Happy New Year

Happy New Year!
 I'm so excited to see 2015 and what God has in store for us! It's going to be a great year!!!
God is on His way to some fantastic things for the Nojd family, I can just feel it!! It's a little scary, but God is in complete control and I'm excited to see the results!!
I can't even second guess what it will be, maybe a way for me to retire or Gordon to fully retire or maybe a fantastic trip to share the Word of God with friends. Maybe a something so simple as help to paint our house or garden this year! God is on the move for us!! What about you??? Blessings!!

Merry Christmas

Today as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I was reading another blog and could remember those days of shuttling kids to parents homes, glad that is done!! It was fun, but we were tired and I'm sure our parents were also. All the prep going into making all the meals for days on end and all the gift giving for days on end, for what end??? As I ponder these things because I'm older and maybe a little wiser, I realize that it was being together that propelled all of the flurry of activity leading up to the visit! I'm not sure that Christ was in the center of all of it, but He is now in my heart and I do hope that is portrayed to my grandchildren. Without Christ this would be an ordinary day! The father of lies would like all of us to believe that its all about the gifts and Santa, but it's about Christ and what He did for us!! Salvation came to us in human form as a baby, to give us life and redemption! Praise His holy name!!! Emanuel, God is with us!!  Merry Christmas dear readers of this somewhat boring blog!!! Merry Christmas and blessing abound to your families!

Twas a few days before Christmas

Twas a few days before Christmas and all through the house, the packages weren't wrapped and I am quite calm. I know this doesn't rhyme, but I don't care! I finished up the fudge for the year and made 2 batches of cookies that are gone! I got Gordon's present wrapped and under the tree. I have more wrapping to do and today seems like it will work out for that, Gordon and his friend Bob Warnke, he has quite a few friends named Bob, about 5. They will be ice fishing, so I will occupy my time wisely!!! Next Saturday we will go to Kurt and Kate's to celebrate. I'm bringing cupcakes for Gordon's birthday and I don't know what else, I haven't been told yet! Erika and Trevor are coming over Christmas Eve, which is so great! I don't like the thought of being totally alone for the holiday. I remember my Mom didn't either. We didn't go to Chicago one year and it was miserable for her and Dad, then the next year she was sick/dying, so that was a bad time. But we had wonderful holidays, they made each one special, which I try to do also!! Blessings!!

more favorite things

Since the last post, I've been thinking of more of my favorite things, so here's just a few more I would add to the list:
1. Reading the Word of God! My favorite book of the Bible is Hebrews, I love the listing of all the saints and what they believed in to get them named into that book, wow!!!! My second favorite book would be Genesis, in the beginning, what a statement!
2. My crock pot. I'm pretty sure I'm getting a new one this Christmas. I really could have done without a new shiny one, but my old one is old, cracked, and old!!
3. I love cookbooks, not that I use most of them, but I love them! It's my "shoe fetish", just book style.
4. I really like/love my in laws. I love my daughter in law, she is such a great mom and wife!! She is so sweet to me.  My son in law is so good to me, he treats my daughter so well, that it makes me smile!
5. I have really great friends. I still miss having a "best" friend, but I have really close friends.
6. I love where I am right now in my life! It has taken a long time in getting here.
7. I love spring! It comes after one season I really don't like, WINTER!!! I love the newness of life, things popping out of the ground and the air smelling so fresh! The colors are so brilliant!
This is a small list of my favorite things! Give me a shout out about your list!! Blessings!

10 of my favorite things

I was reading another blog this morning and she talked about 10 things you might not know about herself. So, I thought, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm maybe I should do something like that, I have in the past, but it's time for more, especially this time of year!!
1. I love Christmas trees! I have had 3 decorated ones and now I have one little table top tree, it looks         rather bare at the moment!
2. I hate hot cocoa! I know this is suppose to be favorite things, but there I threw this one in. I love eggnog!
3. I love driving around and looking at lights. We did it growing up and I still like today!
4. I love shiny things, more this time of year! I bought myself 2 faux Mercury glass trees just love the looks of    the antique glass, all shiny and imperfect!
5. I love making cookies, especially icebox cookies, maybe I should share my recipe at a later date??!!!
6. I love the movie "Scrooged" with Bill Murray. Also, love the some of the classics, like Home Alone 1 and     2, Love Actually with Hugh Grant, It's a Wonderful Life, and Christmas in Connecticut
7.  I love sending and receiving Christmas cards. It's probably old fashion to send out cards anymore with     ecards and such, but I love the tangible!
8. I love the smell of pine and love the candles by Febreze, the pine scented are fabulous!
9. I love good gingerbread cake. My friend Ellen makes the best, with real ginger in it, YUM!!!!
10. I love Santa! I have a few Santas hanging around my house and I love the story behind the tale!!
Well, here a few of favorite things, what are some of your favorites??? Let me know, Blessings!!

Thanksgiving in retrospect

We had a great Thanksgiving! It wasn't on the specific day, but we got together over the weekend and had a lot of fun! We were missing 2 people though, Alex 16(and working) and Shea(she went to a friends). But we had a good meal and lots of laughs! Talked about old times and the future. Hunting season was a bust for our guys, but that's okay!!  Erika brought desserts and I made the main meal of ham and sirloin tip roast. I took no pictures of anything that day, just didn't! Blessing beyond and back!!!

Merry Christmas to me

So, I was surfing the net the other day and fell on Pottery Barn website. I came across the 12 Days of Christmas table setting pieces. So, I waited and prayed and waited and prayed, finally I decided to buy two pieces. I bought the 8 maids a milking set which is a maid holding a bucket for the milk and the cow laying down for the sugar. The other one I got is 2 French hens which is a butter dish. They are pretty cute and I'm pretty excited to use them this weekend.Blessings beyond and back to you all!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!!!

cabinet

I can't recall if I talked to you all about my microwave/ oven combo, but anyway, the microwave part of the built in died about 3 years ago. So the repairman aka the "hub" tried to repair the micro. Well, that didn't go well because it was too old, I mean 1992 old, so he went and bought a sit on the shelf type microwave at Shopko. It has served us well and probably a little more efficient than the old one. He also promised me a cabinet in the spot where the built in used to be. Well, here it is 3 years later and I finally took the bull by the horns and called my friend Kevin. He made me a cabinet that matches the cabinets from 1992. I love it. It has 2 slide out drawers that Gordon wanted and one shelf for my big pans, I wanted the doors. I really do appreciate the cabinet and the thought behind wanting to do it himself, but he's not a wood workers, he'd rather work with metal. So here are some pictures for you to see. Blessings!!!

Wednesday

Well, here I am 2 days after the BIG snow storm! It was a nightmare driving home from work where a 10 minute drive home took me 25 minutes. It was hard at times to see the highway lines, oh there wasn't any because the highway department hadn't got out soon enough to plow the highway. I survived and got home safely, that's all that matters to me! God was with me all the way!!! Plus a large iced Hazelnut coffee from McDonald's was there for me when I got home, I didn't drink and drive :). Blessings beyond and back! Oh yeah, 16 inches fell!

Snow coming

The weather channel is predicting about 6-12 inches of snow coming tomorrow for our area. Oh boy, I'm excited, NOT!!!!! But it's coming and there is no stopping the inevitable. We are as prepared as we can be, plow on truck and shovel is handy!!
Kurt and the twins came up for the weekend! It was fun even though I worked a few hours on Saturday. I got home in time to take the girls to lunch, a movie and drive thru at McDonald's for an ice cream cone. We got home in time to watch part of another movie and supper started.
I got a new cookbook for myself. It's Thomas Keller's book called "Bouchon Bakery". It a baking cookbook. I have quit doing a lot of baking. We just don't need to eat it and it goes to waste if I make a 9 x 13 pan of anything. A whole pie is a big mistake to make anymore, so I usually make small pies. I'm hoping to adjust these recipes and get baking again! I will give you an update in the next few weeks. It is also time to start making fudge for the annual craft show. Busy, busy!! Blessings beyond and back!!!

Sunday Blessing

I was sitting here thinking about the holiday we celebrate this month called Thanksgiving, not football game day or stuff your face with food day or just another day off day. God has given us this wonderful to celebrate giving thanks for all the Lord has given us even if you don't believe in God, it's important to given thanks. Giving thanks frees us from our own selfishness, it frees us to be grateful for all we have, even the non believers are grateful. Being selfish is being human and for one day we can share a meal with friends and families. We can put down our selfishness and enjoy each other. Jesus shared so many meals with friends and family, he's the model for Thanksgiving! Be blessed my friends and enjoy the days ahead!

update on the cake mess

So, we spent the afternoon with our daughter and son-in-law (yesterday). I took that hot mess of a cake to eat with them. Everyone loved it, even me, and no one minded that it looked weird!!! So, maybe I would make it again and tweak it again using peaches or blueberry pie filling. Just a thought??
Bless you all and bless your families, thank you always for reading this, I'm grateful!!

what a mess!!

So, I found this dump cake recipe on line this week. We are going to Erika's today for lunch, so I decided to make it. As you can see it looks horrible, but I'm hoping it tastes better than it looks! I'm in the process of making a pan of bars to take along! The guys are going to grouse hunting, love grouse! Have a great weekend! Blessings beyond and back!

Starting my shopping for Holidays

Long title for this blog!!! I usually start like in June, but this year I didn't, funds were short about that time and I wasn't in the mood! 2 weeks ago I went and got a pedicure and bought a gift from the beauty salon that isn't a beauty item. My friend Rhonda makes the prettiest things out of yarn, like knitted gloves, hats, headbands and scarves, but now she is crocheting purses, so pretty!!! So, I bought one for someone special in my life, not saying who as they might read the blog! Mostly, my family doesn't read this thing, boring I think!! That's okay !
I was blessed today with a response to an email to Delta airlines. When Erika and I flew to California last year, we upgraded and then was asked to move because with my cane I was considered disabled, so where they upgraded us was near an exit. I understand this, but never got my accounted credited the amount of the upgrade back. Now, they are making amends, YEAH, Delta!! They also gave me a gift card of $50. So, I am blessed beyond and back!!
I will put up the picture of the purse and just remember it's prettier in person! Blessings!

Buffet

I am still working on the buffet in the TV room. It is old and the top needs to be covered because of all the scratches on the top surface . So, I got out the ironing board and iron to iron an old buffet scarf. It has quite a few holes in it, but I do believe it was my Grandma Sutton's. Anyway, I got that on the buffet and started to get it together for the holiday season, I think it looks okay, but could look better. It needs something and I am not sure what, can you help me out???? Maybe some lights or candles??? I hope you can and let me know. Blessings to all!!!

October

October is flying by very quickly!!! It has been quite a month in northern Wisconsin. We have seen beautiful weather, snow, rain)of course), high temp of 70 degrees, low of 20 degrees and everything in between! Fall colors are gone and leaves are falling quickly. I'm still digging up flowers to transplant and putting out mulch. I have one last rocking folding chair to put away(actually the only one I took out) and that is about it for fall clean up for me! Gordon is almost done with putting up the winters worth of wood! It looks very pretty in the shed! I am blessed beyond for all of this!!!

Shopping

Yesterday was my day off. So, after fooling around in Spooner doing the weekly errands, like banking, going to the library for a book on CD, going through the drive thru at McDonald's for my (pretty much daily coffee favorite)iced hazelnut coffee(Large) and the hardware store, Gordon and I headed up to Duluth to take furnace parts back. I got a chance to go to TJ MAX for about 20 minutes including a bathroom break. But I got 2 fake out  Mercury Glass trees for a center piece that I am working on for the old buffet. I even spent money for a new omelet pan for myself as my old one is pretty old and icky!!! I am Blessed beyond and back!!!

Saturday, play day!!

Everyone needs a day to just play and have fun, even me! I mostly hang around the house and do whatever Gordon wants to do when I have a day off. You see, we enjoy each others company which sometimes is good and sometimes not so much! Today, he had 2 furnace repairs to do and I had a day to clean and goof off!! I decided to clean the pantry, so that meant a trip to Shopko for some supplies for the pantry like, stackable shelving units and small plastic bins. I was overwhelmed at first, but prayed for some guidance and made myself a cup of coffee. Thought it through and went to work. I was done in 1 hour and off to another project. I organized my wrapping papers. I bought a stackable drawer system and got to work. Apparently, I don't have as much stuff as I thought. I got this idea from stonegableblog,com from yesterday's blog. Today, Yvonne talked about a table setting for Corelle and Corning ware products. They are still made in the USA, I like that a lot! Have a great evening, Blessings!!!!

this and that

I've been racking my brain in how to jazz up this site. I can't find much time to deal with it lately! I have a few new favorite sites and I absolutely love how it's put together! My new favorite is stonegableblog.com and of course, thepioneerwoman.com, please check these out. Also, ther's smittenkitchen.com, love Deb and she is working on a new cookbook! I really admire these women. Of course, their blogs are their full time jobs, but 2 of them have small children and 1 home schools her children. I really don't know how they do it, but they are fabulous women!
If you have any ideas please let me know, I'm open to how to make this more fun to come and read! Nothing crass or icky content!!
After looking at stone gables blog, I'm so jealous of all her dishes and front porch, just pea green with envy!!! I'm going to start next spring going to garage sales and flea markets to find some good stuff. Plus she shops the outlet store too. Man, am I going to be in trouble with the hub!! Love you girls, Blessings!!!

saying goodbye

In the last week, 1 friend has died and my sister-in-law sister's died. Death does funny things to people. For me , it makes me want to hug my family and friends more, take in the little things, and let people's stupid comments just become stupid comments! People can and have said the strangest things to me when death has been around me. I won't go down that road!! But, if we believe of the final destination for those of us who love Christ, death isn't scary! While Diane(my friend) was sick with cancer, if anyone asked her how she was, she would always say "blessed". She wasn't mad about having cancer, but felt she had a chance to witness to her doctors and nurses! She always wanted to share her faith about Christ to anyone who would listen. Makes me smile just thinking about her, she is dancing in Glory! I didn't know Peggy really well(my sister-in-law sister), but I hope she is also dancing, maybe they are dancing together!! Be blessed my friends. Live the life that would bring praise and Glory to the King!

fall

As most of you know, I don't like winter, I tolerate winter since I have lived

here for the last 38 years. So, needless to say fall just reminders me of what to come. I found a new blog this week there another blog and I might be falling in love with fall, just maybe! Please check Yvonne;s blog called " stonegableblog.com" It's a beautiful crafted site with many wonderful things. If you get there, please scroll down as there is a giveaway to enter. The prizes are fabulous! I get nothing in promoting this blog, so go there and enjoy her recipes, tutorials, and beauty in everyday items! Blessings!

Return to Me Book review

I am finally finished with the most thrilling book I have read in a while by Lynn Austin, " Return to Me". It was a great read and made me appreciate the Old Testament more than ever. What the nation endured for hundreds of years just to fulfill prophecy and bring a Savior into the world to save you and me, WOW!!!! I love the way Lynn twists family relationships into her books that makes you feel like you are a neighbor to the whole story and watching in sometimes in unbelief . Sometimes talking to the characters to shape up or no don't do that or don't believe that statement! So, Bethany House is sending me the sequel and I can hardly contain myself! I highly recommend the book, also check out the other ones that Lynn Austin has written. Blessings!!!

Colorful leaves

My sister in law is the greatest! She has a wonderful and beautiful way with the written word, me, not so much! Kathy can transport you with her letters that is makes you feel like you are right there with her. Makes me have a love/hate with the way she writes. Why can't I spend some time with the blog and write something very profound??? Well, it's not me, there it is! Kathy forgive me for the love/hate comment!! I do love you!
So with all of that out of the way, fall has arrived and like summer it has just came, BAM, it's here! Trees are turning such beautiful colors, the reds are so intense and yellows are so sunny! Makes me fell bad that the colors are going to be gone by mid October.
Tonight on our way out to have the truck worked on person's house, we saw wild turkeys, Sand hill cranes, and geese, all within a 3 mile area. Wild life is abundant around here right now. We saw no deer, but that's okay. Well, that's all from the northwoods, blessings, my friends!

Fall is coming

Fall is coming very shortly! I have a love /hate relationship with fall, I love the cooler temps and the beautiful leaves, but then winter shows up and all is LOST!!!!!!! Winter is rough for me, long dark hours and the boredom you can cut with a knife. This year I hope will be different as I joined the fitness center and maybe the boredom can be kept at bay!
So I signed up for a week without sugar, it's going okay, not the best. Had a piece of cake last night after Bible study and I made it all day with any sugary treat, man that stunk! I have been toying with the idea of giving up sugar, but this commitment has made me realize how much I eat during the day without knowledge!
I have a box of apples to tackle and make some no sugar applesauce. So, off to work I go! Blessings!

Summer

Summer is almost over in the northern Wisconsin! We could get a frost anytime soon, though the temperatures haven't been that cool. The sun is shining today and it's been overcast most of the day with a few showers/downpours during the last 4 hours! We had our grand girls again last week, spent a few hours after work at the beach, it was really relaxing for me and fun for them.
 Gordon's garden is small, but looking nice. The potatoes are potato bug free! Tomatoes are coming on fast and furious! Making zucchini pickle relish and lovingly giving it away! One can only eat so much pickle relish!
 I joined the local fitness center, something has to change for me and my back, so this is what I thought, if I can get my core stronger, then my back should get a little better. I really like the strength training part of it! I also signed up for a free week of I quit Sugar, it's a blog, Sarah Wilson runs the blog. Check it out. I plan to do a week free of sugar! Maybe it will be longer, see what happens!!
Well, that's all from here at the ranch(not really a ranch). Blessings!

zucchini relish

On Thursday, my friend gave me 3 zucchinis from her garden. I have zucchini, but hated to see this go to waste. So, I made zucchini relish last night. I used Mrs. Wages pickle relish mix that I got at Menards, I know, Menards??? But used apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar. It tastes very good. I got 5 pint jars and hope to give away 3. As to pictures, I  tried to find the best lighting! Don'y look at the dirty stove top, LOL!!! Blessings!

party for Twin grandaughters

Thursday our twin granddaughters turned 11 and today was the party to celebrate that event! It is always fun to see everyone which means the in- laws and the outlaws(just kidding). Kate's family is so warm and friendly, they are such a joy to visit with! They girls made a haul and we eat like it was our last meal!! Kurt grilled hotdogs and brats, everyone brought a dish to pass! I made cupcakes, so easy for everyone to eat! Have a great week, blessings!

fun week

We had a great fun week with our granddaughters. I think they went home tired, though. We played games, went to the Potter's Shed, went shopping, had smoothies, read books, played on my Kindle, played dolls, had a tea party, met their great Aunt Sandy and Uncle Bob, had pizza twice, and just hung out! It rained when we wanted to go swimming or fishing, bummer!!! Blessings! These pictures are from the afternoon at the Potter's Shed. Kora painting and the twins did mosaics, a bear and an elephant.

3 granddaughters

Yesterday, I worked very early, then came home to eat a quick sandwich, then off to get our granddaughters for a week of fun! We are still planning the days when I get home early from work on what to do next. Probably an afternoon at the Potter's Shed, bookstore, lake for swimming and fishing, farmer's market and a lunch with my sister and her husband.
We went to church today where our daughter and son-in-law attend, then to lunch with them. Erika will try to get over here for an afternoon with the girls. So, now we are playing a game called Tri-ominoes. So, I will close for now. Blessings!!

Country Life

I was reading "the Pioneer Woman" blog the other day. She wrote about 11 things she loves about New York. It got me thinking about country life and what "do" I like about it. I grew up in a small suburb of Chicago and loved city life as a kid, but now that I have lived in the country for 42 yrs., I see things pretty different. When we thought about selling our house a few years ago and had a buyer(who after 4 weeks backed out,) it got me thinking. I always thought about moving into the small town near us, thought it would be great, but now I'm thinking maybe not. Small town living can be great, but you never know your neighbors until you been there for a while. They could be noisy, quiet, into your business, move away and get new neighbors who are nightmares. So, with all of this said, here is my list of what makes country life great for me.
1. Wild life around me. Never know what we see out our windows. Deer, bear, skunks, raccoons, bunnies, bobcats(game camera only at night), and turkeys.
2. Quietness. It can be unnerving at first, but worth it after visiting the city where our son lives.
3. My neighbors are great. I name them as they would like to remain unknown, but they would and thing for us and have done the unexpected for me. Like when I couldn't remember how to start the 4 wheeler.
4. Our backyard is 80 acres, who can top that???
5. I can stay in my nightgown and take out the garbage, can you??? Well, some come to the store in their pajama pants, but really!!!! Blessings!

salad

I made a new salad today. Gordon and I have a little concern over our blood pressure. It isn't bad, but we are concerned so it doesn't go any higher and then we need meds. So, I went to the farmer's market today. I got some peas, spring onions, and used gluten free pasta with some fresh mozzarella.
Do you have any good recipes to lower blood pressure?? Please send them to me. Blessings!

Father's Day

Sunday is Father's Day. Many of us had great Dad's and I was one of those lucky ones. My Dad would have done just about anything for his girls and he did many things that I would have never asked Gordon to do like go get girlie items for that time of the month, Dad would for us, of course, Mom had called the local drugstore and asked them to get it ready for him to get. He was patient with us and that was a hard job with 3 girls!  Gordon's Dad(we called him Pop) was a great dad to Gordon and his fishing buddy when we moved up here. Both of our Dad's have passed away and we often talk about them especially to our grandgirls. They missed out on all the teasing my Dad would have done and fishing with Pop. My Dad would just about have my children in tears over all the teasing, like "how come when you put a glass up to your mouth your nose goes in the glass?" These things would drive them nuts!!! But Daddy didn't care and on he would go! They (my children) remember going to the local bakery in Evergreen Park with Grampy for donuts and coffeecakes. Pop always smoked a pipe till later years and they remember that of him. I pray that some of you have favorite memories of your dads.
Gordon and I will have a quiet day playing the new board game he got for Father's Day from Duck Dynasty. Should be fun! Blessings!!! This is Daddy holding me and my sister, Sandy. Photo below is Pop with Erika(my daughter) on his lap and her cousins.

Holiday weekend

Graduation in my small town was last night! The grocery store was very busy the last 3 days and I suspect it will continue till Labor Day weekend to be like this, busy with lots of traffic and tourists! I hope you all are enjoying the weather and family gatherings, but I also hope you are appreciating all that our service men and women have done to keep our shores safe! Please honor a service person this weekend with a thank you or cup of coffee or hug! Our nation is great because of their dedication to protect and defend our country that we honor them this weekend!

Blessings!!!

Mother's Day 2014

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. It's a day we use to honor our mothers more than usual! Please use this day well and honor her, whether a mother here on earth or in Heaven! I know my friends who look at this site and you are great mom's Just wanted you to know!!!!Blessings to all of you!!!

Spring

I think Spring has arrived, finally!! We are getting spring showers and some of flowers are trying to get green. Little pansies are up and are in bloom, which looks so pretty among the lifeless shrubbery around the house!
Yesterday, my dear friend and I attended a really cool Bible study in another small town. It was so worth the time and mileage to go there, to hear the Word of God and worship with like believers!!We hope to go again and spend some valuable time together!
Tuesday is a big day for us, lots of dr appointments on my day off. You know you are getting old when this topic is a main topic!!!LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are planning a garden this year, last year we didn't and missed it! Are you planning a garden and if so what will you plant this summer? We will do potatoes, tomatoes, and cukes for sure. Blessing!

Easter

Happy Easter everyone! Christ has Risen! What a wonderful day Gordon and I had today. We went to church this morning and Pastor Ron had a great sermon. Then at lunch time Erika and Trevor came for lunch/ dinner. Erika made pretzel strawberry dessert, all I can say is YUM!!!! We had a wonderful visit and got caught up on things. We live about 40  minutes from them, but hardly see or talk with them. We live a busy life, which stinks most of the time when it comes to family! Time flies!!! Erika and I are planning a trip to see family in Aug. in Missouri, it will be so much fun as we will take with Kurt and Kate's 3 younger girls with us to meet cousins! Oh I can hear the girls giggling now with all the cousins!! Our dinner was a Ham with scalloped potatoes ( from the pioneer woman site), apple salad and 2 bean salad. God's blessings to you all!!

Easter

Sunday is Easter and we got 20 inches of snow yesterday!!! That seems so strange and driving home yesterday was scary!!! The highway dept. hadn't plowed enough and so the highway was white , everything was white. Couldn't see the lines down the middle or sides of the road!!
Anyway, back to Easter. We're having dinner here with our daughter and son-in-law. I'm making "the pioneer woman's recipe of scalloped potatoes and ham, bean salad and apple salad. Making some new kind of rolls, maybe, if I get my act together. Erika is bringing dessert! She makes the best desserts!!!
What are you making for Easter??? Ham or lamb or turkey or beef? My mother-in-law always made leg of lamb with mint jelly!!! Do you have an egg hunt with the kids??? We never did the hunt just dyed the eggs. I might dye some eggs, maybe not, I have a little too much on my plate for the weekend. No pun intended! Christ has risen and that is what we celebrate, I pray you will also! Blessings!

April

April so far has been nice weather, crappy weather and mild temps, go figure!! Has anyone watched "Games of Thrones?"  Weird is all I can say!! I love the new reality" Chrisley know best." Its a real hoot. Family oriented and with pretty good values! It's on USA channel on Thursday nights I think, I just DVR it. Blessings!

April snows

We have been fooled again with April showers being April snow. It's about 14 inches on the ground and that's a lot for this time of year! I will try to get the pictures here, but no clue what's wrong with the site and photos not showing up! Blessings!!

March is ending

Today I'm grateful that March is basically over. It's been a tough month weather wise and friend wise. Today I found out that 2 dear friends have died in the last 3 weeks. We are very sadden for their families!! May God our Father comfort them!
The weather just won't quit! It was trying to rain today with snow coming tomorrow and Friday! The temps yesterday and today have been great that the snow is trying to melt off  the pole barn roof, so it isn't going to collapse! It was quite a load up there.
I've been trying to do this post for 2 days, but it won't let me post any pictures. I'm going to start back up posting recipes and pictures next week. We are starting the Paleo eating plan which is part of the whole30 program. It's pretty solid program and I'm pretty excited. We pretty much eat that way, but like potatoes and a little bread here and there. WE .love vegetables and fruit, Gordon likes more meat than I, but that's okay! I can eat a whole head of roasted cauliflower at one meal, rather than share it with him or have some meat! So, hold on and be patient with me. Blessings!!!

March madness

Here it is March 16th and the weather is still iffy. We hear reports of snow coming on Tuesday, oh boy!! Our snow has gone down quite a bit, we are smelling skunks out and about, seeing deer laying in the bare grass along side the roadway. So, spring is trying to come!!
We had some friends over for lunch today. They head out to Arizona for 3 weeks every winter about now. They take their ATV's and ride around out there in the mountains. Maybe someday we will tag along! Someday I would like to have my own ATV. Someday sounds not so close!!
So, we ate some turkey, stuffing and gravy casserole with cranberries, oven roasted carrots and canned peaches!!We talked and talked, drank some coffee and laughed! Since Gordon and I didn't grow up here, we talk about where we grew up. Lori and Bill grew up here, high school sweethearts, growing old together with 4 children, 7 grandchildren and some small goats/ chickens/ horses around their small hobby farm! We have a lot in common and our faith is one of them. We talk and pray for our grandchildren. They seem to take up most of our time! Thanks for letting me dribble on and on. Blessings!!

March is here

Yes, March is here and we have 3 1/2 feet of snow(at least) on the ground. When this all melts it will be a watery mess!!! Our driveway will be so mucky, is that a word???? Roofs are collapsing on barns. We are hoping our pole barn roof doesn't, but the load is heavy. It has rained, then frozen, snowed, then frozen, then rained, then frozen, then more snow. It must be close to 12 inches thick on the roof. We are praying a lot!!!
Now onto another subject. I recently went to the library and got Deb Perlman's cookbook, The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. There are quite a few recipes I want to try, just not enough time to make them or test them out! One that stood out to me was "Leek Fritters". Sounds interesting to me, I'm trying to stay away from potatoes as I think they make the arthritis worse. When I get to them, hopefully soon, I will post it! Blessings!!!

Birthday

Today is my birthday!!! I have always enjoyed my birthday and getting older, but this birthday is even more special as last week I had a surgical procedure done on my back and it feels great. My left leg has quit hurting and that's a bonus!!! So, now my challenge is to get exercising and lose some weight. I can't do much for a month in the exercise realm as they don't want anything to move. I have slowly been cutting back the amount of food I eat and increasing fruits/vegetables. It's certainly good to feel this good as its been more than a year! Standing straighter and walking without pain is so amazing, we all take it for granted! So here's to a great year and start to less pain/more moving! Blessings!