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Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Cooking Thursday

 This is a recipe I got from my daughter Heather.  It's perfect for Fall when fresh apples are ready.  It's very easy to make and is so good!



Toffee Apple Dip

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 English toffee bits (10 ounces)

*I use Heath brand toffee bits, next to the chocolate chips in my store.  They have them in regular and chocolate covered.  This recipe uses the regular type.

 In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugars and vanilla. Fold in toffee bits.
Serve with apples. Refrigerate any leftovers. Yield: 2 cups.

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Monday, August 29, 2022

Amazing!

 

Does this look like some type of art to you?  Maybe a painting? I recently saw this picture and was shocked when I saw what it was.

It's actually the most detailed model of a human cell to date.  It was obtained using x-ray, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and cryoelectron microscopes.
Isn't that detail amazing?

Then think of the universe.  The photos they have been getting of outer space recently are incredible, the size and beauty is beyond comprehension.

It's hard for me to understand how some people think all of this just happened; from the detail in a tiny cell, to the planets and galaxies that are too big for me to even fathom.

"I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."
Psalm 139:14 

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Late Summer Flowers

 It's almost September!  I know many of you are anxious for Fall, but I'm hanging on to Summer for as long as I can! I'm not ready for cold and I hate to see the flowers fade.
This weekend I wandered around the yard to see what was blooming.




Here's the gate at the side yard.  The hosta have gotten so big this year.




This is a flower on the oak leaf hydrangea which is right next to that gate.





These chives are growing along the walkway when you go through the gate.  They are one of my favorites, they always make me think of little purple fireworks.



These phlox are such a pretty color.




Bob planted a bed of zinnias this year.  Unfortunately, many didn't come up, but this little red one is almost open.



 

In the back, these are some black eyed Susans still hanging on, despite showing their age.




The Autumn Joy Sedum are starting to change color.




This bee was enjoying the sedum.




In the back corner of the yard, is this area Bob has filled with grasses and phlox.





Next to it is a row of Rose of Sharon bushes. They are different colors - this purple, light pink, a mauve color and white and they look so pretty all together.




Here's another Rose of Sharon bud, in pale pink.  It looks almost like a rose bud.




Bob also planted morning glories this year.  As the name says - they open in the morning.  This is a bud, the photo was taken in the evening.



And here is that same flower, opened up the next morning.





We've made it to the other side of the yard.  The building you see here is Bob's workshop.  The little tree is a hydrangea tree.  It's so full of flowers this year.  The flowers start pure white and turn an antique rose color.  They hang on, even into the winter.  I've taken pictures of the flowers with snow piled on top of them in the middle of the winter.




Here's one of the flowers.  You can see the pink starting to show up.






One last look at the back yard, standing near the hydrangea tree.

Thanks for making it through to the end!

Thursday, August 25, 2022

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Cooking Thursday

 Today's recipe is one I got from one of the nurses I work with.  She was telling me how good it was, and that it was a great recipe to prep ahead of time and then throw in the oven.
She was right - it was very tasty and easy to get ready early.  The BBQ sauce tastes sweeter than regular - kind of a sweet and sour flavor.  We both really liked it.



Hawaiian Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

1 pound chicken breast or thighs, cut into cubes
1 red, green and yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced or cut into chunks
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 bottle Sweet Baby Rays Hawaiian BBQ sauce
Rice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place parchment paper or foil into sheet pan with sides.
Place chicken, green peppers and onions into ziploc bag. Pour bottle of BBQ sauce into bag, seal and mix sauce and other ingredients.
Pour ingredients onto sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Take out of oven and stir pineapple chunks in.
Place back into oven and bake another 15-20 minutes.
Serve over rice.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Monday, August 22, 2022

Sunflowers!

 One day last week it was so pretty when I got up, that I decided to leave early for work and stop along the way at a sunflower field.  This field is owned by Bob's stepbrother and it's open to the public to come and pick flowers any time.  I've been there buying flowers, but I thought early morning was the perfect time to photograph them.

Everything was covered in dew, the sun was shining, and the air was cool, a perfect morning!  The field had no other visitors so early in the morning - just me and my camera.


Here's some pics - sunflowers of many varieties.































The sunflowers are so pretty, but I think the buds before they open are beautiful too.
























I left with wet shoes from walking through the wet grass, but it was a great way to start the day.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

41 years!

 Sunday was our 41st anniversary!  It's hard for me to even believe that, as it seems such a short time ago.  Then there's the fact that I don't feel old enough to have been married that long!
I was 20, Bob was 23 when we got married.  Looking back, we were so young and although we thought we had everything figured out, we didn't.  I'm so thankful for God's care and guidance through all those years.
I found a few wedding pics to show you.


My family; my sister Cheri (She was only 12 here) Dad, Mom (She's been in heaven for 19 years now), Me, Bob, my sister Terri and my brother Duane.



The cake picture!




Lighting the unity candle.





Happy Couple!


We didn't have any big celebrations.  Sunday is a quiet day for us, and a day I really enjoy.  We had a wonderful service at church and 9 families joined  - all ages from a family expecting another baby to 2 older widows.  What a blessing.  Then just a relaxing day.



We did go out to our favorite Italian restaurant Saturday night. I had a problem getting this photo because Bob was goofing off as I tried to take this picture.  His sense of humor is one of the things I love about him!




Anniversary flowers!  I went to the farm stand to get some fresh fruit on Saturday and they had these flowers.  I came home with them and told Bob not to worry about getting flowers because I took care of it!  He said I saved him some work!  :)

We are blessed.  We've had a wonderful 41 years together and we still like each other and spending time together!

Thursday, August 18, 2022

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Cooking Thursday

 Today's recipe is a great summer recipe when fresh fruit is available.
I made this with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, but you can also use peaches.  It's a light, refreshing dessert.


Fruit Trifle

1 - 11 ounce angel food cake loaf, cut into small cubes
2 small boxes instant vanilla sugar free pudding mix
3 cups milk
8 ounces Cool Whip thawed
strawberries, raspberries, blueberries
Place cubed angel food cake in trifle bowl, 9x13 pan or individual trifle bowls.
Mix pudding mix and milk together, stir in Cool Whip.
Pour pudding mix over angel food cake.
Place assorted berries over pudding mix.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours before serving.
* This can also be made with fresh peaches instead of berries.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Monday, August 15, 2022

Country roads are my favorite!

 One of my favorite things to do is go down a quiet country road, especially one I've never been on before, and find beauty.  It's not something I've done much of lately, because with gas prices, who can afford to just drive for the fun of it?  :)
Last week, I had an appointment about 30 minutes from home. It was such a beautiful day and instead of taking the main roads home, I decided to take the meandering back roads and see what I could find.
Here's some pictures of some back roads in Michigan.


One of the first things I saw was this flock of wild turkeys.  They didn't seem to be bothered by me, and one even slowly meandered across the road in front of me.




Blue skies, fluffy clouds and a barn!








Split rail fences are always charming.




Queen Anne's lace in the sunshine.




Looking over a huge field of corn.




I even found this field of sunflowers.




Rolling hills and more fluffy clouds.





This barn doesn't look like it has much longer to stand.  I bet it was a good looking barn in its day.





The corn is getting so tall.

Thanks for coming along!