When life feels like it is getting a little crazy (or too serious), it seems crazy not to have some fun!
On Valentine’s Day, our dear friends hosted a Napa Valley Murder Mystery Dinner. It was a hoot! We all were assigned characters — and characters we were! Clockwise are Bonnie Lass, Ralph Rottinggrape, Papa Vito, Bud Wizer, Otto VonSchnappes, Marilyn Merlot, Heddy Shablee, and yours truly, Tiny Bubbles (I was supposed to be prim and proper; not sure I did that well!).
We laughed so much we cried. We had great food, wine, and fellowship. A few trips to the thrift store (or closet, in my case) and we were ready to party!
As the evening progressed, we read about our characters and at the end, none of us could figure out who did it! The murderer turned out to be none other than…. well, I don’t want to give it away!
But when you’re stressed with life (like I sometimes get), it always helps to take time with friends and laugh a little — or in this case, a lot!
Our family is fairly involved with kids with disabilities. My husband and I are on the board of Young Life Capernaum, an incredible outreach to high school kids with special needs. Our daughter, Stephanie, works full-time with Friends Lifefor young adults with special needs and volunteers with YL Capernaum.
But at the risk of being embarrassingly honest here, I need to admit that when I first meet someone who is “disabled” I’m often uncomfortable. Sometimes I look away, not sure what the polite thing is to do. I don’t want to seem like I’m staring, yet I want to make eye contact to let them know I am trying to see them as a person, not as a person with a disability.
Catherine Lewis, in her story of her son Rex, she gives me an exceptional gift. She lets me take a long look and [click to continue…]
Sometimes you can see God’s heart in something simple like the light in the sunset. This is a photo I took at the beach in Emerald Isle, NC this fall with my sweet daughter Kelly.
I took this picture in the countryside of Russia. In the last two years I have gone to Russia three times with Children’s Hopechest to visit orphanages and care for the caregivers who work with them. Russia has an estimated 800,000 orphans. This picture was on a river by village that was sort of like our Williamsburg (only older). It was lovely and so displayed the rich beauty of Russia. I’m learning how to reduce and post pictures so please be patient with me as I figure it out!
Okay, friends. I fell off the wagon again… that is the diet wagon.
I had been attending a wonderful conference all week hosted by my friend/neighbor/blogger Randy Elrod. It was wonderful, stimulating and exhausting all at the same time. I did great all week. Salmon with no rice, salad with dressing on the side, no desert, I even ordered milk for my coffee instead of cream. But by the end of the week I was toast.
This is why I love Steve. I think making this is a pain in the neck but he doesn’t mind the time it takes to make this. It isn’t hard, just a little time consuming, IMHO. But it is definitely beautiful and a fun presentation for a dinner party. The only thing that’s weird is you need a round cutter or PVC pipe so you can stack the ingredients. It’s got three stages so read it through first. Then go for it! It’s worth it.
I had this at a Christmas party and just couldn’t stop eating it! So I came home and made it for a party the next night. Super simple, super easy. Kinda savory, kinda sweet, and kinda crunchy. So easy even I could make it!
8 oz. blue cheese (crumbled)
8 oz. cream cheese
½ cup half and half
1 cup pine nuts
½ cup dried cranberries
Set cheeses out for about two hours before making spread. Blend cheeses with half and half. Mix in nuts and cranberries/raisins with hands. If cheese is too thick, add more cream. Shape into ball and refrigerate. Serve with unsalted white crackers. This keeps several weeks in refrigerator. It is also good as a dessert with pears and port wine.
When I’m stressed out I go for food (or bored or tired or whatever). This is super satisfying soup I eat usually in the afternoon. For added flavor, I buy soup bones in throw in. It really needs about an hour to cook down. I make a big pot then put it in individual size container and put some in the fridge and some in the freezer. It heats up quick and fills you up but not out!
This has been a favorite for over 30 years! Super simple and just delicious. Serve with crusty French bread and a great Chardonnay. But be warned: only eat it with people you really like cause it is super messy and you need time to peel and eat! That said, when it drips down your elbow and you find yourself trying to lick your elbow so you don’t miss a drop, you know it is really good, really good… [click to continue…]
Sometimes you can see God’s heart in something simple like the light in the sunset. This is a photo I took at the beach in Emerald Isle, NC this fall with my sweet daughter Kelly.
Okay, friends. I fell off the wagon again… that is the diet wagon.
