On the way back home from San Antonio more than 2 years ago, we stopped by at Cabela's shopping center in Buda, TX. This is a sports store and they sell items mostly for recreation, sports, camping, etc. What impressed me most about this store is that they have a mini zoo of different kinds of preserved animals. They have lions, tigers, deers, bears, elephants, zebras and a lot more. They call the preservation of these animals taxidermy. Whoever preserved those animals, they sure did a good job. I was so amazed and I kept taking photos of those different kinds of animals. They also put some artificial trees in the mini zoo and painted the background with a beautiful scenery which added beauty to the mini zoo. It's amazing!

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Just looking at these photos made me miss my exercise equipments. I had been using these almost everyday when we were still in Texas. I like to exercise because it's good to my body. Most of the time, after I was done with my blogging I rode my stationary bike and bike for about 15 to 20 minutes. While biking I was listening to my subliminal CD for peace and happiness to remove my stress for the day. After I'm done with my stationary bike I ride my power rider for about 15 to 20 minute too. I set my timer so I know when it's up. I tell you, after I'm done with my exercise, I feel a lot better. I feel renewed and I felt I gained more strength. I also walk in my treadmill during cold weather because it's cold to go out walking this time of the year.

When we moved out of the country, I can't take with me my exercise equipments so I gave it away to my friends. I gave the treadmill and power rider to my pastor's wife and my stationary bike to my step-daughter Shelly. If only the shipping is not that much, I could have shipped it here. Anyways, I bought a new stationary bike a couple of months ago but can't afford yet to buy a new treadmill and power rider.

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When I was in Texas, I tried to bake cookies for the first time. I've been baking cakes, muffins and bread but I never tried baking cookies. I thought of baking some home-made cookies because my hubby likes it. I baked oatmeal-butterscotch cookies and to my surprise they turned out good. They were not as good as those cookies that I've been eating though but they're still edible. Perhaps if I keep on baking cookies, I will get better. Good thing is, my hubby liked the cookies and he ate most of it.



Here's the recipe:

Sensibly Delicious Oatmeal-Butterscotch Cookies

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or grated peel of 1 orange
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 2/3 cups (11-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Butterscotch Morsels

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.
COMBINE flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in oats and morsels. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 7 to 8 minutes for chewy cookies or 9 to 10 minutes for crisp cookies. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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It's during fall season that the leaves of the trees change colors before they fall down. They change into different colors like orange, red, yellow and brown. It's really amazing how God created the four different seasons and we can see God's wonderful creation like the trees' foliage that change colors during this time of the year. As the poem say, "Poems are made by fools like me but only God can make a tree." We took these photos after we got off from the church on a Sunday last year in Wichita Falls, TX.

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Hubby and I have been missing the chicken and gravy at Chicken Express because their foods are really, really yummy. Other restaurants we've been to can't duplicate their chicken and gravy. Others come close but not as good. Well, the above photo was taken more than a year ago when hubby and I went to Alvarado to visit the kids. We stopped by at Chicken Express to have supper and as usual we ordered chicken tenders and I got mashed potatoes on the side while hubby got French fries. We really love their chicken and their gravy. It's a lot better than Golden Chick. We always go to Chicken Express every time we go to Alvarado. This is one of our favorite chicken restaurants.

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I was going through the videos that are in my camcorder and I thought of sharing one here taken at Lucy Park when our church had a picnic there June last year. It was my hubby who took this video and see how bad he took my video. Sometimes he cut my head and also his hands are shaky when he takes videos or photos. I always complain to him that my photos and videos are not that good when he's the one taking it. Who else would I ask to take pics or video of me except him so I can't really complain. Besides, he's the one who bought my camcorder and my digicam and I do love the man.

Find more reactive videos at coull.com

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It’s been 6 years since I first step foot in the so called land of the free and the home of the brave wherein most people in my country are dying to see. I still remember, my hubby and I left NAIA (the airport in Manila) at about 12:30 midnight. Before boarding the plane I was so excited and I told myself, America here I come, lol! Well, that was my first time to ride a plane and I had mixed feelings, nervous and excited. We had a smooth flight from Manila to Korea and I managed to have a little nap. We took the Korean airlines and we had a 7 hour layover in Korea. Oh my, that was a long wait for me. I was so eager to see USA.

Then finally we boarded the plane that will take us to Texas. It was a very long trip and the flight was not as smooth as the previous one. We encountered a lot of turbulence during the flight. At first I got so nervous, it feels like there was an earthquake inside the plane, lol! But after a while I got used to it and I got to enjoy the trip. The stewardees had served good food and hubby and I enjoyed it. I looked around the other passengers and some of them were sound asleep and some even laid down on the vacant seats. I wonder how they managed to sleep inside the plane. Maybe some of them travel by plane often and they got used to flying. But me, that was my first time and I can’t sleep while flying. Besides I got a lot of things in my head like what will my life be like in the US and I thought of my family that I left in the Philippines. Sure thing I gonna miss them.

Then after long hours of flying we were finally in the US territory. I was so excited to take a glimpse of how the US look like so I asked my hubby to exchange seat with me so I can sit by the window. I took a peek outside and all I’ve seen were trees and buildings. When we finally landed and got our baggage, hubby and I were in the lobby of DFW airport and there we were met by his 2 lovely daughters. I was glad to see them, my new family here. While we were on our way to the house I just kept looking around. I said to myself, so this is it, this is USA. I thank the Lord for bringing me here.

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...after more than a month of absence. The reason is our town didn't have internet connection because someone had stolen the phone cable once again. The other month we had the same problem and when the phone company restored our phone and internet, the thief had strike again after only 5 days since we got back our internet. I know it's not good to wish bad things to happen to other people but sometimes I can't help myself to think or wish that those thieves will be electricuted while trying to cut off the phone cable. It happened in Manila while a teenager was trying to steal the phone cable there. He was electricuted right there and then and died hanging up there. I just hope it will scare those other thieves who have heard the news.

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