~~I **heart** Thrift Stores

I Do


Denim Jacket $5.99

chunky necklace with matching earrings $12.99
 



Christopher and Banks denim jacket $4.99 and other assorted chunky bunches, two tops and a tiny blue teacup!!
 and saucer!

~~It's Thursday!~~

 

Outside My Window~   Cooling down from yesterday.  It hit over 90 degrees.  We enjoyed a fabulous thunder and lightening storm on the drive home from church.  Tomorrow's weather looks to be much of the same heat as yesterday.

From The Learning Rooms~  Review of money.  Spelling started this week.  My student is learning lots of new words to read, 4 and 5 letters long!

From The Kitchen~ No chowder this week.  It's too hot.  I am going to get a batch of Rosemary Bread going in the morning.  I'll make some kind of pasta with grilled chicken and a simple salad for Sharon and baby Anastasia.  Not sure what I'll fix for tonight.  Maybe something easy like taco's.

I Am Wearing~  Still in my pajama's.  I am going to at least take the morning off from school.  Hit the shower and then go to the thrift store.  I am looking for a simple denim jacket to add to my fall wardrobe.  Do any of you shop at Coldwater Creek?  I love their clothes!  Between that store and Christopher Banks, I could really outfit myself.  I did find some long winter skirts in the Chadwicks catalog recently, two of them arrived yesterday.  A little retail therapy for Beth's state of mind recently!

 

one is this tan color and one in black

one skirt is this denim color and one in chocolate brown. . . on backorder but should be here within the next few weeks.

. . . and this sweater

. . . and this dress should come today . .  wouldn't it be cute with a denim jacket over the top and a chunky, funky necklace?

My beautiful new boots arrived a few weeks ago. 

I keep telling myself, if these last 4 years like my last pair of winter boots, the price over a 4 year period is not so bad!

I am creating~  Nothing today.  I have a wedding gift I need to create.  I am thinking of doing a painting.  I'll post pictures when that project is complete.

 I Am Praying~  Isaiah 41:13  

"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. "

I am still claiming this verse from last week.  I am a bit better . . . today.  Keep praying for us to have wisdom.  I  am unable to share the details about what's going on.

 Around The House~  Suitcase is out.  Maps are out.  I was on the computer for several hours yesterday researching hotel locations for out Anniversary Trip.  #1 son will remain home to hold down the fort.  The rest of us will be driving to Maine.  We'll be gone about a week.  I am not sure how much fall color we'll be able to see.  It will be a treat just to be away seeing God's creation, together.

One Of My Favorite Things~ 

 

Sharing~  A few blog sights I thought were interesting.  Especially the gal who remakes clothes.  What talent!

www.polkanuts.blogspot.com

www.blessedwithgrace.net

www.coloradolady.blogspot.com

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

www.faithfulnessfarm.blogspot.com

~~ Have a great  weekend! ~~

Terrific Tuesday With Recipes

(I may make this recipe for Friday. . . Sharon and baby Anastasia are coming for lunch.  Sharon loves pasta.)

Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Shells

• 24 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
• 1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/4 cup butter, divided
• 1-1/2 cups ricotta cheese
• 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened, divided
• 1-1/2 cups shredded Asiago cheese, divided
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup 2% milk
• 2 cups shredded Romano cheese
• 1-1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute mushrooms and onion in 1 tablespoon butter until tender.
• In a large bowl, beat ricotta and 4 ounces cream cheese until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup Asiago cheese, Parmesan cheese, bacon, 1 tablespoon parsley, garlic salt, nutmeg, pepper and mushroom mixture. Spoon into shells; place in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish.
• In a large saucepan, melt remaining butter. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add the cream, broth and milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until thickened.
• Stir in Romano cheese and the remaining cream cheese, Asiago and parsley. Pour over shells. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until bubbly. Yield: 12 servings.

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Turkey Roll

 

 

Ingredients

• 2 boneless turkey breast halves (2 to 2-1/2 pounds each)
• 3/4 cup butter, softened, divided
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh sage or 1 teaspoon dried sage leaves
• 2 celery ribs, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts, toasted
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 package (12 ounces) unseasoned stuffing cubes
• 1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 
  GRAVY:
• 1-3/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened pineapple juice

Directions

• Remove skin from the turkey breasts; set aside. Flatten turkey breasts to 3/8-in. thickness. Place breasts side by side so that they are overlapping slightly. Combine 1/2 cup butter, garlic and sage; rub over turkey.
• In a large skillet, melt remaining butter. Add celery and onion; saute until tender. Add the broth, nuts and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Stir in stuffing cubes.
• Spread stuffing mixture over turkey to within 1 in. of edges. Roll up jelly-roll style, rolling turkey away from you; arrange skin over top of roll. Tie with kitchen string at 2-in. intervals.
• Place on a rack in a large roasting pan. Combine pineapple juice and olive oil; set aside.
• Bake turkey at 325° for 2-1/4 to 2-3/4 hours or until a meat thermometer reads 170°, basting occasionally with pineapple juice mixture.
• Remove meat to a serving platter and keep warm. For gravy, add broth to the pan, scraping to loosen browned bits. Pour into a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and pineapple juice until smooth; gradually stir into the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve with turkey. Yield: 12 servings.

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I saw a good idea for a variation of Sloppy Jo's.  Why not make a batch of cornbread and serve the sloppy jo mix on the top of the cornbread?

((Similar to this picture?))

 

 

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We don't celebrate Halloween but I saw these and thought they were a fun idea for creepy food for a cooking class for my student.  I'd use a box cake mix and not use black cup cake liners either.

 

 

 

Creepy Cupcakes

 

• 6 chocolate or vanilla cupcakes baked in black foil liners
• 1 can (16 ounces) plus 1 cup vanilla frosting
• 1 cup chow mein noodles
• Red and yellow food coloring
• 12 honey wheat sticks or pretzel sticks
• 12 mini marshmallows
• 12 brown M&M’s
• Chocolate jimmies

Directions

• 1. Spread the tops of the cupcakes with a small mound of vanilla frosting. Insert chow mein noodles into cupcakes to look like spikes. Place in the freezer for about 15 minutes to firm up.
• 2. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the vanilla frosting into a small resealable bag and set aside.
• 3. Tint the remaining frosting bright orange with the food coloring and spoon into a glass microwave-safe bowl. Microwave the frosting, stirring frequently, until it is the texture of slightly whipped cream.
• 4. Holding the foil liner of the slightly frozen cupcake, dip the top of the cupcake up to the liner in the melted frosting to coat. Use a spoon to add more frosting if necessary. Allow the excess frosting to drip off. Invert and transfer to a cookie sheet. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes.
• 5. Insert one end of a wheat stick into the side of a mini marshmallow. Repeat with the remaining marshmallows and wheat sticks. Snip a small corner from the bag with the vanilla frosting. Pipe a dot of frosting on one flat side of a marshmallow. Add a brown candy as the pupil. Add a few chocolate jimmies on the top as eyelashes. Pipe a dot of vanilla frosting on the brown candy as the sparkle in the eyes.
• 6. Insert two marshmallow eyes on top of a frosted cupcake about 1 in. apart. Repeat with the remaining cupcakes. 
• Yield: 6 cupcakes

 

 

**Thank you dear Taste of Home for my inspiration this week.

 

~~Menu Monday~~

Monday~  Chili Dogs with cheese, sour cream, onions, lettuce and corn chips

Tuesday~  Garlic Shrimp with Afredo Penne pasta, green salad

Wednesday~  Salmon Patties, mashed poatotes, garlic broccoli

Thursday~ Velveeta Macaroni, grilled chicken breast, green beans

Friday~  Corn or Clam chowder, homemade bread

Saturday~ ?

Sunday~ ?

 

Flashback Friday

 

Fall tablescape. . . yesterday.

Genesis 8:22  

"While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."

 

~~It's Thursday~~

 

(remembering a fall trip to a farm  )

Outside My Window~  It's been such a beautiful week.  Warm, but not too hot during the day.  Cooler at night, just right for sleeping.

 From The Learning Rooms~  One week done already.  Trying to get into a routine different than last year.  I am up right away and into the shower.  Seems to give me more energy than waiting to shower after I've had coffee and breakfast an hour or more after I've risen.  I've been making a great breakfast for myself and my student.  I am not so tired and run down feeling in the afternoon now.  In the school room we are starting spelling today.  That should be really fun!  Yesterday he had a paper where he was supposed to pick the wrongly spelled word.  cake/kake  kite/cite  koat/coat  cave/kave  My student wanted to select all the ones spelled wrong!   Piano lessons resumed last week as well.  I love to listen to him practice.

From The Kitchen~ The first bean supper of the fall. . . a package of 16 beans with smoked turkey bones and a green salad and maybe a batch of corn muffins instead of a big batch of cornbread.

I Am Wearing~  Black and cream striped shirt and  a comfy denim skirt.

I Am Creating~  I bought a new table cloth yesterday on my big grocery shopping trip and a bunch of artificial, fall colored flowers.  I'll post a picture of my fall table scape.

I Am Enjoying~  Still no good recommendations from the reading department.  We went to the library on Monday and I came home with another stack of books to try to read.  I did have a good movie over the weekend.

"Bound by a Secret"

I Am Praying~  Praying for myself.  I am confessing to you that I have been going through some serious depression recently.  I don't like it here.  I am trying to be strong.  Trying to find the good.  I know the Lord has us here for a reason.  I used this verse in a note of encouragement to someone else this week.  I like the picture it gave me in my mind.  One of God holding my hand as WE are walking this journey.  So sweet.

Isaiah 41:13  

"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. "

 

Around The House~  Around my house peaceful instrumental music is playing.  My kitchen needs attention.  I have a sinkful of dishes.  I need to start my pot of beans.  I have a cinnamon roll candle melting.  Smells good.

One Of My Favorite Things~  Not sleeping alone.

Upcoming~  We are going to drive to Maine for our 21st wedding anniversary.  Any sights you recommend?  I heard yesterday, that my sister-in-law and her husband will be in the BIG CITY for his work at the end of October.  I am looking forward to spending time with them.  They are some of my favorite people.

(that's her on the right. . . she'll hate this picture I'm sure!)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week~  Manly man took today and tomorrow off.  Not sure what his plan is.  Today he is doing honey-do's at church (building maintenance)  Maybe he could be talked into a drive, picnic and walk around a country lake tomorrow.  The bachelors will be over for Sunday supper.  Spaghetti and meatballs.  I love eating my own spaghetti!  Nothing like it.  Isn't it curious how every cook has thier own recipe for spaghetti sauce?  It all tastes unique too!

~~Have a great rest of your week friends~~

 

Terrific Tuesday * With Recipes *

 

Taco Pie

8-1/2 oz. pkg. cornbread muffin mix  1/2 lb. ground beef  1-1/4 oz. pkg. taco seasoning mix 8-oz. jar salsa 3/4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese    Prepare cornbread mix according to package directions. Pour batter into a greased 10" pie plate and set aside.   Brown beef in a skillet; drain and stir in taco seasoning. Spoon beef mixture over  batter; top with salsa and cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until cheese melts and cornbread sets. Serves 8.

Pumpkin Bread

3 c. all-purpose flour 1 t. salt 2 t. baking soda 2 t. baking powder 2 t. cinnamon 1-1/2 c. oil 2 c. sugar 4 eggs, beaten 2 c. canned pumpkin Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon 3 times; set aside. Combine oil and sugar in a second bowl and mix well; blend flour mixture into oil mixture. Add eggs and pumpkin; mix well. Pour into 2 greased 9"x5" loaf pans. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Makes 2 loaves.       Muffin Doughnuts 2 c. all-purpose flour 1/2 t. salt 1 T. baking powder 1/2 t. nutmeg 1/2 c. plus 1/2 t. butter, divided 1-1/2 c. sugar, divided 1 egg, beaten 3/4 c. milk 3/4 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 c. chopped pecans 2 t. cinnamon Combine flour, salt, baking powder, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon butter, 1/2 cup sugar, egg and milk. Fold in chocolate chips and pecans. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove immediately from pan. Melt the remaining butter; roll muffins in butter. Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon; roll muffins in mixture. Makes one dozen.

 

Menu Monday

 

Menu Monday

Monday~  Hamburgers and french fries

Tuesday~  Shredded pork burritos, homemade guacamole, homemade salsa using my gardens  jalepenos and homemade chips

Wednesday~  Buttermilk biscuits, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns

Thursday~  Smoked Turkey bean soup, corn bread, green salad

Friday~  Build your own pizza with homemade crusts (bacon, sausage, pepperoni, canadian bacon etc...)with coca cola

Saturday~  Chili Dogs

Sunday~  Spaghetti, garlic bread, green salad, peanut butter monster cookies with vanilla ice cream

 

~An Afternoon at the Beach~~

 

 Psalms 91:4  

"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."

~~It's Thursday~~

 

 

Outside My Window~  It's a nice fall day.  Cooler.

 From The Learning Rooms~  Today was the second day of school.  My student is relieved to only have three papers to work on for each day of  school he has completed so far! Our field trip was fabulous yesterday.  We probably walked 5 miles around the Bronx Zoo.  We are all tired today.

From The Kitchen~ I think canned ,vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches will be dinner tonight.   Not sure what to make for Sunday dinner.  Maybe roast pork, mashed potatoes, chocolate cake? 

I Am Wearing~  Purple tank top and blue denim shorts.

I Am Creating~  I have completely uploaded pictures to Wal Mart photo center.  I now need to choose the ones to copy and order prints.  Done with my fall fix up.  I like my colored pillows.  My home seems cozy.  It is one of my favorite places! 

I Am Enjoying~  No recommendations from the book department.  I usually check out a lot of books.  I'll bring them home read a few pages or a few chapters and then not read the rest of the book because the author writes trashy.  I went through about 4 books from my selection last week that were that way.  Going to enjoy Campion this weekend.

I Am Praying~  Always for wisdom, guidance, protection.  Praying about stuff.  Praying for answers to prayer.  Still the same prayers this week as last week.  I was reminded of a good verse to go with my prayer requests. . .

James 1:5  " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. "

Around The House~  My laundry days have been messed up since returning from camping.  Laundry is going right now.  In the dishwasher are clean dishes.  I always need to vacuum.  I also need to make my bed!  I've been listening to the music channels that come with our cable service.  Right now is playing instrumental music.  It is very nice. 

One Of My Favorite Things~  Comfort food.  It is almost time for the oven to be going and cooking some great food.

A Few Plans for the Week~  Going to the beach this afternoon with Alison and Sienna.  Enjoying our free time together.  Sienna starts kindergarten on Monday and Alison will be doing before and after school care for another young lady, her time will be tied up.   Not sure what the plans for the weekend are.  I sure am wishing, hoping, praying that Toyota project is done soon.

Fall Fix Up

  

Before

After- with new colored pillows.

 

Before School room, no decorations

After

All ready for the student!

Modeling the new home school clothes.

New pillows on the chairs and a new table arrangement between the chairs.

I wanted to save my wedding dress for my daughter to use.  When Maggie was here in June we took my dress out of the closet where it was stored and gave it a look.  I was saddened.  We've lived along the coast most of our married life.  My wedding dress has moved about 11 times.  I think the Alaska was hard on my dress.  It has become yellowed and moldy.  I am very, very sad.

1989

I got the dress out yesterday and inspected it closer.  I don't think a dry cleaner can rescue it.  I sat my dress in a sink full of laundry soap this morning and worked on trying to get it clean.  I think I got rid of the mold, but not the yellow.  On the next sunny day, I'll lay it out in the sun and see what happens.  The material in the skirt is salvageable if a future daughter in law wants to remake the dress.  Ahhh. . . so sad.