GF Pumpkin Rice Pudding... Dessert you can eat for breakfast.

I believe this is my first recipe that I have posted here, but most assuredly will not be my last. I was busy with other things today so I didn't get any photos taken. I'll add one tomorrow of the finished pudding and try to remember step by step photos next time I make it because I WILL be making it again :D.

I kinda knew what I wanted, but I couldn't quite find the recipe I was looking for. I love pumpkin pie, but due to gluten sensitivities I've had to stop having it and I'm just not a fan of no-crust pies. I do have a GF pie crust mix, but I'll use that for a special occasion. Pumpkin is really very good for you. It's a nice bright orange squash, with the anti-oxidants alpha & beta-carotene, has plenty of fibre to keep things "moving", vitamins C and E, potassium and magnesium. Best of all, pumpkin does NOT have to be just a desert thing, I do lots of different things with pumpkin that are easy, quick and delicious (if you like pumpkin of course). I'll post those another time :). (Oh, I feed it to my dogs and cats too, very good for them and they love it.)


I'm lazy, I sort of have reason to be lazy, but the truth of it is, I'm still lazy, so I use canned pumpkin. Maybe, just maybe, next autumn, when pumpkin is cheap cheap I'll can my own, maybe. Make sure you buy pure pumpkin, NOT pumpkin pie filling and read the ingredients to be sure it is 100% PURE Pumpkin (sorry to repeat myself, but it's important)! I actually buy No Name® or E.D. Smith® canned pumpkin, depending on the size of can I want and which is on sale. I always have several of both the 398ml (14oz.) and the 796ml (28oz) cans in my pantry. I also use brown rice for well... everything, as it is healthier than white. I tend to make a lot as we like our rice, so I make sure there is enough leftover for rice pudding. Let's get on with it....


Pumpkin Rice Pudding - Gluten Free


Ingredients
700ml (3 c.) Cooked, brown rice
1- 796ml (28 oz) can of 100% pure pumpkin
475 ml (2 c.) Almond Breeze® -unsweetened, original
                  (coconut milk or even 3.25% cow's milk works too)
10 ml (2 tsp) Pumpkin pie spice (or to taste)
120 ml (1/2 c.) Maple syrup
30 ml (2 tbsp.) frozen orange juice concentrate (do not add water)
5 ml (1 tsp.) pure vanilla extract

Directions
In a large saucepan, combine rice, pumpkin, Almond Breeze®, pumpkin pie spice, & orange juice concentrate. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is absorbed, about 30-40 minutes. Remove from heat.
Add the vanilla extract (more if you like vanilla) and stir well.
Serve warm, top with vanilla or Balkan yogurt and drizzle some more maple syrup over if desired.

I've stored my leftovers in a glass jar in the refrigerator, other similar recipes indicate it keeps up to two days, if it lasts that long without getting eaten, I'll let you know :). I really loved this as a healthy, almost bed time, snack (I try not to eat too close to actually going to bed).

If you try it, let me know what you think. I'd also love to hear of any variations or additions you've made and enjoyed.

Love & prayers,

~Miss Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **


ps. I've finally uploaded a photo, go me *\o/* lol. I topped the rice with a big spoonful of Balkan plain yoghurt, sprinkled cinnamon on it and drizzled about a tbsp. of maple syrup.... soooo yummy!

Just Another Speed Bump....

Oh goody, a new format to confuse me with, not that confusing me is all that difficult ;).

Now, why am I here today? Oh yes, trying to get back into writing, amongst other things. I know how much my readers miss me ;) (Or miss having some nice dull material for nights when insomnia hits). If you've been following me for any resemblance of time, you probably know I'm a wee bit scatterbrained, just a bit :D, and I have issues sticking to things; the health end of it doesn't help but sometimes I confess I use it as a crutch. FMS and CFS are real, it is frustrating to live with, it can be debilitating, but I've spent so many years feeling yucky, and tired, and in pain and just plain ill that even on good days I have no idea where to start.

With the help of some very amazing and strong and supportive friends and some well deserved kicks in the rear I was ready this week, both mentally and physically, to attack some much needed projects. I set up to go ColdTurkey with the internet (getcoldturkey), I made a list, I told people I was busy this week and couldn't play my iPhone games, couldn't visit, I needed to focus. And then I got sick. First it was food poisoning, something I've rarely been afflicted with thankfully. Then it went from bad to worse, I don't want to go into what I'm ill with but suffice to say it threw a great big monkey wrench into my plans. Fatigued, wanting to sleep all day, my FMS flared up as it does when I'm afflicted with a bad virus so I was in constant pain and I started to slide into depression as my plans were once again foiled with things far beyond my control.

The fibro fog set in and I couldn't think clearly , I became very downhearted and frustrated. Not just for the lack of being able to continue with my plans, but I felt I was letting people down; letting my kids down, letting my mom down and letting my friends down. Then, I reached out to a friend, and very gently, she took me (figuratively) by the hand (or was it dragging me by the ear? lol) and helped me take control of the things I could control. Like simple meal planning to make it easier for me while I heal, making sure I got the medications I needed once some money came in, taking other steps to help me heal faster, and just focus on resting and getting better.

I am not sharing all this to vent, my dearest friend got the brunt of that and she dealt with it (me?) admirably. While there are things in our lives we cannot control, we can work around and even with them. We, and by 'we' I really mean 'I', need to remind ourselves of this often and regularly, we need to keep in mind that the speed bumps are what make us strong and that our friends are there to push us over those, so in turn, when they hit a speed bump, we can be strong enough to help them.

Love & prayers,

~Miss Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

Some Business 101

I had expected that I'd write far more about the struggle of consumer rights against big business than I did. Another one of those things on my todo list that never happened, but I will give a quick synopsis before moving on.

We won a single battle (not the campaign) in that the company in question reversed the disagreeable changes that had destroyed the fun in the game, this AFTER 100's of emails were sent, forum topics started and shut down and finally a worldwide 24-hour blackout staged by the players. I have no idea how many actually took part in the blackout, but the word was those that didn't, found the games to be quite deserted. Quite honestly, it still boggles my mind the ripples that were caused by my one little stand, I'm no hero, I'm not a political activist or a lawyer, I'm one person, a SAHM, I believe in being treated with respect, that's it. A quick comment here on my view on capitalism, I have no desire to put any company out of business, I understand the need to make money for R&D, to pay the bills & the employees, I wouldn't play the games at all if they were bad games, but there are business practices that are fair and there are those that are unfair, and when money is literally being stolen from people, I'm sorry, that is very bad business. When a company doesn't listen to the customer - also very bad business.

The campaign for a fair product is still a process that continues to be ignored. This game development company continues to ignore the requests of their end users; is it really so hard to install a confirm purchase button to prevent unexpected charges to credit cards and to ask for sensible prices for in-app purchases? Who is going to pay $50 just to make their fake farm bigger?? Is it illogical to consider that if you do choose to make a purchase that you should no longer be spammed with advertisements? Is it unreasonable to want to protect ourselves on-line? For nearly a year players have requested a block feature to prevent cyber bullying, which I myself have experienced on the games. I have seen good people, paying customers, quit because they were so poorly treated by these "trolls" with no real way to protect themselves. These are realistic requests and have been on the "wish list" of players since not long after the games were made available; a free app that is decidedly NOT free (some have spent 100's and even 1000's of dollars), if you play any of these on-line simulation games will understand what I mean.

I was reluctant to outright share the name of the company, I like the games, they are fun games and really, they're quite clever. But last I checked we do have freedom of speech and I'm not saying actually anything against the company, just suggesting that perhaps they remember the age old business adage, the customer is always(usually) right. So TeamLava (developer team for Storm8), what say you? Maybe time to hire a customer representative... that actually listens to the customer.

Cheers,

~Miss Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

Odd choices....

Something that's always important to me is to stand up to the injustices in the world, even the small ones that some people don't think matter. But why don't they matter? If something is making someone unhappy, or many people unhappy, it matters! So unexpectedly to me, after a long absence, my next few posts will be something many of my original followers will not quite "get" and completely of topic from anything else I've written about.

I needed a central place to send people for information. The people I'm hoping will come are those that play games with me, literally lol. I have become, for lack of a better word, addicted to a certain genre of game on my iPhone. Not because of the game, but because of the lovely people I've been blessed to meet on there. The developers are not customer friendly, there are loads of glitches, it's time consuming, and if you're not careful it can get expensive. But the people we meet, they're awesome!

So recently the developers/owners of this line of games made some very huge changes without notifying their customers. Nothing, no warning, no notice, people just slowly realised things weren't quite right. The word got around, players got upset, we went on the forums, some sent emails, to no avail. So I've taken up the cause, to stand up and encourage others to make a stand as well. Together we'll either make a small change in the world, or we'll walk away knowing we did our best, and having made many more wonderful friends in the process. Wish us luck please!!

Love & prayers,

~Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

Monday Motivation: Simplicity

This week's Monday Motivation is brought to you by Tuesday. You see, Monday was a holiday here, Labour Day in fact, as it was for the rest of Canada, the US and a few others I believe but I'm too lazy to check into that right at this moment. Because of the holiday, Tuesday feels like Monday so I'm going to just go with that skip Tuesday altogether and we'll go straight to Wednesday tomorrow. Yes, my logic is a little twisted, but if you've known me for any amount of time I'm sure you've already come to the conclusion that I can be a little twisted ;).

To be perfectly honest I'm not feeling terribly motivated today at all. I'm crispy fried from the weekend and far too much time in the sun (my own fault) with no hat and no sunscreen, possibly some sun/heat stroke and it's Monday (in a Tuesday sort of way) and I just want to lay down and do nothing. My biggest frustration and what leaves me feeling utterly overwhelmed is clutter; I need to find a way out of the clutter and into simplicity but each time I try to start I throw up my hands and cry out, "I can't, it's too much for one person". But I need to find a way to push past the, "I can't" and show myself that I most definitely can. Anyone else find themselves frustrated this way? Have you found a way out of the rut? Please feel free to share.

Love & prayers,

~Miss Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

Monday Motivation: Give 'em Attitude

With my second official photography shoot nearly behind me (just a few more images to process) I've taken away quite a few lessons that I won't soon forget. While I've been upset to the point of tears, hurt, and so angry I was shaking I am glad I'm learning sooner rather than later as I can move forward with even more confidence. There will always be people that take advantage, try to walk all over you and think that treating you like garbage makes them somehow right, but in the end we teach others how to treat us and I am not garbage so I will not let anyone treat me like garbage.

It's all about attitude and confidence. Others can justify their behaviour if they choose but I know, with full confidence, that I have behaved in a fair and professional manner and will continue to do so. I cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way but I do choose how I react to them. I cannot change that sometimes things don't go the way I hope or plan, but I am adaptable. Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% how we react. I am in charge of me and my attitude and I will continue to move forward into the world of professional photography with my head held high and a few good lessons tucked under my belt for good measure.

What lessons in attitude have you learned recently? Do you feel you reacted well, or maybe not so great but  learned what not to do for next time? We teach others how to treat us, together let's teach them that we are not garbage, because God don't make junk! Have a great week my friends!

Love & prayers,

~Shannon **  ƸӜƷ  **

ps. Please join me on my new facebook page Ordinary Miracles Photography and on twitter :)

Monday Motivation: Goals & Pipe Dreams

I was planning a different post today, yesterday I was planning this one but it didn't get written. That's kind of how I roll. I think I'm going to do something, I change my mind, then I change it again, then something else forces me to change it to something else and I end up arriving somewhere completely different than I expected. Good thing I'm flexible, but please don't ask me to touch my toes!

It's been awhile, did you miss me? I hope so because I've missed you and I've missed writing but I've  been so busy and then in recovery from being so busy that I've not had time to barely think about writing. I'm hoping this will get back to being a regular thing and maybe, just maybe because I'm not so good with schedules, I will have this whole theme thing going, Monday Motivation. Has a fun ring to it, don't you think? ♪Yes, I really do think.♫ Sorry, I've got this thing, where a phrase will remind me of a song, and then I start singing the phrase, then the entire song, then I find the song if I have it and play it at least five times. Drives my boys crazy, and now that I know it drives them crazy, naturally I do it even more, mwahahahaha! I know, I'm an evil mum, say no more. (Scrambling to figure out why I don't have Alanis Morissette in my iTunes list... grrrr)

I digress (hmmm, not me). Today's Monday Motivation is Goals & Pipe Dreams. I know, you're surprised aren't you? That title is very misleading. A few days ago I was reading this blog (which is not at all about goals but kinda fits and is very helpful, really) and it occurred to me that I'd always thought I had lots of goals, and while I know you're "supposed" to put them in writing and create "SMART" and "KISS" goals, I always figured, well they're in my head, I know what my goals are. I think about them enough. In fact, I think about them so much we're intimate friends. But what I've come to realise (and probably already knew but tried to ignore) is the ideas in my head, those are pipe dreams, and until I get those goals out in the open, in black in white and in my face so to speak, they will remain as pipe dreams. Pipe dreams are great, we need them, they keep us creative and give us hope but some of these things I really want to see come to fruition. So it's time to start not just thinking about my goals, but putting those little suckers down in writing.

I'm going to start small based on my priorities and creating the list using the Six Most Important Things idea (I'll blog about this later). So, yada yada, so on & so forth, here is what I want to accomplish this week:

1. Family: Play with my boys in some manner at least 90 minutes every day. Not electronic play or watching movies, but real play; lego, drawing, watching them do one of their plays, geocaching. And it doesn't have to be all at once but I do want to spend at least 90 minutes with them.
2. Health: Walk at least 4 miles outside & continue healthy eating plan. Break up the walking over the week of course and it doesn't have to be power walking or even brisk walking but something that at least gets my heart rate up a bit. Lots of healthy fluid (this does NOT have to be only water but should avoid soda pop and coffee), veggies, fruit, protein and some whole grains. If I indulge in a small treat, don't beat myself up but don't let it sidetrack.
3. Home: Plan and start 31 Bags in 31 days challenge (or something to that effect). Include the boys and find larger items to sell online.
4. Finance: Submit 2010 tax return, complete budget. (Actually got my tax return submitted yesterday *big grin* lol).
5. Business: Finalise post processing of photos & deliver. Including updating flicker, 500px, blogger & perhaps looking at business cards & website.
6. Goals: Find an accountability partner, or team. Would you like to join me?? We don't have to have the same goals, but provide encouragement and support. Come to the dark side, we have cookies ;-).

 Tag, you're it!

~ Shannon *Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*

Source: backtoherroots.com via Shannon on Pinterest

Simple Pleasures

Once upon a time there was a young woman. She had two small boys, lived in a small, rented condo and had very little to call her own besides that. But this young woman found pleasure in the simplest things, the smell after a rain fall, watching her boys grow and learn, a good workout, a good mark on a college paper, and her quiet time at the end of the day. This was the time when the boys were tucked in for the night, she would turn on her favourite music, often James Taylor, lay on the rug on the floor and just relax to the sound of the music.

The years accumulated, the young woman started moving towards middle age, she had two more boys. Then her illness started to really take its toll on her body, life became terribly complicated, she lost a marriage, her first two boys grew up and her body was so very very tired and in pain and she forgot the little pleasures in life. Physically, mentally, spiritually and financially broken she questioned why her life had come to this chapter.

One spring, as she leaned back in her chair, feet up, listening again to Mr. Taylor, she realised that the memories of enjoying the simple things in life were returning. Despite all the trials and tribulations, she was indeed very blessed in her life, a sound roof over their head where she can watch her younger two boys grow and learn, listen to the gentle rain, and able to enjoy the sounds of the country life mingled with the music that makes her heart smile.

Today, may you remember the simple pleasures and the abundant blessings of life and always remember, you've got a friend.

~ Shannon *Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*

Babysteps, Patience and Goals, oh my.....

I've been having a conversation with a lovely lady I met via an FM/ME CFS group on facebook, you can find Cynthia's very creative blog, "Creative ARTitudes", here. On Cynthia's facebook fan page she was asking her readers about methods for scheduling and tracking systems that they found effective and I thought it really lends itself well to what I wanted to post about today, babysteps.

Babysteps are VERY hard for me! I don't mean, "oh it'd be nice if I could just do it and it'd be done", but it drives me absolutely crazy(er) that I can't just do it and be done! Do what you ask? Anything and everything! A good example, I want a perfect website with the perfect URL, stunning and attractive design, pages for all the passions in my life and my blog, something that will have readers signing up in droves begging for more Ducky-isms, and I want it done YESTERDAY! Everyone likes to see their passions come to fruition, but if you throw in ADD, well patience may be a virtue but it's nearly improbable for those of us with this lovely challenge in our lives. And of course add to that I have FM (fibromyalgia) and CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) (and a multitude of other nonsense) making things (namely me) move even slower and thus increasing my frustrations. BUT one thing I have that none of this has taken away from me is HOPE and DREAMS and if babysteps will eventually get me to realise these, then I will continue to plug along despite my lack of patience.

So, step one, goals. What are my goals and what can I do to reach those goals? My big picture goal, to see this blog turn into a website that is helpful and informative for those that share some or even all of my passions (oddly enough I do find that it's true, birds of a feather do flock together - I do wish the magpies would stop pooping on my deck though - literally and figuratively). Big goals are great but all too often we set them with no plan of action and with no little goals to help buoy our spirits and keep us going along the way, then we find ourselves stuck, giving up and feeling like a failure. So my first babystep goals are, amalgamate all my blogs together in one place, publish a new article at least 3-4x a week, publish photos in at least 2 of those articles. Sounds simple enough :).

I would love to hear from my readers, what works for you to keep you on schedule and to keep track of all your ideas? What helps you reach your goals?

As always, sending my prayers and blessings,

~ Shannon *Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*

Oops.....

Okay, okay, I know in my last post I'd wrote this long explanation of why my blog title, "And now these words from our sponsor..." was fitting, sort of. But to be perfectly honest with you, I never quite felt like that was what I was looking for. Besides, isn't it a woman's prerogative to change her mind? ;)

A few days ago a friend posted a link to his blog. I bemusedly read his recent entry and then I had one of those light bulb moments. Or more commonly known these days as a "headdesk", whereupon the individual bangs their head repeatedly on the desk all the while repeating the mantra, "DUH!!!!" The posting itself, although very interesting, had absolutely nothing to do with this epiphany, but rather his blog title, DanOCan.com

In the world of forums and geocaching and other such interesting geek activities that I enjoy taking part in, I am known as Just Ducky, or Ducky for short. Only online mind you, not that I'd not mind being called Ducky as a nickname, after all it is my fondness for all things "duck" that brought about the moniker to begin with. Anyway, I digress, Dan, is known as DanOCan and I began thinking about that. I really quite like Just Ducky, it's not uncommon, but still clever enough and I think it suits me. So, after consideration, and some quick research, my new, and hopefully permanent, blog title was born.

I would like to formally welcome you to my blog,

"Well isn't that Just Ducky !!"

~ Shannon *Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*