This is a hard one! I got 20 out of 24 right.

I'm free! Yesterday was my official last day of work for the psychiatrist. I turned in my keys and said my goodbyes. Quitting can feel so good :-) I think a year's notice was adequate, don't you?

Yesterday was also another rousing night of Movie Club. This time Justin and Julia picked the Canadian comedy Strange Brew. Funnier than the terrible jokes was hearing Ben crack up at them.

Today is a beautiful rainy morning! I indulged in a little sleeping in, then did some school prep work and my aerobics. Later today I have the delight of peeing in a cup for the drug test. I look forward to seeing Amanda tonight, who is visiting Denver through the weekend. Yea!

Ahh, the sense of accomplishment. With no dictation or office work today, I decided it was finally time to do some deep cleaning. I emptied the kitchen onto the patio and mopped the whole floor. I scrubbed the baseboards. I wiped the greasy dust off the top of the fridge. I mopped the bathrooms by hand with rag. I even cleaned my oven, something I had vowed to do for my own enjoyment, instead of only when I move out of my apartment. I only got one chemical burn on my elbow. Pretty good.

And now I can kick back with a cold diet coke and rest. Sure, I need to clean the carpeted areas of the house, but that can wait another day.

I had a craving for peanut butter and chocolate. Mom made these delicious bar cookies a lot when we were younger. I called her for the recipe and in less than an hour I had my own pan.










2/3 cup shortening
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder

Combine the wet and dry like you would for a standard cookie recipe. Poor batter into a jelly roll pan (I used a large rimmed baking sheet. Is that the same thing?).

Bake at 350 for 15-25 minutes. Generously sprinkle chocolate chips on top and let melt. If you need to dash to the store to buy more (like me) then just pop the sheet pan back in the cooled oven for a minute. When they are nice a melty spread the chocolate over the top. Let cool completely then cut into bars.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting my family in Utah. My brother and sister live in Salt Lake and my parents drove up from Grand Junction (I echo my sister's sentiments - hurrah for my parents, we love them so much!)

The main event was Amanda's spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress. Details of her directorship and the performance are her blog, linked above. I enjoyed it immensely! She should be proud of her students. I've never seen middle school performances as great as the shows she puts out.

Aside from that the weekend was all about food and shopping!


Here is Andy showing us around the shop where he works. He showed off the vegetable display he arranged :-)

Here's my mom's sister Martha and her daughter Caitlin, down from Logan for a lacrosse game. On the right is the cast of Amanda's show giving her a well-deserved congratulations!

Doing what we do best - talking and eating.

Mmmmm...hot chocolate. Mom told stories of working at Arctic Circle while we noshed on their shakes and fries - don't forget the fry sauce!

While it snowed as if it were December we cozied up in a french bistro for a late night dinner. Delicious!

Cooking holiday feasts of corned beef and spiral ham. The holidays are too close this year!

Playing The Phantom Hourglass.

Reading Pride and Prejudice.

Knitting the final large piece of my sweater vest. Then trim and finish!

Searching for a PDA. Regis requires it but they are quickly becoming obsolete. Not many options. Do I dare buy one used?

Completing background checks and immunizations for Regis.

Sewing curtains for the bedroom and craft room.

Watching Ben play N+ and Resident Evil while I knit.