Tempt My Tummy, Tuesday

When we visited the wonderful B&B we visited last week, our hostess served us strawberry soup. It was to die for. I'm not sure this was the recipe but I am sure it is close!

STRAWBERRY OR RASPBERRY DESSERT SOUP -
COLD

2 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries or raspberries
3/4 c. dry red wine
1/3 c. powdered sugar
2 tbsp. Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 c. sour cream or yogurt
Whipped cream
Sliced banana

Thaw fruit and puree. If using raspberries, mash through sieve to remove seeds.
Combine all ingredients, except whipped cream and banana, and blend smooth. Chill overnight.

Garnish with dollop of whipped cream and...or thin slices of banana.

For more wonderful tummy tempters visit Lisa here!

Happy Homemaker

Visit Sandra, The Happy Homemaker here!

On my bedside table:

Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, by Isabella Beeton. An Oxford World Classic, this book unwraps the mysteries behind managing the Victorian household- charming, engrossing read for an avid anglophile like myself.

On my TV:

Fox News, the only news station of worth, in my humble opinion.

On the menu for tonight:

Savory barbecued chicken

steamed broccoli/ green beans

smashed potatoes

a delicious spring green salad with toasted walnuts,

grapes, dried cherries, and diced cucumber

devilled eggs.

On my To Do List:

laundry

lay out and plant the pansies and begonias

clean off the flower beds,

make a tablecloth for the kitchen table

read and do my stduy work for Esther and the Christian world view class

In the craft basket:

knitting a new scarf

card making

tablecloth material

Looking forward to:

researching the habits of the bluebird

starting my bird journal for this year

studying my hebrew roots

Homemaking Tip for this week:

Run your dishwasher only when it's full. Hand wash the larger bowls, so more will fit into the dishwasher

Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):

It would have to be Becky's Joy, Joy Joy Down in my Heart post.

Favorite photo from last week:

I didnt blog about this. but these are my gal pals from the prayer team meeting we had on Saturday!

Lesson learned the past few days:

Joy always comes in the morning. Last week I was in such dreadful doldrums, but what a difference a couple of days can make. Today has been wonderful!

On my Prayer List:

Our nation and leaders

My family including my parents, husband, Amanda, Joshua

Lynne's allergy situation

The prayer list from our Sunday school class

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Phil.2:4

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Others,

Lord, yes, others,

Let this my motto be.

Help me to live for others,

That I might live like Thee.

Joyful, Joyful

I was visiting Becky at Holiday in the Sun and Joy for our Journey posts blessed the socks off of me. I have asked her and I just have to incorporate her theme into my blog.

That is one reason why I love blogging so much! Friends inspiring friends to be more creative, to find true contentment in God's wonders, to share about their many blessings in life, to encourage and share testimonies to the goodness of our Lord.

Today I have been just filled with joy. This is such a marvelous beginning to a week following last when I was so undone by sinus/allergy attacks. Today I have a new vitality and a real song of praise in my heart. God has blessed me so

in my family, our home, my friends, our church, and the little pleasures of His world about me.

Praise You, Father , for Your mercies are new every morning! Thank YOu so much for the joy!!

I am so Excited

As you might remember a few weeks ago I saw a female bluebird visiting my birdhouse.

Then over the weekend I saw a handsome couple, male and female going in and out the door!, but I was concerned about the hanging feeder that was attracting other large birds to the vicinity. So today I went out and rearranged the feeder to a spot nearby and attached a container of freeze dried mealworms to the top of the birdhouse just for bluebirds. This moring I was restocking the feeder and I paked into the house and there was a nest. I ws too excited to investigate beyond that, to see if there were eggs! I will definitely be watching and waiting for my next opportunity to sneak a peak!

Bluebirds are so tidy. made primarily of pine needles, they are very identifiable by their neatness.

Just thrilling!

The Simple Woman Daybook

For Today... March 30, 2009

Outside my window...

a bright sun is shining, the air is 41 degrees and the winds are gusting at 30mph. A typical March day. Kite flying weather for sure!

I am thinking...

how wonderful it will be when I have all my new bedding plants in the ground. I purchased pansies, begonias, and new vinca vine, so far.

I am thankful for...

my dear husband. He had to get out to work so early this morning as he has a project due soon, and he left me the sweetest love sticky note on my computer keyboard this morning telling me how happy he is to see me feeling better this week following my previous week of sinus troubles.

From the kitchen... I am actually going to peruse Marie in Manchester's blog,

http://www.ayearfromoakcottage.com/

( I love her blog!!) to find a fantastic chicken recipe and fix some tender fresh asparagus and a fresh salad for my dear Lynn tonight.

I am wearing...

my rose colored slacks and a white turtle neck with bare feet!

I am reading...

Luke chapter 3-4 and Gaskells, Wives and daughterss. I really need to put more effort in this novel. I have been putting it off! And I am enthralled by the new Messianic jewish calendar my secret pal gave me. It is full of fascinating and powerful information every Christian needs to know about our Jewish heritage. I love it!!!

I am hoping...

Christians everywhere are seeing the hand of judgment on our land and are repenting for our nations, beseeching God to hold back His mighty hand and save our nations from destruction. We are suffering just as the nation of Israel in the book of Joel. The locusts are here and are devouring away. God is saying, "Enough!" Only our fasting and fervent prayers will turn away His wrath.

I am creating...

I am so proud to have on tablecloth completed and actually used it Saturday for our prayer gathering. I have one more to go. I will do it completely by hand.

I am hearing...

the gusty wind shaking the shutters as they bang against the front wall.

Around the house...

I mainly have laundry and ironing and putting clothes away. I need to start organizing closets by the seasons.

One of my favorite things...

enjoying the music I accumulate on my playlist. I am enjoying the new "Resurrection Sunday" compilation I have found on the listing. I particularly love the second song, "Midnight Cry".

(I really do not like the word, easter. It is a pagan word , a form of the name Ishtar, a goddess of life or something.)

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Barring having to attend jury duty, I am free today, have Beth Moore's Esther, study on Tuesday and hopefully will luncheon with a friend, (Dottie??), then we usually do our gorcery shopping on Tu. Wednesday is the Ageless Bible study with my mom, church fellowship dinner, then our Christian worldview class- love it!! On Thursday I have exercise class at church, and senior choir practice, and on Saturday we have prayer group at church!

Here is a picture I thought I'd share with you

I love my new tablecloth I made from the pink and cream toile I found to accent my new china!

This was our prayer team soiree' we had this past Saturday morning! For more Daybooks visit Peggy here.

Pink Saturday

Visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for more fun PINK Saturday!!

I went gaga when I saw this grand napkin fold at Martha Stewart online this week! I love them and will be incorporating them into a tablescape very soon!

Have a marvelously happy

PINK Saturday!

My Husband Rocks, Friday

I love my husband so much! I mean he is the sweetest! I have been under the weather all week with allergies aand sinus problems and havent felt like doing much of anything. He took me out for dinner Tuesday night as we went grocery shopping, and he brought dinner home Wednesday night from church when I just didnt feel like going. But yesterday he called me from work and said "You know what tonight is don't you? "

I said, "Thursday?" He said, "...and that means we ....."

I said, "......uh,......we watch our tape of "24"." (which we tape every week).

He said, "Yeah, and tonight, I feel like Chinese. Do you want your usual?"

AW!!!! Now, ain't he sweet!

Visit KayLin of The Great Adventure for more MHRF!

Friday's Show and Tell

Visit Kelli at There is No Place Like Home for more!

Yesterday when I went to the mail I had received a package. Upon inspection I realized it was an anniversary gift from my Mitford Secret pal. Several of us on the Jan Karon website forum have secret pals and it is always so much fun to give and receive. My secret pal knows of my great passion for learning more about the Jewish calendar, the feast, and the holy days and how they apply to our Christian faith, heritage, and actually the coming days.

It has actually been through my Beth Moore studies of the Patriarchs and the Tabernacle that has quickened my interest, and I also must give mention of our ageless study group that meets on Wednesday mornings. There is a wealth of

of treasure for the Christian in understanding the holy days of the Old testment and their correlation to our precious Savior, Jesus Christ!

I love this calendar complete with pages of descriptions and a dvd to help explain it all.

Many, many thanks to my special secret pal!

Skywatch Friday

Visit Skywatch Friday for more!

I love sunrises in the country~nothing to obstruct the beauty of God's perfect palette!

Friday's Favorite Family Foto

Deborah at Pictures, Pots, Pens
is hosting this theme every Friday. Vsit her site for more FFFF!

Today I would like to share the first photo we ever had made of Amanda. Here she is only 4 months old. We had just gotten her at 15 weeks and we took her to the photographers the next week. She certainly was a braw lassie!

Check out those long fingers! She is a wonderful pianist and violinist!

Word Filled Wednesday

As Lynn and I sat on the veranda of the inn last Saturday the rays of the sun were shining through a whole host of clouds that were aligned as if they were a host of angels singing "Glory to God in the highest"! It was breathtaking!

For more visit Amy Deanne at The 160 Acre Wood!

Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today March 23, 2009

Outside my window...

it is 44 degrees with a promise of a lovely spring day. The sky is clear and the birds are singing.

I am thankful for...

all the blessings God sends my way. Our romantic getaway this weekend was so much fun and such a wonderful time spent together, just the two of us. I thank the Lord He gave us the means and opportunity to do this.

From the kitchen...

I am briasing some pork to make Lynn's favorite, some barbecue and making him a nice bowl of cole slaw for his very own.

I am wearing...

my khaki slacks and green sweater set and tennis shoes.

I am reading...

the book of Luke, and Gaskell's Wives and Daughters.

I am hoping...

to get out today and buy some bedding plants, pansies especially.

I am creating...

I hate to admit it, but I still have those tablecloths to make, and I bought some coordinating faric to make some napkins. I really want to get those done this week!

I am hearing...

the hustle and bustle of people out and about. It is 9:239 am and the world is up and at'em!

Around the house...

I still need to unpack and do some laundry and work some more in my studio. I am trying to redeem the space to start a new project which I'll share about later.

One of my favorite things...

planning tea and coffee gatherings for my friends. I have the prayer team coming here on Saturday so I will be thinking and planning this, this week.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Church council meeting tonight, exercise class Tuesday, Bible study with the ageless group on Wednesday, fellowship dinner and Christian world view class Wed. night, exercise class Thursday, hopefully coffee out with Dottie one day, and the girls over Saturday for prayer study.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...

This is our back door and it certainly looks like it is ready for some sprucing up for spring. Those planters are looking pretty sad! Hopefully by the weekend it will look much more happy!

Visit Peggy here for more daybook entries!

Just for Amanda

Amanda specifically asked for a photo of her dad taken with Daisy, the Innkeepers beautiful dog! HEEHEE Lynn is always afraid I can going to chop of his feet so he made a correction just as I clicked! And then Daisy hightailed back over to her cozy bed on the deck. So Amanda this is it!

Out and About in Lexington

Lexington is very historical. Home to Virginia Military Institute as well as Washington and Lee University it is a bustling college town.When I was teaching we bought our students here year after year, so I had already perused all the high spots, but it was glorious to just drive around the quaint sites! Robert E. Lee Highway passes right by the back side of VMI and the Collonade of W&L.

Upon closer inspection each campus offers beautiful architecture and historical charm!



Downtown Lexington retains its old charm while offering wonderful shops, restaurants, and fascinating museums.


But some of our most precious moments were spent lazing on the veranda


Enjoying that marvelous, peaceful view!

Our Stay at Brierly Hill

What a beautiful weekend we have experienced! Not only to celebrate our anniversary but the coming of spring! Situated on a hill right outside the historic city fo Lexington, Brierly Hill shines like a jewel in the sun!

We arrived mid afternoon on Friday to begin a sweet, romantic weekend.

Our room was named after the Pati Bannister painting

that dominated the room, "Once Upon a Time.: Imagine my delight when I realized the room was very medieval in flavor!

The bed is this huge bed fit for a king with luscious claret colored handings and the beautiful Queen dubbing Sir Lancelot painting at the head!

I love this tapestry of the fanciful unicorn hung on a gorgeous wrought iron rod.

This handsome writing table stood by the triple hung windows that sported the most amazing view imaginable...ala Pride and Prejudice!

Check out this sunrise view from our window!

The morning room, Dining room, was gorgeous with the sunlight streaming in.

Our first course was this delectable strawberry cardamon soup!

This morning the soup was blackberry! I love the french vanilla coffee served in these larger than usual china cups!

The main course our first morning was hot ham and egg breakfast casserole, a banana and macadamian nut muffin, garnished with sliced fruit.

This morning we had a peach brulee' french toast, country hash brown casserole, and sausage links!

You can probably tell how delighted Lynn was with it all!

But more on our trip next visit!