Search for the snowball maker . . .

I spent an hour surfing on the Internet, yesterday, in search of the snowball maker! Oh, you would like some clarification? Earlier in the week, I posted my attempt at replicating the wonder Schneeballen (snowballs in German) pastries my son and I enjoyed in Rothenburg, Germany.  Schneeballen are thinly rolled out pieces of dough cut into strips and then formed into a ball and deep fried. Although the taste was quite comparable, they didn't hold together as well in the deep fryer. How did those bakers in Rothenburg get them so round and perfect? My research revealed there is such a tool called a Schneeballen tongs. Great! I now knew what to look for specifically in my searches. I even found a picture of one. I did not, however, find anyone or any place that sold one. The closest I could find was a meat ball tongs but it was less than two inches in diameter and not nearly big enough for the fist-sized pastries.

My family did enjoy my rendition of the Schneesballen even if they were far from round. My daughter did let slip when she said, "Mom, can I have another of those Schneeballen brains?"

I told my husband that there was nothing for me to do but go back to Rothenburg to narrow down my search. For some obscure reason, he didn't seem to think this made sense! He ate my Schneeballen 'brains' yet he didn't want to eat them 'properly' as in a round pastry as they were devised to be? The quality of life in him has certainly faded in this area.

Meanwhile, if anyone knows where to get one, let me know. Given that a search on the Internet didn't discover one, I'm feeling rather hopeless on the subject. And, I could have started a Schneeballen craze here in California, too! :-)

Something we tend to forget . . .

When you choose the lesser of two evils, always remember that it is still an evil.

- Max Lerner

A Lenten Contemplation . . .

“Every man in on a cross. Some ask to be taken down like the thief on the left; others ask to be taken up like the thief on the right.” ~Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Great article on the current obama mandate . . .

http://catholicmom.com/2012/02/21/how-our-country-and-our-church-arrived-at-the-hhs-contraceptive-mandate/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Catholicmomcom+%28CatholicMom.com%29

Whole new meaning to potato chips . . .

Someone shared this with me from the Internet. Once you read it, you will understand why I had to share it!

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever..

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

Have lunch with God.......bring chips.

So the Spring begins . . .

For California, the planting season can begin early as we seldom have the threat of a late frost. I'm not saying it has never happened, but the chances are pretty slim at this point. My husband discovered a way to get his seedlings going early on and ready for the soil in a few weeks. He set up a table in the garage and warms and provides light for his seedlings by way of an ordinary shop lamp. He has it situated about five inches or so above the plants and, as you can see, they seem to like it.

He saves a lot of money, this way, as he doesn't need to buy the setting plants sold at the local nurseries. Also, he enjoys being a part of the process from the very beginning. The nice part is that after these get into the ground, he can start another set to replace them if they are lost to bugs, dog, or that once in a lifetime late California frost!

On the light side . . .

A big mountain of sugar is too much for one man. I can see now why God portions it out in those little packets.

Homer Simpson