To God be the Glory

Today in church  Lynn and I were honored to   get to   participate in  a tribute to our   military   with this same   victory medley!!!...  It was   an awesome   opportunity...   God has blessed our nation through many   trials and   testings.....   may the   God of the universe and the  Lord  of heaven  preserve us    and  aid us in times of trouble... may   we, the people,   submit to the  authority of  heaven and repent  of   the sins of   rebellion and   the falling  away from   God  in this generation....  and may God in heaven   hear our prayers and   heal our land! 

Tasty Dish Low Carb

Well,   this is absolutely the   simplest and sweetest  lunch or dinner item I have ever  made and  it  is so delicious, I had to  show and tell about it...    not only that   but my  biologist daugther will be very proud of me....
Ok,  I   hate to admit it, but  my  sugar  has   hit the limit and  Im no loner  pre-diabetic.....   on  a pill now and I   refuse to   be on it long!  So  I am   making a dramatic   change in my  life  and  eating patterns and habits
When I saw this  item on Facebook last night I thought  "umm, that looks much tastier  than the meal I was planning  for   today...and it   was  so much easier and hardly any clean-up!"

Slice the zucchini in half. Slice off the bottom to keep in stable. Brush with olive oil and top with garlic or garlic powder. Top with sliced tomatoes, salt and pepper to taste. Use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese or mixed blend..   Take a slice of bacon  and   cut  only the lean  bit   out and   dot the bacon pieces  on each   strip.Bake 375 for 20 to 30 minutes until soft...  

Because I have had hardly a single carb today I splurged and counted out  12  of the very best   fritoes we had....   at  under 20 carbs  that  was  a pretty   tasty  side dish!  hahahaha

These    strips   were   delish.... the only comment  my hubby offered  besides,,    "do we have  extras?"...   was   "next time  add more  cheese!"....  Not a bad  suggestion!!!!
 Oh, ok,   progress report.   in  15 days, Ive lost   7 pounds....   That pleases me!
Simple and Sweet Fridays

Show and Tell Friday

Oh, the Places Ive been by Train!

Click here to return to the Tablescaper!
I love   riding  the  Northeastern Regional Amtrak  rail...

My girlfriend and I     took  the train to Boston  a couple of years ago....  my first major rail trip!

Much of the  scenery enroute is   gorgeous.... even on   a  somewhat  rainy day!

Unfotunately,  my very first ever glimpse of  NYC  left a bit to be desired.... 

Upon closer  inspection,  I was feeling  the   allure of the Big Apple.. 

but all too soon,     the rails  lead us back to the industrial  sides of towns. 

About  this time I am happy to   have chosen  the quiet car  because with 4 more hours to go,  it's  nap time!

  I love this sign because when I think of  New Haven, CT,  I think of  Lucy's  country home.....alas,  there was nothing  about   what I  saw  there that remotely   looked like the country  suburbs!

  But    as the train travels  along the   Connecticutt  coast, the   vista s a re  lovely....  I can only imagine  how  lovely on a clear day!

Sky Watch Friday

Check out Skyley for more wonderful photos...

like  mine...
   a common site these days...  cumulonimbus in the making!!!!

Did I Say Lush

I am loving  these   semi-stormy days.....  anything that will   break the humidity   and  cool  down  the temps, I am for....  or maybe it is the  British blood running through my veins,,even if I am  several generations  pure  American...... I   simply never have minded a bit of rain....
and, in fact, I love a rousing thunderstorm....
but the   warm, rainy days have brought  on  a lush and   lovely   early summer...






and it looks like  I'm not the only one who   is appreciative!!!!
Thursday  Favorite Things

Grace at Home  @ Imparting Grace

Home and Garden at  A Delightsome Life

 Home Sweet Home@The Charm of Home

Babies on Safari

Babies  are  wonderful....  and whether you are   the up coming parents  or  grandparnets,,,  once you know a baby is coming...   you just   want to  do and plan  all you can to make  wee one   as  happy and loved  as   possible...  Today there is so much more information on how to raise a  "healthy"   well  balanced child....   In my day,  we  thought about  "fire retardant".... considered  cloth vs. throw away...and  some   very    considerate  moms   made all their baby food.....   I got along with  Gerbers, Pampers,  and  looked for fire retardant, but many clothes were  second hand, given to us from  neighbors and friends with no such labels.....  well worn,  well loved, well- washed comfy clothing!  Today the market  espouses  "All-natural"   like  Vulli's  all natural  Sophie, the Giraffe....

 Dont get me wrong.....   I   love Sophie, in fact she is the inspiration for this post!

I think  she inspires   a lot   going  around the baby market these days...

   IN  our day,  we went for  typical   animals like bunnies.    In the many months  while we awaited  the arrival of our  dear Amanda,  I spent  my time  preparing  the nursery...  teaching myself how to  sew, applique and quilt!

Alas, we made do with  Polaroid, as well. 

Back in those days,  crib bumper pads were   the norm....

and if you  forgot to take   the  bathing ring to  Grandma's  you found a way!

 But today,  times have defintiely changed. Now instead of bunnies...

 it's African Safari!

source

source

source

Source

Goodness, I could go on and on,     the  creativity   to be found online  is   mind boggling....  but my favorite  Babie A-safari   ideas are found here!
So   where does this Grammy CC  begin to consider   preparing for Lil Birdie.....   She'll be here soon....  and  I need to be  preparing her  wee little nest, don't you think?Hmmmmm!
Inspire Me Tuesday@ A Stroll Thru Life

The Fairy Tree

Earlier this spring we  were shopping in Plow and Hearth  and I    saw something that   just  touched me in  my heart because of the  precious memories  they evoked in me.  When I was  a little girl  in our side yard we had a  lovely pine tree that  had  a  cottage door shaped  bare  spot on its bark near the ground.  Momma always told me  that was  where the easter bunny lived... inside that tree...so she  always   hid the  easter eggs  around  in that  rock garden...

source  ..
Imagine my joy when I found   these at Plow and Hearth....can you  find  them on  this table in my sunroom?

  You guessed it...

We have a lovely persimmon tree  right out    by  the patio area..... just   the place   for my   own   magical door and  windows...

source
But  we're not too keen on  easter bunnies  now,,, but   I know fairies  who would love to live  in that tree...

  I am sharing on  these   weekly   parties.... A Return to Loveliness@ A Delightsome Life

Cottage Style Linky Party@ http://lavendergardencottage.blogspot.com

Eucharisteo (523-530)

  Join  Ann Voskamp   here  for  more..
My joy has been  made   more complete   because
523.   The marvelous,   cooler,     days of   May and June.....I  love the   mild days, and even the  rain..thank you, Lord,  for     this  replenishing  time!

(on our way to see  my mother)

524.  I went to the podiatrist expecting   one thing and   it wasnt nearly as bad.... praying for complete healing f rom   the procedure  he did this morning...
525.  Lynn   and his   horrible  sinus  infection he has had now for  two  weeks  is   almost back to  normal...praise the Lord!

My very own  Farmer  Brown!!
526.  the   awesome  biblical teaching,  so timely,,, so sure,, I have   had   in the last  week or so....   I love the Holy Spirit and the timing of the Lord!
527.  

The lush verdancy of   all things growing   because of the  abundant rain and  sunshine!

  The spearmint  casts  its  wonderful scent over the garden!

528. The   beauty of the super moon last night   was such a gift!

(source)

529.  

Morning coffee on the porch!

530.  Of course,   the   purest joy  comes from   knowing  how the Lord  is blessing our family this year!....

Lil Birdie will  be here before we know it....  will everyone be ready?  That is the question......

Bright and Early

Visit Sandra here for more HHM!

The weather.....

a beautiful, if humid 74 degrees

Right now I am....

contemplating my day  whiole I enjoy my  fruit, yogurt and first cup of coffee...

Thinking.... 

how   very happy   we are that   my parents' home has sold, and we    wont have to be  going over there to work, mow,  paint or  clear out anything anymore,.....  it  was a long  18 months!

Looking forward to...
another  week  of living....  things have settled down a bit and   we actually have time to plan  projects around here!  YAYAYAYAYAY!

On my reading pile....

Daily Bible reading...I and II Kings  along with   appropriate Psalms

(Im reading the Bible through  in  chronological order)

Daily devotional.. My Utmost for His Highest 

Spiritual Warfare by Derek Prince

On my TV..... 
I   have a  couple of videos  to watch,  but   I  just  dont care for  regular tv  shows much anymore, unless it is an old movie,  or  a food or  home and garden show

Blog Hopping

On my to do list....
menu planning

laundry

errands

photography session
work the  church   during photography sessions

clean house (this list never changes)

grocery shopping  

Looking around the house....

I need to   get  some  areas   of the house picked up...

From the camera:

My  baked egg, ham, and cheese  dish   seasoned with fresh basil   suits me to a tea  ! 

fresh flowers from the garden make me  smile,  but alas,,,    I have very few    blooms on my hydrangea  bush this year!

On my prayer list..... 

Our family, parents, daughter ,  Little Birdie*, son-in law, 

Our church, and church family 

our nation, leaders, 

Israel and the Middle East 

Bible verse, Devotional  or  thoughtful  words:

Psalm 42

7 Deep calls to deep

in the roar of your waterfalls;

all your waves and breakers

have swept over me.

8 By day the Lord directs his love,

at night his song is with me—

a prayer to the God of my life.

  
Smiling Sally here!