(That means very, very sweet)
I just wanted to record my favorite Mother's Day gift ever. Rodney really outdid himself with this little number. I am so blessed to have him for eternity. And those three little buggers ain't so bad either. ;)
First is the youtube video 1 of 2 (The first 10:00) and then below it, is video 2 of 2 (The last 4:50).
Friday, May 13, 2011
Hiding in the Book of Matthew
Heaven knows I love a parable. Recently, I was glancing over Matthew, Chapter 13, wherein lies a number of them, including the wheat and the tares, the grain of mustard seed, the treasure hidden in the field, and the pearl of great price.
Read with me, the final few verses of this chapter:
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
Read with me, the final few verses of this chapter:
53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.
54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?
57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
(Can you tell I wanted to bring special attention to that final verse? I was going to share my thoughts on this here, but instead, I'll let you ponder on those words, and draw your own conclusions.)
Monday, May 9, 2011
My mossy "S"
Recently, I stumbled upon a craft online that I really wanted to try. Today, I did just that. Here are the step by step instructions for my mossy "S." All you will need is a piece of foam (mine was $7 at Walmart for a piece that was about 14" x 20" x 2"), real moss (Walmart, $2 per bag, and I used about a bag and a half), knife, hot glue gun & lots of glue. I went through about 12 - 15 mini glue sticks... (Each mini stick is probably the equivalent of about 1/2 of a regular glue stick, so if you have regular sticks, about 7 should be enough.)
1. Start by using a marker or pen to draw your letter or shape. Freehand works. However, if you're a perfectionist (which I am not), you may also like to use a stencil.
2. Cut. You'll want to be outside for this step, for sure. I used a kitchen knife, and just sawed at it, standing at the rail of my back porch. I'd recommend you use some sort of electic kitchen knife though, if you have it. It was tough. Took me about 20 minutes.
Oops! BUT, not to worry, if you do the same thing. Hot glue saved the day.
3. Time to apply the moss! This part was so much fun. I used hot glue, and it worked perfectly. My regret is that I didn't have some sort of "pressing" helper, though... like an old plastic credit card or something - just something that can stand between your fingers and the hot glue. I don't know - that might not be the best example of a "presser" but something kind of like that would help you not end up with burned fingertips. Also, I forgot to take a picture of the back, but there is no moss on the back side.
All done! Total project time was about 90 minutes. I'm too impatient (and excited!) to prepare a better hanging method today... Eventually, I'd very much like to hang it from ribbon. The clear plastic door hanger thingy will have to do for now. :)
1. Start by using a marker or pen to draw your letter or shape. Freehand works. However, if you're a perfectionist (which I am not), you may also like to use a stencil.
2. Cut. You'll want to be outside for this step, for sure. I used a kitchen knife, and just sawed at it, standing at the rail of my back porch. I'd recommend you use some sort of electic kitchen knife though, if you have it. It was tough. Took me about 20 minutes.
Oops! BUT, not to worry, if you do the same thing. Hot glue saved the day.
3. Time to apply the moss! This part was so much fun. I used hot glue, and it worked perfectly. My regret is that I didn't have some sort of "pressing" helper, though... like an old plastic credit card or something - just something that can stand between your fingers and the hot glue. I don't know - that might not be the best example of a "presser" but something kind of like that would help you not end up with burned fingertips. Also, I forgot to take a picture of the back, but there is no moss on the back side.
All done! Total project time was about 90 minutes. I'm too impatient (and excited!) to prepare a better hanging method today... Eventually, I'd very much like to hang it from ribbon. The clear plastic door hanger thingy will have to do for now. :)
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Shrimp 'n Grits
I wanted to try Shrimp 'n Grits tonight and really knew what I wanted it to taste like more than I wanted to go try to find a recipe. :) Welcome to "How to create a recipe to your liking - 101."
Ingredients (Feeds 5-6 adults)
apx. 30 uncooked shrimp
1 lb. neese's sausage (breakfast, ground sausage)
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 tsp fresh minced garlic (i used the kind already prepared in glass jar)
1/2 stick butter
2 cups milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
grits, however you'd typically prepare them for your family (we use quick grits).
Here are some pictures of some of the ingredients that might not be familiar.
********************************************************************
Started by adding butter to hot pan, and sauteing the onion, celery, sausage & garlic over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
Then I added the flour. Started with a little dusting, and did it a couple more times. Probably equaled about 1/2 cup. Stir it in till all the contents are coated, and there is no sign of "white" to your flour anymore, only about 1 minute.
Next, add liquid. I did 2 cups of milk, and 1 cup water. After it was brought back up to a low simmer, I added the ravioli (about 1/2 of the 20 oz bag). Also at this point, it's a good time to get your grits going. Our quick grits only take about 10 minutes on the stove top.
Since the ravioli need to be in for about 7 minutes to be fully cooked, I waited till the last second to add the peeled shrimp. Shrimp only needs to be pink to be fully cooked. Don't over-cook your shrimp, y'all.
Don't forget to salt & pepper your bowl to taste. I'll rate it a 8.5/10. Next time, these are the adjustments I'll make. #1. I'll use a full pound of sausage. This time I only used about 1/3 pound. And #2. I'll add some sort of cajun seasoning for kick... Maybe about a teaspoon or two of something like this:
Here's the finished product. The kids all enjoyed it (***Pretty much*** Brady was not a huge fan, but he's been grumpy today, so had it been another day, I think he'd have eaten it up!)
This is about the time that Carter told me "There's a party in my tummy!"
Directions with no pics:
Started by adding butter to hot pan, and sauteing the onion, celery, sausage & garlic over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then I added the flour. Started with a little dusting, and did it a couple more times. Probably equaled about 1/2 cup. Stir it in till all the contents are coated, and there is no sign of "white" to your flour anymore, only about 1 minute. Next, add liquid. I did 2 cups of milk, and 1 cup water. After it was brought back up to a low simmer, I added the ravioli (about 1/2 of the 20 oz bag). Also at this point, it's a good time to get your grits going. Our quick grits only take about 10 minutes on the stove top. Since the ravioli need to be in for about 7 minutes to be fully cooked, I waited till the last second to add the peeled shrimp. Shrimp only needs to be pink to be fully cooked. Don't over-cook your shrimp, y'all. And finally, Don't forget to salt & pepper your bowl to taste. I'll rate it a 8.5/10. Next time, these are the adjustments I'll make. #1. I'll use a full pound of sausage. This time I only used about 1/3 pound. And #2. I'll add some sort of cajun seasoning for kick... Maybe about a teaspoon or two of something like Emeril's "Essence."
Ingredients (Feeds 5-6 adults)
apx. 30 uncooked shrimp
1 lb. neese's sausage (breakfast, ground sausage)
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 tsp fresh minced garlic (i used the kind already prepared in glass jar)
1/2 stick butter
2 cups milk
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
grits, however you'd typically prepare them for your family (we use quick grits).
Here are some pictures of some of the ingredients that might not be familiar.
 |
| ez peel bag of apx. 25-30 worked perfectly |
 |
| I didn't use hot, but THIS is Neese's Country Sausage |
 |
| Walmart/ Great Value or Quaker... They taste the same |
 |
| Found this at Target, in the fridge close to cheeses. |
********************************************************************
Started by adding butter to hot pan, and sauteing the onion, celery, sausage & garlic over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
Then I added the flour. Started with a little dusting, and did it a couple more times. Probably equaled about 1/2 cup. Stir it in till all the contents are coated, and there is no sign of "white" to your flour anymore, only about 1 minute.
Next, add liquid. I did 2 cups of milk, and 1 cup water. After it was brought back up to a low simmer, I added the ravioli (about 1/2 of the 20 oz bag). Also at this point, it's a good time to get your grits going. Our quick grits only take about 10 minutes on the stove top.
Since the ravioli need to be in for about 7 minutes to be fully cooked, I waited till the last second to add the peeled shrimp. Shrimp only needs to be pink to be fully cooked. Don't over-cook your shrimp, y'all.
Don't forget to salt & pepper your bowl to taste. I'll rate it a 8.5/10. Next time, these are the adjustments I'll make. #1. I'll use a full pound of sausage. This time I only used about 1/3 pound. And #2. I'll add some sort of cajun seasoning for kick... Maybe about a teaspoon or two of something like this:
Here's the finished product. The kids all enjoyed it (***Pretty much*** Brady was not a huge fan, but he's been grumpy today, so had it been another day, I think he'd have eaten it up!)
This is about the time that Carter told me "There's a party in my tummy!"
Directions with no pics:
Started by adding butter to hot pan, and sauteing the onion, celery, sausage & garlic over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Then I added the flour. Started with a little dusting, and did it a couple more times. Probably equaled about 1/2 cup. Stir it in till all the contents are coated, and there is no sign of "white" to your flour anymore, only about 1 minute. Next, add liquid. I did 2 cups of milk, and 1 cup water. After it was brought back up to a low simmer, I added the ravioli (about 1/2 of the 20 oz bag). Also at this point, it's a good time to get your grits going. Our quick grits only take about 10 minutes on the stove top. Since the ravioli need to be in for about 7 minutes to be fully cooked, I waited till the last second to add the peeled shrimp. Shrimp only needs to be pink to be fully cooked. Don't over-cook your shrimp, y'all. And finally, Don't forget to salt & pepper your bowl to taste. I'll rate it a 8.5/10. Next time, these are the adjustments I'll make. #1. I'll use a full pound of sausage. This time I only used about 1/3 pound. And #2. I'll add some sort of cajun seasoning for kick... Maybe about a teaspoon or two of something like Emeril's "Essence."
Friday, April 8, 2011
I did not know that.
So. I've been on this Earth for all of 11,278 days.
I'm married to a man who has been around for 11,849 days.
I've been learning as a mom for 2,752 days (not including the approximate 250 days in utero).
My mom and dad together have seen the sun rise and fall 42,525 times.
All in all, days and days and years and years of experience give us much... but far from **ALL** the information that could contribute to a perfectly well lived, well loved life. Naturally, there are those times of learning when you say to yourself, "How did I make it this long without knowing THAT!?!?!"
Today friends, it happened. I found something that I didn't even know I had been missing. And when I googled it, amazon showed me that it comes in a 24-pack case. Oh amazon. Why must you be so... so... perfect?!
Tally your birth date (or any ol' date) here. It's fun stuff!
timeanddate.com
I'm married to a man who has been around for 11,849 days.
I've been learning as a mom for 2,752 days (not including the approximate 250 days in utero).
My mom and dad together have seen the sun rise and fall 42,525 times.
All in all, days and days and years and years of experience give us much... but far from **ALL** the information that could contribute to a perfectly well lived, well loved life. Naturally, there are those times of learning when you say to yourself, "How did I make it this long without knowing THAT!?!?!"
Today friends, it happened. I found something that I didn't even know I had been missing. And when I googled it, amazon showed me that it comes in a 24-pack case. Oh amazon. Why must you be so... so... perfect?!
Tally your birth date (or any ol' date) here. It's fun stuff!
timeanddate.com
Friday, April 1, 2011
April 1st (*Fool's Day*) 2011
Bless Brady's heart. I don't plan on fooling him again anytime soon...
Who'd have thought a joke about heading to the doctor's office for flu-shots (right out of early release school) would have set him up for such a fit?! I had planned on pranking him and Jackson with that plan, and then the reveal would only be about 3 miles down the road, where we'd arrive at **CLAY FUSION** for a little pottery glazin'!
The plan was to pull up (at Clay Fusion) and tell them "APRIL FOOL'S!" But, as anyone could probably guess, I couldn't let Brady continue with his fit (whose volume deserves a blog post all its own!), so I quickly appeased him with the good news, only about 1/10th mile down the road. Man, you should have seen it! EPIC!!!
We did make it there, safe and sound. Carter was spending a little while at Kaitlin & Olivia's house (Thanks again, Linz!), so it was a great little date for mommy & big boys. Jackson picked out a sports car, and Brady picked out a (*SURPRISE*) creature. :) Here are are few pictures of all the fun we had. The colors will fire much darker than they look now (the pink will end up red, etc.).We'll pick up the finished product next Friday afternoon. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
 | ||||
| Notice Jackson in the back seat, trying to cover his ears with a toboggan. |
Who'd have thought a joke about heading to the doctor's office for flu-shots (right out of early release school) would have set him up for such a fit?! I had planned on pranking him and Jackson with that plan, and then the reveal would only be about 3 miles down the road, where we'd arrive at **CLAY FUSION** for a little pottery glazin'!
 | |
| Picture from their website - clayfusion.com |
The plan was to pull up (at Clay Fusion) and tell them "APRIL FOOL'S!" But, as anyone could probably guess, I couldn't let Brady continue with his fit (whose volume deserves a blog post all its own!), so I quickly appeased him with the good news, only about 1/10th mile down the road. Man, you should have seen it! EPIC!!!
We did make it there, safe and sound. Carter was spending a little while at Kaitlin & Olivia's house (Thanks again, Linz!), so it was a great little date for mommy & big boys. Jackson picked out a sports car, and Brady picked out a (*SURPRISE*) creature. :) Here are are few pictures of all the fun we had. The colors will fire much darker than they look now (the pink will end up red, etc.).We'll pick up the finished product next Friday afternoon. Can't wait to see how they turn out.
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