I’m Interrupting this Blog Break…

    To Say….

We had some MUCH needed rain today… !

   For all of 15 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So of course, I came  out of hiding   grabbed my camera! …AND started snapping pictures. 

See my shrubs?  The Grass hoppers ate them,well, the leaves anyway.   Right now they are just sticks; but still green on  the inside of the twigs. 

Do you think they’ll come back?

Now back to the  Irregularly scheduled blogging break.

God Bless You

and

Thanks for Reading.

Be Thou My Vision~

God Bless You 

and 

Thanks for Listening.

For Now~

There is work to be done--

Other areas that need my focus.

I'll  be reading when I can-- and be back blogging when things slow down a bit around here.

I'm taking a much needed break from blogging.

God Bless you

and

Thanks for Reading!

Helping Out a Beach Farmgirl~ UPDATED

Y'all know Deb 

From HERE~ 

Well, She's been having some difficulty with her blog-- 

If you click her blog it is something other than her OWN SPACE-- DON'T CLICK THE LINKS ON THAT PAGE. --- 

She knows there is a problem and I'm sure she is working on it. 

I corresponded with here a little on Sunday 

She said that  it isn't believed to be a blogger issue and she is trying to fix the problem. 

If you know her at all then you know she is Part of the 

Mary Jane Farm organization and writes there too. 

You can click here--  OR from my side bar BEACH FARMGIRL 

to read more of Deb's writings as well as other Farm Girl articles! 

***Updated to say Deb's new link is up and Running Please Update your link: 

Deborahjeansdandelionhouse.blogspot.com

God Bless you and Thanks for Reading! 

Ever Have One of those Days/ Summers?

What have we been up to lately? Besides trying to stay cool… you ask?  Mostly hanging out at home.
~~ Doing laundry, hanging it to dry, getting up early in the mornings to water what’s left of a drought weary garden.
The grass is dead, the ground is cracking.
The only thing GREEN around here is our Solar dryer ( not the kind of GREEN I’m speaking of) and our POOL!!!!  (Our pump is busted). In the winter we had extreme temperatures—never before seen in the lifetime of owning our pool for the past 12 years.  So extreme—it cracked.  Honey did a fine patch job. It held for 6 months---then one day in the middle of the  … HOT! … it sprung a major leak and broke again.
Let’s see—what else?  Oh yes—Good news!  The washing machine broke too. NO. that is NOT what I call GOOD NEWS… BUT I’LL GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE. 
We called the Big Store that shall remain nameless… AND IS NO LONGER  …And Roebuck and got their service dept—and for a mere $129.00 they will come and have a look!  It seems that around these parts there aren’t very many independent maintenance companies to work on your Appliances—especially, ‘new-fangled’ washers that load in the front! NO!
So--- LIFE INTERRUPTED… HEART ATTACK… 
I Called and canceled  High Dollar Repairman… from Nameless and No-longer Roebuck.  Then take an 8 week break from doing laundry at home and do it at the daughters houses…
Now… Friday, I happened upon a little paper that comes in the mail each and every week…loaded with ads—and found NOT ONE… But THREE  Appliance Repair Guys--- called a couple and QUITE NATURALLY  settled for the CHEAPEST OF THE THREE.
Good to go—He’s coming out in the morning (being Saturday) 
Got the Washer pulled out sitting in the middle of the Utility room—on Friday night.
Get up on Saturday and decide – hey !this guy is going to work by the hour--- so let’s just pull the back and the front off the machine—and have a LOOK AROUND…
…And to what to my WONDERING EYES SHOULD APPEAR…. a solution to our problem. Yes my friends~
with only 30 minutes to go before my appointed time of arrival for the repair man… I CALLED AND CANCELED AGAIN. (I’m sure the repair guy hates me.)
Got on the internet—found my parts, called the Local Appliance Store (not the maker of my washer…which by the way is Whirlpool MADE and NOT… Nameless and No-Longer Roebuck) but a parts house and seller of competitive washing machines… AND ORDERED PARTS.
THEY WILL BE HERE IN THE MORNING—TUESDAY, and hopefully by Tuesday afternoon sometime--- I’ll be fully operational and able to wash my own clothes again in my own house… with my own water~
YAY!
Did you know that the front load washing machines have shock absorbers inside them?  AND did you know that if after 8 years of your washer sitting on an unlevel surface--- you’ll more than likely have broken shock absorbers?  
Well, it could happen.
God Bless you and Thanks for letting me get this off my chest!

 NSP (non-sequitur Photo...){smile}

PS:
Stay tuned~ I have more GOOD NEWS, TOO.  Remember the broken Pool pump I mentioned WAY UP AT THE TOP OF THIS NEWS CAST/ UPDATE?
We’ve been blessed with another pump!  I’ll tell you all about that soon.
…and remember,
keep the A/C going—and drink LOTS and LOTS of water, uh-kay?

Good bye to the Newbie Party???

I hope this is my LAST Newbie Party--

Let me explain-- I've been participating in the Newbie party for the last 3 Months (?) maybe... I'll have to check that one our for sure...
Debbie Doos- hosts the ONLY newbie party that I've ever seen. I love it. There are only a couple of qualifications ---

Here is the criteria  
Criteria is blogging for 6 months or less...and/or less than 100 followers.
So let's say you have been blogging for 8 months and have 75 followers...you qualify.
Let's say you have been blogging for 5 months and have 125 followers...you qualify, you are under 6 months.
Make sense? Hope so:)  (FROM DEBBIE-DOOS)

AND!!!! YOU CAN POST ABOUT ANYTHING---it's not TOPIC SPECIFIC. NO. IT. IS. NOT.... ANYTHING! (well, it is rated G-- so I think you have to keep it clean) 

It's all new faces, new blogs, beginners... and then there is the group that I fall in; because we all know I don't have a new face...heh heh heh... I fall in the UNDER 100 followers Newbie Group.

Debbie has been so gracious to allow that group-- even to those like myself, who have been blogging for sometime, but were slow coming along AND we have less than 100 Followers.  THAT'S ME.

But you know why I Love the NEWBIE PARTY? REEEALLLY?

...Cause it's FRESH!

Don't get me wrong-- I have my favorite blogs that have been around-- the ones that have THOUSands and THOUSands of followers, LIKE Debbie of course and others out there Like FunkyJunkInteriors- Donna and Miss Mustard Seed---
I've gravitated to more Homesteading sites that I SOOooo sooo love-- where I've really made some headway in my home.

BUT!   I love the NEWBIE PARTY because of the ladies starting out. They have great ideas, great skills,AND great personalities!  I can truly connect with them.
So  I hope my Followers increases at the next party and puts me OUT of  the Qualifiers...

Crazy! I know! 

But I will still visit--- Cause I really reeeeally like  meeting new people and reading new material.
Heck --- I might even promote the Newbie Party myself with reminders for people who qualify to join (BECAUSE  I HAVE NEW PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME ALL THE TIME WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT THEMSELVES) and for people who don't - not to forget the Lil'guys...and go over and READ UP PEOPLE! 
It's really some of the best fun you have blog hoppin'  
TO THE NEWBIE PARTY start HERE...


And Now for something completely NON-SEQUITUR~~~

SOURCE

i stopped on the side of the road and Honey got out and cut off a piece of this TRUMPET VINE for me! 

It was just out in the middle of nowhere~~ hanging on some ranchers fence.  

I just took a little piece, hope he doesn't mind. I didn't take the whole plant -- like dig it up or anything. 

It's obviously DROUGHT TOLERANT. 

God bless and Thanks for reading! 

Lil’ Delicates~

   Since we’ve been home some things are starting to become more of the old routine we’re used to having.  For instance LAUNDRY!  That has to be done no matter what the crisis.  
Right before Honey’s heart attack—as if that wasn’t enough~~ my (8 yr old, NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) front load washer went  Ca-poot !!!


*edited to say:  Thanks to all of you who had suggestions about the washer.  Truly appreciated.  But when I said Ca-poot!!!  -- what I really meant is that it is broken and just needs some repairs, I hope.  I don't think we're having to buy another washer.  Just waiting for the timing and of course the CA$$H to have it repaired. So THANKS AGAIN! 


It was on the schedule to be repaired on that following Monday; but seeing how we were going to be in the hospital for an indefinite amount of time.  I called and canceled.  Now the funds are low—so we’re not washing clothes at home.
Right now- I’m exchanging babysitting for washing laundry at the youngest daughters house. She has two boys, remember Weston and Easton… it is well worth the exchange. She lets me dry at her house too--- though I usually like bring them home to hang out.

Speaking of Baby sitting that is Another thing we’ve begun doing again—We’re back to babysitting the Lil’ Aubree on a weekly basis.
She lives right next door- she is a bright part of our day…AND! She is finally on board with potty training!  YAY!   
These are her LIL’  Delicates .  She helped me  hang them out after we did a little hand washing today.

“See my clothes?” she kept saying.   She cracks me up!
I’m posting this here  at  Homestead Revival for Show Off Your Laundry Line! 
God Bless you and Thanks a bunch for Reading!

Junk Loser Wannabe~

When Donna first pitched her idea on her blog—Funky Junk Interiors, I must admit I only half heartedly  read the post. I came back to it and read it again and shared ALL THIS IN MY COMMENT…

47. Corn in my Coffee-Pot said...

I want to be a junk loser because of my health. I'm starting to notice sluggishness, memory loss, stress, hair loss, I have arthritis, and am caring for my Husband who is recovering from 3x bypass on his heart; after a heart attack that could have killed him.
I've got lots of junk to lose, not just physically, but emotionally, and environmentally--
You've given me pause for thought-- and I appreciate that.
I'll be watching and Encouraging you ... and looking for encouragement here with everyone else!
Luv ya, and thanks for sharing!
Pat

While I am looking at things that need to be changed in regards to our health—I really, really have a lot going on in my mind and heart, Spiritual Matters.

So if you notice the part of my comment that says “I’ve got lots of junk to lose…” I was NOT being half hearted there.

I’m very overwhelmed right now in my life—and have lots to say about it but have been holding back here; not wanting to bore you, my readers, or just turn off some of you from reading. You know exactly what I mean, too. I think we all have that feeling sometimes.

As soon as I posted my comment at FJI—I was thinking of deleting it.  Seriously. I didn’t want to Commit to one MORE thing!

But I know that God has plans for me—and He sends people into our lives to encourage us in whatever we NEED to be doing.

On Tuesday I read Brenda’s Cozy Little House-  Blog Tips Monday … about Being True to Yourself…

So just remember this. When you sit down to write a blog post, just write it from your heart. That, my blogging friends, speaks volumes. ~Brenda at Cozy Little House

I told her in my comment that I didn’t like sharing too deeply, but that I try to be who I am Really all the time.

I thought about How God made me.  He has given me a voice—to share my testimony--- For His purpose, His glory and His pleasure—However He sees fit to use it.

In the back of my mind--- I kept thinking about Being a Junk Loser.

About CLUTTER—in my home, in my life, in my heart… and yes, on my hips, in my arteries…E.V.E.R.Y.-WHERE!!!! 

Finally today—I received a comment from a sweet blogger who saw my Squash recipe and the Junk Loser button—She mentioned how she needs to be getting rid of some clutter too, …but then she came back and posted she misunderstood it to mean ACTUAL CLUTTER, not weight loss…

Whew! I wasn’t the only one!

So I’ve said all that to get to this point—I’m going to chime in every now and again at Donna’s – I’m going to follow her  Progress and Report back with my own progress.  BUT IT WILL BE MODIFIED – FOR ME!  

1. Because I don’t FOLLOW very well.

2. Because I’m Different.

3. Because It’s My Blog; and My Testimony- {smile}

 

  

You’ll see this now on my sidebar.

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31

God Bless you and Thanks for Reading!

Spanish Squash

   I’m trying harder than ever to incorporate some healthier dishes into our eating plans. This dish is something I found in a recipe book I’ve had all my married life …ehem…28 years! I made some changes to it. It’s an easy recipe for that sort of thing.  See my notes at the end of this post.
I’m giving Donna’s Junk Loser Challenge a try.  If you want to read more about that you may click here.
 
On with the Recipe!

1 -1/2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion (chopped coarsely)
1 large squash cut into slices (about 5 cups)
1 can Diced Tomato and Green Chilis
1- 8 oz. can of tomato sauce
1 Tsp of Garlic Powder
1 can of Corn OR  (about 2 cups of  fresh off the cob or frozen Corn") I used ‘NO-SALT –ADDED’ CANNED CORN
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper  OR to taste.
Brown the Ground Beef with onion. Drain
In the skillet add  squash to Beef mixture in same skillet. Cook for about 3- 5 mins.  Stirring occasionally.
Add next 6 ingredients bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until Squash is tender. ABOUT 10 MINUTES.  Serves 6
NOTE:
We’re trying to eat healthier here. Like most of you I have a household to feed besides myself and Honey. 
For a healthier dish.  You can easily make substitutions for the Beef you might try TURKEY OR BLACK BEANS.   This has a Mexican Flavor but for added zest—you may also add 1/4 tsp of Cumin.
You can also adjust for the Salt intake as well. And there is no pasta/rice/potato type carbs either (well just the corn; but that's ok) I like that too!
This is a new recipe for us.  I used what I had on hand.  That is the reason for the Canned Diced Tomatoes and Green Chilis (instead of Cumin)  I was out of Cumin! So you know there was salt in the canned tomatoes. But next time I’ll be prepared for that.
But Hey!  Now I can say this is My very Own Spanish Squash Dish.  It was a HIT!
God Bless you AND Thanks for Reading!


Also adding this post here: 

And HERE: 

Slave or Servant?

I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest—

I would flee far away

and stay in the desert;       Selah

I would hurry to my place of shelter,

far from the tempest and storm.”

Psalm 55:6-8

   Non-Sequitur …   

   Because I don’t like to post without a picture!

Rag Wreath .

I made a while back for my daughter. 

God Bless you

and Thanks for Reading!