Wisconsin

I am heading to Wisconsin in a bit,

to take mia madre to the Dr. for a six month check

and to get a shot for her "working overtime" R.A. that is

causing her great pain in her arm.

Here I am with her (and "L") at Mardi Gras two years ago!

My Mom likes to have fun! She is up for about anything and

loves it all!

It makes me sad that she is in such pain every day, and I pray

for her to have some relief today.

If you feel so led, please pray for our safe travel

and that the Dr. will be able to give her relief.

Have an amazing Friday!!!!



Jalapeno Popper Sandwich

This is a sandwich that the men in my family would LOVE!

Go to Closet Cooking and find the recipe...

Who will be the first to try it???

http://www.closetcooking.com/2011/04/jalapeno-popper-grilled-cheese-sandwich.html

Random Thoughts

Life is crazy! I mean, like really, crazy!

How did things become go, go, go, all the time?

I suppose that I would not like it at all if I were bored either,

so I will take crazy if you please.

My plants are growing...not as many as I would have liked,

but they are growing, so I will not complain.

Did you know that if you put a dried chili pepper into your

flour, beans, grains, etc., that you will not

get weevils!?! Who Knew???

I knew that if you used a dried bay leaf for this

that it worked, but I had no idea that a dried chili pepper

would do the same thing! Cool!

I am loving this weather that we are having! 

70* with no humidity, total sunshine, is simply perfect.

I find that the closer I get to a big holiday, the more

I decide I need to do. Why? I have no earthly idea!

I find all sorts of things that "need" to be done.

Do they? Not really. But it sure will be nice to have

sparkling windows when our guests gaze out at the

beauty of God's creation flowing along in our back yard.

My husband and I are contemplating a short (time wise)
trip sometime next month...to New Orleans.
We have been there many times, as we have loved ones
in that crazy town. It is a fun city to visit, filled with
so much history and great places to eat.
I mean, if you love sea food, it is heavenly.....
If you love fried foods, it is amazing....
If you love music, it is superb....
We are a very musical family, who loves sea food
and (me, not so much) love the treat of fried things
on occasion, so it is a fun place to visit.

Well, I must get back to my "to do" list. It is beyond
calling me. I believe I hear it screaming at me.
Should I add 'wash the curtains' to my list?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Budget, Smudget! Or Budget Time, WooHoo!

Giving you all a link that is actually quite timely.

During this time of the year when we are all getting or paying

income tax, we all need to be keenly aware of

how our income is being spent.

Budget sheets are a great way to "see" where all the money

goes, stays, is given or overflows.

Martha Stewart has a very easy to use sheet, and I am sharing that with you all today!

http://images.wholeliving.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2009Q2/bs_0509_expensesworksheet.pdf?xsc=eml_2012_03_26&om_rid=DlB4ow&om_mid=_BPcFtvB8d-4kCe

Pretty, Pretty Vases

I am back to working on my Easter Table.

This weekend was a wash for me as far as being home,

with the exception of about 1 1/2 hours yesterday.

I took advantage of that short time slot and did paint 3 vases!

 These are two 79 cent & one 1.99 vases from Ikea

 These are the paints, color matched to the eggs that I am using for the table.

I bought the "sample" jars of paint from Menards, which they will tint for you.

 If you do try this, an up front warning: you will have waisted paint!

So be prepared to loose a bit of your paint, but it is not substantial.

 After pouring the paint into the vase or bottle that you are using,

swirl it to cover all areas.

Hold it over the paint can to drain the biggest portion of paint out.

Then, you must allow it to drip for approximately 1/2 hour.

If you wait too much longer, you will have to scrap drying paint

rather than wiping wet paint from the top of the vase.

 I decided that using bamboo skewers as a "drainage system"

would be the most efficient, and it really did work well!

 And voile'! I do very much like them and they will be a great addition to the table,

with a few buds from the bush in my front yard!

 Here they are sitting with a couple of antique vases that my mother is letting me use for the cause....what do you think????

Day Off

I am taking today off from blogging

Lots on my plate, little time.

I will post again tomorrow....

Have a great Thursday!!

I Just HAD To Give You This Link

I have a fridge filled with children's artwork...

as a matter of fact, just two days ago

the sweet little girl next door ran over

with a huge smile & gave me a coloring that

she had done in school that day,

just for me!

Love it!!!!

And my fridge is, quite honestly, a mess!

So you can imagine, when I found this idea,

that I will very quickly be painting

some frames of my own!!!

Kuddos & Thanks to Positively Splendid for this amazing idea!!!

http://www.positivelysplendid.com/2012/03/magnetic-refrigerator-art-frames.html



I Have A Little Help For My Friend

I am excited!

My dear friend who had the Breast Cancer Surgery last week

is doing very well, is at home aannnnnndddd

I get the privilege of going over there

this afternoon for a few hours and taking care of her needs

and the needs of her 1 year old granddaughter!!!

I am humbled at the opportunity to help,

excited at the opportunity to see her

and really cannot wait to play with that precious 1 year old!

Ok, the baby is just a perk....

I wonder what my afternoon will be?

Cooking? Cleaning? Talking (duh!)?

All of the above I hope!

I pray that I can be a blessing to her in any way she needs...

here is a picture of us while on a weekend in Chicago last year.

She is second from your right....the beautiful head peeking over other shoulders.

I love my friends...

continue to pray for "D" as she goes through radiation treatments and recovery.

Have an amazing Tuesday!!

Favorite Quote Of The Day

"You rarely feel your way into positive actions, but you can act your way into better feelings. You may not really want to wake up at five for that morning run, but you do it anyway. Afterward, you are so glad you made the extra effort because you feel good and have more energy. There is great satisfaction in making a choice to do something that your flesh was yelling at you not to do! You acted your way into a feeling."

Cindy Beall

Romantic Dinner 4 Two...and other things

I love my husband....

have I ever told you that before?

Yes?

ok.

Well, yesterday

Thursday (gasp!)

I decided to do a romantic dinner for 2

Have I told you we live on the river?

Yes?

ok.

Well, we do....and this time of the year

it is amazing!

No bugs, light breezes annnnnnd

not much else!

The grass has begun to turn green (really green)

and the trees have lots of green buds on them...

and that is about it.

But, the NO bugs thing is simply amazing!!!

So I decided to take advantage of it

on (gasp again!) a simple Thursday weeknight!!!

WHAT!!!!

Yes! A nothing special night of the week!

A "I want to make things special" night of the week!!

So, I set a special table, on our deck

just to make my husband feel extra special!
 Have I told you before that I LOVE to make my

loved ones feel special?
Yes...
ok!

So, I set a table on the deck....along the river

with normal, everyday things, to simply

make my husband feel a bit extra special

because he IS!!

And might I say....

Your family, husband, children are extra special too!!!

Here is a picture of the table I set.

The small round table was a free gift...

the table cloth was a gift...

the dishes were my everyday, normal dishes

the food was simply

grilled burgers and grilled zucchini

along with a tomato, cucumber salad
(the recipe can be found here on my blog)

and just my love!

Every day can be special

Every meal can be fun

Everyone is WORTH that teeny, tiny

bit of extra effort....

and they will more than likely

feel amazingly loved by you....

on a very normal, day after hump day

Thursday night at home.

Amazing Idea!!!!!!

I was just speachless when I saw this!

It makes such sense,

And I will surely be making these for our

over flowing toy box!

Why didn't I think of this?????

All instructions for making these bags can be found

at this link!

http://tonicoward.blogspot.com/2010/06/peek-boo-toy-sack-tutorial.html

Picture, Link and Craft are from Make It Perfect Blog

Today....My Friend

Today....

Something none of us is guarenteed.

Today, I spend praying, worrying, hopeing, loving and

waiting.

You see, my dear friend, Diana

is having surgery.

She was diagnosed last week with

a very rare (her Dr. has only seen this once before)

form of breast cancer.

She is a huge blessing to me.

Her friendship is one of those in which we laugh,

uplift, love, talk, and share our wonderful

realationship with our Lord and Savior.

I ask for your prayers.

I ask that you think of, pray for and

remember my friend.

She has her family,

friends, and most comfortingly

her Savior with her today.

BREAST CANCER

Two of the most powerful words in the english language.

Two words all women hope to never hear.

My friend has heard those words.

My friend will deal with those words for

many weeks and months to come.

BREAST CANCER

I not only pray for my friend, but for all those

beautiful ladies that every day

get the diagnosis, are in the throws

of the treatment, having the follow-up tests,

or are adding to the years of "cancer free".

BREAST CANCER

May we soon have a cure, better treatments

and quicker diagnosis.

May we soon have a world where it is in our history and not in our future.

 

Giving you a link to one of the cutest little chicks ever!

Just in time to make for your "little chicks" for thier Easter Day!

http://www.blog529.com/2011/04/just-hatched-spring-chick-oreo-pops/

Mange! (Italian for "eat)

Link, Picture and Recipe from Blog 5 to 9

We Have A New Addition To Our Household!

I'm so excited

And I just can't hide it!

And I KNOW I like it!

You may find this addition to be

ahem,

a bit odd

but it is something that I have wanted for years!

I did not think it would happen

due to, you know, funding...

But...

It has now happened!

I am stoked!

Ok, Ok, I will stop now.

drum

roll

please...

I have a green house!!

Yes, I do!

It is set next to my potting bench,

which is awaiting the dawn of spring

awaiting some much needed green plants

oh wait....

I can do that,

because I now

own a greenhouse!!!

SAAWWEEEEETTTTT!!!!!



Random Thoughts

It is the weekend, Saturday to be precise and I am home alone

except for the dogs, who occasionally need to be let out,

but beyond that, they have left me to my leisure day.

I have taken things from my closet to be given to the second hand store.

I have made fresh whole wheat dough which turned into 3 pizza crusts,

par baked, thin crust (which is necessary for my husband)

and 2 are in the freezer, waiting for a busy night when making

a full dinner is out of the question.

I will be able to pull out a crust, put on a bit of sauce, add

pre cooked Italian sausage (which I have done in the freezer also)

some roasted peppers (again in the freezer) and cheese!

voile'! all home made, just done in minutes from pre-planning!

I cleaned out a cabinet in my dining room. AAAAAnnnnd,

the reason I did this, is because I thought that my fabric medium and new stamp was hidden in there.

And it was not.

I HAD planned on paint stamping my napkins

for the Easter Dinner that we will have.

Guess that will have to happen next week.

Do you make your bed everyday? I do. I just like to climb into smooth sheets each night, and also, I think it shows my sweet husban how much I care.

He should have that "oasis" to end each day in as he works such a physically demanding job.

Again, it is my want to spoil personality.

Dinner was soooooooooooo  good last night!

We had southern fried catfish, fried outside in a huge cast iron skillet by my husband, who does not like catfish, but cooks it like no other!

We also had shrimp, baked-stuffed eggplant, Italian beans,

salad and key lime parfaits (sugar free of course).

I am currently sitting in front of a beautiful fire, in a big ole chair

with a laptop, feeling a bit accomplished, talking to you and asking you....

"Do you know where I put that stupid fabric medium at???"

Making It Special For Your Family

As I sit here, in front of a warm, wonderful fire,

 with the dishwasher softly humming in the background,

floors clean, dinner done, dishes cleared and clean,

I contemplate my day tomorrow.

Tomorrow, after a day of work (my husbands day much longer than mine)

we will have two dinner guests.

We always try to make things special for the ones that we love,

and those that we treasure in our lives.

And tomorrow will be no different.

But how, do I make things extra special,

without all the fuss and extra time?

So glad you asked!!!

It begins, with three very simple, un-hemmed strips

of material from, more than likely, a remnant bin.

Placed on our normal dinner table.

The only thing abnormal about this time is,

that it will be set for only 4 people.

The norm for me is 12 - 20 people....

and if you can ask my husband or children about this,

they will tell you, the norm of setting a special table is,

for me, VERY normal!

Next, I add an amazingly easy, yet fun centerpiece
Of which I am giving you a "sneak preview" of the outcome

of one of my "Guess What Will Come" previous blog posts!!

Next, I added simple bone white plates,

cloth napkins and simple silverware.

And next, I added water and (for us) soda glasses

One stemmed, the other not stemmed.

And  last, but not least,

Salt & Pepper shakers for each person at the table.
Now, let me say, that my Mother, for a special Christmas present,
several years ago, gave me these mini salt and pepper shakers
to use for special or any occasion, that I pull out for MOST occasions!
So I completely understand if you do not have these as an option!
AND, Individual water bottles for all those at the table.
And again, this is not the first, nor the last time that these
will be used for a dinner at our home!

For those of you who are curious,

the water bottles are re-purposed

olive oil and balsamic vinegar bottles

in which I used up the oil and vinegar

and then carefully and fully cleaned the bottles when empty

and store in my basement until needed for the

spoiling of those that I love!

And this is not the first time that they have been used!!

Tune in next week for the completion of this

"Spoil" dinner, and the complete

example of how you too

can spoil those you love.....

with VERY little effort and $ involved!!!!

Have an amazing weekend!!!! 

Simpe Joys

I am reminded by my husband that I have not

shared a Simple Joy post in some time.

He keeps up with these things, and I am glad that he does!

We all need some accountability in our lives,

and when it comes to my blog, I guess he is

my accountability partner....and that is wonderful to me!

This is me...well, the top of my head anyway, and our 3 year old we affectionately call "The Terminater" He is such a sweet, cuddly little boy,

who has the MOST amazing laugh that God ever gave anyone!

Hearing him when ever I can, getting that laugh to boil out of him,

laughing right along with him,

THAT is a simple joy in my life.

well, actually, it is a HUGE joy in my life,

but for today, I will count it as my simple joy.

Some Random Thoughts

I am in transition.

For the last 3 weeks, we have had

"visitors"

as Gus-gus would say

in Cinderella.

And now I am on the "down side" of

"life as I know it".

And in some ways, I am NOT ok with it

and in some ways, I am completely "ok" with it.

I love life with just my amazing husband and me.

And I love life with a house full of fun,

 munchkins and

children!

I want to share with you life as "I" know it.

It can be full of life, busy, tooooooo busy,

boring, restful, lively, lovely, wonderful

and quiet.

I, am fine, with all of those!!!

Is that weird???

No?

OK!!

I. am. content.

I am content....that sounds weird, I know.

But it is the truth.

It has taken me a looooong time to feel this way,

but it is my truth now.

And I believe that it is what I am SUPPOSED

to be.....content.

After all, do you really want to live life without

contentedness? I don't!

I love life!!!!

I REALLY do!

And I love coming here, sharing with you,

and showing you the fun things I do in my

contented, crazy life!

Truth told!

Soooo, here is a picture of some of my contented life.

Well, 3 pictures.

How sweet are they!!!!!!

And let me tell you....

they are NOT the only 3 reasons

I am content in this life....

there are so many, many more reasons

that I am content....

from the great north of the

Upper Peninsula of Michigan,

to the deep south of the Louisianian state,

I am, one content woman!

Is it my "comfort zone"?

I don't believe so, for, the truth is

that I have 3 children.

One (and her family)

lives 7 hours NORTH of us.

One (and his family)

lives 16 hours SOUTH of us.

One (and her husband)

lives 15 minutes from us.

And besides our family dynamics,

I am called on to sing, teach,

and speak to crouds of people

more often than I am ever

comfortable with.

I have a strength though.

One that goes before me.

One that expects me to find that contentedness

in what ever situation I am in.

God is good, life is good, I am in

love with my husband,

and in love with life....

does it get any better than this?

Not this side of heaven!!!

Simple Salad Recipe

This is a salad that I make for my husband quite often.

I, cannot partake, sadly, due to a raw tomato allergy...

bummer, right!?!

Oh well, such is life.

Tomato, Cucumber Italian Salad

1 tub grape tomatoes

1/2 long English cucumber

3 scallions (greens & whites)

2Tbl good balsamic vinegar

2 Tbl good extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper

1 tbl chopped Italian flat leaf parsley

Cut the tomatoes in half and put in a med. size bowl.

 Cut the cucumber into cubes that are about the same size as the tomatoes.

 Add to the tomatoes.

 Cut up scallions into a fine dice.

 After adding the scallions to the bowl, pour on the vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper and parsley.

 Mix well, and allow to sit for 20 minutes or so, while you fix the rest of your dinner! Mix again just before serving!

Have a great day everyone!

"Restarting Windows"

That is what my laptop said to me when I picked it up today.

I left it on when I closed it up a couple of weeks ago,

and it waited patiently for me to come back to it.

Here I am, dear laptop, ready to jump in and

restart my life....

As it was before visitors.

As it was when it was just my wonderful husband

and myself working too many hours,

being way to busy while at home,

going here and there, catching our breath at times,

missing our family so much it hurts,

grateful for our friends,

grateful for the Lord's many blessings,

and as always....

planning another party.

This time it is pre-planning (not VERY pre!)

for our Easter Dinner!

I love (as you know) having family in our home...

combined with friends, it is simply heavenly!

I began work today (ok, ok, s-h-o-p-p-i-n-g) for the

Easter table....I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

I  scoured the local Goodwill store and a second hand

store and found a few 'treasures' that I have big plans for!

I have a picture for you of what I purchased!

Can you guess what they will become?

I will give you a hint...NOTHING will look the same!

Hope that you will have an amazing week,

I plan to be very busy and sharing it all with you!

Snow in March

It is snowing here.

It is March.

It is NOT supposed to snow here

In March.

I am grateful...

That it is ONLY snow.

But wishing for spring.

For my yard...

For my Flowers...

For my plants...

For my grilling time...

For my ability to paint outside...

For spring.

But,

alas,

it is snowing.



Roasted Asparagus

I made Ina Garten's recipe last night as a side dish for our Dinner.

It was a big success!

Thought I would share the recipe and photos with you today.

I (as you already know) LOVE to make things special for the loved ones in my life...so candles in the center of the table are a must!

The recipe was very easy...probably one of the easiest dishes to make

 that you will find. It looks like you went to alot of trouble, but really, turning on the oven, putting a pan full of asparagus in and waiting until it cooks is the work level for this one!

 Hope you make something amazing tonight for those you love....

or even for yourself! You are, afterall, worth it!

Here is the link for her recipe:

 http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parmesan-roasted-asparagus-recipe/index.html

Paula's Roasted Butternut Squash

Finally, a non-link post!

I make roasted butternut squash often,

and have people ask me for the recipe.

I do not use a recipe, I just "do it",

so I thought last night I would actually take photo's and

write the recipe down for those who wanted it!

First, peal (this is not easy, so use a very large, heavy, sharp chef's knife to make it the easiest possible.

Now, cut the squash in 1 inch cubes and place in an OVEN SAFE frying pan with about 1/4 cup of good quality olive oil.

 Peel 3 cloves of garlic (that is the amount I use for a large squash) and put it in the pan with the squash.

 Add a large pinch of salt to the pan.

Chop fresh rosemary,

I used about 1tble chopped.

Fresh cracked pepper to taste.

 You are going to cook on the stove top until the squash is caramelized.

 The place pan in the oven for 45 minutes with temp set at 400*

You can add water or chicken stock in 1/4 cup amounts to the pan if the squash is browning to quickly without cooking thru.

And this is what it will look like! The garlic is completely edible and will be mellow and almost sweet from the roasting process.

Have an amazing Thursday everyone!