Welcome to Heart Tips Tuesday - breakfast casserole

Hello There

Healthy Heart Watchers,

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Hope this day find your heart in good shape,

 physically,  spiritually and  emotionally!!

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If you have Cardiovascular disease it is most likely that you 

have blood pressure problems as well.   I would like to

 recommend to you that if you do not have a home blood

 pressure cuff,  that you really should get one,  and then the

 next time you go to your Drs. office take it with you,  so

 you can calibrate yours to the Drs.  We do that and it has

 really worked well because for a lot of people, my hubby

and myself( now in recent years)  included, have what

 the medical folks jokingly refer to as "White Coats Disease",

which is the fact,  that when you go to the Dr, your normal

 blood pressure goes up automatically, just because you
 are at the Drs. office and are under stress, even if it is

 unknowingly!! Living from blood test to blood test 
is just a tad stressful for the patient and the spouse.

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Now we start about a week to10 days before we have

to go for a Dr. visit and we take our BP every day and

record it so we can give it to our Drs. to see what our

normal pressure is before we get to his office. That will

help because if you don't do that, they will only put you

on BP meds or more BP meds, if they think there is a

 problem, and I don't know about you, but taking those

 meds is not our idea of best case scenario, especially

if we really don't need them!!

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Our Dr. really appreciates that we do that,  cause it

helps him to make the right decision for hubby,  cause

BP is a very dangerous thing and of course, can cause

strokes and heart attacks,  so it is good for us to be

taking it from time to time at home between Dr. visits

as well, to make sure there are no big changes,  cause

if there are, we would need to see the Dr. immediately.

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Some of you mentioned you would like the recipe for

the breakfast casserole I made last week,  so decided

to post it today.  Here is a picture,  I forgot to take

it before I cut into it,  so just decided to put it on a

plate, and hoped it would work

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Ham and Scallion Breakfast Casserole

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Ingredients

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5 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed

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1 cup of chopped lowfat, cooked ham

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1/2 cup sliced scallions

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1/2 cup of 2% shredded cheddar cheese

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1-1/2 cups of 1% milk or skim milk

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1 cup of eggbeaters

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1 tablespoon of flour

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black pepper to your liking

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non-stick cooking spray

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Directions

Peel and cube potatoes, place in a saucepan then

cover with a small amount of  water,  and bring to

a boil, cook about 5 mins or so. - the potatoes just

need to be tender not cooked all the way.  When

they are tender, drain them and set aside for now.

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Lightly Spray non-stick cooking spray in a 2 quart

 oven proof baking dish, then add potatoes, scallions,

ham, and cheese, then stir it around just a little.

Then set aside for a few minutes.

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Place the flour in a medium bowl,  then stir

the milk in until mixture is smooth.   Add the

eggbeaters and  black pepper.  Now pour the egg

mixture over the potato mixture. I don't add salt
since I figure the ham is salty already,  but  if we
are eating and it needs a lil salt,  we add it then.
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Bake in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or

until a knife comes out clean.  Be sure to insert

knife in center.  Serve immediately.

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Enjoy!!
I really think this would make an excellent 
dinner casserole as well.  It would be great
with some roasted asparagus!!  ummmm!!

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Tip from Me:

I cooked mine the day before and just  heated

cut squares of it in the microwave the next morning.

Whatever floats your boat!! lol

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Have a Lovely Evening Sweet Friends,

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Thanks for stopping by,

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Hugs and Blessings,

Nellie

Hap Hap Happy Monday!!

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Happy Monday Sweet Friends,

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So how was your weekend???

or how was your Mother's Day??

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Hope the answer is good, delightful, wonderful 

or all of the above. Hope if you are a Mom that 

you got to spend time with your children, in

 person, or on the phone or skype.

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We had a nice weekend, it was productive and

fun!!  Friday and Saturday we worked in the

bathroom and finished painting the woodwork

and caulking and stuff.  We are just about done,

just a few last details and we will be officially

a done deal.  Can't Wait, I am so excited about

how it looks already, can't wait to see the

 finished product.  So for me that seemed like

 a Mother's Day present to get so much done

on it!!

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  Just started to clean out the

cabinets in there today.  It has the old wallpaper

on the bottom of the cabinet and am trying to

decide what to do about that!!

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We watched a movie called "Leap Year" and

it has a PG rating.  It was truly a cute movie,

in fact, we watched it twice,  cause we got

so caught up in the movie we forgot to do

the exercise bike,  so we decided to watch

it a 2nd time and get our exercise,  which

made for another late Friday night!!

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This is getting to be a pattern here!! lol

Then because we were up so late we had

to sleep in.......not too long after we got up

there was a loud knock at the door, and

I ran for the bedroom cause I was still

in my gown.  

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It was a Mother's Day surprise from

 Scott and Megan.  

Isn't it neat!!

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They are called Edible Arrangements

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I have seen them before but never

had the pleasure of having one.

But I have now...........

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It was as delicious as it was pretty,  and I am

keeping all the lil skewers and the basket so

I can try and make my own sometime when

we are having a get together.

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While I was downloading pics I ripped the

wallpaper off the cabinet floor and it came

right off!  So that fixed that!! lol

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We also got to have Rosie for the weekend,

since Dee went to spend the weekend at

her boyfriends parents house.  I know his

Mom was beside herself with joy,  cause

she doesn't get to see him that often, cause

it is about an hr and a half from where he

lives to their place.  Having Rosie is always

a joy for us!! lol

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Then Sunday Morning when we were about to

leave for church Scott and Megan showed

 up,  and we were pleasantly surprised. They

drop Joey off sometimes if they are gonna

be here all day or at her parents.

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 So we went to church and then got our

 favorite smoothie,  and came home to 

DeeAnna making Veggie Lasagna in our

 kitchen.  Jim did a good job keeping it all 

a surprise!

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She did an awesome job on dinner,  the

lasagna was super delicious,  and she made

a nice salad with a  homemade creamy

 parmesan salad dressing ,  and Scott did

 the garlic bread.. She made 2 pans so

we all had enough to have it for din din

tonight as well!!  Oh yum,  I can hardly

wait,  you know how italian food is...

always better the next day!!

Course,  I don't know if this could taste

any better really!!

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She set the table really pretty too!

Forgot to take pics as usual.  If I don't

get them before everyone arrives,

I never think of it again!

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I got  lovely cards and gifts

and it was a wonderful day spent

with my precious jewels....

called Family!!

(and yes, Bonnie.....Susan was here too,

as she is every year!!)

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A very enjoyable day had by all....

oh yes,  and there was cheesecake,

drizzled in chocolate and caramel

with pecans on top!! Thanks to 

hubby!   I got to use our family

~Queen For A Day Plate~

for my dessert,  sort of had to remind

them since I am the first one to break

it in. lol

but it was fun!  Megan already has

decided what she wants for dessert

on her plate when her birthday comes

in November.  Something with straw-

berries!!  lol  Probably strawberry

shortcake!!  She is so adorable!!

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I spent a good part of the day making

thank you cards for them.

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Well, Sweet Girls,  You have a Great

Evening with your family!!

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And I am off to heat up my Veggie

Lasagna................Um Ummmmm!
I can hardly wait!! lol

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Love and hugs,

Nellie

P.S.  The roses on yesterdays post was a free

image from somewhere (if you look closely you

 can see her name at the top,  and todays is a pic

I took and cropped out of a Better homes

and garden magazine I think!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

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Happy Mother's Day

Sweet Friends!!

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I hope you have the most Wonderful

 Day imaginable!

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Time spent with, or time spent

hearing from, or  time spent 

reminiscing about your precious 

jewels called children, 

 grown or small,

teenagers or grade schoolers.

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Precious they are to us!!

That is a Mom's Heart for sure!

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Blessings Galore to all of you

Sweet Mother's 

and may this verse be ever so

true for each of you,

Dear Hearted Ladies!

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Proverbs 31:28-31

(The Message Bible)

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Her children respect and bless her;

 her husband joins in with words of praise:

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 "Many women have done wonderful things, 

but you've outclassed them all!"

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Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.

 The woman to be admired and praised is the

 woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.

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 Give her everything she deserves!

 Festoon her life with praises! 

*

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Again..........

Happy Mother's Day

and

Happy Sunday!!

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Love, Hugs and Blessings

Nellie

Welcome to Thankful Thursday - May 6, 2010

(Lantana growing in our backyard)

Greetings Sweet Friends

And

Welcome to Thankful Thursday

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How in the world are you today???

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I just came in from spray painting a fan we have on the

 back porch that works well, but was looking a bit shabby

 but not so chic!!  A fresh coat of white paint should do

the trick,  so think it will look more presentable once we

get her all back together,  and we will be a bit cooler

since our winds are slowly starting to die away.

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My next project today is to clean our wooden door

from my closet in the dressing room area.  We had

to take it down to paint the woodwork so figured

I would give it a good cleaning while it was down.

Much easier I would think!!   Course, some times

don't work quite the way we think!! lol

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I have been trying to do something on the bath

room everyday, no matter how small cause we

are getting so close to finishing and I am ready

to be done,  to say the least!!

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Then we will be on to the next project,  the yard!!

Oh..... Fun City!!  We have so much pruning and

cutting that needs to be done,  but once you get

 started it goes pretty fast,  but if I start dwelling 

on how much there is to do out there, I get over-

whelmed before I get started, so I have learned

to just pick a spot and start and slowly work

your way around the yard,  and before you

know it ~ it looks pretty darn good!! lol

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Well, guess I had better get on with my 

Thankful list cause I could chat with you

all day since I haven't visited with you in

a few days now.

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#1

I thank the Lord

that I was alive and well when I woke up

this morning,  and that He has given me and

 hubby another day to live on His earth.

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#2

I thank the Lord

that I saw that missionary film on Sunday about

the day in the life of an African woman,  because

I have been pondering it all week, and I tell you

it has taken my gratefulness meter to a whole

nother level!!

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#3

I thank the Lord

I do not live in a 3rd world country or really any

where else besides the United States.  Although

our country does have some major problems I

still can not think of anywhere else in the world

I would rather live,  and feel so priviledged that

the Lord has allowed me to live here.

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#4

I thank the Lord

that He has blessed us with a home,  but not just

a home a very nice home,  that looks pretty and

that keeps the elements and critters out and that

will even withstand hurricanes.  Cause I could

be living in a mud or straw hut, or cardboard

box for that matter.

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#5

I thank the Lord

that we have running water and plumbing, but

not just water,  clean water to drink and cook

with and that we don't have to haul it from wells

miles from our home.

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#6

I thank the Lord

that we have electricity and air conditioning

so that at least when it is too cold or too hot

we can stay comfortable and not be miserable.

Plus we can read anytime of the night or day

and see to do what we have to do.  What a

blessing that is!!

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#7

I thank the Lord

we have grocery stores in which we can buy

food,  and we don't have to go out into the

fields and pick or scurry up what we are gonna

make for dinner.

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#8

I thank the Lord

we have electric stoves and gas grills to cook on

so that we don't have to walk for miles just to

gather wood to make a fire to cook over in 

the scorching heat.

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#9

I thank the Lord

that we have restaurants and that we have the

opportunity to get a break from cooking at 

times,  and just enjoy something different and

we have so many options,  almost too many!

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#10

I thank the Lord

that we were finally able to find the accessories

we were looking for to put in the bathroom,  and

I truly believe the Lord was involved in it, because

of the fact,  I had seen them there a few weeks

 before (but didn't buy them cause they didn't have

 the right pcs)but they still had them, and they were

 on clearance, so we just decided to try them and see

 if we could make them work ( if you have ever

 purchased things at a discount store, you know you

 had better grab it when you see it, or it will not be 

there when you go back).  and then we found others

 pcs. at Target( that they didn't carry before that

 matched them ,  and we love how it looks!

Just love how the Lord orchestrates things, 

some people would say it is by coincidence I

say it is divine blessing!

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Here's a sneak preview!! 

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(These are still my flowers from last week,  I 

had to change the water so decided to put them

in my new (trash can) vase. I am still trying

to decide what sort of silk floral arrangement

 to put in it.  So I am scouring magazines

and books for ideas.  The soap pump

and little cotton ball dish match the vase.

Isn't it so cute and whimsical!!)

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#11

 I thank the Lord 

that we have toothbrushes to put in a toothbrush

holder, and soap for our soap dispenser and all 

those toiletry items we so take for granted on

a daily basis.

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#12

I thank the Lord

for Jesus and what a wonderful difference and

change He has made in our lives and the lives

of our family.  He is truly the best thing that

every happened to us.

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#13

I thank the Lord

that my friend Becky from over at Holiday in the

sun got her tests back and the preliminary tests from 

the MRI do not look like she has MS.  She still has

to do some blood work, but I suspect they will find

the same. Truthfully, for some reason,  I never really

 thought anything would show up.

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Well,  Sweet Friends,

That is my Thankful List for Today!!

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Hope you all have a Wonderful Weekend!

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See ya on Sunday

Thanks for stopping by...........

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Love, Hugs and Blessings,

Nellie

So.......What do you Thank the Lord

for Today......................!!!

We had a productive, fun and relational Weekend!!

(This is the honeysuckle growing in our backyard - It smells like Heaven)

I think it must have really liked the cold weather, cause this is the best

it has ever bloomed before.  Click on the pic cause it is hard to see all

the blooms otherwise)

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Happy Monday Sweet Peas,

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So what sort of weekend did you have??

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Hope whatever you did it was satisfying

 to you and yours!!

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Ours was good,  it was productive, fun

and relational!! My favorite kind of weekend!

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Friday night we painted woodwork in the

bathroom,  and we made a lot of progress.

1 door casing finished, Yeah!!  1 almost

finished, 2 with 2 coats of paint waiting for

a 3rd coat,  so we are getting closer and

closer and I am getting more and more

excited to be finished!!  lol

*

After we painted we stayed up late, like dumbo's,

 (I told you staying up late is considered fun in our house)  

 and watched a movie with Hugh Grant called "about a boy".

  It was suppose to be the funniest movie of the year!!

  Whoever rated this movie must have a very sick 

sense of humor is all I have to say!! lol

Not that there weren't some funny scenes but

the comedy of the year,  come on!!

It was an okay movie,  but a comedy...........

Not!! 

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Saturday slept in and the got up and had a nice breakfast,
 I made a breakfast casserole on Friday to have on Sat.
 morning,  cause I am tired of bacon and eggs,  so it was 
different and good.  I almost think it could be a dinner 
casserole as well.

*

Then we read some!!  Hubby bought a book called
 "Christian Athiests",  it talks about how people can be
 Christians but act like God is no where to be found!! 
 We can all do that given different situations,  but some

people live like that in every situation.

Anyway,  it is pretty good book so far.

*

Then we decided we needed to get out and have 
some fun.  So we got dressed and went out shopping. 
 It was kind of an early 

Mother's Day shopping excursion as well!  

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 There are still a few things we have been searching for
 to finish the bathroom, so we went to Marshall's,  and
 found nothing,  well, I found nothing,  Hubby found
 sneakers and  some very inexpensive flashlights that
 he adores (we have given away a ton of them, so he
 was a happy camper!! Then we went to Kirkland's, 
I got tickled at hubby..... he made me drive to
 Kirklands so he could put on his new sneaks!! 
 I told him that was one of his lil boy ways !! 
 He couldn't wait to get those new babies on, 
 I thought it's was so cute!! lol

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We did find some pics at Kirklands on sale that we
 might could use,  and they had quite a few so we
 decided to wait and look around a bit more.
By then we were getting hungry again,  so we
 went to the mall to get something from Chick fil-A.
  Have you every had their chicken salad  sand-
wiches???  I just love them!!  
So after lunch,  we checked  out a few stores in
 the mall,  then decided to go to Home goods.

*

Well, they had nothing,  in toothbrush holders,

 soap pumps, etc. that would work,  but I had

seen these pcs. the last time that I really liked

but they didn't have the pcs. that I needed, so

for some reason I decided to go look in the

clearance area just for grins, and guess what

they still had what I saw before but they were

way less $$!!  So we bought them all and 

decided to try it and see what we thought,

cause you can always take it back!!

Boy.........Do we know that!!

I feel like that is all I do...is buy it and take

it back!!  lol

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After that,  we ran to Target to pick up a

grocery type items, and they happened to have

some bathroom accessories in just the right shade
 of green, evidently they are new cause I have been
 there a number of times and never seen them, 
 so we decided to buy them to try too, just in

case the others didn't work out!

*

Then we called Scott to see if he felt like having visitors 
since it was after 9 by then! He has wanted us to come
 see his apt. since he and his girlfriend decorated it. 
 So we went by his place for about and hour,  and 
Megan was still there too,  so we got to visit with
 both of them.  They did a great job decorating his

place, it is in earth tone colors and looks very 
manly,  but Megan has gotten some nice femine
touches in there too!!  Scott is a quite a good 
decorator himself and has very good taste, but

I think Megan probably did most of the arranging, 
 anyway,  it looks great and so nice and homey!!
  They have very similiar taste which is good.

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So we got home pretty late,  but we had

a really fun,  much needed day out!!

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And I am exceedingly glad and happy to say that we
 wound up mixing and matching the accessories from
 both places,  and it looks great and adds a touch of
 whimsy to the bathroom.  Cause they have butterflies

and dragonflys on them,  and the colors are turquoise
 and apple green.  so they look perfect!! 
 So very happy with them!!

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There was a matching ceramic trash can

and I think I am gonna put a floral arrangement

in it and put it between the sinks and the mirrors

on our vanity.  Just have to figure out what

sort of arrangement to make now!!  Hmmmmm!!

*

Yesterday,  we went to Sunday School and heard

a young woman in her early 30's who we have 

known most o her life,  who is now a missionary

in Burkino Faso, Africa.  She grew up in our

church.  What a great and gifted speaker she is!!

I was hanging on her every word,  she laughed

when I told her that, and says that's just because

you like me and I said well,  that is true too,

but you really are God gifted as a speaker!!

*

She showed a video of  what the  life of a 

woman who lives in a village in Africa would

be like!!  They live in a nearby small city, but at

 least they have running water, lights and
 grocery stores.

*

The video shows this lady getting up before 

daylight,  going out to pick beans or corn or

whatever she is gonna grind up for the day to

make dinner out of.  Then they put the beans

 or corn it in some sort of heavy stone pot,  and 

one lady gets on one side, and one on the other

 and they have large long poles with flat ends,

 not skinny either (probably the size of a mason jar lid)

 or at lil bigger,  and they begin pounding one and

then the other,  and after they have done that

awhile they strain out the bad husk or whatever

and then they go looks for firewood,  and 

sometimes they have to go miles to they find

it and water,  then they start a fire and put a big
 pot on to cook something sort of like grits looking,

cause she ground the beans into a type of

flour,  so she is constantly adding more flour

and stirring the pot constantly as she is cooking

over this open flame,  and mind you this is

all outdoors and it is very hot,  and this lady

is pregnant to boot!!  I mean the poor thing

spent the whole entire day just making dinner,  
and hey, there are no breaks for fast food
 or any kind of food,  cause they

don't even have stores.  I thought oh, Lord,

I should never ever complain about cooking

again as long as I live!!

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I tell you stuff like that just gives me so much

perspective on how good we have it in this

country.  They don't even have homes, they

live in huts,  no A/C,  running water or

electric lights.   Pretty much like our pioneer

women I would say!!  It is so amazing to

think that there are people around the world

that still live like pioneer people.  You know

it, but yet when you see it,  it just amazes

you.  They have old wood plows and some

are blessed to have a plow pulled by a

horse or mule.  incredible!!

*

Anyway, then we went to church and got to

see her hubby speak some too.  Scott and

Megan came to church and afterwards we

got our favorite "Chocolate Elvis",  we have

Megan hooked on them now too!! lol

Scott likes the smoothie with added coffee.

We then came home and had lunch and

visited with the kids awhile till they had to

leave to go visit with some friends.
Oh yea, and we brought Joey home Sat.
night,  and Megan is picking her up today
to take her back to Scott.

*

So we had a lovely productive and

fun and relational weekend,  my favorite!!

*

Well, best get myself busy,  think I

might try to paint some,  and I am in the

middle of making meata balls!! lol

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Hope you have a Sweet Evening 

with You and Yours,

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Blessings n' Hugs,

Nellie

Have a Reflective Sunday

(From the Appalachian trail in Maine)

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Happy Sunday Sweet Friends,

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Hope you have a Wonderful

and Reflective Day!

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Proverbs 27:19

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As water reflects a face,

so a man's heart reflects the man.

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Love, Hugs, and Blessings,

Nellie