~It's Thursday!~

Outside my window...  88 degrees is the forecast high for today.  Right now it's 83 and feels pretty humid.  I sat on my spot on the patio last night watching a good thunder and lightening show right above my head.

I am thinking...  I am thinking that I'm glad I got some things crossed off my to do list.  I am thinking I'd like to see the cooler days of last week come back.

I am thankful...  I am always thankful for the provision of God for me.  I am thankful for God's word.  For the inspiration and comfort I find there. 

  2 Timothy 1:7   For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and
of a sound mind.
 

In the kitchen...  Not too inspired today.  How many ways can you cook chicken?  When it's hot?  In the crock pot?

That recipe I posted several weeks ago for Cheesey Chicken and Rice was very good.

I need to go grocery shopping today.

I am wearing...  Khaki shorts and a brown tee shirt.  Pink toes and red sandals.  Uninspired hair to day as well.  My hair is at that in between length that I hate.  Too short to pull it all up.  Too hot to leave down.  Curly and dry.


I am creating...  I've got my dust ruffles started and in a closet right now.  I think I'll work on them this weekend.  I need to decorate #2 sons room.  I bought a handful of maps at an antique store that I want to put on his wall.  I may move his bed a bit since we're not expecting company anytime soon.  Still want to finish a couple bible studies.  I still need to finish a couple pictures I want to make to hang around the house.

I am going...  Grocery shopping, baby holding in no particular order.  Today.

I am praying...  Praying always for the desires of my heart.  Praying for peace and wisdom.  Praying for far away family.  Praying for my children and my husband.  Praying for a decision on which church to attend.

Thank you for those of you that prayed for me last week.  I've been having terrible female trouble.  Every month.  For almost a year.  This last week was the best I've been for a LONG time.  I am very thankful.  I KNOW I need to go to the Dr. . . I hate Dr.s appointments.  My insurance will not pay for any sort of alternative such as naturopath or chiropractic.  So I've been praying.  Thank you for praying for me.

I am reading/watching... Enjoying the Christian fiction I found at the library.  My little student and I have probably read 75 books total the last month.  I found an author that wrote a few books about some of the first women lawyers.  It was very good. I hope to find more by the same author.  Of course,  there is an earlier series about this heroine, my library does not carry!

James Scott Bell
A Greater Glory~ The Trials of Kit Shannon


We also watched a great movie on netflix (love my netflix!)
The Secret of Jonathan Sperry



From the learning rooms...  Curriculum purchased.  School supplies purchased.  An excited teacher.  I'm ready!!


Around the house...  Trash is out.  Dishes are done.  It's a bit dusty.  Dusting is not my favorite chore.  Looking forward to cooler weather so I can go out and do some yard work without having a stroke.


One of my favorite things...  My friends.  I've known these dear folks for over 22 years.  We had them over for dinner on Saturday.  We had surf and turf and those fantastic desserts I spoke of last week.

(Tony, Roxy, Paul and Tonya and baby Katherine too!)

(The food must be good.  They all stopped talking!)



(Can you see how blue her eyes are?)

(Someone. . .liked Aunt Beth's dessert. . .a lot!)

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Baby holding today.  Not sure what we're doing this weekend.  I keep hearing that my manly man will be working. . .I'm not really sure what I'd like to do! 

Something to Share...  A recipe!  This gal has some neat cookbooks out.
The Cake Mix Doctor

The cookbook I picked up last week is Chocolate.


I'm sharing a recipe from that cookbook.  I've yet to try it.  They all sound soo easy!

1 pkg. (18.25 oz.) plain German Chocolate Cake mix
1 container(15 oz.) prepared Coconut Pecan Frosting
1 C. water
1/3 C. oil
3 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Lightly spray and flour a 12C. budnt pan.  Set aside.  Place cake mix, frosting, water, oil and eggs in large mixing bowl.  Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute.  Scrape sides.  Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more.  The batter should look thick and well combined.  Pour batter into prepared pan.  Smooth our with rubber spatula. 

Bake cake until cake tests done, about 48-52 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Cool on wire rack 20 minutes.  Try to turn cake out onto a stand or plate.  Cool completely.  No need to frost this moist cake, just dust it with a bit of powdered sugar before serving.

Enjoy the long weekend. . .
Welcome Fall!!

~It's Not Thursday!~

(San Diego Harbor last Sunday afternoon.  This picture looks right out on the Navel Air Station at Coronado)

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...  A really pleasant day today.  Our high was 77 degrees.  I am thankful for the cooler weather. 

I am thinking...  I am thinking about so much.  To do lists.  Placing orders.  Decorating.  Thrift store shopping.  Camping. Cars. 

I am thankful...  Thankful for God's provision.  Thankful for answered prayer.

In the kitchen...  I was wanting to make meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy, a veg tonight.  But now I think I might poop out on that idea.


I am wearing...  Denim capri's and a orange checked shirt that reminds me of Daisy Duke's clothing.

I am creating...  I am finally sewing on those dust ruffles for both of the California King beds.  I thought I got a picture of the sewing pile, but I did not.

I went...  Last night we had a fantastic date.  We bought concert tickets to hear the bluegrass band, Steep Canyon Rangers with Steve Martin on the Banjo.  We went out to eat at a barbecue place first then headed to the open air concert.  We got the neighbor girl, Chelsea to babysit for us.  She is a nice girl.  Sadly, I did not get a picture of her, though I wanted too!


See this link on you tube! 

Orange Blossom Special



At a restaurant called Phil's BBQ waiting in line to order and get seats.

The line in front of us.


(My dinner pork ribs, Cole slaw, french fries and onion ring garnish with unsweetened tropical tea.)

(A picture of the band)



(Camera's were not allowed during the concert.  So....sneakily I whipped mine out and took two pictures.  This is my proof to you that I went!)



(That is Steve Martin)

I am praying...  Praying for the desires of my heart.  Praying for my health.  Praying for far away family.  Praying for our church search and that we will agree which one to return to.

I am reading/watching...  We traveled to a different library yesterday.  They had the new Joanne Fluke book, Cinnamon Roll Murder.  I am currently reading that.  She is the author that includes recipes with her mysteries!

Still enjoying all of our NETFLIX series.  Quincy, Six Million Dollar Man, Bionic Woman, and Poirot. 

We watched a great program called God of Wonders  telling how the world was formed from a creation standpoint instead of evolutionary theory.



From the learning rooms...  I will be ordering our curriculum this weekend.  Today we bought paper, pencils, glue and erasers.  I am excited to work on science this year.  We are going to try to hatch chicken eggs and raise a chicken as a fair project.

Around the house...  One of landlords came by this week to checkout a project that they need to complete.  So I cleaned the house and straightened the yard.  Everything looks good.

One of my favorite things...

Cherry flavored kool-aid made with 1/2 the amount of sugar it calls for.  Really good with sandwiches and popcorn.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  I am having my friend Tonya and her family over for babyholding dinner tomorrow.  We're having surf and turf, baked potatoes, big green salad, Tres Leche Cake
and sugar free Layered Chocolate Pudding Dessert.


Something to Share...  Our neighbors have a great grand daughter that has been spending the days with her grandparents while her parents worked this summer.  School starts for Cammie on Monday so the children are spending their last play day together today.  They've had sooo much fun the last 6 weeks playing with chickens, swimming,  playing lego's and playing Barbies.  She will be missed by my #2 son.


~~Have a Great Weekend!~~

~~It's Not Thursday!~~

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... the forecast is for 93 degrees today but it's not even 10:30 AM my time, and it's already 91 degrees.  I think it's gonna be hot.  Is turning on the energy sucking, high electric bill making- swamp cooler a sign of weakness?    I haven't turned it on yet. 

I am thinking... thinking about fall, about homeschool, about piano lessons, cooler weather, camping, seeing family next month, about making friends.

I am thankful... Still pinching myself about being in a place I love!  Thankful for the provisions of God over and above anything I could ask or think.  He is so good to me.

 Psalms 31:19   Oh how great is thy goodness. . .

In the kitchen... We had meals from the crockpot the last two nights.  One meal was lasagna and the other cheesy chicken and rice.  They were very good.  The future holds~  grilled chicken, baked potatoes maybe crock pot Chinese food.

I am wearing... Cream colored shorts and a vibrant, multicolored blue tee shirt. . .bare feet.  Remember those sandals I bought a few weeks ago for $16.00 at Kohls?  I love them soo much I'd love to have a pair in every color.  I received a $10.00 off coupon and went back and got the a red pair and paid around $9.00!!   


I should paint my toes today. . .I'm thinking black cherry?

I am creating... I need to get a new military id card made.  I need to iron some doileys.  Still got some ideas for homemade poster pictures to make.

I am going... on a hot date next week!!  We bought tickets to a bluegrass concert featuring Steve Martin (the actor/comedian) and the band Steep Canyon Rangers for next Thursday.  I'm pretty excited.  I've never been to a concert before.

I am reading/watching... My new library has selection of christian fiction books.  I've missed those the last 4 years!  Of course I face the same old problem of reading books out of order.  I've found a western author, Stephen Bly that I like.  I wonder though if that is a nom de plume for a woman?  He writes like one. . .

We're Watching several series right now. . .
Bionic Woman Season 2,

6 Million Dollar Man Season 1,
 
Quincy,

Poirot,

and Christy.

I am praying... I am praying about our church search.  That the Lord would help us to agree on the right one.  That we will make special friends there.  That we will be blessed.  Praying for far away family.  Praying for the desires of my heart.

From the learning rooms... Nothing this week.  We're enjoying the last few weeks of our summer.  School will start soon enough!

Around the house... It's quiet, fairly clean.  Dishes need put away.  I need to dust.  Need to take out some chicken for dinner.

One of my favorite things... My surroundings. . .
(this is the little valley that I live in.  So beautiful!)

A few plans for the rest of the week: There is two end of summer parties we'll be attending tomorrow.  One is with the neighbors and one is with my husbands Coast Guard co-workers.  Sunday, there is a bluegrass festival I'd like to attend in the North County, we'll see if we go to that.

Something to share...

A Recipe!


Cheesey Chicken and Rice

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 large onion, chopped (I use Vidalia)
• 1 -8 ounce box Zatarain's Yellow Rice Mix, cooked according to directions
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 - 10.5 ounce can cream of chicken soup (regular or fat free)
• 1 -15 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained

Instructions

1. Place chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Scatter chopped onion over top. Spoon cream soup over top of that. Cover and cook on low 7-8 hours or on high 3-4 hours. A few minutes before serving, add in cooked rice, corn, and cheese. Stir to combine. Serve hot.

Have a great weekend!!

Terrific Tuesday With Recipes!

What to do with the bounty of tomatoes that we're having this summer?  I stumbled across this recipe yesterday and can't wait to try it.

Tomato Pie

Ingredients

• 3 medium sized tomatoes
• 6 large fresh basil leaves (if you don't have fresh, use 2 teaspoons dried)
• 1 +1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup mayo
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 pie crust, baked but not browned

Instructions

1. Cut tomatoes into slices.
2. Place in colander and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon table salt. Allow to drain for ten minutes (can skip this step if you like).
3. Arrange 1/2 of tomato slices in baked pie crust. Top with 1/2 of kosher salt, 1/2 of pepper, 1/2 of basil, 1/2 of vinegar, and 1/2 of cheese.
4. Repeat.
5. Spread mayo over top of pie. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Simply Sweet Weekend

Our weekend was simply sweet. 

You know, I think I've shared before, the motto of the Coast Guard is Semper Paratus or "Always Ready."  My plans always are changing.  I need to be "Semper Paratus" when I make plans. I did not get to go to the golf clubhouse to eat lunch with my husband on Friday.  Nor he did take off early for Coast Guard day. 

I spent an hour or so at the DMV getting my drivers license.  When they send it to me, I'll share what the picture looks like.  Then we went to the county library and got a library card and checked out books.  My little student devoured about 6 books that afternoon!


When Daddy got home we requested he take us to the beach.  The park we wanted to go to was closed. 











We went to one of our favorite little places along San Diego Bay instead.  Then daddy cooked us dinner at 5 Guys.

Saturday we walked around some antique stores and made a trip to Lowe's.  We were looking for materials to make a headboard for my bed.  We found some at Lowe's in the lawn and garden section . . . no dig fence sections.  They were black so my husband painted it cream.  He did a great job attaching it to the bed.  Now my pillows don't hit the blinds on the window!












Yesterday we tried another church.  It was a bit farther away, about 15 minutes from the house.  It was a predominately Filipino church.  It was a nice service with friendly people who use our version of bible and have some great musical talent.  I am comforted that there are so many good churches to choose from unlike the previous place we lived!


That's all my news for now.  Praying you all have a great week.