Healthy Pumpkin Scones

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup Hemp Protein
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 tsp pumpkin spice
  
• 1/2 cup margarine (can be vegan)
  
• 1 1/2 cans pumpkin
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts
• small amount of flax seed and oatmeal combined
  

Preparation:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients (protein powder, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and spice). When mixed, combine with the canned pumpkin and margarine.

On a floured cutting board, knead the dough a few times into a ball. The dough can be a little on the wet side, so add more flour as needed to work. Sprinkle the flax seed and oatmeal over the top and then flaten into half inch circle. Cut the 'pie' into eight equal pieces. If you like your scones on the small side, you can also cut it twelve ways.

Bake at 425 degrees for 12-15 minutes, or until done.

Cello

So, back from the honeymoon, the thing I looked forward to most was getting back on a schedule: I've missed yoga, I've missed my pets, and friends (not in that order, either). I've even missed work! Well, I missed my friends at work.
So now a few weeks later, I'm starting to work on all those projects I'd stopped in lieu of wedding planning. And it occurred to me that now that I've got time for other stuff, I should learn to play the cello! So I went down, bought myself a cello and my lessons start tomorrow. I'm very excited! Why the cello, you ask? I'll let you in on a secret; when I was in high school I had no idea what I wanted to do as a 'career'. When people would ask me my plans, I would have this vision of myself in a New York loft, practicing the cello in leg warmers and Flashdance sweatshirt (it was the 80s after all). Well, as those of you who know me know, I ended up not in NY but in Europe, techno dancing my way through the 90s. Then I imagined myself as the next Stanley Kubrick so following that dream took up most of the 00s (though I quickly learned that I am no Stanley Kubrick and that shooting reality shows in the armpit states of America is a long, long way from Hollywood).
Nevertheless, I've never given up that dream of playing the cello. So here I am, twenty-plus years past high school and I'm about to turn that long-ago dream into a reality.

Now, where can I find some leg warmers?

Grandma Bright

Things that make me think about Grandma B:

Maple brown sugar instant oatmeal
International House flavored coffee
Wind chimes
Pekinese Cats
Yatzee
The smell of smoke in an enclosed car
1050s long, floor-length pink nightgowns that made her look like a princess

TED

From left: Brian Greene at TED2005; Al Gore at TED2006; Jane Goodall at TED2003 taken from http://www.ted.com/pages/view/id/5

Wouldn't it be great to be able to listen to our world's movers and shakers talking about issues we all care about? Well, there's a great site where you can go and do just that. It's called Ted and it's a non-profit organization that makes great ideas available to all of us. Their mission is simply to spread ideas. Check it out!

Wedding Blog

Well, the time has come, my friends, to shed my skin of the 'single working-woman' title and reveal my new robe of 'happily married-wifey'. Below is a link to our wedding blog for our family and friends:

http://www.mywedding.com/rickanne/

Very Broad

Part 1
Hm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - hm
I packed my carriage to the brim, full with full with
The articles of Mr. Fritzenberg’s imaginary flea circus
To which I added the following things:
1. Gunpowder
2. Tonic

Out of the white powder let loose from his wig
The starlet and her misunderstood children appeared
They seemed just as startled as I
And though they hid their eyes behind a curtain of waste
The act that followed was what they call in the world of entertainment
Fierce.
Sick.
I am going to clap until my palms sting
Zugabe! Zugabe!

Part 2
The party has departed
So I took a frigid bath in gin
Soaking up vermouth
The tunnel gapes before me
And in goes the olives
I think I’ll let the fleas go tomorrow
Am I willing to see what isn’t there?

Part 3
With all heads turned towards the display
the illusion can continue
Draw whatever conclusions you want
I’m the guy at the door, the muscle
And you
You’re just part of my flip book
Movement from my hand, my touch upon your image
I might be tired of us both
I can get us to the end quicker