Short Cake Biscuit Recipe

Short Cake Biscuit Recipe by the Crazy Soul

Short Cake Biscuits-

4 cups flour                                    1 tsp salt

4 tsp baking powder                     1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar                                   1 ½ cup milk

   Combine dry ingredients together (sifted is best). Cut in butter. Add milk. Mix well but not over stirring. Roll out and cut to rounds about 3”. Bake at 400 for 15 to 20 minutes or gold brown. Makes about 12 to 14. 

**This has been a favorite of the Crazy soul family for years. A simple fix’n but so good. Biscuits and gravy is a thing for most of us. Enjoy their friends and please pass this along to others so they too can say “Y’all pass me another biscuit”!

And I will make you fishers of men........

And I will make you fishers of men......

 Mathew 4:19 And he saith unto them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

~Life is a fragile balance

My address for a friend at his memorial service:

Normally I speak to groups of people under different circumstances about changing life directions and putting twelve steps to work with a little help from a Higher Power. It's difficult when your friends leave for the ultimate fishing adventure without you and ole Shawn is probably at the biggest heavenly lake with a mutual friend Henry reeling in the big one. Many of the people in Shawn's life have known him since he was born but I have to feel he and I knew each other long before that. My wife and I moved to Vernal a few years ago and after a few moves around the area landed in a church ward that we knew really no one. We went to a ward dinner party and you know being new and knowing no one just picked a spot at a table and started talking to somebody. Not long and this younger couple came. We introduced ourselves as D and Bonnie and somehow how things stuck on us being called Bonnie and Clyde. I grew out the stash once again just for you, Shawn. When we met, I had this look (a fu-man-chew) Since then I have had many a good time with him and at some point, some of those I will have to pen and blog about them. Even in moments of dire pain he had a way of getting me laughing. We would often laugh about life and the fun writings of one of our favorite writers in the world McManus. In the past few years his body wasn't cooperative but yet he still reached out as a fisher of men to many around the world. He urged them to connect with God and assured them that he is there and loves them. In spite of his own challenges he was quick to assure me he (himself-Shawn) was there for me if I ever needed a hand and that God is also there for me too. He told me that even on his rough days he felt God by his side helping him along. Until we meet again my brother from another mother, happy casting at the heavenly lake as you catch and reel in that big one.

A post from social media:

Life is a fragile balance that can easily start and end. Earth has lost and yet heaven has gained greatly. A fine fisherman of both men and fish left us yesterday. We knew each other only a short time in this life but yet we somehow knew we had met before this life. Our first meeting in this life was coined "Bonnie and Clyde". Shawn you are and will be greatly missed. To Shawn’s wife and young son, we love y'all.

**These have been slightly changed from the originals but not much.

~Where are you?

“Where are you? I’m here and ready.” Henry was a character and a half. Fisherman and joker of sorts. Mind you ole’ Henry was someone you didn’t meet every day. The fish feared him and teenagers hung around him. Church going people grew to love him once they got past his rough exterior. Ya see Henry had seen a few things in his life from the rough neighborhood, the military, and a bit of hard living. When I met him, he was all in to hanging with Jesus and being a fisher of men. We would be getting ready to go on an outing and there he was calling and saying “Hey, where are ya?” He was ready to go. I could always count on a reminder text and then a call. The fish would jump on to his hook. If you were head to the river, the lake, or any place fun or fishing was or even could happen he was in. He could always tell a great story and when he would tell of fishing and catching the big one, he was not exaggerating a bit because he could catch them. I was super saddened one afternoon not to long ago to hear about a tragedy at the lake with Henry. One more friend gone without me. Yeppers, another friend on the ultimate fishing adventure casting and hooking on to the big ones at that heavenly lake in paradise. He will be missed in this life greatly but he is hanging with Jesus and those fishers of men we know of old that cast their nets and filled their boat with fish and the souls of men. Happy fishing their buddy!

 Mathew 4:19 And he saith unto them, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

He lives today

He lives today

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. if you believe with your heart and soul please share with one friend today.

We are still in the ring

We are still in the ring

It would seem that the lock down of accounts has also hit the Crazy Soul. We are still here in the blog. However, the road leads us with this and where Facebook will end up with the “Notes from a crazy soul” page. The world we live in is getting super crazy and we will yet see it get more so as the good Bible and Book of Mormon tell us. We are still in the ring and battling life. Hug your families. God is real and loves us.

Chilling!

Do you ever think about some of the craziness of the way we go about living life? We race the clock only to try and relax when the rush of things is over. Chilling out is kind of a novelty to seventy percent of the world. How do you define chilling out also? For many it is feet up and sitting in front of a very big screen. Others maybe a good nap. Some reading an interesting article or book. Some others in a chair near a mountain lake or stream. Maybe even by a toasty warm fire with a loved one sharing a good blanket. Even the special kind of chilling out cuddles and hugs from a grandkid or four.

For many years we have been chilling out camping in the backcountry. Not always considered chilling out for some peeps in this life. We often spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars to go live like a nomad or homeless person in the hopes that we can connect with the earth and maybe reset our internal body clock. I have heard many comments on just this kind of activity. “No sleeping in the woods for me, there are bears and snakes out there, but there's no Wi-Fi, my skin and hair don't mix well with dirt and campfire smells, and so on. Then there is the flip side of the comments. Woke up early and the sun rise was just breathtaking, ate breakfast watching the deer and elk wandering past, caught the biggest one of them all today, and the best one, I haven't missed my alarm clock one bit.

They say even a bad day fishing beats a good day at work. I get that not everyone chills out with rod and reel but hopefully ya see the digs of it. So, what is it that gets your chill on? For some it maybe a combo thing with chill and thrill too. Yeah. Ya have to go there to be there. Rappelling a waterfall, catching a northern Pike and nearly breaking a pole, or jumping from a plane and trusting a sheet of fabric to let ya down slowly. Think of it may be riding the biggest rollercoaster or floating the lazy river. Skiing down a black diamond run in the steep and deep with untracked powder. Dropping off the K12 so to speak (so of you 80’s peeps may remember that one).

Take that time however you must and live life. If not, we only look back on things, we regret that we didn't do more fully than the things we do. Granted I have a few do’s that may have been a well you shouldn't have done that but I'm more guilted by why “dint's”. So, ski, fish, and yes even nap so you feel chilled and leave fewer what ifs.

Today is a key day.

Today is a key day.

Twelve Steps and God have changed many a soul for the better. By recognizing where the pain, and key issues are in life we come to understand ourselves and realize how and what changes us to be better. It never happens over night and in some cases takes us even years to truly and fully understand ourselves. The steps of change may seem to be written so simply but yet they can well be some of the most complexed things any soul may ever face.

 Climbing a rock face may seem easier than changing our thinking enough to make a better life for ourselves.  Never take for granted some of the best climbs are better with a secure anchor and not going at it free solo. Having a belayer with you in life is worth everything when you find yourself in a tight spot or two. With God as a belayer failing is not an option but soloing is certain failure, even death. Never underestimate how far you can go with heavens help. Don’t get me wrong the steps of recovery is possible for anyone that willing to pay the price to find sobriety and serenity.

Today is a key day for my personal recovery and it marks another year to chalk up as clean and sober. There have been many a peak, rock face, and canyon that have challenged me over the years but the twelve steps have been the hardest challenges of all. This past week I had another opportunity to speak to a Fireside (group of people gathered to hear a speaker) gathering and pass along to them the need to always climb in life with a belayer and a secure anchor. Life is also worth living is another pass along too, as I have a time or two been to some dark places of the soul. It may get hard and crazy at times but ending the story before its time is not a great way to finish a story. 

God is a master of life and in spite of some flaws we all may have does and always will love us. If you’re some of those that have fought the fight of recovery and are doing it, inspire others. Pass along to them there is hope and it is possible to overcome addictive vices and behaviors. Be so focused on Gods will that others will find him. God loves you and me! "One day at a time" and yes, "we can and do recover."

Papas favorite back country shepherds pie

*Papa’s back country Shepard’s pie*

1lb ground beef

1 onion

24 oz pasta sauce

16 oz mix veggies frozen

2- 4 oz packages Idahoan potatoes

Brown beef and onion and set aside. Make potatoes as directed. Steam veggies. Warm sauce. In 9x13 cake pan layer ingredients topping with the potatoes. Heat in oven until hot and the house smells awesome. Add the seasonings desired for the flavor you prefer in the beef. For easy clean up Papa uses one time use pans. Papas favorite flavor of potatoes is the four cheese. Enjoy!

**Best when made camping in a dutch oven