Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A Hot August Sunday
A place to meet
Dog-panting day
Volleyball and sandy play
bare feet
grass seat
fingers dance, strings sing
frozen flavors, coughably sweet
empty-cup messes
pond refreshes
BB's fly
boys run by
crony conversation
watermelon fixation
homemade salsa, chips
cool clear water pass salty lips
Hot rays fade
Memories made
A place to meet
Sunday treat
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Dying Well and Full
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
What Are You Doing With Your Life?
When you get up in the morning and you face a day, what do you say to yourself about your hopes for the day? When you look from the beginning of the day to the end of the day, what do you want to happen because you have lived? What difference do you want your life to make?
If you say, I don't even think like that, I just get up and do what I've got to do, then you are cutting yourself off from a basic means of grace and a source of guidance and strength and fruitfulness and joy. It is crystal clear in the Bible, including this text, that God means for us to aim consciously at something significant in our days. God's revealed will for you is that when you get up in the morning, you don't drift aimlessly through the day letting mere circumstances alone dictate what you do, but that you aim at something - that you focus on a certain kind of purpose. I'm talking about children here, and teenagers, and adults - single, married, widowed, moms, and every trade.
Aimlessness is akin to lifelessness. Dead leaves in the back yard may move around more than anything else - more than the dog, more than the children. The wind blows this way, they go this way. The wind blows that way, they go that way. They tumble, they bounce, they skip, they press against a fence, but they have no aim whatsoever. They are full of motion and empty of life.
God did not create humans in his image to be aimless, like lifeless leaves blown around in the backyard of life. He created us to be purposeful - to have a focus and an aim for all our days. And this is not oppressive. It's not slavery. It's not depleting. To find what we were made for and to do it with all God's might (Colossians 1:29), is freeing (Galatians 5:13) and energizing. Jesus said, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me" (John 4:34). Food! Aiming day by day to do what you were meant to do, is like eating: it gives life and energy, rather than taking it away. You will eventually die if you do what you were meant to do.
You may be young or you may be old. That is God's choice, not yours. But when you die doing what you were meant to do, you die well and full.
~John Piper
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Gift Value
My dear Holly Hobbie friend....
+
sharing encouraging conversation.....
+
over classical music and dainty delights.....
_________________________________________
.....PRICELESS
Monday, July 12, 2010
Florida Ramblings
The views from the airplane certainly evoked silent, awe-filled praises to my Creator Savior!
After earth and cloud gazing.
One of my favorite stops!
Stepping in, the aromas smacked but invigorated the olfactories!
Every jar could be opened and smell-tested. I was finally put on a time limit.
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Matthew Henry on Proverbs 3:5-6
"We must have a continual regard to God's providence, must depend upon it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer. We must therefore trust in the Lord with all our hearts (v. 5); we must believe that he is able to do what he will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to his promise, to do what is best for us, if we love him, and serve him. By prayer (v. 6): In all thy ways acknowledge God. We must ask his leave, and not design anything but what we are sure is lawful. We must ask his advice and beg direction from him. We must ask success of him, as those who know the race is not to the swift. For our encouragement to do this, it is promised, "He shall direct thy paths", so that thy way shall be safe and good and the issue happy at last."
Sunday, July 4, 2010
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world,
The battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one."
~Maltbie D. Babcock
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray,.....
...and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
~2 Chronicles 7:14
Friday, July 2, 2010
Fettuccini Primavera
8 oz. fettuccini
1 c cauliflowerets
1 c fresh snow peas
1 c broccoli florets
1/2 c julienned carrot
2 TBS vegetable oil
1 julienned zucchini
1/2 c julienned sweet red pepper
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 c chicken broth
1/2 c grated Romano cheese
Cook fettuccini according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a skillet or wok, stir-fry in oil the cauliflower, peas, broccoli, and carrots for 2 minutes. Add the zucchini, red pepper, and garlic; stir-fry until veggies are crisp-tender. Stir in broth. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2 minutes. Drain fettuccini; toss with veggies. Sprinkle with cheese.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Cherry Almond Granola
1 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c nonfat dry milk powder
1/2 c honey
1/3 c unsweetened apple juice concentrate
2 T canola oil
3 tsp almond extract
6 c old-fashioned oats
1-1/2 c dried cherries or cranberries
1 c slivered almonds
Fat-free vanilla yogurt, optional
In a saucepan, combine the brown sugar, milk powder, honey, apple juice concentrate and oil. Cook an dstir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved; stir in extract. In a large bowl, combined oats, cherries and almonds. Drizzle with sugar mixture and mix well.
Spread in a thin layer in two 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pans coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 375 for 15- 20 min. or until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Serve with yogurt if desired. Store in an airtight container. Yields 3 quarts.
Monday, June 28, 2010
A Lesson with Anne
~Anne of the Island, L.M. Montgomery
A Reminder
A Couple of Mountain Memories
After scooting around the table for a few more rounds, we were taught a new card game called "I Doubt It". Everyone sits in a circle, and a deck of cards, excluding the jokers, is passed out until none are left. The player following the dealer begins the game by choosing one to four of his cards to lay face down in the center and declare that they are "[1/2/3/or ...however many cards laid] aces", either by bluff or in truth. The play continues around the circle clockwise with each player declaring the amount of the next type of card in order of ascending card value. For instance, the second player will lay one to four cards on top of the center pile, declaring (or bluffing) "[that many] twos". The third player will have to lay one to four cards face down on top of the center pile declaring (or bluffing) that many threes. Then the same is done with the following players with fours, fives, sixes and so on up to kings, cycling back to aces, twos, threes, again. The catch is that anytime after the recent player has made a declaration of cards, but before the next player takes his turn, any player can say "I doubt it" if it's thought that player was bluffing. When "I doubt it" is said, the recent card layer must turn over only his center cards declared thereby revealing whether he was bluffing or not. If he was telling the truth, then the ACCUSER must take ALL of the cards in the pile without exposing the rest of them that were underneath. If the accuser was right and the card layer WAS bluffing, then the OWNER of the revealed cards must take ALL of the cards in the pile, again without exposing the cards underneath. The object of the game is to be the first to have no cards left in your hand. FUN!
Finally, while playing yet more card games the next morning, a doe and her two fawns were spied meandering through nearby paths. It's always a treat to feel somewhat amidst flora and fauna!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Mixed Vegetable Grill
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1-1/2 teaspoons basil leaves
- 1-1/2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
- (*These can be substituted with equal amounts of Salad Supreme seasoning.)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8 asparagus spears, trimmed
- 1 medium sweet red or yellow pepper, cut lengthwise into 6 strips
- 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
- 1medium yellow summer squash, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch slices
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch rounds
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, herbs and spices. Drizzle oil over vegetables in a large bowl; toss to coat. Add seasoning mixture; toss to coat. Grill the vegetables over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the vegetables are fork-tender, turning frequently. Yield: 6 servings.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Poems and Souls
"Where?" Jane and Diana stared, as if expecting to see Runic rhymes on the birch trees.
"There...down in the brook...that old green, mossy log with the water flowing over it in those smooth ripples that look as if they'd been combed, and that single shaft of sunshine falling right athwart it, far down into the pool. Oh, it's the most beautiful poem I ever saw."
"I should rather call it a picture,"said Jane. "A poem is lines and verses."
"Oh dear me, no." Anne shook her head with its fluffy wild cherry coronal positively. "The lines and verses are only the outward garments of the poem and are no more really it than your ruffles and flounces are you, Jane. The real poem is the soul within them...and that beautiful bit is the soul of an unwritten poem. It is not every day one sees a soul... even of a poem."
~Anne of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
A Movie Night Suggestion....
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Healthier Yummies
Using white whole wheat flour and almost half the sugar, these were a less-guilty indulgence.
C is for Chocolate Chip Cookies
Orange Glaze:
1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1/4 tsp. grated orange peel, 2 to 3 tsp. orange juice all mixed together until thin enough to drizzle.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Garden Friends
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Simple Woman's Daybook
I am hearing.....the catchy Habanero from Kylie's piano.
I am thinking....how I want to go beyond scratching the surface of the explosive joy of my life and liberty that's in Christ alone.
I am thankful for....precious friends. They are bottomless treasure boxes ornamenting my life with pearls of grace, diamonds of kindnesses, and golden nugget acts of love.
I am wearing....an airy, crinkled, three-quarter-sleeved, Dijon yellow button-down with an ankle-length denim skirt.
I am reading....Anne of Green Gables and With Christ in the School of Prayer by Andrew Murray.
From the kitchen....has come asparagus bacon quiche, lemon bread, salads, and vanishing oatmeal cookies.
I am anticipating.....planting flowers from Terry's Rose Cottage garden that will serve as reminders of a sweet friendship.
I giggled with delight....when I read Julie's vintage notecard letting me know of our upcoming You, Me 'n' Tea menu!
Praying
He is an importunate lover, demanding concentration. I am at the point in my spiritual appointments with Him that when I leave these allotted moments, He uses them and haunts my soul with love thoughts the rest of my day."
~Karen Burton Mains, Making Sunday Special