Banana Blueberry Bread

1 1/4 cups sugar 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen (thawed and drained) blueberries

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of one 9x5-inch or two 8x4-inch loaf pans with shortening.

In large bowl, stir sugar, butter, eggs, bananas and buttermilk until mixed. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in blueberries. Pour into pan.

Bake 9-inch pan about 1 hour 15 minutes, 8-inch pans 55 to 60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.

I want to LIVE LIKE THAT

I can’t even name all the service projects my family has done together through the years but if I have failed to teach my children to love and serve each other I have failed with MY LIFE’S WORK. If you can walk up to a stranger with respect, grace and love not knowing their sins and spend a day showing Christ’s love can you not do the same for those YOU LOVE? It’s hard I know this sinful world causes hurt but I want to live my life sold out for Christ and that means I chose forgiveness and love. I will give all I have cause I want to LIVE LIKE THAT.

I love the lyrics to "Live Like That" – by Sidewalk Prophets

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

Salsa for a Year

15 lbs. roma tomatoes, cored, peeled and chopped
2-1/4 lbs. jalapeños, chopped
3 lbs. onions, chopped
2 c. cider vinegar
3 T. plus 1 t. canning salt
25 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1/2 c. sweet paprika
15 1-pint canning jars and lids, sterilized


Combine all ingredients in a 5-gallon stockpot. Stir well. Heat to a boil, stirring often; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Spoon salsa into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Wipe rims; secure lids and rings. Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Set jars on a towel to cool for 24 hours; check for seals. Makes 15 jars.

Gooseberry Patch Mom's Favorite Recipes

My Granddaughter

My daughter Britttany dresses my granddaughter Arileise in dresses most days. When I visit it is fun to pick what dress she wears for the day. We get lots of pictures text to us and these two are within the last 2 week. Arileise is 9 weeks old today.

"Pinkies up! We must be proper".

I think she is waving at me saying: "Thank you for the cute hat Nana".

Do you think she might like to have a Tea Party at Nana's some day?

Barn and Shed Painted

My husband and I worked on painting the Barn and Shed this May and I am finally posting about it. This was a project we had wanted to do for several years and never got around to it. It started last May when we scraped the old paint and done some painting until we ran out of paint and didn't finish it. This year we decided to tackle this job until it was done and with so much time passing we had to start over.  The project took us about 2 weeks to complete. The before pictures are old but they were the best I could find.

The Before:


The Shed picture is from 2009 I am not sure why it says 2006 on the photo.

The Barn picture was taken in 2010 its not very good but its the best I could find.

During:

This is my Honey painting the shed.

After:

I wanted to take down the wreath on the front and remove the old flowers and nest but I had to put it back up because it had eggs in the nest but in the fall I will remove it.

On the right side I took down some of the old decorations added a few new ones. I think I spent about $3.00 at the thrift store for both.

The front of the Barn. The left and back of the barn is metal so no paint needed there.

 

But the right side got a new coat of paint.

We need to get some metal paint to do the basketball hoop soon. This was not a professional job but a DIY but we love the new updated look. We got the paint for free so this was a no cost project. It was very hot out when we did this so we were sweating and had to take several breaks but it was worth it. I enjoyed the time with My Honey.

All of Life is Worship to God

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

He asks me to focus on Him, as a lifestyle, and then everything else will be added to me. As I go through my days in faith, seeking His wisdom and guidance and being willing to follow I don’t have to strive or try and get it all right; I just have to trust that the Holy Spirit is working in me as I lean into Him and obey. As I lose myself in Him, as I unbecome, He does.

And Life Becomes Worship.

12 Week Health Challenge: Week 5 Update

This week is all about taking steps to BE HAPPIER!

Day 29 Monday June 18

Feeling blue? Make over your mind-set with these simple steps this week.

Take-Action Tips:


Holler if you need help. It's hard to be happy when you're feeling overburdened. So reach out and ask for the help you need—maybe it's getting more volunteers to pitch in for the PTA fundraiser or family members to clean up the dishes after dinner—rather than quietly seething about everything that's falling on your shoulders. The extra assistance will alleviate some of your stress, and you'll find your mood will lighten.

Right now I am doing fine and do not feel overburdened but it has been a little crazy lately trying to get it all done. We painted the barn and shed in May. In June we have been painting my son Brandon’s Room and I hope to have the picture of the finished room up soon. It hasn’t been decorated yet and although we have some ideas I am not sure if he really wants any since he doesn’t spend much time in his room.

See every day as a special occasion. Serve dinner on your wedding china. Wear your grandmother's pearls with your T-shirt and jeans. Pulling out those things you typically reserve just for holidays or birthdays can make you feel sunny on ordinary days since these cherished items bring on mood-boosting memories.

I have always loved decorating up the dinner table and having fun planning special meals and desserts and have done lots of Tablescapes but have let it fall by the wayside. I was doing tablescapes and linking up for Tablescape Thursday August 2009 – September 2010 but I think I burned myself out and didn’t always post all of them to my blog. I also didn’t want to add any more dishes to my collection but you know how that goes I have added at least 3 sets since I last posted about my dishes but I have gotten rid of several smaller sets or mismatched pieces. I have decided to make all my sets of dishes match my kitchen and look good together and let go of the other sets so I have been slowly weeding them down.

I have been having fun painting my nails this summer and have worn a couple pieces of jewelry to feel a little nicer since I don’t usually wear anything but my wedding and engagement rings. I think I may get a haircut and color my hair at the beginning of July.

I need to spend some time coming up with some crafts, projects, and books to add to my Project Bag for Fair week at the end of July and Volleyball camp. I like to keep busy so I need to work on it now so I don’t feel rushed or end up bored.

Pile on praise. Leave yourself positive messages (a note you stick to your mirror or computer or an hourly alert you set on your phone). Maybe it's "You're beautiful," or "You're creative," or even "You're a wonderful mom." Whenever we hear something repeatedly, we tend to internalize its meaning, and this can shape how you feel about yourself, say psychologists. Seeing upbeat messages every day and saying them out loud to yourself will help you believe them. And when you start thinking more positively about yourself, you'll feel happier overall.

How about “I’m beautiful just the way I am.” Or "I’m creative and being creative brings me joy"


How did these tips help? Did they make you feel more energized, empowered, optimistic or excited, or overwhelmed, depressed and defeated?

They made me feel empowered to do some things that I enjoy but have put off doing.


Day 30 Tuesday June 19

Practice positive self talk. What are some of the motivational messages you’re leaving for yourselves. Where are you putting them?

I printed them out and put them on my board in my office.


Day 31 Wednesday June 20

Let’s Recap: As you make new changes each week, remember that a new set of tips doesn’t require throwing the old ones out the window! (After all, it takes three weeks to form a habit.) Take a look back at some of the tips we’ve asked you to try. Reflect on which have become nearly second nature, and those that could use some nurturing.


Week 1: Increase Your Energy
Week 2: Get Active
Week 3: End Unhealthy Habits
Week 4: Eat Well


And continue to work on the tips from this week, Week 5: Be Happy.


Which of these wellness-boosting strategies were the easiest to stick with? Which are the most challenging? Have any fallen by the wayside?

I have not done as well as I had hoped with this challenge I wanted to give it my all but I have slacked a lot especially in with Week 2 and 3.

Day 32 Thursday June 21

Crank up some feel-good songs. Turning up your favorite tunes can be an easy way to beat the blues. What are some songs that put a smile on your face—and why do you like them? For example, does hearing them take you back to a more carefree time in your life? Or does the melody help you relax and forget about whatever’s stressing you?

I don’t listen to much music but when I do it is praise and worship, you can’t go wrong with any of that.

Day 33 Friday June 22

What have you done for YOU lately? One of this week’s tips was to add a little luster to a humdrum day by doing something special for yourself. Did you make it happen? If so, what did you do? If not, what are some ways you could treat yourself this weekend or next week? Keep in mind, your something special doesn’t have to cost a thing. As we mentioned, it could be serving dinner on your wedding china or wearing your grandmother’s pearls with your T-shirt and jeans. It should just be anything out of the ordinary that puts a smile on your face!

I painted my nails on Monday and plan to find some other things to do to pamper myself.


Day 34 Saturday June 23

Laugh your worries away. Studies have shown that not only do shoulder-shaking snickers burn calories, but simply anticipating laughter can reduce stress by cutting cortisol levels! What got you giggling this week! Did you hear a funny joke?

I don’t remember anything special that made me laugh but I had a good week.