Seven Quick Takes for Friday and Please Share Cookie Recipes

Where did the week go? Seems I just wrote this feature.

1. My husband, Greg, and I went to an adult dinner party last night! I cannot remember the last time that happened. The neighbors threw a Bastille Day party. It was kind of a joke between husband and wife; he had given her a hard time about going to a Royal Wedding party. In response to his "monarchist" wife, the husband proposed a party celebrating the French Revolution. It was fun to spend an evening with just adults.

2. Yesterday from Netflix "Goodbye Mr. Chips" arrived. It's a 1969 movie in which a prim headmaster played by Peter O'Toole falls for a flashy showgirl played by Petula Clark.

OOPS.

What I meant to order was the "To Sir with Love, " the 1967 drama starring Sidney Poitier  as a teacher in an inner-city British school. Have any of you seen either movie? Greg reassures me both are great and his skill as a movie critic is unparalleled.

3. Did anyone see this article? "Viewed at a magnification of over 250 times real life, tiny grains of sand are shown to be delicate, colourful structures as unique as snowflakes." Worth a look or two. I made this awesome accompanying photo my computer's screen saver to remind me of the beauty of God's creation. Read more at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2011471/Pictures-sand-Close-photographs-reveal-incredible-beauty.html#ixzz1S9PeeO5T

4. While I am happy to report noone has vandalized our family minivan, a neighbor just told me something unsettling. Our block and the next block over are being targeted by midday burglars who are stealing liquor and jewelry.

5. Our older son hit another milestone last night: he took the train by himself to a nearby town. He went to concert at a bookstore. He rode back with friends and they all walked home together from the train station about midnight. Yes, children do grow up so fast.

6. Prayers up to everybody living in the drought-scorched Southeast and Southwest. The New York Times wrote a comprehensive piece earlier this week on the drought. I found an excellent website produced by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln to teach children about drought. Check it out here.

7.  And finally, I baked oatmeal-chocolate cookies from a recipe I found on bettycrocker.com. I never even realized she had a website. I'm a pretty good cook, but because I don't measure properly, not such a good baker. But these cookies are scrump-dilly-ish-ious. Here is the Betty's recipe for oatmeal-chocolate cookies: 

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2	cups packed brown sugar
1	cup butter or margarine, softened
1	teaspoon vanilla
1	egg
2	cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or unbleached flour
1	teaspoon baking soda
1/4	teaspoon salt
1	cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
1	cup chopped nuts, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips and nuts.
2. Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.
3. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

 Where do you find your favorite cookie recipes. What are they? Would you mind sharing?