Favorite Salmon Recipe (The only one I've tried, actually...)

I actually grilled the salmon this time, instead of handing the prepared fillets off to my hubby to grill. I learned something.....apparently, one must always turn stuff on the grill a few times. The usually amazing salmon was a little blackened. We tried to enjoy it anyway.

Pepper Jelly and Soy Glazed Salmon (Better Homes and Gardens, Dawn Forsberg)

1 2 lb fresh or frozen salmon filet, about 1 inch thick
2/3 cup green jalapeño jelly
1/3 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
3 green onions, sliced
1 tblsp. grated fresh ginger
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil (I used olive oil instead)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup sliced fresh jalapeños

1. Thaw fish if frozen. Rinse and pat dry. In saucepan melt jelly over low heat, remove. Stir in next 7 ingredients. Place fish in shallow dish; pour mixture over fish. Cover; refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, turning fish occasionally.

2. Remove fish from marinade; reserve marinade. For charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around edge of grill. Test for medium heat in center of grill. Place fish on greased piece of heavy-duty foil in center of grill. Cover; grill 15 to 18 minutes or until fish flakes when tested with a fork...and don't forget to turn it once or twice! (For gas grill, adjust for indirect cooking. Grill over medium heat as above.)

3. Bring reserved marinade to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Drizzle over fish; sprinkle cilantro, peppers and green onions. Serves 8.

Tonight 18 Years Ago

It's 9:32. 18 years ago, right this minute, our phone rang in the little house we were renting. Chad had just gotten home from a 7th grade B team basketball game and a mom was calling, angry about something she perceived as unfair. She began the call with, "I know your wife is in labor, but this can't wait..."

The next morning, Chad and I drove to Midland, and as I regularly remind Dexter, the doctor ended 30 hours of exhausting, painful labor with a merciful emergency caesarian. My firstborn son arrived.

I can't believe it has been 18 years, five moves, and two more sons ago. Dexter and I grew up together. Before he was born, I was a self-centered daddy's girl, chafing against my role as a wife. I hope no one is thinking I haven't changed....I promise I have, a lot.

I was terrified of being a mom, of having a child that was just like me, of not loving my baby. I'd never really liked kids before. God certainly had a fertile piece of dirt to grow some character and fruits of the spirit.

I look back now with huge respect for Dexter having weathered my early mom years, and for God's grace in covering my shortcomings. Dexter, Derek and Dwight have been the biggest blessings for Chad and me. They are fun, challenging, and I love them to death. Thank you, Jesus.

Photo Coaster Tips

Source: thehappyhousewife.com via Kristi on Pinterest

The resin was tricky.  I know how much I loved this idea, so I wanted to pass on what I think would have made my project turn out better.

I bought the resin at Home Depot for around $15.  I bought my tiles for .35 each, and the prints for .28 each at WalMart.

The resin wasn't as smelly as I'd feared.  The instructions said to mix equal parts of the resin and hardener in a disposable container.  I recommend you use a different container for each batch.  I used a cough syrup measuring cup, but it wasn't large enough.This stuff is amazingly sticky and doesn't wash off with water.  I thought I could avoid getting it on my hands, but next time I will use disposable gloves.

I tried to wash my hands with soap and water, then nail polish remover, then canola oil, then about 10 more rounds of soap and water.  I think the oil helped some of it rub off on a towel.  I didn't have that much on me, but the resin was really, really sticky.  I even felt a little panicky about it.

The next tip is to pour a lot of resin on the tile, I'd say about an eighth of a cup.  It doesn't move much.  I spread it out with a piece of photo paper folded in half.  On three of them, I didn't pour enough.  I left gaps and a second coat added bumpiness.  I'm redoing those three.

The blog I read said they used a blowtorch to get rid of air bubbles but that a straw would work also.  I didn't have much luck with the straw.  I'm not sure what to recommend.

The last recommendation I'll make is not to work on a WalMart plastic sack that can somehow creep up and stick itself to the edge of one of the tiles.

 They need to dry for 24 hours.

Good luck!!