Wit 'n Wisdom of Janice LaQuiere

Our Private Lake

2009-03-23T15:23:00.000-07:00

We've had more snow than usual this year, which added variety to our winter sports. In January we plowed the snow into a mammoth backyard snow hill that ended in a skating ring. In March, the weather warmed, it rained, the snow melted, and the ground remained frozen giving us our own private lake, and we took up rafting.

Chocolate mousse Dessert

2009-01-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

Tonight, we had 30 for our traditional Friday night spaghetti dinner. While spaghetti is traditional, Friday also gives me a regular opportunity to make dessert, to experment, perfect, and try-out, recipes that I'd normally not have the opportunity to make.

Tonight it was Chocolate mousse, served in a waffle cone bowl, and topped with white chocolate shavings, and a strawberry. Tasted delicious, the cone complimented the sweetness of the mousse well, and the white chocolate shavings not only looked great but were the perfect accent.

Chocolate Mousse

1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 c. (6 oz. pkg) semi-sweet chocolate chips (add another 1/2 c. when using as a filling for this cake)
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. heavy cream, whipped
(1 t. vanilla, optional)

Combine sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Melt chocolate chips and add to sugar syrup. Beat for 6 seconds. Add eggs (and vanilla if desired) and blend for 1 minute. Fold mixture into whipped cream. Spoon into individual serving dishes. Refrigerate until firm. NOTE: Use more chocolate when using for cake filling to make it stiffer. Spread between layers. (Pipe a dam around edge of bottom layer with Frosting, then fill with Mousse. If needed, refrigerate until frosting and filling are stiff, before adding second layer.)

Thoughts on the Election

2008-11-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

I’ve had a week to digest the election results. Yes, I'm disappointed that Obama will be president, but I'm far more discouraged that "Obama's way" is the direction the majority of Americans want to go. To me, the elections of 2000, and then again in 2004, God made it unusually clear that He in control of the outcome of all elections.
God's hand is still at work. He is just as much in control now as He was then. No "king" reigns without His permission. Trust that He will take care of you, and that He will take care of this country. And then do your best to raise Godly offspring to help lead this nation back to a more moral and Godly understanding of life.
We need a grassroots effort, not to change the presidency, but to change the hearts of the people. Obama is not murdering innocent children, Obama is for allowing parents to murder their own. In America, we have tried to force people to be moral by constricting them with laws...in a democracy that will only work for so long.

If you want to change the American presidency, start by changing the hearts of your neighbors.

Ranger's Anti-tumor Diet

2008-11-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

I don't like change, and I don't like facing bad news, I'd much rather it pop up and surprise me.

My summer has been full of change--My sister-in-law had a baby, my brother married, and my sister married. And the potential for bad news was there as well; In the middle of wedding preparations with my sister, I discovered a large mass on my dog's neck. I didn't want to rush him to the vet...I really don't like facing bad news. To be told what? He had cancer, and that one week before my sister married. And what if he did? Ranger is 9 years old, and if it was malignant, with medical treatment it might add a year to his life. Instead, I put Ranger on an Anti-Cancer diet and chose to put the visit to the vet off until life settled down, and my sister returned from her honeymoon.

Unfortunately, in the meantime my bird got sick. I really only wanted to take one trip the vet, and after having been told that my bird had a tumor didn't want to be told the next day that my dog had a tumor. (Yes, I procrastinate.)

So a week ago, October 28, Joy and I took Ranger to the vet, and it was confirmed that he does have a mass, apparently in his lymph node. The needle biopsy showed cells that have the same characteristics of cancer cells. At that time we discussed the options with the vet. The mass is not in an area that easily operable. So we decided to not proceed with any further medical intervention. However, I have decided to continue with some natural healing techniques. And so for the curious here it is.

On September 8, I started Ranger on the Budwig Diet. I'd originally read about this years ago, in a book my grandfather had. I've studied it on and off since this. Basically it's flax seed oil, blended with cottage cheese into a paste. The cottage cheese is supposed to break down the oil and it's supposed to carry oxygen to the cellular level. Cancer dies in an oxygen rich environment. So I've been giving Ranger 1/4 cup of the flax seed oil mixture a day.

I also started him on Vitalzym systemic enzymes, which is supposed to help rid the body of fibrin. Supposedly there's a fibrin coating around cancer cells to keep it from being recognized by the body's immune system. I thought enzymes would help the immune system as well to allow the flax seed oil mixture to work more effectively. Beginning Sept. 8 I gave him 5 a day for the first week, gave him a week off, to help his body adjust and then increase it to 8 a day. After we came home from the vet, I doubled the amount I gave him, giving him 8 in the morning and 8 in the evening. I also switched to Omnizyme Forte because the pancreatic enzymes is supposed to be a strong fibrin fighter.

I added 300 mg of CO-Enzyme Q10. Which is supposed to be a powerful anti-oxidant, as well as boosting the immune system, and is included in many cancer diets.

For really no explainable reason (because there's hundreds of possible things to take to try and fight cancer.) I also put Ranger on 1200 mg. Red Rice Yeast. Early research shows that it may inhibit and even reduce tumor growth.

We'll see how it goes.

Cody (blond) and Ranger (black)

Eleven years ago today...

2008-10-31T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today is the eleventh anniversary of my grandmother's death. It was the first time I lost someone close to me. And having grown up as neighbors, I was very close to her.

Unlike today, which was sunny and warm, that day was cool and rainy. A fitting day to die, I thought at the time. For her, it was the end of a year-long struggle with ALS.

What a coincidence that it happened on the day that the rest of the world took joy in celebrating death and all things evil. It turned my stomach. Going to the hospital that day, I shut my eyes against the hanging skeletons, open caskets and the images of Death carrying his sickle. Obviously, these people couldn't have ever felt the heart-wrenching loss of death, or they would never celebrate it.

This year, like that year, we had a beautiful fall. For the most part the weather was lovely and the colors were gorgeous. The day we buried my grandmother we drove into the cemetery, with the sun shining through the yellow maple leaves, looking like we were entering the gates of heaven, as indeed my grandmother was.

"Heaven's" Entrance

My grandparents' last earthly resting place.

Scenes from a Michigan Fall

2008-10-23T20:49:00.001-07:00

It's not unusal to see a tree bending over the water, but this birch gives a slightly different look.

It's just missing a collection of pumpkins to accent the weathered wood.

When the leaves turn colors everyone becomes a photographer.

This pinecones seems to be waiting for a coat of snow.

There's new baby on the block...

2008-10-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

I venture to say that not only is imitation a sincere form of flatter, but so is replacement. Having missed my dear budgie Bodie for all of twenty-four hours, I began the twenty-eight hour, by searching for another to fill the vacuum he left behind.

Five hours and five pet stores later....

{Drumroll}

Introducing Kindje (kin-chuh).

He's a young, 7 week old male, who already seems comfortable in his new home. Near as I can tell, he is a diluted, spangled, greywing, budgie, (or at least a greywing--I'm not really an expert on colors.) His name, Kindje, is from a Flemish lullaby my grandfather used to sing to us: "doll, doll, kindje doll." The translation being, "rock, rock, baby, rock."

Bodie

2008-10-17T21:13:00.000-07:00

I have some sad news. At some point Wednesday night my parakeet Bodie died. It wasn't entirely unexpected, I noticed a week earlier that he wasn't feeling well. They say, that by the time you see your bird is sick, he's very sick.

I gave him antibiotics, I took him to the vet, and in the end it appears as if he had a tumor and after six years he died.

Bodie was the first budgie I had after a hiatus of about 15 years. I grew up with budgies, but after feeding and watering them for 20 years and getting very little in return but a bitten finger, I got tired of the effort. Then about six years ago, I went to a pet shop with my sister, looked at all their little parakeets and something inside me was moved. I told Joy that I might consider getting a parakeet sometime again, in the future, maybe about six months or so...and if I got one I preferred a yellow one. If they didn't have yellow, then maybe blue, but not a green one. Two weeks later Joy gave me Bodie for Christmas, and I was thrilled.

Later, I asked her why she gave me one when I told her I wouldn't be ready for one for months, if in fact I wanted one at all. She told me that when she saw me come home and clear off a space behind my desk for that future cage, and when saw me looking at parakeets online, well, she figured I really wanted one now. ;)

So I got Bodie, and after biting me the first two days we became good friends. In his mind I was the top bird. He'd spend a lot of time playing on my desk. He would bounce on my fingers as I typed, and dropped my coins to the floor, but when I got up to leave he would quickly find security in his cage.

He never learned to talk, just imitate the beep on my Nextell. He lived a good life, and everyone enjoyed him.

Vintage aprons

2008-06-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

For my soon to be sister-in-law, I made these vintage style aprons for her shower gift.

You Have My Ring on your Finger

2008-05-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Janice LaQuiere

It isn't quite enough to say "I do" anymore,
For folks have said and said those words before.
But when the days grow long and cold,
Time lies still, the days get old,
Just remember then, you have my ring on your finger.

"Love," they say, "has passed away,"
Just like the world of yesterday,
But between us two it is enough,
If times get hard, and the days get rough,
To remember that you have my ring on your finger.

I will hold and care for you tonight,
And in the morning, then will come the light.
I will show you can depend on me,
Through time of life and day in need,
Just hold on fast to my ring on your finger.

Pigs and Dirt

2008-05-24T20:19:00.001-07:00

Try to clean a pig,
And forever more that's what you'll do.
It's more than dirt they love to dig,
But muck & mire & compost stew.

Try to wash a hog,
To keep it from the brine,
It will wallow in the bog,
For it, indeed, is swine.

Try to save a foolish one,
From a foolish past.
They'll come to hate what you have done,
Your deeds, on them, will never last.

by Janice LaQuiere

Courage

2008-03-15T21:54:00.000-07:00

Courage...is having the faith to do the right thing despite an uncertain outcome.

JML

All for one, and one for WHAT?

2008-03-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

There's a much higher success rate when it's all for one than when it's one for all. It turns out that "one for all" is a physically and emotionally demanding job. Fight well, but recognize that for your efforts you might end up a martyr.

Gift = Sacrifice

2008-02-02T11:44:00.001-08:00

Consider that a gift always requires some amount of sacrifice on the part of the giver--be it money, time, etc.

If the receiver never acknowledges the sacrifice they will never fully appreciate the gift.

In many situations I have given others of my time, skill, money, but in our independent self-reliant world we're afraid to acknowledge both that we need the help of others, and the help we receive is not owed us, but is a gift that required a sacrifice. Because of this attitude we are never truly grateful for what is received.

It's a humbling experience to acknowledge that we need someone else's help, and that the gift they have given us has cost them something. That it wasn't owed to us, nor given out of their excess, and that without their sacrifice we would be worse off.

Likewise, is God's gift to us. We don't want to dwell on the sacrifice the Triune God made for us. We don't want to consider how much it cost HIM. Or else we would have to face the truth that we owe him everything; our time, our attitude, our actions, and our heart. Without Him we would be lost, with Him we are saved, but that salvation came at a cost to HIM.

Twix Candy Bars

2007-12-18T20:32:00.000-08:00

Traditionally, my cousin and I will try to get together to make Christmas Cookies. Since we live 600 miles apart this more often takes place after Christmas. But I believe this recipe comes from one of these get togethers.

Bars - Twix Candy Bars

Boil for 5 minutes:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk

Melt over low heat:
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
2/3 cups peanut butter

Line 9x13" pan with club crackers. Pour hot brown sugar mixture over crackers. Top with second layer of crackers. Pour chocolate mixtures across top and spread.

Crock-Pot Cocoa

2007-12-13T20:47:00.000-08:00

Another winter recipe that I look forward to trying. :)

Crock pot Cocoa

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
2 cups boiling water
3 1/2 cups nonfat dry powdered milk
6 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla
marshmallows
1 teaspoon cinnamon or a few candy canes(optional)

Combine sugar, cocoa and cinnamon (if using) in slow cooker. Add 2 cups boiling water. Stir well to dissolve.

Add dry milk powder, 6 cups water and vanilla. Stir well to dissolve. Add candy canes if desired. Cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.

Before serving, beat with rotary beater to make frothy. Ladle into mugs and top with marshmallows. Enjoy!

*makes 9-12 servings depending on size of mug

English Toffee

2007-12-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

I'm in the midst of trying to decide what to make for my Christmas gifts. Usually it's some form of chocolates; filled, truffles, dipped nuts. And while I usually have this decision made by the end of November, we are now racing toward the middle of December and I still haven't reached a decision. I'm hoping that if I keep putting it off eventually I'll find the inspiration and energy to do something really interesting. So far, no go. But until then I'll revisit my private recipe file, and maybe even share one or two with you. ;)

English Toffee

2 pkg - 12oz sliced almonds (bottom layer & top)
2 pkg - Nestle Mini Morsels (middle layer)
In heavy dutch oven - 2 c. sugar, 1 lb butter, 2 T white Karo syrup, 6 T cold water - mix
Heat on med. to med. hi to a boil - turn heat down to med low - cook til 290 degrees exactly - no higher than 292 degrees on candy thermometer.
Stir constantly about 30 min.
Line jelly roll pan w/ half almonds, next layer 1/2 Nestle mini morsels then pour out toffee, layer of chocolate & almonds. Pat lightly. Let cool.
That's it. Hope I wrote clearly and

Life...interrupted

2007-11-28T20:53:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since I posted, primarily because of all of the events that I didn't plan on this year--

I didn't plan on designing flowers for a wedding.

I didn't plan an enjoyable 5 weeks visit with my long-distant family (either in the spring or the summer)

I didn't plan on learning the guitar

I didn't plan on "adopting" a new set of siblings

I didn't plan on planning a 40th Birthday party

I didn't plan on memorizing the first five chapters of Proverbs

I didn't plan on a rush trip to the ACFW Writer's Conference

I didn't plan on being part of the support crew while my brothers excavated a basement

I didn't plan on getting my Builder's license

Unfortunately, the stuff I didn't have scheduled has left me pretty much exhausted, I can barely remember what I had on my list of things to do for the year. It reminds me of James 1:13-15:

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.' Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'

It's been awhile...

2007-10-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

...since I've posted, it's the result of a very busy summer. But tonight I was scrolling through my old files and found this little diddy I wrote to a friend who didn't like one of my favorite authors.

___________________________________

What! No Dr. Suess?
(I can't believe you're running loose.)

How can you say the Grinch is bad
when a too small heart was all he had?

And you flunk my hero "Horton",
Whose loyal stance brought trouble court'n.

Does not your heart with pride ring
when Bartholomew stilts with the king?

Yes, we should never hop on pop,
but not all his books are such a flop.

A parable you'll find inside,
An Aesop tale, now don't deny--

An elephant's faithful 100%
And my heart's as strong as an elephant's.

Now when I see some empty pants,
I do not give a second glance.
Those words of fear, I say inside,
and to myself I do not lie.

I pay no attention to the stars
but rejoice with those who have them on "thars".

When right is right, I hold my view
Even when scoffed for protecting the "WHO."

Like Aesop and Grimm, there's truth to unfold,
even by Suess and the tales that he's told.

A thought for the day!

2007-07-18T08:08:00.000-07:00

A wise woman (person) obtains the discipline of keeping silent and knows the art of speaking up!

Fence me in!

2007-06-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

Today my uncle's westie Daisy was hit by a car. It's a sad ending to an otherwise wonderful week. Daisy lived on an alpaca farm. She considered herself the queen of her domain and she spent her time catching moles and chasing deer away. Her courageous spirit overshadowed her meager size. She ruled both the front yard and back pasture indiscriminately. She loved her family, bringing home her "prizes" to the front door for praise. It was when she trailed the family car out of the driveway that she went onto the road and was hit by another vehicle.

I spent last week with Daisy. I arrived for my cousin's wedding. It was a great time; I visited with friends and family, helped out, went sight-seeing, and had a great time, except for Ranger. My black lab wanted to sight-see as much as I did, but his wanderings tended to take him beyond the pasture fence and farm gates, but I wasn't worried about the ticks hidden in the overgrowth. I was more concerned about the two lane road a hundred feet out the front door and up the hill. While the other dogs wandered the property I tried to keep tabs on my dog, continually checking in on him and asking "Where's Ranger?"

Even locking him up didn't bring the security of knowing he was safe while I was away. Eventually he'd bark, someone would let him out; and the fences were insecure. Three hours after the wedding I learned that he was let out and had wandered onto the road. God's grace and a friend sent him back to safety.

We should pray for a hedge of protection around our loved ones. Satan is searching for those whom he may devour. But often it is our own hearts that lead us beyond the safety God has given to us. Pray that God erects strong fences that'll keep us secure from our own foolishness.

Ranger - Inside the fence

Eight interesting things...

2007-05-10T19:43:00.000-07:00

Recently, on a writer's group, this icebreaker was being passed around. I was tagged to post. Though I've declined to tag others. ;)

1. My birthdate (written in the style of 00/00/00) has the numeral 7 in it three times. The only other numeral is 0.
2. In my personal life I cook for between 15-23 people on a daily basis.
3. When I was 5, my dad introduced me to Adam-12, I've been a fan of police drama ever since.
4. My last name is pronounced la-choir.
5. I taught myself how to do bobbin lace.
6. Occasionally, I run on a semi-regular basis. ;)
7. I used to think ankle splints were supports you bought to put around weak ankles. (Don't laugh!)
8. I grow my own kefir.

Old friends, and good thoughts!

2007-04-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

Years ago, twenty-something now, our Sunday evenings often used to be spent in the company of good friends. After the Sunday evening service we'd come home and pop a couple pans of homemade pizza in the oven. Often a family used to join us for the meal, bringing with them dessert. Time has passed, but we still affectionately call this "K-- Cake," in honor of our friends.

In reality this commonly known as Texas Cookie Sheet Cake, or Chocolate Cookie Sheet cake. This evening, after issuing a late invitation to dinner guests, I managed to make this in through this together. The light textured cake is topped with a fudgy topping.

Chocolate Cookie Sheet Cake

Cake:
1 cup coffee
3 1/2 T Cocoa powder
1 cup butter
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon soda

Frosting:
1/3 cup milk
1 stick butter
3 1/2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts

Bring to boil coffee, cocoa powder, butter, and put in bowl. Add flour, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and soda. Mix well and place in greased and floured 11x17" cookie sheet.

Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

While cake is baking you can make the frosting.

Bring to boil and remove from heat; milk, butter, and cocoa. Add sugar, vanilla, and nuts. Spread on hot cake.

Something old, something yum!

2007-04-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is Friday. While perhaps in Prince land Wednesday is spaghetti day, around here we traditionally have spaghetti on Friday. We have been for over twenty years. Often we have company, and so traditionally I also make a dessert (because there's lots of people to eat it and I can make it guilt free.)

After scouring through my mental files trying to figure out something different to make I remembered "Dump Cake". My partner in crime gave me the recipe when I was in my teens--years ago. Not long afterwards I assembled the ingredients in pan, set in on the edge of the counter and promptly dumped it upside down on the floor. Coincidently enough, it's the only cake I've ever dumped.
Anyway, it's delicious, quick, and easy to make.

Dump Cake
12-16 servings

1 package yellow cake mix
1 can (20 oz.) crushed pineapple in syrup (undrained)
1 can (21 oz.) Cherry pie filling
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut in thin slices

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9" pan.

Dump undrained pineapple into pan; spread evenly. Dump in pie filling and spread into even layer; spread evenly. Sprinkle pecans over cake mix. Put butter over top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 48 to 53 minutes. Serve warm or cooled.

Conservapedia

2007-04-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

There's a new kid on the block and it's trying to go head to head with Wikipedia. Enter www.conservapedia.com - an online enclopedia with an apparently Christian worldview. Conservapedia.com began Novemnber 2006 as a World History class project of 58 advanced homeschooled and college-bound students meeting in NJ. It now boasts over 6,900 entries. Check it out!