I'm A Winner! WOOT! WOOT!

A few weeks ago, Renee over at GLOW ACADEMY was having a giveaway and I was one of the WINNERS!     WOO HOO!  She offered three different prizes to three different winners.  I was so excited I won the watermelon apron.  Isn't it so nice?

THANK YOU, RENEE!  I LOVE IT!  

Osama Bin Ladin

"Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles" 
 
Proverbs 24:17

Beautiful Day

It is another beautiful day here in the Valley. We have been out mowing and weed eating, and just admiring God's handi-work.  I am having to keep the chickens inside for now because of all the commotion in the yard.  I don't want them running off, never to return again!  lol   Yesterday, I found them in my friend's yard, which normally is fine with her, but they were little rascals and tore up her flower bed in the front of her house.  Thankfully they didn't EAT her flowers, they were just foraging through the mulch and dirt for some yummy bugs.  I didn't have my phone or camera to take any pictures of the mess.  To be honest, I never thought they were having such a good time over there in the bed!  lol

The rest of the day will be stuff around the house and some more sewing until it's time to open the concession stand for the game tonight. It's less than two weeks till the festival and there is so much to get done.

Well, I'm off to finish the yard.  See you later!

  

A Prayer Request

". . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!" 

James 5:16

When our  work load is heavy, we don't try and handle the load ourselves, we use a team. The same thing holds true when we pray together.  When we do, we increase the spiritual force until it becomes overwhelming and irresistible in power.  I read once, that if our prayers are combined, they are like drops of water that make an ocean that defies resistance. Isn't that an AWESOME thought?  There is no denying that God hears the prayers of one person but when hundreds of us pour out our souls in earnest and fervent prayer, we can storm the gates of heaven with a mighty voice. There IS power in prayer. There is incredible power when we pray in UNITY!

I would like to introduce you to Pastor Steve, our new Associate Pastor For Youth and Family Life at our church. He and his family have been patiently waiting for months for their paperwork to be completed before they can move here from England.

Please join me in earnest prayer that whatever issues are holding things up, that they resolved according to God's will and timing! 

My friend Sarah posted this prayer this morning and I would like to share it with you.... 

"Father, do your work as only you can. Stop the plans of the enemy to come against Steve and his family as well as any plans he has concerning paperwork. We believe you already are at work and the victory is yours! Your word tells us there are some things that only come about with prayer and fasting!" Amen

What I'm Working On

On May 14th, our town will be hosting its 2011 Festival of Spring.  As you can see by the picture, there will be lots of vendors and LOTS of people!

Photo courtesy of:
VIRGINIA IS FOR LOVERS

Bean and I have a booth at the festival so we have been BUSY putting things together the past few days.  She is making eyeshadow and finishing powder . . . . .


and I have been sewing makeup pouches.  They are so easy and quick to make.  I am hoping to make a tutorial of my own to post.  If you would like to view the tutorial I used, please go HERE!

Sew, what have YOU been working on?

Oooooo, A Snack!

Busy Day

What a busy day! Laundry, dishes, hanging out the blankets, cleaning up, and then outside work.  We have gotten a LOT of rain here lately and it has just made the grass take off!   So, it is off to get the yard equipment ready to go.  While the garden tractor is charging up, I need to weed whack around the raised beds and the house.   I hope that I can hang the clothesline back up tight enough that the clothes won't drag on the ground again.  That just defeats the whole purpose of washing them!  lol

After that, it's time to clean out the girl's coop again.  I do that every couple of months.  Especially now that it's getting warmer and their coop is so close to the house.  But I have to say, there is NOTHING like walking outside in the morning, gathering fresh eggs, and taking them right into your kitchen and making an omelet....YUUMM!! :> )

Then it's off to finish up with the tractor and get the lawn started.  I love to be outside mowing the lawn listening to Phillips, Craig, & Dean while just basking in the beauty of God's creation!

Later this evening is Bible Study.  We just started "Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman" by Beth Moore and it is just amazing!  I am really enjoying it!  I don't think I've ever seen Beth so fired up about a study before as she is with this one!  :> )

I was over reading "Abundantly Blessed Momma" a couple of weeks ago and she had a recipe for dandelion jelly and violet jelly that I am just dying to try.  Since my yard is FILLED with dandelions right now, I may pick and try and make this recipe sometime today. If not today, I know I won't have any trouble finding dandelions in my yard again!  lol  This happy momma has a beautiful blog.  Please go on over and pay her a visit....you won't be disappointed!

I thought I would leave you today with a picture I took yesterday, down by my sister's house.  It is so peaceful....tranquil. It reminds me that no matter who busy our day may be, we need to take time to just sit and rest.  Every time I go to this spot or look at this picture, one scripture keeps coming to mind.....

"Be still, and know that I am God"
Psalm 46:10

Easy Apple Butter Coffee Cake

I found this recipe the other day for "Easy Apple Butter Coffee Cake" over on "Farm Bell Recipes" and just had to try it.  I have to say it was really good.  The recipe calls for 1/2 pint of apple butter, so I used some apple butter I had canned last year.

The next time I make this, I think I'm going to use some homemade apple pie filling or a cream cheese filling.....Mmmmmm.......I can't wait!

For this recipe, you will need the following:

INGREDIENTS:

3 ounces cream cheese

1/4 cup butter

2 cups Quick Mix or other baking mix

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 cup milk

approximately 3/4 of one jam-sized (half-pint) jar of apple butter (or any jam of choice)

Powdered Sugar Icing:

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

milk (one to two teaspoons)

DIRECTIONS:

You can find my homemade baking mix recipe, HERE!

**Cut cream cheese and butter into baking mix plus the one tablespoon of added sugar using a pastry cutter. (If you don’t want this to be as sweet, leave the extra sugar out. Depends on your sweet tooth!)
 **Add milk. Mixture may seem a little dry; knead with your hands to work in remaining dry ingredients and form a soft ball. (If your mixture is too wet, add a little more flour, but it should be just right now.)
**Roll out on floured waxed paper, sprinkling flour on top, too, into an approximately 12×8 rectangle. Transfer dough to a greased cookie sheet. (I used a baking stone)
**Make two and a half inch cuts all along the long sides. Spread most of a half-pint jar of apple butter down the center.
**Criss-cross cut strips of dough over the top and pinch ends to seal.
**Bake in a 375-degree oven for 25 minutes or till nicely browned on top.
**Combine powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk for drizzling consistency. Drizzle top of coffee cake with icing.

ENJOY!!

I Like FREE!

The other day, Skippy called me up from work and said he had something I could use for a fence for the girls, but I was going to need to bring Bean's truck. The plant where he works had some chain from one of the conveying machines that they were getting rid of. Anyone who wanted any of it was welcome to take it for FREE!!  

Now all we have to do is put it up!

Headin' Out

I am so glad the weather is getting nicer cause that only means one thing. . . . .
GARAGE SALES!

In the morning, I will be having some much needed "girl time" with my sister, C. We have both been very busy lately and have not had a lot of time to spend together so we are taking tomorrow and going CrAzY! 

We are garage sale "LUNATICS" and can't wait to grab that "perfect" find. You know, the one that makes you sneak a look in her direction and go, "NANA NANA BOO BOO, I FOUND IT FIRST!" lol

I will be looking specifically for some clothes for Kiddo, and an umbrella clothesline for moi!.  Oh, I have wanted one for YEARS and have not been lucky enough to locate one.  I remember so vividly my mom hanging our clothes out on that line in the backyard. Mmm....I can smell those sheets now.........Oh, the memories! :> )

Do you like to garage sale?  What are some of the things YOU are looking for?