Show and Tell Friday

Kelli of There is No Place Like Home hosts this each week, but she's on vacation this week. I still thought I'd share about my ever growing bird collection! I'm always on the lookout for blue birds especially, but do love all birds so much! They are God's special gift to us. Their songs bless me to the innermost part of my soul!!!
I house my collection on the hutch in the dining room!

One of my favorite specimens is the bluebird in flight on the wall.

I have birds that double as candle holders and others that are reasonable facsimilies of their natural counterpart. but no matter, I love most all types of collectible birds!

I also collect all types of bird items, nests, and twigs to augment my collection.

I find many of my birds at a favorite shop, Platagenent Rose, which is owned and run by a dear British lady from Yorkshire. I enjoy our visits when i look for birds as much as showing off my birds once I get them home!!

My Husband Rocks Friday

Lynn is so cute.... he works so hard keeping not only our yard looking great, but also mowing and trimming over my parents' home. But if ever I notice that he cant be found motoring and tooling around the house or yard, I'll invariably find him chatting over the fence with his buddy, Jeff!

Visit KatyLin for more MHRF!

Word Filled Wednesday

Sometimes the way ahead is not smooth, there may be bumps in the road. But with God's direction and leading, we will find our way!

Penny Raine is hosting this theme today! Visit her site for more WFW!

Ruby Tuesday

I really enjoy this fun theme. You'll find more rubies here!

Tempt My Tummy, Tuesday

Well, I havent posted on this theme for a while, but just had to share about my dinner last night. I had thawed 2 pork chops and was looking on Marie's blog for a great recipe and she just happened to post a pork chop recipe yesterday! But I didnt have all the ingredients so I improvised and we had a marvelous meal.... I'll call it....

Carolyn's Pork Chop Special

2 pork chops

2T olive oil

a knob of butter??? whatever that is... I used about 2 T of butter

salt, pepper to taste

I have a packet of fine herbs from provence including rosemary, thyme, savory, basil which I sprinkled on the meat to season it

In a skillet

sear the seasoned chops on both sides until golden brown then remove from skillet

1 red onion chopped

1 carrot sliced

1 red pepper in strips

250 ml size good chicken stock

I use those small cartons from Fresh Market

Place veggies in the skillet drippings and saute them being sure to scrape all the "goodie "off the bottom. Place the chops on top of the veggies and if too dry, add a tad more butter or oil.

Add the chicken stock and cover .Turn heat down to low and just let it simmer for about 20 minutes and the stock will cook down by half and thicken..

Meanwhile...

2 golden potatoes

quarter and parboil potatoes. When all is done, plate the potatoes,

remove the chops to a cutting board and cut it from the bone and slice it into thin strips. With a slotted spoon, dish out the veggies onto the potatoes and allow the delicious juice to permeate the whole. Place the chop slices on top and serve with some delicious bread to sop up that savory juice. This is so great and the meat is really tender!!!!

Note: This would have been wonderful with mushrooms added in with the veggies, but alas, I didnt have any! I do now! Cause I'm making this again and again!!

I reserved the pan drippings as there was some liquid after all the veggies were removed. I cant wait to cook some rice tonight in that yummy leftover rue tonight!

You'll find much more at Blessed with Grace.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For Today...

August 3, 2009

Outside my window...

a scorcher day is developing. High temps with high humidity will keep me in the house most of this day!

I am thinking...

how blessed we are to have air conditioning and we should not take it for granted!

I am thankful for...

that God is in his heaven and is in complete control of all things!

From the kitchen...

I actually need to thaw somthing from the freezer... probably pork chops! HMMM, I hadnt given that any thought until this moment. I'll have to check in with my friend Marie and see what she offers in the way of a savory recipe for pork!

http://www.ayearfromoakcottage.com/

I am wearing...

my cool green tee shirt, with lightweight green capris

I am reading...

The Crossroads by Beverly Lewis

Th Book of Joel, The Psalms

I am hoping...

to get motivated to do some real house cleaning today... better get started soon!

I am praying...

for several folks in our church who have cancer.

Around the house...

Taking it one room at a time to give a thorough cleaning and sprucing up. Things need a general cleaning after the renovations of last week.

One of my favorite things...

planning things... my trouble is in implementaion

Plans for the rest of the week...

Monday: Clean house and catch up on laundry

Tuesday: Attend a study on prophecy

Wednesday: Ageless Bible Study(breakfast meeting), fellowship dinner and Bible study

Thursday: Day out with the girls.. undecided what we'll do perhaps go to Lynchburg, ot go blueberry pickin or just take a nice walk and stop off for coffee

Friday: allergy shot, bone density check

Here are a few pictures I'd like to share with you...

Last week I was priveleged to get together with a group of ladies I actually never thought I'd be reconnecting with. Through Facebook several of my old friends and acquaintance from high school have renewed friendship. Actually we have gotten friendly as we are neighbors on the game Farm Town which is so addicting we all admit to having spent a portion of our day planting sowing and reaping. We all have neighboring "farms" and enjoy our virtual visits! So last week we decided to get together for real for dinner! It was wonderful!

So much fun to catch up in our lives. Some of these ladies have stayed close all these years, but for me it had been 40 years!!!

Even though the Simple Woman, Peggy, has taken a vacation form hosting this theme for the summer I still enjoy journalling.

Pink Saturday

This has been a pink Saturday for Lynn and I. We have actually been in the pink all day. Personally, for me, my day started with our prayer team meeting which always blesses me so, because of the unity and love exhibited by all the ladies. Even though our church is experiencing many trials as we are now without a senior pastor and the rumor mill seems to be running amuck over various and sundry things, yet knowing that God is in control of all things, even if we may be going through the refiners fire, we know that if we persevere we will come out victorious in the end! Co-laboring with the team and our Lord Jesus is the perfect place to be!
Thankfully, Lynn was feeling so much better following his bout with the kidney stone and his procedure that we were able to spend the rest of the day together making headway in decisions about recovering the sofa and purchasing some new carpets for the kitchen and sunroom. Now with the carpets ordered and the fabric purchased and our name on the list for upholstery, I am definitely feeling in the PINK! So as I close I share this gorgeous webcam shot of the Isle of skye which replicates the pinkness of my spirit and the glory that God has showered on my life today!

For more Pink Saturday visit Beverly of How Sweet the Sound!