A Peek From My Porch

August 13, 2014March 28, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

A Peek Into My Life this Week

I’m always interested in conferences/workshops that are going to motivate me to do something better, better myself, and my life in general. Last year Whitney and I learned about the Becoming Conference. It’s not a “Christian” conference, but one for women to inspire you to become more creative, purposeful and frugal. I love all three of those ideas, so, what’s not to love about a weekend spent learning and sharpening your skills in those areas?

Last weekend was the fourth (or fifth) year for this conference. If nothing else was accomplished, we had a fun Mother/Daughter get-away that included a night away, chocolate, and catching up on one another’s lives. That made it worth it right there!

This conference is put on by bloggers who have a passion for DIY projects, couponing and home. We attended workshops that included some fun ideas.

Christy Jordan (top middle picture) from Southern Plate shared how to make sure you have a plan for supper every night.
- Check out her web site for the idea of putting meals together into bags so that all the ingredients are all in one place for the next supper you want to put together! Genius.
- She talked about keeping your pantry filled with shelf stable products like pasta and pasta sauces. She also told us about Shelf stable milk you can purchase! I am going to check that one out!
- She shared about her Peanut Butter Balls that I’m going to try very soon!
Rhoda, from Southern Hospitality (bottom middle picture) showed pictures so that we might define our style in decorating. Half of the battle in making your home lovely is deciding what you love! She reminded me how fun searching yard sales and thrift shops can be. I’m challenged to hit the road some weekend around the bend!
Cents of Style was there again. I love their accessories!
- Courtney shared about personal style. My test showed I’m a classics girl (no surprise there!).
- One tip she shared is that lipstick is your best accessory! So find a color you love and accessorize yourself!
- Investing in essentials for your wardrobe is the smartest way to dress:
  - Good fitting jeans
  - Little Black Dress
  - Tailored Jacked/blazer
  - Perfect pumps
  - Amazing handbag
Edie from Life in Grace had some good thoughts about home. Like…
- As you empty the dishwasher, set the table at the same time with those clean dishes. Two tasks in one have been completed!
- Plan your dinner menu on your phone calendar. Hit repeat weekly or biweekly. Now you have a whole month’s worth of meals planned!
- Look at your children in the eye. Let them know you see them.
- Listen to podcasts while you work.
- Rather than separating your artwork, put them on one wall and make it a gallery.

It was a lovely weekend, becoming more creative, purposeful and frugal. Thanks for joining me on my porch so I could share it with you!

Is this a conference you’d be interested in? You can watch for details for next year here, or look for Becoming on Facebook.

With love from my country porch,

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Make Time For Rest

August 12, 2014March 14, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Today we are home.

On purpose.

There is no current sickness pushing us down, it is only the need to take a breath. A deep one. We have opted to say no to ministry, fellowship or busyness for a couple days so that we might rest.

Oh the bliss of sleeping in, reading, browsing through old photo albums and reminiscing, laughing and even weeping.

I read this on (in)courage yesterday –

Saying yes to rest means saying no to good things.

But taking regular time off is not a punishment

or a dare

or a rule.

It’s a gift.

It’s taking a day to open your hands toward heaven

and acknowledging that

you don’t make the world go around.

I smiled as I read that, knowing that these two days of rest are indeed a gift. I do not make the world go around, and if I don’t rest from time to time, I can’t even make myself stand up! These two days are bliss. We will be more ready for the rest of the week with rested bodies and minds. “Thank you, Lord for rest.”

Do you need to stop what you’re doing for a day and enjoy the gift of rest? Schedule it. Plan for it. You need it. So does your family. Ask the Lord when it could happen, then stay home and enjoy each moment of this special gift from a God who knows you need it.

Lovingly,

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What’s Cookin’ in the Country?

August 11, 2014March 14, 2015 RefreshHer3 Comments

I’m LOVING all the fresh produce right now! We are blessed to enjoy the fruits from gardens of our dear friends and church families! Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, cucumbers, berries, melons, squash, green beans and peppers have all been on our table in the last few weeks. I love to eat them fresh and plain, but I also enjoy adding a little twist to them and incorporating them into recipes.

If you have fresh corn, green tomatoes or berries, I have a few recipes you need to try! These all come from Cooking Light – my favorite source of great recipes that are a little better for you!

Fresh Creamed Corn with Bacon

Ingredients
6 ears corn
2 cups 1% low-fat milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 slices bacon
1 cup chopped leek

Preparation

Cut kernels from ears of corn to measure 3 cups. Using the dull side of a knife blade, scrape milk and remaining pulp from cobs into a bowl. Place 1 1/2 cups kernels, low-fat milk, cornstarch, sugar, salt, and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides.

Cook bacon in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat until crisp, turning once. Remove the bacon from pan, reserving 1 teaspoon drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Add leek to pan, and cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring constantly. Add pureed corn mixture, remaining 1 1/2 cups corn kernels, and corn milk mixture to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring constantly. Sprinkle with the crumbled bacon just before serving.

Unfried Fried Green Tomatoes

Ingredients

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Dash of sugar
16 (1/2-inch-thick) slices green tomatoes (about 3 green tomatoes)
1/3 cup fat-free milk
Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°.
To prepare the green tomatoes, combine flour and next 4 ingredients (flour through sugar) in a shallow dish. Dip tomato slices in milk; dredge in flour mixture. Lightly coat both sides of tomato slices with cooking spray.

Place a baking sheet in oven; heat at 400° for 5 minutes. Remove from oven; immediately coat with cooking spray. Place tomato slices on preheated baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 25 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.

We have been abundantly blessed with fresh blackberries this summer. I hope to make some jam this week with the gems I have recently received. However, every person in the south knows that berries scream to be put into a cobbler!

I recently enjoyed this delightful treat…

Can’t you just taste those slightly tart berries tucked inside a flaky crust and then a spoon of vanilla ice cream melting over the top? It was a.maz.ing! It had only half the guilt, because as is my normal routine, I got out my Cooking Light Cookbook and made a lighter version of this southern classic dessert. It was every bit as good!

Here’s the recipe:

Blackberry Cobbler -done light

Ingredients
6 Cups Blackberries
1 cup granulated sugar, divided
3/8 teaspoon salt, divided
6.75 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
Cooking spray
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons turbinado sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Place berries in a large bowl. Drizzle with juice; toss. Add 3/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons flour to berry mixture; toss to combine. Arrange berry mixture evenly in a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
3. Weigh or lightly spoon 6.75 ounces flour (about 1 1/2 cups) into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 6.75 ounces flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking powder in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place the remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and butter in a medium bowl, and beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and buttermilk alternately to butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, beating just until combined.

4. Spread batter evenly over berry mixture; sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Place baking dish on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 375° for 1 hour or until topping is golden and filling is bubbly.

Do you have fresh produce right now? What do you love to make with it?

With love from my country kitchen,

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Freshen Up Friday

August 8, 2014March 14, 2015 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Memories are special, but we need to make the most of them. Our mind won’t always remember all we’d like. So, while you are creating fun family events for your family, let me encourage you to:

Make plans for times with your family, then record it. Those places will dim, but your memories don’t have to fade away!

Stay refreshed,

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A Baggage Car of Memories

August 7, 2014March 14, 2015 RefreshHer2 Comments

Someone said, “No matter how far we travel, memories will follow in the baggage car.” I have “baggage cars” that are full great memories that I cherish.

The years my girls were born and growing up could fill the whole train! We didn’t have a lot, but we were together. We made time for fun. We had a simple, but adequate home.

We took advantage of what the Lord gave us and tried to make the most of it. With only one car, my girls and I didn’t have the opportunity to go lots of places during the days when their daddy was gone. Hence, we made the most of the backyard. We had a swing set, play house, and tree house in the fenced yard. We would all go out and play, swing, climb and hang out. The huge trees provided shady areas for hot days when we would throw the quilt under its branches and read and eat our lunch. Who needed the park?

I added an herb garden beside the patio, partly for use of the herbs, but also to add beauty to the yard. Stepping stones and a bird house added a warmth and welcome to our little garden. A thriving strawberry patch filled the back corner of the yard, providing sweet blessings for our morning cereal or evening ice cream. The front yard received loving care with the addition of mulched flower beds, bushes, springtime bulbs and trees.

My memories of our yard include Bible Clubs held for the neighborhood children. We would gather under the trees and sing and share the hope of the Gospel. My mind’s eye sees my girls riding their bikes/wagon down the driveway.

Springtime brought the girls outside, Easter baskets over their arms, scurrying through the yard to find the hidden eggs. Summer’s heat encouraged the placement of a small pool, where they would cool off, suck on Icees and swing on the swingset in dripping swim clothes. Fall’s beauty brought a trampoline of leaves on the ground that begged to be jumped in. There were the frigid Indiana winters when we would pull out the sleds, make the expected snowman in the front yard or attempt an igloo. Yes, sweet memories.

Why am I reminiscing here about all this? Well, because this week our older daughter and her dad had reason to be back in our “old stomping ground.” While they were there they decided to return to see “our” house and yard.

It was nothing like it had been.

The yard was neglected. The play house and tree house were all removed. There was no sign of any kind of a garden – not a mint leaf or lavender plant –

only forgotten blades of grass waiting to be cut and dry patches, thirsty for a drink of rain water.

Whitney’s words were, “It was as if there was never a family who had had a good life living there.” Then she quickly added, “But we did!”

Yes, we did.

I wanted to reassure myself with visuals, so I took out the albums that very day and found photos of those years. I found our family

Serving,
flourishing,
laughing,
loving,

oh yes, and creating memories!

The most important thing we can do during the years our family is still home is to instill eternal truths into their hearts that will never fade, diminish or grow old! The building of a love for God, His Word and His commission are structures that will last. What an encouragement that is! So keep on teaching and training! Even if you lose a material possession to decay, you won’t lose your child to the enemy of his soul!

Come back tomorrow and I’ll share some encouragement for bringing refreshment to those family times and memories. In the meantime, don’t forget to do the little things today to create moments, days and weeks of a happy family serving, flourishing, laughing and loving together.

What one special memory do you have of the years you were growing up?

Lovingly,