The Lodge @ Pebble Beach

A few years ago

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Ok......this is getting old, and it's no fun! Seems we are just passing this stuff around. First, I got a sinus infection and bronchitis last week. Then little Jonah got sick as you may have read about over at Keelie's blog. Now...hubby seems to have the bronchitis part of what I was dealing with. Let's pray for all these bugs to get outta town! 

Joy in Jelly

Who doesn't love homemade jelly? You would probably be hard pressed to find someone who would say they don't care for it. And what girl doesn't find delight in making something with her own hands? This afternoon I decided to get in the kitchen and go for it!

First find the fruit! 

Next get some juice, LOTS of sugar, a package of Sure Jell, and 

some cute little jelly jars.

Follow the directions on the box.

And WAALAA!!

You have yourself some homemade, really good jelly.

Mine is yummy plum!

Now I just need some good old biscuits or rolls!

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Happy Birthday (July 29), Jerry!

1. grace
2. birthday blessings
3. worship music

4. forecasted cooler weather

5. family time

6. leftovers

7. church family

8. rest

9. hugs

10. diet coke and sweet tea

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Check out the fun giveaway coming up from Beth at The imPerfect Housewife. 

Find Us Faithful

Steve Green

We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace

Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives

CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful

After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.

Lord, you know the family members who came before me. I thank you they taught through example how to live by faith. I thank you they always remained true to You. 

I pray for that heritage of faithfulness to continue. May my children and grandchildren be blessed with this same heritage when they follow the footprints left behind.  

It's Giveaway Time!

As promised, my Christmas giveaway is ending today--July 25 (my birthday). Thanks to everyone who participated! Just to let you know how this was done. I chose not to use a computer generated winner. Instead, the old fashion way.....names on paper. My husband did the drawing for me.

And the winner is (drum roll...........)

Melinda @ Tales From My Empty Nest!

Just email me with all your mailing information. My email is 

dferguson74@gmail.com

Congratulations!

Candids, Kudos, and Clutter

The Sweetness of Little Ones and Animals!

 

And now....This is a first for me. Thank you, Scrappy Quilter, for sending this award my way. It's great getting to know new friends.

And lastly..........the summer goal of organizing and de-cluttering prevails. Tackled a few more drawers today. YEA!!!!

Julie and Julia

I don't usually get to the movie theater often. However.....I do want to get a girls' outing together for this one! The previews of "Julie and Julia" look like a fun movie.

Julia Child (Meryl Streep) and Julie Powell (Amy Adams) are featured in the movie. It tells the true stories of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends...until they discover that "with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."

Mark your calendars; it comes out August 7.

Remember to get in on the GIVEAWAY! 

Remember to enter my GIVEAWAY!

See details in previous post.

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Just a Few Reasons Why......

Daily schedules out the window 
Trips (day ones or vacations)
Homegrown vegetables and fruits
Lazy afternoons
Homemade ice cream
T-shirts and sandals
Longer days
Family meals
“Laid back” feeling
Extra time to bake and try new recipes

Get in on the Celebration!

It's my birthday, and I'm hosting a "giveaway" party!

I'm lovin' this blogging thing! I've already made some new friends, but as the saying goes, "There are no such things as strangers, only friends we haven't met yet."

Entry is simple....just leave a comment here for one entry. Get two entries by leaving a comment and becoming a follower. (Of course, you will automatically get the second chance to win the giveaway if you are currently a follower.)

Someone's going to win this Christmas gift package. Included:  an 8 x 10 red frame, a personally handcrafted wooden photo holder complete with red feathers and trim, and lastly a holiday towel set.  

The random drawing for the giveaway will be Saturday, July 25 -- my birthday!

Good luck!!

Jesus, Lover of My Soul

Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Jesus, I will never let you go
Youve taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the Rock, and now I know
I love you, I need you,
Though my world may fall, I'll never let you go
My Saviour, my closest friend,
I will worship you until the very end.
(repeat)

Because this was the FBC Construction Mission Trip week, I have posted several shots of one of the special trips we took ten years ago this month to Tennessee. My kiddos were all there. I have good memories of being very blessed through this opportunity of service.

Taking a Mental Break from the Heat

Yes, I know it's 105 outside and not really soup weather. It is though tomato growin' season around here in North Texas.  Add to the fact, that Keelie (Red Writing), Sasha (Lemonade Makin' Mama), and I have been discussing the Christmas season, I thought I would get in the kitchen again this afternoon. On the menu....tomato basil soup. 

4 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled, and chopped or canned whole tomatoes, crushed

• 4 cups tomato juice (or a combination with chicken stock)
• basil to taste (can be leaves or crushed)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 lb sweet unsalted butter
• salt to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper 
• Simmer the tomatoes for 30 mins. Then puree them. Return them to the saucepan and add cream, butter, salt, pepper and basil. Great served with bread or crackers.
• Ho Ho Ho to you, too!

 Clutter Buster 101

My summer goal of organizing and de-cluttering prevails. Yesterday was profitable. The kitchen was the target! I cleaned out the catch-all drawer. You know the kind that just catches anything and everything. It had at least two dozen pens, a pacifier not used in 3 years, gum, receipts, loose paper clips, tape, needle and thread, photos, a silver bell souvenir from a wedding, and…….. 

Please, please tell me you have one of these drawers, too!

Then I went through several cabinets. Glass containers and bowls got matched with lids—imagine that! All the cool whip and Glad storage thingees either got paired with a lid or went to the trash. (This issue drives me nuts when you can’t find the lid to the silly thing.)

One special corner of the cabinet area, also got cleaned and foo-fooed up a little. I previously had a cute little television there. I couldn't watch it anymore; I didn't want a HD converter box sitting there. So basically, it was taking up space. (I moved it to a storage closet to keep it though; it’s great when traveling because you can use it in the car.) The best part was I didn't even need to make new purchases to update the corner. I had a picture frame someone had given me, and then brought in a stored little lamp. Added a candle and WAALAA!

As I was cleaning throughout the day, I took advantage also of cooking lunch for myself, preparing dinner for Rick, and canning five more pints of salsa. Whew! And then finally late yesterday afternoon, the sign went back up…….

(Tomorrow I think I'll tackle a closet!)

Conversations and Cream Cheese

I was privileged to be a part of two different great conversations last night.

The first was with Keelie and 3-yr. old grandson, Jonah. She has been working with him on learning another bible verse. The latest one was “Children, obey your parents.” At one point this evening while he was doing something he might should not have been doing, he asked, “Is this a sin?”

He knows!

The second was at a bible study this evening that a friend is leading. We were discussing Eve in detail. As we talked, the conversation went into lying. So, why should we not lie?

It's cowardly.
It's the easy way out.
It's bearing false witness against God Himself.
It's very costly in terms of self-respect.
It is sin.

We know!

Cream Cheese and Pecan Filled Strawberries

Made these little treats this morning. Fast, easy, and soooooo good.

20 whole large strawberries, hulled
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
2/3 cup chopped pecans
Directions
Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each strawberry so the berries stand upright. Place berries, cut side down, on a serving platter. Carefully cut the berries into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, the bottoms with a criss-cross cut. Fan wedges just slightly, taking care not to break them. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until combined but still stiff. Using a teaspoon or pastry bag with decorative tip, fill the strawberries with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of the stuffed strawberries. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

**Recipe from The Food Network

1. watching Jonah and Jenna at her apt. pool
2. phone call from one of Ganna's special friends
3. wild blackberries --- See Saturday's post below

4. baking

5. boiled (already peeled!) shrimp

6. hugs

7. providence of God

8. Justin's picture in Dallas Morning News

9. worship time

10. crock pot meal (so easy!)

Give Us Clean Hands

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let this be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob........

Wild Thing.......

Early this morning, my dear husband, who probably had a dozen other things he could have rattled off in a matter of seconds that he would have rather been doing, went to help me pick wild blackberries. Awesome! 

If you have never had the experience of doing this, let me give you a few hints. 

1. Wear long sleeves. We didn't do this.

2. Wear long pants and sturdy shoes. We didn't do this.

3. Consider taking gloves. After your hands and arms are scratched, you may appreciate these. We didn't have these either.

4. Take a plastic container. We DID this!

(Basically, we both were in our shorts, t-shirts, and sandals. Husband had coffee in hand.)

5. When picking wild berries, pick only the ones that are dark, plump, and shiny. We DID this!

6. Gently pull the wild blackberries off the vines and place them in the container. We DID this! Aren't they beautiful?

 

7. After you get the job completed, wash your hands gently. Remove any thorns and medicate as needed. We DID this.

Now, I am in the kitchen trying to decide which I will make...

By the way, tomorrow we will be berry pickin' again. However, I will be tweeking steps 1-3.

Have a berry happy day!

Summer fun years ago with Justin and Jenna -- seems like yesterday!

Then with cousins Greg and Chad....

In the Kitchen

Today proved to be another "Betty Crocker" day around here. First, I made a batch of these great cookies. I have previously posted the recipe here.

Then later this afternoon, my gardening friend, Pam, brought in all the supplies, and we made her some of the same salsa I made yesterday. (See post below if you missed it.)

Now.................