In the Storm

jewish food festival

the georgia boys will be attending merit badge university this year next weekend. they will be taking citizenship of the world and environmental science. both classes are eagle scout merit badges. it will be the two merit badges they need for their next rank advancement to life scout (right now they are star scout); after life scout is eagle. at 14 the georgia boys are doing great, moving right along for them to complete eagle well before their 18th birthday.

in preparation for the two classes next weekend we attended the jewish food festival downtown in forsythe park, an international event that fulfills a difficult requirement - perfect timing. we spent the time around lunch time checking out the jewish food booths, purchased tickets and enjoyed an awesome lunch of sandwiches and strudel. hoosier man and i had corned beef on rye and the georgia boys had smoked pastrami on rye - both were yummo!

we saw several people we knew and stopped to chat with them along the way. and we enjoyed strolling in the park.

it was such a beautiful morning to spend time in the park

feed our souls - i mean face - i mean stomachs

share some family time on a brisk, fall sunday

made sure i did a mini-photo walk too. checking out intriguing photo opportunities like the iron fence posts

the park bench...hi mom!

different perspectives

and yummy food...oh, i already said that didn't i. but i really meant it. memorable lunch.

i was talking to someone this past week about what boy scouts has afforded our family. we check out events like this. gain another perspective. see more sights. forge more memories worthy of keeping. experience things we would never have done, or do otherwise- most likely. so good.

 

not by might, not by power

"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty (Lord of Hosts). I've been studying in the book of Zechariah these past couple weeks and came across that verse in Chapter 4. Immediately I jumped back in time to when I was a new Christian listening to the band Harvest. I hunted down the band on the internet and the song they sang in the late 80's with that verse. I was so excited to not only find the song but when I listened to it I was filled with those same joyous feelings of awe and hope in my Lord - even more so all these years later as a growing, getting older Christian.

And too, as I study the book of Zechariah I see HOPE. So I leave with some words of hope - words to live by.

Fear not!

So hard - but easy isn't an option - peace is.

in honor of my blogs name - in the storm

just say - absolutely - yes!

one of my favorite verses to cling to

convicting.

great quote.

be still.

oh my!

christmas list - part 2

it's all about options baby! and i'm makin' sure my family, who loves me, has options. so here is part 2 of my christmas list. a little more practicality was in order.

1. ipad2. i cannot tell a lie. i want one!

2. Grill pan. i have wanted one of these for awhile. ever since hunting down recipes on the web and watching cooking shows. love the idea of a grill pan for indoor grilling.

3. Roulpat. Yes, please.

4. Silpat. Yes, please, yes - two of them!!!

5. Laddle. I need a laddle. Especially one with that little hook on the end so it doesn't slip down into the pan. and into the soup. and make a mess. we eat lots of soup and i have no laddle.

6. These cutting boards. One red and one green please. To match my kitchen. One for vegetables and one for meat. so i can trash the white board we have that is nasty.

ok. that is all for now.

selah

psalm 32:5 "then i acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. i said, "i will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah"

although it is unclear, not precise, what Selah means in the Bible, it is believed though to mean to pause, to reflect. good word. good name. Pause, and reflect on this beautiful girl - Selah.

i've shared the hurst's before. they are a surrogate family, in and out of our lives but no less important, and memoriable, and valuable, and we miss them and love them.

10 foods I love - part 1

(Photo by sheri)

1. garlic. most of my recipes include garlic. i love garlic. i love the bite garlic adds to foods. i prefer fresh garlic chopped or minced but i've been known to sprinkle on a bit of powdered. hoosier man prefers powdered. but i prefer pulling out my chopper and banging out 5-6 cloves of chopped garlic to add some amazing flavor and goodness to my food. i hear garlic is good for you too.

(Photos by google images)

2. zucchini. we probably eat more zucchini than any other vegetable. oh my, i love zucchini. saute it, roast it, bake it, fry it, love it. it is my go-to vegetable. i love making my zucchini casserole, sauteed zucchini served up with anything, and roasted zucchini served up with - well - anything, my zucchini pie - oh yum!

(Photo by sks bottle)

3. red peppers. in particular but not necessarily limited to roasted red peppers. so sweet, so yummy. i cannot abide by slimy cooked red peppers though. leave the crunch on. i'm craving just thinking about red peppers.

(Photo by PW)

4. salsa. actually the salsa i make. a while back i nabbed the recipe from PW and made it my own. and i love it. while it is not a staple in our house (like, it isn't in our frig all the time) when i make it i love it. the mingling flavors are there. in each bite. i can taste them. the tomatoes, the garlic, the onions, the jalapenos, the cilantro, the hint of lime - oh, yum!

(Photo by food network)

5. pickled beets. i suppose you are wondering where that came from. i am pretty much the only one in my family who loves, adores, pickled beets. so, i rarely make them but i don't love them any less. i must say here though that the best pickled beets i've ever eaten my mother-in-law had canned. i still remember them. sweet and tangy goodness.

my christmas list - part 1

because i care enough to give my family lots of choices to pick from this is only part one of my christmas list.

1. my number one gift would cost nothing but time. in our garage is a cabinet similar to this. it is finally stained (after 10+ plus years) and is awaiting the standard many coats of polyurethane. In the garage is also a shaker side table that i would like completed too.

2. This is an Instax camera. i have seen lovely photos all over the internet taken with this camera. i would love one to especially be able to use for mini albums like the weekend lens, december dailys, and a week in the life. And of course I'd want film too!

3. love these leather journals from katie's paperie shop. i love all the colors but i'm partial to the blues, reds, pinks, greens, and purples.

4. I would like two Adirondrack chairs with a table for the middle for my front yard. World Market often has them on sale for $79 each. I'd love the turquoise colors above with either a red or orange table.

5. I would like someone to paint me this in the gray colors and instead of the yellow tones use red tones - so I can hang it in my bedroom

6. or someone to make me this. love the turquoise leather. i found it here.

7. i wouldn't mind some O.P.I nail polish in mauving to manitoba, tickle my france-y, flugged in plum, vodka & cavier, ski teal we drop, blue my mind, austin-a-tious turquoise, suzi takes the wheel, and on the same paige.

so, i guess that is it for part 1.

friday funnies

too funny. all cat lovers should recognize this.

i've always wondered something similar...

funny. not that i agree. just funny that someone would actually make pillows for display with these words plastered for mr. right to see.

ahh, yeah...hello. i wouldn't have needed a doctor to tell me that...

ok. this is so funny. i had loss of internet and email yesterday for a few hours and i have to admit somewhere in the back of my mind i wondered if something was going on in the world that precipitated an internet attack...

very funny

i must say i didn't laugh at this. i roared.

i'll bet a kid came up with that.

nice way to end the week.

i might be back tomorrow.

my christmas list is growing.

where did that come from.

oh, right, we've been sharing funnies.

(all photos from pinterest some via katie)

green chili, cheesy grits

we had grilled pork steaks and broccoli the other night. i thought a new side dish would go nicely. this casserole of green chilis, monterey jack cheese, cream cheese, and grits was the perfect compliment. the spicy, smokey flavor combined nicely to melt in our mouth and say, 'keeper'. I used PW's recipe as my basis and only changed up the spices mostly.

Green Chili Grits Casserole

• 1 cup Grits (quick Or Regular)
• 4-1/2 cups Water
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 8 ounces, Monterey Jack Cheese, shredded
• 4 ounces, Cream Cheese, Cut Into Cubes
• 1/2 can Rotel (tomatoes And Chilies)
• 1 can (4 Ounces) Chopped Green Chilies
• ½ teaspoon chipotle chili pepper
• ½ teaspoon smoked Paprika
• Black Pepper To Taste
• 1 whole Egg Beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Boil water and add salt. Add grits and stir, then reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

Stir in Rotel, chilies, grated cheese, and cream cheese. Stir in spices and check for seasonings. Add salt if needed.

Beat egg. Drizzle in a couple of tablespoons of hot grits to temper, stirring constantly. Dump it all back into the pot and stir.

Pour into a buttered baking dish and bake for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly and golden on top. Allow dish to sit for fifteen minutes before serving! Grits will firm up slightly as they sit.

spicy broccoli

we've been eating broccoli about once a week lately. the broccoli has been beautiful in the stores so i'll pick up 4-5 big heads to feed the 4 of us. we all like broccoli. this is my go-to recipe for broccoli. it pairs well with everything, even spaghetti.

Spicy Broccoli

4-5 heads of broccoli, chopped

2 tablespoons butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

In a WOK on high heat add the butter, garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes. As the butter melts combine the flavors using a wooden spoon. Add the broccoli pieces and stir to coat the broccoli with the butter/seasonings combo. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Turn heat down to low-medium and continue cooking for another 15 minutes, stirring occasionaly. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Serves 4.

10 places we've been - homeschooling 101

1. we first visited Yorkshire, England when we read a murder for her majesty. set in the elizabethan era, alice a young girl, after witnessing her father's murder flees and takes refuge with the choirboys of a large cathedral, posing as none other than a choirboy. the book has much mystery and intrigue to keep attentions

2. we joined 17-year estaban, a cartographer accused of stealing the kings fifth, and a band of conquistadors in a search for the golden city of Cibola in an unknown land, but is now america's great southwest.

3. then we were off to join joanna sprague on her journey that begins on the atlantic ocean waters and makes her way to the massachusetts bay colony as a bond servant to a wealthy family of ironworks owners in the iron peacock.

4. we fast forwarded in time to a more modern-day tale in the middle of nowhere but desert, Camp Green Lake where Stanley Yelnats is serving out his sentence and is digging many holes.

5. we spent alot of time in the forests of northeast america near lake champlain and fort william henry with the last of the mohicans

6. then we joined teenager, madeliene as she takes up arms to defend her home, family, and country from the iroquois in 17th century new france, canada

7. along with daniel and his family we escaped france to the island of guadaloupe before finding refuge in the northeast

8. off to japan in search of a mystery

9. we visited brazil during the times of the porteguise inquisitions

10. we are presently in london, the tower of london, the slums of london in the 1730s.

our travels. our adventures. our most favorite part of homeschooling.