Freebie for Followers

I was just outside giving some of the roses a hair cut. My beautician duties were cut short when I realized I was standing in ants--barefoot. Moral of the story, never clip your Southern garden barefoot after a rainstorm because you can't see where the ants are moving.

Anyway, it gave me an idea (besides just to put on some shoes). I've been wanting to do something for my followers and my clipping job reminded me of something that would be perfect. I'm going to make some rose petal jelly. It's something I haven't done in a really long time. For all who are currently following, or sign up to follow before the 30th of June, I'll send a little jar of rose petal jelly. It's a wonderful, delicate flavored treat. Followers, email me the address you'd like it sent to. I'll let you know when they're on their way. Remember, I'm giving others until the end of June to follow, so it'll be the beginning of July before you get it.

Have a great day!

Tomato Troubles and Trash Pile Squash

As you can see, my tomatoes are growing big. They're taller than me, although that's not saying much. I even have a good number of tomatoes. The problem is the quality. They just aren't doing so great this year. Last year we had a bumper crop of delicious tomatoes. This year's crop is spotty, prone to bruising, and all around disappointing. We've fertilized, we've sprayed for bugs, all to no avail. We've got squash and cucumbers in one of those Earth Boxes. They did great at the beginning, I had them climbing a trellis to keep them away from the ever growing rabbit family that lives in the neighbor's hedge (who knew there could be that many rabbits in a subdivision). It too is looking pitiful. They are past the point of salvation. The bright spot in my gardening is a little squash plant that has popped up in my brush pile. He came up right next to the trash can and is small but very prolific. If I can just keep those rabbits away, I'll be soon picking squash from it.

Oh, I tried that new recipe for Tomato Cucumber Salad last night and it was good, and super easy. It called for italian or ranch dressing. I used a vidalia onion vinegrette instead and added some black pepper. I would've added bacon bits too if I'd had them. They'd be great in it as well, especially with the ranch or vinegrette. This was just a really simple, quick way to use some things from the garden.

Tomato Cucumber Salad

1 large tomato
l cucumber
2 green onions
1/4 c. salad dressing, italian or ranch

Peel and chop tomato. Slice cucumber and onions. Put in bowl and toss with salad dressing to coat. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

See? I told you it was easy.

What's Cookin'

I can't believe it's Monday again. These Mondays get here faster and faster. We've been busy with swimming, day camps, visits to the library, and playing with friends. I'm still waiting for that slow pace of summer everyone keeps talking about. Wait...did I say that? I must've been delusional. Maybe it'll slow down once school starts back. Yeah, right.

How do you like my saucer hibiscus? It had belonged to my uncle years ago. He liked to garden too. My mom got a seed from his and started this plant and then when she moved, I went over and dug it up and brought it home. It's been around but I'm so glad to have it. The ones he'd planted got destroyed one year, so this is the only one still around. It's a nice remembrance of him right at my door.

So what's for supper this week? Something quick and easy for all these busy days.

Monday--Teriyaki Grilled Chicken, Tomato Cucumber Salad, Green Beans, Watermelon
Tuesday--Angel Hair Alfredo with Ham, Salad, French Bread
Wednesday--Beef & Bean Enchiladas, Yellow Rice, Sliced Tomatoes
Thursday--Grilled Sausage, Creamed Corn, Glazed Carrots, Rolls
Friday--Baked Pork Chops, Cottage Potatoes, Vegetable Casserole, Rolls
Saturday--Homemade Pizza
Sunday--Leftovers

Food for Thought Friday

Supper last night was great! If you're looking for a little something special to fix for Father's Day, those kabobs would do the trick. They look really nice and tasted even better. I should've thought to take a picture. Tonight's dinner is a simple one. I don't think y'all need the recipes for that.

I feel like all I've been doing lately is talking about food! I do have other things I'd like to talk to y'all about. So, I thought I'd start doing something different on Fridays. And since I do spend so much time on recipes and food, I'd just call this Food for Thought. I had been working on writing a Bible study for ladies to use at our church but had to take a hiatus because of my commitment to another study. I'm going through what I've gotten done so far and it made me think. I'd like to share some with you. Would y'all like that? The Bible study is on the fruits of the Spirit, but what I thought I'd share is a section on the first one, love, and its practical applications. We'll take a look at a different one each week. That'll give you an idea of some things I've got going on besides just stirring a pot. It'll be a mini Bible study for us to do together on Fridays.

Let's take a look at Romans 12:9-21 for the basis of our little study.

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.
But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.'
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Sometimes it seems we can buy into the mindset that the Bible offers general concepts for us to live by but we have to work out the specifics for ourselves. That simply isn't the case! Many times the Bible is very specific on what we should do. There are twenty three instructions given just in the verses I listed above. That's twenty three ways to show your love for those around you. We don't have any excuse for not bearing the fruit of love when we are given this handy growing guide. Let's look at each one more closely each Friday so we can know just how to grow, and love, effectively.

We'll start with the first one today. "Let love be without hypocrisy." Hypocrisy is the opposite of sincerity. We can't fake love. If we're trying to fake it, we aren't really loving at all. And let's face it, when we do try to fake it, the only ones we fool are ourselves. If you think you can't feel love, you need to go to the source of love and work it out. The Bible tells us in I John 4:16 that God is love. Sometimes we come from backgrounds or go through experiences that make loving, or even feeling loved, seem impossible. But what does Matthew 19:26 tell us? "And looking at them Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'" All things are possible. That includes your ability to love.

So that's your homework for this weekend and the coming week. Love, and do it sincerely. Don't just put on your Sunday morning smile. Really stop and look at the people God has placed around you. They're there for a reason. He put them near you because they need something you have to offer. They are desperately searching for something that is real. Don't give them something fake.

Oops, It's Gettin Late

Sorry y'all. I've had a phone call wanting to know where my post was. I didn't realize how late it had gotten. I was getting supper ready. I didn't get to the store earlier in the week and swapped my menus around. Tonight I've got steak kabobs on the grill. If they taste half as good as they smell, we've got a winner. I guess I'll keep our tradition going of Thankful Thursday. How can I skip a post about being thankful?

1. I'm thankful for my family. What a blessing they all are! My family, my husband's family--they are so special to me. I know that it is a gift to have so many wonderful people in my life.

2. I'm thankful for Marie and Ruth, who were so sweet to pick up some blueberries. You know how much we love them, especially Meredith. She's the only one I know who eats them straight from the freezer.

3. I'm thankful for summer days where I have all my little ones at home and can hear them playing. (Remind me of that in a few weeks after they start to get stir crazy and bored.)

That's all I've got time for tonight. Supper's ready.

So You Think You Can't Dance

I admit it. My favorite show is "So You Think You Can Dance." Maybe it's because they told me when I was little that I couldn't dance. I think I'm probably the only child in the history of the world who got kicked out of dance class at the ripe old age of three for "dancing to my own beat." I guess I was just a Mia Michaels kind of dancer trapped in a ballet school. I'd rather dance to my own beat anyway.

Too-sday

It felt like Too-sday today. That's because it felt like Monday all over again. I didn't get my Monday stuff done yesterday because I took the kids swimming, so I had all that to do today. The days are going much faster than I wish they would. Whatever happened to the lazy days of summer?

One more picture from my trip. Can you believe this rose!?! I took this at the home of my sister-in-law Karen. Yellow roses are so pretty and this one was especially big. I thought you'd enjoy it too.

Here's the recipe for the steak kabobs, I found this in an old issue of Taste of Home. We'll give it a try together.

Vegetable Steak Kabobs

1/2 c. vegetable oil
1/3 c. red wine vinegar or cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. ketchup
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. each dried basil, oregano, and rosemary
1 1/2 lb. boneless beef sirloin, cut in cubes
1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms
2 onions, cut in wedges
2 small green peppers, cut into pieces

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine oil, vinegar, ketchup, garlic, Worcestershire sauce and seasonings; set aside. Add meat and vegetables to marinade. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate overnight. Drain and discard marinade. Alternately thread beef and vegetables onto six metal or soaked wooden skewers. Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat for 6-8 minutes. Turn kabobs; cook 4-6 minutes longer until beef reaches desired doneness. Serves 6.