The last of the... Pumpkin

I was sitting in my room this afternoon basking in the how great time was with the family for Thanksgiving...and I don't know why, but pumpkin popped in my head. I'm not even a huge pumpkin fan, but I went with it. That led me to the kitchen to the final 2 cans (no, not fresh) of pumpkin. I mentioned before that I have been baking a lot lately, so I decided on a pumpkin muffin.

I started pulling ingredients from cabinets high and low and this is what I created. Woohoo!!

 Ingredients are below...

 

This is what mixing looking likes...
Dry ingredients in one bowl, wet in another (adding one after the other) and then combine.

Now, it's time to bake...

 And, now it's time to cool... (except, I forgot to take the cooling picture, so this is after they've cooled)

Clean up always sucks...

Now to stack...

My first batch sunk in the middle because I overfilled them and decided to use a spatula to get the gook from the bottom of the stove before it started burning. Those went in the trash. I tried to save them (maybe mash together and create some type of crust for something else, but it was hopeless. 

Overall, it was a great 1st try at these. Now, someone else should come eat them. Shawn T and Insanity are going to shaking fingers at me. 

No More

I got on Facebook right before I left work and I see this facebook status from a UTA student...

I got the worse phone call that a 20 yr old man could ever get. A phone call from your little brother crying that our mom just died at the age of 36 at home and I couldn't be there when my family needed me. :( RIP Mama I ♥ You!!! :(

WTF...

I immediately go into crisis management mode.
Find student id number and student phone number...check
Find out where student is...check
Email Important University Staff about class, counseling and other resources...check
Meet student..check
Console...check
Laugh a little...check
Discuss the upcoming week and how he wanted to proceed...check
Talk about the good times...check
Meet the cousin and some friends...check
Provide a little wisdonpm about strength, weakness, handling your responsibilities and taking care of yourself...check

Now, for some Wendy's to hit the spot.  Seriously, I need a break from traumatic events. This student is 20 years old, has a younger brother and a 12 year old sister. During the time I was ther, he went from talking clearly and saying I'm just going to take it one day at a time to crying in my shoulder and saying I'm mad because she's supposed to be here... She's supposed to be at my wedding and be at my brother's graduation in 2 weeks. I hate to be selfish, but this is unreal. 

Things like that just break my heart. Unfortunately, we don't get to choose everything, but thankfully his mom helped him move this past weekend. God always works things out even when we feel like things are crumbling down.

Cherish every moment.