Monday, May 30, 2011

What's Up Doc?

Oh me, oh my, lots of things are up here. We have been busy, busy, busy. My work has been crazy, but has now settled down a bit. Honey finished his trucking school, but then had a bit of a health issue, so now should be starting back this next week. Thought I would show you all a bit of what we have been up to! Sorry, sorry, sorry for the quality of the pictures, but a photographer I am not.

Kitchen cabinets have been painted - still green, just a darker shade. We do still need to enclose the dishwasher, just waiting until we can put in the countertops.




Roses have been blooming, blooming, blooming. I made a batch of rose petal jelly! So yummy!




Basement has been carpeted. Honey has been out of work while trying to get his health back on track, so he has been busy with some Honey do's! I thought I had another picture of this, sorry!



Stairs have been completed, carpeted and carved toe boards put in. II Peter 1:5-7. [5] And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
[6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
[7] And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Honey carved in the boards, stained them and then back lit them with LED multicolored Christmas lights, which he then backed with thin metallic-covered insulation so that it looks like a prism. Then he backed the whole thing with plywood. Looks fantastic! My pictures definitely do not do it justice!





Kitchen floor has been replaced with glazed hickory laminate. What was there before was those stick tiles, the ones that are like linoleum, but they are tiles. Many of the edges were coming up and so we got this laminate and put down. It looks a little redder in these pictures than in real life.




Now we just need to save up and get our new kitchen counters, faucet-sprayer and sink. And put up our new border - just have to get busy and do that.

Bookshelves - built in - downstairs in the "den". Our basement stays nice and cool in the summer. When we bought the house almost 3 years ago, Honey built in a bedroom. I think it measures like 11x13 or so, nice sized. Closet and everything. Back behind it is a storage area, probably 10x6 or so. Where the bookcase area is, we are going to put in a sleeper sofa. There is a twin bed downstairs in the bedroom and we are going to put in a queen or full in the spare bedroom upstairs. We like to have plenty of room for folks to come visit!





Downstairs bathroom. This is really a showpiece, I think. 48" shower, ceramic tile floor. Not very big, but quite functional. Still needs some trim work and touchups here and there.







I am happy to report that Honey's health is back on track, he has even been able to stop one medication.

We did make a flying trip down to Oklahoma when Honey's former pastor passed away. Despite the circumstances, we had a good time visiting with friends and family. Here are the grandkids.



Farmer's market has started again, fresh strawberries, rhubarb, spring onions - oh my! I planted tomatoes the other day, Mr. Stripey!

Our weather here has been rainy and quite cool, interspersed with thunderstorms, more rain and tornados!!! None have hit here, thank the good Lord! We are about 160 miles or so from Joplin, but we have had several on the ground near here and in Sedalia, about 60 miles away, they had one the other day that hit the south end of town and did quite a bit of damage.

They actually call the area right where we live the Golden Valley - because supposedly there is an Indian legend or something of the sort that a tornado will never hit here. We do have a lot of times storms will split and go around north and south of us. However, I know the Maker of the Rain and I know the Master of the Wind and he can who whatever he pleases, so we go to the basement whenever it storms.

I will leave you all with a recipe, quick and easy, a crowd-pleaser!

Pampered Chef Crab and Artichoke Dip
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayo
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 can (14 oz) artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
8 oz crabmeat
3/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1/3 cup green onions, chopped
zest of 1 lemon
1/8 teaspoon black pepper, ground
1/3 cup red bell pepper, minced
Extra green onions, chopped for topping.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all in bowl except for red bell pepper and extra green onions. Put in casserole dish - I used a 9x 9 pan and bake 25-30 minutes. Sprinkle with red bell pepper and additional green onions. Serve with crackers.

Will be "seeing" you all again soon, as Honey is headed out on the road and I will have more time on my hands. Much love to everyone!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Lilla Rose Giftaway

Suzanne over at Blueberry Cottage posted about this giftaway. I love these, they are so elegant and pretty! Hop on over to this site and comment for a chance at the giftaway!

Snowy Wednesday



FOR TODAY...

Outside my window... Snow. Snow. SNOW!!!! Snow everywhere. We survived the blizzard of '11. I think we probably got at least 15 inches. It is hard to tell, as it has drifted so much.

I am thinking... of how grateful I am to be considered "non-essential" personnel! Thankfully, I don't have to work today.

I am thankful for... all of the blessings that my wonderful Jesus gives us daily. A warm house, good jobs, good health, travelling mercies - Those are but a few.

I am wearing... black knit skirt, red t-shirt, cream sweater and pink housieslippers. I am dressed to stay home! I couldn't get out if I tried!

I am remembering... snow days when I was young. Sledding outside - no matter what the temps it seemed - hot cocoa, wet things hung over heat vents to dry, curling up to read, hot chili or soup - those were the days!

I am going... nowhere at all today!

I am currently reading... a bit of this and a bit of that. Most likely will curl up with my latest Pennyfoot Hotel this afternoon!

I am hoping... that Honey will stay warm today - he is at work, scooping out the lot so everyone can get in and out.

On my mind... a precious co-worker - her mother is in the hospital after having had a stroke.

Noticing that... the more I get to be home, the more I want to be at home!

Pondering these words... Love isn't love until it is given away. You can't take it from someone, you can only give.

In the kitchen... Hmmmm. . . I think maybe some lemon curd, a caramel cake, pork chops in the slow cooker with mashed potatoes, homemade bread . . . endless possibilities!

Around the house... nice and tidy - for once!

One of my favorite things . . . a nice, lazy day like today, a blank slate that I can use to write whatever I wish

From my picture journal...






Some friends of ours adopted 9 children from Columbia - after raising 2 of their own. They are going back to adopt 5 more! These children were orphans, I believe they are 2 separate families, brothers and sisters, whose parents died. Aren't they beautiful? Such precious children.

Thanks to Peggy for organizing the daybook.

A quickie recipe to share - so easy crockpot meatloaf!

2 lb ground beef
2 eggs
1 package stovetop stuffing - your choice of flavor, but beef is good
1 can golden mushroom soup - divided

Mix beef, eggs, stuffing and 1/2 can of soup. Grease your crock. Mound the mixture in your crockpot- you don't want it touching the sides if you can help it, so mound it up in the middle. Spoon the rest of the soup on top - can mix with a bit of ketchup if you wish. Cook on high for 4 hours or so. I usually put this in at 8 AM on a Sunday morning, and when we get home about 12:30 it is done to perfection. Serve with mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and butter and a nice fresh salad. A lemon pie for dessert goes nice. This is great winter, spring, summer or fall. If you put mashed potatoes in the crockpot as well before you go, all you have to do is heat up the green beans and toss the salad!

I would love to say that I will be back tomorrow, but I do not yet know what tomorrow will bring. I have come to the conclusion that just like our lives, our blogs go through seasons. Some seasons we are prolific, some we are just now and again. So I WILL say that I wish each and every one of you a blessed day today. The sun is shining brightly here today - trying to make up for not even peeking out yesterday at all! I must be up and about, making bread, baking a cake, doing all of the little things that make a house a home. Much love to all who read this!
~Raquel~