Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY (April 20, 2009)...

Outside my window... A clear sky! Thank you Lord, it has rained ALL weekend!

I am thinking... of what to give to my supervisor - she just became Gramma this week!

I am thankful for... the fact that we had business at our garage sale this weekend - Rained all day and there were 97 other garage sales in town the same day.

From the learning rooms...studying up on roses and begin cutting out a new apron.

From the kitchen... Dark chocolate cherry muffins, chicken enchilada bake.

I am wearing...yellow shorts, gray t-shirt (my night clothes)

I am creating...surprise bags for the ladies I am traveling with later this week!

I am going... to go to a Ladie's Retreat on Thursday - Can't Wait for Floodgates!

I am reading... The Face of a Stranger by Anne Perry.

I am hoping...that the weather will be nice this coming weekend.

I am hearing...the dishwasher, my little ceramic heater taking the chill off, Honey running water in the bathroom.

Around the house...Vacuuming, ironing, just a little general straightening.

One of my favorite things... is raspberry jam!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Tonight straighten up house. Tomorrow take boxes of left-over garage sale items to the Samaritan Center. Thursday - off to the Ladie's Retreat!

Here is picture thought I am sharing..

Aren't they beautiful - precious sisters in the Lord praying for one another!

Got daybook? If not - go get it!

Hope that you all had a good week last week - mine was pretty consumed with the garage sale and we had inspection at work. Also, our cat was diagnosed with diabetes and was quite sick all last weekend. He is much better now, but we are having to give him insulin injections twice a day. Anywhoo - we are back on track now, weather is gorgeous today. We have planted 2 rose bushes - a Charlotte Armstrong and a Touch of Class. We also planted a Japanese cherry tree - a gift to me from Honey for our 6-month anniversary!

Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

This is the dessert that I made for Easter - very rich!

1 1/2 cups Oreo cookie crumbs (or chocolate wafer crumbs)
3 tablespoons melted butter

3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 can sweetened condensed milk (such as Eaglebrand)
3 eggs
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon flour

Mix oreo crumbs and butter in a bowl. Press firmly into a 9-inch springform pan on the bottom.

Heat oven to 300F.

In a bowl mix cream cheese, milk, eggs and vanilla. In a small bowl, toss 1/2 cup chocolate chips with flour. Stir into cheese mixture. Pour into springform pan. Top with remaining chocolate chips.

Bake for 1 hour (i had to make mine a bit longer, maybe 10 minutes or so)

Cool and chill overnight before serving.