Welcome to Thankful Thursday - October 8, 2009

*

Hiddy Ho Sweet Friends,

*

Hope you are having a very blessed day today.

My day is going well,  not a lot happening today

really.  Have been finishing up some cards and

getting them in the mail,  and planning a surprise

for a special friend.  Thinking about what to make for

 din din,  think it will be Tilapia, baked potatoes,

 and roasted asparagus.  Sounds good to me,  and

fairly easy.  Have to run some errands late in the

day so that should work.

*

Today I am thankful

*

#1

 for friends that love the Lord and enjoy talking about Him

 and the things He has and is teaching them for it brings

great encouragement to me, and to them.

*

#2

that my friends, son Daniel,  and that he is doing okay after

having been taken to the hospital for seizures.  They

think it was a reaction to a medication he was taking,

he has been in the hospital 2 days and was preparing to

go home when I was there to visit early this evening.

*

#3

that I didn't take a spill today when my tennis shoe

caught on the rug, as I was exercising and lost my balance.

Those falls are not as easy to take as one gets older.

*

#4

I was able to get out of the house for a little while

today,  even tho it was a lot of quick stops and some

errands.  One that was fun,  actually they were all fun,

 but one in particular was the most fun,  the surprise I

 mentioned earlier.

*

#5

that I was able to get a Chocolate Elvis since I was

out,  and the planet smoothie store was right by one

of the places I had to go to!  Like I really need that

excuse!! lol

*

#6

for our printer.  Now this is a sacrifice of praise..........

because I have been aggravated with it for sometime.

We bought it new about 2-3 months ago,  but I am

not happy with it,  I liked our old printer much better,

but it broke.  So decided I should quit griping about

it and praise the Lord,  cause I could have NO printer!!

So that makes this one sound mucho better.

*

#7

that Scott is getting off a lil earlier tonight so he can

go see his new girlfriend before she leaves on a

trip tomorrow for the weekend.  She is a sweetie!

*

#8

that Scott has Sat. off,  so he can get some rest,

he really needs it badly!  Not that he is complaining

cause he isn't,  but Mom's can tell when you are

wayyyyyyyyy overtired!!

*

#9

that the Dr. office finally called in the okay on my

hubbies prescription since he took his last pill

last night!!

*

#10

that God loves me no matter what,  and that His

ear is always inclined to me since I am His child,

and that He answers so many of my prayers!

*

#11

that I feel like such a blessed lady for so so many

reasons.  Even when there are problems we still

have way more blessings that we can contain.

*

*

Hope you are feeling amazingly blessed this day!

*

*

Count your blessings.......name them one by one,

Count your many blessings,

see what God has done!!

*

*

Hope you will leave me a comment telling me

what God has done for you!!  It encourages me

and other that read it as well.

*

*

Thanks for stopping in, and

Have a great Friday!!

*

Blessings and Hugs,

Nellie

Been a Good Day!!

Greetings Sweet Friends,

~

Hope you day is going well.  We had our ladies group

this morning and had such a great and encouraging time

together.  We hated for it to end,  but all good things

have to come to an end sometime! lol

~

Spent the afternoon making some greeting cards,

that is always fun.  Have to admit I am getting a lil

out of practice since I have been blogging tho.

Must try to do it more often.  You know the old

saying if you don't use it you'll lose it!

Sure don't want that to happen.

~

Well,  hubby is home and I am going to go

have dinner.  He got a Rotisserie chicken from

Sam's.  Yum Yum!

~

Hope you have a great Evening

~

Blessings abundant!

Nellie

Have a great Tuesday

(Our Backyard wildflowers done in Photoshops Threshold affect)

*

Good Morning Sweet Friends,

*

After looking at my header picture aren't you glad that God

painted our world with color!!  I sure am,  even tho,  that is

a neat affect,  I would much rather look at this!!

Wouldn't you??
*

*

We had a nice weekend,  How about you??  Monday was good

too,  got to spend the afternoon and evening with my sweet Dee.

We had a great time talking all afternoon,  and then we had dinner

and she did my hair.  She keeps her Mom looking fresh!!

*

I made something I haven't made for a long time,  and we all loved

it!  Was easy and delicious and I used a recipe I got online cause

I was too lazy to look for my old one,  and I actually like this one

way better! 

*

I made "Cuban Ropa Vieja",  it is a beef dish cooked in tomato

sauce and spices.  With this recipe you just throw it all in the

crock pot and forget about it for 4 hrs.  Love that!!

*

I made Black Beans and Yellow Rice to go with it,

and I would typically do a lettuce tomato and onion salad,

but didn't this time.  We also like to slice up bananas on

a large plate and then sprinkle them with lemon juice to

eat with the meal.  Delicious,  and you don't get all the

fat of the fried plantians that usually would be prepared

with this meal.  I added rice to the leftover sauce we

had, and hubby took it as soup for lunch today.

I tasted it,  made a delicious soup too!

I will definitely be making that again soon.

*

If you are interested in the Cuban Ropa Vieja Recipe,

go to http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cuban-Ropa-Vieja/Detail.aspx

*

In case you don't know how to spice up your black beans,

let me share what I learned about making them,  from a

sweet cuban lady that I worked with, when we lived in

Key West,  years ago.  You can use dried or canned

black beans,  I usually use the canned.  Add a lot of

garlic powder to taste,  add onions and bell peppers,

l large each for about 3-4 cans of blackbeans.  I also

put about a tblsp. of olive oil and a tblsp of red wine

vinegar as well,  also a couple of bay leaves,  and

let them simmer on low for about 30-45 mins.  If you

make them dried it takes way longer to prepare.

I usually put all the spices in and let them just

sit in the pot,  on the stove for quite awhile before

 cooking them,  and they get seasoned thru even just

sitting there,  then you don't have to cook and

stir them so much,  and the beans don't get so

mushy either,  so they make a nicer presentation

on your plate.

*

Hope you will give it a try!  I think you will find

you really enjoy it.

It is a very flavorful meal,  but not spicy or hot!

Pleasantly different,  a lil bit of Island flair!

*

 Bon Appetit!!

*

Just had to show you the wildflowers now that they are in full bloom!
*
Don't they look like they are reaching heavenward to praise our Lord!!
*

Have a great Tuesday!!

*

Blessings and hugs,

Nellie

Have a Reminiscing Sabbath Day

Up on a Mountain on the Appalachian Trail in Maine

*

Sweet Sunday to you!!

*

Hope your weekend has been very pleasant

so far,  and that it will only be more pleasant

this Lord's Day!

*

Jim and I did go and celebrate with breakfast at Cracker

 Barrel..  We love the Mama's pancake breakfast! We

get them to put pecans' in the pancakes,  that really makes

them so good! We always enjoy looking around in the

 Gift shop as well.   Did a little grocery shopping at Publix

 and then came home put away the cold groceries and

 took a lil nap! 

Been a very nice day,  I would say!

*

I got to thinking about reminiscing about the good

things God has done for us,  and how that is such

a great spiritual practice,  and it doesn't just help

us,  it helps those we tell about it as well,  especially

our children and loved ones.  It helps cement in their

hearts and minds the faithfulness and goodness of

the Lord,  so that when they are in a tough or dark

time they will think my Mom or Dad or Gram-ma or

Gram-pa said God was faithful to them when such

and such happened!

*

So do some reminiscing today and share your thoughts

with your spouse,  children,  grandchildren,  friends,

 church family or neighbors!  You will enjoy telling and

remembering it,  the Lord will be honored and  glorified, 

 and someone will learn an important spiritual lesson

 about who God really is!

*

I'll leave you with this verse from

Deuteronomy 4:9 NIV

*

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely

so that you do not forget the things your eyes

have seen or let them slip from your heart as

long as you live.  Teach them to your children and

to their children after them."

*

Have a fun day of Remembering God's Goodness!

*

Love,  Hugs,  and Blessings,

Nellie

We are celebrating at our house!!

*
Helloooooooooo Sweet Friends,

*

Yoo Hoo, 

We are celebrating at our house.............

Hubby just laid the last tile! 

*

We are both  beyond excited !!

*

It really looks so good,  can't wait to

see it grouted,  but that will come.

*

Next week,  let the grouting begin!!

*

Hubby went to get a movie,  and we

are gonna break out the popcorn and

Rootbeer,  and I think this deserves

a trip to Cracker Barrel for breakfast

for my hardworking hubby!

He absolutely loves breakfast at

Cracker Barrel!

*

Well,  just had to share my good news

with you all!

*

Also,  wanted to say I made the Baked

Potato Soup from Becky's recipe,

I made a lowfat version,  but let me

tell you,  the whole fam loved it!

Dee took some home with her,  and

we finished off the last of it tonight.

*

And she was right,  it is um um Good!

*

Well,  you have a great Weekend,

*

Love,  Hugs and Blessings,

Nellie

*

P.S.  Do the large letters say

excitement by any chance!  lol

Welcome to Thankful Thrusday - October 1, 2009

*

Hiddy Ho Sweet Friends,

*

How is your day going today???

Well,  I hope!!

*

It has been another beautiful Fall day here,

I had to celebrate again this morning with some more

punkin pie,  hubby worked home today so he helped

me celebrate!!  Worked out in the yard about an hour.

I was working in the sun so it got too hot,  very quickly.

*

I love to watch the progression of the work even tho

I only go out there and do it every so often,  but usually

I or we accomplish quite a bit in a half hr. or hours time.

*

I am in the process of making Becky's Baked Potato

soup from her post today.  Look on my sidebar for

Holiday in the Sun,  if you want to see the recipe.

I have to make a lowfat version,  but I know it is

gonna be delicioso!!  Can hardly wait,  once I saw

that picture I was thinking I gotta make that soup.

I have actually made it before but with another recipe.

At some point I realized I had all the ingredients,

so why not make it for tonight!!   So thank you

Miss Becky for your inspiration,  my dear!!

*

Well,  on to Thankful Thursday............

I am so Thankful for

#1

The lovely Fall Weather finally!!  lol

#2

The  Wildflowers that are blooming in our yard,

cause they have not bloomed for a few years,  and

for some reason hubby and I both just love them.

They look like blackeyed Susans but my son says

they are called something else,  can't remember right

now.  He brought them to us from Gainesville when

he lived there and we have had them for years.  They

get real tall and willowy and just look so neat!

*

*

The picture on my header was before they opened.

This is not time lapse photography,  it is days lap photography.

*

*

Isn't the bloom just so sweet and delicate!

There are more they just haven't opened yet.

*

#3

For Beckys recipe post today,  cause it solved

my dinnertime dilemma and kept me from having

to go to the grocery store!

*

#4

For the sweet comment hubby left on my blog today

*

#5

For the worship network on our tv,  I love the

music and the scenery and the verses they put

on the screen.  Very relaxing and Worshipful!

I watch it quite often and it makes me full of Joy!

*

#6

That our son is enjoying his job,  although

he has been having to work a lot of hours.

He really has a great attitude about it as well.

*

#7

That Scott just found out that they will not be

on mandatory Sats. @ work after next week.

I am so glad for him!

*

#8

That I got to spend a long time with my daughter

on Monday,  and that we are getting together

again next week on Mon. or Tuesday.  We

didn't do my hair,  and we are still working on

her wall hangings.  She decided she wanted to

do something a lil different.

*

#9

That we are gonna get to doggie sit our lil

Rosie girl over the weekend.  We had so much

fun with her the last time!

Do I sound like a grandparent wanna be!! lol

*

#10

That the news on my lil nephew Brysen has

been much better.  They found a new Dr.

and what she told them to do has been working.

*

#11

And last but certainly not even far from least,

my relationship with My  Heavenly Father,

and all the Sweetness He adds to my life!

Have no idea where I would be without him,

but I know it would not be anywhere good!

*

*

Well, have a delightful evening,

Thanks so much for coming by!

*

*

Don't forget to leave a comment to let me

know what you are thankful for today!!

*

*

Blessings,

Nellie

What a blissfully delightful morning

*

Afternoon Sweet Folks,

*

What a delightful Morning it has been,  woke up to 61 degree

 weather.............It finally feels like Fall in Florida!!  Yea!!

 Don't think it will last too long,  but,  Ooooh how welcome it is,

 actually it is 81 degrees now at 1:46p.m.,  but still feels quite nice out.

*

In honor of the first real day of feeling like Fall,  I celebrated!!

That pumpkin pie with the whip cream and nuts and coffee

was my breakfast this morning.  It was delightful I must say.

I just love pumpkin pie!  and since it is a veggie you can have

it anytime your lil heart desires,  well,  almost!! lol

Definitely a better choice than most treats at least.

*

I should have worked outside this morning,  but just couldn't

seem to get motivated,  think it is because the lawn needs

mowing which we will do this evening,  if it doesn't rain

again.  I am more motivated when it already looks nice to

trim things and make it look even prettier,  so hopefully

tomorrow is the day,  cause we have lots of stuff that needs

pruning!  I am sure the plants are not fond of seeing me

coming with those ominous looking shears.  Poor Dears!!

*

Well,  remember I told you I would show you the cute

things I got at Old time Pottery.  Well look below

and you will see,  a great lil village of three!

*

*

They are really lil gift boxes,  but I plan to use them

as decorations instead.  My hubby just loves lil villages

and we have thought of getting the lil porcelain ones

we have so many Christmas decorations we have

no idea where we could put them,  so thought he

would enjoy these,  that way we can put them any

where and they don't have to be plugged in.

*

Also found these cute candy apple red

luminaries for a song.

*

*

I will be used outside the front door or on the porch.

They have nice brass looking bucket type handles,  so

they could be hung up somewhere if necessary too.

Just loved the red finish they have!

*

Also found 2 of these plates.  I know they are not Christmasy

but I just loved them for some reason and I like to use

plates when I decorate.  I would love to have a set of

these to dine on,  but unfortunately,  they only sold them

separately.  I think they are an old Gibson pattern that

is out of stock now.

*

Remember I told you I had to find a place of honor for the

nice things in my goodie basket from my friend,  well,  I

did that this morning,  and here is what I did with it all.

*

*

I did have a sunflower colored gold salad plate with just the

potpourri on it,  so I used my new plate and the cute pumpkin

from my basket and just surrounded it with the potpourri.

Thought it came out rather cute.

*

*

Put the cute lil candles at the bottom of the TV with some

of the leftover ribbon.

*

*

Cute leaf salt and pepper shakers,  I used one on

top of the fireplace doors and the gift tag as well.

*

*

As you can see I put the other one in the china hutch.

I can use them on the table anytime as well.

*

*

and here's one of the cute kitchen towels

hanging on the oven door.

*

*

And the basket became home for my fall magazines.

Doesn't it look pretty by the chair.

*

Made my day all over again!!

It is the gift that keeps on giving all Fall Long!! lol

*

Well, that is what I have been up to today,  plus I talked

to a few friends on the phone as well,  and of course,

did the regular everyday  household duties.

*

Oh yea,  I was gonna tell you if you happen to have some

steak or chicken left over after dinner some evening,

here is a neat thing to do with it for lunch or dinner the

next day or night

*

French Bread Steak, pepper, onion and cheese pizza

*

I buy a nice sliced multigrain french bread,  any kind

of crusty sliced bread will do.

*

Cut the steak or chicken up in small pcs.

*

Saute sliced onion and pepper strips in a non-stick fry

 pan sprayed with Pam and add a tsp. water

(lowfat cooking here)

*

Lay out your bread on a cookie sheet or stone,

then put pcs. of steak or chicken on top of the

bread,  then spoon some of the peppers and

onions on top of that,  then top it off with some

low fat mozzarella cheese.  Bake in the oven

at 350 degrees for about 15-20 mins. or  until it

heats thru and cheese is melted.

*

Make a nice salad to go with it,  and you are

good to go!! Would make nice appetizers as well.

*

Bon Appetit!!

*

Have a Great Evening

*

Hugs and Blessings

 Nellie