Some random pictures . . .

I finally uploaded the pictures from my phone that I had taken here and there – whenever my “real” camera wasn’t around (although I sometimes think that my phone actually takes better pictures!) Here is some of what I found -

Anna cheerleading in the Upwards program – she is the first one on the back row to the left ~

Michael and Jeff during a basketball game – Jeff coached Michael’s team this year ~

Some pretty ice crystals on the car window – you can tell this was a while back, probably from January or February ~

We saw the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile one day when we were out and about – how fun! ~

Some of the kids playing with toys in a bucket of water on a recent warm day – it was their solution to my “no” about swimming in the too cold big pool ~

My “Grandmama bench” on the front porch – called that because it is identical to one that my Grandmother had on her screened porch – sporting a new pillow for the new outdoor season ~

Pretty jars of homemade Strawberry preserves cooling on the counter ~

Anna and Sarah at American Girl posing in an exhibit for this year’s Doll of the Year ~

A Luna moth on the wall of a building I spotted while out one day ~

I also found some sweet ballet pictures and I have some of Tommy’s skate competition this past weekend, but I’m saving those for posts of their own. Be back soon!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ April 18

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .everything is so green now! I love to sit on my porch and just gaze up at the trees – so beautiful and lush.
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I am thinking. . .about perspective – listening to what God is teaching me about my life and learning to walk in peace and joy.
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From the learning room. . .our usual basic studies, plus early world history for the older kids, and I’m still deciding on a Five in a Row book for the youngers.
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I am thankful for. . .the gift of salvation given by Christ on the cross, the victory of His resurrection, and the joy of looking forward to an eternity spent with Him in sinless perfection.
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From the kitchen. . .Ground Beef Stroganoff, green salad, and Apple Dumplings for dessert.
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I am wearing. . .pink t-shirt and denim capris.
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I am creating. . .a new mini quilt for May, flying geese blocks for a Civil War Sampler quilt, and trying to find time to stitch together the blocks for my Summer Cherries quilt.
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I am going. . .to start a regular daily quiet time for myself to have time to think, pray, and read. Rather than snatching moments as I go as I have needed to do with small children in the house, I think that they are now old enough that I can set a regular time again – and I am definitely feeling the need for it!
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I am reading. . .“Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis
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I am hoping. . .it doesn’t rain on Easter – our forecast isn’t looking too good right now!
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I am hearing. . .wind blowing, children playing. What I’m not hearing is my next door neighbors’ rooster crowing, which means that he may have come to an early demise due to his aggressive ways recently (more on that later!)
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Around the house. . .a list of chores to be done before hosting the family Easter celebration next weekend, a number of people with the cold that has been going through the house, Jeff taking a day off to do home projects today!
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One of my favorite things. . .dying Easter eggs and seeing the beautiful colored eggs after we’re all done.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .preparing for Easter, library trip, sewing, cleaning, Ladies Bible Study, daily quiet times, Ballet lesson, ice skating, and maybe an extra choir rehearsal at church.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

Onions growing nicely in the garden

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy to find the Spring list of participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Have a lovely day!

Blessings,
Nancy

“Soul Surfer”

Photo courtesy of Corbis

Jeff and I went to see the movie “Soul Surfer” last night and it was wonderful! It is based on the true story of Bethany Hamilton and her family as they deal with the aftermath of a shark attack that leaves Bethany with the loss of one arm. It was so encouraging to me to see how their faith sustained them in a very real way during this tragedy in their lives.

There were many, many wonderful messages throughout the movie – a few of the encouraging truths that I came away with were -

~ Sometimes we’re too close to a situation to see or think clearly. We need to step back and get a new perspective.

~ When you get knocked down or are going under, you have to get back up and keep going.

~ God can take a small act of ours and grow it to be something big for his glory.

~ And of course, the always needed reminder that “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

If you have the chance to go see this movie, I would strongly encourage you to do so. I am going to take my older kids (12 and up) to see it. Although handled very carefully, there is some blood involved in the accident scenes and I think that would be too much for my younger children. We may let Michael (9) see it when it comes out on DVD on the small screen.

Oh, and by the way, we saw the trailer for the new Kendrick (Fireproof, Facing the Giants, etc.) movie coming out in the Fall. It is called “Courageous” and deals with fathers and their relationship with their children. It looked amazing – can’t wait for that one!

Have a nice evening!

Blessings,
Nancy

Pretty flowers around the yard ~

I took a stroll around the yard with my camera and snapped a few flower pictures. The rose garden is in full bloom and looks and smells wonderful! These roses were all planted by the original owners of our house, and they are such a blessing to me. Here is a small sampling ~

We have planted various annuals around the yard as well – pretty Vinca on the front porch ~

Pink Impatiens on the table between the rockers on the porch ~

Another on the porch rail ~

A mixture of pretty flowers in a pot right outside the porch rail ~

I planted this assortment in the ground by another section of porch rail ~

In the herb garden there are a few little flowers planted amongst the herbs ~

Although gone now, Sarah took some beautiful pictures of the Irises when they were in bloom a few weeks ago ~

And the bush outside the kitchen window (I really need to learn it’s name!) that is all bloomed out now, but has kept my dish washing view lovely up until recently – not to mention the joy of watching all of the butterflies that were attracted to it ~

Jeff planted bright pink geraniums in the hanging baskets around the porch this year ~

David just brought me this pretty pink rose from the garden – it is resting on my journal until I take it in and put it in water on the kitchen windowsill – such a blessing ~

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

Here is the recipe my daughter Sarah used to make the chicken fingers the night she cooked dinner for the family. It is straight off a box of Bisquick – well, straight except for the fact that we doubled the recipe on the box for our family. It is very simple to make and tastes amazingly wonderful! The recipe I am giving here is the original recipe – you can double it like we did if you need or want to.

Ultimate Chicken Fingers

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 lb.), cut crosswise into 1/2 inch strips (or you could use precut chicken tenders)
2/3 cup Original Bisquick mix
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. salt or garlic salt (we used garlic salt)
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine, melted

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray. In 1 gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt and paprika (we just mixed these together on a plate).

Dip half the chicken strips into egg; place in bag. Seal bag; shake to coat (or coat the egg dipped chicken with the Bisquick mixture on the plate). Place chicken on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drizzle butter over chicken.

Bake 12-14 minutes, turning halfway through bake time, until no longer pink in center.
Makes 4 servings.

So, there you have it – finally – at least I did tell you that you could find it on the Bisquick box if you just couldn’t wait, didn’t I? I waited so long to post this, that I think it may be time to make this again. Enjoy!

Blessings,
Nancy

The Simple Woman’s Daybook ~ April 11

Here is my Daybook entry for today ~

Outside my window. . .me! I am taking a break on the front porch ~ it is a breezy, but beautiful spring day following the thunderstorms we had last night. David and Anna are playing in the yard and I am enjoying the green of the trees and the pretty colors of the flowers around the porch.
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I am thinking. . .about how to balance blogging with life timewise.
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From the learning room. . .basic studies this week – reading, writing, math and spelling.
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I am thankful for. . .my family and the fun we had watching home movies of all of us growing up this past weekend – good memories and lots of laughs.
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From the kitchen. . .Turkey with gravy, Stuffing and Green Beans – no it’s not November – but I am finally cooking the free turkey I got at the grocery store during the holidays!
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I am wearing. . .pink shirt and blue jean capris.
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I am creating. . .haven’t picked up my sewing in a couple of weeks, but hope to get back to it soon.
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I am going. . .to have to end this break and get back to work inside in a minute.
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I am reading. . .nothing really right now – too busy to sit and read.
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I am hoping. . .that the rain last night will help bring up my newly planted seeds.
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I am hearing. . .Anna singing while she swings, birds singing in the trees, squeaky swings.
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Around the house. . .my grandmother’s old kitchen table and chairs set up in the craft room (my mom just passed them on to me this weekend) – it makes me so happy every time I look at it – many memories of meals eaten there with family members back in North Carolina.
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One of my favorite things. . .a clean kitchen.
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A few plans for the rest of the week. . .cleaning out and organizing kids’ toys, Library, Ballet, and an ice skating competition for Tommy – he is entered in 3 events this time.
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Here is a picture thought I am sharing. . .

A frequent sight ~ a visit to our front porch by the neighbors’ chickens.

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Thanks to Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook for this wonderful meme. Visit Peggy to find the Spring list of participants in The Simple Woman’s Daybook.

Have a nice day!

Blessings,
Nancy

Welcome April!

It’s a brand new month filled with the rebirth of the earth – flowers, trees, warm weather, and blue skies are beckoning us outdoors each day. There is change in the landscape now on a daily basis and I love it. Spring porch weather is here and I am making the most of it – which may be one of the reasons I have been slack in my writing here.

We have a lot going on these days – birthdays, schoolwork, weekly activities, and the ever calling out of doors. Oh, and we have another little bird about to fly out of the nest – I wonder if the mama birds feel like I do when their babies spread their wings and fly off – a necessary and good thing for them to do, but heart-wrenching for the mama who feels their absence so deeply!

More to come on all of these matters – and I will get Sarah’s Chicken Finger recipe posted asap. Hope you are all enjoying the arrival of spring in your part of the world!

Blessings,
Nancy