Quite Contrary

How does my garden grow?

Well, right now it doesn't.  Last year's garden was a Texas heat wave failure.  And I kind of let the weeds take it over as evidenced by one of the beds.

I know, sad right?  So, now I am getting my late start because I have been dreading clearing this mess out!  I just love tilling and weeding (that's sarcasm).  But, man oh man, did I see some interesting creatures...and doodle bugs like nobody's business!  My daughter was the doodle bug paparazzi...

Lots of work to do and I'm trying to cram it in sometime between waking up and going to work...twelve hours shifts make it challenging to get big projects done!

Cuckoo for Cozi

I know a lot of the time I am the last to jump on the band wagon, but I found this site a few years ago and tried to get my family to utilize it.  Nobody wanted to jump on this band wagon with me.  The girls were too young and the hubs just didn't really want to be bothered with online calendars and what not.  Now I am back on and even signed up for Cozi Gold.  The girls are older and everyone has smart phones and kindle fires so there is no reason or excuse to not access all of the great features this site offers.

It organizes the family calendar, has a meal plan feature, shopping list, to do lists, everything to help a busy family stay organized.  Everything can be linked to email and mobile numbers so lists and chores can be sent as a text to everyone at one time.  I even put my mom and mother-in-law on my family list so they can see upcoming events.  It's the big bulky day planner from long ago streamlined and easily accessible to the whole family.  It's private and even has a family journal section where we can upload photos and jot down memories and moments!  So family friendly, but I gush...

Anyways, its worth checking out.  Hope it helps some other crazy, unorganized and chaotic group to get everyone on the same page.

And let me tell ya how excited the kids are about the to do lists...

Victoria

Here are some photos from a senior shoot with Tori...

She is the toughest person to photograph because she feels extremely awkward in front of the camera.  Which is crazy because most teenage girls absolutely love having their picture taken.  I took 300 photos (thank you digital camera!) and we got 30 to 40 that were decent.  Such a beautiful girl, but such a silly side!  I do think some of her silly ones are fantastic!!!

Proverbs 31:19




Proverbs 31:19

In her hands she holds the distaff,
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

I have no idea what a distaff is.  The word spindle in the next line makes me think that it has something to do with weaving...

Okay, I looked it up.  Not really weaving, but it is about making cloth.  A Proverbs 31 woman is diligent in her duties and busies herself with things that are productive.  Women today don't really make flax or wool into thread.  Might be interesting to learn how.  Once, when we went to the rodeo, there was a cotton farmer and he showed my girls how to turn cotton into cotton fibers that could eventually be spun into thread.  Pretty neat. But I digress.

The saying goes 'Idle hands are the devils play things'.  If we don't keep ourselves occupied with things that are of God we can easily be tempted and led to do things we shouldn't do.  Does it mean that I need to spend every second of my day at a loom?  No.  But I do need to make sure that whatever I am doing is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.  Taking the best care of our families, working hard, spending time in prayer...these are all things that make God happy.  And doing all of these things with a happy heart (which is sometimes really hard because there are some days when everyone can get on my nerves), well a happy heart makes God even happier!

Firecracker Corn

There is a restaurant in San Marcos that I love called Fushaks.  They make a side dish called Firecracker Corn and any time we go near San Marcos my husband knows we have to stop and get some.  I finally decided to try and make it myself.  The ingredients are pretty basic and it is oh so easy!  

1 large bag of frozen corn (I used the 40 oz HEB brand)

2 blocks of cream cheese (after I made it I thought about how unhealthy 2 packages of cream cheese is, next time I am going to try the FF)

1/2 jar of sliced jalapenos

salt and pepper (to personal preference)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Soften cream cheese.  I threw it in the microwave for a bit.  Not too long, just enough time to make it easy to mix.  Process the jalapenos in a blender or food processor.  I own neither of these items so I used my magic bullet (remember that infomercial...) knock off, it worked great.  Place the corn, cream cheese, jalapenos and salt & pepper (I always think of that song Push It when I say those ingredients) in a large bowl and mix.  I cheated and used my cake stand mixer (thanks, again, mom).  Once everything is combined pour it out into a 9x13 pan and place in the oven for about 30 minutes.

This was the first time I tried this and I made a HUGE mistake.  I like to SEE the ingredients when I make things and I first used the 1/2 jar of jalapenos.  Well, I couldn't see the processed jalapenos when I had everything mixed together so I went ahead and added the rest of the jar plus the juice.  OH MY GOODNESS!  I thought my eyebrows were going to melt right off of my face.  It was SO hot!  Lesson learned...

Second go round was much better and so yummy!

Serve it up with some pinto beans, Chapel Hill sausage and Dr. Pepper BBQ sauce...what?

So good...

Rodeo!

I just love the rodeo!  The atmosphere, the bull riding, the funnel cake!  One of my favorite days of the year is our family rodeo day.

This year we went on my daughter's birthday.  Her and my niece share the same St. Patty's birthday so we all headed out for Brad Paisley at the HLS&R.

Here's the birthday girls

My mother-in-law with all of her grand daughters.

overpriced rodeo snowcones, but look how happy they are :)

John Deere!

The Grand Entry in sepia

somewhere in those bright lights is Brad Paisley.  I felt like a teenage girl when he came out on stage.  I was actually like 'oh my gosh! oh my gosh!  There he is!"  What a dork I am!

The glow of the ferris wheel.

Such a great day!!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to my little pumpkin! 

She's gone from this...

To this...

She can't really ride on my shoulders anymore!

But she still acts like a silly goose :)

Proverbs 31:18

Proverbs 31:18

She perceives that her merchandise is good,

And her lamp does not go out by night.

The virtuous woman being described works very hard.  She toils and crafts and puts a huge amount of effort into producing merchandise that is good and profitable for her family.  I don't really create merchandise to sell.  A lot of women in this day and age don't.  But I do have a job and this can easily relate to the working woman of today.  Of course our first priority is to our family, but we can make sure our merchandise is good by doing a good job while we are at work.  I mean, that is a trade of sorts.  I'm trading my time and skills as a nurse to the hospital for a paycheck.  I want my boss to think that I am a good employee and an asset to the unit.  That way I stay employed (and in this economy, that's a good thing!).  In that way my 'nursing merchandise' is profitable to my family.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

Colossians 3:23

At the hospital I work the night shift so I often feel like my lamp does not go out by night! 

 I think this is more about time management though.  It's about getting done what needs to be done and then when you finally get some free time, use it so that when it is time for bed you think, 'man, what a productive day'.  Every moment we are blessed with is because of God.  We should make sure that we make the most of those moments.  I'm not saying that every second that I am awake I should be toiling and working hard.  I'm just saying that every moment should be well spent.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  

Ephesians 5:15-17

Coal Walk

My brother-in-law has a bucket list.  I've never really been a bucket list kind of person.  I don't have a list of things I want to do before I die.  If there is something I think I want to do, I just do it (if I want to do it badly enough).  That being said, I am glad that he shared one of his list items with us.  He has always wanted to be able to say 'I walked on burning coals'.  I've never really thought about that.  It is just not something that I ever thought I needed to do.  But you know what,  I did it!  And now I'm pretty excited to say that I did.

Coal preparation...

The guys dug a trench, safety first.

Smoldering...

Spreading out the coals.

Mulling it over...

We took posed photos.

Then just close your eyes, find courage and then...

step.

It didn't sting until you were done.  All I can say is that I am so glad that I am a barefoot kind of girl.  I think that helped.  The guys had some pretty good blisters on their feet, but mine were relatively unscathed.  Just some tender spots.  But man, I can now say...

Yeah, I've walked on hot coals...no big.

:)

Pickle Party

I attempted homemade pickles.  It was my very first attempt and I learned a few things.  Here's what I did...

First I got out my water bath canner and got the supplies ready.

Then I sliced up the cucumbers into spears and slices.  I just used an all in one pickle seasoning package and I followed the directions straight off the packet.  I stuffed the quart sized jars with the pickles and filled them with the heated pickle brine.

Then did the same for the slices.

Then I forgot to get the air bubbles out.  I did wipe down the rims.  Placed the lids on and processed them according to the package directions.  Here they are post water bath, cooling on the counter.

The package said to let them sit for 24 hours and then enjoy.  We waited 3-4 days.  My pickle expert sampled one!

The verdict:

Very dill pickley!

Here's the problems I discovered:

1)  Don't buy the biggest cucumbers.  The flesh will be very soft.  I like a crisp pickle.  Next time I will be a bit more cucumber savvy.  I'll have to learn what a good 'pickling' cucumber is...

2)  Maybe try some pickling crisp.  I saw it at Walmart, but didn't get it.  Perhaps next time I'll try it out.

3)  I think I will try a homemade recipe.  The package was convenient, but I missed the recipe part of this.

4)  Don't forget to do the air bubble thing, duh!

5)  Be a better pickle packer.  My pickles floated to the top once the brine was poured in because they weren't packed tight enough.

and 6)  Use a pint sized container.  The quart size is just a bit too tall for the spears.

Proverbs 31:17

Proverbs 31:17

She girds herself with strength,

And strengthens her arms.

So...strength.  Am I strong?  I guess, emotionally I'm all right and my guns have some muscle.  They also have that jiggly part on the bottom so I don't wave too enthusiastically :)

As women, I think, it is easy for us to take care of others and put ourselves last.  I know I am completely guilty.  I can't remember the last time that I exercised or really thought about my health.  Not just 'do I need to drop some weight', but how is my heart?  Is my body healthy physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually?  To answer those questions in order...no, ummm so-so, sure and could be better.

So how do we make sure we are strong?  We need to take some time for ourselves.  Exercise is so good for us physically and mentally, yet I know I never seem to have the time.  I find the time to spend on pinterest and facebook though...weird.  That goes back to the whole time management deal.  Yeah, I need to work on that.  

Put good foods, healthy foods into our bodies.  Some protein for muscles and calcium and vitamin D for strong, healthy bones!  Take vitamins.  Drink lots of water.  Get some sunshine!

Spend some time alone with God everyday.  Nothing makes you feel stronger and ready to face the challenges of life like a solid relationship with Christ.  Those are the moments that I am at peace.  That is when I am refilled.  

Be strong and courageous.  Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

How great is that!  

So, strengthen up ladies!  

Jeremiah 29:11

This bible verse has spoken to me my entire life.  It is my absolute favorite.  It brings me comfort and hope when things look so bleak.

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I know that this was spoken to the people of Israel, but I believe that God feels this for us as well.  I believe that when things are bad and we feel hopeless we are to press into Him and he will be our comfort.  He is our hope and I am so grateful for the reassurance he gives.  Things will not be perfect in life.  We will all walk through hardships.  But it is his love and faithfulness that brings peace to my heart when I feel that I just can't take anymore.  His love is so great for each one of us.  It is truly an awesome thing.

Peach Vanilla Bean Jam

I found this recipe for Peach Vanilla Bean Jam on pinterest thanks to smells-like-home.com and I absolutely had to try it!  The photo looked sooo good and the recipe sounded pretty easy.  Off to the store I went and  oh my goodness, peaches were almost four dollars a pound!  My cart made a quick dart to the freezer section.  Still a bit high, but I could buy a five pound bag for about $8.60 compared to the three pounds the recipe called for for $11.00.  Hmmmm...2 more pounds and less money?  Yeah, that's the deal I'm making.  So I'll have to fudge the amounts for the rest of the recipe...I'll wing it.

I dumped the whole five pound bag into a large pot and since the recipe called for 3 1/2 cups sugar for 3 lbs of peaches I used 5 1/2 cups of sugar.  About a cup per pound, pretty easy math :).  But, man oh man, look how much sugar that is!!!

Not for the sugar faint of heart (or diabetics...).  I added the juice of 2 lemons and then the seeds of 2 vanilla beans, which I didn't realize are so expensive ($8 for 2 pods)!  I tossed in the pods and gave it all a good stir while it heated up to a mild boil over medium high heat.

Yummmm...The recipe stated that the peach mixture needed to simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Um, the extra 2 pounds doubled the time and I still got a soft set jam...But that gave me more than enough time to get my supplies together.  First, wash the jars.

Then, break out the canner!

I decorated mine because, well, that's just how I roll.
Fill it with water and get it heating.  Then I placed the jars in a water bath to get them ready for filling.  I also did the same with the lids.  I filled the jars (three hours later) using a funnel.  Got out the air bubbles, wiped off the rims, attached the lids and into the water bath they go!

Fifteen to twenty minutes later out they come!

And the next morning - well, straight on to my biscuit!

A bit sweet, but a lot delicious!