Like a Flowing Stream

There is a little stream that runs down the side of the road next to the old homeplace my grandmother grew up in. It flows down from the top of a small hill that is located across the road from where their front porch was. At the top of the hill was where they had built a springhouse--or milkhouse, as my grandma called it--and since they didn't have electricity, was where they kept their milk and other things that needed to be kept cold. Sadly the springhouse is no longer there, but, just as it did those many, many years ago, the icy, cold stream still flows down over the rocks, and down into the ditch beside the road.

It has been many years since I have been there, but for the times that I was, I would stand and listen to it's peaceful, soothing sounds, in the quiet of the day.  No distractions and noise--just peacefulness.

As I thought about this for a while, I realized that this was like God's peace to the Christian. We may have difficult "rocks" and hard places in our lives, but God's peace can wash over us, just like the streams of water rushing over the rocks beside the road; refreshing us daily if we put our trust in Him. We can have peace in knowing that our lives are in His hands...that whatever life has in store for us, He is there to see us through.

For thus says the Lord:

"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,

And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream..."

Isaiah 66:12

My Daybook ~ May 31

For Today... Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Looking out my window... it is sunny and beautiful, 82 degrees. A few days last week we reached into the 90's. I think we have quickly moved right into summertime, after a long time of chilly, rainy weather, and we skipped right over spring. 

I am thinking... I hope I don't see a bear in my yard anytime soon. Our neighbor from down the street told us yesterday that he looked out his front window that morning to see a black bear leaning over his bird feeder--at 11:30 a.m! So, last night we started bringing our bird feeders inside over night, just in case. I was a little nervous when I had to take our dog out in the middle of the night last night. I turned the porch light on, which I don't normally do, so I could see all around, but the way he was sniffing the ground it made me wonder if he smelled bear tracks. I was happy when we were safely back inside!

One of my favorite things... having a little vegetable garden outside my kitchen door.

I am wearing... a yellow t-shirt and dark, denim capris

I watched... last night we watched two movies, and although we didn't really plan it, both had "military" themes--which was kind of neat since it was Memorial Day. The first movie was based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, The Lucky One, and the second was an older movie called, Father Goose, which starred one of my favorite actors, Cary Grant.

I am hoping... for lots and lots of tomatoes from our garden this year, even if I end up having to can some :)

In my kitchen... squash fried in cornmeal, buttered potatoes, and lima beans. My mother-in-law got the recipe for the squash from a friend in Tennessee, and it is one of our favorites!

Southern-Style Squash

 Boil in water: 3-4 yellow squash, diced, and 1/2 medium onion, diced

Cook until tender. Drain water off in colander.
Add 2 beaten eggs and 3 or 4 cups of cornmeal to the squash. (I used self-rising cornmeal.) Stir together. It should be somewhat thick. I also add a little garlic powder to taste. 

In a skillet, put enough cooking oil to cover the bottom. Add the squash mixture to the skillet and fry over medium heat, turning every few minutes. It will fry a nice, brown color, but you will still see some yellow squash. Cooking time will be about 30 minutes or so.

In my garden... the peonies in my yard bloomed toward the end of last week, and, just like that, are now all finished for the year. Our pepper plant is doing good, and our tomato plants are growing like weeds! We should have done it sooner, but we went and bought some tomato cages for them over the weekend, and propped them up.  They are getting really tall, and have lots of blooms on them. 

Shared Quote...

A moment from my day... one of the many yellow finches that have been fluttering around the thistle seed feeder today. This one decided to perch in the tree for a while...

Closing notes... thanks for stopping by! Thank you to Peggy at The Simple Woman for hosting this each month. If you would like to join in, be sure to visit her for all the details and prompts. 

My Daybook ~ May 23

For Today... Monday, May 23, 2016

Looking out my window... after a rainy weekend, the sun is shining again! Amazing how a little sun can make you feel so much better :) There is a small breeze, the birds are singing, the windchimes are chiming, and it's 64 degrees - which is supposed to be the high for today.

I am thinking... starting week 3 of exercises with my daughter. We do the 8 Minutes in the Morning exercises from Jorge Cruise, and also do Just Dance on the Wii :)

I am thankful... to be feeling better after a rough weekend being in bed with a migraine and nausea. 

One of my favorite things... I have an obsession with strawberry Twizzlers. Lately, somehow, they always seem to end up in our grocery cart each week ;)

I am wearing... denim capris and a t-shirt, barefeet

I am creating... I started a rag quilt made from some of my husband's old shirts and jeans a few months ago that I plan to get back to work on soon. So easy to make, and thrifty, too :)

I am hoping... to get my carpets shampooed this week. I had planned to do it last week, but it didn't happen. I also hope the weather is nice this coming weekend, so we can have a picnic for Memorial Day. 

In my kitchen... tonight for supper we will have hamburgers and tator tots. I usually always have something simple on Mondays. 

In my garden... our purple Jackmanii clematis is trailing up the trellis on the side of our porch, all the way up to the roof. It isn't blooming yet, but it is going to beautiful when it does! Last year my peonies were blooming by this time, but so far this year, they are just budding. It won't be long though. My only wish is that beautiful flowers like this would bloom for a longer period of time!

Board room... I love the quilts - actually everything about this photo...

{ From my board Perfectly Prim, photo from Musings from Remember When Farm }

A Shared Quote...

A moment from my day...

Five Senses: May 19

May 19

seeing ~

glorious sunshine, after two days of gloomy, dark clouds and rain

hearing ~

my husband sitting out on the front porch, talking to the next door neighbor

smelling ~

a skillet of potatoes frying in the kitchen

tasting ~

the last few sips of coffee in my mug

feeling ~

hungry...but supper will be ready soon :)

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Tell us about a time you found yourself 'in the middle of nowhere'. Was this deliberate?

One time my husband and I took a drive way out in the country to try and locate where my grandmother was born and raised. Although she had told us many stories about the area, and even a few details, I didn't really know how to get there without specific directions. But we decided to ride out anyway. We ended up on a very country, dirt road, with not a house in sight, traveling up the side of a mountain, with only room enough for one car. I don't know what we would have done if a car had come from the other direction. We were so high up, if you looked over the side of the road, you could see birds flying down below! It was starting to get toward evening, and I do admit, it was a little nerve-wracking traveling up such a steep, narrow road, so instead of taking the chance of getting really lost in the middle of no where, we somehow (and I don't know how!) managed to turn around and go back down. As it turned out, we were no where near where she had grown up! But it was an interesting drive.

2. What's something you're 'in the middle of' today or this week? 

This week I'm in the middle of doing a bit of spring cleaning. I have been washing windows and mini-blinds, and one day this week I plan to shampoo the carpets in my livingroom and diningroom. If I feel really energetic, I might do my bedroom carpet, too. 

3. At what age do you think 'middle age' begins? What does it mean to be 'middle aged'? 

I always thought that "middle age" began around age 50. Maybe it starts before, but I'll just say 50 since I haven't quite reached that age yet ;) I don't think you are old when you are middle aged--but by the time that season rolls around, you've lived enough years and experienced so many things, good and bad, that you tend to not be quite as stupid as you were when you were in your teens and 20's ;)

4. Ravioli, stuffed peppers, samosas, deviled eggs, steamed dumplings, pierogis, or a jelly donut...your favorite food (from this list!) with something yummy in the middle. Your favorite not on the list? 

From this list I would have to say that ravioli and deviled eggs are my favorite. My absolute favorite foods are meatloaf, fried pork chops, and buttered lima beans. 

5. Albert Einstein is quoted as saying ''In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.'Would you agree? Have you found this to be true in your own life? Feel free to elaborate. 

Yes, I do agree that 'within difficulty lies opportunity.' No one enjoys going through difficult things, but it does make you wiser and stronger after you've come through it. Difficulties give us the opportunity to grow and change. I also think that, in my case, the difficulties I have been going through is teaching me to trust God more. I am the type of person that always wants to figure things out and try to come up with some kind of solution on my own  - and as I've realized, sometimes there just isn't anything that can be done in my own power. You just have to give it over to God and let Him take care of it. This has been a hard lesson for me. 

6. What's a song you remember loving from your middle school years? Do you love it still? 

It's been so long ago I can't seem to remember what song I really liked when I was in middle school. I didn't really get into music that much until I was in high school. During my high school years, our art class had a radio, and the students were at liberty to turn it to whatever station they wanted. At that time we always listened to the 80's, which was new music at the time. Now it's considered oldies--haha. I can't pinpoint one particular song, but whenever I hear something from the 80's, it transports me back to that time. 

7. May 18th is National Visit Your Relatives Day. Will you celebrate? Which relative would you visit if time, distance, and expense were not considered. 

Well, if time and distance were not factors in being able to visit, and if it were possible, I would visit my mom, who recently graduated onto heaven. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

My first time doing the Wednesday Hodgepodge!

My Daybook ~ May 16

For Today... Monday, May 16, 2016

Looking out my window... is a beautiful, sunny day, even though it is very breezy, 63 degrees. 

I am thinking... I'm not looking forward to the rain they are calling for tomorrow and Wednesday. If we needed more rain it would be one thing, but we've gotten quite a bit lately. I'm afraid it's going to start affecting the things we have planted, flowers and vegetables. 

I am thankful... for the sun! ☼

One of my favorite things... this framed stitchery that I found over the weekend...

I am wearing... jean capris and a plum-colored t-shirt, barefeet

I am creating... clean windows. Washing windows and mini-blinds in my dining room today. I did the ones in the living room and kitchen last week. I love seeing the sun streaming through clean windows ♥ And then one day this week I am planning to shampoo the carpets in my living room and dining room. A bit of spring cleaning, I suppose.

I am listening to... the sound of my new wind chimes blowing in the breeze.

I am hoping... for good things to come. Every day has something good in it, but, I mean something "out of the ordinary" good. Honestly, this just hasn't been the best year for me.

In my kitchen... tonight for supper I'm planning to make a new recipe for Amish Country Casserole that I found. If we like it, I'll share the recipe!

In my garden... we had to cover our clematis, pepper, and tomato plants last night, because we had a frost warning. I don't remember that ever happening before this late in May. 

A Shared Quote...

A moment from my day... 

Have a great week!

Friday's Fave Five

1. Watching yellow finches come and go at the thistle seed feeder. They are so bright and cheerful. I have counted about eight at one time - all trying to get on the same feeder. (I think we need another one!) I've heard some people say they've had up to 40 finches at one time! That, I think, would be amazing ♥ This little guy kept landing on our hanging chime. He would hang onto the pendulum as a breeze twirled him around. He didn't seem to mind a bit. I think maybe he liked it :)

2. Exercising ~ my daughter and I started exercising together this week. I'm hoping that by doing it together we can motivate each other to stick with it! Boy, oh boy, am I sore! :)

3. One of my favorite things to do is watch these playful, little critters scampering around in our front yard. I think they are getting a little spoiled with the snacks we leave for them! ♥

4. Sunshine ~ it's been so rainy the last few weeks that I was sooo happy to see the sun shining yesterday!

5. The Parent Trap ~ It's been a chilly, rainy week, so going outside in the evenings hasn't really been an option. So one night this past week, we decided to watch this cute movie...

And, that is five of my favorite things from this past week...what are yours? 

My Daybook ~ May 9

For Today... Monday, May 9, 2016

Looking out my window... it is cloudy, 54 degrees, and a little breezy. It has been raining since this morning, so everything is very soggy and wet. So much rain lately! But, everything does look lush and green.

I am thinking...  Seriously--is this May, or March? It looks like May, but feels more like March.

I am thankful... for the nice Mother's Day I had yesterday. We went to church with my sister-in-law, where the kids from her church performed a musical, which was really cute--then we went out to eat with her. It was the first time I had ever gone out to eat on a Mother's Day, and it was packed! But, the wait wasn't really so bad. It only took about 30 minutes before we were seated. Then later that evening, we had a delicious Mother's Day dinner that my daughter and husband made for me, followed by a movie.

One of my favorite things... listening to rain falling on the roof - which I've heard a lot of lately. 

I am wearing... jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, black socks.

I watched... last night we watched the movie Sweet Home Alabama, which I got to choose since it was Mother's Day ;)  We have watched this movie so many times!

I am hoping... for some sunny days this week--even though there is a chance of rain each day up until Sunday. 

In my kitchen... supper tonight will be leftovers from yesterday's Mother's Day meal: fried pork chops, mashed potatoes & gravy, lima beans, harvard beets, and rolls.

In my garden... so far so good. Our tomato plants look like they have doubled in size since we planted them :)

A Shared Quote...

A moment from my day... My daughter and I are going to start exercising today. Hopefully we can motivate each other to keep it up. Must. Keep. Going.

Closing Notes: Thank you for visiting me today! If you would like to join in the daybook, please visit Peggy, The Simple Woman, for details. 

My Daybook ~ May 2

 

For Today...

Monday, May 2, 2016

Looking out my window...

it's a beautiful, sunny day, 81 degrees, with a brisk breeze blowing. Birds are fluttering about the feeders in the front yard, singing and chirping in some nearby trees. A squirrel (one of four) sits in the tree, nibbling ears of corn my husband puts out for them...and are waiting patiently for me to throw out some peanuts for them as I do each morning :)

I am thinking...

that it is nice to do my daybook once again, after almost a year.

I am thankful...

for the opportunity to go on a family vacation this year, the first we've had in a very long time.

One of my favorite things...

sunny days, after a long stretch of rainy ones.

I am wearing...

jean capris and a purple t-shirt, barefeet

I am reading, watching, listening to...

Last night we spent the evening watching movies, "It Could Happen to You" and "Pride & Prejudice," as the rumble of thunder was heard in the distance. No storms for us, but more rain.

I am hoping...

our little garden of pepper and tomato plants does well this summer.

I am learning...

how to mend holes in jeans, which does come in handy! Yesterday I mended a pair of my daughter's jean shorts which had gotten some holes in them, with the directions I found on Pinterest. Although I ended up breaking two sewing machine needles in the process, they turned out great--and definitely much cheaper than buying new.

In my kitchen...

today, being it's a Monday, we are having something simple for supper--sandwiches and chips

In my garden...

geraniums and lantana, hanging baskets of calibrachoa and verbena



A favorite quote for today...

"So do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Is. 41:10

A moment from my day...

Waiting for peanuts...



Closing notes...

Thank you for visiting me today! If you would like to join in the weekly daybook, please visit The Simple Woman for details. Have a great week!

A Few of This Year's Flowers