Thankful Thursday – July 31

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Here is my thankful list for today -

1. I am thankful that we had rain yesterday, even though it was just a small amount. The clouds cooled us off for a part of the day, too, which was nice.

2. I am thankful that Jeff was not hurt when his car was hit Monday night and spun around twice. I am thankful that he was able to drive the car home, that he was able to work from home for a few days and that he now has a rental car to be able to go on with life until he has his own car back.

3. I am thankful for a few days of rest coming up through the weekend, without predetermined plans.

4. I am thankful that my cross-stitching lesson with the girls at Keepers Club went well last night and that everyone seemed to have a really good time.

5. I am thankful that Ryan is settled in his new home, Matthew is settled in his new room and I can now move all of the littles’ toys out of my room into the new playroom.

6. I am thankful that Tommy bounced back quickly from his hard trip to the dentist earlier this week – he had to have 2 teeth pulled, and one was quite stubborn and wouldn’t come out easily, which made for a rough time for Tommy. I am thankful that he is doing better now.

7. I am thankful that we get to go to the library booksale today and find some wonderful treasures to bless our family! Of course, if we find too many treasures, the playroom will have to become part library!

8. I am thankful for the fun time I had with my family last weekend celebrating my brother’s and my birthday, laughing and visiting; and for the sweet gifts that I received.

9. I am thankful for my grandmother, Me-Maw, whose birthday will be tomorrow. She was a special blessing in my life – always doting and proud of her grandchildren.

10. I am thankful for the ability to bring all of my cares to my loving heavenly Father, who will carry every burden in my life for me and allow me to simply rest in His capable arms.

To read more thankful thoughts, just click on the button below to find the list of participants in this week’s Thankful Thursday. And thank you, Iris, for hosting this wonderful opportunity for us all to focus on our blessings!

Blessings,
Nancy

Crockpot Tortellini Soup

I made this for dinner last night and it was a hit with my family, including the children! I found the recipe here when I googled “zucchini recipes” recently, in an attempt to find some tasty ways to use my bountiful zucchini harvest from my garden. I found many lovely recipes to suit my tastes, printed a few off, and am attempting to try them bit by bit. This was my first recipe to try and also my first ever homemade soup to make(!!) – adding a new page to my Scratch notebook, where I am compiling recipes along my journey to learn to cook more and more from “scratch”.

I had boiled some chickens on Monday and saved the broth to use for this soup – just refrigerated it overnight before pouring it in Tuesday morning.

So, without further ado, here we go -

Crockpot Tortellini Soup

Ingredients:
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 medium zucchini, in 1-inch cubes, about 1 cup
3 1/2 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 large can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 can (15 1/2 ounces) canned great northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 to 2 tablespoons dried leaf basil
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon pepper
8 ounces fresh or dry cheese-filled tortellini, cooked

Preparation:
Combine all ingredients except tortellini in Crock Pot. Mix well. Cover and cook on Low setting for at least 6 hours. When ready to serve, increase heat to High setting. Add cooked tortellini. Cook 10 minutes longer, until heated through.

I doubled this recipe for my family and it completely filled my crockpot. When we were ready to eat, I added some garlic salt to taste and sprinkled Mozzerella cheese on each bowl of soup before serving. (I used shredded Parmesan on mine, and it was yummy, too!)

I served Cheesy Garlic Biscuits, a long-time family favorite, alongside the soup and got rave reviews.
I will definitely be cooking this one again.

Enjoy!

Blessing,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ July 28

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~ July 28 ~

Outside my window. . .the gentle breeze blowing through the trees looks deceptively cool and refreshing – it should be another 100+ degree day here. Jack has had his morning dip in the pond and is snoozing on the front porch.
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I am thinking. . .how much I am going to miss Ryan when he’s gone, how much I wish he’d stay home, but at the same time, knowing that it’s right for him to grow up and leave home.
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I am thankful for. . .all of my children and the blessing that they are to me (I’ve been especially tired and cranky lately, so I probably ought to go and tell them this in person!).
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From the kitchen. . .I will be boiling 3 chickens today to make meals for the next few days, as well as some chicken to freeze. Tonight’s dinner will be Chicken Spaghetti, Green Salad and Italian Bread, and I will use some of the broth to make Tortellini Soup tomorrow night, which will help use up some of our zucchini harvest.
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I am wearing. . .navy capris and a white t-shirt.
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I am creating. . .a summer scrapbooking package to giveaway in the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival this week!
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I am going. . .to teach the girls at our Keepers Club this week the art of cross-stitch (please pray for me!)
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I am reading. . .Philippians and Romans.
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I am hoping. . .that we get rain soon – it hasn’t rained here in almost a month and the temperatures are creeping into the 100′s. A nice, rainy day sounds heavenly!
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I am hearing. . .little footsteps on the stairs, Robotz movie on the television, cat’s collar bell jingling in the bathroom (her new favorite place to play and sleep), children discussing whether to wear the Barney costume or the Baby Bop costume (there is already one dressed in the Superman costume), and Anna singing VBS songs from last week.
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Around the house. . .much to do after last week’s VBS left my house and laundry in a sad state. Bags of brand new school supplies are sitting on the dining table waiting to be stored away until needed (of course, some of the children have decided that they are needed right now and have already been digging into them).
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One of my favorite things. . .Bloggy Giveaway Week!! (Be sure and enter my giveaway for a chance to win!)
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .spending way too much time on the computer, visiting new blogs and entering their giveaways, moving Ryan out, moving Matthew upstairs, moving toys out of my bedroom (yay!), a dental appointment, our monthly Keepers Club meeting, the long-awaited library book sale (yippee!) and trying to clean up my house and catch up my laundry in the midst of all of it. (I’m afraid I can see the handwriting on the wall).
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

My front porch, which I haven’t spent much time on lately – too hot to be outside! I’m looking forward to Fall and cooler porch weather!

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Please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman for more Daybook participants this week, and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Summer Bloggy Giveaway Time!!!

Yes, it’s that time again! Another fun-filled week of zooming around the blog world, visiting hundreds of blogs, signing up for giveaways and finding new friends out there to inspire and encourage us!

In keeping with the summer timing of this bloggy carnival, I will be giving away this lovely Summer Scrapbooking Package –

This package contains a dozen sheets of 12 x 12 scrapbooking paper in summer patterns and colors, embellishments including various summer die-cuts, Paperkins swimming paper dolls, summer phrase stickers, patriotic die-cut squares, Disney swimming stickers (Mickey & Minnie), 4 page toppers (Fourth of July, Lazy Days, Picnic, and Summer Days) and 4 yds. of beautiful ribbon to round out the package. Get ready to scrap away those summer vacation, pool, beach and cook-out pictures! As a special bonus, I am throwing in this -

Yes, that is chocolate! Something sweet, smooth and creamy to delight your tastebuds as you’re working so diligently on all of those scrapbook pages! Scrapbooking and chocolate – it doesn’t get much better than that! (unless, of course, I could include free time in this giveaway, so you’d have time to actually indulge yourself – if this is your situation, you can always shelf the supplies for a rainy day and go ahead and enjoy the chocolate now!)

So, here’s the complete package the winner will be receiving! -

Now for the rules – to enter this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. That’s it – simple. This giveaway is open to bloggers and non-bloggers alike – just make sure to include your blog address or an e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win!

I will take entries until midnite (Central time) Saturday night, August 2nd. I will then pick a winner using the Random Number Generator and will announce the winner on Sunday, August 3rd. All shipping costs will be paid by me, and international entries are welcome.

To find the exciting and ever-growing list of participants in this Bloggy Giveaway, please visit Melanie at the Bloggy Giveaways site, and be prepared to ice those fingers down when they start aching from all that blog hopping! A journey well worth the price, filled with new friends just waiting to be found!

Have a fun week, and be sure to come back and look around when you get a moment – I’d love to visit with you!

Blessings,
Nancy

Another One Flies the Coop. . .

I’ve been watching the barnswallow families all summer, and the little birdy family in the nest on the front porch, and the wren family in the patio cabinet. One thing that all of these families have had in common is that the little babies, who were so helpless in the beginning, grow up (quite rapidly) and fly away to new nests and adventures. After all of this observation, you’d think that I would be prepared when my own nestlings fly off.

Well, one of my baby birds is flying out of the nest this week. Ryan, our second son, is moving into a house with some good friends from work. He will be only about 15 minutes away, but that’s alot farther than just up the stairs.

I know that this is normal and good. I know that all baby birds grow up and fly off – it’s God’s plan. I’ve been watching them do this all summer long. But my mother’s heart is sad about it. I will miss my baby bird being in the nest, close to me and part of the brood. Maybe God has sent me so many bird families this summer to help me, knowing that I would be feeling this way. Do you suppose the mama birds are sad when their babies fly off on their own? Probably not – but then, they only raise their babies for a few weeks and I have raised mine for 20 years – much more time to become attached!

I’ll be fine. On a positive note, I am looking forward to the inevitable shifting around of rooms, which will result in all of Anna and David’s toys moving out of my bedroom and into the study, which will become their playroom, as soon as we get Matthew moved out of it and back upstairs into the room that Ryan is vacating.

Sounds like another interesting week!

Blessings,
Nancy

Looky What I Did!!

I took this picture of Anna a little while back. You were doomed to never see it, because her eyes turned out so red that it was scary. (The curse of blue eyes and cameras). I know, I know, there is probably a red-eye removing program somewhere on my computer, but the one I tried to use to fix it wouldn’t save and I got nowhere. So. . . I thought that this beautiful picture was just going to have to be one of those in the file that only mommies appreciate. . . until. . . I was introduced to this fun site that made removing red eyes just a click of a finger and that fun frame feature just as simple!!

The name of the site is Picnik and I was introduced to it by this post at Ship Full ‘O Pirates. One of Mother Hen’s pirates (the Cap’n I believe) has some beautiful nature photos up on the blog which were embellished at the Picnik site. I believe this post was the second time that Mother Hen has mentioned Picnik, but I was too afraid the first time to go try it – fear of the unknown and hard technical stuff. But after seeing those lovely pictures on her site today (or is that yesterday now), I thought I just had to at least check it out.

Boy, was I glad I did! In no time, I was clicking away at some pictures and coming out with beautiful pictures of my own – and it was SOOOO simple. (and I didn’t have to ask my teenagers for any help at all!) So, I’m chiming in with Mother Hen and telling you to go and try it - you’ll be glad you did.

So, now you get to enjoy this lovely picture of Anna after all. Here it is again – just for fun -

Oh, and I’ll throw in one of David, too, since it’s so quick and easy -

Blessings,
Nancy

Thankful Thursday – July 24

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Here are a few things I am thankful for this week -

1. I am thankful for life. This week I celebrated my 47th birthday and my birthday always turns my thoughts to the fact that God chose to create me and blessed me with life. This fact is very humbling to me and fills my heart with gratitude to my Creator.

2. I am thankful for friends who surround me with love and thoughtfulness – it has been fun spending the evenings this week with my friends at VBS.

3. I am thankful for VBS week. This is always a special week of the year for our family. This year’s theme is the Fruit of the Spirit and has already been inspiring to me, which leads me to the next thing I am thankful for -

4. I am thankful for the work that the Holy Spirit does in our lives, when we allow Him to lead us and teach us. His fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control – is evidence of His presence in our lives and makes us a vessel for His blessing of others and for showing God to the lost world.

5. I am thankful for time to buy school supplies!! I have always loved school supplies, for as long as I can remember. So, this time of year, when the stores are holding all of their sales on supplies is an exciting time for me. I love to peruse the aisles of supplies and restock our school boxes for the year. I can spend a long time just browsing through everything!

6. I am thankful for air conditioning -as the hottest part of summer has definitely arrived. I am also thankful for my van air conditioner, remembering some summers when it wasn’t working and the misery of going anywhere was a daily part of our life.

7. I am thankful for our pond, with it’s tall trees and lush greenery – it is a nice cool image to look at anyway, even if it really isn’t cool outside! Jack likes it, too, as he goes swimming in it multiple times a day trying to stay cool.

8. I am thankful for lemon slushes at Sonic – a cool, refreshing treat on hot, summer days.

9. I am thankful for my 2 year old’s newest phrase – “Tank you, Mommy!” (translation – “Thank you, Mommy!”). He just started saying this out of the blue a few days ago whenever I give him something and it makes my heart smile.

10. I am thankful for my favorite verse, Psalm 46: 10, which I will now be able to hang on my wall, thanks to my sweet husband’s thoughtful birthday gift -

To read more thankful thoughts, please click the button below, (then click “Main Page”) to find the list of Thankful Thursday participants this week.

Blessings,
Nancy

Beans ‘n Franks

Did you know that July is National Hot Dog month? Did you also know that July is National Baked Beans month? Well, here’s a recipe that allows you to celebrate both at the same time! Yipee!

Seriously, this has always been one of Jeff’s favorite meals and it is so easy to prepare.

Ingredients -

Canned Pork and Beans (as much as you want)

Brown Sugar

Molasses

Hot Dogs, sliced, grilled ahead if you choose to

Sweet Onion, chopped (optional)

To prepare these, just combine everything in a casserole dish, and mix together. Bake in a 400 degree oven until bubbly.

I didn’t give amounts on any of the ingredients because I don’t measure it. With the brown sugar and molasses, I just dump some in, the more the better. You can add these to taste, as you prefer.

This dish is almost always served with some yummy cornbread with butter!

This particular night I chopped up a few raw vegies to go along with Ranch dressing to dip in.

This is a great summer dinner, pleasing to adults and children alike.

Hope you enjoy it!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ July 21

This is my Daybook entry for today ~ July 21

Outside my window. . .partly cloudy skies, hot temperatures and bees buzzing around.
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I am thinking. . .about moving Jack (the dog) off of the front porch and making a cozy niche for him on the back covered patio.
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I am thankful for. . .VBS this week – we always have such a great time and look forward to it all year long.
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From the kitchen. . .bagels and lemonade for breakfast. Dinner will be at church all week – something else to be thankful for!
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I am wearing. . .green embroidered t-shirt and navy capris
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I am creating. . .a new file crate for school and home. Thank you to Dawn for the inspiration for this!
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I am going. . .to think up 5 ways to specifically bless my family this week.
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I am reading. . .my new copies of “Country Home” and “Better Homes and Gardens”.
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I am hoping. . .to get a lot of the messy spots cleaned up and organized this week.
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I am hearing. . .the shower running, “Thomas’ Magic Railroad” DVD on the television, otherwise, it’s pretty quiet around here at the moment.
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Around the house. . .the craft room that is still waiting for me to finish organizing it, laundry piled up high, Tommy waiting for me to cut his hair, lots of fresh blueberries ready for bread-making.
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One of my favorite things. . .Watching a pioneer movie at night while cross-stitching.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .VBS each evening, cleaning out and organizing several rooms, planning my Keepers lesson for next week, cross-stitching Michael’s stocking, and planning a giveaway for next week’s Bloggy Giveaway!
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Roses given to me by Jeff for our 25th anniversary, hanging to dry in my kitchen.
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To enjoy some more Daybook entries, please visit Peggy at The Simple Woman and have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

On the 4th, we made our ever-popular homemade vanilla ice cream. This is a tradition in our family, going back as far as I can remember. I have fond memories of watching my grandfather hand-crank the ice cream freezer in his backyard, while my cousins, siblings, and I gathered around, taking a turn every so often and marveling at how hard it was to turn by the end. And then came the reward – enjoying that cold, creamy, sweet treat around my grandparent’s long picnic table, or maybe, sitting around on the screened-in porch, surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and my own family.

These days we still enjoy this special treat – usually on the 4th of July. My brother, Boyd, usually gets the honor of cranking the ice cream, although a motor does it now and not his arm. This year his helper was Anna, who thought it quite fascinating that you could actually make your own ice cream.

My recipe for vanilla ice cream came out of the instruction book that came with our freezer – it is simple and always creamy and delicious.

Vanilla Ice Cream

3 Cups Milk (+ more to add to fill line – see below)
2 3/4 Cups Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Salt
3 Cups Half and Half
2 Tablespoons Vanilla
6 Cups Whipping Cream

Scald milk until bubbles form around edge.
Remove from heat.
Add sugar and salt.
Stir until dissolved.
Pour into ice cream freezer canister.
Stir in half and half, vanilla, and whipping cream.
Add more milk until it reaches the “fill line” inside the canister.
Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.

The actual freezing of the ice cream is something that has always seemed mysterious to me, although my brother laughs at me for this. He says it’s not hard – just layer ice and rock salt around the freezer and turn it on. (Don’t forget to buy rock salt in advance – I did and my other brother, Mike, had to brave a torrential downpour the afternoon of the 4th in order to nab the very last box of rock salt on the shelf! Yay Mike!!!) Keep adding layers as the ice melts to keep the ice cream tin covered and cold. When the machine stops – let it set for a bit and then start dishing it up for everyone to enjoy.

Over the years, my family has added in peaches, strawberries, and even a touch of lemon to our recipe. And, by the way, July is National Ice Cream month, so if you haven’t done so yet, be sure and have a delicious bowlful, homemade or not, on a hot, summer day this month – you’ve got 13 days left!

Blessings,
Nancy