We are entering my absolute favorite time of year...autumn.
It's arrival seemed delayed this year. Perhaps it's because of my canning adventures. That has certainly pushed back my transition into our household's usual school/Fall routine. I always look forward to the regularity the start of school brings. I function best when there's some continuity from week to week.
Last year we were still adjusting to our recent move, Pete was doing his best to keep his head above water with starting a new job, taking classses, and everything else, and I was figuring out where the grocery stores were around here and setting up house.
One of the things I enjoy doing at this time of year is evaluating my weekly routine. What day(s) I plan our meals for the week, grocery shop, clean, go to the library, etc. This year I'm also looking forward to trying out a local MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group with my good friend Lisa. I have a whole list in my head of what I want to accomplish before Baby Adam arrives, not to mention the holiday shopping and baking I hope to do before I'm as big as a barn and can't move. :o)
In all of it, I want the Lord to lead and guide me...for I know my lists often need His tailoring and modification. God, please guard my heart. I can quickly rush ahead with my "good" plans while neglecting to consider what His "best" for me looks like.
And in this season when the air is cooling, the smells of harvest float through the windows, and the sound of school buses and wagons in the field are the background music of our days, I want to take time to enjoy the sensory delights God has sprinkled all around. The gradual change of leaves turning colors, chilly walks through the woods with the ground crunching beneath our feet, cups of hot cocoa, and the smoky scent of woodstoves. Snuggling close to my hubby at a local football game, buying pumpkins, gourds and mums, making pumpkin bread, and wearing jeans.
For all of you F A L L lovers out there, what are your favorite parts of this time of year?
To quote one of my favorite movies, "You've Got Mail", I'd send you all a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils! :o)
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Poppyseed Chicken
Pete's not a big fan of casseroles, and well...I'm from Lancaster County so I practically grew up on them. BUT, we both really enjoy the following recipe. It's super easy, and perfect for those nights when you don't have a lot of time.
***I always have cooked chicken pieces in my freezer so that is one step done ahead of time that makes this so easy for me. I freeze it in 2 c. portions which is what this recipe calls for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POPPYSEED CHICKEN
2 c. pre-cooked chicken pieces, (OR 3 boneless, skinless breasts slowly cooked, then chopped)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
4 TBsp. butter, melted
1 roll Ritz crackers, crushed
1 TBsp. poppyseed
***Serve with pasta (I typically use medium egg noodles)
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cover bottom of greased 8 x 8 casserole dish with chicken.
3. Combine soup and sour cream then spread over chicken.
4. In separate bowl, melt butter in microwave, then add crackers and poppyseed. (I gently smash the crackers right in their sleeve.)
5. Spread cracker mixture evenly over the top.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve over pasta.
***Pete likes this dish really moist, so I usually add about a 1/4 c. milk to the soup and sour cream mixture.
***I always have cooked chicken pieces in my freezer so that is one step done ahead of time that makes this so easy for me. I freeze it in 2 c. portions which is what this recipe calls for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
POPPYSEED CHICKEN
2 c. pre-cooked chicken pieces, (OR 3 boneless, skinless breasts slowly cooked, then chopped)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 c. sour cream
4 TBsp. butter, melted
1 roll Ritz crackers, crushed
1 TBsp. poppyseed
***Serve with pasta (I typically use medium egg noodles)
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Cover bottom of greased 8 x 8 casserole dish with chicken.
3. Combine soup and sour cream then spread over chicken.
4. In separate bowl, melt butter in microwave, then add crackers and poppyseed. (I gently smash the crackers right in their sleeve.)
5. Spread cracker mixture evenly over the top.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly. Serve over pasta.
***Pete likes this dish really moist, so I usually add about a 1/4 c. milk to the soup and sour cream mixture.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Musical Meme
I saw this on two other friends' blogs and decided to join in on the fun.
Rules of the game: Choose a singer/band/group-- Answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group
U2
1. Are you male or female?
~Right now I feel like the "Lady With The Spinning Head". These crazy hormones!
2. Describe yourself.
~"Dancing Barefoot [and pregnant]"
3. How do people feel when they’re around you?
~"Do You Feel Loved?" (I hope so!)
4. How would you describe your previous relationships?
~"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
5. Describe your current relationship.
~It's "The Sweetest Thing"
6. Something you want to say to your significant other?
~"All I Want Is You"
7. How do you feel about love?
~It's like "Wild Honey"
8. What’s your life like?
~Full of "Grace" and "Mercy"
9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
~"Peace On Earth" (found in "Yahweh")
10. Say something wise.
~ Life is about "Surrender"--"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (I'd leave out the word "sometimes".)
Rules of the game: Choose a singer/band/group-- Answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group
U2
1. Are you male or female?
~Right now I feel like the "Lady With The Spinning Head". These crazy hormones!
2. Describe yourself.
~"Dancing Barefoot [and pregnant]"
3. How do people feel when they’re around you?
~"Do You Feel Loved?" (I hope so!)
4. How would you describe your previous relationships?
~"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"
5. Describe your current relationship.
~It's "The Sweetest Thing"
6. Something you want to say to your significant other?
~"All I Want Is You"
7. How do you feel about love?
~It's like "Wild Honey"
8. What’s your life like?
~Full of "Grace" and "Mercy"
9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
~"Peace On Earth" (found in "Yahweh")
10. Say something wise.
~ Life is about "Surrender"--"Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" (I'd leave out the word "sometimes".)
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Please Pray
I'd like to ask you all to keep these dear folks in your prayers.
On Tuesday evening one of my high school friend's father, Bob Bruckhart, was struck and killed while riding his motorcyle to a haircut appointment in our hometown. His daughter's wedding is next Saturday. He was just 55 years old.
He was a wonderful family man, a faithful father and husband. His faith in God was strong, and he worked hard as a farmer and salesman to provide for his family. He leaves behind a rich legacy.
The timing of this all is especially painful. If you would, please pray for Sharon, (his wife), Jared (his son) and Mindi Bruckhart, Jonna (his daughter) and her soon-to-be-husband Brent, Jared and Mindi's 3 children, and their relatives and friends.
Lord, please grant them comfort and peace as only You can...
On Tuesday evening one of my high school friend's father, Bob Bruckhart, was struck and killed while riding his motorcyle to a haircut appointment in our hometown. His daughter's wedding is next Saturday. He was just 55 years old.
He was a wonderful family man, a faithful father and husband. His faith in God was strong, and he worked hard as a farmer and salesman to provide for his family. He leaves behind a rich legacy.
The timing of this all is especially painful. If you would, please pray for Sharon, (his wife), Jared (his son) and Mindi Bruckhart, Jonna (his daughter) and her soon-to-be-husband Brent, Jared and Mindi's 3 children, and their relatives and friends.
Lord, please grant them comfort and peace as only You can...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
I LOVE This CD!
Hot off the press, the newest in Sovereign Grace music! The PSALMS...
One of my other recent favorites is The Valley of Vision, listed in the right column of this link.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Yearbook Yourself!
I was visiting my cousin's blog yesterday and just howling at this. I decided to try it...laughs are on me. :oP
"Miss 1952"
"Miss 1964"
"Miss 1966"
"Miss 1968"
"Miss 1982"
And the really funny one (because it's not too far off!) "Miss 1990"
Weekend Happenings
It was a fun-filled weekend, time spent with family and friends.
Parts of Friday and Saturday we spent with our friends Ken and Lisa and their kids. Lisa and I had the rare opportunity to go shopping without our shadows and were searching for those great deals on baby/kids clothes for the upcoming year. We've been waiting to try out the Kid To Kid consignment shop in York (after I heard rave reviews from my friend Libby), and I also wanted to introduce Lisa to the great consignment shop in Mount Joy, called Barely Used Boutique. Both establishments accept mostly name-brand items and everything is in new to almost new condition. Prices are good too!
I decided this was my best opportunity to shop for our upcoming baby boy, so I was thrilled to find a variety of needed items sized through to 12 months. Here's my pile of loot! Not bad for $60 total, right? (That's with the used-once Snuggli carrier included!)
Saturday and Sunday evenings we enjoyed some great outdoor delights: grilled BBQ-ed chicken, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, peach cobbler, etc. one night, followed by what may now be an established "Frogmore" tradition. That is what we're told it is sometimes called anyway! Our version consisted of: local sausage/kielbasa, corn on the cob, small potatoes, and shrimp, all brought to a boil in a large pot, seasoned with Old Bay, then served poured out on butcher paper covered tables. No silverware or plates needed, just you and your fingers...plus some cocktail sauce, butter and salt of course. Homemade vanilla ice cream, fresh peaches, and homemade strawberry sauce topped off the picnic perfectly.
Here's a picture of those from my dad's side of the family who could be there for the fun. There were about 30 of us...
Thankfully the two bee stings Natalia acquired on her feet last night are much better and the swelling is nearly gone. Three words: BAKING SODA PASTE (Putting it on immediately truly does work!) I was so grateful my aunts remembered this because my mind just couldn't think of what to do in the moment! And Natalia, who is my "bruiser" and normally does not cry long (if at all) after a nasty spill, was SCREAMING...poor thing. After awhile though, distractions such as visiting the neighbor's puppy included, she was running around and having fun again. (I still gave her some Benadryl last night though before bed.)
Parts of Friday and Saturday we spent with our friends Ken and Lisa and their kids. Lisa and I had the rare opportunity to go shopping without our shadows and were searching for those great deals on baby/kids clothes for the upcoming year. We've been waiting to try out the Kid To Kid consignment shop in York (after I heard rave reviews from my friend Libby), and I also wanted to introduce Lisa to the great consignment shop in Mount Joy, called Barely Used Boutique. Both establishments accept mostly name-brand items and everything is in new to almost new condition. Prices are good too!
I decided this was my best opportunity to shop for our upcoming baby boy, so I was thrilled to find a variety of needed items sized through to 12 months. Here's my pile of loot! Not bad for $60 total, right? (That's with the used-once Snuggli carrier included!)
Saturday and Sunday evenings we enjoyed some great outdoor delights: grilled BBQ-ed chicken, corn-on-the-cob, watermelon, peach cobbler, etc. one night, followed by what may now be an established "Frogmore" tradition. That is what we're told it is sometimes called anyway! Our version consisted of: local sausage/kielbasa, corn on the cob, small potatoes, and shrimp, all brought to a boil in a large pot, seasoned with Old Bay, then served poured out on butcher paper covered tables. No silverware or plates needed, just you and your fingers...plus some cocktail sauce, butter and salt of course. Homemade vanilla ice cream, fresh peaches, and homemade strawberry sauce topped off the picnic perfectly.
Here's a picture of those from my dad's side of the family who could be there for the fun. There were about 30 of us...
Thankfully the two bee stings Natalia acquired on her feet last night are much better and the swelling is nearly gone. Three words: BAKING SODA PASTE (Putting it on immediately truly does work!) I was so grateful my aunts remembered this because my mind just couldn't think of what to do in the moment! And Natalia, who is my "bruiser" and normally does not cry long (if at all) after a nasty spill, was SCREAMING...poor thing. After awhile though, distractions such as visiting the neighbor's puppy included, she was running around and having fun again. (I still gave her some Benadryl last night though before bed.)
Today we're catching up on some schoolwork, household stuff and sleep. Natalia seems to be fighting a cold today and my head has been pounding--probably due to the sudden change in temperature. I can always tell when the barometric pressure changes quickly. Only Extra Strength Tylenol for me these days though. :o(
A random funny, straight from Natalia to all of you, for your reading amusement:
She's been learning and very excited to pray the "God is great, God is good" prayer before we eat lately. Yesterday, we couldn't help but chuckle at her most recent version, which included " by His hands we all are Fred (fed)". I have an uncle Fred who she's seen often this summer at church softball games.
And to finish out this post, here's a cute picture of Natalia from today. She decided she wanted to sweep the leaves off of our back deck. (Pint-sized broom courtesy of my parents who have observed Natalia's desire to do all-things-Mommy.)
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