I did a time-lapse photo series (1 shot/ ~15 minutes) of the moon from the time of totality (7p.m. PST) to the end of the eclipse (9p.m. PST). This was the last total lunar eclipse until December 2010.
click picture for full size (1200 X 600) 32k
It would be dishonest to say that I spent all weekend trying to get my computer back up and running–although, it was a good portion of my weekend.
Brenton had President’s day off from work. The morning dawned bright and clear. With spring just around the corner, the birds have come back to sing the sun up every day.
This has been and exceptionally long winter with an incredible amount of snowfall. I feel like I haven’t seen the sun in ages. The lure of sunshine and melting snow was just what I needed to get out for a photowalk.
We stopped at the grocery store to buy sandwich makings before heading to the Kootenai wildlife refuge which is located West of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
The snow was ice-crusted and shallow enough to hike without snowshoes. Our snow poles came in handy when walking over the slick ice.
The trail was uneven and the snow was covered with animal footprints along with the occasional scat piles. We saw a herd of about 10 deer crossing the road. Most of the prints in the snow were moose and elk.
You can see from the pictures: The sky was clear blue and the day really was perfect for hiking. All told, we did about a 3.75 mile loop. We didn’t see much wildlife (other than the deer), but that was probably because I kept on talking…and talking…and talking to my husband.
We keep on moving forward, one day at a time, trusting that spring is closer today than it was yesterday.
First, allow me to apologize for my absence. It started with the release of Windows Vista SP1, which resulted in my computer locking me out of my DVD drive, and back up hard drive. The day continued with wiping my hard drive clean and installing Windows XP. There was much rejoicing all around.
Here we are, running a few days behind with this carnival, but the articles are good none-the-less.
To get us started, e-Mom has written a great article on the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Christianity: What is Charismatic Renewal?
Erika Wilson talks about perseverance and faith in Pressing to Break Through
January Cat has a simple statement of faith in What I Believe: God, Three in One.
Tea Party Girl needs help. In her article, Would You Help Me Answer a Question?, she asks, “What is the number one problem you face taking care of your home?”
Brandie has offered some advice on organizing your life in three stages. Changing My Life Started In The Home Office.
DotLobby writes about utilizing family and friends to move towards your goals. Goal Theory - How Friends and Family Can Help.
Dana suggests that The measure of a Christian education involves parents being involved in their children’s learning. Education is not just limited to academics.
Lisa presents Goodwill Does It Again! God’s provision always comes with perfect timing. A trip to goodwill showed Lisa that God really does care for every detail of her life.
Ariah Fine has written an Open Letter to Anyone Returning from a Missions Trip.
Louise Manning presents part of the challenge of Being a teenager’s mother
“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.”
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s Disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, ‘And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are?’
He smiled as he patted my hand and said, ‘She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is.’
I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, ‘That is the kind of love I want in my life.’
‘Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain.’
I did not write this story, but I received it in an e-mail and wanted to share it with my readers on this Valentine’s day.
Yesterday I promised the recipe for our Valentine’s Day tradition–white Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake. This year, we decided not to hoard it all to ourselves, and took the famous cheesecake over to a party. It was the perfect end to a potato-bar supper.
I planned on including a picture, but my memory stick seems to have been corrupted. My written description will have to suffice.
The cheesecake is creamy white with a chocolate cookie crust. Towards the bottom of the slice is a ribbon of deep red–almost purple–raspberry preserves. At the bottom of the slice, just above the crust, there is a hidden layer of white chocolate baked to a slightly crunchy perfection.
My fork slices easily through the filling and crust, I pop a bite into my mouth. The first thing that I taste is the chocolate crust followed by the taste of melt-in-your-mouth raspberries and cream filling. As I start to chew, savoring every flavor, I find a new taste and texture: slightly crunchy, but smooth at the same time like…chocolate! I take another bite and let the flavors mingle. This is what a cheesecake is supposed to taste like.
Crust:
Cake:
Preheat oven to 475°F, fill a large pan with about 1/2 inch of water, and place into the oven while it preheats. Ideally this pan will be big enough to fit your springform (cheesecake) pan down inside. I always end up using the largest pan I own and then letting my springform pan rest on top.
Combine raspberry preserves with water in medium bowl. Microwave for 1 1/2 min. on high. Stir until smooth. Strain with cheesecloth to remove seeds. (we used a sieve this year, much faster and cleaner) Let strained preserves cool in the fridge.
Mix cookie crumbs and butter in a bowl. (I have always used oreo cookies, and have tried making the crust by leaving the cookie filling in or scraping it off. The crust seems to turn out better when I leave the filling in). Line the bottom and sides of a 9 in springform pan with parchment (or waxed) paper. Using the bottom of a drinking glass (or a large serving spoon) press the crumb mixture flat into the bottom of pan and about 2/3 of the way up the sides. (This is probably the hardest part). Wrap a large piece of foil around the bottom of the pan to keep the cheesecake in the water bath.
Combine cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, and vanilla. mix until smooth and creamy. Whisk eggs and add to cream cheese mixture. Mix until just blended.
Sprinkle 4 oz white chocolate into bottom of crust (I usually put enough chips to get a solid layer). Pour 1/2 of cream cheese filling into crust. Drizzle raspberry preserves over entire surface of filling. Use a butter knife to swirl preserves into filling. Be careful not to cut into the crust, and don’t blend too much. You are trying to create ribbons of raspberry. Pour the other 1/2 of the filling into the crust over the raspberry preserves.
Place cheesecake in water bath in preheated oven. Bake 12 min at 457° F then turn oven down to 350°. Bake 50-60 minutes or until the top of the cheesecake turns tan.
When you take the cheesecake out, it will be puffed up high, and then collapse to about 1/2 the height. This is normal, don’t panic. 
Chill 4 hours before serving.
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