Cacti
My Neighbor’s Cacti, originally uploaded by Phae.
It was a bright, blue, sunshiney day!
Use #1001 for old Jelly Jars
Wicked Fascination, originally uploaded by Phae.
To catch wicked spiders in! 
Best PB Cookies on the Planet
Well, that’s what my kids say, anyway!
The Recipe:
Preheat your oven to 375.
Ingredients:
1 cup shortening
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
Directions:
Cream the shortening, peanut butter, vanilla and sugars. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well in between.
Mix the dry ingredients, then add to the peanut butter mixture. Mix well.
Make 1″ balls and place them on an ungreased baking sheet. If you are like me and only have a few cookie sheets, use wax paper in your trays so you can skip having to wash sheets each time a batch comes out of the oven
Where do all my cookie sheets go anyway?!
But, yeah- once you have balls of dough on your cookie sheets, sprinkle some table sugar over each ball, then use a fork to create the peanut-butter-cookie look. Tap off the excess sugar and place in the oven to bake for between 8-9 minutes, depending on your oven.
Enjoy sweet heavenly bliss 
Blooming Broccoli
Blooming Broccoli, originally uploaded by Phae.
Several of the vegetable plants in our garden have bloomed or gone to seed. This is what is left of one of our broccoli plants. They served us well, providing countless snacks and dinner sides!
Daily Photo Project, 2010
Year after year I vow to myself, and sometimes the public, that I’ll complete a 365/daily photo project. And year after year I fail. Life’s just too hectic when you are wearing so many hats at once! For this reason I’ve decided 1) to try again but 2) to allow myself freedom to take a day off now and again. It’s just going to happen until all the kids are in school full-day and I have my life back. I’ve already taken that liberty twice this year, ha- but I do have a gallery for you to look at! Each photo represents one day in the life, 2010. See below, and bookmark my corresponding flickr gallery if you please! I will be updating frequently.
Thanks for stopping by, and Happy New Year!
My Lillie
My middle child turned 10 this week! She’s such a sweety, always reading (and talking!) As requested I made her a confetti cake with confetti frosting to celebrate with her best friends after her first day back to school. What a day to have a birthday, right? Poor thing.
I’ll admit I’ll be relieved with the birthday/holiday rush is over for the season- it’s not quite here yet but soon! It’s just a crazy pace to keep up, although I sure love these images and the memories!
Happy Birthday Daughter!!
Best of 2009 In Images by Phaedra
This is a collection of some of my favorite images of 2009. It was a wild year for us, there were so many abrupt changes; but we made many happy memories, and for that I’m grateful. I hope you enjoy them! Happy New Year!
I call him Mr. Fluffypuff
But this little guy is Liana’s 6th birthday present, so we’ll find out his true name soon!
BTW- sorry I’ve abandoned you, ole blog! Life’s been easier to sum up in 140 words or less lately. I’ve been enjoying my time off to work on personal projects and spend time with the kiddos. I’ll be back someday! Until then, you can find out what’s up on my twitter stream!
Mama, I’m COLD!
So, for all my blathering earlier about our mild Central Cali weather- I must admit… it’s starting to get CHILLY out in the mornings and evenings! Evidenced by this sad sad face.
Time to get serious about building a heated kennel for our trouble-maker Cupcake. She’s not digging the weather at all! She’ll feel better after her master takes her running this afternoon. Don’t let this sad face fool you, she’s very happy most of the time.
Day Lily
Thanks to our mild Central California climate, we are still very much enjoying our flower gardens! I’ve become quite the plant collector and adopted a new hobby I love- gardening! Good for the body, good for the mind, good for the soul. I hope everyone is having a great fall season!
What I Want
