Refuge therapy

I love going out to the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge. It's close to where I live, an easy 20 minute drive and so beautiful.  Scenic landscapes, lakes, wildlife, hiking trails and peaceful spots to just sit and be still. There's a worship song we sing at church called, Come and Find the Quiet Center by Shirley Erene Murray.  I love the words so much that I copied them down in a small notebook I keep in my purse to reflect upon when I need a little peace in my life. 

Here's the words:

"Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead, find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed. Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see, all the things that really matter, be at peace and simply be."

Find a place and be at peace, the wildlife refuge is my place to find peace, it's so therapeutic.

This past Sunday was a beautiful day so my dog, Clapton, and I spent several hours enjoying the refuge.  Clapton loves the refuge as much as I do.  He gets so excited when he sees where we're going and is bursting with exuberance to get out of the car and start exploring.  I've found several secluded spots where we can walk and he doesn't have to be on the leash which are his favorites since I can be too slow for him. We went to 3 different areas, hiked a couple of trails and just sat and enjoyed the surroundings. I stopped at one picnic area and found a secluded table where I could sit for awhile and he could explore around me without being on the leash. He indulged me for awhile but then got bored and we had to move on, he likes to keep moving and thinks that I should keep moving as well. We saw buffalo, several herds of longhorns and at one of the lakes I saw a great blue heron just standing quietly by the shore, it was so peaceful to just sit and watch it. We had a wonderful day, got some exercise, enjoyed nature and went home very happy.  "Be at peace and simply be."

Enjoy,

Bamah

Grandmas Snickerdoodle cookies

I love cookies and snickerdoodles are one of my favorites and I'm pretty sure they were my grandma's favorites as well. This past December, I found her well used recipe and made a double batch for us and to share at work. They were so good.  Growing up, Grandma always made our favorite cookies and even when we were grown and married she'd make them for holidays.  Later she made them for the children in her church for years, well into her 70's. Her church had a bus ministry and a big children's church program and she'd make several dozen homemade cookies every week for them.  Every Saturday she would be in her kitchen making cookies.  I asked her one time why she continued to bake so much every week instead of just buying cookies to donate. She felt that the kids coming to church off the bus deserved homemade cookies and that was her way of showing God's love. That was how my grandma was. She always had a mission, actually she always had several missions going.  She felt that everyone should have a mission for the Lord and if they didn't she would help them plug into one of hers or something else that used their gifts. I have followed her example and have several missions that I work on, mostly donating my handmade crocheted and knitted items to various places. I think of her a lot and all that she taught me. I especially felt her presence as I made, shared and ate these snickerdoodle cookies.

Here's the recipe:

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

2 t. cream of tarter

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1/4 cup sugar with 1 T. cinnamon (cinnamon sugar)

In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, shortening and eggs with electric mixer until blended. Stir in flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt.  Chill dough for 30 minutes. Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls and roll in cinnamon sugar.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.  Immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool on wire rack.

Enjoy,

Bamah