the Wynn casino's country club steakhouse and chowing on some amazing vegan food. Wowza.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Road Trip

2013-04-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

Stay tuned for a few snippets from a new-to-me location.

Here are some hints.

Scraps and Snippets - Easy Candy Cookies

2013-04-24T04:00:00.000-07:00

Easy Candy Cookies

1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1 TBSP peanut butter or coconut oil
1 to 2 Cups of miscellaneous add-ins.

dried fruit (cherries, blueberries, banana chips, cranberries, raisins)
nuts (peanuts, chopped pecans or walnuts)
other (shredded coconut, broken pretzels, crushed potato chips, crispy cereal, granola)

Melt chocolate, add peanut butter/coconut oil and stir well. Add mix ins and stir. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet and refrigerate until hardened.

I made peanut butter with broken pretzels and dry roasted peanuts. And another batch with chopped almonds, coconut oil and dried cherries.

Makes about 20

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ A Different Twist With Practice...

2013-04-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I get frustrated and bored when practicing my violin. One can only play Happy Birthday so many times, ya know. Happy Birthday and Bingo. And other odd snippets with quirky titles like "Snow Day" that may or may not really be written sound like what I'm producing.

Then, while I'm squeaking along, I might notice that I'm not alone. And that the creature who is with me is very fascinated by the mesmerizing movement of the bow. Then... I feel a little tempted to use my bow in other ways. Yeah. Very mature. But fun.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Flawless Brussels Sprouts

2013-04-22T04:00:00.000-07:00

Brussels Sprouts. So tasty. Unless they are wimpy mush. This guarantees no mush. Preheat oven to 425.

Peel the top layer off, chop the dry stem end off.

Bring water to a boil.

Drop the sprouts into the water and boil for two minutes.

Grease a pan large enough to hold your sprouts.

Place sprouts in pan and drizzle with a little oil and spice of choice. I used garlic flavored oil.

Roast for approx 25 minutes. Some of the outer leaves may crisp and darken which only makes them more tasty. Check sprouts for preferred texture. If you want them more tender, add a few more minutes.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Strange Thoughts...

2013-04-19T04:00:00.000-07:00

If you ran away and joined the circus, what would your role be? Would you run a concession? Would you train elephants? Be a clown? Ringmaster? Why?

I would NOT be a clown. I would NOT want to taint another generation of innocent children. In case you don't pick up on the tone, clowns are not my favorite critters. FEARFUL and a little creepy. But, I did have a bad clown experience. I was five...something unexpected and loud happened, I spilled my popcorn. And another incident at a circus had me spilling a very large, very sticky pop down the back of the person in front of me. But that had nothing to do with clowns.

What I would do? Feeding peanuts to elephants. Yes. Low level trapeze. Six feet off the ground. I'd do that. Maybe five feet.

Glimmer...

2013-04-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

It feels like the world is growing darker. Deception is piled up like steaming piles of excrement wherever we turn. Opinions are becoming so deeply ingrained that the only way to win an argument or make a point is through dramatic emotional attack or physical violence.

Why does our society think screamed words or social media bullying or fists of fury are going to buy them respect, converts or supporters? Or is the crown "earned" when standing over a bloodied victim and donning the self-awarded title of King of the Mountain?

I am so grateful for the glimpses of good that we can still see in the aftermaths. Those who treat others with respect and kindness....even if that other person doesn't agree or will ever agree. I am so grateful to see forgiveness change the darkness to dawn. I am awed by the moments where I witness true love for humanity and life. I'm encouraged by those who choose to get up every morning, in spite of their struggles, and make the effort to go out and face the day. And smile, and offer kind words, and a human touch, and hope in a very, very dark world. A small flame of light puncturing the darkness, adding a glimmer where there had been only dank.

There is the truth. Right? Life matters. Living it matters. Treating it as precious and fleeting and beautiful, even in the raw grittiness of it, matters. Please. As you struggle with your emotions and fears, your doubts and your sorrows today, remember that life matters so much. And that the way you treat life makes ripples that lap into eternity. Choose to live life today and to make a difference in someone else's life. Reach out to, touch, laugh with, cry with, smile at, extend hope to, hug or love someone today.

2013-04-16T20:11:00.000-07:00

Prayers

2013-04-15T17:23:00.001-07:00

Blather. Just can't do it.

My violin teacher went to Boston to support his dad as he participated in the Boston Marathon.

They are okay, even though his dad was very near one of the explosions.

My prayers are with those who were injured, those who's lives will forever be impacted by this afternoon, and those who lost a little more innocence, a little more peace and gained a new layer of fear.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Uhhh. Desert Island Food List

2013-04-12T02:00:00.000-07:00

Hmmm. What shall I write about?

Plinky Prompt time. But I don't care for the the wording. So I'm tweaking it.

What seven foods would I require if I was stranded on a desert island. Note, not dessert, desert. But... since I brought it up.

Dark chocolate

Peanut butter

Oatmeal

Fruit....yes...I know...but there will be fruit on a deserted island. If I had a preference, I'd say raspberries, pineapple, mango, orange and blueberry would be lovely.

Black beans

Organic heirloom tomatoes, spinach and lettuce would be nice, too. Maybe a little kale and some arugula. (How about I get stranded with a bunch of seeds so I can have a lovely garden?)

Cilantro

Odd combo isn't it?

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Squeaking Pains

2013-04-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

Well, good news and bad.

My epiphany was kind of, really, an epiphany.

My counting discovery that the one, two, three, four or one &, two &, three &, four & can also become simply one, two, three, one, two, three.

However, one is supposed to actually play the notes like that...one, two, three. Playing my practice pieces revealed that I was counting one, two, THREEEEEEEE. one... which gives the songs a lovely wheeze.

So. We did some clapping. And some breaking sections down into tiny little three note segments.

When he was somewhat satisfied that I could indeed clap one, two, three and play three notes in a row, he thought he'd tackle my self-confidence.

Trust me, self-confidence and the violin are not comfortable friends. The violin definitely lets me know immediately when it's not happy with me. I guess I could call it a hypercritical little thing.

However, Mr. Teacher said that making faces when I hit a sour note, or cringing when I poise to play, or laughing my way through a dismal, mistake-filled performance all scream that I don't believe I can master this little, wooden beast. Can you imagine the message I'd send if I did actually toss my cookies on his shoes?

So, he played a little game with me. Told me to pretend that he was a Donald Trumplike entity and he could make or break my career. But that he knew nothing about music. I was supposed to play 5 measures of this simple little song as if I was nailing and had nailed it. Because he wouldn't know any difference since he was music illiterate and the only way he'd know something was wrong was if I gave him non-verbal clues.

I reverted to a childhood tactic (real story) and asked if I could play from the hallway. He asked me if I'd ask that of Donald Trump. I said I would because I couldn't possibly play in the same room as the hair. I got a look, then I played. And I cringed through the entire thing. It was wicked awful. I peeked over at him. He told me Donald Trump fired me and told me a story about confidence being as important or even more important than skill or talent. He also told me that a perfect performance is almost impossible to pull off. No matter how much practice, preparation, talent and skill, there are so many things that can go wrong that perfection is so not going to happen. Amazingly, perfection or lack of, is not even going to be noticed by the average music lover. What they will notice is my lack of confidence.

So. There you go. Counting and confidence. On my to-do-list.

Scraps and Snippets ~ Banana Blondies with Caramel Banana Topping

2013-04-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Lightly grease 9 x 13 pan. Preheat oven to 350.

Blondie:

1/2 Cup softened coconut oil
1/2 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup (heavy) vanilla protein powder (Arbonne)
2 TBSP ground flax seed
3 bananas
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
2 Cups flour
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 Cup chopped pecans
1/2 Cup almond milk
1/2 tsp lemon juice

Instructions: Place almond milk in a bowl and add the lemon juice. Let sit a minute until the milk begins to curdle. Add the ground flax and stir and allow it to gel a bit.

In another bowl cream together sugar, protein powder, coconut oil and bananas. When mixed well add cinnamon, vanilla, salt and baking powder. Add the milk/flax mixture. Finally add the flour and stir well.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Topping:

1/2 Cup chopped pecans
3 chopped bananas
1 Cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon

In a pan toss chopped pecans and heat, slice the bananas into the pan. When heated, add the sugar and cinnamon. Stir over medium heat until sugar begins to caramelize.

Pour/spread the banana mixture over the blondies.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Did I or Didn't I? Good Question

2013-04-09T05:13:00.002-07:00

I may have had a click moment with the violin. You know, when something clicks in your brain and you think you "get it".

Or not.

You know I'm struggling with "ain't got no rhythm" issues. Last week was even more of the same.

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & seems to work with pacing those eighth notes and quarter notes. But. Then there is 3/4 time. I think that's a whole different animal. Kind of.

My teacher patiently explains things to me. I watch his lips move, I hear what he's saying. I nod like I get it and repeat things to myself to help me to remember what he's told me. I think he might be catching on because he has asked me at least once to tell him what I'll be working on in practice. But. While I'm listening/staring/repeating and thinking I'm still the equivalent to a cow looking at a new fence. My brain is accessing facts, like what's coming out of his mouth, but my mind is spinning out of control trying to interpret what he's saying into something I can understand. And basically I'm like, "Duh...what is this that the nice farmer put in my path? What do I do with it? Will it be my friend? And what's that over there?"

Practice time is either super frustrating while I attempt to remember and do, or exciting because I think I recognize the snippet of the song I'm attempting to play.

Last night I think I finally clicked with the 3 count. But I won't know til today when I attempt to play in front of him. Will I get an enthusiastic response or will he explain it to me like I'm a five year old? Yikes. That is the question.