As we bid adieu to Summer, I’d like to reflect on how much confidence I’ve gained.  Months ago, I would have never dared venture out with mismatched socks.  Now, I say, “Oh, well.”

Wait!  Horror of horrors, my feet appear to be attached to cankles!  Confidence shattered, I count the days until Summer 2018. #CannotArriveTooSoon

On a trip to Target, I needed to pick up a prescription, so I sent my three boys off to look at the new Star Wars merchandise.  A few minutes later, with Rx in hand, I started strolling toward the StarWarsapalooza aisle.

Half the store away, I could hear their banter.  Not entirely disruptive.  Not being bad.  Just happy.  Happy and loud.  Teasing each other.  Being playful.  Interacting supremely silly.  Being kids.

Sure, they were a little beyond the norms.  Sure, they were a bit energized.  A tad wild?  Just a small tad and maybe just an indication that I need to work on further control, but they were happy.  Genuinely happy and that’s something really good, no matter the volume.

CARAMEL CHIP COOKIES

“Yummy new flavor of Hershey’s baking chips, but out of butter?  Oh, no!  Oh, yes!  This recipes uses Crisco and your taste buds will not be disappointed.  The rich caramel flavor in these baking chips are highlighted in every bite.  Thank you, Hershey!  Thank you, Sea Salt Caramel!  Thank you, backup plan!  Enjoy!”

1 cup Crisco

1/2 cup Sugar

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

2 Eggs

1 1/2 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Salt

2 cups Quick Cooking Oats

1 package Hershey’s Sea Salt Caramel Baking Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream Crisco, sugar, and brown sugar.

Mix in the vanilla extract and eggs.

Mix in the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Mix in the oats.

Mix in the caramel baking chips.

Drop by rounded Tablespoons onto parchment paper lined baking sheets.

Bake for 8 minutes or until the bottoms have browned.

Place baking sheets onto wire cooling racks.

Let rest on baking sheets for 5 minutes.

Remove cookies and place on cooling racks until ready to eat.

Makes about 60 cookies.

Revised Source:  “Hillary Clinton’s Chocolate Chip Cookies” recipe found on page 4 of my cookie cookbook, “Today is a Great Day for a Cookie,” which as always is available for free download at www.CookiesbyDave.com.

That moment of dread, dread when you step on the scale following vacation.

Watching the numbers spin and finally settle, I grinned.  Unexpected delight filled me.  Down two and a half pounds.

I guess getting lost while hiking has at least one benefit or in this case two and a half.

Oh where, oh where did my little trail go?

CRUNCHY SOY BUTTER COOKIES

“Do you have someone that you love, who cannot eat peanuts?  Do you love peanut butter cookies?  How to reconcile?  I’m here to help.  Get your taste buds ready, grab a jar of soy butter, and enjoy!”

1/2 cup Butter

1 jar Crunchy Soy Butter

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 3/4 cups Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Salt

Sugar for topping

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the butter, cookie butter, and brown sugar.

Mix in the egg.

Mix in the flour, baking powder, and salt.

Take a Tablespoon sized ball of dough and roll in sugar.

Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Take a fork and make the classic “Peanut Butter Cookie” crosswise pattern in the dough.

Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove from oven, place on a wire rack, and cool for 5 minutes.

Makes about 56 cookies.

Revised Source:  My friend Jan Bishop’s recipe for “Jan’s Favorite Peanut Butter Cookies,” which she made more my 40th Birthday.

Revised Source (me):  “Cookie Butter Cookies” – Cookie of the Night (08/05/17) at www.CookiesbyDave.com or at http://cookiesbydave.com/cookie-butter-cookies-cookie-of-the-night-080517/

Provided with love by my beloved sister, Kathy Carlin, who surprised me with a jar of crunchy soy butter for my birthday and an idea for a new cookie.  May all of your good ideas (and cookie innovations) come true.

Clever – When you decide to mail back your 27 pound bag full of metal using a Flat Rate box.

Doubting Your Cleverness – When you question yourself for mailing 27 pounds of metal in the first place.

Not So Clever After All – When you receive the box and from the look of it, mailing that metal might not have been such a great idea.

Paper is supposed to beat rock.

When you just finished hiking mile after rugged mile through the Rocky Mountains and you almost fall on your face, while stepping off a curb.  That’s when you start to doubt your prowess.

Thank you for the compliment, Manhole Cover, but please have a talk with your friend, The Curb.

You know the trail has grown questionable.

You know the way forward is unclear.

You know this when the boy who has trouble restraining himself (me) agrees to turn around when confronted by a recent rockslide.

Great job, Dave.  You are getting to be such a big boy.

When you spend the day hiking and become a tad bit delirious, that’s when you see…

A Collection of Bones

Then you see a Bunny

Then you start running, because that rabbit must have sharp pointy teeth.  That must be it.

Is there something worse than bad coffee in the morning?  Yep, when a street sign openly mocks your friend and you.

Hey, sign listen up.  Words hurt.  Plus, in this case it’s plural.  Get it right next time.