Welcome to Thankful Thursday - January 31, 2013

Give thanks to the Lord,
for he is good:
his love endures forever.
Psalm 119:29


Greetings Sweet friends,

Hope you have had a good 
week thus far.

Our week was very uneventful from Monday until 
yesterday and wow, seems like the floodgates have
 opened up, so it has been a bit overwhelming 
since yesterday,  Too many saga's for one day.........
But as you will read we think one got solved,  maybe
even 2, not sure yet, everytime I think it is done, it rears
it's ugly lil head again.  Then we are helping my SIL
 with one she is in, as well,  and have another friend
 who is dealing with a heart wrenching situation as well. 
 Was feeling drained earlier but realized it was time to 
kick back in the ole recliner and have a  long talk  with
 my sweet friend, Jesus,  He always has a calming
 affect on me.......................

So on with my Thankful list................
I have been making it all throughout the day,
and just come back and put in the greeting
and a little about the day or week.  Makes
it easier that way.

#1

I am thankful

for a wonderful statistic we recieved this week,

from Food for the Hungry.  We support a child,

and I say that to say this......in the passed year,

they have helped over 2.5 million people find

a pathway out of poverty. That just made my

heart sing,  and really just struck me, about 
how much gets done when each person 
or family just does what they can.............
amazing results!!

#2

I am thankful

for Megan and Dee's friend, Heather who so

 graciously wanted to open her home to have the

 shower for Megan and also that she allowed us to

 help with it.  Also thankful that it all turned out so

 nicely, and that they have so many nice things for 

the sweet baby girl that is coming soon.

#3

I am thankful

for a new salad I discovered on someones 

blog,  it is called "Black Bean Salad"  and it

is quite tasty.

#4

I am thankful
that our friend Becky's (Over at Timewashed)
daughter had her new baby yesterday, and that
 everything went well.  Another Beautiful lil girl. 
  Just last week her other daughter had a lil girl too.
So they are flowing over with grandies............lol

#5
I am thankful
for blueberry bliss Rooibos tea my daughter 
gave me for Christmas last year.  It is such a
delicious tea, cause sometimes I just get tired
of coffee and want something else,  and it is
a great change of pace.


#6
I am thankful
that we are gonna get to go over to Scott
and Megans on Friday to see the babies room, 
as they have done a lot more since we saw it last,
  and also want to see all the goodies she got at
the shower.  Not the same as seeing them
from the distance...............lol


#7
I am thankful
we are gonna have a fun Super Bowl party
with Dee and Jerry on Sunday.  She and I
like the food and fellowship part and the
guys can enjoy the football part,  course,
we will probably watch some of it.
Too bad,  Tim Tebow isn't playing cause I
 would definitely want to watch then.


#8
I am thankful
that social security makes you fill out your
paperwork early or we would not have known
about hubbies status I told you about yesterday.
Plus we might have been ready for him to retire
and have a big mess on our hands.

#9
I am thankful
that it looks like the problem might be worked out
 according to what the Social Security rep. said,  but it
 isn't showing up online yet..........

He was getting no where until he asked the question
So does it mean that my citizenship expired when my
passport did??  and she said, that is a very good
question??  So she went to her supervisor and she
said they could take that, so she put it in the
computer and she said, We're good!
It took it.....................


#10
I am thankful
that the Lord hears our prayers and cries for
help,  and goes before and prepares the way.



#11
I am thankful
for a recipe I learned a while back from
Sonny over at 155 Dream lane, it is roasted
green beans, and you can use canned or frozen
green beans. I used the canned and it has been a
 life saver many times now when I run out of fresh
 veggies or can't figure out what to do.  I always
keep green beans on hand now, and it is a delicious
way to make them too.  We are having them tonight
can you tell.............I am trying to make what I have
rather than run to the store,  so I had pasta, sauce
and green beans............yummy!! 
 Not mixed together tho......at least not till it hits
your stomach!!  lol

#12
I am thankful
for fruit, especially bananas, strawberries and
peaches...........they are my favorite,  and I am
out of them right now..........and wishing I had 
gone to the store today............lol  Course, I do
have apples and oranges,  they just aren't my
favorites unless they are in a salad.  course,
I forgot I have honey crisp apples, and I do
like to eat those by themselves........
who hoo I am going after an apple now.


See ya later!

Have a great Friday and Weekend,

Love, Hugs, and Happy 
  U.S. Citizen Blessings,

Nellie

Winter Mantle

Howdy Sweet Folks,

How is your week going so far??

Well, I hope!

Mine has been good,  uneventful for the most part,

but sometimes uneventful is very good!!  lol

We are having very warm temps in the 80's again.

Keep trying to go out and sit in the sun, but we have

so much cloud cover that just about the time I get

out there, the sun goes in............our lovely blue

skies look like cotton ball heaven!!  lol

Can't believe we are almost out of January, and

wondering if we are gonna get anymore cold weather.

Bet if I decorated for spring..... early, we would!  lol

That is what has happened in the past, so I quite

doing it early........

oh, did I say it had been uneventful and that un-
eventful was sometimes very good.....I was right,
cause now it is eventful..........Get This!!

Hubby is nearing that golden age of Social 
Security and even tho he isn't retiring yet you still
 have to do the paperwork,  well, most people do
 theirs online, and he tried but it flagged him cause 
he was born out of the country,  as his dad was in
 the Navy and stationed out of the country.  So he
had to go to the Social Security office today to
take his birth certificate,  and they said, it was
unacceptable,  it is what he has used his whole
life to get passports and drivers liscense and
whatever else you need it for................he also
took his passport, no, can't take that because
it has expired, well even tho, it is expired he
had to be a citizen to get it in the first place,
Duhhhhhhhhhhh!!
Now my hubby served 4 years during the Viet
 Nam era in the Air Force, he also had a secret
clearance with the military and again not too
many years ago for a job where he worked.
Needless to say that he has been paying into
social security all these 40 some odd years.,
and I haven't even gotten to the best part yet,
since he lost his social security card they
had him feel out paperwork to get it , and 
when they went to do it they said they couldn't
give him one, because he is not classified
 as a U.S. Citizen!   We are in disbelief!!

Nevertheless, we are not going to panick
over this yet, anyway! cause a rep. from the Social 
Security office is suppose to call him or he them, if 
they don't call in a few days.  So guess we will see
what they have to say and what they suggest......
Our next step, if need be, will be our congressman!

My hubby asked him facetiously, so are they gonna
 continue to take money out of my pay check for 
S.S. then, and the guy said I know, this doesn't 
make any sense,  your are right,  it makes
absolutely no sense..........for heavens sake all
you have to do is check his social security #
against his pay records for all the places he
worked, and how in the world does one get
a secret  security clearance without being
a U.S. citizen, cause they really check you
out good....................
anyway, we would happily accept any prayer
you send our way.  Will keep you posted!!
This turned out to be way longer than it
was suppose to,  but just had to share our
lil saga over here.  lol


Thought I would show you our Winter Mantle

today since it is the centerpiece of our 
family room.................

This was a new find from Ross some weeks back,

and a great deal as well.  It has one of those

fake candles that lights up, but we love how it

looks all lit up on the mantle.

This is the right side of the mantle. I love brass 

and I have had these brass fruit plates for over

42 years,  they were a wedding present, and I

still love them as much as the day I got them.

Added some books and a cream pitcher and 

a wooden pear and that finished it off...........

Until,  I found this at Sears for $6.00, so since I was
 returning something from Christmas that didn't fit
right, she was one of my replacements.

and the same day I found this lil Blue and White
porcelain ball for $1.69 at the Christmas store.
Isn't it pretty!  Imagine a whole bowl full of those.

I used a candle jar lid as a holder.

Here is the whole new vignette on the right side!

Here it is in colored pencil!

Never thought about how nice this would look with

our new lantern, since it has the same design.

Here is an overview.  Our ceiling vault in this room,  so the

 fireplace also vaults upward as well,  so that is why I have 

 this taller piece on the opposite side.  It balances the

mantle very well.

Decided to make a lil sign on cardstock,  it was intended

for the coffee table, but liked it better here!  Liked the

pop of white................

This is the left side again...............love this planter
with the tulips,  my son sent it to me years ago 
when he was in college for my birthday and it 
had real red tulips in it, so decided to carry on 
the memory with some faux  red tulips.  It also
helps hide the cord from the picture lamp.

Same pic, just done in a posterized affect!

The whole left side,  which I decided to change 
again, once I did the other side.

Absolutely love this picture,  and the pic of the pic......lol
I have told hubby  for years this setting is what my home
 in Heaven is gonna be like............lol

And.... No,  it isn't a Thomas Kincaide,  only a Thomas 
Kincaide look alike poster, I had it foam cored, and then
 I put in a really nice frame that used to house an oil
painting. which already had an art light on it.

 Here is the new changes to the left side.  Really it was
I just added the wooden pear of there and lit the candles.

Same pic with a palette knife affect.


Well, there you have it folks, 
 the centerpiece of our family room.

Thanks for stopping by,

am linking up with the style
sisters so come check it out.
Just click Here!

Also linking up to Marty over at
 a walk thru life. come on over
and see more fun tabletops.
Just click here!

Have a Sweet Day!

Hugs, and 
Pretty Mantle Blessings,
Nellie

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spinach

Morning Sweet Friends,

How ya doing today?? 

 Know many of you are having very cold weather, 

so thought this would be a great time to give you 

the recipe to this really good soup,  I told you 

about last week.  We really enjoyed it so much,

and really think it helped hubbies cold too!  lol

Also, it is very heart healthy soup, if you use

the broth I did, so check out the small print in 

the recipe, and a very easy soup to make,

 as well. 

I found the recipe in a new magazine I got

right after Christmas, called "Winter Cottage",

at least I assume it is new as I have never

seen one before."   lol

It's a Warm, Cozy, and Charming magazine 

I might add,  right up my alley.

 If you happen to have one too,  the recipe is 

on page 114, or if you would like to purchase

 one I would recommend getting it at Sam's club

 if you have a membership there, as it is a  bit

pricey, for me anyway!!  lol

Another thing I really loved about about the 

magazine was it had some pictures that covered 

the entire page, and they were so beautiful, one 

of them I used recently and if you don't 
remember or didn't see it, but want to..... 

Just click here! but read below first.
You will need to scroll almost to the bottom of 
the post.  It is the beautiful Winter scene in
the frame, within the vignette. There were
2 pics,  I did one, and decided to change it,
so it is the 2nd picture I used.

(and no I am not getting paid by anyone to

say these things about the magazine. I just

really do like it)  lol

Thought I would just include a few pics from the

magazine, so you could see.....................
This was like a section divider

Wanted to tell you that Megan's shower turned

 out really well, and her friend Heather did such

 a great job on picking the decorations and all,

  just adorable. Food was all great too......

Want tell you much else cause I am hoping I

 can get some pics soon, because I can't believe

 I went off and left my camera, I was so mad at

myself.  since we were helping we had stuff we 

had to take along with our gifts of course, and

 was so trying not to forget anything to do with

 the shower itself, so just forgot the camera!!  lol

Her family took lots of pictures so hopefully

we can get some too.

It was really a fun time had by all, and don't

think they are gonna have to buy very much!

She was really Showered!!  lol

One of the full page pictures - nice cozy family room or living room


Well,  on with the recipe..............

Pic from the magazine,  and it was a full
page pic as well..............

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spinach

Makes 13 cups

Ingredients

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil

(I always use olive oil)

4 shallots, chopped

( I had never used shallots before, so decided to use them,

 but honestly, I would just use a purple or regular onion

 next time, they are rather expensive and I couldn't tell

 any difference).

2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced

1 carrot, thinly sliced

(I used the crinkle cut sliced carrots in a bag,

 enough to look like one large carrot. lol )

2- 32 oz. containers of low-sodium chicken broth

(I used the Swanson's 100% fat free and 33% less sodium one,

 that is what makes it heart healthy)

2 bay leaves

4 cups shredded rotisserie chicken meat

(We used the 4 cups and it is a lot of chicken, so you could

easily get away with 3 cups.)

1-(6oz.) bag of baby spinach, chopped

(I missed the chopped part somehow, and just put it 

in whole and it was fine, so another step you could do 

away with if you want.)

6 tablespoons of lemon juice

(This is what really sets this soup apart from others, 

the lemon really adds such a a nice flavor.)

1 tsp. of salt

( I didn't add the salt, cause the broth really has

 enough salt for us.)

1/2 tsp. of ground black pepper

Directions

In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil over

medium high heat.  Add the shallots, celery,

and carrot. Cook for 5 mins. or until softened.

Add Chicken broth and bay leaves, and bring

to a boil.  Lower heat, and simmer for 15

minutes.  Remove the bay leaves.

Stir in chicken, spinach, and lemon juice, salt

 and pepper.  Cook until spinach is wilted and 

chicken is heated through, about 2 mins. or so.

Then Enjoy to your Hearts Content!! 

Well, there you have it,  hope you get to try

 it out.....don't think you will be disappointed.

This was full page too!  Everytime I pick it up I love it more.....lol

Hey, have a great day!

Thanks for stoppin by



Am linking up to Lois 
over at Walking on Sunshine,
for Foodie Friends Friday,
drop by and check out all the
outstanding recipes.
Just click here!

See ya tomorrow!

Hugs, and Chicken soup

Blessings,

Nellie

Happy Monday

Sweet Friends,

Hi..........

Hope you had a great

weekend.......

Just saw another neat story in the news concerning

a child and thought I would share it.

Girl Saves Mom During Diabetic Attack

A fast thinking 9-year-old Illinois girl was able to help guide her mother to safety after the woman suffered a diabetic attack while driving at speeds of up to 70 mph.

Jennifer Sheridan, 42, was driving her daughter Aleksandra to McDonald's in Frankfort, Ill., after the two had attended a high school basketball game on the evening of Jan. 18. Sheridan, who has type 2 diabetes, had a diabetic attack when her blood sugar suddenly dropped. She told ABCNews.com that she was not aware of what was happening.

"I was still conscious, and talking, my daughter said. I don't remember any of that," Sheridan said. "We went through, she says, a red light, and then I know I kept saying, 'We have to stop.' That was in my mind, but it wasn't clicking."

Sheridan said that they passed her house and the McDonald's. Aleksandra was screaming and crying during the wayward drive, which she says must have lasted 15 to 20 minutes, but kept talking to her mother.

"She says she kept telling me different things, that I was going too fast, or too slow," Sheridan said.

While the car was still moving, Sheridan's husband called. She said that Aleksandra was on phone screaming that they were going off the road.

Her car eventually veered to the right, through a small ditch and a group of trees. At that point Aleksandra turned the car off, preventing the still moving car from hitting a tree.

Luckily, both mother and daughter were unharmed. Once the car was off, Aleksandra slowly fed her mother a chocolate bar that was in the car's cup holder.

"Once we were stopped and she could focus, she fed me," Sheridan said. "She said, 'I kept just giving little pieces so you wouldn't choke.'"

Police and the fire department were called to the scene by a passerby who saw the incident. The story also caught local media attention from WBBM-TV and Fox News.

Sheridan says the next thing she actually remembers was being in the ambulance. Police who arrived on the scene congratulated Aleksandra, and even gave her a yellow duck toy, which they call the "Golden Duck Award for Heroes."

This is not the first time Aleksandra has come to her mom's aid when she had a diabetic attack. Two years ago, while they were in their home, the girl called 911 when she found her mother on the kitchen floor.

Sheridan said that she is now using an insulin pump, which is designed to eliminate lows in blood sugar in diabetics. She said that she will soon be on the list for a new pancreas. With a daughter and a 16-year-old son with cerebral palsy, she says she needs to be in top form. For now, she's happy that both she and Aleksandra are unscathed.

"Every day, I wake up and think, 'Yes!'" she said.

Hope you enjoyed the story,  

see ya tomorrow.

Hugs and 

Amazing Young People Blessings,

Nellie