Beyond Binkies, Code and Make-Believe

Almond Meal Pancakes - a high protein alternative

I'm not a pancake fan, but love berries and breakfast.  I wanted an alternative to be able to join my children in our special Saturday morning breakfasts without the useless calories.  I also needed some protein to get some energy for the day.

Saturday mornings we have French toast

Our children love Saturday mornings.  That means French toast they way they like it!  Vanilla, strudel bread.  LOTS of sugar.

Sandoval's

Always on the hunt for a good Mexican restaurant -- not goopy food -- I remembered a tip from some women at church.  Sandoval's.

Memories of being dragged out of the station wagon

I was reminded today of my experience just before Kindergarten.  My two brothers accompanied my mother and me to the clinic.  I remember the arriving in the big parking lot.  I remember my brothers dragging me out of the station wagon; kicking and screaming, flailing.  It wasn't pretty.  We proceeded to a fold-up banquet table lacking the festive covers they usually wear.

Taking the time to laugh before work

Our daughter came in to snuggle this morning before the alarm.  When we got up she turned on the television which was set to the station we had on last night, TBN.  She saw the opening credits for a movie and she thought the music was nice and that it would be fun to watch.

Sculptors we like

Dogs, birds and others.  We love bronze, wood and glass sculpture.  From abstract to realism as long as it effectively tells a story and either takes us someplace or creates an emotion - we enjoy it.

One dog to four and back to one - plus a bird.

My sister and I were musing at the humorous ways we end up with pets.  My brother now has three dogs and I remembered how I ended up with a pack.

Jewlery Artists

I'm all about texture and the process.  This couple has a fabulous sense of humor, design and depth of experience to enable them to create an amazing collection:
http://www.2roses.com/jewelry/index.htm

With that in mind, Rebecca Bashara has a way of bringing out the beauty in natural stones.  She sends her children out on the hunt and then turns them into gentle, pleasing, yet dramatic pieces.
http://www.rbashara.com

This list will continue to grow.

Coconut Cake - close to the way Cedar Creek Inn makes it

One of the most decadent treats we would enjoy in Laguna Beach or Dana Point was the coconut cake served by Cedar Creek Inn.  I was so hooked that it was my regular birthday cake for years.  When girlfriends came to town, we ended up there to wrap up the visit and they left with their teeth jittering downing milk or even tossing down a scoop of vanilla ice cream to cut the richness of the cake and frosting.

The dirt, sand and water were a hit!

We survived camping.  It was fantastic.  I have driven home the concept that sometimes we help daddy more by not helping daddy.  As all of the equipment oozed out of the back of the van, I took my queue to take the children to the beach -- immediately!

First order of business - drench us all in OFF to ward off the mosquitoes.