Peanut Butter cookies

These are the best and easiest ever.

1 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sugar (I used brown)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
extra granulated sugar to sprinkle on formed cookies

Mix the first 4- it all comes together with the addition of the egg. The batter will be a little different depending on your peanut butter, but what ever type you use it will work. Bake on 350º for about 8-10 minutes depending on the size of your cookies. They will spread a bit. The first time I made giant ones and the second time ones that were on the small side. It doubles perfectly too.

They are flourless- it works.

Tide Pooling

Before the kids and I went back to school we spent a day at the beach in Santa Cruz in the tide pools and then later at the Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary. It was a beautiful day.

Happy New Year!

The month of December was harsh. The weather was fabulous and the bike riding even better. But with exams and all that comes with them (stress and anxiety) I was consumed. After the lovely family visits, holidays that I wasn't quite prepared for, a disappointed birthday boy (Atlas), our millionth anniversary, and more family visits, we are exhausted.

This is Leif. He just started to brush his hair again. Sometimes I am not quite sure that he really does...

January is however, looking good. I have some exam results- all good, even an excellent, and the semester usually starts slow. I need the time to get back in to school mode, and of course my break wasn't long enough. I could use another week. However, this is my last semester... I am almost finished and at this moment I NEVER want to go back. Jamais. PHD? no thanks! My collection of degrees is on hold after this indefinitely.

And after a 2 year hiatus, I finally have plants again. I got a blood red orange tree for Christmas. Also, I am starting a movement called "free gardening". Gorilla gardening is in the past. I have been collecting seed heads from plants that I pass and taking small clippings from plants that propagate easily: geraniums, hydrangeas, succulents, trumpet flowers, etc. The hydrangeas clippings were retrieved from a pile slated for composting. Just looking at the plants makes me happier. I miss my old garden. To the new year!
(view from my dentist appt)
(teacher gifts)