SATURDAY FUN

SATURDAY FUN.....BISCUITS AND GRAVY.....FARMERS MARKET....HAM AND BEANS

What a beautiful sunny Saturday it is here.....My hubby and I enjoyed early morning coffee on our porch with the songbirds singing to the top of their lungs......

With a busy day ahead so ...... I stopped and thanked God for such a wonderful beginning of all His glory...........then started in making Sausage Biscuits and gravy........(even though I have made homemade biscuits before )this was not the case this morning. I quickly took about a pound of
bulk sausage and placed in a skillet. I added a little flour here and there; some ice cold milk; and salt and pepper........Umm the house already started smelling heavenly. Then popped the biscuits onto a baking sheet and waited until they were lightly brown and ready.
My husband enjoyed the outdoors so we decided to enjoy breakfast outside. I took my pretty
yellow and white placemats ( I think I paid $1 for all four); set the table ; put out my homemade strawberry jam; hot coffee and it was ready........The birds played their songs for our background music..............

I redded up the dishes and pulled out the crockpot. In went the "ham chunk " I had put in the freezer from this weeks ham dinner. A bag of white northern beans ( I had soaked); a little onion ; salt and pepper.........On goes the lid and dinner will be ready tonight............

I then put the finishing touches on a pasta salad I needed to send to a bridal shower today. My older daughters will be attending and I am watching my sweet "grand".......Pasta Salad.....tri colored pasta; pepperoni; chunks of colby jack cheese; tomatoes; and italian dresssing. Yumm!

My husband and I will go to the Saturday Farmers Market where we can purchase some delicious veggies and maybe a loaf of homemade rye bread ( last time we loved this and I made the ends into croutons for salad and it was so good).............

A busy day but a good day. 


Sausage Biscuits and Gravy
1 lb Sausage (either bulk or in roll)
Flour
Milk
Salt and Pepper

1. Brown meat and then remove from pan. SAVE RENDERED FAT
2. Take 2 TB flour and stir in med high heat with a whisk in pan until all white gone.
3. Quickly add 1 cup milk....stir in ...then add 1 more cup. Cook on med high until begins to thicken.
4. This time measure out one cup of milk and add 2T flour in cup. WHISK in cup until flour dissolves. Add this to pan mixture. Cook on medium using a scraper or spoon to pull flour from the bottom of pan. cook until begins to thicken. About 5-7 min. 
** If looks too thin cook alittle longer or add about 1 TB flour mixed in milk.
5. Add in sausage ( this will also help thicken)

6. Serve over biscuits our hearty bread. May also add a side of eggs or potatoes. 

YOU CAN FAIL..AND FAIL..AND GET UP AGAIN.....

 LOVE MONDAYS...."YOU FAIL ...YOU FAIL ..YOU FAIL..BUT GET UP AGAIN

Saturday my husband and I enjoyed going out to a nearby Farmstand in town to look at a few more herbs and plants for our garden..... It was extremely hot but we enjoyed putting around; purchasing some nice green asparagus ; a vidella onion ; a few herbs and a beautiful flowing petunia plant that came cascading downward to hang on our front porch..........

After that ...we stopped by Wendys and got lunch to go ...inside our house and cool down....
We both watched a cooking show from Italy where we ooohed and ahhhed over this delicious dish of homemade pasta and sauce........

I said" I can make that" You can? he replied........" Oh yes" ( I was excited to show off my talents for making pasta but it had been a long time since I even tried. My mother always made
homemade noodles and let them dry on the counters all day long)....." Lets do it for dinner" he said.........Next thing I know he was in the kitchen with me and we made the flour noodles and worked with them....and he made the sauce! Oh we loved them!! ( fast forward through a small tornado that hit our area right after that . We were ok but many branches down).......
( The very next afternoon after the electricity came on) We both wanted to have that dish again.
** Maybe comfort from the day** .......This time I was going to try and make the sauce and present this wonderful dish to him.........but as I was making it ...it got thick...and looked like the 
Parmesan cheese was burnt and in a clump! I took him a sample and realized then....it was wrong........I had Failed!

I thought how I have failed at so many things in my lifetime. Failed at sewing projects; craft projects; gardening; canning; dieting etc.........and many a time it has become a discouragement 
where I would think about it and become defeated..........

This time....my husband and I laughed about the burnt sauce and I threw it out and wiped out the pan and started again. I humbled myself and asked my husband to show me how he made it and it was great! 

So many times we fail and fail and we think to ourselves; I am not even going to try once more.
But ........with God we can try again.....I thought about this in my life. What can I do when I fail?

. Learn to laugh at yourself. So many times I have thought but I ruined the whole .............
but you can just learn to laugh and go on.....* my mother in law was just in the hospital very ill a few weeks ago. We both laughed remembering how we tried to make strawberry jam and how it came out like syrup! A happy memory for both of us!

. Give your failures to God. God wants to use us for His purpose not ours.....maybe your not the best at cooking; sewing; singing but you can write a note of encouragment to someone. Use the gifts you have.

. Try try again. Educate yourself about an area in which you fail. I have since learned how to do several things I thought I never could by trial and error.

. Humble yourself and ask for help if needed. This is a hard one. We want everyone to think we
are adults and adults know most things.....As a young wife and mother I went to several Godly ladies in my church and asked and took notes on child rearing; marriage; finances and even decorating and sewing.....I remember my sweet friend Robin Ogle teaching me how to sew for my young girls. We took an afternoon of ice tea and material and cut out and made outfits for the girls. Other ladies have taught me through their lives and even blogs.

. Dont look back. Learn from the past but dont live in the past. Go forward.......even if its painful ...go forward one step at a time.....Realize you dont have to be perfect at everything but just keep trying one day at a time.

. Failure helps us to learn; to grow; to help others........You fail and fail but then Get Up Again.

COME AND SIT ON MY PORCH........

COME SIT ON MY PORCH..........

Welcome to my porch......I havent taken too many photos lately because I dropped my camera and as you see...it left stripes through each of my photo's...........But......went on ahead.........and used these.....
I just love my "summertime porch" this year.....My husband and I have spent many mornings enjoying the early morning birds; talking and the sun coming up through the trees....We 
have two little "love doves" that are trying to build a nest in one of my baskets......My husband and I just sat and enjoyed Mrs. Dove peeking over the rooftop as us seeing if she could fly down
and enjoy this new dwelling with beautiful flowers all around her....Mr. Dove just flew right in while we were sitting there...........

Who would love a beautiful nest filled with flowers? I say.....its a sweet message from God that
He just loves when two become one and build a "nest" and fill it with His beauty!

This summer has also been unique in that I began a "summer school course". Our church has a college and offers "summer school" courses that teach so many good things but I thought to myself ; I need some good lessons from the Bible.

This has been a busy summer and I just needed to devote some extra time to Him. His love. His goodness. His protection. His mercy. His compassion. His presence. ......and you know what
in just over a week my heart is growing stronger.....

I am not just reading more; but like a good vitamin.....I am reading all I can on Him. My Bible; good encouraging books on Him; Bible Studies and trying to surround myself with His goodness and good things.....

I take time out to enjoy working in my flowers; my garden; getting a special coffee; making jam; little dates with my husband ; rocking my grandchildren; reading a book.......

Filling your life with God is filling your life with goodness.........He is peace. He is strength.

I try not to look to the right and left and others lives and compare. That is only discouraging and besides thats not where He needs me to look. I only compare to what He has for me. He adores me! 

Filling myself with all these good things help me but thats not what life is about.....Its about pouring ourselves back into others.......Helping or encouraging someone else along this path. 
Knowing this course is full of homework can make a body tired but using what you have learned and not using it is useless. Can you imagine a Dr going through medical school and then you coming to him with a bad heart and he says " Im sorry I am keeping this all to myself" I worked hard for this and spent my time and money"....... NO.......they give it away to help others and heal .
Come to my porch today and you may find me studying; rocking my grandbaby; sipping some cold iced tea with someone I love; or even breaking string beans for dinner .......but in reality its all given from Him!

Welcome to my porch......I havent taken too many photos lately because I dropped my camera and as you see...it left stripes through each of my photo's...........But......went on ahead.........and used these.....
I just love my "summertime porch" this year.....My husband and I have spent many mornings enjoying the early morning birds; talking and the sun coming up through the trees....We 
have two little "love doves" that are trying to build a nest in one of my baskets......My husband and I just sat and enjoyed Mrs. Dove peeking over the rooftop as us seeing if she could fly down
and enjoy this new dwelling with beautiful flowers all around her....Mr. Dove just flew right in while we were sitting there...........

Who would love a beautiful nest filled with flowers? I say.....its a sweet message from God that
He just loves when two become one and build a "nest" and fill it with His beauty!

This summer has also been unique in that I began a "summer school course". Our church has a college and offers "summer school" courses that teach so many good things but I thought to myself ; I need some good lessons from the Bible.

This has been a busy summer and I just needed to devote some extra time to Him. His love. His goodness. His protection. His mercy. His compassion. His presence. ......and you know what
in just over a week my heart is growing stronger.....

I am not just reading more; but like a good vitamin.....I am reading all I can on Him. My Bible; good encouraging books on Him; Bible Studies and trying to surround myself with His goodness and good things.....

I take time out to enjoy working in my flowers; my garden; getting a special coffee; making jam; little dates with my husband ; rocking my grandchildren; reading a book.......

Filling your life with God is filling your life with goodness.........He is peace. He is strength.

I try not to look to the right and left and others lives and compare. That is only discouraging and besides thats not where He needs me to look. I only compare to what He has for me. He adores me! 

Filling myself with all these good things help me but thats not what life is about.....Its about pouring ourselves back into others.......Helping or encouraging someone else along this path. 
Knowing this course is full of homework can make a body tired but using what you have learned and not using it is useless. Can you imagine a Dr going through medical school and then you coming to him with a bad heart and he says " Im sorry I am keeping this all to myself" I worked hard for this and spent my time and money"....... NO.......they give it away to help others and heal .
Come to my porch today and you may find me studying; rocking my grandbaby; sipping some cold iced tea with someone I love; or even breaking string beans for dinner .......but in reality its all given from Him!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM..NOW IN HEAVEN

THE TASK WAS GIVEN.....HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM -HEAVEN JUNE 2010

This year is a very special Mothers Day for me for this year my mom is not here on earth with me.........Over 90 years ago a young lady was born to a family of 10. Her mama passed away when she was only 5 ; then daddy too at age 12. She was raised by her older sisters and they got buy living on what they could and many times having only the vegetables that the fruit stands would throw out.......She had a grandmother that loved her and taught her right from wrong; kindness; how to work hard and keep a clean home......and love God.............

When only 17 she ment a nice young man and married him. They loved; lived and worked hard 
in their many days........During that time they had their first son and he only lived a short moment.........a boy and 5 girls later life can become a family......
She loved her children........kept them clean; fed; and rocked and sang to her babies......
She was a wonderful cook and would "set the table" with beautiful cloths and make delicious 
chicken ; mashed potatoes; colorful veggies and sometimes a pie..........
Her task was given ..........to serve her family. She wasnt known by many but all who came in
contact with her remember the "touch" of love she would leave.........by a meal; a coat zipped up; a blanket around your shoulders; a smile or a kind word.........Every neighbor knew her mark.

She loved her husband of 69 years.......she would laugh with him and his jokes no matter how many times she heard them. They worked together in their "drugstore" that dad inherited from his brother when he died. Mom would cook the breakfast and lunch at the counter while dad ran the pharmacy and the storefront..........then back to her home where she loved the most.

She would tell me over and over " The greatest career you could ever have is that of a wife and mother"........
Moms "boy" grew ; went to war; came home and became a preacher. Her "girls" grew into 
various ways and she loved each of them. One daughter became a nurse and went to heaven 
early one day. Dad and her visited her grave everyday for as long as they could ...they loved their children for who they were. They loved their mates as if they were their own. They loved their grandchildren..............and enjoyed life.
She loved her hummingbirds; robins; flowers; songs; new recipes; hearing about your day and what was going on in life; baseball; basketball and football (Go Colts) In her last year she lived with my dear sister and loved their family; she had to have caregivers for some time and even those ladies felt as if they had become our sisters..........

The task was given......and she took it and left a legacy for years to come in her family and
the lives she touched each step of the way..........Happy Mothers Day Mom.......I miss you but 
thank you for the time given to me............

EASY COMFORT TREATS....TO SAY ...I LOVE YOU...

EASY COMFORT FOODS...TO SAY I LOVE YOU

MAKING STRAWBERRY JAM AND CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.....COMFORT FOOD

Today I was doing some catch up work at home since I was out of town this weekend being beside my sweet mother in law in the hospital. What a trooper she is. Despite the pain she was in she kept smiling and we would laugh together.


My husband was very worn out and had to put in a couple days of work into one
so I was trying to plan so special things for him to enjoy when he came home.

LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE!

LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE!!

  LIVE WHAT YOU LOVE

 These past few days these thoughts have past through my mind.....I just LOVE where I live???

  Oh you may say...Do you live in a beautiful city full of lights and many things going on? No ...as a matter of fact...I live in a small town but the citys are not far away......

   When I was a young girl I always enjoyed watching my mom tie her apron on....and could smell the aroma of fresh brewing coffee early in the mornings....I could hear the sounds of "Ker lunk...Ker lunk" as the coffee began to perk......Fresh eggs and  the smell of crisp bacon in an iron skillet filled the kitchen and my mom would turn that sweet smile and sing song " Good morning Good morning to you" in a cheerful voice...

   Dinners were a beautifully dressed table with a white covering and blue and white dishes......filled with white fluffy potatoes and a dot of butter streaming warm down the hill of potatoes; fried chicken that was light brown and full of crunch with each bite; asparagus that seemed to line up so green on a simple platter and rolls hot from the oven....

My parents lived during the War times...Depression Era...when times were hard and things they had were worked for many hours....and THEY MADE DUE WITH WHAT THEY HAD....and seemed content with that! I love that! Maybe ...just maybe that is why I love using what I have or taking old things; used things and making them USEFUL and NEW again..........

  I have found many a cup or bowl as the ones above and used for my table or made it a special plate for cookies to give away or even as a "snack time " dish for just me late at night..........A  .25 cent item from the past that brings such contentment.....

  I probably have had times or more that I too have thought: I wish I could have this or that as I thumb through a beautiful magazine of design and homes BUT .........now (maybe its age) I seem to have found such great contentment in the LIFE given.........I dont really remember saying " I sure wish I could have this or that in my life".........but God gives us our hearts desires......and  A home in which to live; a bed in which to lay my head; children grown that I love and admire and grandchildren for extra blessings..........

 My husband and my favorite times are times sitting together enjoying coffee; talking or being quiet and enjoying Gods nature...........

 I dont want to sound like I have ended up rocking life away........I love being active....and in this time of my life a New Business ( though small ) all about vintage is in my path......new beginnings for my husband and I to be a part of ......I love decorating ( with old things) and bringing Newness into each season in our home....

Enjoy yourself........with what God has given you....maybe not the life YOU had planned or what you think THEY think you should have  ( who are THEY anyway?) ha ha ..........Enjoy your husband for who he is...your children  for who they are.....( I once  heard a lady say Do your eyes light up when your children enter a room? For they look at your countenance first....  I thought this was good and made a note to myself to bring a smile to my grand girls!!
Enjoy who God places in your path?"  Oh ....but I wanted to be in that group or be a singer; a team leader; the president  of the club...Whatever it is! >..........Let God place you where He needs you and then encourage those around your path!! Its all about Him and not all about me.......

Take....your home and make it shine and BEAUTIFUL! .......Do you craft ( Im not great at this!) but try...how about cook; teach ; sew ; create? USE what God has given to you and live it to the fullest!

  I just sometimes love to don an apron with the grandgirls ........and roll out a piecrust or make cookies and watch their eyes light up and giggle ...as flour seems to float into the air and sugar dances around us!!

Maybe a Simple Meal of Meatloaf; twice baked potatoes; warm green beans and a cheddar biscuit.....created and set on the table and your hubby coming in the door and saying " WOW it sure smells good in here".........brings JOY to my heart..........

Sometimes just a cup of  Coffee ( I love coffee with Coconut Creamer) or Starbucks with creamer!! This can make a party for two...........

Enjoy your life!! Celebrate!.........with what you have and see what comes from it!

HOME SWEET HOME...ITS WHAT YOU MAKE IT...

HOME SWEET HOME..........ITS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!

I love to start my morning with a quick talk with God; an attitude check; and a good cup of coffee.............. How you start the Day..........means so much to you and to those you live with.........But. ....no matter how you start or what you may enjoy to eat.........I try and do it with a smile ..... It seems no matter what is going on at our home or how I am feeling physically there is nothing that cant seem to make things better than good food. Just the aroma of coffee brewing early in the morning and the smell of some good bacon ( oh even turkey bacon if your trying to be abit healthier) sizzling in the skillet...........It seems to uplift your spirits.......... Maybe you only have oatmeal or a nice bowl of healthy cereal . Could you serve it in pretty bowls or on a nice table to start your day? My husband enjoys having hot coffee early in the mornings sitting where we can see our bird feeders or in the warm weather on a front porch in our white rockers enjoying the morning sun............ Just a beautiful bowlful of fruit can get me going..............FRESH STRAWBERRIES..........smell so good and can be cut into the most delicious treats..........Springtime brings these delicious fruit here and I enjoy making sugar free strawberry jam or sliced strawberries and shortcake for dessert. I love "old bowls" ...you know the kind my mom used back in the 40's and 50's. I enjoy the crocks and using them for everything as well as on the table to hold a bowl of fresh granny smith apples to all to enjoy............Just standing in the kitchen ; bringing out the "bowl" it seems everyone wants to know what you making................. I have found these bowls at estate sales ; thrift stores for a few cents or dollars..........Mixing a batter for pancakes ( I love the Bisquick lower fat version) to have a special treat once in a while; or making up yummy chocolate chip cookies with my "grand" and flour all over the place; or cutting up apples for a Carmel Apple Pie.................... It doesnt take alot to make it "homey" and comforting....Keep small packages of ready made dough on hand in the freezer. Keep frozen apples (collect in the Fall or when in abundance) put away for a summertime pie........ If your physically not able to do alot of cooking or baking; you can find beautifully made cupcakes; salads; or even Mc Donalds on the run can be special if you make it that way.......... Its what you make of it........Home Sweet Home........