Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Almost Wordless Wednesday

 
Happy Birthday Dad!






Give my love to Jesus.

Missing you today and always. . .

~No Tears in Heaven~
1. No tears in heaven, no sorrows given.
All will be glory in that land;
There'll be no sadness, all will be gladness,
When we shall join that happy band.

CHORUS:

No tears (in heaven fair)
No tears, no tears up there,
Sorrow and pain will all have flown;
No tears (in heaven fair)
No tears, no tears up there;
No tears in heaven will be known.

2. Glory is waiting, waiting up yonder,
Where we shall spend an endless day;
There with our Savior, we'll be forever,
Where no more sorrow can dismay.

CHORUS:

3. Some morning yonder, we'll cease to ponder
O'er things this life has brought to view;
All will be clearer, loved ones be dearer
In heav'n where all will be made new.

CHORUS:


Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Terrific Tuesday With A Recipe!


Please be sure to pop over to my dear friend Emily's blog and read her updates.  Her daughter Anna has just been diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.




It will be a long road, fighting this cancer.  I know the family, especially Anna appreciate your prayers.

Deuteronomy 20:4a  
"For the LORD your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you
. . ."

~~~Praying for Anna~~~

--------------------------------------------------------------



Cream Cheese Monkey Bread

3 cans Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls (or use store brand)
1 (8oz.) brick of cream cheese- cut into 24 cubes

Spray a budnt pan with non stick cooking spray.  Set Aside. 
Slightly flatten each cinnamon roll and place one cube of cream cheese in the center.  Fold the edges of the biscuit around the cheese.  Place the filled biscuit pieces in the budnt pan.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon

Melt sugar and butter together in small saucepan on medium heat until sugar is dissolved add cinnamon.  Stir well.  Pour this mix over the biscuits in the budnt pan. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes-until the biscuits look done and golden.  Immediately invert onto serving dish.

If your biscuits came with frosting, drizzle it over the cooked bread.  Or make your own drizzle with powdered sugar and a bit of milk.


http://img4-1.myrecipes.timeinc.net/i/recipes/oh/cwsl/butter-pecan-cake-oh-1923743-l.jpg
Butter Pecan Cake with Butter Pecan Frosting

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 eggs
Butter Pecan Frosting
  • 4 cups confectioners' sugar
  • reserved browned butter
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • about 1/3 cup milk
  • remaining chopped pecans

Preparation:

In 2-quart saucepan over medium low heat, brown pecans in butter until butter is lightly browned; stir constantly. Drain browned butter into a measuring cup; set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, and baking powder, salt, milk, vanilla, eggs, and 1/2 cup of the browned butter. Beat for about 2 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup of the chopped pecans. Pour batter into two greased and floured 8- or 9-inch round layer cake pans. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Cool for 5 minutes; remove from pans and cool thoroughly before frosting.
Frosting:
Blend confectioners' sugar with remaining browned butter, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1/4 cup milk. Add more milk if necessary, a teaspoon at a time. Stir in remaining chopped pecans. Spread top of one layer with about 1/2 cup frosting; top with second layer. Spread remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake.




Sunday, October 21, 2012

Hello Sunday!





Outside my window... 
Outside my window. . .it is blissfully cooler.  I awoke this morning to hear the pitter patter of rain.  It sprinkled gently all morning.  Our high temperature was 72 degrees.

I am thinking...
I am thinking to the weeks ahead.  I am thinking about project lists.  Thinking about stocking up on a few craft supplies.  I wonder. . .do you think I'd make any money selling those Christmas baskets I make?

I am thankful...
I am thankful to see the hand of God working in my life and of the lives of those around me.  I found out Friday evening that my neighbor knows our Pastor and his family.  It just tickles me to know the Lord placed us here.  It tickles me to see how He has his hand in the midst, stirring people and getting them to think about HIM. (My neighbors need to know about Salvation!)
 
In the kitchen...
I should have taken a picture of our lunch today.  I didn't.  It was really good.  I roasted a whole chicken and made mashed potatoes and gravy too!  We have apple tart and vanilla ice cream for dessert.

I am wearing...
I am wearing black and white today.  I curled my bangs and put a bit of make-up on for church today.



I am creating...
My creating goal this week is to work in #2 son's room and work on his decorations.  I'll be sure to post photo's.I will also bake this week and put some desserts in the freezer.

I am reading/watching...
Between books right now.


Bionic Woman in the DVD player

I am praying...  Praying for the desires of my heart, praying for far away family, for safety, for wisdom, praying for my children, praying for my witness.


Acts 1:8   "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

 I am looking forward to... 
fire at the beach
 husband returning from training. . .
. . . the weekend!


From the learning rooms...
It was a good week.  He seemed to grasp subtraction with borrowing.  We finished school on Thursday and were able to go to Barnes and Noble on Friday for a coffee date with Daddy.

As a reward for diligence in school, my student was able to have his friend Tim over to play this afternoon.


(Drinking tea and playing lego's)

Friday night was his first piano recital of the year.  He amazes us!  He appeared so calm.  He invited 3 friends to go. . .and they came!


(
cool as a cucumber!)


(our friends from Left to right. . .Cammie, Grandma Sue and Grandpa Dave)


(Piano teacher extraordinaire, Shannon)



Cammie


Around the house... I need to get the hose for the vacuum out and vacuum up all the dust bunnies in the corners.  There are a lot of them. everything else is fairly clean.  

A favorite quote for today...


"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy in your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties."
Helen Keller



One of my favorite things...


(Tastes a lot like movie theater popcorn. . .the secret is the sauce!)

A few plans for the rest of the week:  School,  housecleaning, baking, decorating, visit with friends, fire on the beach, piano lesson.

A peek into the past week...

We enjoyed a busy week.  It was field trip week again.  We visited a pumpkin patch.  It was held on a dairy farm.  There was lots to see and do.  Our students had such a fun time.  The teachers enjoyed the company of one another while watching the children play.





(Ethan)



(sliding down a pile of cotton seeds)



(the wagon ride)



(new Momma cow)

(baby calf)



(We played him out!)

My manly man has been slaving away around the property here.  Last weekend he prepared our back yard dirt for sod.  Yesterday he installed the sod.  It looks fantastic.  We're building a chicken house for the next project.


(the work crew)



(all done!)


Have a great week Dear Friends!



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

What's For Dinner With a Recipe!



Three Cheese Sausage and Rigatoni

12 ounces uncooked rigatoni
3 cups fresh broccoli florets
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 package(12 ounce) JOHNSONVILLE® Three Cheese Italian Style Chicken Sausage, sliced(I'll be using chicken and apple sausages)
1/2 cup Italian Style salad dressing
Romano or Parmesan cheese, grated
*(I'll also be adding chunks of onion and minced garlic)

Preparation

  • 1 Cook rigatoni according to package directions in a large saucepan; add broccoli during the last 3 minutes of cooking time.
  • 2 In a large skillet, combine sausage, red bell pepper and Italian dressing; cook over medium heat until heated through.
  • 3 Drain pasta and broccoli; transfer to a large bowl.
  • 4 Add sausage mixture; toss to combine.
  • 5 Sprinkle with cheese.

Chicken and Apple Sausage Stir Fry

  • 2-1/2 cups instant brown or long grain white rice
  • 1 can (8 ounce) pineapple chunks
  • 1 package(12 ounce) frozen stir-fry vegetables
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 package(12 ounce) JOHNSONVILLE® Apple Chicken Sausage , sliced
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/3 cup cold water
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Preparation

  • 1 Cook rice according to package directions; set aside.
  • 2 Drain pineapple; reserve pineapple chunks and juice.
  • 3 In a large skillet, sauté vegetables in oil until crisp-tender.
  • 4 Add sausage and pineapple chunks; cook and stir until heated through.
  • 5 In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, water, soy sauce, brown sugar, and reserved pineapple juice.
  • 6 Stir into sausage mixture.
  • 7 Bring to a boil.
  • 8Cook and stir for 1 minute or until sauce is thickened.
  • 9 Serve over rice.

Thank You johnsonville.com for the inspiration for my dinner tonight!


Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Join Me In Prayer





Please join me in lifting up a dear family to the Lord. 
They just found out that their 17 year old daughter has Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. 
Please pray for Anna.
(read her story here)

Pray for her family.



Matthew 21:22  
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.



Thursday, October 11, 2012

~~It's Thursday!~~



Outside my window... Much cooler today.  It's about 66 degrees.  It rained a bit.  Not a good soaking like we need.  I moved my patio plants out last night so they could get a wee bit of rain water to drink.

I am thinking...
I have been thinking about chickens today.  That is the next project on the list for things on our acre farm.

I am thankful...
I am so thankful for where I live.  Did you know I prayed for 6 years to come back to this area?  It's rewarding to me that God answers my prayers, even if it takes a while for me to receive an answer.

Psalms 40:1   I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

In the kitchen...

For tonight rice and sausage stuffed acorn squash with a green salad.


Yesterday we had Cheesey Broccoli Soup.  It was good.  We ate it all.

(cheesey broccoli soup...the last bowl...for lunch today)

I shopped on Tuesday and came home and made casseroles for the freezer.  I ran out of EZ foil pans.  I made:
  • enchilada casserole
  • ritzy chicken casserole
  • tator tot casserole
  • cheesey chicken spaghetti
I wanted to make a couple of desserts for the freezer as well but I need to get more pans.


I am wearing... khaki colored capri's,  3/4 sleeve tee and my husbands black socks, attractive huh?

I am creating...
My next big project in the creating department will be to decorate #2 son's room with those maps and few other things I have for that room.

(map wall idea)

This weekends project list:
  • purchase and lay sod in our itty-bitty grass spot in the backyard
  • start constructing that chicken house


(chicken tractor idea)


(my chicken house plan)

I am praying...praying for far away family. . .may God give them comfort, praying for the desires of my heart, for health, for wisdom, for my husband, for my children, for friendships

I am reading/watching...
I am reading a new-to-me author, Beth Webb Hart.  The book is Love, Charleston

We are watching many things, not all at once, but as time allows.
  • Adam-12 
Adam-12



  • Quincy


 From the
learningrooms...  It has been a skill building week.  Subtraction with borrowing and spelling.

http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/edu/80/2/images/edu_80_2_202_fig1a.gif

Around the house...
Around the house, things are going great.  I finished two of those dust ruffles over the weekend.  Yipee!  The place manages to stay fairly clean.  It's the outside that's calling my name!




One of my favorite things...


We are all loving this hot tub. 
We love it! We're in it at least once a day, sometimes more. It was our $400 craigslist deal.  We've done quite a bit of shopping on craigslist since moving here. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:
weekend projects planned.  Nothing exciting.

A peek into my day...


A surprise picture on the camera.  #2 son must have taken more pictures than the ones I asked for~
A palm tree he rescued from the lawn.  It appears he threw in some weeds to keep it company.

~~Have a great weekend friends!~~