Hello Tuesday!

Sorry for the same old-same old style of blog post, but this is the best thing for me right now.  Busy life.

Outside my window... Has someone mentioned to the weather man that this is supposed to be spring?  Sunday it was 100 degrees.  Monday it was 102 degrees.  Today it's cooled down to 86 degrees.   And I picked these very hot days to do yard work in the front of the house.  Thankfully the next few days are promising to be much cooler.

I am thinking...  I am thinking how thankful I am to be feeling so much better after my surgery!  I really am thankful the Lord heard our prayers for my health.  I'm loving my weight loss and am feeling so good. 

Thinking also about finishing the yard work.  When the bushes are trimmed and chipped up, I'd like to order a load of fine mulch for all three of the front flower beds and the area around the garden boxes.




I am thankful...  Always grateful to the Lord for answered prayer.  Thankful for God's provision for my life.  Thankful for family, friends and a great church.

In the kitchen...  We've been working out in the yard the last few days.  It has been in the mid eighties inside my house on those hot days.  Today my little man and I went to Soup Plantation for soup and salads.

I think I want to put together some easy freezer meals for those busy days.  Got to get my thinking cap on for some meals that don't heat up the kitchen.  Lots of different salads!

 I'll be putting on some oatmeal overnight in the crock pot.  Yummy breakfast with little work.


Throw 2 sliced apples, peeled and cored apples, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour 2 cups of oatmeal and 4 cups of water on top. Do NOT stir. Cook overnight for 8 – 9 hours on low.

I am wearing...  I am wearing green shorts and a green flowered tank top with ruffles. 

I am creating...  Just creating something in the front flower beds.  Pictures, of course!

(my herbs near the front door.)



(Star Jasmine at our front entry.  In the evenings, this smell enters my foyer.  It's a delicious, heavenly smell!)

(my little helper shaped these over growm bushes.  He had a blast!)


(this is the area we've worked the last two days.  Now we need to chip the trimmed bushes)

I am going... Tomorrow is midweek services at church.  Friday I am going to the airport.  My husband returns after a week of training in Maryland and Our friends Chris, Sharon and baby Anastasia arrive that night as well.  They will be here for a long weekend visit.  We're planning on visiting Legoland, taking a 4X4 ride and visiting a museum and Old Town this weekend.

I am praying...  Heavy on my heart~  Anna.  She needs all the prayers we can send her way.  Stop by her mothers blog and leave Anna a prayer, scripture verse or words of encouragement.  She is starting procedures to receive a bone marrow transplant, part of her treatment for her Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.

(sweet Anna on the left being held by her Momma on the right.)

Praying for my granddaughter who is being formed.  She'll be here in September and our lives will be changed in a GREAT way!


I am reading/watching...  I am between books at the moment.  We've been watching an assortment of movies and television shows on netflix.

Emergency!  (season 2) and  Foyle's War


I am looking forward to...  I am really looking forward to having all that yard work completed.  The mulch will make weeding a breeze.  I am also looking forward to fresh tomatoes from my garden.  Shouldn't be too much longer to wait.

From the learning rooms...  My student remains faithful to completing his assigned work.  He's been pretty good about long sessions of piano practice too.

Around the house...  We are at a lull between company.  I need to vacuum all the dust bunnies before the next round of company comes.  All else looks pretty good.

A favorite quote for today... 
“I know God won't give me anything I can't handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much.”
― Mother Teresa

One of my favorite things...

Buttered popcorn and Cheese popcorn~ yum!

A peek into my days...



Enjoying bluegrass festival in Ramona, California.  The boys in the band are home schoolers.  I thought they were the best out of all!

The gal below caught my eye as soon as she arrived to do her show.  She looks like a character!!




At a Vietnam Reunion with our house guests the Hoffman's.  We ran into a friend of a friend and knew who he was by his name!  Hello- meet Ben.  Brother-in-law of my sweet friend Jess @jessandboyz!



(that's our houseguest with the vest, in the middle)

a boy dreaming of big boy toys. . .


My Mother's Day at the beach with my favorite girls.  Hot dogs, beans marshmallows.  What a great life!!


Tonya and Katherine

naps at the beach

Marshmallows!


~~Have a great week dear friends!~~

Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and

Hello Tuesday!

Outside my window...  A very nice southern California day.  It's about 70 degrees and sunny.  A beautiful day.

I am thinking...  Thinking about to-do projects.  Thinking about getting things done around here.

I am thankful...  I am always thinking about the provisions God gives to us.  I am so thankful HE meets my every need and makes my life so fun.

In the kitchen... Leftovers for dinner today.  I've had smoked turkey and mashed potatoes for tow meals so far today.  I'm going to have A leftover grilled hamburger for dinner.  My #2 son wants to have corn dogs and tater tots.

I am wearing...  My new to me, green capris and a moroon colored tank top.  I lost a little bit of weight recovering from my surgery and it's been staying off.  My new capri's are size 6.  I am thrilled!


I am creating...  Going to be creating some new to-do lists.

• Finish my Bachelor's degree
• Make a salvation tract for our Toyota
• Finish #2 son's school year by July 1st
• Finish yardwork
• Make marmalade with friends
• go camping
• Start up walking again for excersize

I am going... No plans on going anywhere the rest of the week.  My home-school buddy Shannon @jssteph7 and I need to go on a couple of home-school field-trips!

I am praying...  Praying for far away family.  Praying for far away family and their health.  Praying for my Juneau children and baby grandchild.  They have found out that IT'S A GIRL!!



I am reading/watching...  I am currently reading Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler.  Not far enough into the book to determine if it's a good read or not.



We watched Foyle's War while my Mother visited.  It was a very good period drama.  A WWII detective solving cases while the war interferes.

From the learning rooms...  We just finished a big review.  English this week is on homonyms.  I just love them!

Around the house... My mother just left yesterday, after about 20 days with us.  We are washing bedding today.   I also cleaned the guest bath today.  I've had lots of company this month.  My current company will be in and out of the house until May 8th.  Then I'll have my dear friends Chris, Sharon and baby Anastasia visit May 17-20.  The house is fairly clean.  My cat coughed up a hairball on my bed yesterday so I had to wash ALL my bedding too!


One of my favorite things...I'm craving some rosemary bread dipped in olive oil with seasonings.  It is so yummy.  I've made it a few times this past month. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Dinner with our Pastor and his family and our company on Friday.  I'm going to make Carne Asada Nachos and Butterscotch Layered Dessert.  If it stays cool, I may work in the yard tomorrow or Thursday.

A peek into my days...


Antique stores in Ramona, California with my Mom @sharolsplace



Eating barbecue in Julian, California





More company. . . visiting together  (Monica, Jim and @sharolsplace)



Going to the El Cajon car show to pass out tracts.



My Mom wanted red streaks in her hair.  This is how we rednecks color hair without proper, expensive tools.  Picnic utensils!!



During the highlights!



The results.  She liked them!



Spring piano recital.

Hello Friday!

Outside my window...  Beautiful.  I have the front door open and the birds are singing.  It's a nice day.  We got up to 91 yesterday, it didn't feel that hot.

I am thinking...  I've got a couple projects to start for church.  And a few yard work projects to finish.  It's nice to have my mother visiting us for the next couple weeks. 



( I think she's enjoying her visit so far. . .it must be relaxing )

I am thankful...  As always I am thankful for God's provision.  I am also amazed to see the hand of God work in my life.  I see evidence of it so many times and it's just a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

In the kitchen...  Homemade pizza tonight.  One garlic ranch vegetarian and one all meat with onions.



Have you tried a topping like this?  You should, its easy and delicious.  Works well with chicken breasts or a firm fish such as Cod or Halibut. (I've also heard this called OMG Chicken and they use breadcrumbs and omit some of the seasonings)

Easy Parmesean Chicken/Fish

1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 t. minced garlic
1/2-3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 t. Mrs. Dash seasoning
fresh ground black pepper to taste

4 boneless skinless chicken breast cutlets, about 1 1/4 lbs. total weight or about 5 ounces per breast

1. Mix the mayo, sour cream, garlic, Mrs. Dash and shredded cheese in a bowl

2. Lay chicken breasts on prepared baking dish (I use a small rectangle glass pan)  and spread mayo mixture  on chicken breasts.  (I sometimes add a bit of extra Parmesan cheese to the top for browning.)

3. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.  ( I sometimes have to stick this under the broiler for few minutes to make the top nice and golden.)

I am wearing...   green capri's, and a pretty tank top. Similar to this outfit. . .


I am creating...I finished some projects the last few days.  The garden is all planted.  My husband and #1 son planted all the seeds last Wednesday.  I planted the tomato starts and flowers on Wednesday.  Looks like most all the seeds have sprouted, except the melons.




(This is my kitchen herb garden, located near the front door.)



(I added some fresh potting soil to my patio plants and  a couple of Red Geraniums to attract the Hummingbirds.)

I am going...  Were going to try to go to the local farmers market tomorrow.  It's a nice place to window shop!  Then my mother would like to see Coronado Island.

I am praying...  Praying  for my married children.  They board the ferry to Juneau, Alaska this evening.  They should arrive in Juneau Sunday or Monday.  They have found a townhouse to rent already.  It sounds spacious with 3 bedrooms and two baths...  I hope to see pictures soon.  Also praying for the desires of my heart.  Praying for my witness to my neighbors and people I meet.

I am reading...  We went to the library today so I'll have a new book.  I'm excited to start the new Clive Cussler book, The Striker.




I am looking forward to...  I am looking forward to eating fresh tomatoes from my garden! 

From the learning rooms...  We have been reviewing in anticipation of a new 9 week period.  I think he may write a report next week on a famous composer.  He'll receive extra points from his piano teacher for completing it.

Around the house...  With all the company cycling through our house recently, everything is very clean.  Good things are coming from our kitchen most nights.  I've got a vanilla cupcake candle that I'd like to burn soon.

A great memory from my week...  My married children are not photographed much together since they've been married.  I took a few minutes Sunday after church to photograph them by the trees in our yard.  I was chuckleing at them fussing about having their pictures taken.  "My hair doesn't look right."  "Don't get the camera too close to my face!"  "Why do I have to do this again?"






(These are my favorites.)

One of my favorite things...

 I got this outfit at Goodwill today for $9.00!  I just adore it.


That's about all I can think of from our house recently.  If you are my friend on facebook I've got a video posted of our family singing at church.  You can message me here on Xanga and I'll friend you on facebook so you can view it.

Have a great weekend dear friends!!