BonFire Nights

Missy has been busy lately enjoying bonfire nights.  She is always excited when it is time to make the fire because she knows that yummy food is sure to follow.

She is very helpful when it comes to choosing the right piece of wood for the fire.  She wants to make sure that her hot dogs and marshmallows are cooked to perfection.

Smelling the wood to decide which piece to choose...

It appears she is hiding something in her mouth.  I bet she got into the marshmallows!

grace and peace,
julie

Catching Up

I have spent the last few days catching up on some of the things that have gotten behind in my world.  At the top of my list, I wanted to get outside and enjoy nature.  I love being outside any chance I can get, and  being in a school building all day has been different for me.  I miss the beauty of the outdoors, and the feeling of calm that comes with nature.  Michael and I stole away for a bit Sunday morning and we spent some time outside.  It was a much needed treat for me.

I also didn't realize how far behind on things I was until I started to try and catch up on those things!  Wow, many daily things have been left undone so I am thankful for the extra cleaning that has happened around our house this week.  I also have spent time grading papers and recording grades.  I felt like a huge burden had been lifted from me when I had completed that task.  I try my best to stay on top of the grading, but sometimes it does get the best of me. 

I have enjoyed my time in the kitchen and my kids have enjoyed the results.  I felt like I had gotten behind on the nice meals for my family.  Jacob was setting the table the other evening and he wanted a tablecloth.  I didn't have one clean and that seemed to bother him.  I am glad that my boys want things to be nice when we come to the table together.  It is something that they all value because I have valued it over the years. 

Well, speaking of family dinner, I must go and make Chicken n Dumplings, Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans, Yeast Rolls, Sweet Tea and maybe something for dessert.  Hope you have a blessed day!

grace and peace,
julie

Fall Break Cooking

Our school is on fall break this week.  My husband took vacation time and we are enjoying time with the kids.  Matthew, our son at ETSU, didn't get the same fall break as our school.  He is due to come in the last part of October.  It has been awhile since we have seen him, and I am ready to hug his neck. 

Michael and the boys are enjoying the time deer hunting.  We are all enjoying some relaxing time.  I am also taking this opportunity to catch up on some school work as well as house work.  It amazes me at just how quickly  a house can get undone!

I am also enjoying being in my kitchen.  I am making the dishes that take extra time that I don't have during the school week.  I am also enjoying baking pies, breads, and cakes.  Fall has always been my favorite time of year to cook.  I am thinking about Thanksgiving and looking for ways to do things early so that I can enjoy hosting my whole family while also working a full time job.  I think I have some plans that I will share a bit closer to the time. 

Today, I will be grinding wheat and making whole wheat bread for our neighbor.  He brought his team of horses and his disc to prepare the big garden for winter.  I know he likes my cinnamon raisin bread so I will be making some for his family as well as ours.  My recipe is on the sidebar if you would like to try it for yourself.  If you want to try a banana bread that is wonderful, check out that recipe on the sidebar too.  The banana bread is the one that is in the above picture.  Happy cooking and baking!

grace and peace,
julie

Football Mishap

Guess where we were last night?  If you answered, "Children's Hospital in Chattanooga", you are correct.  Jacob was knocked out while making a tackle during the football game which required a trip to the hospital.  It was determined that he had a concussion, but he will be just fine with a few days of rest. 

Let me just say that I was beyond impressed with the hospital.  The facility was wonderful and the nurses were amazing.  They covered Jacob with stickers and had a great time with him.  This made him much more relaxed for his CAT scan and his x-rays.  They brought him little sprites and everything.  When we first got to the Children's Hospital, he was still a bit disoriented.  All the patients were little and dressed in their jammies.  He sat down beside me and asked me why we brought him there with all the little people.  I assured him he was in the right place.  After spending just a few minutes there, he realized that he was in the right place.  I am so thankful for the care, and for the people who serve in that profession.  I am also thankful for insurance and that my child will be alright.

grace and peace,

julie

Hope's Concern

Hope came home yesterday evening from basketball practice and opened the refrigerator to get something to drink.  As she stood in front of the open door, she looked confused.  She then said, "What's wrong with the refrigerator?"   I asked her to explain what she meant, and she responded, "There is nothing in here.  It is just empty and clean!"   This pretty much sums up my pantry as well as my refrigerator.  However, my canning pantry is stocked full to the brim with garden produce.  Somehow my kids don't want to snack on canned jalapenos!

This all leads to my morning be full of grocery planning and shopping.  I have been putting this one off for as long as possible, but alas we have no more meat in the house.  There isn't even a morsel of chicken because the last three meals have consisted of chicken.  My husband was gracious about it last night, but not happy since chicken isn't one of his favorites.  He tolerates it, but that is about all.  It was a good thing that I had a pan of homemade yeast rolls on the table!

Well, I am off to spend more money than I would like at the grocery store.  On the up side of things, maybe Hope won't be worried about the refrigerator once it is full again!

grace and peace,
julie

Garden Vegetable Pie (Quiche)

My fall garden is full of broccoli plants.  I think there are over 70 of them out there!  We love broccoli, and fresh from the garden broccoli is in a class all of its own.  My family loves broccoli steamed with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese, but they also like broccoli in casseroles.  Here is a quick and easy dish to serve for a brunch or as an easy supper with a salad or a soup.  The easy part is that you don't have to make a traditional pie crust for the quiche.  The best part is that it tastes great.  By the way, I have substituted zucchini for the broccoli in the spring when we had zucchini coming out of our ears.  It was wonderful that way too.  Hope you enjoy!

Garden Vegetable Pie  (Quiche)

1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cups chopped broccoli
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1 medium carrot grated
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Blend milk, flour, eggs, salt, and pepper.  Stir in rest of ingredients.  Pour into a greased deep dish pie plate.  Bake about 40 to 45 minutes in 400 degree oven or until set and brown. 

grace and peace,
julie

Sunday Scripture

"The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."

Lamentations 3:25