Come on over!

Mark and I are as opposite as night and day in many ways but we do a few things together and we do them well.  We both love to entertain and I guess you could say we have the gift of hospitality.  We hosted our supper club (we've been together since 2004!) last Saturday night and had so much fun.  I changed up my box (made by Brian) and made it look fresh and springy!  I used the Silhouette to make layered flower napkin rings and used brightly colored napkins.  I should have removed the cloth and table pads and used the chargers but I was going for a little more casual look.

Mark was so excited to prepare part of the appetizers.  He had "Wild Hog Sausage" (this means it was NOT from the grocery store) and he had a venison tenderloin (also not from the grocery store!!)

Mark does an excellent job of carving meat.

When I was going to the grocery store he asked me to buy parsley to decorate his platter (he learned that trick from his mama!!).  Isn't it a beautiful platter?

One friend brought raw veggies and dip for the non-game eaters in the group.  I'm not normally a wild game eater but I did try a piece of the sausage.  It was really good.  It is only March of 2017 and I've eaten wild game at least twice - pretty good for me!!  Mark does such a good job of cooking it - prepping from start to finish.

We were in charge of the main course and I bought a six pound rump roast at the Piggly Wiggly.  The meat market man will cut one for you if you ask!  My mother-in-law says that a larger piece of meat cooks better and she is a great cook so I follow right along!  I did marinate the roast for a few hours in Greek Salad Dressing and Mr. P's marinade and Cavender's.  When I placed it on the pan, I covered it in coarse ground black pepper and a healthy dusting of garlic salt.

Preheat the oven to 325 and cook it about 27 minutes per pound.  It was really good.  I also made tornado baked potatoes.  They were a lot of work and I'm not sure they were that much better than baked.  I did half sweet potatoes and half regular baking potatoes.  I made a mixture of equal parts of cinnamon and sugar and used that on the sweet (along with olive oil and butter) and I used salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese (along with olive oil and butter) and the regular potatoes.  I baked them at 400 for about an hour.

One supper club member brought a great cous cous salad that was so fresh tasting.  We also had green beans that were yummy and an incredible chocolate and peanut butter dessert.  Of course, no supper club would be complete without some spirits.  The guys were drinking Blanton's bourbon (and a girl or two might have consumed some!) and of course, there were other spirits available.

We laughed and talked and laughed some more.  I feel so blessed to call these folks friends - that are as close as family!!

Fast Lane or Slow Poke on this Wednesday HodgePodge

1.      'Slow and steady wins the race'...tell us about a time this was true in your own life. I agree with the statement that slow and steady wins the race but agreeing with the words and living the words are too very different things!!

2.      'As slow as molasses'...Do you like molasses? I like molasses in Ginger Snaps!  I also like to leave the Ginger Snaps sitting open overnight so that they soften up.  Anyone else do this?  How about maple syrup? I like maple syrup.  I also like Log Cabin and Aunt Jemima . . .Yes, I know they are not the same!!  Caramel? I love caramel!!  Butterscotch?  I’m pretty fond of butterscotch!  What's your favorite of the slow moving treats mentioned here, and what's your favorite food made with that sweet treat?  I really love caramel and a caramel and cheesecake combo is ALWAYS good.  I also like butterscotch and make a really good Brown Sugar Brownie that includes butterscotch chips. Speaking of slow moving treats, Mark purchased some sorghum this last year and it has been in our refrigerator.  He heated it up last night and offered it to all of our young adults (instead of syrup on their pancakes) but I don't think we had any partakers.  I do not like it - way too strong of a flavor! Only one young adult even knew what it was!

3.      Your favorite slow song? I CANNOT remember the name of it.  I’ve done a google search of slow songs from the 80’s and 90’s.  There was one obscure song that I used to love and it was on a CD that we had when we lived in our old house.  I keep hoping that a few words of the lyrics will pop into my head so I can search the lyrics!!  I even emailed Mark and asked him if he remembered the song or artist and he replied that he couldn't even remember last week!  The song is flirting around the edges of my brain and I'm hoping I'll remember it at some point!!

4.      Your favorite thing to make in a slow cooker or crock pot? I love our crock pots!  I cook in them all the time on Tuesday nights.  One of my favorite things to cook is green beans – you use 12 cans of drained green beans (remember I’m feeding a lot of people!), some brown sugar, a tiny amount of vinegar, bacon, a tiny bit of bacon grease, salt and red pepper flakes!  Let them cook all day and they are so good!  I also have a mini crockpot and I love to melt white cheese dip in it when we serve Mexican food!!

5.      You may delay, but time will not.' ~Benjamin Franklin Are you more a hurrier or a delayer when it comes to unpleasant tasks that need doing? What are you currently either delaying or hurrying to get through this week or month? We tend to hurry through most things at our house.  We eat quickly.  We do our housework quickly.  Mark’s motto (just like his granddaddy’s before him) is “let’s hurry up and go so we can hurry up and get back.”  I do tend to delay having difficult conversations and I definitely think that would qualify as an unpleasant task.  In staff meeting/chapel, our senior minister has been talking with us about having Crucial Conversations . . .and I hate those kinds of conversations. . . so I procrastinate and move slowly!

6.      Tell us three things you encounter regularly or even just occasionally that you find to be annoyingly slow.
      Traffic – right???  Why can’t they all go the speed limit that I want to drive?  IAm I driving above the speed limit?  Who me????
      Lines in the grocery store . . .need I say more?
      Other people who take forever to do a task that I KNOW I could complete in a few moments . . .that one is bad, isn’t it?

7.      March is National Craft Month. Are you crafty? Tell us about something crafty you'll try in the next thirty one days. Or something crafty you'd like to try or wish you had the skill to make happen. Yes, I am crafty.  My name is Lisa and I’m a craftaholic.  My name is Lisa and I have a crafting room!  I’m probably not going to try anything new in the crafting world in the next 30 days unless I try to use the pens with my silhouette or unless we try to applique something using my silhouette.  I would love to learn a simple technique for calligraphy . . . in my spare time!

8.      Insert your own random thought here. Yesterday was Shrove Tuesday – the last day before Lent 2017.  We made pancakes and bacon and sausage and fruit for the young adults last night.  I’m pretty sure that I’m going to give up a behavior or two for Lent this year.  Giving up sweets or Diet Pepsis might be good for me physically but I need to work on my spiritual life.  I didn’t grow up in a denomination that practiced Lent (nor Advent) but I so love these times of intentional preparation.

FRIVOLITY and PHOTO OVERLOAD

fri·vol·i·ty

NOUN

1. lack of seriousness; lightheartedness:

   "a night of fun and frivolity"

Most any night this little Tiger comes to visit with us is a night of fun and frivolity!  I can't remember what we had just said to her but I just happened to have my phone poised and ready to take a picture and caught this expression.  She must be saying, "This is Mardi Gras weekend, really?"

She quickly moved into the rejoicing mode clapping her hands while clasping her new toys!  . . .one in each hand, of course!

This thing rocks?  So cool, Pops!!  Why haven't you told me about this fun chair before?  It was my daddy's?  Even cooler!

On Saturday afternoon, our neighborhood had the first ever Preserve Mardi Gras parade.  It was a gorgeous day and I snapped a couple of photos before going onto our top porch to take pictures.

The neighbors all decorated their golf carts and bikes and someone even decorated their mini van.  I think I'm going to ask Mark if we can decorate his pick up truck next year and I can ride in the back with Emma and throw out beads!!  (don't lecture me on safety . . .it probably won't happen!)

I love that the bicyclers are right behind the pimped out van!

This was one of my favorites - a child in a decorated car!!

Some folks went all out with the decorations.  I've never seen such large beads!!

This guy had on a horse mask!!

This family allowed the dolls of the household to participate!!

The guys in this car have on full masks and the family allowed the big green frog to ride on top!!

It was a fun parade - and I'm sure that next year, it will be even bigger!!  I love some fun and frivolity!!

Multiply and Divide

 A few days ago I wrote about the Fruit of the Spirit and I shared with you about a classmate from Sunday School who dropped by my office with two cans of Chef Boyardee Ravioli to replenish my emergency stash.  I showed you the picture below and commented how kindness came back twofold.

Kindness multiplies - you know?  It really does.  This week, another friend stopped by my office with two more cans of Ravioli.  My stash multiplied.

On the very same day that the stash multiplied, our friend showed up in the church office and was hungry.  He entered the office suite and immediately asked for hand sanitizer (I chuckle as I type those words - he knew we would share).  He then asked if he could have a chair and sit down with us.  He sat down to join us and wanted to eat.  One co-worker gave him a banana.  Another co-worker shared some girl scout cookies.  My stash was available once again because it had been replenished by others who love Jesus (such a wonderful simple act!!) . . . .so I offered ravioli.  I didn't offer JUST ravioli . . .I offered a choice.  God gives us life -- abundant life!  A choice between Mini Beef Ravioli or Cheese Ravioli!  I know that sounds silly but all I could think about was abundant life.  Not one can . . .but four cans . . .now down to three cans.  Our friend chose Cheese Ravioli and I found some tortilla chips in the staff breakroom.  I heated the ravioli in a coffee mug and another co-worker told our friend that he needed to eat the ravioli and chips before eating the cookies (he had already consumed a few cookies).  

Matthew 10:42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones . . .Ravioli isn't a cup of cold water but it is a cup of love.  There is enough y'all - there is enough to go around.  We don't have to be stingy. . . with our food, with our love, with God's grace.  There is enough for everybody.  Y'all - it multiplies and divides and keeps on going strong.

Rooted and built up and overflowing with thankfulness

These verses have been on my mind tonight.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

I've been thinking about growing up. I grew up in a small town. I grew up in a small town where there were as many blue collar workers as professionals - or maybe even more. My father was an engineer for the L&N Railroad and he worked hard to provide for us. He had been a wonderful carpenter but needed a more steady income with three girls and a wife to support. He worked crazy hours - he was on call throughout the night. I wonder why trains had to leave at such odd hours?  I never knew that we didn't have money. I never went hungry. I always had clean clothes. I was given strong roots in my faith. I am indeed overflowing with thankfulness and I am humbled at the difference in then and now.

This was the house that my daddy built with his own hands.  I need to dig through and see if I have any old photos of our house.  There used to be a pretty banister around the porch, a big tree and a swing in the front yard.  This is how it looks now - forlorn and sad.

The room on the right was the living room.  The room on the left was a bedroom.  The house was tiny - maybe a 1,000 square feet for 5 people.  The original house had two bedrooms and one bath (no shower - only a bath tub!), a living room and a kitchen.  Since my daddy had great carpentry skills, we had the fanciest cornice boards on the block.

I learned to back up in this driveway.  We had an LTD (in the 70's) and daddy would give me the keys and I would drive up to the entrance of the garage and then back all the way down the driveway.  You can't see it, but there was a fence all along the right side of the driveway.  Let me tell you -- I can back up a car!!

See that garage in the back . . .that is where my daddy would go to escape all of the females who lived in our house.  That garage was his refuge.  I remember that he raised mealy worms in the garage one time.  He was always working on some project or another.  I also had an incredible sandbox.  I must find a picture of that sandbox.  Of course, it was wooden.  Not only did my sandbox have a bench seat on each side, but it had a shingled roof!! I wonder if building that sandbox gave him pleasure!

Our backyard seemed immense.  We had a sandbox, a tree (maybe a dogwood??); a peach tree with delicious peaches (and wicked switches - I would know this because I misbehaved a lot); a long clothesline and a garden.  The backyard in reality is tiny.  I have no idea how my daddy organized all that into one space.  But at the time, the yard seemed immense.

My daddy and his daddy were both excellent gardeners.  My daddy grew the best tomatoes.  I love Sand Mountain tomatoes today because they taste similar to the ones my daddy grew.

This was our next door neighbors house.  With the magic of Facebook, we have reconnected.  Their house looked much prettier back in the day!!

This was the house across the street and the youngest daughter from this family and I actually attend the same church!  Their house was THE most luxurious house on the block.  They had quite a few fancy things - they even had a real dining room (actually a couple of houses on our street did).

Their daddy made the most amazing play house and sandbox and he was a welder (I think) and made some enormous swings.  I wonder if the wrought iron on the porch is the same wrought iron that he made for the house back then!!

What is really amazing is that there were three rental houses (that I know of) on our street.  One family had about 15 kids (not kidding) and they were very poor.  I think it is so interesting that I knew and still remember today how poor they were.  I never knew their story.  I just know that the son who was my age always carried a bologna sandwich with mayo (which I thought was soooo gross!!) for his lunch.  His family couldn't afford lunchboxes so he carried his lunch in a lard bucket.  We weren't poor because I always had a lunch box!! 

I am thankful for parents who raised me well.  Parents who loved me even when I messed up.  Parents who cheered me on.  Parents who loved me.  I am thankful for deep roots of faith - the church was on the other side of the blue house above.  We walked to church and that was awesome.  I am thankful for all of the Sunday School teachers who taught hundreds of Sunday School lessons.  I am thankful.

I am truly thankful for our home today. . . but I'm even more thankful for those deep roots of faith.

Fishing on a HodgePodge

Join up with Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond and answer the questions!

      1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven't been fishing is that something you'd like to try?

I have been fishing a few times and I’ve caught a few fish!  I live with a man who loves to fish!!  We actually received matching fishing reels as a wedding gift!  Sometime this last year, I went down to the farm with Mark and he fished and I rode in the boat and took pictures!  One of my favorite pictures of all times is Mark with our children when they were really young and they have fish they had caught!

Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, or cut bait...which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?

Right now, I’m a little bit like a fish out of water.  I am not a crier . . .but I just watched this week’s episode of This Is Us and I am weeping like a baby.  If I were a brave woman, I would post the selfie I just took of my ugly crying face!  I’m not that brave!

2. What's something you're always fishing for in your purse, wallet, desk, or kitchen junk drawer?

I’m ALWAYS fishing for my keys.  I love my purse and I even bought a purse organizer to go inside my purse so that I wouldn’t lose my keys.  I still have to hunt!  I try to keep my junk drawers fairly organized . . . .my desk still has things from the previous occupant!

3. Your favorite fish tale or movie?

I love the Little Mermaid.  Does that count?

4. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Explain why you chose your answer.

Do I have to pick just one???  I love sunrise.  I’ve posted a million and one sunrise pictures on facebook, etc.  I also love twilight!  I especially love twilight at the beach or when we are at the lake.  It is like everything slows down and things become peaceful.

5. What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?
I have a couple of “walking shirts” that are pretty old.  Mark says I don’t need to wear them out in public!

6. We've got one more month of (officially) winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Are you feeling the need for a getaway? What's been the best and worst part of your winter so far?
I would love a get-away to some tropical island.  We haven’t had much cold weather here this year but I’m ready for some major sunshine. 

7.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge lands on National Margarita Day...will you be celebrating? Frozen or on the rocks? Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what's your favorite JB tune?
Thank you for asking.  I love Margaritas and had one at dinner tonight!  My Margarita was on the rocks tonight but I like frozen also!  I prefer a top shelf Margarita!!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

See my answer above about the fish out of water . . .and the crying . . .and This Is Us.  I love that TV show!  Have you watched it?  When Mark and I watch TV together, we tend to watch comedy or a sporting event or Booze Traveler or Andrew Zimmern.  This show has me hooked and I watch it by myself - either while riding the stationary bike or after he goes to sleep.

GET ON THE BANDWAGON - TODAY!

I always seem to jump on the bandwagon long after everyone else does.  This is not age related (I don't think!!) because I'm pretty sure I've always done it.  Something new is being worn and I have to watch everyone else wear it for a while before I decide if I like it.  People are using a new color in their homes, you say?  Well, I might try it next year!  (or I may never try it!)

For a loooooong time, I've been watching as others ate "oatmeal in a jar."  I've seen lots of pictures of oatmeal in a jar on Pinterest and in blogs.  The problem is that I don't like breakfast foods all that much.  I'm just as happy with a grilled cheese sandwich or a turkey sandwich or a pack of Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers. (I do like the more fattening breakfast foods - bacon and sausage!)

But yesterday I made oatmeal in a jar and guess what?  I LIKED it!!   I made it again last night to take to work today!  I can't make it again this week unless I go back to the grocery store or either find a different recipe!

This recipe is simple and delicious and nutritious and filling.  Sometimes filling is the most important!

I used Chobani yogurt.

Blueberry Oatmeal in a Jar

(can be prepared the night before or in the morning before you leave for work)

1 container non-fat plain yogurt

1 tsp Splenda (or substitute honey, etc. - it might take more than 1 tsp of honey)

1/3 cup oatmeal (I had Quaker quick cooking oats on hand and they work)

1 tablespoon skim milk (we use Horizon Organic)

1 tsp vanilla (thanks to my friend Eleanor for that tip!!)

Mix above ingredients together in small bowl

rinse 1 cup fresh blueberries (I'm sure frozen would work, too)

Layer 1/3 of the blueberries in bottom of small mason jar

Layer a dollop (my friend Julie can't eat anything that "dollops"!!) of yogurt mixture on top of blueberries

Continue layering until all ingredients are used

I added a tiny sprinkle of chopped walnuts on top just for some crunch - maybe 3 walnut halves chopped

Put the lid on the jar

Put the jar in the fridge until time to enjoy

Remember to get jar out of fridge as you go out the door to work (I actually have to put a sticky note on the back door so I won't forget . . . )

Enjoy at your desk!!

I may have been late to the bandwagon but I'm enjoying a new food now!!  I think the official name for this kind of oatmeal is "overnight oats" but since I made mine before work yesterday, I decided that I like Oatmeal in a Jar better!!

Do you jump on board quickly or do you observe from the side lines first?  Run quickly and make this oatmeal - don't wait another day!

p.s. Chobani, Horizon milk, nor Quaker knows I'm writing this post . . .but if they were to see this post and want to send me free products, I would be happy hahaha!