Sunflowers & Sweet Tea

Well, we're off and running to a new week!  I hope you enjoyed the weekend!  This weather has been just gorgeous, hasn't it!

For those of you who are new to the blog, it comes in 2 parts - the first is a devotional (Roses & Chocolate Mint) and the 2nd is more tips and tricks with a little encouragement tagged in as well.  Welcome!! I hope you'll subscribe and keep coming back!  Please leave comments as you feel led to do so.


I spent most of this past weekend making salsa.  It's become a little bit famous around here and it's fun to make, although my dear kitchen takes a beating with all that chopping, cooking and canning.  It's worth it though -- that's why one of the main ingredients is LOTS of LOVE!  I've shared the basic recipe with a few folks, but what they don't know is, I'll never give the true recipe away.  I've adapted mine just a little bit to make it more personal and something that unless you have an extremely sensitive palate, cannot be reproduced.  The basic recipe isn't mine.  It came from a lifelong friend who developed it over time herself and I feel quite certain she adds a few touches of her own too!  Isn't that how recipes go though?  In the words of Paula Deen, "A recipe is just a suggestion."


I've got a few other recipes that are my "go to" recipes when I need a sure thing to make that no doubt will be crowd pleasers.  Like the salsa though, I never share my complete adaptations.  Sorry, some things I just like to keep a secret.  :)


Today, I want to share a few decorating tips with you for Fall.  I never spend much on Fall decorations but I like them. I think the reason why is that God's creation provides such beauty and bounty that buying it just doesn't really seem all that necessary.  I do have a few items in my seasonal stash though that I've purchased or made that I truly love.  One thing I enjoy doing is buying fall decor on clearance just as the stores are putting out their Christmas decor.  They have to get rid of it in a hurry so it seems they mark it down more so take advantage of that and purchase some nice artificial swags, leaves, flowers and maybe even a few serving pieces or tableware but don't stockpile - just get a few things and mix it with some of the beautiful things God made.


One item I use from this time of year through Thanksgiving is a burlap table cloth in brown.  I made it to fit my breakfast table (wouldn't use it on a dining room table without a sheet under it.  But my breakfast table has a glass top, so no fear of scratches.  By using brown, I'm able to change out runners, squares, dinnerware and chargers to make my tables very festive and either formal or informal.  I'm also able to use my everyday pattern and make everyday meals just a little more festive.  Adding fresh twigs and fall leaves to a simple vase filled with mums, sunflowers and fall fruits and vegetables (fresh or fake) makes for a gorgeous daily use table.  If you have a round table, just measure the total length of floor to top, top across and top to floor and multiply by 2. Then divide this number by 36 - this will give you the yardage you need for a standard 54" wide fabric. Example:  Floor to top=36, top across = 35, top to floor = 36 --- 36+35+36=107 x 2 = 214 /36.  If you have a square or rectangle table, simply measure the height x 2, length and width and add together then divide by 36 to get your yardage....I usually add an extra 6 to 12 inches for seams, hem, etc., just to be sure I have enough.  Ravel the edges at the bottom for a cute rustic look and don't wash it!  Shake it out good or put in the dryer only -- no guarantees as to what it will look like if you wash it!  Could be a hot mess!


To make your front porch festive longer, use pottery or heavier styrofoam pumpkins mixed with fresh mums and pots of evergreen herbs like rosemary and thyme (thyme will die back in the winter but will return if not allowed to freeze).  When Halloween comes you can switch out your pottery pumpkins for a jack-o-lantern or two and then replace them after Halloween with a more Thanksgiving oriented object or two.  We have a darling turkey that a dear friend made from logs and pine cones that we put out.  The mums are long lasting, but you might need to deadhead them some -- just be sure to keep everything watered.  Typically, fall can be a very dry season.

I've found that keeping my porch/stoop decor fairly simple is much more inviting than getting extremely elaborate mainly because it stays cleaner and what is there is eye-catching and welcoming to a visiting friend or family member.  I also don't really enjoy the scary decor for Halloween.  While I'm not a prude, I just don't want people to be scared when they visit my home.  I would prefer that they feel welcome and loved.  It's just personal preference.  The Lord showed me in His Word many years ago and again recently that Christians just really don't need to align ourselves with anything that represents sorcery, witchcraft, soothsaying (fortune-telling, horoscopes, etc.) or anything having to deal with the occult (Leviticus 19:31, 1 Samuel 15:23, Revelation 21:8, and more) and so I think a jack-o-lantern that smiles and maybe an owl and a scarecrow can celebrate the season without inviting the evil that goes along with it onto our property.  I have all the natural spider webs I can use this time of year so buying fake ones is never necessary! :)  I think if you're going to decorate for Halloween, just be reserved with it - stay away from the blood and gore if you are a Christian - and focus on the beauty of Fall and enjoying the children who "trick or treat" at your home. 

I hope you will give yourself some time to enjoy this most beautiful of seasons.  I've added a verse that stood out to me this evening when I was referencing the witchcraft.  It is just not something that Christian families should play around with -- use wisdom brothers and sisters and judge right from wrong according to God's Holy Word...Have a blessed week!  Amy

Isaiah 47:8-10(NLT)

 ⁸ “Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom,
      living at ease and feeling secure.
   You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.
      I will never be a widow or lose my children.’
 ⁹ Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment:
      widowhood and the loss of your children.
   Yes, these calamities will come upon you,
      despite all your witchcraft and magic.
 ¹⁰ “You felt secure in your wickedness.
      ‘No one sees me,’ you said.
   But your ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ have led you astray,
      and you said, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.’

Sunflowers & Sweet Tea

I'm baaaaaaack!!  Happy Saturday!  As promised I'm bringing you some great tips and recipes for this gorgeous weekend!

Yesterday I spent most all day cleaning my kitchen and downstairs.  My my my how spider webs do collect let alone the day to day "stuff" that my cats bring in on their feet.  I know James and I couldn't be at fault for this!  hehe

I may have told y'all about this tip before but I'm telling you, I think I've found my favorite household cleaner!  Scrubbing Bubbles!  I used it to clean my stainless steel stove -I WISH I had taken before and after pictures -- it looks brand new!  Y'all know I've been canning for most of last month so you can imagine how much grime and stains had gotten into the crevices...ALL GONE!  Now - I didn't cook on it at all yesterday to be sure that all of it had dried and I wiped it down good too so there wasn't any residue - but I've never used a product that cleaned my stove as well as this did.  I also cleaned my sink (also stainless) and the granite counter tops too.  I used it to clean the doors and around the light switches and in any other area that just had more dirt than just the daily stuff.  I'm amazed.  Once I finished that, I took it into the bathroom and cleaned the sinks, toilet seats, and around in there.  It took no time to get it done and everything was left sparkly and clean.  I even sprayed some in the toilet and used the brush in there, too.  I took it outside and cleaned some of the ceramic pieces on my front porch and on the back porch too.  Nice Nice!!

So...this week I kind of got back to my routine of cooking.  I made some simple dishes that took really no time to prep/cook.  They are healthy, don't cost a lot and I hope you'll enjoy them.  I've also added a couple of tailgate snacks for football Saturdays that I hope you'll enjoy!

Chicken Pasta Bake

1/2 box Penne Pasta, cook al dente according to package directions.  Be sure to salt your water!
1 cup of Tyson frozen chicken breast pieces (any flavor is fine - I just used the roasted) - this is the green package -- they come grilled, southwest, teriyaki, roasted, NOT breaded)

2 T. Olive Oil
1 can Artichoke Hearts, quartered (in juice, not oil)
1 small tomato, seeded and chopped medium
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves chopped
1 small bell pepper (or half large)
1/2 T. Greek or Italian seasoning.
1/2 cup frozen peas
1/2 cup Chicken broth
Parmesan Cheese (shredded), Shredded cheddar (optional)
Salt, Pepper to taste

Heat Oven to 350F.  Begin cooking pasta.  Heat a large skillet (I used cast iron) with oil until oil ripples.  Toss in shallots and cook to clear and soft, not brown.  Add bell pepper, tomato and garlic and saute' until pepper is bright green.  Add artichoke hearts and chicken.  Add seasoning and salt and pepper and stir well.  Cook until chicken is thawed and begins to brown.  Add Chicken broth to deglaze pan.  Simmer for just a couple of minutes.  Remove pasta from water but don't discard water.   Spray a casserole dish lightly with cooking spray.  Add pasta.  If broth has cooked out of chicken mixture add just a ladle full of pasta water.  Pour this mixture over Pasta.  Scatter frozen peas on top of this mixture.  Scatter Parmesan cheese across the top and a little shredded cheddar cheese too if you wish -- I don't measure - just use what you like.  Place in the oven and cook for about 20 minutes until heated through.  Serve with a tossed salad and some garlic bread or rolls.  Delish!  This is also great as leftovers -- just add a little more cheese and reheat at 300 until heated through.   James said it was "almost too pretty to eat!" and then had two helpings!

Easy Quick Bread

1 ball of pizza dough (ready made or homemade)
Italian Seasoning, Salt, Pepper
1 1/2 T. Olive Oil
1 sliced shallot (thinly sliced)
1 finely minced garlic clove

Heat oven to 425F. Lightly brush a baking stone or pizza pan with olive oil or cooking spray.  Press out pizza dough just shy of the edges.  It's ok if it tears, or is uneven - but just kind of use the tips of your fingers to press indentions into the dough.  Brush generously with olive oil - all over it!  Make sure it's not greasy but well coated - this will make a wonderful crust!  Sprinkle Italian seasoning over dough just to have a light dusting (you'll probably use close to a teaspoon and a half).  Lightly salt and pepper -- very lightly.  Sprinkle shallot over -- make sure that it's not big pieces - but lightly sprinkled all over dough.  And then sprinkle garlic clove over in the same manner. 

Place in HOT oven and watch carefully.  In about 7 to 10 minutes you'll have hot delicious "garlic" strips to serve with your pasta, salad or as a snack with some marinara sauce.  This is sooooo good you'll never want that prepackaged stuff ever again!  HINT:  I sprinkle a little freshly grated Parmesan on top of the bread right when it comes out of the oven -- Oh goodness...delicious!!

This next recipe is an adaptation of one I picked up at Publix.  I tasted the Publix recipe and compared it with my own and both are wonderful!  Here's the link to the original:  http://www.publix.com/aprons/meals/AllRecipes/SimpleMeal.do?mealId=6290&mealGroupId=1000

and here's my adaptation:

Perfect Panko Chicken w/Hummus and Zesty Honey Carrots

juice of 2 limes
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1 package of thinly sliced chicken breast cutlets (about 1 lb)
Salt, Pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup ready made roasted garlic hummus (I used Publix brand)
3/4 cup panko seasoned bread crumbs
1 pouch of fresh fettuccine
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups chicken broth + 1 cup water

Place bread crumbs in a shallow dish and add salt, pepper.  Mix well.  In another shallow dish add 3/4 cup of hummus.  Place chicken breast 1 at a time in hummus and coat both sides thinly.  Then move over to bread crumbs and coat each piece well on both sides.  Let sit while you heat oil in pan. 

Cook Chicken in medium hot skillet in small amounts (1 or 2 breasts at at time). These cook quickly so cook about 2 to 3 minutes on each side, to golden brown. Remove from pan and place on a dish or plate. Cover lightly with foil to keep warm.

Meanwhile, heat broth and water to cook fettuccine.  I added about a tablespoon of salt to this liquid - bring this to boil.Cook pasta according to package directions and when done, remove from liquid and put in a large bowl.- don't discard - this is a great soup base!  Put a pat of butter on the pasta and toss lightly.

Sauce:
In a small mixing bowl, place remaining hummus, 1/2 of chopped cilantro and the lime juice.  Stir well and set aside.

Put pasta on a platter and then top with chicken. Pour sauce down the middle of all the chicken and then sprinkle remaining cilantro on top to make a pretty presentation.

Zesty Honey Carrots

1 package of crinkle cut carrot chips (fresh) 16 oz.
2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons agave nectar
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 T. butter

Place carrot chips in a microwave safe dish.  Cover and microwave on high for 3 to 4 minutes.  Let stand for a couple of minutes.  Remove cover carefully and add remaining ingredients.  Stir well and serve hot.   SO good!!

Serve this meal with sliced warm Cuban bread.  It's great the next day too!! :)

Ok, so you have this wonderful chicken broth leftover - what do you do??

Chicken and Dumplings - quick style!!

1 1/2 cups Tyson frozen Roasted chicken strips (see 1st recipe)
Pasta Broth from Recipe #2
1 package Flour Tortillas
1 to 1 1/2 t. dry poultry seasoning

Bring broth to a rolling boil.  Add poultry seasoning.  Add Chicken - if you want to cut this in chunks, just let it thaw a little bit.  Using a pizza cutter, slice tortillas in half and then cut into strips about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide.  When broth is boiling rapidly toss in chicken and then add tortillas a little at a time making sure they don't stick together.  Let this all cook for about 5 to 7 minutes -- watch tortillas, they'll puff a little bit and then go limp -- they are ready when they turn an opaque white and look soft.  You can pull one out and taste it.  Just before serving, add a little freshly ground pepper.  Taste to see if salt is necessary but it shouldn't be.

Serve with a fruit salad and some hot cornbread!  A great, fast weeknight meal that takes just minutes to make!

Ok - Tailgate snacks...

This is an adaptation of a recipe we got from our friend Sara Boggs.  It's a great tailgate snack and takes absolutely no skill to make at all. 

Snack Attack

1 bag of Chex snack mix - Traditional
1/2 can Honey roasted peanuts
Here's the adaptation:
2 handfuls jalapeno flavored almonds

Pour all into a zippered storage bag and shake to mix.  Serve in a large bowl -- Done! 

Corn and Black Bean Dip or Salad

1 cup frozen white corn (you can use canned, just drain it good)
1 can black beans, washed and drained
2 T. olive oil
1 fresh jalapeno
1 small bell pepper
1 can Rotel tomatos and chilis
1 lime
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1 red onion
1 large garlic clove
Salt, Pepper to taste

Rough chop fresh veggies (peppers, garlic and onion) to small size pieces.  Toss in bowl.  Squeeze lime juice over this mixture and add can of Rotel and cilantro and add salt and pepper. 

Heat a medium skillet with oil.  When ripples, toss in corn and black beans.  Let cook until corn is lightly browned and mix is heated through.  Pour fresh ingredients over corn and black beans and toss together lightly.  Pour this mixture back in bowl and serve.  Great warm as a side dish or with scoopable chips or at room temperature.  Won't need refrigeration until serving is completed.  This is so fresh and good!  Great with hamburgers off the grill!

Ok - so there you go!  Some great recipes to get you going again.  I hope you enjoy them!  We certainly have been...

See ya next week!  Blessings!!!  and oh yeah...Roll Tide!!  Amy

Sunflowers & Sweet Tea

Hello Everyone!  I'm wrapping up my "retreat" tonight at the beach and I've been trying to figure out what I'd write for this portion of the blog...since it's usually for helpful hints and tips with a little spiritual tie in...

I have sat by the pool most of the week during the morning and have observed not only the beautiful beach, water, birds and cute little lizards and of course did some people watching too.  One thing I noticed about people is just how attached we all are to our cell phones.  People would bring all their pool and beach gear down and get their "spots" all set up and then they'd sit down and the first thing they'd do is get their phones out and either text, talk or check email.  It seemed as though they were more interested in what was going on in those little handheld machines than the beautiful surroundings.  One particular afternoon a handsome senior adult couple came down to sit beside the pool and enjoy the weekend that had been given as a gift to them for her birthday.  They weren't there 5 minutes before the husband called to the wife to hurry and get out of the pool because her phone was ringing.  And for the next 15 minutes or more, she had a conversation with someone and all of us who were by the pool got to hear it...and she was sharing some pretty private family information.  For a moment it made me just a little sad.  We go to the trouble and expense to plan a wonderful get-away and then we don't "get away"  - we bring it with us by phone.

Tonight I spent the last few hours of my retreat in the pool by moonlight.  A sweet young security guard walked by and as he was returning the chairs to their perfect positions, he smiled and asked how I was doing.  (I LOVE the South - we ask everybody that question!)  I told him I was fine but asked if he could tell me what time it was.  He didn't look at his watch -- he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and we began to talk about how much freedom we've lost because of those brilliant pieces of technology. 

Do you ever feel as though you are a slave to technology?  I do.  Even now as I write this blog, I'm reminded that I need technology to do so.  To find out about the hurricane's path, I need technology.  To listen to music, I need technology...It's invaded our lives so much so that the common things we used to do, like looking at a watch to tell the time are becoming obsolete.

Don't get me wrong, I love technology.  I enjoy the convenience of it and the amazing ways we can communicate these days.  I think it just kind of makes me sad that the most beautiful beach in the world can't capture our attention like a text message can.  We are almost to the point where printed books will no longer be needed - we'll just pull out our electronic reader and punch in a button that will instantly take us to the Scripture we need or the page in our book. 

Are we really better off?  Is it more convenient?  Do we really need all this convenience?  Can we even remember what it was like to drive or go to the grocery store with out being contacted by phone?  Can we still appreciate writing a note by hand or hearing the sound of pages being turned in our Bibles?  Are we still able to have meaningful conversations face to face or do we communicate better with our thumbs?

I think sometimes we just need to pause and remember that our best memories won't come from typing out emails or playing "Angry Birds" on our phones.  Our best memories come from spending time with people we love and in places that make our hearts skip a beat.

This week has been that time for me.  I've spent the week in solitude but not alone - I've spent this week with my LORD.  He has spoken to me through His Word and in the beauty of His creation.  I've prayed, I've worshipped, I've sung, I've rested in Him.  Yes, I've had my phone and my computer by my side.  And yes, I've enjoyed the convenience that they offer.  But it's truly been such a pleasure to be able to go back to the basics and just "be" for a little while.  To close my eyes and listen to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore or to open my senses to the smell of the sea air and appreciate the beauty of lightning in the distance over the water.  I've enjoyed watching the dragonflies hover as if they are checking me out...watching a lizard chase an insect and stop to stare at me for a brief moment never daring to come near but just stopping by to see if I'd notice...and I did.  (I love lizards - they eat mosquitoes -- true friends indeed!). I've enjoyed watching people and all their quirkiness and I've enjoyed learning to truly relax and float in the pool...

I think the best tip I could give you for this week is to take a break from technology occasionally.  Find a place where you can just "be" for a little while.  Observe a sunset, the stars in the sky, a beautiful garden...get outside and enjoy God's creation in person not just through the eyes of a slide show on Facebook.  Pick up a Bible and flip through those beautiful pages and feel the words on the pages.  Listen to the birds sing, the crickets chirp or whatever you enjoy. 

Don't be afraid to turn off your phone or let a call go to voicemail.  You will survive it - I promise!  Give yourself a mini-vacation occasionally - if only for a few moments.  If you can find time to do this, you'll be all the better for it.

I'm going to close our time today with one of my favorite Psalms - Psalm 8 -- May God bless you this week as you seek Him in His creation...

Psalm 8

For the director of music. According to gittith.a A psalm of David.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies,

to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly being and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.


O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Sunflowers & Sweet Tea

Hi Everyone - I've been canning and running this week -- you'd think I'd be skinny!  I made pear relish and pear honey.  If you've never had either, let me recommend both to you...they are just yummy.

Several people have asked me how to serve these two items and the obvious would be to put pear relish on fresh vegetables - such as peas and greens.  It's also great on grilled meats - especially pork and fish -- haven't tried it on chicken but I bet it'd be great!  I ventured out a little and put it on a deli type sandwich this week -- lightly toasted sub roll, a little lite mayo, fresh deli turkey/ham, a little lettuce, and pear relish -- the subtle sweet/hot in it -- whew!  delish!!

Pear honey tastes a lot like preserves but it's not quite as thick.  Pancakes, biscuits, and french toast would soak up this goodness - but what about putting it in baked sweet potatoes, over ice cream or topping warm pound cake!  Makes my mouth water just to think about it!

Next week is salsa week at the Drinkwater cantina...so excited!  I bought fresh cilantro, fresh jalepenos, and fresh organic garlic today -- hoping to go get tomatoes Monday or Tuesday -- yummmmmmmy!!

My dear friend, Leisa, forwarded a quick tip for removing ticks that I wanted to pass along -- I know that is a paradigm shift from preserves to salsa to pesty insects - but the ticks have been bad this year -- so here you go -- if a tick is "stuck" to your skin or pet's skin, put a drop of dishwashing liquid over the body of the tick to cover it.  Let it stand on there and the tick will remove it's stinger - he will be easy to remove when this happens and won't leave any dangerous residue in the skin.  Give it a try if you should happen to acquire one of this icky creatures!  :)  Thanks Leisa, for the great tip!

This week has been stressful and without going into a lot of detail, I would just like to ask you to pray for me and for my family.  We need direction, favor over our finances, protection on our journey and rest for our bodies.  I know very few people right now who are just having an easy, happy-go-lucky time and I know times are tough.  As Christians, we have always have a place to run and be safe -- The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run in and they are safe...Proverbs 18:10.  This whole chapter is a great commentary on the actions of the foolish and the wise and a reminder that we really can't find any security whatsoever in earthly addiction to "things, money or people".  I went to lunch and did a little window shopping with two of my favorite girlfriends today and in one of the stores we found ourselves surrounded by people who were just that...this store was filled with people grabbing at jewelry, showing off way more skin than necessary and rude to be first in line.  Very few people were friendly except the store staff and most were walking around completely oblivious to anyone else.  Outside the store, people were talking and had no consideration for anyone who might need to get by and weren't interested in offering help if necessary -- and when we walked to our cars, we were followed by vultures looking to swipe up our parking places as soon as we backed out into the mere 6 to 12 inches they gave us to get our cars out.  And yes...this is the SOUTH! 

I found myself claustrophobic in that store - it wasn't that it was crowded - it was the spirit of materialism pressing in on me so hard.  I'm not trying to be self-righteous - I'm sure I've been "those people" in my own life - but today it seemed heavier than usual for some reason.  I found myself wanting to run into my Strong Tower to be safe from that oppression.

Where do you run when you feel out of sorts?  Do you pick up your favorite comfort food or drink?  Do you disappear into the internet and ignore the world around you? Do you lean on the Lord, your Strong Tower?  Or do you feel overwhelmed, tired, and want to run as far as you can?  Maybe you're like me and do a little of all of the above...

Let's commit to run to the Lord when life presses in just a little too hard.  Let's remind ourselves to call out the Name of the Lord - YHWH - Jehovah Jirah, our provider, Jehovah Shalom - our peace - Jehovah Nissi, our banner, Jehovah Rapha - our healer...

May you run like Forest Gump (Run, Forest, Run!!) to your Strong Tower first rather than later as trouble comes your way....

I'll see y'all next week!! Love ya!  Amy

Sunflowers & Sweet Tea

Hi Friends!  I hope you have had a lovely day.  I've had a busy couple of days with produce!  James and I picked pears and figs on Tuesday and today I made some homemade grape jelly and some fig preserves.  The pears are a little green so I'm going to work on them tomorrow.  Hopefully I can make some headway with at least getting them peeled and chopped and prepped for preserves (soaking them in sugar for 24 hours!)

The recipe I used for fig preserves today called for a baking soda soak before processing them into the actual product.  I did a little search for the reason behind this and found two reasons -- thought it was interesting enough to share with y'all!  You may already know this, but I didn't have a clue except from experience!  It seems that figs are cleansed by the baking soda and hot water and in some cases it can remove the bitterness that less ripe figs can bring into the mix.  It makes so much sense to me that it would "sweeten" the figs -- I made some preserves a couple of years ago with a different recipe and they were too bitter to eat.  Today, these were just terrific!  When I poured the hot water over the figs/baking soda - there was a chemical reaction of bubbling as if pouring vinegar over baking soda -- I didn't expect that either...

Food chemistry can be so much fun...making the preserves made the house smell so good and the sense of accomplishment made an otherwise kind of "down" day, end on a happy note.  Out of 7 quarts of figs, I now have a bounty of beautiful preserves and the grape jelly has come from grapes from our vines and the figs from the trees in our yard.  Such a meaningful thing to grow and preserve food like that...knowing that it's the rain, sun and God's love that has given us this beautiful fruit.

In life we have rainy days and sunny days ... and God's love is the fertilizer in our lives that causes our lives to produce beautiful "spiritual fruit" too.  If our days were always perfect like a warm spring day - without rain or cold or wind or storms, the ground would never be saturated with water good enough to be fertile.  My day today wasn't a happy day -- it was rainy and windy and stormy due to some "stuff" of life that is just going on here.  And yet, I am comforted in knowing that I'm not alone and that this rain, wind and storms is saturating my heart with compassion, faith, prayer and support and out of that the Lord will produce good fruit - an opportunity to share this experience with someone else or the opportunity to pray and fertilize the ground of someone else's heart. 

Today I posted on Facebook a request for prayer - no details - just prayer -- I was completely humbled by the number of people who committed to carry me before the Father today -- they sowed fertilizer into my life.  They fed my dry and weary soul with encouragement and love by their sacrifice of time on my behalf.  Never doubt that God was pleased by your care for one of His kids who was having a bad day.  When I couldn't sleep two dear sisters were online unable to sleep as well -- they breathed reason and encouragement to me to stay the course and trust God.   They fertilized my heart and soul, too.  To share a phone call with another dear sister and hear about her day gave me hope and an opportunity to encourage her and pray for her family. 

Friends, our Father is so faithful to provide for us exactly what we need.  It may not be a fancy car or big bank account - it may come in the form of a prayer warrior, encourager or a hug...as the song says, "He loves us way too much to give us lesser things". 

As we rise each morning, may we ask the Lord to help us look for ways that we can fill a need according to God's riches in glory.  May we be a drink offering to be poured out each day so that we are empty and ready to be filled again only as God can fill us.  May we be less focused on ourselves and the frustrations that come and more focused on our blessings and on blessing others in Jesus' Name.

One of my favorite verses is 1 Corinthians 15:58 - "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for His Kingdom is a waste of time or effort." -- it is a reminder that large or small, great or insignificant - it's all important in God's economy. 

May the Lord bless you richly today and throughout the rest of the week...you are truly a blessing to me! 

Until next week....Love ya!  Amy

Tips and Tricks Thursday

It's Thursday!  It's Thursday!! It's Thursday!!!  I hope you have all had a good day!  I got my "roots" done and a good trim today and my teeth cleaned -- so I feel like a new woman!  Ha!!  The laugh therapy that comes with visiting my dentist's office and my hairstylists is so good for my soul -- they are dear friends and treasures to my life.  So Thank You for making me feel special today!

So, today is tips and tricks Thursday -- we have been attacked by ANTS!  I have been looking for a way to safely get rid of these little annoying creatures and read today that a spray bottle filled with dish washing liquid and water will not only keep them away but will kill them on contact.  I wish I had known that before my dear husband sprayed my good cutting board with ant spray!  Now I'm gonna have to get rid of that -- glad it was a yard sale find, huh!!  I'm gonna give it a shot -- these are the little bitty black ants that don't bite or sting but just hover around food and cooking areas -- pesty little things!

I saw a neat trick for baking Phyllo pastry on Ina Garten's show "Barefoot Contessa" yesterday that I thought I'd share.  Phyllo is a delicate pastry that is used in making lots of Greek pastry as well as many savory recipes too.  It can be found in most grocery stores in the freezer section and comes in a package that is sealed and in rolls.  For this recipe, Ina and a friend of hers (didn't catch her name) were making a lemon creme pastry that had sheets of phyllo in between the cream.  In order to bake and remove the pastry easily, they lightly coated a sheet of parchment paper the size of a half sheet baking pan with melted butter.  Then they placed a sheet of phyllo, buttered it and then added another and another to build to 4.  When the last sheet was coated in butter, they trimmed and then scored the pastry for ease in cutting and then coated another parchment sheet on one side with melted butter and added it to the top of the pastry.  The two sheets of parchment enabled them to transfer the pastry easily to the baking sheet.  Then they topped the pastry with another baking sheet and put in the oven -- They put the pastry in the oven and baked it like this for about 20 minutes.  When they removed the pastry from the oven, removed the baking sheet and then the parchment what remained was a beautifully browned pastry that was flat and easy to work with.  Then they allowed the pastry to cool and began to build the dessert.  I'll attach the link to the full recipe at the end of the post.  I was intrigued by this process because there are so many delicious uses for something like this.  Scoring this phyllo into triangles or large rectangles would make a delicious "stacked salad" layering or a unique vegetable lasagna with that could be assembled after the veggies and cheese cook and would have crunchy "noodles" in between the layers.  Or what about a crust topping for a chicken pie?  How about making layering this with softened ice cream for a delectable and impressive dessert.  The ideas are endless and I just thought it was a neat process -- so for you "foodies" - this would be a great thing to try!  :)

Here's the link to the full recipe:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/lemon-cream-fillo-napoleon-recipe/index.html -- looks so good!  :)  I'm gonna make this one for sure - may substitute chocolate for the lemon though!

This same show talked about adding dissolved unflavored gelatin to homemade custards -- they thicken better and are easier to handle if used in a layered dessert such as this.  Never had heard of that but thought it was a great tip.

My friend, Lisa, asked a question this afternoon about coating berries in flour before adding them to a wet mixture when making breads and muffins.  This is a great tip -- if you coat berries or nuts lightly with flour before adding them to your recipes, they will distribute evenly through your dough and won't sink to the bottom and burn.

For cobblers, I learned recently that if you will add two tablespoons of cornstarch to the sugar before adding it to your fruit it will coat the fruit and will make a smoother "sauce" in your cobbler filling. 

Decorating tip -- got more mint, basil, sage, thyme or dill than you can use for cooking?  Use it in your flower arrangements!  It's just lovely with daisies, sunflowers or roses and will add a fresh aroma to your home too!  If it blossoms, no worries, just add them to your cut flowers - so pretty!

Funny "Amy Adventure" before I go...most of you know that I drive a convertible.  I've found that people assume that someone who drives one has a carefree life with and that convertible driving is a luxurious thing....well, not always.  I drive a Saab.  Anyone who knows about these cars, knows that they are temperamental and quirky at best (sounds a lot like its owner).  Well, today as I was finishing up with getting my hair done, a lady came in and had her little girl with her -- Stacey was finishing up my hair and told me she was getting it all gorgeous to go mess it up with the wind in my hair in the convertible.  The lady said, "Oh, is that your car out there?  That's just gorgeous - it must be so great to have the option to drive with the top down all the time."  I smiled and told her absolutely it's a wonderful blessing to have that option -- right now, though, I don't have that option.  She looked at me funny.  I said, "Oh, I have a choice, but not an option."  She said, "What do you mean?"  I said, Well, right now I can't get the top up on my little cute car.  I have a choice - I can drive on sunny days...or not."  Someone else in there asked what I do on rainy days or if I get caught in the rain.  I said, "Well, I either stay at home or I pray."  And then I shared with them that I was at my Mother's house a couple of days ago and it was beginning to sprinkle.  I looked up at the Heavens and said, "Lord, you know my situation (situation being I couldn't get the top up on my car)...I'd so appreciate it if you could hold off this rain until I can get home."  I pulled out of my Mom's carport and began to drive home.  The rain got a little harder - still sprinkling though -- and I just knew I was gonna get caught by every light -- Not so...the lights were green and I was able to keep moving -- and when I got about halfway home...guess what?  The rain stopped and I got home, dry and just fine.  After I was safely parked and inside -- we got a wonderful rain shower.  So, I'm not sure if this little adventure is something that will happen every time I get caught in the rain, but I know that that night, God heard and answered my prayer...He really does listen! 

I need to get the car fixed, and will when the funds are available - but it's a trip to Atlanta and I have no idea how much it will cost -- but this redneck convertible IS fun to drive and gets me where I need to go -- I'm hot, have stringy hair, and a redneck tan when I get there...but it's almost paid for and it gets good gas mileage -- and I DO have the choice of driving with the top down on occasion -- right now the choice is made for me...I'm just glad it's not winter time!

Hope y'all have a great evening....Love ya!  Amy

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."  Psalm 105:1-4

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Happy Thursday!! I hope you are all having a good day today!  It's Tips and Tricks Thursday and I think I want to spend some time on some decorating tips for those of you who may be in the mood to simplify your decor or may be planning to sell your home at some point in the future.

If you plan to sell, the first thing that is necessary is to get your head in the game and your heart out of it.  We all get very attached to our dwellings but when it comes time to sell, it's time to make our homes attractive to people so they will allow their hearts to attach to our homes and buy them.  Easier said than done, right?  Well, not really.

The first thing to do is to go look at some homes yourself.  Imagine yourself, your family and your "stuff" occupying that space.  If you find yourself distracted by family photos, and lots of personal items in the homes you look at, then you probably won't remember the home but you'll remember the cute baby in the photo or the pretty cut glass vase or handmade quilt.  It's hard to attach your heart to that home because someone else's heart is still there.  Notice the room colors and the organization of the closet space, kitchen and parking areas -- are they the right size for your stuff to dwell?  How about the neighborhood - is it one where your family will fit in and feel welcome - will your neighbors be a bother or a blessing -- ask questions and listen for correct answers that meet your needs.

Now back to your home.  Having had that experience, it will be easier to understand how a buyer feels and needs to feel when they look at your home.  Begin packing up the personal items and putting them in boxes where you can see them and touch them but resist the urge to put them back out when your home isn't showing. 

The second thing to consider is your room colors.  If you have small children and their rooms are painted in colors that are very juvenile, you might want to consider painting them a more neutral tone and let their bedding and accessories draw color into the room.  The reason for this is that buyers really don't have a lot of imagination.  If they see a baby's room painted pink, yellow, or blue - then they may not be able to move away from that room being "for baby" -- but if they see more mature colors of beige, greens, browns, tans, etc. then they might be able to imagine the room as an office, teen bedroom or guest room.  Try to limit the amount of "stuff" that is out in children's rooms.  These are normally the small rooms of the home and can look even smaller if there are too many toys, pictures, or too much furniture in there.  Sparse is the key!  You want every room to look spacious!

Third, clean out the closets and cabinets.  Take a long, hard look at the collection of items that reside there and decide if you need to keep them, want to move them or if they can be donated or sold in a yard sale.  How many towels can you really use in a week or at the beach?  How many sets of dishes do you really use?  Is it possible to remove the clothes that aren't in season and pack them away to be ready to move when your home sells?  The buyer is going to open drawers, cabinets and closets.  They need to imagine how their "stuff" is going to fit - and if yours are cluttered - theirs will be too -- and they might as well stay where they are or look elsewhere.

Fourth, don't over accessorize.  Too many pictures on table tops, vases, plants, pictures on the walls, and furniture in the rooms can overwhelm a buyer.  They begin looking at your "stuff" and can't imagine their own.  It's ok to leave a tabletop empty.  It's ok to leave a wall without something on it.  There's a balance here though.  If your rooms are too empty they may leave a buyer imagining that their stuff won't fill up the rooms either or the home may seem cold or hard and you don't need to leave that impression with them.  I would suggest taking a look at some magazines that resemble your home's style and try to mimic the furniture placement, window decor and accessorizing by them.  Or call a home stager to help.  Their fees are reasonable and you may be able to negotiate paying them a percentage of your home's sale rather than upfront cash.  Sometimes it's nice to have a "set of eyes" that aren't attached to your home to dress it up to sell. 

Last, put the boxes that you've packed up in a place where buyers can see them.  And have them clearly marked so that your buyers see that it's stuff that you plan to MOVE.  You are sending a message that you are moving whether they buy or not and sometimes this will motivate the buyer to generate an offer.  Have the boxes stacked neatly in a garage or basement - or even an attic or unused room.  As long as they are neatly stacked and marked the message is being sent.

You can burn candles, bake cookies, make your house smell like a bakery -- or you can leave it clean.  Clean is going to sell much better than fresh baked bread.  Pick up the dirty clothes. Make sure the dishes are out of the sink and if in the dishwasher, they are clean.  Put away clutter, toys and make sure that there are some fresh flowers or plants somewhere.  Your home needs to feel warm and inviting as if you have prepared for a special guest -- and your potential buyers are just that -- very special guests who have an interest in purchasing your home....and that's $ in your pocket!

So, even if you aren't planning to sell right now, these tips are great for the person who may need a jump start in simplifying the decor of their home.  Less is more, larger accessories and less of them are better and easier to manage and packing up unused items either to sell, store or donate is always therapeutic.  Don't put family pictures everywhere - cluster them in certain areas -- places that you dwell and can see on a regular basis -- guests enjoy seeing them but they'd rather see you live and in person.  Limit your wall hangings too -- your home can look like a store or museum if you get too much on the walls.  Give your eyes a break and have a blank wall or two.

Walls need paint about every 5 to 6 years on average.  Paints fade and color hues change in trends -- a fresh paint job is one of the cheapest decorating tricks you can do.  Crown molding is also another inexpensive trick to give your home a dressier feel. 

I hope these tips and tricks have helped --- have a great Thursday and weekend!  See ya next week!  Amy

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Hello Everybody!!! I hope you are having a good day today!  We got a storm last night!! I hope that if you did, all is well.  I usually write the blogs the night before but our internet and satellite went down so I'm here this morning. 

So...Tips and Tricks Thursday -- my good friend, Leisa, got herself in a bit of a quandary this past week with a bag of grits.  She was in a hurry to get supper on the table and had decided to make a delicious meal of Steak Biscuits and Grits...the steak and biscuits were doing just fine on their own but when she picked up the bag of grits there must have been a leak in the bottom of the bag because grits went everywhere!  She said to her beloved cat, Prissy, "Well, let's see what Mrs. Tips and Tricks Thursday" has to say about getting grits up off of everywhere!"  hahahahahahahaha!!!

She tried the vacuum and the fan blew them everywhere.  She tried the Swiffer sweeper both dry and wet to no avail and the broom really didn't get them all either.  I would imagine that a mop would make them sticky and for us Southerners, we know that if it weren't for the grainy texture of the grits - they could stick most anything to the wall - including wallpaper!

So, Leisa, for you today, I've done a little homework and here are some tips and tricks for you for your grits issue (and really any type of grain that falls on the floor).

A damp but not wet floor sweeper (the kind for hardwood floors) or a damp towel folded over a swiffer mop head would pick up the residue.  You'll probably have to chase them around on the floor a little bit rather than sweeping into a pile but that might be the answer.  If you'd rather get on your hands and knees you could use a damp - not wet - cloth to get them up.  (Leisa, I'm certain you are going to do that! haha!)

The key here is damp.  Wet will make any grain gooey.  Dry won't hold it to the material and will blow away.  Wetting the floor will make them swell and the glutens (I'm guessing) will activate thus making them sticky (them, being grains).

So....maybe that will be helpful to more than just Leisa and myself.  I'm sure I'm going to have a grits catastrophe too sooner than later.  In the South, a grits bag is just gonna get a hole in it from time to time!

Ok here's a gardening tip -- if you've got tomato vines getting tall and no baskets to put around them or stakes to put them up -- don't buy any -- get some bamboo.  If you have access to any in your yard or near water, the young stalks make great stakes and look pretty in the garden.  You can also make tee pees for your beans to grow on out of the bamboo too.  Just simply cut 3 stalks of bamboo at the height you prefer and then wrap the top with rope.  Sink the ends into the ground so that the wind won't blow them over and your vine plants will begin to grow over them in no time.  They won't get as hot as metal and you'll be using a renewable resource too.  If you need bamboo - call me!  I have plenty!! But it can be found pretty easily around water or in the woods.  If you don't have access to bamboo, consider using old broom handles or even the straight limbs of trees that have fallen in the recent storms. 

And finally, my eye doctor gave me a wonderful remedy for those of us whose eyes seem to be the victim of allergies in the spring and summer.  My eyes will sometimes itch, burn and get a glaze over them that kind of blurs my vision a little -- it's actually a little bit of makeup residue and can become a nuisance to tear ducts if I don't keep it in check.  Quick solution - baby shampoo.  I've been using it to wash my eyes and face for a couple of years - and my skin is so healthy and it truly does clean the makeup residue off my eyes so easily.  It's great for sensitive skin and doesn't dry it out.  My skin tends to get really oily in the summer time, and this is such a refreshing face wash.

Keep that sunscreen on folks -- enjoy this hot weather and tell someone you love them today!!!

Hope you have a great weekend!  Blessings and love!  Amy

Wednesdays in the Word AND Tips and Tricks Thursday!!! arriving on FRIDAY!!

You GUYs!!! I am SOOO sorry!! I have been in Project Central for the last few days and haven't touched the computer until very late each night and by that time it was email, a little facebook and bedtime! 

So, today I'm combining 2 into 1 on the day I told you I wouldn't be sending a blog post....call me what you will -- I understand! 

Let's start with tips and tricks and I'll end in the Word - hope that's ok with y'all....

Well, today is my birthday.  I'm 48 and have decided to do something good for me and make a pledge to myself and to the Lord to get healthy this year.  No, I'm not going to go on some amazing spa diet and no, I'm not joining a gym and no, I'm not having any radical surgery -- been there done that and nothing worked long-term.  I've just decided to find ways each day to move more, find ways to add more fruits and veggies to my diet each day and subtract more junk and to let being healthy because it honors God to take care of my "temple" better.  If I am blessed with a smaller clothing size that'd be great, but my primary motivation is really to feel better and have more energy and truly to honor the Lord with a healthier body.

So, rather than giving you guys tips and tricks, I'm asking you to give me some.  If you have some great ways that you've discovered to get healthier that actually have stayed with you long term, I'd love to hear about them.  Believe me, I've tried all the diets there are that are out there and for a short term, they've all worked...but I want to hear your "go to" things that make you stick with a lifestyle change long-term and ways you live "normally" and stay on track. 

So, go ahead....I'm listening -- let me hear from you ladies and gents....help me make this change for the long-term - the get-go - the whole shootin' match - the big kahuna...I need you!

Today's devotional is going to come from the Ten Commandments....Exodus 20:3-7

"You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name."

Kelly Minter has written a Bible study entitled "No Other Gods".  I'm sure that I've referenced it before in this blog.  It's one of the most Scripture rich studies that ties the seriousness behind God's commandment to have no other gods before Him.  In her study, she talks about how good things can become idols, defined as "functional gods" when we allow them to take our attention away from a life lived to worship and glorify God.  For the committed Christian, it's not necessarily the cares of the world that get us off track.  It's the good things...ministries we are committed to, spouses and children that we adore, churches we attend, our homes, our families, our bodies, our jobs, or friends, and the list goes on and on.  In the name of our commitment to the Father, we commit our attention to these things and it's the things that end up holding our attention.  It's not that we bow down and worship them, it's that they own more of our hearts and minds than they should. 

Maybe we love them more than we love the Lord, maybe we worry about them too much, maybe we want them to be perfect, maybe we enjoy being with them more than we enjoy being with Christ, maybe we spend more time thinking about them than we do God's Word, maybe we are afraid to surrender them to the Lord because we are afraid to trust Him with them....see how quickly our attention can be diverted.

In my own life, I believe now that food has become an idol to me.  It's been a place of comfort when my emotions aren't balanced.  It's become a place of success when my career or my life haven't felt so successful.  It's become a place where I can take out my frustration on a bad day, entertain serve my family and challenge myself to do something new on a tight budget.  But what I've discovered through the study of these verses is that God doesn't mind if I enjoy his bounty and provision.  But when I use it as a means of escape from my troubles, I'm substituting it for Him - He wants me come to Him - to seek Him first in all things. 

It's great to have hobbies and to enjoy doing fun things.  It's great to eat and enjoy good food and good friends.  It's wonderful to have the ability to do things like sing, dance, lift weights, karate, cook, run, play sports, sew, paint, and so on, but when we use them as a means of escape or as a way to feed our souls, then these good things are serving as functional gods - idols.

God gives us our spouses, children, families, friends, jobs, talents, gifts, homes, cars, gardens, etc. and he wants us to enjoy them.  But if we find ourselves trying to "fix" the people in our lives or maybe we're holding on just a little to tightly - then what we're saying to the Lord is that we can manage them better than He can.  Not true, dear friend.  We must trust God as first and only God.  We must open our palms to the things we hold on to so tightly and let Him have them.   This is the "grass roots" of trust. 

If fear controls us, if distrust controls us, if our emotions control us - really anything controls us then we have issues with trust.  A dear friend shared with me when I was at my lowest point that when she was at her lowest point in her own life she began every day saying to the Lord, "Lord, I'm going to trust you with the outcome of this situation."  And she would do that every time she felt afraid or out of control or angry or at a loss.  She did it on days when she didn't believe it - and she did it on good days when things were going well.  Little by little, she truly began to trust God more and more with every situation.  Today, her life is an amazing example of restoration, grace, mercy and healing. 

In my own life, I am learning to trust and relinquish all things to God.  The first thing He has blessed me with for being obedient in these this is peace.  I have bad days, sure, but my situation hasn't really changed - but the peace of God has covered me beyond explanation...a promise that He has fulfilled...Phil. 4:6.  I'm learning to give Him my troubles and to let Him work them out.  I'm becoming bolder in sharing my faith.  I'm becoming more able to hear His voice and heed His instruction.  I'm learning that prayer doesn't have to be formal or wordy -- it's conversation with my Lord and can happen anywhere, anytime.

Dear friend, I urge you to take a deep look into your heart today.  Ask the Lord to show you if there are any "functional Gods" in your life that may be causing you to stumble in your relationship with Him.  It's really a big deal to Him - if it wasn't - it wouldn't have been the first commandment He gave to Moses....and it wouldn't have been the first commandment Jesus shared when the disciples asked Him which commandment was the most important - Matt 22:37.

And when things get really tough, shout to the Lord - "Lord, I'm going to trust YOU with the outcome of this situation." and say it until you believe it and whether you believe it or not...

May you be blessed, not stressed and may this weekend be one that draws you closer to the Lord....

On Monday, I'll be a little older .... and hopefully a little wiser too!!  See ya!  Amy

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Happy Thursday Y'all!  This short week is just about gone, isn't it!!

Well, it's Tips and Tricks Thursday -- I think I'm just gonna give y'all a few quick tips for flower arrangements...

The easiest arrangement to do is to use just one type of flower in bulk.  This is an elegant bouquet and you don't have to do anything except trim the stems.  If you purchase or pick all of 1 color or type of flower, and put them in a simple vase - your table will be just gorgeous without much effort at all. Pitchers, mason jars, coffee mugs, vinegar bottles and oil bottles make great vases.

If you want to work with a variety of flowers, I'd like to suggest using the rule of 3's.  If you will use 3 of each stem, your arrangement will have balance - trim the stems in graduated lengths for variety and insert them into the arrangement in chunks rather than individual stems -- this will give more balance to your arrangements.

Never put flowers in ice cold water or in hot water.  It will shock them and they will not live as long.  If you want to condition flowers, put them in tepid (tap water at room temp) and them place them in the refrigerator.  This will allow the flowers to adjust to cooler temperatures gradually rather than shocking them.  You can do this overnight for arrangements that need to last a long time or if you have blooms that need to open slightly.

Try using herbs and veggies in your arrangements.  If you have small cherry tomatoes that can be cut by the stem, put them into your arrangement - same for peppers - cut parsley, sage or rosemary for added greenery -- you can "stem" vegetables like carrots and cucumbers and put them into styrofoam for added interest.  Grapes, berries, lemons, limes, and apples make great arrangement additions as do artichokes and larger peppers.  A kitchen arrangement filled with fresh vegetables and fruits makes such an attractive enhancement to your decor.

Filling clear vases with one type of fruit is a great easy arrangement idea.  Tall cylinder type vases filled with whole oranges (or any single type of citrus) and sliced rings placed against the sides at the top can add a pop of fresh color to any table or counter top.  Any citrus fruit will work for this project. This type of arrangement won't last more than 1 day though - so keep that in mind - the water will get murky.

If you need a quick fix of something interesting - put different types of lettuce heads in a large punch bowl or lined basket filled with ice water (if you use a basket put the ice in ziploc bags and place on towels inside the basket).  Just lay them on top of the iced water and pack full.  You can add in red cabbage, savoy cabbage and even some celery bunches (trim off any discoloration) -- talk about a pretty arrangement -- mist with water to give a fresh picked dewy look!  Or if you won't have the arrangement out for a long time, make it look like a fresh bowl of "salad fixins" and just tuck whole tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, carrots, radishes, etc. into the lettuce leaves.  You might need to use a few wooden skewers to make them sturdy - wouldn't advise using them on the tomatoes.  After your event, these products can mostly be eaten.  Just be sure to wash them and store them properly.

Some of my favorite arrangements come from my "yard flowers" -- if you have a pretty bunch of flowers, pick them early in the morning and place them in fresh water as soon as you can after cutting them.  Mixtures of zinnias, oak leaf hydrangeas, daisies and tiger lilies are so striking with their bold colors and lacy petals. 

Another simple idea for arrangements would be to fill a large basket full of potted plants.  Purchase an assortment of brightly colored annuals (begonias, sweet potato vine, verbena, dusty miller, vinca and some herbs and arrange them in the basket lined with newspaper.  You can even let a little of the paper hang over the edge for a market fresh look.  Brightly colored napkins would be a good liner too.  Arrange them according to height and color and in no time you'll have a re-usable arrangement that you can plant in your yard later.  So so cute!

If you like melons, why not purchase a few and make them your centerpiece.  Slice cantaloupe in half and leave the seeds and lean the halves against other whole melons.  Watermelon could be halved and then quarter one half and then cut into large chunky pyramids.  If you place this on a rimmed platter covered in hydrangea leaves, you can tuck fresh daises around for a really interesting "edible" arrangement.  And the aroma will be heavenly!  Just use the rule of odd numbers and purchase either all of one type or 3 varieties (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), adding in other fruit for interest (a combination of berries, bananas, melon, citrus, tropical and shaped fruit (pineapple, star fruit, ugly fruit, etc.) might be interesting in a basket - some cut, some whole. 

The point is - use your imagination - purchased arrangements are convenient - but with a little thought and planning, you can personalize your party and make it interesting and fun for you and your family and guests.

Keep it simple, don't put too many different types of anything, and cluster your combinations in chunks rather than scattering them - and your arrangements will look beautiful.  Don't be afraid -- give it a try -- you might just surprise yourself!

Have a great Thursday!! Be blessed...not stressed!  Amy

Verse of the Day:  Jeremiah 33:3:  Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Tips and Tricks Thursday

Verse of the Day:  Proverbs 31:15-20 -- "She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."


Happy Thursday!  Can you believe it's almost Memorial Day weekend?!?  Happy Graduation to all the seniors and college grads!  And to those who serve our Country in the military and their families -- we thank you, appreciate you and salute you for your sacrifice - and to the ones who have fallen - our deepest gratitude and sympathy to your families...may you rest in peace in the arms of God.  Please don't just vacation, grill out and play this weekend -- take the time to remember those who serve to protect the freedom we have to enjoy those things.

Today is Tips and Tricks Thursday -- wow this week has flown by!  Today's tips and tricks have to do with organization.  I have to tell you - I'm really not much of an organizer but I have friends that are and I read a lot about it and over the years, I've adopted some of these and they really do work...so if you're an "organized wannabee", like me, maybe these tips and tricks will be helpful.

Clothing:  When organizing clothing, it's so easy to hang items by color rather than by style.  If you use general color coding, then you'll have a much easier time seeing your clothes, putting them up after laundering, and then knowing on a more regular basis whether you have pieces that are rarely known because they will continually hang in the same spot, with the same color.  This can be done with all articles of clothing whether folded or hung.  I've used this system for over a year now, and I has really made a difference in the time it takes to decide what to wear, keeping a neat closet and discarding unworn items.

Holiday Decorations:  I don't know if you have noticed, but the big box stores (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc) have begun selling storage boxes that coordinate with common seasonal colors.  The plastic containers are either all the seasonal color or the lids are.  I love this!  If you are in the process of re-organizing your holiday decor, try purchasing your new storage containers during each season of decoration -- for instance -- we now are in spring/summer.  The plastic totes are bright colors of greens, pinks. blues and purples...these would be wonderful for organizing Easter, birthday, summer outdoor decor.  If you only purchase new containers during the season when you use the decor, then when it is time to change, you'll have fresh new containers and you can label them according to contents and next time they'll be easy identify.  You might want to purchase a red or blue one for Independence Day, Memorial Day and Labor Day decor.  Oranges, Browns, Greens and Blacks are available in the Fall - so harvest, Halloween, and Fall decor would go in those and then for Christmas, red and green are readily available.  Purchasing them during the month when these items are being used offers you the opportunity to get rid of the unused items, and the old worn out containers and have the new ones ready when it's time to put the decor up for another year.  Just be sure to label your contents.

Linens:  It seems that there's always a dilemma when it comes to organizing the linen closet.  Here's a practical solution -- put the linens in the room where they will be used rather than in a central location.  If you can designate one drawer in a dresser for sheets in each room or an area in the closet, then you'll free up space in your linen closet for other things like cleaning products and tools as well as blankets, quilts, extra pillows and sleeping bags.  Storing sheets is much easier when folding the flat sheet, fitted sheet and one pillow case and put all in the remaining pillow case.  All parts are there and ready for changing the bed in one self-contained package that stores neatly away.  Ironing sheets isn't really necessary anymore either -- take them out of the dryer immediately and fold -- hand pressing as you fold -- store warm and the wrinkles will naturally fall out -- lightly pressing the pillow cases will give a crispness and is much quicker if you simply must press! :)

Kitchen:  Knives will stay sharp longer if they hang on a magnet strip rather than storing them in a drawer.  They aren't as prone to bump other utensils, thus dulling the edge.  Magnet strips may be found at kitchen specialty stores, import stores and larger department stores or online -- they are called Kitchen Magnet strip or Knife magnet strips.  Storing utensils in crocks or jars in the areas where they are used make them so much more accessible when cooking.  They won't get junky looking if you only keep the tools used regularly -- put the lesser used items away in the drawers.  Small appliances can get in the way and take up so much counter space.  Seriously consider how often they are used when deciding whether they need to take up such valuable space and only keep the MOST used items out.  Put the others away in an area where they can be easily accessed when needed and send the rarely used items to another home.  Most small appliances have multiple uses, so feel free to pare down to fewer when you can. 

Fridge and Freezer:  Make use of zip storage bags as much as you can.  If you buy items in bulk, such as meat and produce, and plan to freeze much of it -- place individual pieces on parchment lined trays and cover with plastic wrap.  When frozen, remove pieces and place in zip storage bags and label and date them.  If you'll stack the items neatly, you'll have a lot more room in your freezer than you can imagine. 
For the health conscious - I read an article on AOL recently that said by moving produce drawers up to the middle of the refrigerator, people will be more likely to choose fruits and vegetables for snacks and meals and likewise, placing the more fattening foods on the upper or lower shelves will put them out of eye view and thus people are less likely to snack on those items.

I hope these tips/tricks have been helpful today.  One last common sense tip to consider.  Today's gas prices are so high - but seriously consider how far you need to drive to get a bargain.  If your hometown has gas for $3.66/gallon and the closest large city has gas for $3.63/gallon and you need to drive about 35 miles to save that money -- on a 15 gallon tank -- you'll only save about 45 cents...but you'll use up a lot more than 45 cents worth of gas to save that money.  Do the math, it may not be a real bargain!

Hope you have a lovely day today!! Be blessed...not stressed!  Amy

Tips and Tricks Thursday 4th Edition

Hello Friends! This post was slated for last week as I travelled home from the Smokey Mountains, but for whatever reason, Blogger went down and this never posted -- it's such a good list of tips and tricks that I've decided to use it for this week -- enjoy!!
So....today is Tips and Tricks Thursday!  I'm going to make it quick but these are GOOD!

Natural mosquito repellent -- Listerine (or the generic form)!  Buy a big bottle of the gold original flavor and pour into a spray bottle.  Don't dilute!  Spray all around the porch, door facings, outdoor furniture and lightly on your clothes and mosquitos and other flying insects will flee!  This will last a couple of days -- and the scent really isn't all that unpleasant.  We tried this on Sunday for Mother's Day and were able to eat outside on the patio for the first time ever and not have to swat flies and mosquitos!

Cutting corn off the cob and dread the mess?  Here's a great tip!  Using your bundt pan, place the corn cob tip side down into the center hole.  Scrape the corn off the cob and it will fall easily into the pan and you'll have an easy stand to hold it while you do.  This is so much faster and much less messy and makes for easy scraping of the "corn milk" off the cob too if you're making that delicious creamed corn!

Want to keep ants away from your garden but really don't want to use pesticides?  Use Baking Soda.  Sprinkle soda around the perimeter edge of your garden (not near or on the plants - will burn them!)  Ants don't like the salt and will leave immediately.  When it rains the soda will soak into the soil and sweeten it to make it healthier. 

Got ants inside?  Sprinkle some ground oatmeal around where they are.  The worker ants will take the oatmeal back to the queen and she will eat, swell, and die -- no queen - no worker ants -- no problem - and no pesticide near your food, children or pets.

Gotta run -- I'll see you on Friday!!! Be blessed...not stressed!  Amy

Verse of the Day:  "When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you."   Deuteronomy 8:10

Tips and Tricks Thursday 3rd Edition

I hope you've all had a good day today!  It was a busy one around here...at one point I had 3 projects going and felt like a juggler!  I love projects and today was one of those days to work on some very needed projects around here. 

For Tips and Tricks Thursday today, I thought I'd just share a few ideas for decorating that have helped me over the years.  Nothing big or earth shattering, just easy fixes and money savers that I use on a regular basis.

Here goes.  I started making my own window treatments many years ago.  As a new homeowner who was working full-time, I had to find ways to save time and money.  If you like to sew, you can save a lot of money and time by using top sheets as lining for your draperies.  The sheets are already finished on one end so you don't have to hem them and most window lengths are at least as long as a standard sheet.  There is plenty of width in a twin sheet for 1 panel and if you are making multiple width panels using decorator fabric using a full, queen or king sized sheet will allow a seamless back side to your window panels which would look nice facing the outside of your windows.  I try to buy a decent quality sheet in white or off white (go with the color of your window trim as a general rule - no colors please) and I turn the finished "top" of the sheet to the inside so that the back of the panel just looks like a nice finished hemline.

If you are making window valences or dust ruffles - sheets work just as well for lining and you won't need to buy a lot of extra fabric -- 1 twin sized sheet will make several 18" long valences and for a dust ruffle, just divide the width of the sheet by the drop of your dust ruffle (top of the box springs to the floor) and add 3" for your seam and hem allowance.

Another quick decorating project is a dust ruffle - my way.  I don't use the platform for attaching the dust ruffle but rather make mine in 3 pieces and attach directly to the box springs using hook/loop tape.  This makes for easy attachment and removal and is far less time consuming to make.  You can make a variety of styles using this method, just adjust your measurements accordingly and let your imagination run wild!

If you use decorator fabrics -- NEVER wash them!!  They are scotch guarded and are manufactured to repel dust and grime so usually just putting them in the dryer (air only) or vacuuming them will remove any dust, spider webs.  Dry cleaning can fade, weaken or remove the sizing and scotch guarding - so it's not recommended at all.

If you use ready made panels, but find them to be lacking fullness or too short.  Buy a contrast panel and cut and add this fabric to your primary panels.  Or you can alternate the panels -- buy 2 of one style and 4 of another and alternate them on your rod -- 1-2-1 on one side -- and 1-2-1 on the other side.  Easy way to add fullness and interest to an otherwise standard boring look.  This is especially pretty with solid color silk panels.  Try putting a solid in between 2 patterned panels -- pretty!  These are fast and easy ways to add personalization to your window treatments without a lot of sewing expertise!

Duvet covers make wonderful masses of fabric that can be used for other purposes.  Cut apart it can be made into a dust ruffle, drapery panels, or decorative throw or throw pillows.  There's a lot of fabric in a duvet -- many times high quality too and much less expensive than buying decorator fabric by the yard.

So, these are just a few decorating tips for today.  Please feel free to add comments and ideas and tell your friends -- it's all about helping each other and I know that some of you are much more creative than I am....so share away friends!!  :)

Verse of the day:  "She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue."

Proverbs 31:22, 24-26

Until tomorrow -- be blessed...not stressed!  Amy

Thursday is Tips and Tricks Day

Hi Everybody! Thanks so much for your wonderful comments and encouragement to continue!  I'm so excited that this is helpful and timely!  Thanks for reading AND sharing -- tell anyone you know to check it out.

I've decided that Thursdays are going to be Tips and Tricks days.  Everybody has great tips and tricks and if you're like me you're always looking for more! 

Today, my stove needed a MAJOR cleaning -- and I don't have any of those special gadgets like the scrubbers or steam cleaners and really didn't have the funds in the budget to purchase one...so when I got home I looked in my cleaner closet and pulled out a bottle of Scrubbing Bubbles.  I know this is typically a bathroom cleaner but I figured if it would remove soap scum and lime deposits it might just be a handy de-greaser and remove the cooking crud too...What a job it did! 

I have a stainless gas stove - so all the parts can be removed.  I took the grates and pans off and cleaned out the area where the griddle and grill sit.  Sprayed a little Scrubbing Bubbles in there and let it sit for a couple of minutes -- Y'ALL!! It practically dissolved all the grease and residue -- all I had to do was wipe it out with a damp rag.  I then used a clean rag to be sure all the product was out of there and my stove was dry -- there were some cooked on parts that I just gently scrubbed with a sponge and all that came off too.  What an encouragement to do more!  So I sprayed some on all the parts (grates, pans, etc.) and not surprisingly -- that stuff came clean too.  Now, because I didn't want to risk any chemical residue being left on these parts that actually prepare the food, I ended up putting these in the dishwasher -- they look wonderful!  My stove looks almost brand new -- it's 11 years old!  Cleaning is not my forte' so this discovery really made me happy!

Another tip that I've discovered is using OxyClean in my dishwasher rather than a rinse aid.  When added to your dishwasher prior to running it and getting your water really hot before you start the machine, you will have a lot of extra help in making those dishes sparkle and come out squeaky clean -- and it doesn't harm your pipes or septic tank.  I tried this same product today on a little pot that had some scorched beans -- oh yes -- stuck in them.  I put a small scoop (maybe a tablespoon full) in the pot and filled it with hot water.  Stirred it till all the oxyclean dissolved and just let it sit until the water cooled to room temp.  That pot came completely clean and I didn't have to scrub much at all -- just one little place was all!  AMAZING!

I know this stuff isn't all that great and profound - but it sure made my day easier - so I decided to share it. 

A few more quick tips before I go -- If you have an outbreak of poison ivy, oak or sumac -- put some apple cider vinegar on a cotton ball and rub it over the area affected, this natural antiseptic will not only take the itch away but will also aid in healing much faster.  It also works to help heal blemishes quickly too.  Just hold the cotton ball dipped in the vinegar over the blemish for a minute or two and don't rinse it (great at bedtime). Your blemish will begin to heal and won't leave a scar.  Organic cider vinegar is best but the store brand works fine too.

If chopping onions brings tears to your eyes, try chopping them next to a gas stove that has a burner running.  For some reason, it decreases the tear producing "splash" of juice and you can slice all you want and not mess up your mascara!  :)

To easily remove a splinter, put a thin layer of glue or very sticky tape over the splinter.  Let the glue dry and then peel it off in the opposite direction the splinter entered and it will come right out.  No needles and magnifying glasses necessary!

OK - last tip -- easy recipe:  Fast and Easy "Homemade" Cream Pie -- my definition of homemade is if you use kitchen utensils to make it or turn the stove or oven on - it's homemade! :)

4 individual servings of ready-made pudding (Jello, Swiss Miss, etc.) or 1 can of "Thank You" brand pudding.
1 small package of dry instant pudding
1 graham cracker crust or 1 cooked pastry crust
1 container whipped topping

Open and empty the ready-made pudding into a medium sized bowl (you choose the flavor).  Add the dry pudding (you choose the flavor).  Pour into crust and top with whipped topping.  Cover and refrigerate -- Serve in about 10 minutes.  Unbelievably delicious!

Great combos --

Coconut cream pie -- ready made vanilla pudding + coconut cream dry mix + stir in a small amount of flaked coconut to mix and put some toasted coconut on top of pie for garnish -- this one is best in a pastry crust

Banana cream pie - ready made vanilla + dry vanilla mix + stir in a sliced banana and garnish with some graham cracker crumbs and a few reserved banana slices.  Best in a graham cracker crust.

Chocolate cream pie - ready made chocolate pudding + dry chocolate fudge mix.  Top with mini chocolate chips or freeze a Hershey's candy bar and shave with a vegetable peeler.  This is AWESOME with a baked pastry crust.

Butterscotch Pie - ready made vanilla + butterscotch dry mix. Top with butterscotch chips, Butterfinger pieces, or butterscotch or caramel ice cream topping drizzled lightly over the whipped topping just before serving. Either crust would be great

Peanut Butter/Chocolate cream pie -- use chocolate graham crust for this one.  Use chocolate pudding + chocolate dry mix.  Melt 1/2 cup of peanut butter over low heat to soften -- pour in bottom of crust and let set.  Add pudding mixture over this for next layer.  Top with whipped topping and crumbled Reese's peanut butter cups.  OR just use the Reese's mini cups mixed into the pudding.  I haven't tried them but I bet they'd be HEAVENLY!

There are endless combinations of these to make amazing desserts in less than 10 minutes if you use a ready made graham cracker crust -- if you bake a pastry crust just be sure it's completely cool before you add the pudding -- This recipe is TOP secret y'all -- people will think you have been slaving away all day long in the kitchen!

Enjoy!  See ya tomorrow -- until then...be blessed not stressed.....Amy

Bible Verse of the Day:  "Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for His Kingdom is a waste of time or effort."  1 Corinthians 15:58