it's labor day!

The miracle of life is coming to our home. Molly has delivered her first pup! It's a medium brown little girl. How to anxiously go about our day with calm and quiet, how to watch her closely without watching her? Poor thing my heart goes out for her while at the same time my heart sings happily for the miracle that is taking place in our home. Please Lord help her through this time and protect the wee ones from harm while they are coming into this world of ours...

Update: We have 3! We have a medium brown little girl, a  black one of yet to be determined gender, and another, can't really tell what color because it's dark in the room where she is. But I can see that it's lighter than the black one and darker than the brown one.  Looks a bit gray??  Pics in a couple of days! I feel just like a daddy who's been pacing in the waiting room at the maternity ward all day! Molly girl, you've done a good job!
Update to the update: We have a med. brown girl (Roxy) a black male (Patrick) and a dark brown male (O'Bryan). All are doing well and I'll post pics in a couple of days... don't want to distress mama with a flash camera! 
Update to the updated update! ;) Mama is calm and not concerned about the camera, so here they are!

it's a good day to catch up on some rest...

"A little pause prepares the mind for greater service in the good cause.. .Fishermen must mend their nets. And we must every now and then repair our mental waste and set our machinery in order for future service. To tug the oar from day to day, like a galley slave who knows no holidays, suits no mortal men. Mill streams go on and on forever, but we must have our pauses and our intervals.

Who can help being out of breath when the race is continued without intermission? Even beasts of burden must be turned out to grass occasionally. The very sea pauses at ebb and flood. Earth keeps the sabbath of the wintry months. And man, even when exalted to be God's ambassador, must rest or faint; must trim his lamp or let it burn low; must recruit his vigor or grow prematurely old. It is wisdom to take occasional furlough.

In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less. On, on, on forever, without recreation, may suit spirits emancipated from this 'heavy clay'; but while we are in this tabernacle, we must every now and then cry halt and serve the Lord by holy inaction and consecrated leisure.

Let no tender conscience doubt the lawfulness of going out of harness for awhile, but learn from the experience of others the necessity and duty of taking timely rest."

- Charles Spurgeon

~Trust God

it's a good day to reconnect with who we are intended to be.

I've been reading lately and what I've read has caused me to ponder.... Am I who I am intended to be? I'm Christian, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Friend, and yes...Self. I am a servant of the Lord. It is my joy in life to serve others, my aspirations are to have a calm, clean, organized home..... a place of refuge from the chaos of the world.... This is my goal, my joy. How am I moving towards this goal? I think it's time to declutter. 

Time to throw out distractions, time to throw out stress. Time to throw out worries and cares.  Let's put on some hymns and smile the day away, pray our cares away. It's time for me to focus on being who God intended me to be.  

it's a good evening for processing jalapenos!

Given 25 pounds of jalapeno by my good friend H.E. I've attempted several times this past week to make some of my husband's favorite pickled jalapenos. Not being able to recall exactly what I put in it was causing a bit of hesitancy, not to mention the sheer volume of jalapenos required a block of time sufficient unto the need!  Finally, after questioning my husband as to the taste, tasting the vinegar myself from a previous jar, researching different recipes, and seeing what I had on hand, I came to a conclusion.  Here is what I believe to be the same simple recipe I used last time that the Hubs enjoyed so well:

Roasted Jalapenos

Onion chunks

Garlic cloves

vinegar/sugar/water in the following proportions

12 cups white vinegar

6 cups water

1 cup sugar

 

I roasted the jalapenos on my stove top, filled the jars with 2 cloves garlic, roasted jalapenos and chunks of white onion. This time I also added baby carrots :) 

I then filled the jars 1/4" from the top with the hot vinegar/water/sugar mixture and water bath processed for 25 minutes. I've processed 23 quarts and 1 pint so far.

 As you can see I still have quite a few jalapenos left.

Tomorrow I'll go shopping and pick up the ingredients I need for my friend T.K.'s Cowboy Candy :) For that recipe, follow the link! http://paletteandcanvas.blogspot.com/2012/01/lets-eat.html And now I'm finished for the night, and it's only midnight! Not bad! :)

Random Blessings

"...It isn't the big troubles in life that require character. Anybody can rise to a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh - I really think that requires SPIRIT."... 
I read that in a the book "Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster yesterday.  I've been so busy lately, for years in-fact, that I haven't taken time for serious reading.  Now that the hubs has purchased for me my lovely Kindle Fire, (Isn't it perfectly lovely?!) I've taken up reading again.  I've already downloaded 40 books from Amazon's free section. If I get through all 40, I figure I've doubly paid for the Kindle by saving the cost of paperbacks.... I guess I could have gotten them from the Library for free, but in the past some odd years haven't done that, so why bring it into the equation?? ;)  I'm over half finished now with my first book, having started it exactly 50 hours ago. Not having read 50 hours ago mind you, perhaps 4. Having spent 4 I am perfectly qualified to report, I LOVE my Kindle Fire :D Thanks Hubby!
But now, the house is waking up and it's onto some chores! The sun is out and it's a perfect day for de-cluttering the bedroom, finish finding a place for the debris from the pantry overflow, my previous decluttering adventure, finally getting around to roasting and canning those jalapenos I got from my good friend H.E. and begin refinishing the trunk the hubs brought home to me...
The Trunk!! A perfectly lovely trunk. made from cedar, that someone deemed appropriate and artful to laminate with a dubious outer layer. I want to give that person a hearty hug BECAUSE I am sure it's because of this laminate that the hubs was able to purchase it for only $10.00 at the thrift store near where he works.  He said he agonized over the idea, "would it be a blessing or a bother?" I gave him a big hug "BLESSING!!"  I am to strip the laminate, sand it down and rub it with tung oil.  He will make a metal stand with legs to bring it up to coffee table height.  What to fill it with? My head swims happily with all the prospects! I s'pose I could put a pillow and blanket for the wandering soul who ends up sleeping on my couch, but remember I'm the girl who makes doll houses out of medicine cabinets! see my "Favorites Friday" blog post here The answer to this question takes imagination!! 

 Coffee's gone, time to get crackin' !! :)

it's a good day to thank the Lord for his strength...

I've been bombarded with many cares lately. This is an uncertain world we live in. The world seems to be turned upside down. What was once valued is now portrayed as ridiculous. What was once safe and sure is altered and detrimental. Natural affection is rare. Our freedoms have been given away or stolen. Worst of all, God, who has created us and gave himself as a sacrifice so that we may have everlasting life, who has protected us and provided for us, who has dried our tears and comforted us through our worst fears, who loves us and watches over us with patience as we fail time and time again.  This God of amazing love and sacrifice. Is scorned and denied.  This is an upside down and uncertain world we live in.  As I thought about all these things the other night I gave ear to my fears and my fears began to grow.  I cried out to the Lord "Why?!"  and a still small voice inside me said "Why not?.... Don't you think I can still take care of you?"  The tears that I had been holding back started to spill, but for a different reason. I finally began to accept and understand. God is not afraid of this upside down world and I have no reason to fear either.  I am a daughter of the King. Thank you Lord for your strength, your mercy, and your goodness. 

Psalm 37

 

it's a good day for myo oat cereal

I'm making Oat cereal today! I love this recipe and it gives my family an alternative to commercially packaged cereal.  The grands love it too.  We eat it either hot, or cold with milk. Coconut milk is my personal fav.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds brown sugar
• 3 oz. vanilla
• 2 TBS pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
• 2, 24 oz. cartons raisins
• 3 lbs. walnut 
• 3 lbs. coconut flakes
• 25 lbs. old fashioned style rolled oats
• 2, 10.5 oz. bags mini marshmallows

btw, like Mama Hen? She sits on our kitchen table 24/7 hence she keeps an eye on everything I do in there. :)

Pour brown sugar into a very large bowl, add vanilla and spice and mix thoroughly, evenly distributing the moisture. Set aside. Run walnuts and coconut flakes through food processor to chop finely then add them along with the raisins to the brown sugar mixture, stirring to coat.  Toss into oats along with the marshmallows.  Keep in a sealed container in a cool, dry environment. Stores up to 6 months.

This is my basic recipe, but I often alter it according to whim or what I have on hand.  This time I added a cup of chia seeds, I had some in the cupboard and they're extremely nutritious so I figured, "why not?!" Other ingredients that might be good are dehydrated apple chips, chopped banana chips, or any variety of seeds such as sesame or sunflower. As I mentioned before, I like this cold, with coconut milk, but you can also serve it hot. This basic batch cost me $50.00 and made just over 37 pounds. That's approx. $1.35 a pound. Pretty inexpensive, AND I know just what's in it!

How to Make Hot Oatmeal Cereal

Pour 2 cups of water into a saucepan. Add a dash of salt and 1 cup of Oat cereal. Bring water to boil. Reduce heat to medium. Cook oats for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. This recipe makes two good-sized servings.

Semi Wordless Wednesday

Yeah, it's nuts here sometimes, but we like it that way!  :)

it's a good day to get things done...

Last night I got a head-start on my day today. I went into the pantry and had a good look around. "Physician Heal Thyself!" The organizer needs to get organized! I went through my entire pantry and pulled out everything that didn't quite fit where it was, or just plain did not belong there. I completely filled my dinning room table with the over-flow... not an easy task since my table is 8 ft. long! Then I awoke this morning to a different day than I thought I would. We're snowed in! Hubby can't get to his job, so as I type this, he's blissfully sleeping in. :) My kitchen table is overflowing with pantry excess and the dogs are huddling at my feet. I need to get busy!

Things to do today?

1. Cook a pot of beans
2. Organize the pantry so the overflow fits
3. Can banana pepper rings
4. Can BBQ sauce
5. Juice the produce in the fridge
6. Laundry (a never-ending chore
7. Shopping (another never-ending chore)

I just got a call, jalapeno peppers are 50 cents a pound! A friend is bringing me a case. It looks like I'm roasting and canning jalapenos! hmmm, just where did I put that recipe that the hubs loves so much?? I know, I didn't write it down. I told myself "This is so simple, I'll remember how I did it!" When oh when will I ever learn?!

THE BOOK...

The Book our Mothers Read 

from Miriam by John Greenleaf Whittier

 We search the world for truth; we cull

 the good, the pure, the beautiful,

from graven stone and written scroll,

from all old flower fields of the soul;

and, weary seekers of the best, 

we come back laden from our quest,

to find that all the sages said

is in the Book our mothers read.

my two Irish girls :)

  

My Two Irish girls

Tillus McGee McGillicutty & Molly McDougal Malone 

Very soon we will have more. Mrs. Malone came to us expecting :)

it's a good day to be green

Click on the link below for a few moments of contentment on this St. Patrick's Day.

My Hubby played it for me.  Ahh yes, I am in love and I am blessed!!

The High Kings ~ Red is the Rose

Happy St. Patrick's Day Ya'all! 
BTW, ever have corned beef grilled? My Son-in-law just made it and It's da bomb! I've stolen so many bites of it that I don't think I'll be hungry enough for dinner!
And now it's time to watch The Quiet Man, It's tradition!

  

Oh how I Love being married to an Irishman ;)

Wisdom...

Auntie is visiting from Alaska. She is an appreciator of books and we were speaking of the joy of reading. Wistfully I tell her of a love of reading that I have not partaken in for quite some time. She tells me, "I see you cleaning a lot, but I don't see you being comfortable. Get comfortable and enjoy your life and don't worry so much if the house is clean." I showed her a book I had begun and not finished and she told me of a recent book she enjoyed.  I moved my book to the top of the table and got on Amazon.com to order myself a copy of her book.  

Thank you Auntie for your wisdom :) 

 

it's a good day for finding that which was lost...

UPDATE to my March 2nd post click here to view.  I am pleased and relieved to report, that I found it, on 3/11/12 Indeed, it was someplace safe :) I asked the Lord to help me to find it, and keep it safe until I do. It was in my laptop bag! Who would've thunk it! Thank you Lord! :) I am now going to put a box in my pantry with the words "SAFE PLACE" on it  That will be my one and only safe place in the future.

Yeah right, I'm not THAT organized! LOL

it's a really good day...

Every now and then life plops you *smack* in the middle of a really good day. It started out with breakfast. Let me just say, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day and I don't care when we eat it.  As a matter of fact, I adore having breakfast for dinner, but today just happened to start out with breakfast for breakfast. We went to Denny's for banana pecan pancakes and coffee. Hubs ordered the coffee with a shot of half vanilla, half cream.... I think know I'm in love :)

We went for a drive and visited "The Shoe Tree". Don't quite understand the concept of a shoe tree, but I think it's rather cool and wanted to go for a drive and take a picture of it.

Hubs got into the spirit of things, and said if it were him, he'd go lay down under the tree and take a pic. So I handed him my camera ;)

Next we were off to a quilt show with the kiddo and our visiting aunt! Here is a pic of my favorite:

...and hubby's favorite

Right about then, my big strong handsome man wanted some protein. . .

 

Oh yeah!!  

(My burger was considerably smaller, and hubs finished off my fries for me)

Then I ran into one of my favorite stores, American Discount Foods a.k.a. ADF and got a couple of smokin' deals... 2 gallons of bbq. sauce for 3 bucks and 6 pounds of taffy (peppermint) for 50 cents a pound.  Not Bad! :)

Hubs and kiddo both dislike peppermint taffy, (it's the only flavor ADF had) so this will literally last me for months! 

Time to go home, then the hubs says, "Hey, get online and order that Kindle Fire you've been wanting." Wha?!? ... thud.

But we aren't finished yet! He gave me some flowers, put them in water for me because I was so tired...

 Then came my favorite part, snuggling with my sweetie and watching a show when kiddo comes in and we finish the day having some quiet time together....

ahhhhh.... perfection! 

Thank you hubby, and Thank you Lord,

it's been a really good day!

it's a good day to save a hundred grand or so...

Cost of this beauty? Only $5,000.

(honey, can I have one? )

http://www.junkboulevard.com/house-build-for-only-5-000/