Food For Thought

It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the established authorities are wrong.

~Voltaire, 1751

Tag, You're It!

I got tagged for this meme by Shan over at http://halfsoledboots.blogspot.com/.

Here are the rules:

The meme works like this:1) Link to the person who tagged you2) Mention the rules3) Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself4) Tag six other bloggers by linking to them5) Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

1. I love to watch public access TV. Local churches, County Commissioners meetings, Agricultural Extension specials.

2. I can't stand to sleep alone.

3. My jaw pops when I chew due to TMJ.

4. I have this obsession about clothes smelling good, so I use nice smelling detergent and fabric softener sheets.

5. I hang my feet off the end of my bed and rock them back and forth as I try to fall asleep or rub them together, especially when I'm cold.

6. Along with everyone else in America, I would love to write a book one day. I don't know what it would be about. It wouldn't be a work of fiction though.

Now, I tag Missy, Marsha, and Laura.

Slapin' Grandma Goodness

While I'm posting recipes, I may as well share this one that I just put together. With the economy in the shape it's in, I figure I better be teaching my kids to love the "old" recipes so that they can be resourceful in years to come, and have quality of life in the midst of hard times. I want them to have the ability to pull together a smashing dinner with very little on hand.

Bread Pudding:

2 cu. milk

1/4 cu. butter

2/3 cu sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cu. bread (I used 1 loaf of Italian bread cut up into 1" cubes)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat milk until film forms on top. Add butter. Stir until butter is melted. Cool to lukewarm. Mix sugar, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla well. Put bread in casserole dish. Slowly add the milk mixture to the sugar mixture and mix well. Pour over the bread. Bake 45-50 min. Let sit for 10 min. Pour Whiskey Sauce or whipped cream over top and serve.

Whiskey Sauce:

1 1/2 cu. Heavy cream

2 tsp corn starch

2 tbsp. cold water

1/3 cu. sugar

1/3 cu Bourbon (I used Honey Whiskey. Mmmm!!)

Slowly add water to corn starch while stirring until well blended. Set aside. Have sugar measured and handy. Have whiskey handy. Bring cream to boil. Add corn starch mix to cream and whisk constantly. Return to boil. Reduce heat, whisk, and cook for 30 sec. DON'T BURN!!!

Remove from heat. Add sugar and whiskey. Stir until sugar melts. Let cool.

Here are 2 of my favorite Fall recipes.

Enjoy!!!

Layered Pumpkin Bread

Missy posted this recipe last year. I've altered it a bit.

Bread:

1 1/2 cu. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cu. sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cu. pumpkin

1/2 cu. canola oil

2 eggs beaten

1/4 cu water

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp allspice

nuts (optional)

Filling:

1 pkg. cream cheese

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 egg white

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Sift together the flour, salt, sugar, and baking soda. Mix the pumpkin, oil, eggs, water, and spices together, then combine with the dry ingredients, but do not mix too thoroughly. Stir in the nuts (if you're using them). Beat filling in a separate bowl until well blended. Grease loaf pan well or 4 mini-loaves. Pour half of the batter into pan. Spoon half of the filling mixture evenly over the center of the batter. Cover with remaining pumpkin batter.

Bake 50-60 min. Until straw comes out clean. Turn out of pan. Cool on rack. Serve warm or cold!

Spice Cookies with Pumpkin Dip

Cookies:
1 1/2 cu. butter, softened
2 cu. sugar
1/2 cu. molasses
4 cu. all-purpose flour
2 eggs
4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon (or more, if you like)
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. salt
additional sugar

Dip:
1 8oz. block cream cheese softened
1 can pumpkin or pumpkin pie mix (18 oz)
2 cu. confectioners sugar
1/2 to 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. ground ginger

Instructions:
Cookies: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add molasses. Mix well. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Chill (at least 3 hrs.) Shape into 1/2 inch balls. Roll in sugar. Press. Place 2" apart on cookie sheet. I lightly sprayed mine. Bake 6 min. Yield: about 20 doz. *you can store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

Dip: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add pumpkin. Beat well. Add sugar, cinnamon, and ginger. Beat until smooth. Serve with cookies. Yield: 3 cu. * Store in the refrigerator.

I never notice how loud we are around here until it is time to turn on the attic fan, and open the windows.

Grandma's House

We're off to Grandma's in TN this weekend.

Streams In The Desert Devotional

19) Strength From the Sorrow

"Now it came to pass after the death of Moses,
the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spake unto
Joshua, the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
Moses my servant is dead; now, therefore arise,
go over this Jordan, thou and all this people"
(Joshua 1:1-2).

Sorrow came to you yesterday, and emptied your
home. Your first impulse now is to give up, and
sit down in despair amid the wrecks of your
hopes. But you dare not do it. You are in the
line of battle, and the crisis is at hand. To
falter a moment would be to imperil some holy
interest. Other lives would be harmed by your
pausing, holy interests would suffer, should your
hands be folded. You must not linger even to
indulge your grief.

A distinguished general related this pathetic
incident of his own experience in time of war.
The general's son was a lieutenant of battery. An
assault was in progress. The father was leading
his division in a charge; as he pressed on in the
field, suddenly his eye was caught by the sight
of a dead battery-officer lying just before him.
One glance showed him it was his own son. His
fatherly impulse was to stop beside the loved
form and give vent to his grief, but the duty of
the moment demanded that he should press on in
the charge; so, quickly snatching one hot kiss
from the dead lips, he hastened away, leading his
command in the assault.

Weeping inconsolably beside a grave can never
give back love's banished treasure, nor can any
blessing come out of such sadness. Sorrow makes
deep scars; it writes its record ineffaceably on
the heart which suffers. We really never get over
our great griefs; we are never altogether the
same after we have passed through them as we were
before. Yet there is a humanizing and fertilizing
influence in sorrow which has been rightly
accepted and cheerfully borne. Indeed, they are
poor who have never suffered, and have none of
sorrow's marks upon them. The joy set before us
should shine upon our grief as the sun shines
through the clouds, glorifying them. God has so
ordered, that in pressing on in duty we shall
find the truest, richest comfort for ourselves.
Sitting down to brood over our sorrows, the
darkness deepens about us and creeps into our
heart, and our strength changes to weakness. But,
if we turn away from the gloom, and take up the
tasks and duties to which God calls us, the light
will come again, and we shall grow stronger.
--J. R. Miller

Thou knowest that through our tears
Of hasty, selfish weeping
Comes surer sin, and for our petty fears
Of loss thou hast in keeping
A greater gain than all of which we dreamed;
Thou knowest that in grasping
The bright possessions which so precious seemed
We lose them; but if, clasping
Thy faithful hand, we tread with steadfast feet
The path of thy appointing,
There waits for us a treasury of sweet
Delight, royal anointing
With oil of gladness and of strength.
--Helen Hunt Jackson

Fresh From the Garden

Here are some veggies I decided to roast. They (butternut squash, okra, tomato, eggplant) are all from our garden, except for the spring onions.

Funny Stuff

Over on Missy's blog, she posted all her findings after going to Google and typing in her name and "needs". I did the same and here's what I found:

Stacey needs:

some love.

a buddy too.

help getting her name out there.

new shoes.

a hobby.

to update.

you to help her fulfill her Olympic dreams.

posh NYC digs to further her writing career.

her own space in a playing area.

to be just a beginning.

to be awake to audition for Alan Brady.

to "bless" my life long friend.

to be convicted and sat across from me so I can watch her drink the same drink she gave her 3 victims.

the support of Baby-sitters Club when the pressure of home, school, and work pile up.

understanding, not rejection.

help.

to buy a new dress.

to curb her food intake.

to be smacked.

a haircut.

the words of a book read aloud to her.

a shopping cart.

some toning.

to have a parent assigned to her by the court.

Backyard Bounty

Project Clean Out

Day 1: Linen Closet




Before:
After:

$9.99 Sanity

To most, this may just look like 3 cups and bowls. Look again my friend. It's a Mother's solution to the tremendous frustration of excessive cup usage.

COLOR CODE.

You can run, but you can't hide...

Dawg Art

The Dawg took the camera out to the garden and took some photos of his own...

Grace for the Journey

Since this Spring I have been rather quiet in blogdom. I have been mulling over much in this grey matter of mine. Back in the early months of the Spring I had a relapse of the inner ear junk that caused some anxiety a while back. It came back in force and caused me to have a panic attack with much anxiety, and some other difficulties. I also had a child turn 14. For some reason this presented me with MUCH struggle. The struggle was in no way with the child, but in the letting go of the child and embracing the young man he is becoming. I have begun this process and am enjoying the letting go more as I am seeing the blessings of God's design in this order...I let go, he takes up responsibility. BEAUTIFUL!!! Simple, not easy. The Lord used the illness to force me to begin to really let go.

I have been pondering these last many months, the whole idea of grace. I started meeting with a lady from my church about a year and a half ago. We've been reading books together and discussing. She is around 60, one of the godliest women I have ever known, a consummate woman, sweet, and petite. About as opposite from me as you can get. This woman has lived through many hard things and has come out loving Jesus and others more. She never talks about sin, hers or anyone else's without also talking of the Grace of God. This woman makes me so hungry for more of Christ's life lived through my own. Many days it feels like I need a complete person transplant to be anything like her. Tis true! Back in early Spring, a couple of weeks before my illness struck, we were talking about many things, and she was talking about how as a parent it all boils down to grace. I've heard many parents that have raised and launched their children speak with this glow about God's grace. Honestly (and I've since shared this with her) I've always privately thought "come on, get real, you KNOW you want to accept some of the credit for how well your kid turned out". I see now how short sighted that perspective is and am so very thankful I've never said that out loud. It DOES boil down to God's grace. For me, and for my children. For everyone. If my children follow the Lord, it's because they have seen their need of Him, and are making the choice to follow Him. If they don't it is God's grace they need to turn (or return) to. It's grace that will keep me loving them, praying for them, seeking Him for the grace to go on despite their choice to leave what we desired for them, what their Father in Heaven desires for them, and what they were taught. It's all about GRACE!!!

Recently I have been confronted with the need to extend grace. I received a phone call from a person that has done much harm financially (both directly and indirectly) to my husband, and thus to our whole family. I thought I was "over" it. Apparently I'm not as far along as I thought I was. This person called and needed some spiritual encouragement and advice. I did the right thing and gave them the only thing I have...Jesus, and His ultimate sacrifice on the cross and desire to have intimate fellowship with them. Later that day I had so many thoughts flood my mind of what I SHOULD have said (if you know me well, you know what this looks like). Thankfully, I came back to my desire for this person to be in right relationship with the Lord. Not only was it necessary to extend grace, but I need it to keep me from bitterness. I didn't come into this world with anything, and I won't leave with anything. It's just stuff. JUST money!!! Then several nights ago I had a conversation with someone in my family that I have looked at through eyes of judgement for many of my years on this planet. Especially, since I've been a parent. It is easy to look back when you are a parent and judge decisions made on your behalf with a bit of pride (whether right or wrong) thinking "I would have NEVER done it like that". I was listening to this person tell me how they have been reliving being sexually abused at 11 by a person of the same sex. WOW!!!! I knew stuff went wrong in this person's childhood, but had NO idea. Later that night, I just sat up thinking about all that this person said to me and thought about how life must have been for this person during all those years I was being impacted directly by their life and decisions. As an adult, I can kick off my own Birks and slide my foot into theirs and imagine what life must have been for them, and rejoice over what they DID do for my good, no matter how big or small. By God's grace I was able to move beyond my long held position (with hands on hips) of "well you SHOULD have...". Yeah, so what!! Grace, it's all about grace. I need it. I need to give it. I want to be judged through a lens of grace. I must extend it.

In each instance here, I feel like the Lord is teaching me to look at long roads both behind and before that sometimes look rather dusty and desolate and stake grace posts along the way. The cross!!! It all goes back to the cross. I can receive forgiveness, grace and mercy there. I can leave my hurts, bitterness and wounds there and walk away free and healed.

The Lord is a much different Father than I have thought Him to be. He is far more generous, much more loving, and desires much better for me than I can even begin to imagine. He ISN'T selfish, and won't give me anything that is broken down. The stuff that gets broken down is the stuff that sin touches. That is where the cross comes in.

Thank you loving Father for that cross. Teach and enable me to live there more than I ever have.

Good-bye

Tonight our family had a good-bye dinner with Ames' family. I feel full of emotion. Our whole family is full of emotion. I stood on the porch as my daughter grabbed me in a hug and started to cry. I brought her in, rocked her, and cried with her. I watched as my eldest son sought to choke back tears unsuccessfully, and my middle fella' fidget until it was time to come hug me goodnight and he fell apart in the safety of my hug and rocking chair. It's hard enough to explain to children how life works, as it is. It is even harder to explain good-byes. I've always hated good-byes. I remember the first time I had to say a major good-bye was when Missy moved to GA. I was devastated. We have maintained a wonderful friendship, and I've explained to my kids that they can do the same with Ames' gals. Heck, maybe we will end up In-laws one day!!!! :)

I can remember when our children were just infants. Ames nursing, using cloth diapers, and doing everything so natural. I loved all the ideas, but used disposable diapers, bottles, and formula. Honestly, I felt a bit intimidated by just how together she was, and so calm and pretty doing it. I remember sitting on the floor with our toddlers. I remember a time when we didn't talk about much that was personal. Oh, we still had great conversation, and I loved how quick witted she was. She has only grown to be more masterful in her witty quips. I love it!

My friendship with Ames changed several years ago, after nearly losing her to this life. At that point, I knew I wanted to get to know her better and was so very thankful that God had spared her life. Ames and I began to talk more, and about deeper matters. I began to realize she was more like me than I ever imagined. A couple of years later we would go through another trying ordeal that would bring us even closer, Ames loved me when I was fire spitting mad, and cussing my way through my days. Ames allowed me some much needed space to be very real, and was real with me about how she struggled with the same matter. I think some of life's struggles provide us with stronger relational glue than others. I believe we've waded through some of those waters together.

Ames is such a godly example of a woman, a wife, a mother, and a friend. She truly is a friend that points me back to Christ. Either through God's word, prayer, or my husband's leadership. I treasure this in my friendship with her. She loves God, and loves others. She's honest, and trustworthy. What more could you ask for in a friend?

Ames, thank you for so many years of friendship, fellowship, and love at a close distance. I look forward to the coming years and all they have in store for our families on the next leg of our respective journeys here. Though you won't be as close at hand, I feel certain our hearts will stay knitted in love.

May the grace of our Lord be with you, now and always may you stay blameless till He comes. May the Love of God, and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit be with you...

I love you girl!

Square Foot Gardens

Pictoral Update

Lately I've been seeking to focus on the things that make me feel rich. No, not money, but the things I look at and gain simple pleasure from. We all need pleasure, and what I think I may need, or what I may imagine as the best pleasure for me may not be what the Lord has for me at this time. I am not wanting to miss those pleasures He DOES have for me to enjoy right at hand.

I've been praying for a table so I can eat my breakfast in the garden. I forgot that I already had one stored away. I set a budget of $20 for table/chairs/table cloth, etc. I used the table I had, and went to a thrift shop in town today to pick up 2 chairs. I paid $5 each and got a table cloth for $1. I love being frugal and finding inexpensive treasures.

I've always wanted a clothesline. I had one post in my yard already. A neighbor was fussing one day to me about her husband tearing up her lawn in the back. She walked me out and there, lying on the ground were 2 metal clothesline poles. The ones you can't buy anymore. I asked her what she was going to do with them. She told me she would have her husband drop them off. He did when Ames' husband and FIL had stopped by to pick something up, so the Lord even provided me the manpower to haul the heavy posts back and load one into the car of a passersby. I am enjoying hanging out the clothes each day. It sort of makes me feel like a 50's housewife. I just wish there were other wives/mothers out hanging their clothes at the same time, then gathering at the fence to chat, or meeting for tea/coffee at 10:00. That is a time gone by, but I can still enjoy the simple pleasure of clothes blowing in the wind and the amazing smell of clothes that have dried on the line.

A simple life with simple pleasures...a good life!

The rest of the pictures...

Sanford and Son stopped by this morning and hauled off the fridge. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!

Really????

Within the last hour, my next door neighbor's Landlord dropped this old, nasty refrigerator in front of MY house. He has about 6 ft. of property in front of my house. This is only symptomatic of the larger problem with this property.

I've called the City to come pick it up. Today is our pick up day (they come around 8:00 am). They are wrapping up their day, so it is quite likely that they won't get here until next Monday. If they don't come until next week, I have a plan.

Stay tuned...

Family

Some friends introduced our family to a smashing game. It's called Family. Here's how it's played...

Everyone writes a name on a piece of paper. Make sure it's a name that isn't one people would expect from you (Grandma may want to write down MC Hammer for her name). A Reader reads all the names from the hat/jar. Then go around the room guessing who picked what name. Each person gets a turn (excluding the Reader). If a person guesses the correct name, that player becomes part of the guesser's "family". The one that guessed correctly is the head of the family. He will tell the team members his name. They will then collaborate about remaining players. If you guess the name of the head of a family correctly, you get the whole family, and become it's head. A turn of guessing continues until a wrong guess. Play continues around room. The next person to guess correctly becomes head of another "family". Last man/family standing wins!

This is by far one of the best crowd mixers I've ever played. Give it a go, and let me know what you think.

Name It

I need your help. I am going to try my hand at a little cottage industry with my eldest child installing these raised organic gardens in the greater Charlotte, NC area. I need a catchy name. Put your minds on it, send your ideas to me @ Hcksbanjer@aol.com. I will send the winner a prize. Thanks!!!!

Playtime

Today my eldest built a sandbox for my younger 2 children. I hope this gives them as many hours of fun as my sandbox gave me when I was a kid.