Hello from Cyndi Kinney! Yes, I'm a red head, and I tend to ramble. Most of my "ramblings" are quite random and quite opinionated, so enter at your own risk! I'm a homeschool mom who loves to stay in her PJ's and doesn't wear denim jumpers. I'm also the owner of Knowledge Box Central!
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Posted By Cyndi on January 26, 2010
Finally, I finished this cake. It’s not pretty as the one in my previous post……but……it tastes good! Here is a picture:
King Cake - Finished!
Then….right before I finished it, my husband and daughter walked in the door. Guess what they had with them? A King Cake from the BEST King Cake Bakery in Louisiana. How dare they????
But….my mom and aunt tried mine and said it was BETTER than the one from the bakery!!
Posted By Cyndi on January 26, 2010
Yesterday, I shared some Mardi Gras links and recipes with you. Also, I started making my King Cake. I mixed up the dough and had to let it rise for an hour. I was having trouble getting it to rise because my house was SO COLD! So, I moved the dough into the bathroom, near a heater. Then, the dough went into the frig overnight.
This morning, I mixed up the pecan filling (YUMMY!!). Then, I rolled out the dough, spread the filling, rolled it back up, and formed the King Cake shape. Now, it is sitting for 45 minutes to rise some more….then it’s off to the oven!
I’ll post these pictures of what I did this morning. When it’s finished, I’ll post that picture too!
Happy Mardi Gras!
Rolling out the dough!
Pecan Filling
Rolling UP the dough
Forming the King Cake shape
So….sometime later today, I should be posting pictures of the finished product!
Posted By Cyndi on January 25, 2010
Most of you know that we live in Louisiana. Mardi Gras is a traditional celebration around here. There are many things about Mardi Gras that we DON’T celebrate….but there are a lot of really fun times to be had during this celebration! Click HERE for more information about Mardi Gras.
One of our favorite traditions during this time of year is King Cake. There is a very interesting story behind the King Cake and why we place a tiny plastic baby inside the cake. Click HERE to read about this tradition. (Scroll down, and you’ll see several topics on which you can click)
Over the past few years, we have purchased our King Cakes; however, when we lived in New Orleans years ago, I had an amazing recipe that I used to make my own. Unfortunately, I have lost that recipe. So, I looked on a website where I get a lot of my cajun recipes, and I am trying their King Cake recipe today! Click HERE for the recipe. This is a picture of the one on the recipe’s website:
If you would rather use a REALLY easy recipe that only takes less than an hour, try THIS one, made with a can of cinnamon rolls. It’s really great!
I mixed it all up and am waiting for the dough to rise, and then it will go into the refrigerator overnight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll make the pecan filling, roll out the dough, bake the cake, and decorate it.
I just went to check on the dough….and it doesn’t look like it is rising. Hmmm….not sure what is going on. I just moved it into a warmer room, so hopefully, it will rise now.
Tomorrow, I’ll post pictures of the finished King Cake. I hope everyone enjoys learning more about Mardi Gras!!
If you make one, let me know!
Posted By Cyndi on January 23, 2010
Yesterday, I went in for the other tests. They did a “Carotid Doppler Study,” and an ultrasound of my abdomen (primarily liver). Of course, the tech said that she couldn’t tell me anything and that I would have to wait until everything was read by the Radiologist….which would take “a few days.” So….i end up doing my favorite (NOT) thing in the world AGAIN….WAITING!!! Ugh!
Today, I feel horrible. I have so much tenderness over my liver (right upper side of abdomen). I am nauseated, have ery little appetite, and am so fatigued that I feel like I’ve run a marathon after walking up the stairs only once. I haven’t had anymore of the “garbled speech” episodes though, so that’s a blessing.
Whining seems to be my middle name lately…..and it really isn’t like me. Or maybe it is now….who knows.
I appreciate so much all of the wonderful emails and Facebook comments. Your encouragement and prayers have been such blessings.
I’ll post more when I know more. My husband has an appointment with the same doctor on Monday….so I’m hoping that she might tell him something then.
Posted By Cyndi on January 22, 2010
Most of you know about my mother’s dog, Chloe. We nicknamed her Princess Chloe because they have her SO spoiled. Anyway…..Princess Chloe has been entered in a photo contest.
PLEASE go and vote. In this contest, you can only vote ONCE each week. Today, voting opens up for the following week. So….you have to create a “log in,” but it’s free and only takes a few minutes.
Just click on the button below Chloe’s picture to go and VOTE! The link will take you to a page where you create a “log in.” Then after you do that, it will take you to the home page, where you can click put “Princess Chloe” in the search bar, and it will show her picture. Leave me a comment and let me know that you voted!
Princess Chloe - Photo Contest
Posted By Cyndi on January 19, 2010
Hi. Well, my doctor just called, and she said that the CT of my brain was normal! So….contrary to popular belief….I do have a brain, and it isn’t damaged!! LOL!
She said that my Liver Function Studies were still abnormal, with the ALT and AST being too high. I am going to look this up and see if I can diagnose myself! LOL! She said it could be anything….cancer, hepatitis, retained gallstone (gallbladder was taken out in 1997), fatty infiltration (I think this means I’m too fat), etc.
She said that she wants me to come into her office for a Carotid Doppler Study (to look at the major arteries in my neck and make sure there is no blockage, which could cause a stroke) and an ultrasound of my abdomen, primarily looking at my liver.
So…..I feel a little better - no aneurysm or brain tumor. However…I’m not very excited about the liver thing……
Posted By Cyndi on January 18, 2010
So….here is how my daughter and her friends have fun out here in the woods after it rains…….
Redneck Kneeboarding….
Posted By Cyndi on January 18, 2010
A few weeks ago, I had a strange episode. I was driving down my road, and suddenly couldn’t say what I was trying to say. It was the weirdest feeling. I knew what I was trying to say…..but somewhere between my brain and my mouth, it just wasn’t happening. the sounds coming out of my mouth wouldn’t even qualify as ‘words,” in my opinion. At the same time, my hand was feeling numb, and I had a headache behind my eye.
I tried to ignore it….and then it happened again while my husband, daughter, and I were eating at a restaurant.
Last week, I went to see my doctor and explained what had happened. She seemed alarmed…. Now, when your doctor seems alarmed by your symptoms, that doesn’t exactly put you at ease, now does it?? She then proceeded to tell me that the last time she drew blood for lab work, my Liver Function Studies were abnormal……and that someone “should have called.” Well, guess what?? THEY DIDN’T!!!
So, she repeated the blood work and then scheduled me for a CT scan of my brain. The blood work was done that day, and the CT scan was done today.
So….here I sit……waiting for results from all of it.
It would be safe for you to assume that patience is NOT a virtue that I seem to possess. I don’t know whether to be glad the tests are over…..or be mad because they forgot to call me after the first blood work came back abnormal….or to worry and freak out over the possibilities of the diagnosis.
Hmmm…what could it be? It could be a brain aneurysm, brain tumor, stroke, some horrible syndrome that I can’t even pronounce…… And the liver? Hmmm…..that could be a liver tumor, hepatitis, liver failure….and many other unpronouncable diseases.
Patience……….PLEASE pay me a visit……….. I know that God is in control and that He is the Great Physician. However, that doesn’t keep me from being afraid of the possibilities. I know that it should….but I’m being honest here…it doesn’t.
So, here I STILL sit….waiting…
Posted By Cyndi on January 14, 2010
Ok…..My mom is hilarious! First….she was just on the phone with Verizon Wireless, trying to activate a phone. So, she asked my aunt to come in and take the back cover off of the phone so she could “see the ESPN number.” Wow! I think you meant SN number….as in “serial number.” Hilarious.
Then, my daughter just informed me of a new item that Mom bought for Princess Chloe today. You are never going to believe this. Seriously.
Are you ready?
She bought Princess Chloe a CAR SEAT! Oh My!!! You have GOT to be kidding me!!!
Now, everyone knows that I love my mom…….and that this is a running joke around here….and she LOVES it! No worries….
Posted By Cyndi on January 13, 2010
Have you ever had a “friend” who decided that she would move on and find other friends………….but then felt the need to say bad things about you or try to embarrass you in front of people? Jealousy among friends is so ugly….especially when these friends claim to be Christians. Why is it that we can’t just be happy for other people’s successes? Wouldn’t it be healthier for our hearts and spirits if we just celebrate when others are receiving blessings from God………..instead of worrying that is isn’t fair?
It is all that I can do to try and keep my heart in the right place when this happens. I know that I should forgive….even though this continues to happen. I have to forgive everyday. Again and again. Even if the other person doesn’t apologize. Wow…that’s hard. I don’t know if I’m big enough….or spiritual enough….
God, grant me the strength to turn the other cheek. Please help me to let go of bitterness.
Why does this have to be so hard?
