Sunrise/Sunset-Lincoln

Sunrise and Sunset at our new home in Lincoln

We are enjoying Lincoln, CA. This weekend spectacular sunrises and sunsets. I feel God's and Will's presence in the nature and beauty that surrounds us. So peaceful, so serene. I read the Youth Group article in the October Bede's journal. Thank you Jeanne for keeping Will's story and what has happened since alive-I am doing all that I can with the energy that I have to help change the teen culture of disrespecting peers and not supporting/helping each other. Jeanne does an excellent job reminding us to join each other in support of youth. On November 6 at the Cubberly Theater in Palo Alto from 7-9 pm, a youth driven artistic event will be held for youth to express how they are healing from the tragedies and supporting each other. When the Facebook link is available, I will post it this week. Janet Dickens

Lasagna by Aly September 2010

Lasagna by Aly-September 2010-dinner with friends Cherrill, Rick & Sierra

1st 1 lb Italian sausage brown in pot (low-medium) 6-9 minutes
1 lb ground beef
½ cup chopped onions
2 cloves garlic chopped

2nd 1 can tomato crushed stir in
1 can tomato paste
1 can tomato sauce
½ cup water

3rd 2 tbsp white sugar add in
2 tsp fresh basil
2 tbsp parsley
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp pepper

Let simmer (covered) for 60 minutes

4th soak lasagna noodles for 15 minutes in hot tap water

5th 23 oz ricotta cheese mix
½ tsp nutmeg
1 egg
2 tbsp parsley

6th spread 2 cups meat sauce on bottom
lay 6 noodles over
spread half of the ricotta cheese
spread half of mozzarella over ricotta layer
add parmesan (1/3)
REPEAT
-meat sauce
-parmesan
cover with foil
bake 350 degrees F for 25 minutes
remove foil and bake 25 minutes
Let cool for 15 minutes

Thoughts for Every Day provided by Bertita Graebner

'Grow joyful by embracing joy.'

'Joy is an attitude. A decision to side with life. A conscious, loving opening. When you wake up, stretch and say "I will enjoy this day!" Try smiling rather than frowning as you get ready for work. Let joy circulate with your blood supply even as your day fills up with stresses and challenges.'

'Grow thoughtful by letting go.'

'What sort of practice is mindfulness? It is the practice of ego-less concentration. The exorcism of fear, pettiness, and narcissism. Sit quietly. Let everything that is "you" slip away. What remains is your core, your true self. By practicing, learn how to access the deeper you behind the everyday you.'

'Grow connected by valuing connection.'

'Connection heals. Connection satisfies. Connection matters. Make a list of reasons to strengthen your connection with your intimates, your community, your family, your work, yourself. Take the time to make a list that impresses you and convinces you of the value of connections in your life.'

Brittle-Bill Kolb

I am working on a contract at Lam Research in Fremont, CA. A colleague, Bill Kolb, made cashew brittle last night and shared it with us today-delicious, wanting to share the recipe. It looked nice too, if I had a camera, I would take pictures.
Will, thinking about you and loving you every day, Mom

Will's Plum Crumble-Helen Alexander-Derby UK

The last time William visited us was in 2006 or maybe 2007. None of us can quite remember. In our garden we have a plum tree and sometimes it produces up to 90 lb of plum and sometimes nothing. In that year there was a good crop and so William and Alison helped us to gather in the harvest, cut and store the plums and then bag them for the freezer. 2009 was also a good year and as I write this the plums for 2010 are getting ready to be picked.
For a pie for 5/6, I used approx. 4.5 lobs of frozen plums (washed & stored & halved)
o Microwave or stew the plumes (NO WATER NEEDED) Also not sugar at this point.
o (The plum juice from the stewing can be strained off and then used with jelly (I'm English) JELLO to make a real fruity Jello.
o Add sugar to the plums to taste and put into over proof dish.
Top/Crumble
6 oz self raising flour
3 oz butter or margarine
3 oz (not sure here-you're own amount to taste) sugar (brown demerara makes it particularly crunchy).
Bake in oven about 180-200 degrees centrigrade for approx. 30-40 minutes or until top is golden and the plums bubbling.
Serve with ice cream, cream, custard, yoghurt, cremefraiche-basically whatever you like.
Helen, The Lilacs, Elvaston, England

Life's Changes

I have not posted in a while because I have a new project that began in June-moving. Preparing to move is a huge endeavor. Securing our next home. Cleaning out everything! Closets holding decades of memories of fantastic, fun and sad times. Kids school projects-preschool, elementary, middle and high school. Kids' rooms, our room, pictures of pool parties from yesteryear. Looking forward to the next chapter.
There is another change in my life, changing jobs. On that subject I will post more later this week. Janet