Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas dear friends!!

~It's Thursday!~(In my time zone!)

Outside my window...  It was a beautiful day to day today.  There was a high temperature of 70 degrees.  Overnight temperatures have been very cool though.

I am thinking... I'm thinking I need a vacation from December.  It has been a busy month.  Maybe I'll get to camping in the desert next week with some of my favorite people!

I am thankful... I am thankful I heard from the Cardiology department today.  My blood pressure is N*O*R*M*A*L!  I'm thanking God!

In the kitchen... Let's see.  I haven't eaten at home much this week.  We've been really busy running to a fro doing this and that!  I pulled a tater tot casserole out of the freezer yesterday for dinner.  I smoked a turkey today.  I also made macaroni and cheese.  I've also got a 'frog eye salad' chillin in the fridge.  But we didn't eat all that food yet.

I am wearing...  I am wearing my green army pants with a check blouse.  My hair is pulled back out of my face.  I think my face probably reflects the fact that I am tired.

I am creating...  Christmas letter. . .DONE.  Christmas cards. . .DONE.  Christmas party for 25?. . .on Saturday . . .almost ready.  Christmas crafts . . .DONE.  Christmas shopping . . .DONE!  Christmas treats baking. . .tomorrow it will be done.  Christmas decorations . . .DONE.


I am going... Ahh  . . .I've no plans to be going anywhere until tomorrow night when my student has his third piano recital.  It has a Christmas theme!

I am praying... praying still for my health (to be pain free and shrinking cyst) praying for the safety of my husband, he has been working an awful lot recently.  Praying for travel safety to all of you and my married children who will be traveling during the holiday.  Praying for answers to prayer.  Praying for the desires of my heart. Praying for far away family.

I am reading/watching...  I am between books right now.  I will pick up a new one tonight.  I did find time for a super quick library trip this week and picked up a few cookbooks to browse for fun.

Not sure what it will be like but I have October Baby to watch tomorrow night.

I am looking forward to... I'm looking forward to life slowing down a bit.  I need some slowness.  Camping and a trip to see my sister are in order!

From the learning rooms...  I fear the school room has been silent the last week.  I fear we're behind a bit.

Around the house... I've got company coming on Saturday afternoon.  I need to vacuum, set up tables, clean toilets, empty trash and dust.  I'll be sure to post pictures of everything later!

I am pondering...

A favorite quote for today... 
"We must reject the idea that every time a law's broken, society is guilty rather than the lawbreaker.  It is time to restore the American precept that each individual is accountable for his actions."
Ronald Reagan

One of my favorite things... I've enjoyed this tea thoroughly this week.  So much so, that it is all gone and now  have to look for more!

Lipton's Vanilla Caramel Truffle

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Breakfast and cookie baking with Tonya and the girls tomorrow.  Church family Christmas party on Saturday afternoon.  Church on Sunday.

Picture highlights of recent events...






Have a great weekend dear friends!

Merry Christmas!!

~~It's Thursday!~~

Outside my window...  It's been foggy this week.  A fine misty fog settles in most evenings.  I woke up to a fine mist of fog this morning as well.  It may rain today.  I always say it, but we do need rain.  If we get more rain, I am able to turn the sprinklers off our water bill is huge!

I am thinking... I am 'trying' to get into the Christmas spirit.  I told you it was hard.  With so much sunshine and temperatures in the 70's most days, it's hard to focus on Christmas.  But today I created a list of things I'd like to accomplish.  I've got my big Christmas mailing to prepare.  I've got to order pictures for that and get some thumb drives for digital picture frames.  I 'did' order my mailing labels yesterday.  Maybe they will be here tomorrow.  I also started a list of folks I want to receive home cooked goodies this year.  I need to make a list of what we are going to bake and get that going.

My time should be a little more free after next Wednesday when our little church completes its Christmas Program. 

Today I will be starting a rough draft of the Christmas letter.


I am thankful... I am thankful for answer to prayer.  My life is filled with so much answered prayer.  I think about the last year and just smile myself silly!

1 John Chapter 5: 14-15

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

In the kitchen... We're having Mirin Soaked Cod, Mixed Rice, Garlic Green Beans, greek yogurt for dessert.

I am wearing...Brown denim skirt, black sparkly butterfly tee and brown sweater with my comfy tennis shoes.  Will you tell on me if I say it's the same clothes I had on yesterday?

I am creating...I finished a project Tuesday that I started with my dear friend Shannon @jssteph7.  Here is a picture of the ribbon wreath I made. 

Hers was beautiful too, in teal colors.  I may hang mine outside near the front door for Christmas decor.  If my student finishes his schoolwork before noon today he has been promised that he may hang lights on our small Pygmy Date Palm in the flowerbed out front today.

I am going...  Piano lesson days changed last week to Thursday instead of Monday.  Today we will be going to piano lesson and then to Target afterwards so I can browse some Christmas idea shopping.

I am praying... Praying this week for friends, for far away family, for my married children,  for health and safety for my manly man, for my health, for upcoming church program.

I am reading/watching... Still on the series I started last week, Daughters of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman.


We started a new television series this week.  COLUMBO.  He is my next favorite after Hercule Poirot for fictional detectives.  I love mysteries!

Netflix is a great thing.

I am looking forward to... I'm looking forward to next Thursday when life after the church Chistmas program happens and things will slow down and return to a more normal pace.

From the learning rooms... We're on week 9 in our curriculum.  A big review week. 

Around the house... My house is still in pretty much the same fashion as it was last week, maybe a tad dustier.  I'm smelling lunch cooking in the kitchen.

A peek into this last week...

play practice


I joined the ranks of nursery worker several weeks ago.  This little joy is Brooke.  She loves to cuddle and read books. She belongs to my friend Misty @myallforchrist81 and her blogspot blog.



A favorite quote for today...

"God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself,
because it is not there.
There is no such thing."
C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things... I'm addicted, I know.  Soon I'll have to join a 12 step program.  But really, you'd understand my dilemma if you'd just come out here, visit me and try them yourself.  you'd see why I have such a problem.
Carne Asada Nacho's

(That's what we had for dinner on Monday.)

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Lot's of singing and play practice. 

More pictures form the week:
The following pictures are some of our church caroling at a local mall.









Can you tell who's Mommy was my photographer?  This is baby Katherine and her Momma is Tonya.





(so handsome!)

Have a great weekend dear friends!

Wordless Wednesday

Shadow Cat helping Momma put away the clean laundry.

Terrific Tuesday with a Recipe

Just not finding the blogging grove lately.

Since my diet change I've found some products to recommend to you and I'll rack my brain for a recipe to post as well.

My husband is working a case you may have heard on the news this week.  Pray for his safety away from home.  That IS his job too!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've been trying out various Mrs. Dash products and I am in LOVE with them.


Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime.  Has a nice spicy kick and makes a great substitute for an envelope of taco seasoning.  I've used it on my beef for Carne Asada Nachos, made chicken chili with it Saturday and used it today in making Mexican Chicken Soup.

I've also got  Southwest Chipotle and need to use it more!

• Remember Mrs. Dash contains NO sodium while an envelope of taco seasoning contains around 420 mg.  One envelope of Chili Seasoning has around 350 mg of sodium.

• Rinsing canned beans before using them rinses about 40% of the sodium away from them.  So a regular can of black beans with about 450 mg of Sodium, RINSED would have about 270 mg of Sodium.

• Did you know that prolonged use of NSAIDS  (and possibly many OTC ((Over the Counter)) pain medications) may raise your blood pressure? See this link.

I'm really loving Red Zinger tea.  The properties of Hibiscus, the first ingredient in the tea, are shown to help lower blood pressure.

This tea is very good with a teaspoon of 100% pure maple syrup in it.  It is also very refreshing over ice, also lightly sweetened with maple syrup.

• I highly recommend this recipe book "The Food You Crave Luscious Recipes for a Healthy Life" by: Ellie Krieger
• 

I've written down several recipes from this cookbook.  It was free too!  It's from the library

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My little critic thought this tasted like lasagna the first time I made it!

Easy Portabello Panini

• 4 sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed) **
  
• Boiling water
• 4 portobello mushrooms (2 ounces each)
• 1/4 cup Gorgonzola cheese  **
  
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Procedures

1. Reconstitute the sun-dried tomatoes by soaking them in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove the toma­toes from the water, pat dry, and chop them.
2. Slice the stems off the mushrooms so they can lay completely flat. Slice each cap in half so you have 8 round mushroom slices. Top half of the mushrooms with 1 tablespoon of the chopped tomatoes and 1 tablespoon of the cheese. Top with the remaining mushroom slices. Brush the top side of each "sandwich" with some of the oil.

3. Preheat a large nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat until good and hot. Place the mushroom sandwiches in the hot pan carefully, oiled side down, and cook for 2 minutes, Brush the top half with the remaining oil, flip with a spatula, and cook until the mushroom softens and begins to brown and the cheese is melted, about another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

**Gargonzola cheese is a stinky cheese~ similar to a blue cheese.  I don't like blue cheese so I've been substituting with Goat Cheese or Mozzarella would work well.

**I've also not put much effort into finding a package of sun dried tomatoes and have been getting the little jars of the ones  packed in oil and just draining them well in my colander before using them.

Have a Great and Wonderful Day!

~~It's Friday!~~

(trying to grow a pineapple plant for the patio)

Outside my window...  It's cloudy today.  It's also sprinkling a little bit.  I've heard the rumor that its supposed to rain all weekend.  We'll see!  We need the rain.  Makes me crave chili. . .or soup. . .or sourdough bread . . .

I am thinking...I'm thinking where has time gone?  It's December tomorrow.  How do you get in the mood for Christmas in southern California?  There are a few cut your own tree places around here.  they grow Monterrey Pines.  I may also be talked into a large Rosemary tree this year and then we can replant it in our new yard beds.

(Monterrey Pine)

 
(Rosemary Tree)

I am thankful...  Thankful for prayer! 

1 Thessalonians 5:17
"Pray without ceasing!"


 

In the kitchen...Breakfast for dinner.  Turkey bacon, waffles, eggs and hash browns.  Tomorrow, turkey chili with beans and baked potato.

This is what we did for lunch today. . .
 







I am wearing...bright lime top, bright fall colored skirt. 
Newly painted red toes. . .ready for Christmas.
 

I am creating...No creating going on right now.  I finished a long procrastinated project recently.  I want to get some Christmas things out but may wait until after our church finishes it's Christmas program December 12th.

 



I am going...We are headed out to church tonight to practice for the program, then again tomorrow and again Sunday night and Wednesday and next Friday and Saturday too!  I am helping Tonya buy a party dress for a Army Christmas party.  (I'll be sure to post pictures!)

I am praying...Praying for the desires of my heart.  Praying for my children.  Praying for my husband.  Praying for wisdom.  Praying for my friends.  Praying for my health.

I am reading/watching... I am reading Daughters of the Promise series by Beth Wiseman.  Just entertaining reading for sure.  It reads like an Amish Harlequin Romance. 

We are watching Christy: Return to Cutter Gap

I am looking forward to...  We are traveling to see my sister @onehappymomma for the New Year!!  We are so excited.  It's my MERRY BIRTHDAY present from my husband.  

From the learning rooms. . .An easy week.  We caught up on a few tests and finished up our work week.  Piano lessons are going splendidly.  he told me last night that he though piano was his 'special gift' from God!  I'll try to see if I can get his last recital video to post on xanga.  If you follow me on facebook, it's there too!

Around the house...We've been having lots of company in the past few weeks.  My house is fairly clean, just a bit of dust.  We had two of the single men from church over last night for dinner and Christmas practice.

I am pondering...  I am pondering for sure!  Thank you for praying for me these last few weeks.  I really felt your prayers this last Tuesday when I did my 24 hour blood pressure monitor.  From what I could tell, my BP was under 120/80 most of the time.  It crept up a bit while I was making dinner maybe 135/85.  Even after our evening walk it was 117/77 with a heart rate of  101.  I haven't heard from my Dr. with those results yet.

As for my results from my pelvic ultrasound~  I have a rather large Hemorrhagic Ovarian Cyst 8.6 X 7.5 X 7.9 cm.  They've asked  That I return for a follow up ultrasound in 8 weeks.  Most likely to be able to compare the results and see what the cyst is doing.  I believe I will contact a homeopath and see if there are any other natural supplements I can take to shrink the cyst and help with pain management until then.

Please keep praying for me.  You don't know how much I appreciate the prayers.

A favorite quote for today...
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool
than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

One of my favorite things...You can tell I've been on a diet.  I've been trying to cut salt, eat mainly vegetarian and drinking my organic juice 3 times a day.

I've been craving everything under the sun!  Especially Carne Asada Nacho's.  I've made them once so far and they were even better than at the restaurant!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Practice, Practice, Pracitce!  Maybe yardwork tomorrow if the rain isn't too heavy.

A peek into my week...
Pictures of the yard work we've done.  We'll spread the pile of leaves under the bushes and eventually top it with mulch.






My manly man's Merry Birthday present

 Our 'new' to us craigslist camper!



~~Have a great weekend dear friends!!~~