WEEKEND GET-A-WAY
















We spent last weekend on the Coast at Crooked River State Park. We had a great time.





















The cottage we stayed in was great. Very clean, plenty of room, and had EVERYTHING we needed. As you can see it has a screened in porch with rocking chairs. Each cottage has a picnic table, grill, and a fire pit.













A wonderful view from inside over looking the river & grass marsh.
















A full kitchen with dishes, pots, dishwasher....everything you would need. I loved this big round table too. The living room had an electric fireplace and a TV with cable.



















There is a boat ramp and a nice dock.




















I did not want to leave this place and cant wait to go back!




There's more.

TODAY IS SANDRA'S BIRTHDAY!
For more Happy Homemaker Monday, visit Sandra & give her birthday wishes!








THE WEATHER IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS:
97 degrees with a heat index of 104! I hate this heat!

ONE OF MY SIMPLE PLEASURES:
When Little Package comes over she always sleeps (All critics keep your comments to yourself, lol) with Meme & Poppa and has since she was 1 month old. I love this. The time we spend together right before she goes to sleep has always been a bonding time for us. Also seeing that sweet little face in the mornings is better than a life time of free chocolate!

ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE:
Victoria magazine's new September/October issue. I love this magazine & read it from front to back. This issue is full of everything FALL....just what I need to get through the remaining Dog Days of Summer!

ON MY TV:
Nothing. Watched the season finale of Burn Notice yesterday. Got the DVR set to record The Closer tonight.

ON THE MENU FOR TONIGHT:
Beef stew & rice. Biscuits. Maybe some purple hulls.

ON MY TO DO LIST:
Bring the laundry in from the clothes line.
Pack clothes for weekend getaway.
Get a wedding gift for my cousin.
Try to keep the house clean. (I cant stand to leave the house in a mess when we go away)

NEW RECIPE I TRIED LAST WEEK:
Sandra's Spicy Bacon Chicken....I think that was last week. Good stuff!

IN THE CRAFT BASKET:
What basket? lol!

LOOKING FORWARD TO:
This weekend at the Coast,
My cousin's wedding,
Being with Family,
Working in ICU full time soon.

HOMEMAKING TIP FOR THIS WEEK:
My Aunt E use to make her sweet tea very strong in a 1/2 gallon picture, not diluting it with water until you wanted a glass. She would fill your glass with ice and about 1/4 to 1/2 full with the tea & then filled your glass the rest of the way with water. That way the tea lasted longer and you didn't have a huge jug of it in your frig taking up space.

FAVORITE BLOG POST OF THE WEEK:
I didn't really have one...it seems everyone has been on vacation!

FAVORITE PHOTO LAST WEEK:











LESSON LEARNED THE PAST FEW DAYS:
I don't care what you do, how much the A/C runs, or how much it rains....it is HOT here & nothing is going to change that but time! Hurry up Fall!

ON MY PRAYER LIST:
Always my family...we have so much to be thankful for but much to pray about!

DEVOTIONALS,SCRIPTURE READING,KEY VERSES:
When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. John 11:16

GREEN TEA IS A HOOT!




I love owls...we have many around here. There's nothing like the sound of a "WHO-WHO-WHOALLLLLL" at night or in the early morning. My son spotted this one in a pine tree on the edge of the pond. That is where we see a lot of owls. This one is a Barred Owl.

So what has that got to do with green tea? Not a Cotton-pickin thing....except that I had a cup of hot green tea last night! I guess it has been about 10 years since I've had any....I didn't like it then but now I do. It was Danny's idea actually. He requested it...so I bought some yesterday.

And that's all I have to say about that!

THIS MORNING.

















We got a nice little rain yesterday evening. Things are growing. It all makes for a nice morning here at my house.

OH VERA!!!!!!


















How can you not love those colors?

{ Happy Homemaker Monday - July 27 }

















The weather in my neck of the woods:
Sunny hot & humid.

One of my simple pleasures:
After supper when it's cooler outside, Danny takes a ride all over the property. He has to check the irrigation to the trees and looks for bugs or signs of disease. He calls this "Making an Assessment". I especially like to do this on the golf cart vs. the Rhino because the golf cart is quiet. It's a nice way to spend the last hours of the day together.


On my bedside table:
"The Believer's Guide to Spiritual Warfare" by Thomas B. White. I've had this book for over 10 years. It is underlined, dog eared, & highlighted. It is a book that I have referred to a lot. If you are a Christian, I recommend you adding this book to your library. It is scripturaly sound and truthfully written.


On my TV:
Nothing. It is quiet in this house this morning.


On the menu for tonight:
Country fried steak with gravy & onions, mashed potatoes, field peas, cream corn, and sliced tomatoes.


On my To Do List:
Wash and hang out a few loads of laundry.
Vacuum the kitchen. We have been on a glass breaking spree for some reason & we are finding little shards of glass on the floor!
Clean my front porch. The porches have to be wiped down every so often.


New Recipe I tried last week:
Tomato Dip with chips....hot!


In the craft basket:
I don't have one....sorry!


Looking forward to:
A weekend coming up at a cabin on Crooked River on the Georgia coast! We are going to do some saltwater fishing and lounging. We will also be attending a cousin's wedding that is near where we will be staying.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
We usually have venison & a home grown cow in the freezer but we missed last years meat because of Danny being sick. My local grocer had a good sale on meat this past week so I bought several pounds of pork chops, steak, and a big chuck roast. I divided up the meat into servings and wrapped them in freezer paper. It didn't take 15 minutes. This will get us through until we harvest some more meat.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I really enjoyed Sandra's post from the KITCHEN last week. She always makes you feel at home and like you are in her presence when she blogs.

Favorite photo from last week:

Little Package got a new baby doll last week. At bedtime she couldn't give the doll up nor her favorite place with Poppa.




















Lesson learned the past few days:
Patience...keep your cool and wait it out.


On my Prayer List:
My family.
A little girl with an unknown illness.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

I continue to use the daily devotional from Streams in the Desert. Awesome!

For more Homemaker Monday's, visit Sandra!

SOMETHING GOOD



I love breakfast for supper (in South Georgia, supper is the last meal of the day). I found that Jimmy Dean has a new product called "Skillets" located in the frozen food section. They are quick & easy. You could make this with your own products from home but IF you are looking for something quick, easy & tasty....try these "Skillets".

I liked them enough to tell you about them soooooooo, trust me, they are worth trying.

WHICH ONE?



I'm in the market for a new Vera Bradley. Many of them are on sale right now. I have received several promotionals by email. The question is.....which one?

I could really use some of this.




I took this picture from my parents-in-law's condo on Tybee Island.

NO WIND, NO RAIN? What the heck?







Last week at 4:15 a.m. my phone rang one short ring....just enough to wake me up. The electricity was off. We have a generator that comes on in one minute so I waited...but it didn't kick on....so I woke Danny.











He went out to start the generator. It was as calm out side as the moment Jesus said "Peace be still.". Once the generator was running I checked the weather channel to see if we missed something. No bad weather at all.











I called the hospital to see if there was some big wreck in my area that knocked the power out....nope. So I called the light company & reported the outage. The electricity was restored at daybreak and we were informed there was a limb down on the edge of our property.

As you can see one of the 100+ year old pecan trees split off. (I wouldn't call that a limb down!) Thank God it didn't land on my neighbor's home. It was a big mess but once Danny got the limbs off it didn't look as bad.





We will use it for firewood.

The weather in my neck of the woods:
It was cloudy this morning but the air was crisp & cooler. The sun is shinning now and the temperature is 89 degrees!


One of my simple pleasures:
Listening to the wind chimes. What a peaceful sound!


On my bedside table:
"Reposition Yourself" by T.D.Jakes


On my TV:
Several old episodes of "Burn Notice". I love this show!


On the menu for tonight:
Lemon Pepper Chicken, cream corn, and fresh sliced tomatoes. Not sure what else..I will have to feel the rest of it out as I go along.


On my To Do List:
Vacuuming
Picking up.
Weed pulling.


New Recipe I tried last week:
Lemon Blueberry Pound cake


In the craft basket:
I just dont have one of these!


Looking forward to:
I have been granted a transfer to work in ICU full time! I love this area & have worked there often. It will be a nice change & a great learning environment.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
Summertime meal planning is a whole lot easier when there are fresh veggies and things in season. I let Summer's produce tell me what to cook.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
I love how so many bloggers posted about what the 4th of July means to them, the family celebrations, the patriotic pictures! There wasn't a single favorite as all of them were great! I love being able to step into every ones home & see their traditions & celebration's!


Favorite photo from last week:
Little Package loves a fresh tomato!













Lesson learned the past few days:
Just let GOD handle it!


On my Prayer List:
Many family members and some friends.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
Streams in The Desert....this is one of the best devotionals I have ever used!


Visit Sandra for more Homemaking Monday!

TV

I have discovered some entertaining TV shows this summer. I AM NOT A FAN OF ANY REALITY SHOWS AT ALL and neither is Danny. Even though it seems to be the "Craze" these days....well I have never been one to want to do what the "Jone's" do.

Any who......I am loving the new series on USA called ROYAL PAINS. I just love Hank!
HawthoRNe on TNT is another new series...I've only watched one episode and so far, I like it. So the DVR is set to catch more. Both of these series revolve around the medical field. Since I am a nurse....I guess that is some of the attraction for me.

Not a new series but new to me watching is BURN NOTICE. I love spy shows & movies so this is right up my alley....and funny too!!! Michael Weston, Sam & Fi are slick as oil!

THE CLEANER on A&E seems pretty good too. Again I have only watched one episode and have the DVR set to catch more. Benjamin Bratt is the star here. It is based on a true story about a guy with a drug addiction. He is rehabed and sets out to help others kick their habit.

THE CLOSER on TNT with Kyra Sedgwick has been one of my favorite shows since it started. She is girly but smart, not super woman tough but will use a gun if she needs too. A good drama.

So if your looking for a little entertainment....here's what my DVR is set to catch this summer.

So what's your favorite shows this year?

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Hot & Sunny. It was 96 yesterday. Should be about the same today.


One of my simple pleasures:
Mornings on the porch with Danny drinking coffee together.


On my bedside table:
The last few pages of Gone With the Wind. What a classic! I cant wait to see the movie again.


On my TV:
"Gidget", the first season. I love those old shows. Clean & funny. (I love Netflix!)I have also recorded some old classic movies from TCM. One is "Bringing Up Baby" with Kathrine Hepburn & Cary Grant. It is soooo funny!

On the menu for tonight:
We will be eating out at one of our favorite restaurants this evening. Chinese from "Wongs".


On my To Do List:
Buying some new furniture for a spare bedroom.
Looking at paint. Getting the necessary supplies for various paint projects.
A doctor's appointment.
Father's Day gift buying.


New Recipe I tried last week:
I made hash using cube steak from Venison. I usually use stew meat but I have a good bit of cubed meat that I need to use up. It turned out good.


In the craft basket:
I just dont have one!


Looking forward to:
Eating out again with my husband today. We had a day out sight seeing yesterday & ate out. Today we get to hang out together & eat out again. Danny has not felt like doing anything for a a year so it's nice to get out.


Homemaking Tip for this week:
I cant think of a thing!


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Despite her pain & suffering, my friend Miss. Mavee is still able to be humorous in it all. I love her courage.


Favorite photo from last week:
There is a huge wall of black berries growing on the edge of the woods here. The deer & rabbits come to it every day.















Lesson learned the past few days:
Getting out of the house with no known agenda, even for an afternoon, can give you a new perspective on things.


On my Prayer List:
Many Family members that are sick.
Many unspoken burdens.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
I continue to read from "Streams in the Desert". It is a daily encouragement to me.

Go over to Sandra's for more Happy Homemaker Mondays.

A Delicacy?







My boys decided to go frog giggin in our pond several nights ago. They gigged 8 all together. Danny fried them up along with some shrimp. I Could not bring myself to eat any despite their raves on how good it was. The legs fried up with the prettiest golden brown crust. Looking much like chicken....But I just couldn't do it!

For more favorite things go over to Suzanne's Living To Tell The Story


1. FAMILY! You know there is really nothing quite like family. I enjoyed cousins coming even if it was for the death of a loved one. My Mama is always here at just the right time helping me with all the preparations. Nick my oldest son, I couldn't have done it all without him. I miss drinking coffee with him on the porch in the mornings.

2. A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE! Nothing Like it! BUT, I am just about out of my Dunkin Donut coffee. I use whole bean and I cant find it anymore at my local stores. Of a matter of fact, I'm having trouble finding ANY WHOLE BEAN COFFEE!

3. SUNRISES ON MY FRONT PORCH! The weather has been so ugly here for so long. I did get one great sunrise this week! Thank you Lord!

4. A GOOD DEVOTIONAL. I have been reading "Streams in the Desert" this year and recently was loaned a book called "Walking With God" that is great as a devotional too.

5. A HEALTHY HUSBAND! Danny has been sickly for a year but has finished his treatment (something I want to post about sometime but need his permission first). The most important thing is he is much better now. I see him doing things that he hasn't been able to do for a year. God is good! All the time! God is good!!!

This is my first Friday Fav Five but I have always enjoyed Jen. I found a new blog in the process!

LIFE & DEATH


It seems our life around here as been in a whirl wind. Danny lost a dear uncle and just a few days later, I lost a precious aunt. That is life and death. The loss of these two wonderful people have left Danny and I with holes.

Going to viewings and funerals...well you just have to do it. Having two deaths in a week is just too much though.

Danny's oldest granddaughter graduated from high school Friday night and his niece graduates Saturday. Boy we have kept the roads hot!!! But that is life...good life!

We celebrated Memorial Day weekend with a service for my aunt. Everyone came here for a nice big gathering. The food was unreal!! I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful but you know it is a Southern thing to eat and eat good when there is a death. We had a wonderful time socializing with family that lives far off. We had folks come from Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and from here in good old Georgia. My aunt would have been proud. Death is life.

I am hoping for some normalcy. Danny & I are desperate for some!

I'm leaving you with a picture of the Little Package and my friend Dr. Jones. Poor girl keeps getting ear infections. Life!

Spring is fading into the HOT GEORGIA SUMMER!

Life is busy. Full of all kinds of things. Somethings I enjoy and some I do not...but life is full. I have been to two family reunions recently. Both full of good food, fun and family.













Things are growing here like crazy. I noticed this morning that the field was full of yellow dandelions.

I have spent some beautiful mornings out on my front porch. The air is still cool in the mornings. I am so thankful for my home place. It is a true sanctuary for me. I see God every where I look.









It is well with my soul!