Wow, it's looking different over here!

I leave for a few months, and look what's happened over here. The whole layout for my dashboard is different. I'm not sure I like. It would take a while to get used to it.

However, I don't have a while.

I have decided to take my blog over to tiffanyrott.wordpress.com.

I would love for you to come over and visit and let me know if there's anything that you think I should change. I'll be putting out the word that the blog exists on Monday, but I'd love to get some feedback before then.

Tiffany

I'm BAAAAaaaaack

After a very long haitus and a big decision on what was the best way to continue being able to post. I have solved the issue.

I would like to introduce you to Ace. Ace is my new netbook. I would show you a picture, but I don't have a working camera. However, as soon as I can I will introduce you properly.

Also, I will be posting some of the many pictures of this beautiful country (and Australia, too) as time allows.

It's good to be back. :)

Tiffany

30 Sleeps!

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30 Sleeps!

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Easy No-Bake Energy Bites

I love pinterest. It is an amazing explosion of ideas and tips to try.

One recipe I'd found a while ago was for Energy Bites. They intrigued me because I often don't have time for a good breakfast before going to school. These looked easy and are full of healthy ingredients (yes, chocoloate is most definitely healthy:). So I pinned them to my board and kind of forgot about them.

Then the past couple of days, I have been preparing to go back to school next week and came across the recipe. Yesterday I picked up the ingredients (There is a fun store here called The Bin Inn where they have items for sale in bulk, including flour, cereal, sugar, coconut, etc.) and last night I made it.

They are amazing! I just hope they last through the week. I know next time to make a double batch.

In case you want to try your hand at them, here is the recipe.

No-Bake Energy Bites

1 cup oats
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

*Mix all ingredients

*Refridgerate for 1 hour

*Roll into balls

*Enjoy!





Tiffany

PS That is not my photography, but they are definitely what inspired me to try them!

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Easy No-Bake Energy Bites

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Told you so. :)

I told you I would post more frequently.

But I mentioned a while ago an exciting event surrounding some writing.

Well, it is now time for me to introduce Teachable Moments. There are so many things that are going to be happening over there this year.

First of all my '09 NaNo novel will soon be ready for purchase on Amazon.

Also, I have been working on a couple of books that use a Proverb to tell their story.

And I am also writing a Preschool curriculum designed to be accomplished in short spurts, giving a homeschooling mom enough time to work with older students.

So keep your eye out over there! You never know what's going to show up next!

Tiffany

Kookaburras and Kangaroos and Koalas, Oh My!

We just returned from a week long vacation in Australia. We were visiting with some friends of my parents on Tamborine Mountain on the Gold Coast. It was absolutely breathtaking. The were kookaburras singing outside the window each morning.

We were also able to see a waterfall in a rain forest, visit the Movie World amusement park, and on the last day visit a park where we fed lorikeets, pet kangaroos, and held a koala.

My camera requested a break from all the pictures I took, so I'm granting it's request. Hopefully, I will be able to post them soon.

A week was definitely not long enough, but was a great appetizer. :)

Now that I am back, my posting should be getting back on schedule.

Tiffany

Edoras and pictures......

I thought I'd make up for all the pictureless posts by using this post to add a lot!

We made our way to Edoras on an official tour this past Saturday. We almost didn't go. The weather in Christchurch was awful, cold and wet without even a peek of blue sky. But we decided to press on and go to Mt. Sunday.

I also elected to wear an Eowyn costume I had made a few years ago. It was fun being able to stand up there dressed as the part.

We were so glad we did. The weather there was absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining and there were just enough clouds in the sky to add dimension to the place.

Right, now on to the good stuff.


Mt. Sunday (the place used for Edoras) is set in a valley. As you come over the mountain and see it for the first time, it really doesn't look like much. Set against the backdrop of much taller mountains, it actually looks like a tiny hill.
But then you start driving closer. And it starts looking bigger.

And then you are at the base and you realize that it is pretty big. It also sets in around this time that you had agreed to climb it. :)

The only natural thing to do when get ready to climb is to sit down for a rest first.

Then we made it to the top.....

And the view was breathtaking.

The nice thing about going on an official tour is that they bring props. Archery I'm comfortable with. Swords......not so much. :)

This is the view on the other side of the mount.

This is the view they used when Aragorn first sees Helm's Deep. Although Helm's Deep is actually a few hours drive away. :)

Dad had fun with Aragorn's sword.

And he got to hold up the Rohanian flag.

Afterwards we had a delightful lunch at a lodge nearby and then made the almost two hour journey back to Christchurch.

The beauty here in New Zealand is breathtaking and I wanted a panoramic camera the whole way up.

Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Tiffany

Just.....Stuff

I thought I might post an update on my visa. But then I realized that I don't have an update on my visa.

So I thought I might post an update on pictures joining my posts. But I don't really have an update there either. I have found a device that will copy pictures from the card in my camera right into my iPad, but I am waiting to get it from the States.

So then I thought I might post an update on my writing adventures. But I don't really have an update there either. I mean things are progressing forward, but still no dates or anything to announce.

So finally I thought I would post an update about the earthquakes because there are always updates about earthquakes.

So here is my update:

We have had many aftershocks since December 23rd. Our family was at the camp for the really big ones, but we had a good sized one (4.8) two mornings ago.

So there you have it. I hope this has been an enlightening update(less) post. ;)

Tiffany

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HELP!

I need your help.

I am in the process of writing a monodrama (a performance by one person) about the life of Jane Austen. It has been fun researching and planning and I am really excited to move onto the writing stage.

However, this is where I need your help. I am torn between writing the whole thing from Cassandra's (Jane Austen) point of view and writing it in more of a play format with multiple characters (Jane, Cassandra, their mother and brothers, etc.).

So, what do you think? Which do you think would be more interesting and communicate her story better?

Tiffany

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So, I am not a......

Camper. Dad was invited to be the morning speaker for our denomination's family camp this last week. It was held at a camp on the north island. Our family was fortunate to have a little cabin to ourselves. Fortunate in that we weren't in a tent. :)

It was a wonderful weekend full of biblical teaching, friend making, talent show performing, and family relating.

However, by the third day I had realized that I was not a camper. I don't enjoy having to chase the outdoors from indoors. I don't enjoy sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the kitchenette. I don't enjoy the muggy stickiness of hot a humid days with no air conditioning. I don't enjoy having to check each room I enter to make sure that there are no spiders already inhabiting it. Like I said, I am not a camper.

Just to make sure you understand, the camp itself was lovely. The people were amazing. I met some lovely new friends. And the teaching was amazing (not just Dad's, the evening devotions were wonderful).

In fact, I haven't completely ruled out going again next year. I just now know a few more things to bring so that I will be prepared.

Tiffany

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Firsts

There are a lot of firsts going on right now.

I just finished packing for our first family camp with the whole denomination. We are flying to the north island and I can't wait to get on a plane again. I love flying. Probably has something to do with living on Guam for two years when I was really young. The only way to travel there is to fly. For whatever reason, I love to fly and am really looking forward to this trip!

I also sent a script into my first competition. It was a minisode (7-10 pages) of a current TV show. It was a lot of fun writing characters I already knew and putting them in my own scenario. If you're interested I wrote for the show NCIS:LA and the logline was: "Christmas always brings surprises, but no one was expecting this."

In a few weeks I am also taking my first trip to Australia! That is exciting because I have always wanted to go to Australia as we have good friends there. Now I am getting to go and meet those friends!

Also in a few weeks I am going to reveal another exciting first! A truly life changing first that has focused me more on God and eagerly awaiting what He has for this next chapter of my life.

What are some firsts that you are experiencing right now?

Tiffany

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Merry CHRISTmas!

"In our world too,
a stable once held
Something inside it that was
bigger than our whole world."
-- Lucy in The Last Battle.

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Christmas Cookie Exchange. Oh. Wait.

Well, I was going to post about the spontaneous Christmas Cookie Exchange. But then we our six-monthly event.....and aftershock......a big aftershock......5.8 to be exact.

Then there was the nearly half hour of continuous smaller (but by no means small) aftershocks. Then came the calming down and breath catching. Then came the slow relaxing. Then came the second, bigger earthquake.

So now we are waiting to see how big that one is and I'm pretty sure the cookie exchange will have to wait until later.

Tiffany

Update: The second was a 6.0.

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It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like.......

Summer? :) It is very different to go into the stores and see the decorations for Christmas up and then drive by the fields and see newborn foals. :D

Being completely spontaneous, Mom and I decided on Sunday that we would host a cookie exchange. So we have busy calling people and inviting them. So far it looks like a good turn out for such a last minute event.

I have decided to make these:

So that is on my list of things to do tomorrow. That and hopefully upload some more pictures to shutterfly so I can post them here.

May you all have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our King!

Tiffany

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A Little Catchup

You must forgive the picturelessness for a while. I am still trying to decide the best way to make them accessible to my iPad.

I am trying to think of how to even begin catching up on all that has happened. I guess the biggest thing is that I am no longer appling for a student visa to go back to school next year, but instead a work visa. The school where I work would like me to continue working there next year. On top of that, when I was sick I had a lot of time to pray and listen. The short version is that I am concentrating much more on my writing (exciting news about that in the near future!) and drama.

I truly believe that in a culture that has strayed so far from the Bible and God that drama is a really positive way to reach them. Lord willing, I will be using drama in a more evangelistic way in the coming year.

Anyhow, remember when I said I was applying for a work visa, well, now I need to go fill out some more paperwork.

It's so good to have access to you all again!

Tiffany

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Just trying new things

One of the reasons I have so infrequently posted here lately is that our computer situations don't allow for a lot of internet time and, until now, my ipad has been useless.

So I was looking for a new computer, but wasn't quite ready to get one. Then I discovered an app for wriitng blogs.

So, if you are reading this, be assured that more posts are coming.......and soon!

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Seriously! December!?