Hazel Dell Homecoming

My Dad, if you didn't know, was a school teacher all his working life. Often, though, he would be called on to fill in at churches if a pastor happened to be sick or on vacation. Some people thought he was a pastor full time. In fact, sometimes when he helped with funerals, the paper would list him as "Pastor Dave Freelan." I started calling him Pastor Dave just to be a pain. :)

Now, in his retirement years, he actually has a church of his own. It's a cute little church out in the country - always reminds me of the church building in Runaway Bride.

This past Sunday was their annual homecoming and Mom really wanted me to go. Sensing that it had been a while since I'd been a good daughter, I kissed goodbye an afternoon of sleeping and watching TV...and I headed to Homecoming.

The afternoon started with a carry in lunch. (I brought Mom's birthday gift from all her children. Her actual offspring. Not the cast of a soap.) Everyone stopped eating and started singing to her - and her face turned the color of her shirt.
Inside...a tote bag filled with everything she'd need in case of a winter vehicular emergency. Food...candles...lighter...devo book...paper...soduko puzzles...pencils...slippers...flashlight...blanket...I think that was everything. She loved it.

After lunch, it was time to go upstairs for the service. They started by singing "I'll Fly Away" and Mom GOT OUT HER PHONE AND CALLED AUNT B SO SHE COULD HEAR IT. That is my mother on her phone IN CHURCH, people! I wasn't missing THAT photo opp! And you can know Pastor Dave saw that one the minute church was over.

They had a really nice service planned out - music and speaking.

It had a patriotic feel in honor of 9/11.

The guest musician was R.B. Kuhn, who is a friend of Dad's. He's an amazing pianist, and he brought his daughter Emily along, and she sang with him. She has a good voice!

R.B. is very funny - and I enjoyed his thoughts in between songs.

He honored the branches of the military in his program...

My favorite part of the afternoon was when they tolled the church bell 11 times in memory of the 9/11 victims.

I'm glad I went...it was worth missing my nap. Great program...and great blackmail picture of Mom on the phone in church! :)

Kettle Corn Crispie Bars (Judy Reynolds)

When I started working at WBCL, one of the first guests I scheduled during my training was Judy Reynolds. Hailing from southern Indiana, Judy won the Midwest Living Bake off in 2010 with her amazing recipe for Caramel and Chocolate Kettle Corn Crispie Bars. Lynne saw the recipe in the magazine and wanted to interview Judy on Mid-Morning.

I felt it was only fitting to MAKE the dish so we could talk to her intelligently about it, and I quickly found WHY they won. Goodness. These are so very good. Judy is a delightful lady, and I enjoyed hearing her interview and talking with her as part of it. I think everyone should know the goodness that is this this recipe. It has more ingredients than recipes I normally make, but allow me to assure you it is WELL worth it. Let me also tell you HOW RICH this is. Cut them small!!

The Recipe:

8 cups Original Kettle Corn, remove any uncooked kernels
1 (8 oz.) package milk chocolate toffee bits
1 cup toasted pecans, chopped finely
2/3 cup light corn syrup
2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
5 tablespoons salted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package chocolate chips (semi-sweet or milk chocolate)
1/4 cup hot caramel topping, melt to pouring consistency
1 tablespoon or desired amount of sea salt for topping

Line an 11 x 7 x 2-inch baking pan with aluminum foil; use enough foil on sides to be able to pull bars from pan easily when ready to serve; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl add kettle corn, toffee bits and pecans; blend ingredients together with hands or large wooden spoon; set aside.

In a small saucepan combine corn syrup, condensed milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring continuously, about 5 to 6 minutes or until the caramel sauce has turned a light golden brown. Remove from heat, stir in vanilla extract. Pour cooked caramel sauce over reserved kettle corn mixture.

Blend, with a wooden spoon, until kettle corn mixture is completely coated by caramel sauce. Spread evenly in foil lined pan; press lightly to compact. Spread melted chocolate morsels evenly over kettle corn in baking pan. Use a spoon to drizzle 1/4 cup hot caramel topping over melted.

Top with desired amount of sea salt. Cool in freezer until chocolate and hot caramel topping has set; about 45 to 60 minutes. If bars are taken out too soon cutting them will smash the popcorn down.

Remove from pan to cutting surface using extended ends of aluminum foil; remove foil. Cut into bars with a sharp knife or electric knife. Recipe makes about 20 to 24 bars. These bars freeze well.
I purchased the actual "hot caramel sauce" in the jar...the really thick kind...instead of the squeeze bottle of caramel sundae syrup. It holds better on top of the bar. Make sure the sea salt is the coarse kind, not finely ground. I purchased pecan chips to safe time chopping. And if you didn't know - the chocolate toffee bits are found with the chocolate chips.

If you don't have an 11x7 pan (I happen to have one - but it is an odd size) you can use the nearest size you have...just know that your bars will either be thicker or thinner depending on the size of your pan. When you're done making the bars, you can lift the foil right out of the pan and peel it away.
You can toast the nuts in the oven, but Lynne shared the tip of putting them in a microwave safe bowl and toasting them in the microwave (set on high power) for 30 seconds, stirring, and then 30 more seconds. It just brings out the flavor and warms them a bit.

Judy taught me that one bag of kettle corn (if you buy the microwave bags) IS 8 cups. Easy measuring! I was worried that the toffee bits and nuts would fall to the bottom of the popcorn in the mixing bowl, but it doesn't happen. The chocolate coating on the toffee bits melts in the warm popcorn and the warm pecans, and acts kind of as a glue.

See? It mixes well. Do make sure you put the popcorn in with your hands rather than pouring it from the bag so you can catch any unpopped kernels. Don't want people biting down on those!

After that is all mixed, start on the sauce. Pour all the called-for ingredients in a pan.

This is what it will look like as you begin to cook. Make sure you do stir it continually so the sugars don't burn on the bottom.

It will come to a pretty good boil! This is what it looks like right before it's done.

Pour it over the popcorn mixture.

It will start to look kind of like caramel corn. Stir well.

Spread it into the pan. If you're using the correct size, it will come nearly to the top of the pan.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave until they're spreadable.

Spread over the top of the corn mixture.

Take the lid off the caramel sauce, put it in the microwave until it softens, and then use a spoon to drizzle it over the chocolate. Immediately after that, drop the sea salt over it so it can settle in to the caramel and chocolate. Put it in the freezer for an hour or so while it hardens.

Cut and serve!! Amazing.

It's the Weekly Recap!

*Sunday I had computer woes. I spent the majority of the afternoon sacked out in the fat chair enjoying my second biggest time waster ever...surfing online for vacation destinations. I'm not sure if my computer overheated (it gets really hot sometimes) or what, but it shut down. After much prayer and several attempts, it restarted, but it failed to auto-recover the four hours worth of work I'd done Friday night. I elected not to get mad about it...nothing I could do anyway. Lesson learned in SAVING.

* Monday I enjoyed every last minute of my holiday. I already posted about it, but I got to hold a baby, eat Panera for lunch, and go shopping, shopping, SHOPPING!!! It was such a perfectly wonderful day. I'm sorry it took me eleven years to experience the joy that is Labor Day!

* Tuesday I got to join Lynne for a whole show! It was so fun! We did a show on our favorite quotes - and I also had my first on-air tears. Good grief. I knew that particular quote was a risky one to try out loud but I THOUGHT I could get through it. I thought wrong. But I dearly loved the show. And that night I got to have dinner with my friend Jenny. Have I mentioned how much I miss her? (Here's something YOU all missed...and you should be glad. As we were saying goodbye in the IHOP parking lot...the wind and my skirt created a Marilyn Monroe-esque moment. WOOPS!)

* Wednesday I donned my best Opie Taylor look and went to work. Don't believe me??
While at work, I played receptionist for half a day. My fifteen year theory that the receptionist is the most important, least thanked, and hardest working individual in any given office was solidified yet again. Oh Diane...how DO you remember all those things every day? You are my hero!

*Thursday was my first sticker stop at work. I already posted about it, but I'd just like to say again that I LOVE MY JOB!!! It was so fun to get to hang out with the girls and meet people...and wear a hat! Super long work day - but super fun! * Friday started out rough. I had bedhead hair (after freshly washing it...NOT GOOD), got stuck behind a school bus, didn't have my face on when I got to work...you get the picture. But it improved! :) I got to have pizza and Bible study with Marie after work, and we had the BEST talk. And in random news - I think I "arrived." Have you heard of Pinterest? My cheesy tortellini post was pinned! Shut right up!

* Saturday was a writing day!! I've not had time or inspiration to write since my Brown County Writing Retreat with Rachel this past June, but somehow this week, I got some ideas! So I scheduled a writing day (treating it like a "real appointment" in my day planner) and after my morning manicure, I made coffee and hunkered down with my computer and my thoughts! And then I got up and cooked...chicken lasagna that was SO GOOD you'll be seeing it here. Made a yummy dessert you'll see this week...and a batch of peanut butter cookies for Phats. :)

Books I'm Reading: Not much time to read this week. I did read in Jesus Calling and also started Renee Swope's new book, A Confident Heart.

Favorite God Moment of the Whole Week: I've been feeling pretty distanced from God lately, and one night I shot out a (truly pathetic) prayer of desperation about a situation that was hurting my heart. In the grand scheme of life, it doesn't matter at all. In the history of my prayers, it probably goes right up there in stupid-ness along with praying for fog delays when I was in high school. But God answered me in about an hour, and it was just such a boost to me - to know He IS listening and He DOES care - even about the stupid stuff.

Update on Last Week's Goals: Well...I did it! I made it through all the new things at work last week without completely falling apart! Only cried once and that had a root cause of exhaustion, which was SO not work's fault. I got through my two on-air days without wanting to throw up, I survived pretending to be the receptionist, I enjoyed the sticker stop...a good week!

Goals for the Coming Week: Part of my God-disconnectedness (like that word?) stems from lack of effort on my part. I get caught up in the busyness that is my life and I don't take the time with Him that I should. This coming week will be every bit as work-busy as last week, so my goal is to make concerted time to spend with Him.

9/11

I don't normally write about current events...world events...call it what you will. But tomorrow is the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and I wanted to do a post about that day to remember its significance.

It's with a fair amount of embarrassment that I admit to you I was unaware our nation even possessed buildings called Twin Towers. Seriously. Had no idea.

The morning of 9/11, I was in a division meeting. Once a month (or was it once a quarter? I don't remember now) all the employees from Admissions, Financial Aid, Marketing, and whatever other departments fell under the umbrella of enrollment management would get together for a carry-in breakfast and an update on what was happening within the division. As people gathered to eat, I heard one of the Admissions counselors talking about planes hitting one of the Twin Towers. I had no idea what he was talking about, or where it was.

That was really all I heard about it until later that morning. I accompanied a friend (who was my on-again-off-again boyfriend's sister) to the doctor. She didn't want to go by herself, and I had vacation time to use, so I took a couple of hours and went with her. While she went in with the doctor, I sat in the waiting room and watched TV...and that was the first I really got to see what was happening - but even then it didn't sink in.

That afternoon, I had a dentist appointment, so while I had my mouth mutilated (aka teeth cleaned), I sat with my head smashed against the chair, eyes glued to the TV above me. While I was in the chair, the word came that gas prices were skyrocketing (probably to a price we would now consider a real treat), so my dentist advised me to get gas on the way back to work.

(I didn't. I didn't want to sit forever in line on company time.)

Back in those days I was a demonstrator for Stampin' Up! and that night I had a party scheduled in Kokomo. I asked the hostess if she wanted to cancel, but she said she thought we could still meet. The guests were mostly family anyway. They showed up - and most said they welcomed the diversion to leave the TV for a while.

I did stop and pay $2304829304830 for gas on my way home from that party, and when I finally got home that evening, it hit me. Something so horrible, it was beyond my comprehension, was taking over our nation, and I felt very unsafe, even in my little middle-of-nowhere home.

My parents were on vacation in Michigain, the aforementioned on-again-off-again boyfriend had been sent out of town for work, my roommate worked nights, and I remember just curling up in bed and crying out of fear more than anything else. I worried that something else would happen that night, and I'd be all alone - and no one would be able to get to me.

It took a while for the whole scope of what happened to soak in. Because I'd missed so much of the initial coverage, I began watching documentaries and news magazines nonstop - to try to understand what had happened. And I never could wrap my mind around an attack of that magnitude.

I can't believe it's been ten years...and that I remember it so clearly.

Where were you that day?

Sticker Stop...Lima Style

Ready for a work adventure?! Yesterday was another first for me...my first sticker stop!

The station has window stickers for people to put on their vehicles...and we just got newly designed stickers. So the sticker stops provide a way us to get to meet some of our listeners and give them a sticker for their vehicle(s)!

The forecast for my day was...rain. Knowing that my hair grows to look like Monica Gellar's in the Bahamas, I went out the night before and purchased my first hat. PREPARED for rain! I was part of a team of four people. Marsha, Cindy, and Sheryl were my sticker stop-mates. We were Lima bound! My first time to Lima (which was a little over an hour from the station), so I thought it was photo-worthy.

Our sticker stop took place at Tom Ahl Auto in Lima, Ohio. We parked our van on the corner and people pulled up into the parking lot to get their stickers.
Check this out! Hat (because it was sprinkling), sunglasses (because it was bright), station shirt (to make me official), jeans (because my job is cool that way), and an apron (to hold the stash of stuff)!

Mom asked me yesterday morning, "Do they know you've never washed a window before?" MOM!!!!!!! Okay I deserved that. So Sheryl took this picture to prove I washed a window, thankyouverymuch. (We washed their windows and put the stickers on for them - and removed their old stickers if they had any.)

It did start to rain, but we persevered! My friends Cindy and Marsha, picking up prize drawing forms.

Who is too vain for a poncho??? Actually I'm too hot blooded for a poncho. I'd sweat to death! Cindy and Sheryl were wise and donned them. I just put on my hoodie and dug out my umbrella.

I loved everything about the Sticker Stop (even cleaning the windows, but don't tell anyone) - but meeting the people was the best part. Cindy and I posed with a couple of our friends.

All in all, we were so happy with the way the weather turned out. It could have been so much worse. We had about five minutes of actual rain. The rest of the time it either sprinkled or did nothing at all. We got to meet LOTS of great listeners and friends, and I enjoyed it.

On our way home, we got to have dinner together, and that was fun too. These three are very sweet and I appreciate the way they have welcomed me in!

Happy Birthday to the Mama...

SOMEONE has a very special birthday today!!
I won't tell you the number, but it's an "important" one. You know, the kind that really deserves a big party, but my sisters and I were threatened within an inch of our lives if we threw one. Since we're fond of life, we decided to obey.

There's a first time for everything.

She may have won on the party, but she isn't winning on the public photo slide show! (She'll never know. She doesn't read the blog. And you all don't have big mouths, right?)

I have a good Mama. (Even when I pick on her.) She has loved me through thick...
...and thin. :) She has always been quite a champion and supporter of me, which I really appreciate, since I sort of showed up late and threw a wrench in the plans of life.

She puts up with my quirks...like excessive photo taking...

...though not without some argument, sometimes.

Actually I think she hates the pictures. She always says, "They look just like me!" (Well, her or Wilson on Home Improvement.)

Though we have had our struggles about it, she has allowed me to grow up into my own person - even if said person does things that exasperate her, like wearing dresses that "need a dickie" and adding ridiculous flowers to her hair. :)

I can think of no bigger supporter of my career change from Financial Aid to radio. I told her my goal was to make her just like Mark Lowry's "Mama." She asked that I not tell QUITE as many stories about her as he does about his mom. Good thing she doesn't read the blog, huh?

She started early in "training me up in the way I should go" - and I credit her with some of my good habits - like daily devotions and creative Scripture memory. And it was her idea to bring back some water from the Jordan River...which I used in my baptism earlier this year. So glad she did that!

And as a gift to her today, I will not show any of the "bending over under the Christmas tree" pictures - though you have no idea how much I want to.

Happy birthday, Mom! I hope it's a wonderful day filled with much cake. I'll eat the icing.

My First Labor Day (Holiday)

* Before I get started on today's post, I just can't help saying....DID YOU SEE?? Two months, people! Two months!! Evil DST ends!!!! *
Okay. Now to today's news. This past weekend was my first EVER Labor Day weekend off work, and I decided to make the most of it. So Monday morning, I got up at the crack of nine, got ready, and headed here: Skinny caramel macchiato, please! (That way I can justify getting a grande instead of a tall. HA!)


Then I drove over to Kokomo where I got to meet the sweetest new thing...little Maggie. Her mom is my friend Sarah, who is the maker of those fantastic cupcakes I love so much. Maggie is five weeks old. Darling. She slept on me for about an hour! Finally she was in need of lunch and I couldn't help her with that, so I left to go in search of my own lunch. I wanted to go somewhere I can't go ordinarily: Panera! I didn't know they had a drive-thru, but when I found that, I got right in line. Ham and swiss on rye minus the rye. He asked what I wanted instead and I said, "ANYTHING but rye." I pulled into a parking lot (deepest apologies to my friend Marie who hates it when people do that), rolled down my window to enjoy the gorgeous day, and devoured my sammich and pickle, while I read my email.

THEN I headed for my friend Kari's house. I got to see her scrapbooks and catch up with her a bit. Funny thing happened on the way to Kari's...I was driving down 31 in Kokomo (if you're not from around here - it's a 4 lane divided highway) and I had my window down a smidge. I NEVER have my window down, ever. Messes up my hair. I heard a vehicle come up beside me and a voice say "HEY LADY!"

I about wet my pants. Great. I'm going to get SHOT in Kokomo by a disgruntled driver. I very nervously looked over...and it was my friend Sandee! She said, "Where are you going in such a hurry?" I said, "To see your daughter!" So we drove down the highway talking as though we were born in a barn and talking cross-vehicle on a four lane highway was perfectly normal.

After visiting Kari....time for a snack!
And then....oh be still my beating heart: The minute I walked inside...oh the beauty. I wandered about and just breathed the air...and made a significant wish list. Oh Hobby Lobby. How I love thee. How I miss thee.

Half the fun of a shopping trip is showing off the finds. Think you can handle it? I bought JUST a few things.... Not many, really, when you think about it... Okay first of all, I have to show you my favorite find of the day. I don't know whether or not you know this about me, but I'm pretty sure I have a broken body thermostat. I'm ALWAYS hot. I keep my house at 65 degrees. I had to leave church two Sundays in a row because I got so hot in the sanctuary, I felt sick. I have to take off my shoes when I engineer Mid-Morning because the studio is too hot for me.

As you can imagine, shopping for winter clothes is a REAL TREAT. I can't wear anything thick, and I certainly can't do layers. Thin, three quarter length sleeves are about all I can handle. Even that is questionable. So I never get to wear cute cardigans because - hello! heat stroke!!

Imagine, if you will, my joy when I walked into Kohl's and found these amazingly thin, SHORT SLEEVED cardigans. I told Mom it reminded me of that verse "You have heard my cries and seen my tears." Finally! Bekah can wear a cardigan! (They were 50% off so I bought two. LOL!!) I made the mistake of setting foot in a TJ Maxx. Dangerous. I absolutely adore this find. They're lamps. Aren't they cute??? I want to do my guest room (in my new-yet-to-be house) in black and white, so this was my inaugural purchase. Meanwhile I think I'll make use of them in my room. They might not entirely match but...details. Too cute to box up. Found this in the Hobby Lobby - for my office at work. The harvest thing is a little box and the pumpkin is wooden. I think they'll make a good addition to my work space. Speaking of cuteness for the future guest room - in black and white - this rug. I stuck my hand in it (yes IN) so you can see how thick and wonderful it is. I can think of nothing better to put my feet on as I get out of bed in the morning. (I may become a guest in my own home.) My current black heels got a hole in them (2 years ago) and I've not been able to find satisfactory replacements...until today! So I snatched those up and of course it was a BOGO event, so I got some new running shoes. Mine are okay for a few more weeks yet but they'll need replaced soon and I figured I might as well have the spares on hand!Now I know the difference between the old Labor Day routine and my new one. I used to earn money on Labor Day. Now I spend it.

And I love every minute of it.