We all need a break – even if it’s a couple hours away while a babysitter stays with your children, or you go with your spouse to get a cup of coffee and just talk with no interruptions.  A time away will do you a world of good!

But perhaps you have the opportunity to plan a weekend away to be encouraged, such as the one our church ladies are planning next month.  You just can’t beat a great Ladies’ Retreat for the best kind of refreshment!  The Wilds spring Ladies’ Retreat is just around the corner!  Our church is attending the April 11, 12 date.  I have made my reservation on-line.  It’s a cinch to do.  Thanks, TW!  Love that feature!

If you’re in the area, can I beg ask you to join us?  I’d love to see at least 20 from our church attend this year!  If you’re a “Boones Creeker,” go on-line and look for The Boones Creek Bible Church group.  Register for the Fremont Inn.  You can ask for a particular roommate, too.  You’ll need to pay $25 registration fee, and then the balance will be due when we check in.  Please join us!

Our itinerary:

10:00 a.m.     Leave Boones Creek Bible Church
                      Head to Weaverville, NC to Well-Bred Bakery (Coffee and muffins, scones, etc. stop)
12:00 – 2:00  Asheville Mall – or wherever to shop
2:00 – 3:30    Brevard
3:30               Head to camp to register and get settled in.
7:00               Retreat begins with supper
Saturday:
Head home after supper.  Arrive back in Johnson City around 9 p.m.

Please encourage your friends to join us!  I know this will be a great time away.  Come and

be refreshed,

Failed to snap a picture with the drawers still inside!

I’ve been looking for a neat stencil to put on the plain drawers and couldn’t find anything I loved…until last week!  I was at Target and was scouring through the end of the aisle sales when I found a vinyl lettering marked down to under $4!!!!!!!!!!  It was a perfect size and I felt sure it would look great on my dresser.  It took me less than 30 minutes to get it aligned and in place on the drawer.  Here is the result:

I have a couple of glass knobs for the top drawers, but my father-in-law, who built the dresser (impressive, huh?) screwed and glued the wooden ones in place and they’re not budging!  Maybe one day I’ll get them off!  Anyway, I love the transformation.  Just goes to show you that  for a very little bit of money and some loving touches, you can create something you really love!

Thanks for taking a peek from my porch into my dresser makeover!  What piece of furniture are you thinking about redoing?

From my country porch,

I can’t believe that I haven’t posted my traditional recipe for lasagna before now!  This is the one I’ve been making for at least 25 years.  It’s meaty, has a great tomato sauce, and plenty of cheese, making it the perfect lasagna.  

Lasagna can take little while to put together, but it’s a great dish for the freezer.  I made mine up on Thursday and froze it until Saturday night when I set in the fridge to thaw overnight.  Then I set it in the oven before church, set the timer to come on, and we came home to a hot, bubbly dish!

My recipe has been updated in one way.  My sister just recently told me about a new way to “cook” the noodles (directions in the recipe to follow).  This is so much easier and they’re a perfect consistency.  One thing I might also add, is, I think it would also help to  leave them in the water and take them out, as you need each noodle, drain it on a piece of paper towel and then lay it in the casserole dish.  I think this may solve the problem of them sticking together after being drained.  That can be a bit frustrating.

I added a new salad to our meal on Sunday. This is another Pinterest recipe!  I made a Strawberry salad with avocados and a homemade poppy seed dressing.  Yum.  It was great.

1 lb box Lasagna noodles
2 lbs ground beef
1/2 C chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1- 6 oz. cans tomato paste
1/2 cup water
2 tsp salt
2 cups (1 lb.) large curd cottage cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1 lb sliced mozzarella cheese

Place noodles in a 9×13 dish.  Cover with 8 cups of boiling water and 1 tbl olive oil.  Cover dish with foil and let set for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook ground beef, garlic and onion in a large pan for 10 minutes.  Add tomato paste, water and salt and mix well.

Combine cottage cheese and beaten eggs in a separate dish. In greased casserole dish arrange first a layer of drained noodles, and then meat, cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese.  Alternate until finished, ending with mozzarella cheese.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Makes 10-12 servings

More than beautiful, it’s delicious!  Now that Florida strawberries are in, it’s the perfect time to try this recipe!  Your mouth and your eyes will thank you!

Strawberry Salad with Avocados and Poppy Seed Dressing
6 cups fresh baby spinach
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 avocado, diced (or you can double this to 2 avocados!)
4 ounces crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
half a small red onion, thinly sliced

Poppyseed Dressing Ingredients
1/2 cup avocado oil (or any oil, such as olive oil)
3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. poppy seeds
pinch of ground dry mustard (optional)
Himalayan salt and pepper

To Make The Salad:
Toss all ingredients together with your desired amount of dressing until combined. Serve immediately.

To Make The Poppyseed Dressing:
Whisk all ingredients together until combined.

That’s what we had for dinner yesterday.  How about you?!  I’d love to hear what you’ve been cooking!

With love from my country kitchen,

The last day of February is here!  You know what that means?  Spring is officially here in 21 days!  March 20th marks its official arrival.  Soooo, what shall we do to prepare?

I’m not ready to pull out my bunnies and colored eggs, but I do like to bring out some silk flowers and colors in my home that will lighten things back up and get ready for the warmer season that is surely ahead!

Some silks are cheap looking, and are a no-go, but succulents look artificial even in their live state, so they are winners in silk!  I had the blessing of getting to walk through Biltmore’s greenhouses last weekend.  Look what they had there…

 These succulents were live, but silk ones would be easier to care for, and would look just as real!  The wreath is covered in Spanish moss, then the plants were popped in around.  Love this!  It’s not too springy, but gives a fresh look.

Here’s another great idea!  If you have a bird cage or perhaps a large tin lantern, you could place some silk tulips inside for a great addition of color.

Look around and see what little additions you could make to what you already have just to bring a bit of life to the inside of your home.  Then sit back and pray for spring!!!

See you in church!

Be refreshed,