Our Good Life: August 2017

Posted by Terri Steffes / 31 August 2017 / solar eclipse

My Totality Experience

I love astronomy.  I discovered it at nine years old, when I checked out a book about the stars from my school's library.  My teacher told me that the star patterns in the book were the same as in the sky above my house and when I discovered that was true, I was hooked.<br />
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I read all I could in school about astronomy and took one college course that was offered.  Over the years I read about comets, star patterns, galaxies, new discoveries and did my best to keep up with the information that was available and when the internet hit, I couldn't keep up!<br />
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So many experiences around the stars I have had!  Sailboating in the Bahamas and seeing thousands of stars, in a different hemisphere, and seeing shooting stars left and right.  Mind blowing!  Watching the Perseids every summer by camping in my own backyard.  So many wonderful opportunities.<br />
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So when I learned about the total solar eclipse that was to happen on August 21, 2017, I knew I had to experience it.  Then I learned that St. Louis would be in the path of totality, I was over the top excited about it.  Plans were made and my excitement grew.<br />
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Then came the crowds.  The CROWDS.  The St. Louis police were estimating millions of people on the roads and deadlocked traffic. I did NOT want to miss this event due to being stuck in traffic.  Reluctantly, I changed my plans to stay at home, in the path of 99% totality.<br />
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I wasn't the only one with this worry, a group of friends also decided to stay home and we banded together to celebrate and observe the eclipse.  We got together for lunch first.  I brought some of my cauliflower cheese soup and we had a lot of other goodies, too.  Christie brought fireballs!  The perfect ending!<br />
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We grabbed chairs and headed to the field, so full of excitement and giggly about the event.  We donned our glasses, a gift from DeDe, and started watching the moon pass over the sun. <br />
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The first nibble of the moon from the sun appears and we are just giddy!  The moon seems to take its time, meandering over the sun at a snail's pace.  Once the moon covers about half the sun is when the fun truly begins.  The sky darkens, and birds begin to fly back to their nests, rushing as if to say, how come I am so late???  The crickets start their chirping, getting louder and louder.  The dusk-to-dawn lights pop on on the garages around us.  The sky continues to have an eerie quality to it.  The temperature began to drop and is noticeably chillier than it was when we first came out.  The shadows start changing and then we see it!  The shadow bands race across the alley very quickly, a set of four. The clouds thicken, and the sun is covered by clouds.  The entire eclipse is covered by a thick bank of clouds.  We see some gorgeous shadows in the sky of the sun and the air visibly darkens.  The quick minute of totality goes by and the sun starts to peak out from the moon.  We are able to see a bit of the sun's path back into the sky.  There are no words, and as we sit together, we fall silent as the moment engulfs us in its magical arms. <br />
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While I was very disappointed in missing the total eclipse, I did experience totality.  The darkening skies, the animal behavior, the shadow bands and the weird auras were all about the eclipse. My experiences were awe inspiring and make me want to be close by the next one.  I will be somewhere in the path of totality at the next one in 2024 if I can be.

My Totality Experience

I love astronomy. I discovered it at nine years old, when I checked out a book about the stars from my school's library. My teacher to...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 29 August 2017 / chewy.com

Accidents Happen, #NaturesMiracle to the Rescue #ChewyInfluencer

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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I was given this product for free in exchange for our honest opinion.</span></i></div>
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This post is going to be all about Truman.  Not that I don't want to talk about Wilson, but Wilson rarely has accidents at home.  Wilson is potty trained.  Good dog.</div>
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The thing is, I think Truman is potty trained too, but he uses his wetting like a weapon. It seems that he urinates when he is angry or stressed about something we did.  Like, putting him in his carrier for the day, or not letting him run through the house, or bark at the UPS man.</div>
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Puddle.  On our hardwood floors.  TRUMAN!!!</div>
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It is hard to be mad at this face, though.  We do scold, but we aren't sure the message is getting in, especially since we think he waits until our back is turned to do it.  </div>
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Nature's Miracle gives you a product to use to be sure that the contaminant is cleaned thoroughly without harming your floors.  It is a miracle for us and I wanted all of you with pups to know.  It works on stains and on new accidents.  It doesn't have to be rinsed off either.  Just a one step deal, spray, wait a sec, and wipe.</div>
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The area smells fresh and clean.</div>
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Could you yell at this face??</div>
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Accidents Happen, #NaturesMiracle to the Rescue #ChewyInfluencer

I was given this product for free in exchange for our honest opinion. This post is going to be all about Truman. Not that I don't ...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 28 August 2017 / travel

Weekend Trip to Branson!

Branson holds a lot of fond memories for me.  My grandparents retired there (actually in a tiny town just south of Branson called Hollister) and my mom and dad used to drive my sister and my brother down in our purple Chevy to see them. We'd go fishing in Taneycomo lake.  We'd walk around Candy Mountain (where my grandparents lived) and eat fried fish and stewed okra.<br />
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When Bob and I married, we started going to Branson in the summers with his family.  Bob's dad, Giles would get so excited about the trip. He wrote notes every year about what the grandkids liked for snacks and he always came through!  Our daughter remembers him bringing sticks of summer sausage and Cheese Whiz.  She also remembered him making pancakes on the grill and serving them with Velveeta.  We always stayed at <a href="http://www.twelveoaksbranson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twelve Oaks</a>, with a girls room and a boys room.  Never so happy to be a girl!  This trip was especially bittersweet as this was the 8th anniversary of Giles' passing.<br />
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We didn't stay at Twelve Oaks this time, but we did stay at a wonderful resort called <a href="https://welkresorts.com/" target="_blank">The Branson Welk Resort.</a>  It is one of the Welk Resorts (of six) and it is done right. Our room had a balcony with rocking chairs, a big queen bed, a dining room, a kitchen and a nice sitting area with a sofa. The resort offered a swim park for kids, a quiet pool, a playground, and its own theater, where <a href="https://mdqbranson.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Million Dollar Quartet </a>was playing.<br />
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We arrived on Friday, checked in, and headed to <a href="http://www.topoftherock.com/dining/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Top of the Rock Restaurant</a>.  We specifically went at sunset, as they are known for their sunset celebrations (and I am a sunset seeker!) I was for sure that we weren't going to see anything as it rained pretty hard on our way there.  The restaurant is situation on top of Table Rock Lake and you can see miles of lake from their dining room.  We had a wonderful view from our table.  The decor is Native American and there are many statues around of Native Americans.  In the lobby of the restaurant there is a huge Woolly Mammoth skeleton!<br />
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Right at sunset, a man comes out playing patriotic songs on a set of bagpipes!  I love that haunting sound, especially when the sun is setting low.  The clouds parted and we got the most amazing sunset. Right when the sun hit the water, a canon was fired.  The colors still lingered and crowds of peoplel were taking photos of themselves and their families.  It was beautiful!  The meal at the restaurant was delicious. Bob ordered the bison stew, which seems a little odd for summer, but the night was chilly with the rain. It was warm, and savory and so good.  Our meals were wonderful, too.<br />
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In the morning we had breakfast at the buffet offered at the restaurant at the resort.  The food was fresh and there were many dishes offered, including a make-it-yourself waffle station.  Afterwards we attended a meeting of resort owners and then headed out to Table Rock Lake. <br />
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<a href="http://www.visittablerocklake.com/" target="_blank">Table Rock Lake</a> was formed as a dam on the White River by the Corps of Engineers around 1954. The lake was finished in 1958.  This is a busy and active lake. There are a number of beaches, too. We went to Moonshine Beach, which is a family friendly place (meaning no alcohol) and it was really pretty and clean.  We also visited the <a href="http://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Lakes/Table-Rock-Lake/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Visitors Center</a> and learned a lot about the wildlife around the lake.  Table Rock is only a couple of miles from our resort.<br />
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Lunch was at <a href="http://www.vaskensdeli.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vaskens Deli </a>where they served yummy Greek food.  We'd definitely go back.  After food in our bellies, we headed back to enjoy the condo a bit before our big night!<br />
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Dinner was at <a href="https://www.fallcreeksteakhouse.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fall Creek Steak and Catfish House</a>. This was a change of plans for us but we enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the restaurant decorated with old road signs and advertisements.  Bob had catfish and said it was made just the way he likes it.  They throw homemade rolls at you, too.  The entertainment for the evening was The Million Dollar Quartet, a play written about the one night where Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins spent time in Sun Recording Studio. The event was recorded and the only time they played together.  Some of the original recording session was played and that was really good.<br />
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Off to bed, and then a little sleep in before leaving to go home.  Our breakfast choice was<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BillyGailsCafe/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Billy Gails Cafe,</a> a quaint restaurant with fantastic prices and good food.  We will definitely be back!<br />
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To cap off all our memory making this weekend, we stopped at<a href="http://find.mapmuse.com/brand/stuckeys/MO/DOOLITTLE" target="_blank"> Stuckey's </a>in Doolittle (MO) and bought a pecan log.  Back in the day, when Bob was making road trips with his brother and his uncle, stopping at Stuckey's was a highlight.  Most of the Stuckey's are now closed, but we were able to revive a little of Bob's childhood memories with our pit stop.<br />
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<i>Another wonderful weekend with my husband, remembering good times with our family!</i></div>
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Weekend Trip to Branson!

Branson holds a lot of fond memories for me. My grandparents retired there (actually in a tiny town just south of Branson called Hollister)...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 27 August 2017 / dinner

Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with Asparagus #SundaySupper

The Labor Day weekend is almost here and if you are like us, we like to plan our food to match the event. For laborers, we want a hearty meal that will satisfy!  Labor Day was first celebrated in 1887 in Oregon, and became a national holiday in 1894.  It honors the American laborers and is celebrated everywhere in the USA the first Monday in September. <br />
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Labor Day is also the unofficial "end" of summer.  Kids are usually back in school or will be starting very soon.  If you are a fashionita, you might be one who believes the wearing of white ends here.  I do know I start to get antsy for the fall weather after Labor Day is over.<br />
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We are enjoying the cooking process known as sous vide.  Its a cooking method where you vacuum seal the food and then cook it in a water bath for longer than what you usually cook at.  It is at a very specific temperature and the item gets cooked perfectly evenly, ensuring that the inside of the food is properly cooked without overcooking the outside.  You can sous vide proteins, vegetables and make delicious egg dishes and desserts!<br />
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<b><i>Here's how we do it.</i></b><br />
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First we purchased our sous vide equipment.  We purchased ours from Amazon.  Reasonably priced and quick to get it!  It consists of a plastic box to hold the water and a sous vide precision cooker, that looks something like a immersion blender.  The cooker heats the water to the proper temperature and agitates the water a bit.<br />
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We fill the sous vide with the proper amount of water and insert the cooker and set it to the correct temperature, which in this case is 130 degrees.<br />
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We season the steaks the way we want, and vacuum seal them in plastic bags (you can use a foodsaver vacuum sealer or do the dunk method where you insert the bag into the water and let the water push out the air) and then put the bag in the water.  The steaks will need to "sous vide" for about 40 minutes, or until they reach the correct temperature.<br />
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When the cooking time is done, remove the steaks.  Allow them to rest.  In the meantime, heat a cast iron skillet and melt 2 T of butter.  Sear the steaks on both sides, a minute or two each. Remember, the meat is cooked, you are just adding a little flavor and color.<br />
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Remove the steaks and let them rest. Flash fry cleaned and trimmed asparagus stems in the skillet, for about four minutes.  They will still be crunchy.<br />
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Have you tried the sous vide method of cooking?  Let us know what you made! We are always looking for something new to try.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Labor Day Menu Ideas</b></span><br />
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Scrumptious Labor Day Sides and Starters</h4>
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<li><a href="http://hardlyagoddess.com/foil-pack-grilled-potatoes-sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Foil Pack Grilled Potatoes</a> by Hardly A Goddess</li>
<li><a href="https://adayinthelifeonthefarm.blogspot.com/2017/08/four-bean-salad-for-sundaysupper.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Four Bean Salad</a> by A Day in the Life on the Farm</li>
<li><a href="https://sundaysuppermovement.com/jalapeno-popper-deviled-eggs/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Jalapeno Popper Deviled Eggs</a> by Sunday Supper Movement</li>
<li><a href="http://simpleandsavory.com/pasta-salad-with-baby-spinach-and-sun-dried-tomatoes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pasta Salad with Baby Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes</a> by Simple and Savory</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cindysrecipesandwritings.com/sausage-peppers-salad-sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sausage and Peppers Salad</a> by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings</li>
<li><a href="https://www.soulfullymade.com/shellys-pasta-salad/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Shelly’s Pasta Salad</a> by Soulfully Made</li>
<li><a href="http://cricketsconfections.com/2017/08/27/sour-cream-onion-potatoes/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sour Cream and Onion Potatoes</a> by Cricket’s Confections</li>
<li><a href="http://www.foodlustpeoplelove.com/2017/08/thai-spiced-shrimp-cabbage-coleslaw.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Thai Spiced Shrimp Cabbage Coleslaw</a> by Food Lust People Love</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/2017/08/zucchini-parmesan-foil-packets.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Zucchini Parmesan Foil Packets</a> by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks</li>
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Delicious Labor Day Entrees</h4>
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<li><a href="https://www.sprinklesandsprouts.com/malaysian-chicken-satay-sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Malaysian Chicken Satay</a> by Sprinkles and Sprouts</li>
<li><a href="http://www.fantasticalsharing.com/2017/08/grilled-hasselback-fajita-chicken.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Grilled Hasselback Fajita Chicken</a> by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes</li>
<li><a href="https://www.carolinescooking.com/maple-turkey-burgers/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Maple Turkey Burger with Cheddar, Bacon and Apple</a> by Caroline’s Cooking</li>
<li><a href="http://www.akitchenhoorsadventures.com/pork-spiedini-hoagies/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pork Spiedini Hoagies</a> by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures</li>
<li><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/08/sous-vide-sirloin-steak-with-asparagus.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with asparagus</a> by Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="https://gourmeteveryday.net/2017/08/27/sriracha-deviled-crab-sandwich-with-key-lime-bacon-slaw-sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sriracha Deviled Crab Sandwich with Key Lime-Bacon Slaw</a> by Gourmet Everyday</li>
<li><a href="http://recipesfoodandcooking.com/2017/08/27/toms-bbq-ribs/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tom’s BBQ Spare Ribs with North Carolina BBQ Sauce</a> by Recipes Food and Cooking</li>
<li><a href="https://palatablepastime.com/2017/08/27/vietnamese-grilled-steak-salad/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnamese Grilled Steak Salad</a> by Palatable Pastime</li>
</ul>
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Luscious Labor Day Desserts</h4>
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<li><a href="http://piesandplots.net/blueberry-crisp-bars-sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Blueberry Crisp Bars</a> by Pies and Plots</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thatskinnychickcanbake.com/fudgy-brownie-trifle-with-chocolate-mousse/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Fudgy Brownie Trifle with Chocolate Mousse</a> by That Skinny Chick Can Bake</li>
<li><a href="http://www.thefreshmancook.com/2017/08/watermelon-treats-sundaysupper.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Watermelon Treats</a> by The Freshman Cook</li>
</ul>
<a href="http://www.sundaysuppermovement.com/" rel="noopener" style="clear: left; float: left; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Sunday Supper Movement" height="100" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8386732081_f232fda104_t.jpg" width="100" /></a><strong>Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday!</strong> We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23sundaysupper" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#SundaySupper hashtag</a> and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great <a href="http://www.sundaysuppermovement.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sunday Supper Recipes</a>, visit our website or check out our <a href="http://pinterest.com/thesundaysupper/sundaysupper/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pinterest board</a>. <strong>Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement?</strong> It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: <a href="http://community.sundaysuppermovement.com/join-the-community/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sunday Supper Movement</a>.

Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with Asparagus #SundaySupper

The Labor Day weekend is almost here and if you are like us, we like to plan our food to match the event. For laborers, we want a hearty mea...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 25 August 2017 / travel

Day Trip To The Land of Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois

Day trips are those short little trips you can make from home within a couple of hours of driving.  We love doing day trips as we keep pretty busy and finding the time to do a whole weekend has to be carefully planned into our schedules. With a day trip, all we have to do is wake up and decide its the right day to go!<br />
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 This day trip was to Springfield, Illinois.  Springfield is about an hour and forty minutes from our home in St. Charles, Missouri.  We decided the night before to make the trip, so we were able to set off around 8:00 in the morning, after breakfast at home.<br />
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Using the internet and materials we had gathered from various trips, we decided we wanted to make our first stop at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.  We were definitely interested in learning more about our 16th president, but there was a special display that we were interested in as well: The History between the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals!  </div>
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The museum is huge and focuses on Lincoln's election (as if it were happening today!) and displays about his childhood, presidency, the original hand-written copy of the Gettysburg address, and a life sized model of Lincoln, himself.  What I came away with was how persecuted Lincoln was during his presidency, not unlike what our presidents go through today.  </div>
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Our next visit was to the Lincoln Tomb where Lincoln, his wife and three of their four sons are buried.  It is massive and impressive.  At the entrance you will see a bronze bust of Mr. Lincoln with a shiny nose. Visitors rub the nose of Lincoln for good luck!  You can enter the memorial, and walk in a circle to visit the headstone.</div>
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After our visit, we headed to eat at Charlie Parker's Diner, featured on Diner's, Drive Ins and Dives. Charlie's is famous for its Horseshoe, which is a slice of bread, meat of your choice, topped with fries and covered with a special cheese sauce.  The combinations are endless!  There's a breakfast Horseshoe, too! Guy Fieri loved the pancakes, but we had to try the Horseshoe!</div>
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To end our trip, we visited the Frank Lloyd Wright designed home called the Dana-Thomas House.  It is a beautiful and lavish home designed in the Prairie period.  The home was built for Susan Lawrence Dana, known for her hospitality, parties and concerts.  She was also know for her pro-woman agenda.  The home was never significantly altered over time and has over 100 original pieces of the original art glass, lamps, and furniture.  There is a 60 foot long pergola hallway which houses a bowling lane, a billiard room and vault.  My personal favorite was her library, where she used to read stories to the Springfield orphans.  </div>
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We returned home in time for dinner at home.  We loved discussing the beautiful home and all the Lincoln information in the car, making for a perfect day trip.  </div>
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Leave a comment if you stop by, and tell me where you are from, and what your favorite day trip is!</div>
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Day Trip To The Land of Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois

Day trips are those short little trips you can make from home within a couple of hours of driving. We love doing day trips as we keep prett...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 24 August 2017 / book review

The Return by Suzanne Fisher Wood and others! #OurGoodLifeBookReview

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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I was given this book in exchange for my honest review.</i></span></div>
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Betsy Zook is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her and then the unthinkable happens, her family is murdered and she and her brother are taken way to be sold or traded in the Indian community. Betsy's fiance is devastated but Tessa, another woman in love with Hans, sees her chance to step into Betsy's shoes.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aP3IOGZGMu8/WZTv2i0l-LI/AAAAAAAAnYs/pAVqcHZhLeMOw5WmeWLg3bpNFtRyPYeNgCLcBGAs/s1600/cover110373-medium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aP3IOGZGMu8/WZTv2i0l-LI/AAAAAAAAnYs/pAVqcHZhLeMOw5WmeWLg3bpNFtRyPYeNgCLcBGAs/s400/cover110373-medium.png" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0800727509/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0800727509&linkCode=as2&tag=our071-20&linkId=485697163642c134e9f51e3866fa760c" target="_blank">The Return (Amish Beginnings)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=our071-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0800727509" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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The book is historical fiction with the American Revolution war still yet to be fought.  This book is filled with differing viewpoints, and multiple characters that need to have their stories shared. There is romance and the struggle with Native Americans.</div>
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The main characters are mostly German Americans, Amish and live peacefully among the Native Americans and other settlers.  Other settlers, not so much.  They want to push the Native Americans from their home and take their lands.  The Native Americans are a divided people, too.  Some want to live peacefully with the settlers and others are angry and want to fight back. Betsy feels the anguish and despair of seeing her family murdered and then being adopted into a family, where they treat her with loving kindness.  Hans, her fiance, cannot see the Native Americans as a peaceful group and is determined to rid them from the territory.</div>
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And, there are two love triangles to figure out: one involving a Native American man and Betsy and the other Hans and Tessa. Complicated at best.</div>
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How will this get resolved? Will it be like today's struggle between races, where we are to repeat our mistakes over and over?  Will Hans be able to see that goodness can reside in all people?  </div>
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The book's plots are all over the place and sometimes difficult to follow, but it is still a wonderful book full of the things that I love to see in a historical fiction romance.  A piece about how the Conestoga Wagon was invented was a fun thread in the book.<br />
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If you like this review, you might like another by Suzanne Woods Fisher called <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2016/10/october-reads.html" target="_blank">The Devoted</a>.<br />
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Our August <b>New Town Book Club</b> pick is The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. We picked it because the reviews say that it is a cleverly written self help book written with a lot of tongue-in-cheek humor but with a lot of serious concepts to consider.  We discuss next week, so I'll et you know!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKNWYPEXuaw/WZWoCTs9KDI/AAAAAAAAnY8/GjiXj93C7hIAMFyW4reX7TtzXhXBXPrAwCLcBGAs/s1600/51c34QgUM0L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zKNWYPEXuaw/WZWoCTs9KDI/AAAAAAAAnY8/GjiXj93C7hIAMFyW4reX7TtzXhXBXPrAwCLcBGAs/s320/51c34QgUM0L.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062457713/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062457713&linkCode=as2&tag=our071-20&linkId=f742db38c7b965edcbab9c6cc95711eb" target="_blank">The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=our071-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0062457713" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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Our July <b>New Town Book Club</b> pick, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas blew our minds! The relevancy, the main character, the way the author chose to handle such a sensitive subject created a fantastic read. I truly believe it could become the To Kill a Mockingbird of our times.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-us6gNqLwDY0/WZWoHkxq9AI/AAAAAAAAnZA/ruYBNsrsW9Yq-TDU3B59xG7A5o92Ma23ACLcBGAs/s1600/41hL6fl3IiL._AC_US327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="327" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-us6gNqLwDY0/WZWoHkxq9AI/AAAAAAAAnZA/ruYBNsrsW9Yq-TDU3B59xG7A5o92Ma23ACLcBGAs/s320/41hL6fl3IiL._AC_US327_FMwebp_QL65_.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062498533/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0062498533&linkCode=as2&tag=our071-20&linkId=65ededcc7721bf15265b894ccb848e06" target="_blank">The Hate U Give</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=our071-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0062498533" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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If you click on these links, it will take you to Amazon to purchase the books.  I get a little kickback but it doesn't cost you any extra.  Thanks!</div>
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The Return by Suzanne Fisher Wood and others! #OurGoodLifeBookReview

I was given this book in exchange for my honest review. Betsy Zook is a young woman with her whole life ahead of her and then the unthin...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 22 August 2017 / Dessert

The Nutty Professor Cookies #creativecookieexchange

School is starting up all around me.  My local district is already back in session, and all the districts I worked in as a public school teacher or principal are having Back-to-School teacher meetings.  The beginning of the school year is a fun time for me, even though I don't have a classroom to decorate or new curriculum to learn.  I am fortunate that my <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/08/celebrating-teachers-backtoschoolweek.html" target="_blank">day job allows me to interact with teachers. </a><br />
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Another  opportunity I have is to teach preservice teachers as an adjunct professor.  I absolutely love working with pre-service teachers and it is what I would love to do full time.  I don't think that is in the cards for me, so I will love the opportunity I do have.  My husband is a full time college professor, too, but he works with doctoral candidates who want to be administrators.</div>
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These cookies, then, are aptly named.  The two of us couldn't be any nuttier, especially when it comes to our neighborhood.  We love our neighborhood!  We also adore these easy nut butter cookies, too!</div>
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The Nutty Professor Cookies</div>
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8 oz nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew)</div>
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1 egg</div>
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1/2 c Truvia</div>
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Preheat oven to 350.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment.  Put all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix well.  Let rest 2-3 minutes.  Using 1 T sized scoop, scoop cookies onto cookie sheet.  Bake for 12-14 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Let cool 5 minutes.  Store in an airtight container, if they las that long!  Makes 1 dz.</div>
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Note: When I named these cookies, Mr. Jerry Lewis was alive at his home in Las Vegas.  He has sinced passed away, on August 20, 2017.  Mr. Lewis was an icon to me as a child.  I watched the Labor Day Telethon every year!  I hope that this post does not seem insensitive.</div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://allthatsleftarethecrumbs.blogspot.com/2017/08/chocolate-dipped-sesame-nut-bars.html">Chocolate-Dipped Sesame Nut Bars</a> from All That's Left Are the Crumbs</li>
<li><a href="https://creamandbutterblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/creativecookieexchange/">Crash-O-Cookies</a> from Cream and Butter Baking</li>
<li><a href="http://2cookinmamas.com/2017/08/22/peanut-butter-and-jelly-cookies/">Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies</a> from 2 Cookin’ Mamas</li>
<li><a href="http://www.hezzi-dsbooksandcooks.com/2017/08/salted-caramel-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars-creativecookieexchange.html">Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars</a> from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks</li>
<li><a href="http://www.yummysmells.ca/2017/08/schoolroom-apple-cookies.html">Schoolroom Apple Cookies</a> from What Smells So Good?</li>
<li><a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/2017/08/the-nutty-professor-cookies.html">The Nutty Professor Cookies</a> from Our Good Life</li>
<li><a href="http://www.karenskitchenstories.com/2017/08/triple-oatmeal-cookies.html">Triple Oatmeal Cookies</a> from Karen's Kitchen Stories</li>
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<a href="http://www.thespicedlife.com/creative-cookie-exchange" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img height="200" src="http://www.thespicedlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Creative-Cookie-Exchange-2014.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>

The Nutty Professor Cookies #creativecookieexchange

School is starting up all around me. My local district is already back in session, and all the districts I worked in as a public school tea...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 21 August 2017 / Breast cancer

$500 Cash Giveaway! #pinkfortitude

Many of you know, and some of you don't, that I am a breast cancer survivor.  You can read about my story here and my post of gratitude here.  In October I will celebrate 8 years of being a survivor.  I don't think too much ahead, because, well, most survivors realize that if you have had cancer once, your odds are higher that you will get it again.  No one likes to talk about that, though.<br />
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And, neither do I.<br />
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I like to celebrate the days I have right now!  I also like to celebrate the anniversaries of other survivors, like Holly from Pink Fortitude.  She's celebrating her 7th anniversary and is giving away a whopping $500 in cash and is letting me "cash" in on this opportunity!<br />
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It's an exciting day - we are celebrating my dear friend Holly Bertone's 7-year breast cancer survivorversary by helping her share love, inspiration, and a $500 giveaway with all of you! We are celebrating with an amazing group of friends and <a href="http://www.giveawaypromote.com/">Giveaway Promote</a> to bring you this $500 Amazon.com giveaway!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://pinkfortitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/500-Amazon-Gift.png"><img src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpinkfortitude.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F10%2F500-Amazon-Gift.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" /></a><br /><br />I’m partnering with my wonderful friends and businesses in the organic/healthy space to make this awesome giveaway happen. If you love my blog, I guarantee you will love the other ones too: <a href="http://pinkfortitude.com/">Pink Fortitude</a>, <a href="https://grengahealth.com/">Grenga Health</a>, <a href="http://ericafinds.com/">Erica Finds</a>, <a href="http://www.accuweight.com/index.html">Accuquest Health Programs</a>, <a href="http://nourishandflourishhealth.com/">Nourish and Flourish with Maria</a>, <a href="https://drjencronin.com/">Dr. Jen Cronin</a>, <a href="http://www.terristeffes.com/">Our Good Life</a>, <a href="http://thatswhatieat.com/">That's What I Eat</a>.<br /><br />A Huge Thank You to:<br /><br /><a href="https://grengahealth.com/"><img src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpinkfortitude.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fgrenga-health.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" /></a><br /><a href="http://ericafinds.com/"><img src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpinkfortitude.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Ferica-finds.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.accuweight.com/index.html"><img height="200" src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpinkfortitude.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Faccuquest-health-weight-loss.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://nourishandflourishhealth.com/"><img src="https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpinkfortitude.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F08%2Fnourish-and-flourish-with-maria.png&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" /></a><br /><br />The giveaway runs from Monday, August 21st at 1:00 AM EST through Sunday, August 27th at 11:45 PM EST. Open to United States residents only.<br /><br />PS – Be sure to LIKE our Facebook pages while you are there!<br /><br />GOOD LUCK!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0fca020613/">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />

$500 Cash Giveaway! #pinkfortitude

Many of you know, and some of you don't, that I am a breast cancer survivor. You can read about my story here and my post of gratitude ...

Posted by Terri Steffes / 31 August 2017 / solar eclipse

My Totality Experience

Posted by Terri Steffes / 29 August 2017 / chewy.com

Accidents Happen, #NaturesMiracle to the Rescue #ChewyInfluencer

Posted by Terri Steffes / 28 August 2017 / travel

Weekend Trip to Branson!

Posted by Terri Steffes / 27 August 2017 / dinner

Sous Vide Sirloin Steak with Asparagus #SundaySupper

Posted by Terri Steffes / 25 August 2017 / travel

Day Trip To The Land of Lincoln, Springfield, Illinois

Posted by Terri Steffes / 24 August 2017 / book review

The Return by Suzanne Fisher Wood and others! #OurGoodLifeBookReview

Posted by Terri Steffes / 22 August 2017 / Dessert

The Nutty Professor Cookies #creativecookieexchange

Posted by Terri Steffes / 21 August 2017 / Breast cancer

$500 Cash Giveaway! #pinkfortitude

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