Growing an Avocado Plant

We've taken up the trend of growing avocado trees from seed. We have been saving our avocado seeds throughout the year and trying our best to get them to root. We've has a bit of success and therefore we've planted them in small pots and then combined them into a large pot all together. They've struggled a bit, but they are growing. We haven't read about how long it takes for them to grow larger, but for now we are happy with what we've created. The plants currently share a pot with some ginger found in the back of our refrigerator a few months ago. Waiting to see what happens with that, as well.

There's different way to get them to root, but I've always found that the toothpick balanced on the top of a glass has worked best for us.

I like to wait until there's a good group of roots showing and a small sprout coming from the seed before transferring them to soil.

These are the plants that the seeds above created. This is about a year's worth of growing. There is ginger in the pot with these, but overall there's definite success with the seeds. It's kind of satisfying to know that you can eat the avocados and with a little patience allow it to continue on with life. Everything in this world has a purpose, and I feel that sometimes giving other living things a chance to continue on living, is a great way to appreciate life on a different scale.

Easy Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are one of the first things I learned to bake once I was out on my own. But having to ice them and decorate them, is mostly something for holidays and special occasions, unless you have the time and patience. Just having a simple sugar cookie on any day of the year, or even just a quick cookie to take somewhere, or to eat on throughout the week, is something a lot of us enjoy. Sugar cookies, just baked and left by themselves, is such a simple cookie to mix together. The key to these easy sugar cookies is to roll them in sugar before baking, without the hassle of cookie cutters, or icing. Here is my version of "Easy Sugar Cookies" that you can make any time of the year. And the best part, they're soft.

Here's how to make these easy, soft sugar cookies:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp. baking power
• 3/4 tsp. sea salt
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg yolk

Mix dry ingredients together and set aside. Using a stand mixer, mix wet ingredients together starting with the butter. Combine butter and sugar, and add the eggs. Combine dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Form into balls, about two tablespoons for each ball. Roll in granulated sugar, or colored sprinkles, flatten just slightly and lay on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for about 30-45 minutes, or freeze at this point to bake later.

Bake for 12-16 minutes at 350 degrees.

I would add to allow them to cool before eating, but nothing is better than a warm sugar cookie straight from the oven, so enjoy!

Five Simple Things (November 29)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This moment.

home isn't a place. it's a feeling.

and that feeling is complete when my sweet boy is "home."

2. This basket.

I got Skylar a laundry basket, so that his clothes aren't all over the floor and his room. At least he is getting the dirty clothes in the general area of it.☺

3. These clouds.

My view on my way home from work is always so pretty.

4. This candy.

We love Justin's and these taste just like Peanut M&M's.

5. This pap.

I don't make this often, but it's always loved in our house. My mom made this for breakfast from time to time when I was growing up, and she never actually "taught" me how to make it, but with trial and error I figured it out. Skylar and Jeff love it and from what I was told my Native American grandmother made it and told the story of how the Natives made it as baby food since actual baby food was hard to come by. It is a high-calorie dish, but it's worth it from time to time. The recipe is here.

One last thing:

These geological tiles of how Earth was formed over 4,600,000,000 years ago are one of our favorite things on the grounds around Linn Benton Community College. With Skylar wanting to major in a science degree it's always fun to read these and look up that time period to see what Earth could have looked like.

Positive affirmations this week:

Never forget that your own mental health isn't as important as all the other stress people bring your way. Take some time for yourself and remember that you are important.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice weekend.

Five Simple Things (November 22)

 Hello.

Here are five things this week.

1. This tape.

A metal tape dispenser is just what I needed.

2. This rain.

The rain this week is relentless, it seems. I love the rain, so I can't complain...

3. This sunset.

... because the rain sometimes brings beautiful sunsets here on the west coast.

4. This illusion.

Kitty in a jar. (for the worried, she is sitting behind it, not inside of it)

5. This rain.

More rain to be had here. I am hoping that it will turn to snow one day.

One last thing:

We are going to be watching all the holiday movies this weekend. I like this time of year, because it is chilly outside, warm food and drinks are the norm, and you can cuddle up with a blanket and watching a lot of movies that are holiday-themed. Freeform has a lot of the good ones on their streaming platform. I'm definitely going to be watching Home Alone every day it's on.

Positive affirmations this week:

It really is okay.

You can do this!🌈

Have a nice day.