Green Pastures and Frames

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Hello my friends!  Yes, I have been bad!  Since returning from vacation; there has been so much to do and so little time to do it!  There seems to have been some creative block for me also. 

Do you ever wonder why these things happen?  I sure do.  Do I get that much “out of focus” to life?  Probably so.  There is always a small voice calling me back to where I should be.  He maketh me lie down in green pastures….

I have been made to “lie down” from some things….does that ever happen to you?  I have heard it said that when you feel overwhelmed you have said “yes” to something He did not….hmmm….something to ponder.  

Are you overwhelmed today???  What have you said “yes” to that you may need to re-evaluate?  There is so much to enjoy in life; that we have been blessed with.  I encourage you to breathe in your “moments” today; whatever they may be. Take in the goodness of God; hug your loved ones, laugh with a child; or like a child. 

Here are some frames for you to play around with.  Click here to download.  Until later dear ones!

“In Dependence” Day

Happy July 4th to my fellow United States citizens!  This is always a fun time of year, great food, cook outs, lemonade, fireworks, swimming… celebrating the time our country declared its freedom to become a great nation.  

We have become so accustomed to this “independence” that we so often take it for granted; forgetting the sacrifices that were required to achieved it for one….but also in another deeper sense….we begin to assume that we deserve independence and woe unto the person who tries to infringe on our presumed independence!  

Suddenly I am proud of my accomplishments, what I can do,  what decisions I am able to make….I don’t need anyone……or do I?   Do we as a country stand in need of some dependence?

I have come to realize in the last few weeks that I have stood in too much independence…forgetting just where my supply comes from….my portion….the One who truly takes care of me; even in my ignorance….

The Lord is my portion and in Him will I trust.  So today I am declaring Patty’s “In Dependence” Day.  I am totally dependent on my Lord.  It is my desire to stop being in such pride that I think I am responsible for all I have and all I am….truly none of us are.  Are you “In Dependence”?  And do you depend on the One…the only One…Think about it.  Have a wonderful and blessed day.

Cranapple Pork Chops

We had a great dinner tonight and easy too!  I love to receive and pass along any thing that I find easy and tasty!  I hope you enjoy if you decide to try it!

CRANAPPLE PORK CHOPS

4 pork loin chops or 4 boneless loin pork chops, about 3/4″ thick

2 large green apples, pared, cored and quartered

1 Tbsp. butter or margarine

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Salt and pepper

1/2 cup cranapple juice

1/3 cup whole cranberry sauce

 

1. Trim off any excess fat from chops. Set aside.

2. Cut each apple quarter into wedges.

3. Heat butter in a heavy, large skillet. Quickly brown apple. Do not cook until soft. Remove.

4. In same skillet, heat oil. Quickly brown chops on each side. Season with salt and pepper. Top with apples.

5. In a small bowl, combine the cranapple juice & cranberry sauce. Pour over pork & apples. Cover.

6. Cook over medium heat 25 to 30 minutes until done.

7. Remove to a platter. Spoon with sauce.

8. If the sauce needs thickening, dissolve 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons cranapple juice. Stir into pan juices. Bring to a boil and spoon over chops and apples.

Soft Breezes Part 3

Whooo Weee….I was beginning to think I wouldn’t be able to get back here before vacation!  But…I made it….and here is part 3 of the Soft Breezes kit for you.  I hope you are enjoying this kit.  

Click here to download.

This week and Pt. 2

This has started out as a busy week.  It takes so much to get a family of 5 ready to go on vacation!  (Plus one excited dog!)

I did manage to meet my goals of cleaning the house; washing sheets, planning this week’s menu and sorting through my list for packing.

We are having Chicken Cordon Bleu, smoky mashed potatoes and butter peas tonight.  I managed to loose another couple of pounds last week.  I have learned that it is all about PORTION CONTROL!!  I rarely just out and out deprive myself; except for most sugar/desserts; so I have learned what is a SERVING and stick with that…LOL.  I hope to continue this motivation during vacation.  Sweets are rarely a temptation for me…but fried things are…:(  I have made it through one vacation this year and did well…but it wasn’t a whole week…7 days….way too many hours to contemplate!

I managed to get Part 2 of Soft Breezes done for you.  Click here to download it!

Soft Breezes

Hello again!  It has been a wonderful week…one of those weeks that you actually feel fulfilled.  I got things accomplished around here that needed to be done!   We have exactly 8 days left before we leave for vacation!  We are going to the beach and are really looking forward to it.

I also found my lost camera!!  I had been using my phone camera and believe me…it just wasn’t the same…so expect some new pictures before long.

I started a new kit today…..Soft Breezes.  In anticipation of (what I pray) will be nice soft beach breezes.  I will be adding pieces to it this week….so be sure and come back so that you can get all of the parts.  It will be rather large.

Here are the papers below….Click here to download.

See you tomorrow!!!

Romantic Getaway Kit

As I have mentioned in a previous post; my 17th anniversary is coming up soon.  On our 15th anniversary, T. surprised me with a romantic getaway….this was so out of character for him.  He did not tell me anything about where we were going; or anything.  He just had my mom come and get the kids and took me away!  I think we had the best time on a trip we had ever had; even better than our first honeymoon!

We went to a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Gatlinburg, Tennessee called Gracehill.  (Check out the beautiful place!) If you ever get the chance to go…tell Miss Cathy that “Patty sent you”…lol.

This particular trip was the inspiration for this new kit…Romantic Getaway!  I hope you like it and can use it.  I’d love to see anything you create with it if you’d care to share it with me.  I think this is my favorite so far.  Click on preview to see it larger.  Click Here to Download…hope you leave a comment and let me know what you think!! (hint, hint)

Have a wonderful evening!

Glitter Grunge Mini Kit

Busy day today. I had to go to the dentist with my oldest daughter, who had to have her four wisdom teeth pulled.  Ouch!  She handled it very well though.

I spent this afternoon making a little goodie for you.  The Glitter Grunge Mini Kit.  It includes:

• 3 Papers
• 9 Frames
• 2 Grunge Flowers
• 1 Grunge Bow

Click Here to Download.  Leave some love and please follow TOU.  Have a great weekend!

Thoughts on Tomatoes and Gravy!

Remember me talking about our gravy cook-off a couple of weeks ago?  The winning gravy was a wonderful Tomato Gravy.  Now…for me…tomatoes have never been my favorite…not quite right for a girl from the south, huh?  During the summer here…folks are all about “setting out” their tomato plants and dream of the day when they can pull a fresh, ripe, red tomato off the vine and go inside and have a “mater sandwich”; as my grandmother used to say…known to most folks as a BLT.  Yuck…was all I could say.  If tomatoes weren’t in catsup (at that time) I wanted nothing to do with them.  I have matured a LITTLE since then.  I will eat them in soups and pasta…LOL.

Well, to say that I was suspect of tomato gravy…is quite an understatement…but since dieting, I have made myself step out of my food “comfort zone” and have tried other things.  I will actually eat (small) tomatoes on my salad.

So, when my hubby walked over to me at the gravy cook-off and says “Here, try this”..I usually look at him with suspicion…but I tried this concoction and found it WONDERFUL!

I have the recipe to share with you…..give it a whirl….it’s great with a lot of different things.  JUST be careful with the latest tomato “goings on”!

I am currently working on some new things for you!!  Be on the look out.

Tomato Gravy

This gravy is delectable over fried chicken, pork chops or rice; ladled over biscuits it is almost a meal in itself.

2 tablespoons bacon fat or pan drippings from fried chicken
1 cup finely diced onion
2 large cloves garlic, finely minced
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 pound tomatoes, fresh or canned, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1/3-inch pieces (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions:
Heat the bacon fat or pan drippings in a heavy nonreactive skillet and add the diced onion. Sauté over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add garlic, 1 teaspoon of the salt, pepper and thyme, and cook for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour and cook, stirring well, for another 2 minutes. Stir in the chopped tomatoes and remaining ¸ teaspoon salt, and cook 5 minutes longer.
Slowly stir in the milk and heavy cream and bring to a simmer. Simmer gently for 5 minutes. Taste carefully for seasoning, adding more salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Serve hot

Summer Pansies Pt. 4

The guys are gone to camp and it is just me and two teenage girls!  Boy…do they like to squeal and giggle!

I have finished up the Summer Pansies Kit…so here is the final part 4.  Click Here to download. Be sure and leave some luv!

Click the image for a larger preview.

I’ll see you guys later with a new recipe!!!