The Needle in a Haystack

Yard Work

The next time Chris tells me he is going to do yard work, I need to pay more attention....







..Life is such an adventure with that man!

Wordless Wednesday ( NOT)

I know there are a lot of Wordless Wednesday posts floating around out there... I can't do it... I am much too chatty...but I do have a few things to share...
How about the latest reads around here...The Splendid Table , you seriously have to get this book... The recipes look great and it is so much fun reading the stories behind them.  Even if your not a foodie this book is fun!  I'm a public radio junkie anyhow and this book is just like the show... only better...

..Now look at this... ...and now this ...I wanted an autographed copy of Nightshade  for my birthday and Susan did all China Bayles fans proud with this one.. she even tucked in a little birthday note and the sweetest bookmark... Thanks Susan!!! 

...and the felt came... ..so now friends and family are probably rolling their eyes knowing all things felted will grace birthday pressies and such... I can always find victims loved ones to give my handiwork to!

....Last night when I was snapping pictures I realized Chris and I both had nutty T-shirts on... we wear them to relax in the evenings... want to see???

...he's still morphing from Clark Kent to Superman in this one  ~smile~
...I went to take a picture of Christopher in his T-shirt but it was plain white... boring... so no snap shot of the male child..

  The garden is doing well with all the rain... I have decided that radishes are the absolute most encouraging food to grow... almost instant gratification with a radish...of course now that there are about a hundred coming up it will take a bit to weed them out... but worth it...

.. I am a big fan of USA grown veggies ( local if possible) and when these babies appeared at the store last night I had to snatch one... ..Chris and I can eat a whole one by ourselves... cantaloupes are right up there with strawberries... May is such a great month for the "first fruits"...
.. for some reason the switch on the well pump was acting up... we knew it wasn't the pump as we replaced that last year around this time... anyhow, I couldn't get the roast in when I wanted because we didn't have water til Superman came home to fix it... so we had homemade pizza instead... I think we could eat homemade pizza 7 days a week... I can't take credit for the goodness...My recipe comes from Laine  at one time I did have a pizza oven... but we have a super small kitchen so we got rid of it and I use the regular oven set on 425 for about 15 minutes.  yummy... I make 4 at a time and we snack on what is left... when the olders were home I would make 8 at a time and that usually took care of everyone that was eating with some leftover.

  Today looks to be a beautiful day.. lots of work to be done outside... sheets hung on the line...I want to make a batch of Heather's @ A Place of Quiet Rest  recipe for soft scrub..

  Pray for the troops, because of circumstances Josh has "missions" despite the fact he is definitely not 100%..something that can't be helped I suppose... so pray for him ...and all the troops...

...and have a fine day.... all day long...

I've been tagged

Ms Bizzy  tagged me.... 7 things about me... I am such an open book that I'm not sure anyone would find anything I write as being a bit odd like...so.. randomly here are a few...

1.  When I was a little girl I wanted a very large family of 8 children... 4 girls and 4 boys.  ( I still would have liked that)... anyhow, from the time I was 8 I wanted to name my boys Jamie, Jeremy, Josh & Jacob..... Christopher didn't get the memo ~smile~

2. I have an un-natural fear of thunderstorms..I believe I am far worse then any disciple in a boat during a bad thunderstorm!

3.  My comfort food is Oscar Meyer Bologna on fresh Sunbeam bread.... with mustard... during particularly bad times I've been know to eat two in one sitting

4. Oatmeal cookies are breakfast food

5.  I have a weird sense of numbers... I'm sure buried in there would be a psychologist dream ( Aunt C if your reading this stop analyzing)... I count the number of times I scrub a pot... or mile markers...or  socks I fold... I mean , not out loud.. but the numbers are always there.... yet... I am horrible at math!

6.  OK, since my id is being thrown out here... I tend to not start something I feel I can't be good at... cause I guess I am a bit of a perfectionist... I once got a 98 on a paper in college and argued with the prof for a minute point in a paragraph... he happened to be my psychology teacher and he ended up asking me if I were fighting for  "more A"... this probably connects some how to ###5 and possibly ##2 & 3 doesn't it...

7. hand made things & books with inscriptions in thrift stores make me sad enough to buy them.  No matter how bad the art work might be or how horrible the book, somebody took the time to think of the other person and the receiver gave it to a thrift store... that is just plain wrong...

... There you have it... 7 random things about me...the rules say for me to tag 7 others... I'm not sure who likes to play and who doesn't... if you would like to be tagged let me know and I'll link you...

I have a busy busy day ahead....pray for hte troops...
   and have a fine day... all day long!

Moving Day

.. Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's out there... I am very blessed to have a Mom, a Mom in Law, a Grams and dear Aunts who have all made a huge influence in my life... Make sure you let all the Mom's in your life know how much you appreciate them!

..Jeremy and Heather moved into their new apt yesterday. The place is wonderful and so much nicer then their old place. They are still in the renting stage  but oh this place is beautiful...and Cary NC  is a wonderful place to live!  According to stats, Cary holds more PHD's per capita then  any other town its size in the US & the crime rate is one of the lowest in the state.
  Here is their new complex...
... Since we started out early we were treated to breakfast....~smile~

.. we had a choice !!!


Seriously, we had eaten and the kids hadn't so they fulled up before we got started...
Heather and I planted a few pots of plants for the porch...
The guys loaded and unloaded the U-Haul

...first things first.. Rock Band was hooked up and Dad and the boys take a spin on it breaking in the new place...
  A nice lunch.... and then... off to home group...
My camera had run out of juice so I wasn't able to get pictures of the beautiful cake Dana made ... strawberry with whipped cream & cream cheese frosting... decorated with chocolate dipped fresh strawberries.. Oh My Goodness! delicious!!!! The fellowship was great... Chris is working through the Book of Mark and we just finished Chapter 13 last night. 

  .. Off to continue my relaxing day...
Pray for the troops.

Baldwin for President

.. Chuck Baldwin now has his presidential website up... gives us a choice now that Ron has slipped to a backseat in the Revolution.

  I had such a nice visit with Lance's Mom, Tammy this morning on the phone.  It was good for each of us to be able to talk about the boys. Josh is determined to make their home a second stop when he returns state side.

.Remember the storms I mentioned last night? They ended up being real doozies... The storm leveled several structures in Greensboro and the line of storms passed about  10 miles north of here in the middle of the night. Christopher sat on the porch a bit watching the storm pass north, and Chris and I slept like babies.

We went to bed late checking out the new History Channel series Tougher in Alaska  I sort of liked it... Chris was not impressed... not sure that will make its way into a date night or not...as Ben says... that's why they make TVO... of course.. we don't HAVE TVO.. barely have cable...

Holy Moly Michelle Duggar  is expecting child ###18. I admire any mother who can run such a well oiled ship.  I was a total mess with 4, even though I really would have wished for 4 more,as much as I must say I love motherhood and consider it the greatest blessing, it would have to be God's strength that 36 little hands were clean and fingernails weren't dirty...   Congrats Duggars...

  Josh called this afternoon and in the middle of the conversation I heard the incoming siren go....I called Chris to pray and Christopher and I proceeded to pray until Josh was able to call back.. Oh how my heart stood still !! 
" I will uphold you with my right hand says the Lord".... We thought Josh would be mission free until the unit returned... never assume with the military..

... How did Christopher spend his day?????
..basketball... dunking it to be exact.  its a process... I had to keep reminding him he had other things on his list today!

..Tomorrow will be a busy busy day... helping Jeremy and Heather move into their new place... then Homegroup tomorrow night. Chris and I spent a bit of time this afternoon when he came home  practicing some worship songs for tomorrow night. I love spending time like that with my love!
   I continued work on the sunshine print ripple and started another one in soft baby yarn.   that will probably come to a halt when my felting stuff gets here... Vicki @Turkey Feathers  just inspired me to do some needle felting... are her things just not the sweetest!  Congrats on the new grand too!!

  Tomorrow will be a long day... remember to pray for the troops... Lance's family.. and also my friend Faye's family, as they lost her dear niece in a motorcycle accident last night. Isn't it wonderful that despite the ugly and awful in this world, we still have a sweet sweet Savior to run to with our tears and hurts.   He promises " I will never leave you or forsake you"......  Got that???? Never...
....so have a fine day... all day long...

Couscous, Round Ripples, Might Oaks & Seeds

..Isn't that the sweetest face.. Holmes.... hot tea, computer, crochet & a cat... life is good!

.. dinner tonight.. easy peasey..  boneless skinless chicken breast I had bought last week on a B1G1 marinated in Italian dressing... cook for about 40 minutes on 350... tender, moist... I happened to have fiesta corn, fresh cucumbers & couscous... I heard rice prices will sky rocket now... probably good to get use to couscous now!  I just cook mine in chicken broth... really its more chicken like powder.. this is the best stuff we have used... contains NO MSG which is important with my allergies...

...Reading Cheryl's  post a couple of days back with the snakes reminded me I hadn't shown you my birthday gift from Hobbes... snakes, lizards, newts....they are all the same to me....

Chris decided that a good thing to do hear at the farm would be to plant a tree in memory of Lance. He chose a pin oak.  I'm not very familiar with them, although from research they are suppose to be predominate in Ohio which means I should have seen them growing up....and my dad being the amateur botanist, I would have remembered if it had been a tree in our area.  Anyhow.. the tree is now in the front and I think it will be a great shade feature out there.

.. at MIL's suggestion we stopped our quest for cucumber plants and went for the seeds... yep that is an unprepared bed of red clay mud... wish us luck on that one!  Chris did throw in a few things of manure ... hope it helps... this happens to be a new patch for this year but you have to start some where... a winter over of mulch & worms and next year will be better.

  Christopher and I hit Wally World today... I keep saying I want to boycott them, but shopping options are slim in O-Town... with storms moving in this afternoon and evening I didn't want to be caught somewhere in a downpour.  I picked up the yarn for a new afghan. I decided to do a Round Ripple   using Red Heart Sunshine Print . This is so much fun I already have a skein done and I didn't start until late in the day.  I'm not sure why I haven't done one before.  These work up so quickly I might do one for a baby to send to a National Guard family whose baby was born with a severe problem. Josh has given me "orders" to write them a check form his account and perhaps a snuggle for hospital visits might be just the thing to add with it. I have plenty of baby yarn from last years run on Amazon when it was .40 a skein .. I must have ordered 50 different skeins and am still wading through the stash... With  this NG baby and the two in the family that will make a dent in it...

.. Guess its time to batten down the hatches... we have a strong line of storms heading this way.. round one already hit ... with a 200 year old plus oak on three sides of the house... makes a person rather nervous during a bad storm..

... I always repeat " Fear not it is I" when I get a little antsy... you know, the disciples were sort of freaking out about being in a boat during a bad storm... and Jesus had to remind them who commands the sea... yep, I'm even more hard headed then a disciple... not just with storms... but life in general ... " Fear not..it is I"... who could not sleep like a baby with those words whispered in your ear!

The Homeschooling Option

After 17 years of homeschooling, I was a bit skeptical of what more could be said about homeschooling. What I surprise I received when I read The Homeschooling Option , by Lisa Rivero.  Lisa breaks the barriers between different types of homeschooling, school at home, unschooling , etc and with anecdotes and examples shows parents choices that are available.  I was especially impressed with her sections on the teen years. Lisa encourages parents not to fear and doubt their abilities AND their teens abilities to make wise choices when given the proper environment.  For those just getting started I recommend this book as a gentle nudge in taking the first step.  For us old timers it offers not only a great read, but a kinship to what is written, validating our choices of home education.  For those homeschooling year by year or, at this time of the year wondering if  you can actually do this another year, The Homeschooling Option logically will take you down a path that helps clear the cobwebs in decision making.  The book also includes a wonderful section on homeschooling special needs.   If your thinking of homeschooling, or already a veteran.. put this book on your must read list... 

Wrinkles, Sugar..and the Minor Prophets

The presentation was not what I had hoped for yesterday with our Mexican meal, but the guys really don't care baout those things and really I am doing it for my own fun, so the joy came from seeing htem woof all the food down... despite the lack of brightly colored tablecloths and napkins and coordinated serving dishes... the plates I did buy special ..well, mostly cause I like the colors...
  A word to the wise about the mock margaretias...sugar... more sugar... we were puckering up big time sipping them despite the fact I even threw in a few strawberries.. I would increase to a half cup ...this really would make a great summer drink...

   Today's menu is not so labor intensive. We have a meeting tonight with the National Guard.. a gathering of hte families of Josh's unit ..a healing meeting ..and informational meeting... venting.... I'll make chicken salad with Chapati Bread  from Robyn's recipe.  ...and of course... strawberries!

.. how do you like my button???? I'm in love with it.... I'm in love with it because it was sent all the way from Iraq with an absolute goofy card.... How my soldier found this on a FOB outside one of  the largest hotspots in Iraq is beyond me... but it is so Josh... and it left me knowing  that despite the head thing... and the heart thing... he'll be OK...

.. I've been continuing my study of the minor prophets.. with a slight side track into Titus for a few days... my MIL, who happens to also be a dear sister in Christ, lent me a book that is really a must read if your going to wander through the minors... Unexpected Wisdom  by Dan Schmidt is a must own.... I normally shy from any sort of Bible based books but this one is right on and I even ordered my own copy .You really really need to be careful of  "inspired" books and seek discernment these days... it seems every one out there and their brother is trying to get a slice of the Jesus pie... and while I was thinking about that..KeriMae @Happy Home  wrote a post on the very same thing!  ...
  Anyhow,..... Yesterday I was in Habakkuk, three chapters of conversations with Habakkuk and God.  then you get to the end and here you go :

  " Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vine;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And htere be no herd in the stalls-
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."

.. There you go folks... a Hymn of faith...
.. Doesn't it make the words just swirl in your hed through out the day??? I'll be reading Schmidt's opinions today ... I look forward to it... How can you do anything but drink that in????

.. You know the afghan I have been working on since Jan. ( not full time..but it has seemed like it), well, I have just the border... but i realized on Sat. the person I made it for has decorated in colors completely opposite of the ones I used... The colors and combo I perceived this person as just  isn't a match at all.. so now I have this ghan  that in my head will be marked for ______ and so it would feel wrong giving it to someone else... I don't know what I'll do... it will sit for a bit and  then I'll know...

  I forgot to mention that yesterday was my BIL's birthday.. for the last 20years we have celebrated  together, but this year he is all grown up with a wife and a baby on the way... ~sigh~ he doesn't need me anymore.......after 20 years he probably wanted his own birthday!!!! 

  I believe there is one more piece of birthday cake waiting for me in the  fridge... it will taste absolutely yummy with my cup of hot tea  before  I start the day... I know... a totally crummy breakfast...  but my last hurrah before I enter into the world of oats and fiber....

  Pray for the troops... and have a fine day... all day long!!

Cinco de Mayo

.. I thought I would make an early post of my dinner menu for Cinco  de Mayo  to maybe inspire...then I looked at the clock and realized it was not  that early at all...

  I wandered to the local veggie / fruit stand this morning to pick up some ingredients for supper... and HAD to get a basket of their strawberries... Usually I pick my own from them but the rain had started so I bought a basket .. ate a few on the way home.... ate a few more while I was fixing stuff for supper... The rest will be sliced and covered  sprinkled with sugar and eaten with milk... strawberry soup 3 times a day until they go out of season... I'll only do a couple of jars of jam as the olders don't eat it and they probably have last years still on the shelf.

  Love the glasses in the picture?? I bought them a few years ago for .25 each and they have been sitting in the cupboard just waiting... so in honor of Cinco de Mayo I'm making:

Mock Margaritas
1 60 can limeade
16 oz can lemonade
1/4 cup powdered sugar
3 cups crushed ice
2 cups club soda

combine in a blender and then pour into glasses garnished with lime..
..fun huh??

We are also having fresh :

Pico de Gallo
( Spanish for Rooster beak)

1 1/2 cup cubed tomato
2T minced jalapeno pepper
1/4 C sliced scallion ( white part only)
1/4 C lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Mix together and let set to marinate the flavors..

Since the tortillas were on sale at the grocery I bought a few packs and will make our own tortilla chips out of them.. Simply cut in 8ths ( like a pie) and drop into hot oil for a couple of minutes and hten drain and sprinkle with salt...  This makes a TON... they can be baked too on a sprayed sheet at 375 degrees until slightly brown..

We'll have saffron rice and refried beans ( store bought)

..The main dish will be :

Beef Fajitas
In a crockpot combine:
1 1/2 lb flank steak ( sirloin was on sale so that is what I used)
1 onion chopped
1 sliced green & red pepper
1 jalepano  ( I had an Anaheim)
1T cilantro  ( I used some fresh.. we love cilantro)
2 cloves garlic
1t chili powder
1/4 t salt
8 oz can tomatoes --chopped
cook on low for 8-10 hours...high for 4-5 hours.. serve on warm tortillas with sour cream,salsa, shredded cheese, salsa  or guacamole..

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!!! Have a fine day ... all day long... remember  to pray for the troops

..and My 50th continues

....I could seriously get use to turning 50 ... the last couple of days have been mostly all things good. 

.. apart form the technology crash of Oxford, ( and even that wasn't so bad) I have moved  from one bit of fun to the next.

..I spent my birthday morning with Angela & Betsy..
its one of those things I love about our small town... not only do I get my hair done, but get a great visit too!   Angela had me looking good in no time!
..Next it was off to renew my drivers license...why do those people always seem like they would rather shoot them self in the foot then work there???  I was glad to get that task  over with for another 8 years..~sheesh~~
..next  was my birthday treat.... popcorn chicken....totally bad for you.. totally yummy.... I heard somewhere the Colonel was taking the "fried" out of the name... Kentucky Baked Chicken just doesn't have a good ring to it...

... Chris and Christopher in true Chris and Christopher form presented me with a birthday cake...
Yes, that is  a frozen Pepperidge Farm  chocolate layer cake with a candle from the bathroom candle holder stuck in it...I was assured the candle had been washed.... how could anyone NOT love this cake???????

..Sat. morning was spent with the Blue Star peeps... such a great and supportive group... I love each one dearly ...it is amazing how our hearts can sink when we hear the words " my son ( or daughter) got their deployment orders"... or the joy of the count down to the home coming... we go inside the room, close the door & it all comes out... our joys, fears & tears.... open the door and we are the warrior mamas ( and dads)... so many good projects coming up... Bike Rally, USO events...

.. After the meeting it was over to D's .. she absolutely blessed me with a gc to AC Moore good for any current or future craft obsession... I have cleared a whole calender day to browse every single isle and make just the right purchase.. We also had lunch at our fav Mexican spot  and happily chatted and munched a hot tortilla chip or two ( or 100) and munched on enchiladas... .. I got home just in time to head out the door for dinner at Chili's with the older children and my inlaws...I don't have a lot of pictures of that event...and some of the pictures will have to come from Chris... like the cake that looked like a giant fireball  because my mom in law put ALL 50 CANDLES ON THE CAKE!!!!  Goodness, it took Jamie & my FIL Dan about 15 minutes to light them all... but ... I blew them all out in one breath!! Sue had made my favorite cake... I'll share the recipe because I know Emily wanted the recipe
Texas Sheet Cake
Cook the following in a 2 qt saucepan
2 sticks margarine
1C water
4T cocoa
Stir the following in a mixing bowl
2C sugar
2C flour
1t soda
1/2 salt
Pour cocoa mixture over above; then add two eggs & a half cup buttermilk or sour cream ( you can use 1/2 cup milk with 1 1/2 T vinegar added if you don't have the sour cream or buttermilk let that stand for 5 minutes before adding to the mixture though)..

Grease a jelly roll pan ( you know cookie sheet with sides) 15X11
Bake for 20 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven

Cool a little and while it is still warm ( not hot) pour the icing on

1/2 cup margernine
6T milk
4T cocoa
After warming those add 1lb of confectioners sugar and stir....this stuff is like candy folks!  You can add chopped nuts to the icing if you want.

   Heather knows my love of all things Willow Tree and blessed me with  the Angel of Garden Heather collects Willow Tree too and we are always looking for the perfect ones for each other.

  Emily ( the Martha Stewart of the family) wowed us all with this : just as yummy as it looks...
  My girls are just the greatest...
..The presents just kept on coming... purses & perfume..pillows..plaques... bird feeders ...cold hard cash...
    Every day should be a 50th birthday party!!!
  Still waiting on my birthday wish of a certain soldier cutting down the yellow ribbon... but that will happen soon...
... Want to laugh.... read Chris's take on the old chicken cross the road joke ....

Pray for the troops... and have a fine day...all day long!