No Greater Joy:

Only God....

2012-02-07T09:40:00.000-08:00

Only God knows the reasons we suffer loss and disappointment. I don't know why, but I do know from my own experiences that God has a funny way of turning those situations around . . . if we let Him. I remember a point after Katrina when I was very frustrated. I kept telling friends and relatives that God was going to take care of everything, but I wasn't seeing any results. We decided to take a weekend trip to clear our minds. Having a front row seat at the "Post Katrina Destruction Circus" had a tendency to wear on us emotionally.
So there we were sitting in a church far away from home, when the evangelist(who didn't know anything about our situation) came up to my husband and said, "The Lord has allowed some things to be taken from you and you can't understand why, but I'm here to tell you that God had to clear out your life to make room for what Hes getting ready to give you". Looking back over the last six years; I know that he was a messenger from God. It has been a rocky, sometimes tear-stained trail, but I can truly say that the view from up here has been worth it. We are better off physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
I wrote this as a reminder to myself as well as an encouragement to my friend over at "Becoming Jody"(link in side bar). I will not attempt to retell her story here, but it would be nice if some of you would hop over to her blog and introduce yourselves. Jody is very sweet and could use a pick-me-up today.

***P.S.Jody- I don't know how I missed your Jan. 27th post about the package I sent, but I stumbled on it when I was scrolling back to find the picture of Stella.
~Blessings to you and your precious family.~

Lunch Scholars

2012-02-03T14:35:00.000-08:00

There are days when I question my ability to educate my daughter in a manner consistent with the current "standards" . . . .

. . . After viewing this I can confidently put my fears to rest. On the surface it is comical, but if you really think of the implications, it is sad and a little scary. This generation will be voting in the not so distant future and some of them are probably already raising the next generation as we speak.

These students are from Washington state, so I can't give them a pass on not knowing the capitol of Washington. I am sure that this isn't an isolated case though. Based on what I've witnessed at our local high school(ranked in the top 10 in the nation) this is a national problem.

I don't really blame the kids. The root of the problem lies in our priorities as a society. I'm sure these kids could rattle off the names of their favorite actors, singers, or the latest styles and colors that prom dresses come in, so it is not a question of intelligence.

Culinary Vacation ...

2012-01-31T23:12:00.000-08:00

Love Me Some Shrimp & Grits!

This is a classic New Orleans dish,

but just like Gumbo, the recipes vary greatly.

This was delish !

I even loved the hush puppies

and I'm not really a hush puppy kind of girl.

Service was 5 star . . .

not sure if this was due to the fact that one of the people in our party knows the owners.

Thanks Thomas!

Sometimes I like to shift gears and wander away, but not too far, from all of the fatty comfort foods.

This restaurant has a McAlister's Deli goes Mediterranean feel.

This is a great place to get a fresh, colorful, tasty lunch.

I had the Salad Sampler:

chicken, pasta, & potato salad

with a side of hummus & pita.

Eloise had a chicken quesadilla & fruit

We would definitely eat here again.

Yes, I am aware that Fuze isn't exactly healthy, but I only indulge occasionally.

Thanks to Hubby's and Thomas'
willingness to humor me,

we ate at an authentic Cuban restaurant recently.

I love the whole experience of ethnic dining.

Atmosphere, personality, and flavors combine to create an "experience".

Cleanliness, service, and flavor all received an "A".

Presentation was a little lacking . . . so I say, "C"

Overall it was a pleasant meal.

(grandma's meatballs, potatoes, & carrots in gravy with congri and fried plantains)

Eloise tried the restaurants signature desert.

She loves churros.

I think you can see
how I felt about the Tres Leches!

The cake almost covered this desert plate.

I did give out a few samples before I inhaled the rest.

Lagniappe:

In the midst of all of our touring and sampling, hubby and I make it a point to donate blood every couple of months. It doesn't take long, it's fairly painless, and it could possibly save a life.

Not preaching, Just saying . . .

W.W.J.D. ? ! ?

I think we all know the answer to that one.

~Me~

Emotional Roller Coaster.....

2012-01-30T00:32:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here completely spent.

As soon as I finish typing this I will probably melt into my mattress and fall fast asleep.

I thought sharing the events of today would help me unwind.

I am amazed that in less than 24 hours I have experienced so many emotions.

Hectic:

This one is normal for a Sunday, because hubby drives the church bus, I teach Sunday school twice, then we race home for Sunday Evening Worship service.

Excited:

Because the little office in the VFW hall in Houma is starting to look more and more like a Sunday School class.

Euphoric:

I am not exaggerating about this one y'all. The service tonight was off the charts. We have had plenty of awesome services, but this was different. It started with the usual dance and shout, but then a sweet spirit of love and healing swept through the church. All I could do was smile and cry, as I looked around at my beautiful church family. Everyone was binding together to pray for each others needs, then the dance and shout resumed. After a bit of praying for others, I began to pray for myself. I prayed till I temporarily lost my voice. When the service was over, many people lingered; simply enjoying each others company and the presence of the Lord.

Shocked:

Tired and hungry from a couple of hours of intense worship, a few of us went out for a snack. I had just gotten seated when I noticed a girl that I went to middle school with. She was once beautiful and seemingly happy. Tonight she looked like an empty shell; what was left after satan had stripped her of everything good.

I thought about talking to her, but wondered if she would even remember me. She was clearly intoxicated and I have only seen her once or twice in the past 22 years. I tried to eat, but didn't get one bite before my feet led me swiftly to the counter where she was trying to order. She immediately cleared up just long enough to get my name out and hug me. She proceeded to tell me through hazy, tear stained eyes that she had to grab the few bags that she had and run out the door before her husband started beating her again. I asked her what she was going to do. She said that she was going to walk to her grandpas house. It was cold and she could barely stand, let alone walk. I offered to give her a ride. Hubby sat in the back with Eloise and I drove. She told me that her grandfather lived in town....

SCARED:

....well just on the other side of the tracks. As we proceeded into a dark scary part of New Orleans I began to pray under my breath. She began to explain that her grandpa didn't know she was coming, but that he would let her stay, because she brought him a bottle of wine(what?!?). Struggling for words, I gave her my card and told her that coming to church might help to clear her mind.

-At that moment-

there were police cars in front of us and behind us. Before I knew what was going on there was a police officer with a gun pointed at my windshield yelling for all of us to, "PUT YOUR HANDS UP". We quickly did so. A few other officers came closer to the car and questioned everyone in the car. I was still praying under my breath, because I teach at our local jail and I knew that this woman had a previous arrest record. Jail is where I had seen her those couple of times.

After looking at our drivers' licenses they turned their attention to our passenger. It was obvious they didn't completely buy her story about her grandfather, but they let her go to the house. They then apologized for scaring us, but advised us to get back on our side of the border. We waited to make sure she got inside safely. When the door opened, I could clearly see that it was not her grandfather, as she and all of her 10 siblings are Caucasian and this gentleman was not. The man that opened the door had a look of contempt on his face, but when he noticed the bottle sticking up out of her bag he let her in.

Heartbroken:

As we pulled of I could only pray that the contents of the bottle was the only thing she would have to give up in exchange for shelter.

I turned the car towards home,
safety, warmth, love. . .
. . .God.

Tears began to well up.

I began to admonish my baby girl. I told her not to ever believe the lie that the grass is greener outside of the Church. I also explained that the devil comes in many disguises and that it doesn't matter what he looks like he isn't our friend. His goal is to rob us of any thing that reminds him of God. He can't stand the idea that God loves us.

The Bible says,

"In the beginning God created. . . .
. . . and He saw that it was good"

God did not create us for abuse of any kind.

~Me~

Now What....

2012-01-27T00:32:00.000-08:00

It seems that every so often I find myself in a period of transition. It is an uncomfortable place for this "control freak" to find herself. Deep down my desire is to please the Lord, but sometimes my flesh gets all in a panic and won't shut up long enough for me to hear the voice of God. I won't go into all of the details, but there are several big decisions that hubby and I must make in the coming year.

I keep thinking about something that Bro. Sean said in one of his sermons. He said, "just because something is a good thing....it may not be the right thing for you at this time."

I have also been pondering a message that myPastor recently preached. He talked about how people tend to live their lives without ever consulting God or their pastor. I don't want to be like that. I realize that I need God and His wisdom every day that I live.

I had to reach way back in the archives to dig out this song that I used to listen to.

I posted it, because it adequately expresses ~~how I feel~~ what I know.

"I know the me without you(Jesus) is a lie"

Every good thing in my life is because God saw fit to save me and use me for His purpose, therefor I owe it to Him to go where he leads me.....

Now if I could just figure out where that is!

JUST PRAY PLEASE.

~Me~

P.S. Do you like this song?

Sometimes...

2012-01-23T09:15:00.001-08:00

BTW: I posted two new recipes on my recipe tab.

Our First Order....

2012-01-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

This is what we came up with for our very first customer.

She is getting ready to re-style her kitchen in brown and green.

As you can see the "plumbing" still needs to be done, before this is a genuine soap dispenser.

It will have a white pump, like the samples I posted a few days ago.

Hopefully this cutie will arrive at it's new home within this next week.

I can't wait to show you some of the other crafts

we're going to be doing.

~Me~

I couldn't resist....

2012-01-20T23:48:00.001-08:00

Cooking 101....

2012-01-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

To learn about our latest outing click on the link to our homeschool blog on the side.

Our School blog is called, "Ecole de Famille" for those of you who are new.

Before you head over there, scroll down to the previous post, if you haven't seen our latest craft yet.

Love & Prayers,

~Me~

Our Latest Money Making Scheme....

2012-01-18T13:04:00.000-08:00

Right now Eloise and I are tossing around ideas and tweaking them a bit.

There are several ideas we haven't tried yet like beaded, jeweled, or buttoned jar collars.

We think the Monogram design will be a hit in this narcissistic/Facebook world.

Not hating....just sayin'.

These are quart sized jars, so I think they are perfect for dish soap.
An added benefit is that the pump will help me to resist the urge
to squeeze the whole bottle into my dish water.
We will be making smaller ones for hand soap. At the moment I am using Green Works dish liquid, but this weekend I am taking a trip to Whole Foods, so I can test a dish soap recipe. If the Whole Foods brand of castile soap works well, then I can save money. WF brand is almost half the price of Dr.Bronners.

We were just using left over ribbon bits, but we think this design would look better with a white cap and writing. We would also use a little raffia in addition to the gingham in order to give this a country feel.

Let me just pause here and say that the "fleur de lis" was a symbol used to show our French heritage long before those guys ever cut their front teeth....let alone passed a pig skin!

We are also going to type up a few home made soap(hand & dish) recipes and place them in the jars.

If you have any suggestions feel free to post them in the comments area....
Just say it in a "good Christian way".
I don't like ugly people or comments.

I will be posting later about some of our other craft ideas. We are trying to get a jump on Spring/Summer for all of the craft shows and festivals.

Love & Prayers,
~Me~

Out And About.....

2012-01-16T21:32:00.000-08:00

One of our favorite "little brothers" at one of our favorite places.

Would somebody please teach those guys how to smile?

Looks like "Queenie" has an admirer.

(you had to be there to understand)

Last, but not least....

this is one of the newest additions to our youth department.

Editors Note: this picture is edited, because ~~TomCat~~ someone who shall remain nameless was doing his best Dwayne R. impersonation in the background.

No... this isn't the only place we go, but it is a nice, safe, inexpensive place to have fun

and everyone seems to enjoy it.

P.S. If you are looking for the slime recipe that Eloise promised you, simply click on the link to our homeschool blog.

Did You Know.....

2012-01-08T00:36:00.000-08:00

Each year our youth committee holds a meeting to plan out the events for the next 12 months. I decided to make it special by reviving a tradition I tried to start when hubby and I first got married. Many people don't realize that the official end of the Christmas season is called Twelfth Night and doesn't happen until the 12th night after Christmas.

-You don't have to twist my arm to get me to extend the holidays-

Twelfth Night was designated as the night that the wise men visited the baby Jesus, because they actually came a little while after he was born. Some sources say it commemorates the time that Jesus was presented at the temple and was identified as the Messiah.

Either way seems like a great reason to celebrate. Truth be known, I don't really need a reason.

Any excuse will do when it comes to breaking out the candles and food.

Besides the sushi, cucumber boat, beef wrapped asparagus, veggies, and cheeses, we also had appetizers in the kitchen, and a desert stand laden with red velvet cupcakes, pastries, and chocolate dipped strawberries.

Some of the savory foods were presented in a tiered buffet with leopard print and red/orange tulips to match the colors in my dishes. Sorry the colors aren't so vivid in the pics. I haven't found a way to capture the candle light and the colors in the same shot.

Let me take a moment to back track. The above is a pic of Eloise's hair-do for our New Year's Eve service at church.

Eloise and Miss D

A few of the newest members of our youth department.

This picture doesn't have anything to do with anything, but I had to show y'all how photogenic my handsome boy is .....even when he's being naughty.

A Sneak Peek....

2012-01-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to show you one of my Christmas presents.

I love, love, love this book by: Kay Whitt.

I can truly appreciate her blend of classic and funky designs.

As I have mentioned in a previous post, I adore color.

I think that is the biggest reason I was drawn to this book

The book comes complete with patterns, and instructions on how to customize, in a pocket on the back cover.

I am just finishing up a jacket for Eloise,

so I can only dream right now.

As soon as I finish with that project,

I will try my hand at the skirt pictured above the pic of this coat of many colors.

I am sew excited!

:-D

"2011" Year End Review...

2011-12-29T15:16:00.000-08:00

Eloise is loving all the hands on experiments in her K12 Physical Science curriculum.

In this experiment she was testing and producing gases.

When she placed the stick with a burnt tip in the jar with a yeast and peroxide mixture, the stick would ignite because of the gas produced.

I'm not quick enough with my camera to catch the flame.

The above is a picture of a Christmas arrangement that I made for a friends fire place mantle. I took the picture in my mother's new living room. They finally finished their house located across the street from me. I will have to post more about that later.

Here are some of our little bitty's singing at our Christmas Concert.

A couple of sweet ladies came over to bake cookies for our Ladies' dept. cookie swap.

Eloise working on the backdrop for our Gingerbread themed pictures.

The above pic was my favorite.

Above and below are a couple of families who attended the banquet.

At the banquet we had a gingerbread making contest.

The participants worked feverishly.

The frosting was flowing.....

....sprinkles were flying....

...in the end there was a new housing development in town.

There were so many cute designs,

but originality reigns at the "Ho Ho Cabana" by Plain Old Kristi and her girls.

(I loved the gingerbread girl in the yellow bikini)

We also had a Best Santa's Beard contest.

When the time was up the ladies were allowed to view their work.

Sister Anna had too much fun.

From the looks of it, I think she wasn't the only one.

On a more serious note....

The above is a pic of the daughter work that Bro.Mike and Sis.Ginger have started.

It is about an hour and a half drive from our home church.

We drive out there in between our Sunday morning and evening services.

It is so exciting to see what God is doing.

For the past two weeks I have been bringing Sunday School in a Box.

The children are precious....

courteous....

....and eager to learn.

Please pray for them and us as we seek further God's kingdom.

I pray that you have had beautiful Christmas, full of all the things that matter the most.

Be sure to check back for my post about our New Year's

"Watch Night Service"

Love Ya,

~Me~

Should I Cry or Scream ?!?.......

2011-12-03T23:29:00.001-08:00

I have a gazillion pictures that I wanted to post. We recently went to Christmas in the Oaks at City Park. Also, We just got home from the Christmas banquet. I added our new family photo to the header, as you can see, and I was getting ready to post the new pics. Blogger politely informed me that I have used up all the free storage space, I will now have to pay if I want to post pictures.......

...I repeat...

Should I cry or scream?

2011-11-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

The theme for my class this fall is: Learning to Love at Lilly Pond.

Eloise & Daddy helped with the bulletin board.

You wouldn't believe how long it takes to cut all of those blades of grass with safety scissors!

I teach the 4 & 5 yr. olds.

They are so much fun at this age.

The children learned about loyalty and sticking together.

(Ruth & Naomi)

They also learned how to be kind and share.

(Ruth & Boaz)

After the story we had a mock wedding reception for the happy couple.

Eloise attended her first women's conference.

She had a blast dressing up and going to the young ladies class taught by sister Amber.

In the above pic she is standing with Bro. & Sis. Balistero

and the scripture she purchased at the auction for missions.

Above: Guess what I just got for my bedroom?

To all of my friends who hate the cold.....sorry, but I'm prayin for a blizzard this year!

This is a bit random, but I thought it was funny.

I know you guys are probably thinking I'm sick, but I had to take this picture of Boolee.

Lastly(for this post)

Here are a few of the young ladies that attended our "lock in"

after our Friday night "Youth Explosion".

Aren't they lovely....even without their beauty sleep?

We haven't stopped!

So far this month we had our

Pastor Appreciation potluck with space walk and inflatable obstacle course,

our Harvest Party/Bon Fire/Weenie Roast/Hayride,

and Youth Explosion

where we experienced an awesome move of God,

Tons of talent by our youth choir & musicians,

and a "lock in" with tons of pizza, snacks, games, and a bungee run.

P.S. I have also updated our homeschool blog.

The link button is still on my sidebar.

Love & Prayers,

Miss Riya

Testing...one...two...

2011-11-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Praise Be!

It worked!!!!

Thank you Google Chrome.

Hopefully I can catch up with my posting now.

Love & Prayers,

Miss Riya

Really?....

2011-07-12T03:46:00.000-07:00

Tonight we went to Whole Foods on Magazine,
because today was Hubby's parents' 41st anniversary
and his mom is currently in the hospital.

I wanted to bring them flowers
and a couple of goodies to celebrate,
so I headed to the bakery
while Hubby & Eloise went to pick out the flowers.

I briefly scanned the bakery department.

There wasn't anyone in line, so I took my time browsing.

As I turned to my left,
I realized that I was looking eye to eye with a man who I thought looked a lot like Sylvester Stalone.
He turned towards the front of the store
and I went back to browsing.

After a while I turned back to the employees behind the display case to select my pastries.

I tried to get their attention, but they were all whispering and pointing, so I turned to see what all the commotion was.

There was the Sylvester- looking guy getting in line with a tall, thin, model-looking lady
and a young girl (12 maybe).

Really?

In my own defense, I never forget a face,
but I haven't owned a television or been to the movies in almost 2 decades,
so I wasn't sure what his family looked like.

When I got home I googled
and was instantly looking at a picture of the same people I saw standing in line at the grocery store,
but in much fancier clothes of course.

I then went on to read that he has chosen New Orleans for some of his current movie projects.

Well don't that beat all?

I had to laugh, because I wouldn't have even realized who I was looking at had it not been for the excitement, of the people who obviously knew more about this man than I did.

I got to thinking (as I have been known to do on occasion), does my enthusiasm about Jesus cause others to pause and investigate further?

When the King of Kings arrives on location
in the midst of busy people,
who don't know much about him,
does my response lead them in the right direction?

I want the people I come in contact with to leave thinking,
"Really?....I've got to find out if that was really Him!"

I know, I know...
that last part was a little deep for some of y'all.

If you found this post a little bizarre, it's ok.

I'll tell you like Bishop....

"Just send me a chocolate cake and $50 and I'll forgive you".

Love & Prayers,

P.S. Is anyone else having problems posting pictures with blogger's recent changes?

Today......

2011-07-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

I SLEPT IN LATE

(way late)

I ATE LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD:

(too much to list)

I WILL VISIT MY MOTHER-IN-LAW

(read scriptures and pray for her complete healing and salvation in Jesus' name)

I WILL KISS MY HUBBY

(the man who has vowed his life & heart to me)

I WILL HUG MY BABY GIRL

(as we sit on our cozy front porch and watch fireworks)

I WILL THANK MY GOD

(as I sink peacefully into my comfortable bed)

WHY?

BECAUSE

CAN.

Happy 4th of July!

Dead Computer Blues & Lots of Other News.....

2011-06-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

My beloved computer is fried y'all! Also my daughter's computer has been experiencing technical difficulties due to some crazy virus junk. I could blog from my phone, but I do not have the patience. I prefer not to used Barbi sized keyboards! Well any way here are a few pics of our last two months. They are not all the quality that I prefer and I don't have pics of everything, but here goes:

Alabama Tornado Relief Trip

Eloise observes the destruction in Tuscaloosa.

Eloise said, "It looks like nature created it's own sculpture".

While we were up in that neck of the woods we stopped to see a few relatives. This is a picture of Eloise and our double first cousin Connie Sue and her little bitty egg laying chicken. Isn't that precious...bless your heart.

Most of our family made it through with no damage, but all that remains of my cousin's antique house is the stone archway. We didn't force our way through town just to take pictures. If you are not familiar to the area, house, or persons involved, one pile of rubble looks just like another. I guess, living in a post Katrina world, I have simply had my fill of destruction.

Mother/Daughter Luncheon

Eloise & Maw Maw

A good friend & some of her family.

We bought Eloise this American Girl kit to nurture her entrepreneurial spirit.

These were some of the headbands and clips that she came up with.

The theme of the Mother/Daughter luncheon was a Farmer's Market, So Eloise was allowed to sell her wares. She earned $26.

This was the Ladies' Dept. bulletin board that I decorated for the event.

In The Kitchen

I finally gave Spaghetti Squash a try.

I simply cut it, cleaned out all of the seeds and pulp, brushed with olive oil, sprinkled with seasoning, inverted in baking pan, added a little water, and baked for about 45 min.

When it was finished I scraped out the flesh.

Ahh...now I see why they call it "Spaghetti" squash.

I served it with meat sauce, like traditional spaghetti.

It was delicious.

You can also do the whole butter/brown sugar/cinnamon thing if you prefer sweet over savory.

Since we were in the adventurous mood these past couple of months, I decided to try this combo:

Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cinnamon Cayenne Icing

So what was the verdict....most really liked it .....but it was a bit over the top for a few.

Eloise has been learning her way around the kitchen with a homeschool friend.

They even made mini birthday cakes for their dolls.

Eloise the Performer

For her final performance of the season, Eloise was able to warm up in the same dressing room as the performers of "Wicked".

She was thrilled to get a backstage peek of the Mahalia Jackson Theater.

I did not get any shots of the sign language/ stick performance, put on by the Children's Church, but I couldn't resist snapping a pic of Eloise, other children, pastor, and other adults singing a rousing rendition of "Father Abraham".

Sorry this is a blurry shot....I didn't have my camera.

Youth Department Spring Formal

As a chaperon, I do not usually don such attire, but I couldn't resist the begging and pleading put forth by my precious little girl. At first I agreed to just try it on. When she saw me she said, "oh girl, you have to get the dress....I have never seen you in a dress like that". To which I replied, " your father will have a heart attack"!

To which she replied, in a dreamy voice "yes he will...when he sees how beautiful you look".

My resolve melted.

Hubby & I at the restaurant.

Me & some of the young people being silly.

A lesson in Free Enterprise

Due to all of the heavy equipment used to remove all of the Katrina debris, our streets were left with a gazillion potholes. We are finally in the last phases of recovery. My neighborhood (and several others), is almost impossible to navigate, because they have removed huge chunks of road, in order to make the necessary repairs.

This year hubby and I decided to teach Eloise a lesson in responsibility, so we told her that she was going to have to raise some of her own money for camp. She thought about it for a couple of days, then she asked her Grandpa to loan her the initial $10 investment to buy a case of freezie pops at Sam's.

So,you might be wondering what freezies and potholes have to do with each other.

Well, I'll tell you.

Road construction, in south Louisiana, in June, makes for a lot of weary workers. Enter the "Freezie Girl" as she has now been dubbed and you now have a beautiful business arrangement.

She is learning a lot about supply and demand....like when her supply is running low and people are demanding freezies.

Word spreads quickly....as soon as she steps out the front door the workers begin reaching in their wallets.

She has a product that they want at a reasonable price.

She sells them for 25 cents.

In three 30min-1hr shifts she has made enough to pay her debt to her Grandpa, buy more for future sales, give her tithes, and completely pay her $125 camp tuition.

"When life gives you potholes....make lots of money"

P.S. She is never alone ....I either walk, run, or drive along side of her.

Hope you enjoyed this run-on post!

Hunting Season Is Open....

2011-04-04T21:50:00.000-07:00

...bargain hunting that is.

These two pair plus several others only cost $2 to $4 / pair.

Sorry, it is hard to capture the shine of the sequins and maintain clarity.

These shirts, that will fit Eloise in the Fall, only cost $3 each.

These cutesy fleece lined knit sweaters were only $2 each.

My aunts new baby girl should fit in them perfectly next winter.

The two tiered basket at the top of the pic is my favorite bargain.

I wanted it a few months ago, but Hobby Lobby was asking $39.99.

Two weeks ago I was browsing and I noticed that the last one was on sale for $19.

I wasn't thrilled with the price, but it was better.

When the cashier rang it up I asked if she made a mistake.

She shook her head and assured me that the rack was only $3.50.

I immediately ran home and had my husband mount my latest hunting trophy on the wall!

Flashback......

2011-03-28T20:45:00.000-07:00

     I mentioned in a previous post that I received a new phone for Christmas. I was overwhelmed with all of the features. It has a camera, but I rarely used it, because I didn't want to plug it in to the computer and then have to e-mail the pics to Wally World. That's just too many steps for this impatient woman.
    On a recent excursion I noticed an advertisement that said I could effortlessly send my pics to the kiosk using their new bluetooth system. All I had to do was stand in front of the instant print machine, select photos from my phone's gallery, select the bluetooth kiosk #, and voila my pictures appeared instantly on the screen in front of me. Does it get any easier than this? I don't even have to keep track of my little chip thingy.
     So now I have to explore all of the photo editing tools offered by my new best friend. The soft edges in the above picture and the crayon border in my header are both compliments of my ~~phone~~ highly sophisticated piece of technological genius.
     I'm sure there are probably some of you who are out there yawning, but I'm just thinking back to the dot matrix printer. You know, the one with all the holes along the edges of the paper....the one that always got off track and ended up jammed in a pile....so after several aggravating attempts you were rewarded with graphics that were a cross between cave drawings and bad pointillism. Only those, who are old enough to have experienced one of these painful episodes, can truly appreciate the beauty of modern technology.
     I would have to say that the above mentioned printers came out about the same time as those sun glasses (can you say CHIPS or Poncharello?) I guess it is OK for some of the styles to make a come back. At least I'll have plenty of pictures to blackmail Eloise with later.

Spontaneous Photo Shoot.....

2011-03-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

Since we are homeschooling this year, Eloise hasn't taken any school photos. The year is almost out and it didn't seem right not to do the picture thing. Last Saturday she played in a community outreach concert for GNOYO. Since she was already dressed nicely.....since I had my camera handy...and since it was a beautiful walk from the concert chapel to our car...well you know I just couldn't help snapping a few.

~PROBLEM SOLVED~

All is well in my OCD universe once again.

The Wedding....

2011-03-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of the cake I made for a friend who has recently become a member of our church. In spite of the fact that I only had 2 weeks to put the whole wedding together, I think it was beautiful. I must take a moment to give credit where credit is due. I was ~~slightly~~ extremely fatigued as the time for the wedding approached and I still needed to sculpt the roses out of fondant. Sis. Debbie W. ran over to the church and whipped up the roses for the top of this cake out of butter cream icing in probably less than 10 min. Thank you, thank you, thank you.!!! After that, she helped sister Evangeline clean up the huge mess that I made while I finished up a couple of the boutonnieres. I don't think I would have made it without her.

This was Sister E's Corsage.

The ceremony was held in the fellowship hall and there were approx. 50 people there.

The flowers on the arch and head table were hand made out of tissue and beads.

Stacy & Kassidy(miracle baby) waiting for their cue.

Stacy and her big brother practicing their walk.

The moment they've all been waiting for.

Sorry I don't have more pics. At this point I was trembling from exhaustion and could hardly stand.

Love & Prayers,

Miss Riya

The Best Valentine's Day Ever....

2011-02-14T21:50:00.000-08:00

The delicious hand dipped berries that hubby had delivered were fabulous. It is also wonderful to think that this day commemorates the day 18 years ago that we officially began "going out". That being said, I must take a moment to gush about the one that I am most passionate about. He is truly amazing and he's been up to some really awesome stuff lately.

"Who?"

"What Stuff?"

Well,I thought you would never ask.

His name is Jesus and he has been creating quite a stir around here. As a matter of fact on this Valentine's Evening He made a way for us to bring a tub into the local prison and we

baptized 12 women in the name of Jesus

and one woman was so stirred, that she continued to pray until

she received the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Thank You Jesus For The Greatest Gift of All.

Ooooh La La....

2011-02-12T00:12:00.000-08:00

There is a local sweet shop that specializes in these lovely little pastries. They are common in France, but are a rare find on this side of the "Pond". Locally they are only sold at a store called "Sucre" in New Orleans. Sucre caught the attention of a few celebrities and has been featured in magazines such as "O". These little morsels are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the taste buds, but not so appealing to the pocketbook. Being the curious chef that I am I tried to imagine what ingredients and methods would yield a treat so delicate, yet crisp to the tooth. I couldn't figure it out, so I pushed the thought of them out of my head.

A couple of days ago I was browsing around T.J.Max, when all of a sudden this beautiful cook book screamed my name. So of course you know what's next.....

You have probably noticed that what the French call a "Macarone" is not the same as the gooey coconut mounds that you will often find at Chinese Buffets.

The pastries themselves usually only vary in color and are made of ground almonds and powdered sugar that has been sifted to remove any lumps and a meringue made of egg whites & super fine (caster) sugar.

After stiff peaks had formed, we added a touch of blue coloring. Next we folded in the almond/sugar mix. Then we piped 1 1/4 inch circles onto parchment lined pans. The macaroons had to rest for 30 mins before baking. After we removed them from the oven we had to let them cool completely. There are dozens of ways to fill them, but we decided that the blue would work for the "Blueberry Cream Cheese" filling.

Genius I know!

Here is Eloise with the finished product.

It must be all that French blood in her.

I wish you could taste them.

~Someone needs to talk to Bill Gates or those guys over at Apple and tell them to get busy working on the "See-Smell-Taste" computers. ~

Bonus Pics:

Above are a few of our young ladies who attended our Valentines "Making a Treat for Someone Sweet" fellowship party.

Above/Below: samples of our creations.

We had a fun evening of creativity & fellowship.

THERE....ARE YOU HAPPY BEPPI?....I FINALLY POSTED.

Love & Prayers,
~Me~

For TT & Gayle...

2011-02-01T21:46:00.000-08:00

We're Singing a New Song in 2011

2011-01-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

    Our pastor recently preached an awesome message about(you guessed it) "Singing a New Song". We are going to face the new year with a new attitude. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I'm charging ahead with a smile on my face. I hope all of my friends will join me.


    As for why I haven't posted in a while..... well I have been trying to focus inward and help my family to transition with all of the recent changes in our lives. "What changes?" you might ask. Well, I won't bore you with all the details, but here are a couple:

Husbands job has shifted(new position & schedule)
I have recently become "Office Manager in training" for my father's/daughter's business.
Eloise is now trying out a new on-line curriculum(more about that on our homeschooling blog)
My parents just bought me a new cell phone/music/picture/e-mail/browser/ap/game thingy. I successfully graduated from the 2 hour "basics" course. No applause necessary.

Will post soon with pics and stuff you might actually be interested in....I promise!

Simply Beautiful.....

2010-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas program was truly special this year.

The christmas story was told by various characters in between songs.

After their parts the characters slipped quietly behind the unlit blank screens.

For the last song the spot light was cut and the back lights were lit to show the actors & actress.

The side panels were frozen, while Mary and Joseph played with the baby (wias) in the center,

For some reason, when I widened my focus to capture all three screens at once, the color changed. The color and lighting were more like the first two photos. It really was touching, especially when the baby was kicking and waving his arms.

P.S. I loved -loved- loved Terra's violin solo.

Merry Christmas,

There Aren't Many.....

2010-12-20T23:20:00.000-08:00

There aren't many occasions to dress like this in the south.

(Me getting ready to take our puppy for his 5am winter walk)

There aren't many men who will get up at 4am and work all day without complaint to provide for his family.

(Hubby & I recently celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary, so that makes a total of 18 years that we have been a "couple")

There aren't many women who can eat a cookie off of her forehead, without using her hands.

There aren't many young people who would take the time to mess up their pretty hair do's to entertain a bunch of old people at a Christmas Banquet.

There aren't many gals as sweet as these.

There aren't many brave, intelligent, & charming young men any more.

(These guys are really more brave, intelligent, & charming than they appear)

There aren't many young people who know how to go out and have good clean fun.

I am so proud of our young adults (only a few shown here).

They love God,

they love each other,

they know how to enjoy the life God has given them.

Love & Prayers,

November Review.....

2010-12-03T23:42:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of Eloise sporting her new boots, groovy ear warmer(made by Plain Old Kristi), and her spiffy new sling. She is now the proud owner of a bright green cast. Pray for me Y'all. In her short little life she has managed to flip over the handle bars of her scooter and crack her front tooth(baby thank God), flip off the monkey bars and get a rock embedded in her forehead(3 stitches), skinned her face and broke her nose, and now that is all cleared up and she has broken her arm. I guess now she will walk on the inside of the stair railings like a normal person!

This is my most recent gift basket and probably one of my favorites. I had a lot of fun and flexibility with this one, because I actually knew the recipient. I must say, I was very tempted to keep the adorable sewing box and pin cushion message board, but I was a good girl.

This was Eloise's 1st real concert with GNOYO.

Our seats were all the way in the back, so the pic isn't too clear.

Eloise & cousin Ting pose for a pic in their matching holiday outfits.

This is our turkey, getting ready for his little procedure.

I'm sure my vegan friends are horrified out there, but my hubby doesn't do stuffing, so our turkey is surrounded by shredded strips of ham.

A few of our holiday goodies.

This is the newest member of our family. His name is Boolee. His owner recently passed away and he didn't have a home. The S.P.C.A. was going to put him down , so.....you know the rest.

He is very mellow and sweet, but not nearly as handsome and photogenic as Oreo. I had to say that last part, because Oreo is not dealing well with the idea of sharing his house and people with this huge stranger.

So far this month I have made:

turkey salad, turkey pasta Alfredo, and turkey noodle soup, but I think my latest turkey makeover was the most unique. I had 4 turkey wings wrapped in foil, so I broiled them in the toaster oven and poured buffalo wing sauce on them. Two wings and a couple of side items and I was stuffed like a ......

TURKEY!

I have a couple of quart sized bags of turkey in the freezer, but I don't think I will be thawing them any time soon.

Thank God For Dirty Dishes

Thank God for dirty dishes;

They have a tale to tell.

While others may go hungry,

We're eating very well

With home, health, and happiness,

I shouldn't want to fuss;

By this stack of evidence,

God's been very good to us.

~Author Unknown~

I hope that you are all enjoying the holidays.

Love & Prayers,

Harvest Party 2010

2010-11-08T09:53:00.000-08:00

Above & Below the young people are playing "Flying Dutchmen"

They play it every year and it is so funny.

A couple of "Mature" young people decided to play too.

Pastor Otto took several groups on a hay ride through the woods at the back of Bishop's property.

Going...Going....

...Gone!

I can't believe another year is almost over.

Enjoying This Glorious Fall Weather.....

2010-10-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

As much as I love the beautiful fall foliage of the northern states, I must say that living in the south has it's advantages. Where else can you enjoy going to the park practically all year long? I can't wait till Thanksgiving when they transform this park into "Christmas in the Oaks".

Easy As Pie...

2010-10-15T16:32:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to try a new dough recipe, because I'm kind of picky about the consistency of my pizza dough. I don't like it too thin and chewy, but I don't like it too thick and bread like either.

I pulled out this little deck of cards and selected the

"Neapolitan-style" pizza dough. The author says that this is the style favored by Italian and New York pizza bakers. I don't know about those guys, so I will have to see for myself.

The trick to this crust is the use of a little cake flour. The author states that this is the way to create a "tender" crust.

After the dough had risen I formed and covered it with sauce.

I added some cheese and more cheese, then topped it off with pepperoni.

Finally, the moment of truth.

My first thought was that the crust was too thick, but after taking a bite; I changed my mind.

It wasn't too cake or bread like. It was a little chewy, but it was tender as promised.

If you would like to try it for yourself, scroll to the top of this page and click on the recipe tab.

Love & Prayers,

Sharing Truth and Breaking Bread.....

2010-10-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

I know you have all seen several pics of Eloise's nap quilt, but I had to share a pic of our recent fall arrangement. Eloise helped me decorate these oranges with cloves to add a fragrant festive touch to this grouping.

Today for our pre-Bible study lunch, the ladies and I enjoyed:

lobster ravioli w/garlic butter sauce

butternut squash ravioli w/brown butter sage sauce

bacon-chicken-ranch foccacia

tossed salad with homemade black raspberry vinaigrette

(thanks to Plain Old Kristi for the recipe)

I know I was born on the west coast, but I guess I have spent too many years living in the south. I cannot bring myself to hold any kind of meeting at my house without making sure that all of my guests leave full.

On to the truth part...

Our lesson was about why Christians should love their non/christian friends and family, but do so without compromising their beliefs. I am truly enjoying the blessing of teaching, because I always learn something new every time I reflect on the scriptures.

P.S. check "Ecole" for pics of our recent outing.

Love & Prayers,

I am bursting at the seams.......

2010-10-10T23:06:00.000-07:00

Physically, because I ate so much food at the "Dinner Bell"

on the way up to women's conference this past weekend.

This is a picture of a few of the ladies at the back table. I didn't have room to walk around, so this will have to suffice.

Two of our ladies were asked to sing in the praise group.

I am spiritually bursting with Joy, because my long lost "Prodigal Mom" has found her way back to the Father's house.

*Note my mother hates cameras and this picture was taken before she was renewed. She was grinning all the way home, but I didn't take a pic, because I didn't want to run the risk of causing her to lose her Holy Ghost.

LOL!

Another reason I am so excited is that one of my friends, that I have been teaching a Bible study to, also received the beautiful gift of the Holy Ghost at this meeting.

This is one weekend that will forever be filed in my happy memories collection.

The theme of the conference was, "Stand" and the slogan was as follows:

"Taking a stand for Jesus ......in cute shoes".

Please tell me why.....

2010-10-05T22:48:00.000-07:00

I brought my niece & daughter to the local marina to watch the fish swim and jump. Eloise borrowed a net from Grandpa to see if she could catch anything. She ran to the edge of the water and started shouting, "somethings wrong!"

She had a net full of fish, but they were all dead.

There were hundreds more floating around the boat slips. Some say that this might be the result of an algae bloom and some say it is a result of the dispersal chemicals that they are still spraying around here due to the BP issue. I don't know what to think. If anyone out there in blogland has an answer could you please tell me why?

What is it about color.....

2010-09-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to color.

(Flowers compliments of Brother Joey's late aunt who was an avid gardener)

I often find myself picking my food, because of it's hue.

(rainbow potatoes that I couldn't pass up at Whole Foods)

Yummy yarn that didn't get put back due to budget cuts.

(not pictured are the gorgeous rust orange, eggplant purple, and lime green that were sacrificed in the name of restraint and all things frugal.)

Any way, back to the topic at hand:

I adore color.....

and don't get me started on texture!

ON TO TOPIC #2:

My daughter is growing up so fast and so are her instruments!

Eloise is now playing Violin in the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra and taking private Cello lessons in hopes of being accepted in the "Endangered Instruments Program".

Eloise is inspired by the music of Yo-Yo Ma.

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted.

I don't always have time to say anything, but I always check my friends blogs.

Sorry About The Confusion...

2010-09-14T15:33:00.000-07:00

If you would like to see more of our vacation pics, they are on Eloise's blog. They are not on this blog or my homeschool blog.

TO VIEW THEM NOW CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW.

http://www.paperparade.blogspot.com/

In Case You Haven't Noticed....

2010-09-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love to have gatherings in my home. Nobody leaves my house without being offered something to munch on either. The above pic is of my dining room table prepared for a weekly women's Bible study. We also had scrambled eggs, grits, and smoked sausage. The mini quilt was one that I made for Eloise to take for nap time, when she started school. It's a little tattered from Katrina, but I thought it added a nice touch.

This was my niece's 7th Birthday party.

The girls prepared their own pizzas.

They also decorated cupcakes.

Above: spreading the pizza dough.

The birthday girl is concentrating on her masterpiece.

Another guests packs up her creation to take home.

The children made mini root beer floats while waiting for the pizzas to cook.

A couple of the guests could not attend due to uncontrollable circumstances, but all in all I think it was a success. The kids truly enjoyed playing with and eating their food.

To view our vacation pics, you will have to visit our other blogs.

Am I Strange?

2010-08-24T00:26:00.000-07:00

I think that I must thrive on being busy. I don't like busy work, but if I am enjoying the plethora of things that I am attempting to do, then I am content. This is what the rest of my week looks like:

Teach Eloise all week
Teach a Bible Study on Wed & Thurs
Church Wed evening
Help build a community playground on Thursday
Host my neice's birthday party on Friday evening
Work the voting polls all day Saturday
Head for our much needed vacation on Sunday.
OH YEAH....I MIGHT WANT TO FIND TIME TO PACK BEFORE WE LEAVE.
It is finished...
AMEN!

Did I mention that this makes me happy?
LOL

***Don't forget my other blog***

Love Is Blind...

2010-08-18T00:09:00.000-07:00

I am very pleased with the path that we have recently chosen. There have been plenty of adjustments made concerning Eloise's home schooling, but that is the nature of teaching. All things cosidered, This first week has gone quite well. Eloise is able to take her time and enjoy what she is learning. I am also enjoying the flexibility in scheduling. I am able to do all the things I used to do, plus spend a lot of quality time with my daughter, and teach 2 Women's Bible studies each week without being overly stressed..... I know...I know.... It's only been a week, but let me enjoy the honeymoon while it lasts!

If you want to see pics of Eloise's Birthday you'll have to go to her blog http://www.paperparade.blogspot.com/.
Also, don't forget to check out our latest project on our homeschool blog http://www.ecoledefamille.blogspot.com/ .
When you get to Ecole de Famille, you will see a link to my new 4-H blog. This will be an information site for any of the boys and girls who join my 4-H at Home Club.
I placed the links within this post for your convenience, but you can always access these sites via the links on my side bar. You'll have to scroll down past all of my yummy kitchen creations on the right.

I pray that all is well with everyone. Please feel free to comment on any of our blogs.

Love & Prayers,

Shh!!! My Taste Buds Don't Know....

2010-08-11T17:02:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, I love to cook. I read recipe books like most people read novels. Being a Chinese/Redneck who is often mistaken for a Mexican, who was transplanted from California to New Orleans, I can truly say that my taste buds are eclectic. I thrive on variety. Fortunately, I am learning a few tricks about being a frugal gourmet chef. One of my latest finds is the clearance rack at Wal-Marts bakery. I scooped up on this loaf of sourdough bread. It looked so pitiful with it's big clearance tag, but I looked beyond the $1.50 price tag. I didn't tell my taste buds what I was planning, but I will let you in on my secret.

Grilled Sourdough burgers topped with Gouda. We also had fresh figs(picked from our tree)

The above is a picture of a skillet breakfast I made recently. I fried onions, bell peppers, bacon, and potatoes. When the potatoes were tender, I made 5 wells and cracked a whole egg into each well. I covered them till the eggs were set. I sprinkled cheese over the top and served. My family enjoyed it, but we all agreed that next time I should try smoked sausage instead of crumbled bacon. The greatest part about this dish is the fact that the clean-up is so easy, because it's all cooked in the same skillet.

I baked this Large cake with fresh strawberries in between the layers for less than $10.

A smaller version of a similar cake is sold at a local bakery for $35.

At this rate, my taste buds will never find out that I'm on a budget!

This(above) is another cheap quick meal. Whenever I have a small amount of pork roast left over from a previous meal, I can shred it and add a little BBQ sauce. Then all I have to do is scrub and pierce the potatoes all over. After I place the potatoes on a plate, I sprinkle with Kosher salt and microwave for about 7 min. or till tender. When the potatoes are finished, they are ready to stuff with pork and whatever else the family likes.

I hope this post has inspired all of you to get creative and thrifty.

Don't forget to check out our Homeschooling blog. The link is on my side bar.

I have updated the ladies dept. blog. I created tabs at the top, so you can view pages with the nursery, hostess, and cleaning lists.

Love & Prayers,

Clowning Around...

2010-07-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, my mother took us to see the circus.

The cheap seats were sold out, so my mother had to purchased the tickets that included a pre-show tour.

Eloise had a blast.

THANKS GRAN!

I will be posting more frequently once I get all of Eloise's school stuff organized.

Love & Prayers,

Scrap Magic....

2010-07-06T17:11:00.000-07:00

When it comes to making a project, I always end up with left over materials.

I decided a few weeks back, that I wasn't going to buy any new sewing/crafting stuff until I used up some of my odds & ends. The above are the fruits of my labor. I made two small blankets and a violin cozy.

My daughter & neice are thrilled. They both have a personalized blanket and my daughter doesn't have to get red marks on her neck, each time she practices her violin.

I have a few more scraps and then I can move on to the pink & brown material that I recently posted about.

Love & Prayers,

Call The Nutrition Police........

2010-06-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Normally we opt for good old cereal & milk, for breakfast,

but yesterday daughter, hubby, neicy, and I splurged.

We feasted on Funnel Cakes, Steak, & Eggs.

I'm sure it wasn't the healthiest option, but it sure was good!

After breakfast we headed upstairs for a mini art lesson.

Below: two pictures of our new classroom.

For those of you who were unaware,

we will begin homeschooling in the Fall.

This is our computer lab/marker board.

For only $8, Hubby covered the wall

from floor to ceiling,

with a piece of white board from Home Depot.

After he hung it, I simply hot-glued a border around it.

The only negative is that it is not magnetic like expensive boards, but thats ok, because my next project is to paint the closet doors with paint(from H. Depot) that will make them magnetic.

Sorry for those of you who suffer from A.D.D.

This wall is a little busy, but I have a plethora of subjects to cram into one room.

I will post pictures of the art/craft section, walk-in closet, & the library later.

Grape News!

2010-06-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Look what we just picked from a large pot

on the patio.

They are a little bit tiny & a little bit tart, but I didn't even know if they would grow here.

This is the second bach of figs on this tree.

The first batch fell off before they got this big.

I hope these mature into ripe figs.

Here are some of the Eggplant that we harvested.

I battered them in Japanese Tempura Batter, then covered them with french fry seasoning.

**The Tempura batter box gave me the solution to my frying problem. We use cloth napkins, so I do not buy paper towels. This usually isn't a problem, except on the occasion that I decide to fry something. I don't know why I never thought to use a collander or cooling rack perched over a baking pan to drain off excess grease. My thanks to the Japanese.**

This is just a random bonus tip:

Sometimes, when I am cooking Eloise's eggs in the morning, I throw in an extra egg or two. After they have cooled I chop them and throw them in a bowl with some tuna, mayo, & seasonings. I now have a jump start on lunch. It is so much easier than boiling & peeling the eggs, and it's just as tasty.

What An Amazing Week.....

2010-06-18T21:46:00.000-07:00

We Can't Wait Till Next Year!

P.S. For those of you who are members of the Sister Melody fan club, I have added a link to her blog on my side bar.

Who Says Summer Has To Be Relaxing?!?

2010-06-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

Eloise & I spent the last week at Loyola University

attending Summer Fest.

The camp was put on by the

Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras.

The children had time to take breaks and unwind each day.

There were a wide vatiety of instruments and ability levels.

Eloise made friends from all over the metro area, as well as young people from Houston and Alabama.

The camp ended with a wonderful performance Friday evening.

The above picture is of the older participants & their director Dr. Montez.

Here Eloise is concentrating on one of the five pieces her group performed.

My favorites were: Overlords & I Dreamed a Dream.

I do believe Eloise had a blast.

She is going to audition to join GNOYO in the fall.

Now I have to fold & pack the laundry that just finished drying...

we are leaving for camp Kumbaya at 4:00am.

Love & Prayers,

Mommy Stuff...

2010-06-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

One might wonder what it is that women do

while waiting for their little darlings to finish orchestra camp each day.

Here is what a few of us did today:

After sneaking downstairs to find a table, This lovely lady demonstrated her quilting magic.

I worked for a little while on this bread basket liner, but I am so easily distracted.

Another mother got me started on this, and I worked on it for about 30 minutes, but there is so much going on with all of the different groups practicing all over the building. During the guest performance/lectures, we sneak in the back of the auditorium to observe.

Eloise is having a blast.

This is all very new and a bit daunting,

but the older more experienced musicians(teenagers) have been very helpful.

Here is a sneak peek at one of my next projects.

It will probably be a while, before I even get started, because as soon as orchestra camp is over, we have to pack for Camp Kumbaya.

I love being a Mommy!

Home Is Where The Art Is.....

2010-05-31T10:01:00.000-07:00

We recently purchaseda sculpting kit from Sam's.

The kit contained cogs and bendable rods to create forms.

It also provided 4 shades of non-drying clay, as well as an informative instruction book, that demonstrates how to form a bust, and a few other types of sculptures.

Eloise can sculpt and resculpt to her hearts content.

All of this was only $8.88.

This is Eloise's first attempt.

It took her 2 hours, but I think it will go much faster, now that she knows how to create the form.

While Eloise was working on her project, I was busy finishing up the one I started a couple of months ago.

It took me so long, because I feel guilty about having fun if all of my household duties are not finished.

The above is a picture of the first item that will be placed in Eloise's hope chest when her father presents it to her on her 10th birthday. The apron swallows her now, but in time it should fit her just right.

Here is an up close shot of me, so you can see what it will looks like on an adult.

Also, you can click on the image to get a closer look at the fabric.

I'm so glad that God has given me a wonderful family and the gift of creativity.

I Can't Believe.....

2010-05-28T02:44:00.000-07:00

... another year has gone by!

Eloise received 6 trophies,

one medal, & one certificate.

She was also the only student to earn a perfect score on the ELA portion of the LEAP test.

Most of the students from church

did extremely well.

I guess there is something to be said about not owning a television.

The students just had to take one last photo before they part.

This school will not be an elementary campus next year, so this group will be scattered in several schools.

Most of these students have been together since Kindergarten(just months after Katrina).

As you can see, the room is already packed.

Everything must be moved to one of the two new schools.

This should be one of the last transitions in our school system's post-Katrina recovery.

So far, Eloise has had 6 wonderful teachers, but we both agree that this one was the best.

Thank you Mrs. Wood for your patience, support, and enthusiasm.

A Crop Only A Gardener Could Love...

2010-05-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

I honestly wasn't going to post about this scrawny mangled produce,

but my daughter insisted that I share this "beautiful" display of nature with you all.

Personally, I'm a little more excited about these guys.

"Eggplant Pirogue" here we come!

Home made onion rings, before hubby did his magic trick and made them all disappear!

We also enjoyed hot roast beef po-boys on fresh french bread.

This was hubby's, that's why it isn't "dressed".

He only likes roast, gravy, and cheese.

P.S. I never really gave my blog a theme, but it seems that most of my posts wind up being about food. I wonder if it's the Lord giving me a sign!?!

;-)

Mother's Day Treats.....

2010-05-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

I'll take this as a hint that I am a little high strung at times.

Now I feel powerful.....

....like a real gardener!

Eloise & Hubby locked themselves in the class/craft room.

When they emerged they proudly presented me, these offerings.

They burned me 2 CD's from I-Tunes

and made tickets for hubby & I to go on a date.

Those two are getting quite crafty.

My Favorite Gift Was A Letter:

Dear Mom,
On this wonderful Mothers' Day, you are the most wonderous Mom in the world. You are special in so many ways, because you make me dinner. You teach & guide me with God's special word. It's a very special blessing that you love me like you do. You're an awesome, wonderful, marvelous, mother. Happy Mothers' Day!

Love,
Your Daughter

I think she's a keeper. ;-D

I Think It Is Working....

2010-05-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Do you remember the post about the big blue buckets and my attempt at container gardening?

Well, this is just an update on some of the progress.

Above, is a picture of my grape twig that sprouted and is getting ready to take over my patio.

This is my never ending salad bowl.

Look at my baby bell pepper.

I'm fighting the urge to pull these guys.

I'm not sure how long the carrots are under the surface.

The same goes for my beets.

So far it looks like 2 of the 3 pineapple plants are recovering from their transplant into the ground.

This will be Eloise's 2nd actual pineapple.

There may be a 3rd on the way!

For those of you who are unfamilliar with the pineapple story:

scroll back to the top and enter

Tale of The Stow Away Pineapple

in the search box.

P.S. I would like to thank "Plain Old Kristi" for giving me the lettuce seeds and God for making them grow.

Well, that is all I have at the moment, but I will keep you posted.

We Weren't Sure What to Expect....

2010-05-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a regular around here, then you know that Eloise won 1st place in a parish(county) wide cook-off.

On Thursday, we packed up the car and headed to Houma for the final round.

The above picture was just one of the lines of students waiting to register their dish.

Above is a pic of Eloise surrounded by a few of the many contestants. As you can see, most of the participants from the 14 other parishes were seasoned veterans. We learned that 4-H is a club that Eloise can participate in all the way through college.

After placing her jars of Bisque by her number, Eloise went to another table to turn in her

"Solar Pizza Box Oven"

for the recycling part of the competition.

Eloise took a group pic with the other representatives from our parish.

I do not recall the results for three of the reps.

The girl to the far right took home a 1st place ribbon for her category (crab).

Even though she didn't place, Eloise received a red ribbon for her category (shrimp).

I have to admit that we were a little bit crest fallen by the results, but after a game of miniature golf, a delicious meal, and a slice of cheese cake, all was forgotten.......

....well almost.....

.....We're already planning for next year....

LOOK OUT HOUMA HERE WE COME!

Oh, skinkles and drinkles.....

2010-04-22T10:28:00.000-07:00

(F.Y.I. GRILLED SALMON TACO SALAD)

I am posting quickly so that I can go downstairs and eat this scrumtilicious little morsel.

I just wanted to share my very first lettuce and green onion harvest with you.

For a first time "container gardener" this is so exciting.

All of the plants are taking off.

My grape vine is getting ready to take over the patio

and Eloise pineapple plants that we recently transplanted into the front yard are doing fine.

As a matter of fact I just spotted baby pineapple number two!

TTFN,

What a treat....

2010-04-19T19:30:00.000-07:00

Our family recently went to see the Broadway musical "Wicked".

As Eloise was excitedly givng her violin teacher a report, he smiled and informed her that he knew all about it, because he was actually playing in the orchestra below the stage. He then gave us tickets to see him perform in the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. We gladly took him up on the offer. We caught him as he was exiting the back stage door for a "photo op"

Doesn't he look like a musician?

Thanks Mr. Stewart.

Sewing Green.....

2010-04-13T01:42:00.000-07:00

I have recently discovered the art of

"sewing green".

I purchased a shirt that had an aggrivating neck line that wouldn't stay tied.

I was going to donate it as well as one of my daughter's turtle necks to Goodwill,

so I decided to try an experiment:

I removed the "turtle" part of Eloises' shirt and hemmed the neck.

Next I cut the arms and bottom off of my shirt.

I added elastic to the bodice piece of my shirt and made a skirt.

I then removed one of her sleeves and replaced it with a gathered version of mine.

At this point I must pause and let you know that

Eloise BEGGED Me to leave it that way,

because it looked so VERY STYLISH.

NO DEAL CAMILLE!

I must admit that after comparing the two pictures....

I think she was right.

It's ok though, because the outfit was free, we had lots of fun,

and my daughter loves it!

I Love This Job....

2010-03-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

We are a busy church, so we all wear a lot of hats.

Some tasks are not so exciting, but oh so necessary (i.e. toilet cleaner),

but some of my jobs are just plain fun.

When we have guest ministers, I get to shop and put together little goody baskets.

I love the challenge of finding items that suit the guest, don't break the budget, and look pretty together.

Every set is similar in that I always try to incorporate

some edibles & a few gift items, but I strive to make each unique.

I like to find containers that are appealing and useful.

This grouping incorporates a salad bowl and tosser set made of acacia wood.

There is a glare, so it is hard to see the rich colors.

I chose a dark brown (almost black) ribbon with a scroll design to echo the color of the peppercorns and accent our church's beautiful cookbook.

These will be wrapped with clear cellophane with a bow, but I opted to take pics before so that you could examine the contents.

I hope Bro. & Sis ??? (it's a secret) like their gifts.

I recruited special agents to gather info.

The mystery couple will be here this weekend

to preach our Bishops 30th Pastoral Anniversary Service.

Oh, skinkles and drinkles this is almost as fun as Christmas!

Thanks To My Dear Friend at B-skep Chronicles....

2010-03-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

I won this sweet award and now I am passing it on to:

The Ray-Markable Libby Kids

Shaddies Chatter

and

The Little Egg Farm

I think I was supposed to pick a dozen, but I don't regularly look at that many blogs.

P.S. Eloise loved the recent clip of "Ray"

Love You Guys!

Spring Has Sprung....

2010-03-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

So much has been going on since I last posted, so I will just leave you with a few tidbits:

Due to the fact that I have a microscopic back yard and the tendacy to pull my back out of allignment,

I am going to try my hand at container gardening.

My father bought some goodies(above) to get me started.

So far I have planted:

carrots, celery, bell peppers, jalapenos, beets, leeks, strawberries, artichoke, tomatoes, eggplant, a fig tree, and a grape vine. My daughter's 3 pineapple plants have finally been transplanted into the ground in front of our house. I will be posting pictures of all the progress later.

This is one of my latest thrift store finds

(the dress not the cutie wearing it).

The sun was so bright that it is hard to tell

how pretty this little linen jumper really is.

This is a picture of a few of us selling our Church's cookbook

at a local Festival this past weekend.

Also, Hubby was interviewed for a promotion last week.

The boss is currently out of town so we probably won't know anything until he returns.

We are praying for God's will.

His current position is less pay, but a steady schedule and closer to home.

Well it's time to get Eloise up and off to school.

Ta Ta For Now,

My kind of math....

2010-03-02T11:49:00.000-08:00

PLUS

EQUALS

20 More laps around the park!!!!

That's not counting the whipped cream (not pictured due to shame).

LOL!!!

Welcome to McMama's......

2010-02-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

...loved ones served daily.

The girls devoured this simple, but oh so tasty meal.

Shh...I'm going to share my secret.

Cut chicken breast into strips.

Marinade in buttermilk seasoned with:

McCormicks Garlic & Herb

(it's kind of orange in color)

your favorite seasoning.

We love seasoning, so I'm going to leave the amount up to you.

Just remember that most of the seasonong is going to stay in the buttermilk.

Leave the strips covered in the refrigerator over night.

You can grill, broil, fry, or bake them.

My family is small, so I can make a big batch and cook as needed for a couple of days.

I like to grill it and place it over a salad.

My husband likes me to add cayenne, batter, fry, and serve with fettuccini.

Eloise prefers to eat hers plain with a bowl of red beans.

It's so easy.

It took me less than 10 minutes to cook and serve the girls.

God Bless and Enjoy!

Happy......

2010-02-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

...Late Valentines/Chinese New Year/Mardi Gras Break (if you're a local)!!!!

Eloise spent Saturday collecting little red envelopes from her relatives. It is customary for all married adults to give money to any unmarried person who enters their home on Chinese New Year.

This year we decided to do without the cards and chocolates.

Saturday evening I bought the above flowers to make our table a little more festive.

Hubby and I cooked a delicious meal and we had a family Valentine's Dinner.

Today we will be headed to the park for our church's annual ~~Mardi Gras Day~~

family Picnic. The adults will BBQ and play table games while the children run around like little crazy people burning all their extra energy.

Whoever you are....

No matter where you are...

have a Happy Day!

Sweet Treats With Zero Calories.....

2010-02-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Just look at the wonderful hand made goodies from my dear friend Michelle over at

B Skep Chronicles

The Oakmoss & Lavender soap smells heavenly. I am going to savor it.

As for the "apples" ....

You must have read my mind!

I wanted them from the moment I saw them on your blog,

but I couldn't bring myself to wash dishes with them.

They will be going into the Hope Chest that my husband is going to build for my daughter's 10th birthday.

Not that she will be using them any time soon, I just figured that we could start filling it as I begin to teach her to make crafty things. When she does finaly leave the nest, she will have a trunk full of love and memories.

Gifts like these are so much sweeter than those that are mass produced in China.

This was such a pleasant Valentine's Surprise.

P.S. Eloise will be posting on her blog about the cards your girls sent her.

Love & Prayers,

For The Locals....

2010-02-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

For those of you who attend the greatest church on Earth -sorry I'm a bit partial- I am pleased to announce my two newest blogs. They are meant to be a resource for you.

If you scroll down past all of the pictures of food on my sidebar, you will find two buttons. One says, "Living & Loving" click this to view the ladies department blog. The other says, "Sister Beppi & Friends" click this to view the Sunday school blog.

Both still need a little tweaking, but I am pleased so far. In the future I will be working on a blog for the youth group and another for our music department. You will be able to have access to info that is announced, but you may have forgotten or lost the bulletin etc...

I hope these are helpful.

Love & Prayers,

The Big Day.....

2010-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the total destruction of our parish, many people said we would never recover. They said that It would be a minimum of 2 years before our 1st school could open. They said a lot of things, but nearly 4 1/2 years later I see an entirely different picture.

Our first school opened approx. 2 months after the storm. Our highschool recently opened a new sky walk for students to cross over the highway to our new campus additions. The new section is still under construction, but the classrooms and office for the ninth grade academy are complete. When it is finished it will also house a huge swimming pool, theater with orchestra pit, public library, coffee shop, and what appears to be a multi-level parking garage. Our highschool was recently rated one of the top 20 in the entire nation.

In addition to a thriving school system, our community is home to many local businesses and several chains, but today marks something special to me. Previous to the storm,we had just celebrated a grand opening. My daughter had watched the building progress every day on our drive to her school. We were so excited that we no longer had to travel to other cities; as it was in walking distance from our house. In fact we stopped there as we were pulling out of town to evacuate. I remember feeling numb as I watched the employees wrap all of the brand new photo equipment, electronics, and registers with heavy duty plastic wrap.

Tired of waiting???..........

So were we, but today our wait has ended.

I heard from friends that the highschool band marched up and down the aisles to entertain the first customers when the doors opened. I had to get Eloise off to school, so I missed it ;o(

The pictures aren't great, because the usual photographer(me) was busy shopping. Well any way, here they are:

You guessed it.

Walmart Super Center!

Over 300 new jobs!!!

No more outrageous grocery prices from the other stores!

No more big, empty, blighted building!

No more wasting tons of gas to go shopping!

See...I'm not the only one who thought this was big news! LOL

Really this isn't about Wally World or IHOP or any of the other great things that are opening up; It's about this community. We got in here and worked hard for this place we call home.

Great Things Come to Those Who Wait....

2010-02-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

This is a picture of my latest miracle.

Yes, I said miracle.
I don't know what else to call it,

when I am able to purchase a dryer that originally retailed at around $1500

for $97 (that wasn't a typo) plus tax.

My old impatient self tried to overtake me,

because I could really use a washer
that doesn't require hand tools (notice the dial in top pic) to operate.

I could have bought the matching washer,
but I would have to special order it and put it on credit,

because it is still over $1000.

Thank you Jesus for giving me the strength
to resist the temptation.

In tough economic times it is crazy to go into debt,

besides I know God is going to find me another great deal.

I don't really care if it matches, but it would be a bonus ;o)

Now if you'll excuse me.....

I have some ~~playing~~ laundry to do!

P.S. We just updated Eloise's Blog. I added a link button in my sidebar just above, "Blogs I like to visit".On her blog we added a link button for "Sketch Tuesday" and one that brings you back to my blog. If you have time, check it out, and let us know what you think about her new look.

Happy As A Clam.....

2010-01-25T22:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't got a clue as to why people say that. I'm not sure who decided that the clam was the perfect mascot for those who are content. Can't you just see all of those tiny little clam guys at the bottom of the ocean with goofy smiles on their little clam faces?

At any rate, I must say that I am finally returning to my former (pre-college-happy-clam) self. I am truly enjoying being a full time wife and mother again. My church life has been incredible these last couple of months. Even though I didn't miss any services while in school, it was difficult to focus with so many deadlines and demands on my mind. Now I can worship unincumbered. Dirty laundry doesn't distract me nearly as much as midterms and essays. I am still very busy, but at least I am free to think and believe whatever I want. The work that I do is appreciated by people who love me.

There are many pictures that I haven't shared, because I have been busy with the business of living. I will squeeze them in later posts. For now, I just wanted to share three completely unrelated photos. Individually, each doesn't mean a whole lot, but collectively these are what fill my days to overflowing. I can honestly say that God has not only given me life, but, "life more abundantly." I admit that this post is a bit random, but it suits me.

God is teaching me the benefits of being a wise steward.

I think that even the "virtuous woman" in proverbs would be proud of my purchase.

These pouches refill the bottles, so I get 10 bottles of hand soap for $6.

That is $0.60/bottle.

They smell good, there are 8 fewer bottles going into land fills, and I saved money.

My daughter has an aversion to tomato sauce, so the other night I made a pizza with chicken, crumbled bacon, and alfredo sauce. I topped it off with freshly grated mozzarella and seasonings.

For this simple effort I was nominated the worlds greatest mother by the worlds greatest daughter.

Lastly I would like to give you a sampling of some of the scrumptiously wonderful things that have been suffering neglect for a long while. It feels so good to have creativity flowing through my home again. The above picture is just a sneak peek of a project that I am currently working on. I absolutely adore that bird fabric. There isn't a scientific method that determines what I like. I simply walk around and certain things just beg me to love them....

... and I do.

We're Bursting With Talent......

2010-01-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

Eloise performs: "Allegro"and "Ode to Joy"

We were even paid a visit by "Amelia Badelia"

Our judges were Elvis, Raggedy Anne, & Laura Engels Wilder.

Eloise was up against some stiff competition.

The young man on the left played a rousing rendition of "Hot Cross Buns"

The lovely young lady in pink played "Ode to Joy" on her flute.

This is Eloise and one of her awesome Sunday School teachers.

Both of them came away with a prize.

Eloise won third place for the children's category and Kass won first for ages 12 and up.

Tally won 2nd in kids with her flute and Sessy stold the show with her beautiful piano playing.

Sorry, no pic, but Terra is turning into a beautiful, talented young woman.

If I'm not mistaken she won 2nd place in the 12 and up segment.

We have truly been blessed with such a talented bunch of young people.

I cannot say how proud I am of all of them.

Thank God for Daddy....

2010-01-21T21:35:00.001-08:00

Cooking? Sewing? Art? No Problem: I've got it covered.

Design your own circuit panel to demonstrate "open" and "closed" circuits....PROBLEM!...

Wait! I know who to call.

I love that guy; he's so handy.

P.S. for those of you who aren't local, Eloise's Bisque(previous post) won first place in the seafood category. We haven't gotten the details, but we know that in the next round of competition she will compete against the winners from 14 other parishes.

Time Well Spent....

2010-01-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

There is just something comforting about being in the kitchen...

and passing down treasured skills...

to my darling daughter...

especially if they will help her to win the 4-H cook off tomorrow!

Good Luck Eloise. Your Shrimp and Corn Bisque is delicious.

Happy Belated New Year.....

2010-01-05T19:31:00.000-08:00

(Above: Our latest Miracle)

We love ya sister "T"

Pastor, His Sis, & Mom.

(notice the latest party crashers: Beppi & Talulah Mae)

Don't they look angelic?

The foot washing must have done them some good.

Lovely Ladies of Leisure LOL

"Plain Old Kristi" with a not so plain old tiara.

"Queenie"

Our Two First Ladies

(and another party crasher, who shall remain nameless)

We pray that the coming year brings greater miracles to our church

and blessings to our family and friends.

"2010"

I can't believe it has been a decade since Y2K!

Oh What Fun...

2009-12-25T22:44:00.001-08:00

Christmas day began with an early morning run to the stockings.

Instead of the usual candy and trinkets, Eloise found a small gift and a post-it-note, that began a scavenger hunt that eventually led her to her big present.

Hubby had so much fun watching his plan unfold.

He almost couldn't contain himself.

Thanks to my husbands co-worker we were able to get our daughter a great present at a fraction of the original cost. With this "Kindle" our daughter can carry an entire library around with her. Her Daddy pre-loaded it with 50 free e-books (mainly classics like "White Fang" & "Little Women") which might last her a couple of weeks. I'm not kidding. I put this kid in the basket with a pillow and three Nancy Drew books when I go to Wally World and by the time I'm ready to check out she has finished them all. This gift is going to save us from having to buy more bookshelves. Another bonus is that my husband downloaded the entire Bible to it.

After taking a quick run to a neighboring state to visit relatives, Eloise came home so we could go to my sister's house for a Christmas/1st Birthday party.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS

TOO TOO!

Merry Christmas to all & to all a good night.

I have proof......

2009-12-23T02:20:00.000-08:00

...that not all things purchased at "Whole Foods" are healthy or nutritious.

Plain Old Kriti's hubby and my hubby are buds.

Her husband stumbled across this odd gift and instantly thought of my husband,

who is a carnivore at heart.

In case you can't see the picture clearly, let me give you the scoop:

This is a chocolate bar laced with bits of apple wood smoked BACON!

I repeat: CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON!

The only thing that could make this healthier is if they took the candy bar, battered it, deep fried it, and sprinkled a little more salt on top.

In case you are wondering....It wasn't totally nasty, but it isn't anything that I would go out of my way to get.

I will say that it made us laugh, so I guess it was worth it.

Thanks Byron.

He looks so innocent.....

2009-12-14T23:59:00.001-08:00

...but notice his little paw inching its way to my decorations (above).

I knew he couldn't resist for long.

Yes, I am finally finished with school for a while and am starting to feel like a normal person again. Today was great. My house finally looks and smells like Christmas. I also had a couple of friends over for broccoli cheddar soup, curry chicken salad with cranberries on croissant, and chocolate eclairs. It's good to be me again!

I hope all is well with everyone.

-Happy Christmas-ing and God Bless-

Almost to the end of this tunnel....

2009-12-01T11:05:00.000-08:00

Next week is the last week of this semester. I have had a wonderful time working with the students from various schools in the New Orleans area, but the schedule has been grueling for this full time mommy and wife. I will be able to breath a little easier after finals.

Out of the three groups that I had to teach (P.E., Math, Language Arts) this was my favorite, because I love to engage children in good literature.

We did a whole unit on the fable about the six blind men who wanted to find out what an elephant was. One man grabbed the tail and said an elephant was like a rope. One man grabbed the leg and said that an elephant was like a tree etc...

During this clinical we read, discussed, did activities, wrote newspaper articles, and completed some worksheets. I have compiled all of this, some photos, and a copy of the story into books for the students to take home and share with their families.

I am glad that my work is almost finished, but I am going to miss the children.

It's ok though, because now I'll be able to spend more time with the child that I have been missing all semester.

***The parents of these students have all signed waivers concerning the use of their photos for non-commercial use***

To All of My Dear Friends...

2009-11-25T22:40:00.000-08:00

It's Harvest Time....

2009-11-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Way back on June 11, I posted The tale of my daughters heroic effort to save a pineapple top from certain destruction. She faithfully tended to it for well over three years. So here we are nearly 5 months after that post. Today we were able to harvest this precious little pineapple. Eloise was so excited....

She wanted to do the honors...

This part was a little tricky, so she left it to an expert.

Grandpa was excited too!

The fruit was small, but so delicious and sweet.

The plant has started a new shoot, but no flower yet.

Eloise has already planted the top in another pot.

Not to change topics, but would ya look at the beautiful shrimp my Dad just bought for $3/lb.

We may have tiny pineapples, but we got some big o'l shrimp!

I LOVE THIS PLACE.