Untitled, a photo by Vicki Johnston Photography on Flickr.

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

                                                                            because my Mom wanted them.

and if your Mother is anything like mine, you like to keep her happy.

 I began scouring many different recipes to find one that fit within the supplies in the cupboards.  

Although I never thought of having cupboards before, or finding a recipe that fit what I had in the house, before.  This day though, I didn't want to run to the store again. 

 I did however want to keep the Momma happy.

I took from this one and that one and came up with a recipe that fit all my needs and would give the Momma what she wanted.  

Here are the ingredients I used and how I used them

1 stick butter

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup finely chopped pecans

2 tsp vanilla

combine in a sauce pan over medium heat until bubbly.  set aside.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

1 package regular cresent type rolls

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 stick melted butter

Separate the cresent rolls into two sections

unroll each

pinch the perforations together

Mix the cinnamon and sugar together

Sprinkle on each section

Spread on butter

Roll back up like a jelly roll

Cut each into four pieces

Reshape to make them look round

Pour pecan/butter/corn syrup mixture into pie pan 

Place cresent/cinnamon rolls onto mixture

Bake 11 minutes (or what the directions on the rolls, direct)

When golden brown remove and let set up for 15-20 minutes

Invert on parchment paper or dish

Eat em up!

And the Momma loved them and we were both happy.

I Ponder

I ponder, often. 

I ponder on why I do what I do or don't do.

I like to take photos, so I ponder on what appeals to me about the photos I take.  

I thought about the Mallard Duck I took a photo of this week.  

What interested me about Mallard Ducks?  

Then it came to me. 

That's what happens when you ponder.  

When the sun shines on the male's green head, it looks like emeralds. 

I really like emeralds.

I also enjoy taking photos of the bright red male Cardinal. 

I love how striking it is especially against the branches of the evergreen tree, or snow, or a clear blue sky. 

Red has always been my favorite color and it reminds me of rubies too.

Rubies are deliciously gorgeous.

Then there's this.  

A lovable, huggable, precious bunny, right in my back yard.  

I didn't need to ponder this.  

I love furry little bunnies.  

Isn't he cute?

And athletic to boot.

Now this one I don't have to ponder at all.  

Look at those big baby blues with the eye lashes that any woman would die for.  

On top of all the perfectness of this baby he is my grand nephew, my nieces only boy.  

Everyone knows when someone you love has a baby you love them even more than you thought you could ever love. 

Look at his little rosebud lips too...the perfect package.

Lastly, there are things that just flat out make me laugh.  

The male goose screaming his love at the top of his lungs and showing his tongue, well I can only hope to be wooed like that some day.  

It is just down right romantic, or I guess it is for geese.

How about this?  

What did the bunny think he was going to find in the pipe?  

I don't know but he was certainly curious.  

Which also made me laugh.

Now that my pondering is accomplished for the day I have learned a few things.  

I like jewels, or things that shine like jewels.

I like warm, fuzzy, huggable things.

I love, love, love my little nephew. (well all my nieces and nephews and there are about 100 give or take a few)

Mating rituals of geese make me laugh.

A bunny peering into a drain pipe makes me giggle.

But the one interesting fact of all of these photos I pondered over have one thing in common...they are all male.

And that one I don't need to ponder!

The Only Good Thing When It's Cold in Florida

I found the one good thing about cold temperatures in Florida today. 

 I walked out front to pick oranges from my Mother's tree and it was a little nippy, not for Iowa, but for Florida.

The oranges look good don't they so I picked about nine of them.

Brought them in and promptly cut them in half.

Then I brought out the juicer because I had to it was the appropriate thing to do.

It's fun to use and takes just a few minutes and reminds me of my Dad, it was his favorite.

 Nine oranges filled up the pitcher.

Doesn't it look yummy?

But the very best part was that because it was so cold in Florida last night the orange juice was fresh squeezed and perfectly chilled!  Daddy would have been so happy not about the cold, about the OJ.

Bottoms up everyone!

The end!

I Tried, but Had No Self Control

Yesterday I attended a function, a ballet of sorts.  When I arrived camera in hand expecting to experiment with movement and low light I was disappointed to find out no photos were allowed.

Now, I have been in this situation before and talked my way into taking photos without flash so it would not distract the performers.  This time, not so much.

I went to my seat high in the balcony ready to watch the beautiful display of physical feat and eye popping colorful costumes, keeping my camera to myself.

Sitting high above everything I had a difficult time seeing the pageantry on display.  Oh, I thought, I can use my camera as binoculars.  Great idea I thought to myself, so I did.

But then, then, well as hard as I tried, I just could not control myself.

Not when I saw this

or this

Oh my, how do they do this?

or this one

I've started I might as well continue...

or how about this one?  Poetry in motion...look at that movement how could I not?

Yes, I broke the rules.  Yes, I felt badly about it.  Yes, I love the photos.  Yes, I would tell kids not to follow my lead, to have more self control then I did...Yes to it all...So learn from my indiscretion, and enjoy the photos in the meantime.

Longings

This morning as I drove to church with the sun brightly shining and a dusting of snow on the ground, my thoughts turned to a longing I have....

A longing to be near the water, the beach, the warmth the beauty.

 A longing to see God's majesty in nature, warm nature.  God's beauty is everywhere, even in the days in Iowa when the high is going to be seventeen degrees.  THE HIGH!

But for me, I long for this...how could I not?

How close is too close?

How close is too close?  This little fella doesn't seem to mind my desire to be close to it.  

 He seems content, curled up, front paw tucked into his fur.  Inquisitive look on his face.  I think he found me as interesting as I found him.  As I circle around the tree we both seem to be keeping our eyes on each other.

 I really like nature from a distance so being this close to a wild animal is a little scary I think being this close to a human might be scary for him too.

  But....I had to push the limits....

 And I did.  The cute little squirrel was no longer cute or seemed little it's cute little paw was no longer tucked into it's fur it's claws were out.  I had taken one step too close with the big, black, flashy item covering my face and he was over it.  He hissed and spat at me and I ran.  See the camera shake in the photo? 

 This big ferocious animal showed me and now I know how close is too close.