Baking on a Saturday Morning . .

Saturday morning, I was up early . . .ran a couple of errands . . .and when I got home, I started baking. The wedding (dear daughter and future son-in-law) is in the middle of May and rather than a groom's cake, we are having mini pecan pies. I'm doing a trial run to make sure they freeze well. I do not know how I cooked before I had this kitchen. I love spreading the ingredients out on the counter and island.

To me, the best pecan pie is from the recipe on the bottle of dark Karo syrup. It is a GOOD basic pecan pie - no fancy additions. We are talking eggs, butter, vanilla, sugar, karo syrup, and pecans.

I like to cover the counter with either wax paper or parchment paper - makes clean up so much easier.

Yes, you do see Pillsbury pie crusts in the pictures. I think Pillsbury's crust rivals home-made and it is a heck of a lot easier. I used that big clear plastic glass to cut out the circles of dough.

I love the portrait feature on the IPhone X - looks like I'm taking the picture below with a very  nice camera BUT I was using my phone.

Every year, I buy a LOT of pecans from the local high school dance team. I've been buying from different girls for years and these are THE BEST pecans.

I baked three dozen mini pies and only two fell apart - so, 34 pies for the first day of baking!!

Five Minute Friday - Tired

Linking up with Five Minute Friday where we are given a word prompt - this week's word is "tired." We set a timer and write for five minutes and stop and then link up here! 

My very first thought when I read the word prompt this morning was this  -- "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Mathew 11:28

My next thought was of all the folks I know who are indeed tired and weary.  I work in a place where we go non-stop for many hours a day and many of my co-workers are tired.

I also thought of all the moms with little children. I vividly remember that kind of tired - the kind of tired where you are totally exhausted at the end of the day . . .with nothing left to give anyone.

Because I work in a church, I'm also aware of those who are care-givers - those who take such loving and good care of their spouses, partners, friends, and neighbors. Many of them are tired.  I thought of the coach from my high school who has been diagnosed with a fast growing cancer and he is tired and his wife and daughter and son are tired.

I thought of those who are in troubled marriages - both spouses are often weary.

I thought of those with illnesses - who have to make multiple trips to the doctor (my housekeeper and her mother!). They are tired after spending another night in the ER.

I thought of the doctors who are taking care of all those folks and how weary they must be.

I then remembered that God is always with us - always - even when we are more tired than we have ever been. HE is the one who gives us rest - he is the one who give us peace - he is there with us when we are so very weary. Even when we are too tired to call his name . . .he is there with us.

one million . . or two. . .or more

I just happened to notice that the Powerball lottery is up to $348,000,000. I can't even comprehend 348 MILLION dollars!  Did you know that Alabama is one of six states — along with Mississippi, Utah, Alaska, Hawaii, and Nevada — without a state lottery.

I have really mixed emotions about lotteries so I'm not going there in this post BUT I'm going to imagine what I would do if I had $348,000,000.

First of all, we are having a capital campaign right now at our church and we need 12 million dollars. I could tithe (10%) of my $348,000,000 and we would have plenty of money for the campaign!! If I had to pay half of the 348 in taxes and tithed only on the rest, it would still be enough!! I realize that you have to buy a lottery ticket in order to win . . .and no, I haven't bought a ticket . . .but it is fun to dream.

Let's see . . .I would set up a college fund for our granddaughter and at least three other funds for future grandkid's education.

I would buy a new car for me and one for each of our son and daughter and one for Mark, too. I believe that I would buy one of these for me.

I might sell our house and buy (or build!) a different house in our same neighborhood . . .maybe one with a pool in the yard (I only live two blocks from the neighborhood pool but still . . .)

the neighborhood pool is nice
but it would be so nice to
walk out my door and
step into a pool

I would definitely travel but I think I would want to keep my job - I love my job!!  I want to go to England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, Germany, France, Iceland, Alaska, Bora Bora, Spain and a few more places!!  Heck - I've never been to New York City. I would throw that in the mix, too. I want to stay in something like this in Bora Bora.

I want to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. . .

What else should I do with $348 million . . .let's see, half for taxes get's us down to 174 million and 10% of that to the church plus sell our house and add $400,000 for a house with a pool, $250,000 for four new vehicles (that convertible I want is about $70,000!). I should probably budget more for cars, shouldn't I? Ten trips at $15,000 (once again - probably should budget more for trips) a trip . . .college funds for several grandchildren . . .wow - I can see how people go through money in a heartbeat, can't you? I imagine everyone would be knocking on our door wanting a handout. Could you win the lottery and keep it a secret? I imagine they make you sign something that says that can blast your name and picture all over the world so no secret keeping.

I should do some more good with the money, right? I told you that I would tithe to the church for the building campaign. After that, I should find out how much it takes to feed the homeless at the Firehouse Shelter . . and fund at least 52 meals. I should offer to buy Christmas for 60 kids (what our Sunday School class has done in the past) at $100 a child.

I'm married to a money man so I know we have to save a chunk for a rainy day.

Sometimes it is fun to dream.

If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money?

A Day or Two in the Life (or maybe just a weekend!)

So what have we been up to lately?

Friday, I met three friends for lunch. We started going to lunch periodically several years ago and then we decided we would go once a month and we try to go on the first Friday of each month. These other wonderful women and I raised our kids together . . .and most of our sons were roommates at one time or another while in college. These friends are special to me.

I did something new on Friday afternoon. I buy a HUGE amount of groceries every week - I'm talking about sacks tied on the sides of the grocery cart because they won't all fit in the cart kind of huge. I went online to Walmart.com and ordered my groceries and picked them up. Walmart has no idea that I'm writing about them nor have they paid me (dang - I wish they would!). The online ordering process was easy. I told them what time I would be there. They texted me when the groceries were ready. I told Walmart via the app that I was on my way. When I arrived at Walmart, there were great orange directional signs showing me where to go and then there were reserved parking places. As soon as I parked, the app informed me that I was indeed at Walmart and that someone would be right out with my groceries. Within minutes, a young woman arrived at my car. The groceries were packed into stackable blue bins so there were not any sacks sitting on top of other sacks. They did an excellent job of picking out my produce (this was going to be one of my "judging" criteria). If Walmart doesn't have an item in stock that you ordered, they will substitute for like value or GREATER value! They never substitute down. I will DEFINITELY be ordering this way again. I gained at least two hours of time back!!

We cleaned house on Friday evening. Mark does a great job with the vacuum

Saturday morning, I did something just for me . . .a pedicure. I love our nail salon!

Then I made a quick run into target and headed home. I put together hostess gifts for Laura's upcoming tea and then I began the prep for dinner.

Saturday evening, we had our daughter's future in-laws over for dinner, along with our daughter and future son-in-law and our son and daughter-in-law plus Mark's mother. I made homemade blackberry cobbler for dessert with gorgeous blackberries that our son picked last year. If you've never picked blackberries, let me tell you -- this was a gift!

I've been working hard on being present so I keep forgetting to take pictures. By the time I remembered, the cobbler was no longer beautiful.

How could I forget? Sweet grandbaby girl was also at the "dinner party"
 and she looked lovely!

My mother-in-law also joined us for dinner. It is always special to have her as a part of the group.

Sunday was another full day - we went to worship. Have y'all heard the song by Hillsong - So Will I? You have? don't you love it? You haven't? Don't waste anytime. Go listen to it right now. I facilitated in our Sunday School class. After Sunday School, we had our Advance Commitment service for the leaders of the congregation to make their pledge early for the upcoming building project. In that brief service is actually where I heard So Will I.

After the service, Mark and I hurried to Lowe's to buy pine straw for his mother's yard but alas . . .Mark had made six trips to buy pine straw and EVERYONE was out! We went on to lunch at his mom's house with all of the family (even the sister-in-law from Delaware! Yay!))

Then it was on to home to cook for Tuesday night and to make my lunches for the week. After about two hours of prep, cooking, and washing dishes, it was time to ride the stationary bike.

After Mark got back home, he took a power nap and then we went for a walk in our neighborhood and talked to some of the neighbors. Thrown in throughout the day was laundry . . .laundry . . .and more laundry.

We watched some Frasier reruns and I read a little and in between things, I addressed wedding invitations.

I'm pretty sure that we did some other things but my brain is tired tonight so I can't remember!

What do you do on the weekends? Are you busy or do you rest?

Five Minute Friday - Regret

Linking up with Five Minute Friday -- we are given a writing prompt and told to write for five minutes and then stop! We think link up. Today s prompt is Regret . . and as usual, I'm sure my blog is going in a different direction from everyone else's . . .I'm quirky like that! So setting my timer -- Go!

A Time for Everything

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;
         A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;
         A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;
         A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
         A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
         A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
         A time to be silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate;
         A time for war and a time for peace.

If you know me, you know I love to laugh. I also love the idea of dancing. I'm not a good dancer (regret #1 perhaps) but even the scripture tells us there is a time to dance and a time to laugh (yes, I know I'm taking the scripture way out of context).

One of my regrets is that I didn't do a Mother/Son dance at our son's wedding. I didn't feel attractive and I hate to make a fool of myself and we would have been the center of attention - all stupid reasons . . .and now I have regret. I can't go back and have a do-over. I let my own selfishness rob me of a special moment.

I didn't even get out on the floor when they were doing the Wobble . . .or whatever it is called.  Why? Why do we not do things when given the opportunity?

In the next two pictures, you can see the joy on my face -- I was dragged onto the dance floor by Jerel. I wasn't thin. We weren't the center of attention . . .well, maybe we were because Jerel draws attention (he is funny!!).

At a wedding this summer (Laura and Will Temple), Mark and I did dance and you can see that I am smiling. I felt good about myself that day. I had on a new dress.  We weren't the center of attention . . .but we did draw attention :-)

Why do I let my own insecurities stop me from doing things that I later regret? Why don't I make a pledge to laugh more and dance more often? Do you allow your own insecurities to cause you to have regrets?

Leaping on over to HodgePodge

Today is Wednesday so it must be HodgePodge! Copy and paste the questions into your blog and link up at From This Side of the Pond.

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What's keeping you there?
I feel like I'm usually operating at maximum capacity - so 105%?
What's keeping you there?
A lot of Diet Pepsis!  Just kidding (sort of!).  My friends know me well!!

I actually have two speeds - full speed ahead or dead stop. I try to operate at 100% capacity for many reasons -
a. I'm a people pleaser - I don't want to disappoint you.
b. I'm a #1 on the Ennegram - a tad bit perfectionist
c. My parents taught me a good, strong work ethic - give my all!
This is from the #1 Enneagram -
Key Motivations: Want to be right, to strive higher and improve everything, to be consistent with their ideals, to justify themselves, to be beyond criticism so as not to be condemned by anyone.
That sounds like 100% to me - I guess I'm wired that way.

2.  Have you done your taxes? I'm married to a CPA so I don't do our taxes. Hubby will do them on April 14.
Planned/booked a summer holiday? We have a wedding on May 19 - daughter!! No vacation planning yet - hopefully, we will go to the beach in September.
Thought about or started your 'spring cleaning'?  I actually did some spring cleaning in my office on Friday and no one even noticed!! I stashed things and tidied things and threw away some things and even dusted (with a clorox wipe!!)
Besides what's listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.
Address wedding invitations and get them ready to go in the mail.

3. What's a favorite food from your part of the country?
Barbeque - we have great barbeque in Alabama!! I think my favorite is from Saw's. I also like Moe's Barbeque.

4. This isn't a leap year, but let's run with it anyway...look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity...which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain. I guess it would be "grow by leaps and bounds." Y'all know I work on a church staff and our church is growing - the average age of a United Methodist in the U.S. is 57 (I think!) and our church is growing by leaps and bounds with young adults - median age is more like 37. We are in the midst of a capital campaign and will hopefully start construction in early summer. Our church's 90th birthday (in this location) is on March 18 so part of our building is 90 years old. The main sanctuary was built in the 70's. We added a new youth and children's building and did some upgrades in 2005 and those spaces are now full.

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February. 6. Insert your own random thought here.
a. trip to Israel (started in January and ended in February - 10 days)
b. how many words our almost 2 year old granddaughter can say - vocabulary explosion - multi-word sentences
c. everything is blooming here due to the warm weather spell - forsythia and jonquils are on their way out already; Bradford pears along the roads are white and fluffy and wild plum trees are blooming in the woods. I have no idea what they are really called but maybe "tulip trees" have bloomed!

d. supper club with some of the best friends ever
e. the beginning of Lent - not exactly what you would call fun nor fabulous per se but I love the season of Lent - that time of reflection and introspection

Five Minute Friday - Beauty

Joining up with Five Minute Friday and this week's topic is Beauty - setting my timer for 5 minutes . . GO!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 

Psalm 139:14

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 

1 Peter 3:3-4

Every day this week, I have passed by these jonquils/daffodils and thought to myself, "those are beautiful. I should snap a photo." But instead, every day this week I have simply hurried on by. When I saw the subject for today's Five Minute Friday, I made time to snap that photo. God's creation is indeed beautiful.

I'll blog more about Israel in April but taking communion in the garden, where the tomb is located, is beautiful. What greater act speaks of beauty - the body and blood of Jesus who loves us. Not beauty in the traditional sense but beauty in a much deeper sense. The actual garden is full of loveliness, too.

After communion, you get to keep the little cup made of olive wood and even that is quite beautiful.

Friendship is also full of beauty. Friends come in all shapes and sizes and ages and a good friend is one of the most beautiful things on this earth.

Y'all know that I love food and that fact, in and of itself, is not beautiful. Food can be artfully arranged and bread does not feed just the body, but the soul. Beauty is found in a feast for the eyes. My roommate on the trip, Kit, bought one of those yellow things with fruit - it was indeed tasty.

Beauty is found in the smile of a grand baby!! I must admit that I snatched this picture from my daughter-in-law's facebook page and it is not a becoming picture of me at all (speaking of beauty) with my yoga pants pushed above my knees because it was a million degrees in my mother-in-law's house. That baby . . .that baby is beautiful to me!

Beauty is all around us. Where do you see beauty around you?