I'm on a break

Spring break, actually. I'm enjoying time away with my family. Watch for photos to appear on here later.

Enjoy your week.

Pam

No Whining

"Do everything without complaining or arguing,
so that you may become blameless and pure,
children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation,
in which you SHINE LIKE STARS in the universe
as you hold out the word of LIFE..."
Philippians 2:14-16

Dear Lord,

Help me to not be a whiner. No one likes a whiner. I want to be a winner! I want to shine like the stars! Help me to do everything without complaining or arguing so that I may be blameless and pure.

In Jesus name, AMEN

How about you? Are you guilty of being a whiner?

Pam

We grilled out!

It was such a sunny and lovely day today that hubby fired up the old grill. We had grilled chicken and feta dawgs and regular chicken dawgs (we don't eat beef) and turkey chili without beans and lightly salted potato chips. I had chopped onion on mine. No one else here likes onions on their dawgs. Delicious!

Pam

My Menu for week of March 22nd

This week will be an easy menu for me as my family has a lot to do this week. Here is my simple and easy plan:

Monday:

Breakfast-Pop Tarts (I know, not so healthy, but fast and easy). Milk for dd and always coffee for hubby and I.

Lunch- Leftover soup and grilled cheese for hubby and I, packing a turkey sammie for dd and going to make cute little hillbilly teeth for dd. She will be really surprised. You cut up apple wedges and sprinkle with lemon juice if they are not going to be eaten right away, spread with peanut butter and put mini marshmallows between the two apple wedges and if you hold it up to your mouth it looks just like lips and teeth! It is really cute. I'll try to get a photo on here later.

Dinner-Pinto Beans, Fried Okra, Sour Cream Cornbread

Tuesday:

Breakfast-Chocolate Cheerios for dd, Pop Tarts for hubby, probably an Egg Sammie for me.

Lunch-leftovers

Dinner-Turkey Dawgs with Turkey Chili, Chips

Wednesday:

Breakfast-Pop Tarts for Hubby and Dd, Oatmeal for me

Lunch-Soup

Dinner-Pancakes, Bacon and Eggs

Thursday:

Breakfast- One Eyed Sailors, Link Sausage

Lunch- Sammies and Grapes and same for dd's packed school lunch

Dinner-Spaghetti, Lasagna Rolls (from the freezer), Green Veggie, Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits

Friday:

Breakfast- Toaster Strudels

Lunch - Leftovers for hubby and I; Soup and Sammie for dd's packed school lunch

Dinner-Hamburger Helper (made with ground chicken), Green Veggies, Rolls

Saturday:

Breakfast-Eggs, Biscuits, Sausage

Lunch - ? Maybe any leftovers that are found or pb sammies

Dinner - Pizza (either frozen bought on sale and with a coupon or take-out)

Sunday-On the road to Williamsburg, VA. We love to eat at Cracker Barrel on our way out of town, so that is a given. Whatever else we eat that day will be a surprise!

Go to organizedjunkie.com to view 100's of menus.

Pam

Whitestone Inn

I had the pleasure of attending our ladies yearly retreat yesterday. It was held at the Whitestone Inn in Kingston, Tennessee. God blessed us with a beautiful day. These pictures were taken about 8:30 yesterday morning. You can find out more about the Inn here http://www.whitestoneinn.com/ They perform a lot of weddings there.

Our guest speaker was Ruth Hess of Xenia, Ohio. I really enjoyed her and she had such an infectious laugh that just warmed your heart. You can find out more about Ruth here http://ruthhess.com/contact.html

I enjoyed a wonderful day of fellowship with the ladies of my church. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

Pam

It's Friday!

It's Friday. I have a lot to do today as I put everything off that I needed to do until today. But that's okay. The sun is shining and it makes me feel good. It gives me energy and Vitamin D. On days like this, I feel like I could accomplish anything!

I'm going to get my hair cut today. It's been about a year since I last had it cut. I used to get it cut every 6-8 weeks and colored professionally. Since my hubby has been without work, I quit going to the hairdresser and have colored my hair myself. I have to cover up all that gray! I did snip my own bangs a couple of times. I am due a new cut!

I also need to get groceries. I have been doing big shopping about every two weeks instead of weekly. I find I spend less money this way, but hubby does tend to run to the store more often for items we run out of. I especially need to find a good deal on coffee this week.

Hubby is going this evening to video and photograph a piano recital for friends. It's part of his Geeks for God ministry. Robyn and I may go to the bookstore.

Hopefully, a friend will be able to help hubby get some furniture down from upstairs to the garage. We are doing some switching around of furniture from the guest room to Robyn's room. I can't wait to get all that decluttering and redoing of her room done so that I can post updated photos for all of you. It will be a real before and after.

I leave in the morning to attend our womens yearly retreat. This year it is a one day only retreat. I am looking forward to this day away hanging with my sweet sisters in Christ.

Have a great weekend!

Pam

An Old Irish Blessing

An Old Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

How about an old Irish song...

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, ’tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

Another Irish Blessing...


May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

and another...

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And my God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
~Irish Blessing

My plans for the week:

Accountability, that's what this post is all about. Things I've gotta do.

Get my d.l. renewed (I never got around to it last month-oops!)
Groceries
Sit with neighbor who had hip replacement surgery
Bake cookies for school fundraiser
Bible Studies
Work on upstairs declutter
Take books to McKay's for cash
Hair cut
Nails? (use gift card)
Small Group at our home
Women's retreat (one day only)

And in honor of St. Pat's day I will make a special meal on Wednesday. I would like to watch Quiet Man with John Wayne but may not be able to do that on Wednesday due to Awana and dh's New Life class. Maybe we will watch it on Tuesday or Thursday.

Have a fantastic week!

Menu for week of March 15th

Monday: Pork Roast, Mashed Potatoes Mixed Veggies, Rolls

Tuesday: Sticky Chicken, Baked Potato, Creamed Spinach, Mac and Cheese

Wednesday: Dublin Coddle, Sauteed Cabbage, Irish Brown Soda Bread, Green Cupcakes

Thursday: Chicken Noodle Soup, ABM Bread

Friday: Tuna Casserole, Crescent Rolls

Saturday: Turkey Burgers, Chips

Sunday: Spaghetti, Salad, Pepperoni Bread Sticks

Dublin Coddle

1 lb bacon bits (preferably smoked bacon)
1 lb good meaty sausages
3 large onions
3 potatoes (or even four)
handful fresh parsley
ground fresh pepper
2 cups water

Peel and chop the onions roughly. Peel the potatoes and cut them into two or three large pieces. Chop the fresh parsley. Place a layer of onions in the bottom of a heavy pot with a good close fitting lid. Layer all the other ingredients, giving each layer a grind or so fo fresh ground pepper. Add no more than 2 cups of water to the pot. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat at once. Cover tightly and barely simmer for 2 to 5 hours. The perfect way to cook this is in a heavy casserole pot in a very low oven at 250 deg for several hours.

You should know that Dollywood serves this with a great sausage developed by them and manufactured here in East Tennessee exclusively for them.


~~Irish Brown Soda Bread~~

4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup bread flour
1/3 cup rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.

In a large bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, white flour, rolled oats, baking soda and salt. Gently mix in the buttermilk until a soft dough is formed. Knead very lightly. Divide dough into 4 pieces; form into rounded flat loaves. Mark each loaf with an 'X' and place on prepared baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 to 45 minutes.

Makes 4 - 10 ounce loaves

How I make my Chicken and Dumplings

Cook chicken breasts (3-4 is about right - I prefer the chicken on the bone but have used boneless and skinless to make it healthier) Use enough water to cover the chicken while boiling. Boil until tender, remove from pot and reserve the broth. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken, unless using skinless, boneless chicken.
I like to strain the broth before adding the cut up chicken back in. Reserve one cup of the broth. Return the chicken and broth back to a boil. I like to season the broth with sea salt, fresh ground pepper and poultry seasoning, to taste.

Place the 2 cups plain flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Crack one egg into the well and mix in with some of the flour. Add the chicken broth to the flour and egg and mix well. Dump onto a floured surface. You will need quite a bit of flour as this dough is very wet and sticky. Roll until about 1/8 inch thick. I use a butter knife and cut it into strips. Cut or pinch off small pieces (about 1 inch) and drop into boiling broth and chicken. Stir as each piece is dropped in. If necessary add more broth or water. You can use chicken bouillon for more flavor if you'd like.

Reduce heat to simmer and add 1/2 stick butter and 1 cup milk. Cover and cook on simmer 45 minutes. Stir occasionally. Makes 8 servings.

These dumplings are even better the next day. When you serve them to your mother-in-love, she will love you forever!

Menu for the week of March 8th

Wow, it's been a week since I've posted. This is my first post for March. Where does the time go?

Here is the plan for feeding my family this week. Breakfast will be Toaster Strudels and Pop Tarts and Cereal for hubby and daughter. I like peanut butter on whole wheat toast most mornings or eggs and toast.

Monday:

Lasagna Rolls (freezer meal), Salad, Red Lobster Cheese Biscuits

Tuesday:

Turkey Smoked Sausage, Fried Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole

Wednesday:

Chicken and Dumplings, Buttery Cooked Carrots, Corn Casserole (didn't get to this last week)

Thursday:

Turkey and Biscuit Pie (freezer meal) and any leftovers from Wednesday

Friday:

Quesadillas, Mexican Rice, Corn, Tortilla Chips and Salsa

Saturday:

Taco Soup (from the freezer), Tex-mex Biscuits

Sunday:

Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Broccoli with Cheese Sauce, Salad, Rolls