Fall Goodies

I wanted to share some of my favorites for Fall and hope that you all will enjoy them too. Share them with friends and loved ones or snuggle with someone you love.

Oregon Chai Tea

This hot, creamy tea is perfect on a cold evening! You mix half and half - tea concentrate and milk. The milk makes it seem more like hot chocolate than tea. This flavorful kick of spices will really add to the next favorite recipe.

Pumkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

These soft puffy cookies are an awesome snack for when you have guests over or to take to potlucks.

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
6 oz. mini chocolate chips

Mix flour with dry ingredients. Add egg, pumpkin and shortening. Mix well
Add vanilla and chocolate chips. Drop by spoonful onto greased baking sheet
Bake at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Makes 3 dozen.

I PASSED ! ! !

I graduated with a Masters in Counseling in May of this year and finished my last practicum in August. I have been studying for the last few months for the NCE (National Counselor Examination) for Licensure and Certification. Josh drove me to Springfield so I could do some last minute cramming. Then Nathan got us some "nostalgic" Little Caesar's pizza before the test. Nate, I know it gave me a brain boost. So, I went and checked in to take the test. It took just over 3 hours to finish. Everyone takes the exam on a computer, so the results are known immediately. And........ I passed!!!!! It was pretty hard too. So now I need to find a supervisor and start on my internship hours. The internship will last about 2 years and then I can officially become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

President Bush backs Senator Talent

President George W. Bush came to the midwest on Friday, November 3rd to support Senator Jim Talent in the upcoming election. A sitting President has not been to our town since 1992 when George Bush Sr. came. I still remember going to see him as a little 5th grader. Josh and I had the opportunity to get to go see them today. All the big Missouri Republican politicians were there - Roy Blunt, Matt Blunt, Jim Talent, and Gary Nodler to name a few.

There were about 6,600 Missourians that turned out to see them. President Bush spoke for about 45 minutes about major issues that are important in this election. At the end of the speech, Bush and Talent went around shaking whatever hands were extended there way. Josh and I both got to shake hands with Jim Talent. The President was too far out of reach.

After the rally, huge planes flew over our apartment complex. The walls were shaking and the roar of the plane was so loud. We ran outside to see some of the Presidential cargo planes flying overhead.

Treeing Walker Coonhounds

These are my parents’ new coondog pups. Something that has been a lifelong love for my dad is now the love of my mom’s life. They have been raising and training Walker coondogs for the last few years. They have had as many as 19 dogs at one time. Some of the dogs are show dogs, some are hunters and some are just cute companions. Nevertheless, they are an expensive group of dogs.
The name “Vallen Nelson” is nationally known in the coondog circles. He has raised at least one national champion and has helped to train several others. He knows how every muscle, every spot, every wrinkle on the dog is supposed to look. He not only takes dogs to compete in shows, he also judges several competitions each year.
My mom helps a lot with keeping the dogs healthy, fed, and in shape. With the number of dogs they have, it can be a full-time job. When it’s warm outside, the dogs exercise by swimming in the creek. When it’s cold outside, they run on treadmills that are set up for them in the basement.
When they go out to hunt, it has to be at night when it’s dark. From what I hear, it’s a thrill. And, yes, my mom even goes sometimes.