We watched the movie today with a couple friends. I really liked it; excepting a few scenes. Stuff that wasn't really in keeping with Jane Austins' character, and then there was one scene that should have rated the movie R, in my opinion. So while I can't recommend it based on that, otherwise it was good. If you do plan on watching it, I'd recommend waiting till it was on DVD, so you can skip that scene, instead of walking out of the cinema for a time. We then had some interesting conversation about it. Warning! Spoilers. :) Our first problem was, if Tom Lefroy really did care for her, then why ever didn't he say, "Wait for me. I'll make my way to support you and my family, without my uncles help if need be"! Instead he goes and gets married to somebody else! Yeah.... Then there was Mr. Wisley. Why didn't she marry him?! He was so obviously above Lefroy...He actually took time to think before he spoke, and people wrote him off as slow! Or worse...And his conversation was very intelligent...He was so much more of a man than Lefroy! Lefroy may have been a little more exciting, or 'stirring' to ones emotions....but really, is that what's important in marriage, or life, even? There's so much more. And personally, her whole stance on not marrying somebody she didn't love...love is a choice, not a feeling. As Mr. Wisley said, "Affection is a flower that takes time to blossom." I'm not saying she should have married him right off, but given it some time at least. Oh, well, I needed to get those pent up, angry feelings out somehow. :) There's my tirade for today.
Flag Football season starts tomorrow; along with Volleyball for the girls. Unfortunately, I'm too old for the Volleyball team, maybe they'll let me assistant coach!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Some More Ramblings...
Well, here it is, more than a week since I last wrote. Ha-ha, the story of my life....I just seem to get so busy; and then I lost my Internet connection for a while there too.
My grandfather turns 80 tomorrow, so we went over to their place and celebrated with him today; all his sons, their wives, and their children. It was very nice, and just such a special time to spend all together. We made homemade ice cream, always a plus... :) The guys played football; meaning my four brothers and my cousin's husband, Nick. My Dad, and another cousin, Cody, even joined in the game some. My sisters and I played Frisbee with Cody some, and joined the married granddaughters later in watching the football game. My brother got married a year ago last March; they're expecting in January; and my cousin got married this past July. It's a weird feeling, being the oldest single in the family now..... :) But I guess I'm not suffering too much.... :)
My parents just had their 30th, and took a trip to the Smokies. I was 'president', and my twin brothers were 'head of security' while they were gone. :) We had a good time. My parents brought back little somethings for everyone, mugs for the four youngest, a biography of a native from the Smokies for Kathryn, and a book of Mountain Family Recipes for me. I was, and still am, very excited about that one....can't wait to try some of those; though others, like the chitlins, I'm content to leave well enough alone. :)
I guess I'm in a 'philosophical' type of mood, because I've been doing a lot of that (in my head) lately....I'm missing the day's when my friend Christi and I used to stay up all night doing that. lol. But I'll try to restrain myself for the time being. I am so glad she's finished up with one of her jobs, maybe we'll have some time to see each other again.
So, I have like a million books I'm supposed to be reading on my bookshelf. I've been reading Richard Blackaby's Putting A Face On Grace. It's really good, but since I'm reading so many different books right now, it's taking me forever to get through any of them. I'm also reading Nancy Leigh DeMoss's Holiness, just started it, so can't say much yet. And I'm still reading A Sacred Romance. That one's taking a long time, probably because it's so deep. I am aching to read Elliot' Let Me Be A Woman, I've heard so much good about it, but am making myself hold back on that one till I finish one of the others.
I had been making a lot of progress last week on the book I'm writing, The Count; but this week it seems that inspiration is gone. Oh, well. Sometimes it comes, sometimes it goes. I guess that's just the life of a struggling, amateur author. :)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
A Post
OK, after that horribly long post last week, I thought I should give y'all some time to actually read it (and possibly try the recipes:).
Well, it seems Wednesdays may be the time for me to post on my blog. As some of you probably already know, I have dial-up, and it takes forever to get anything done, so I don't always fool with this.....
The Lord has been teaching me allot this week.
I didn't realize it until recently, but I seem to have a problem with being grateful/thankful. Verbally, at least. But an older woman whom I look up to immensely encouraged me to practice being grateful. She's gonna check me on it Sunday.....It adds a whole new dimension to it when you know some one's gonna ask you how you did this past week......
Well, I have to make a run by the grocery, so this isn't a long post, but at least it is a post. :)
Well, it seems Wednesdays may be the time for me to post on my blog. As some of you probably already know, I have dial-up, and it takes forever to get anything done, so I don't always fool with this.....
The Lord has been teaching me allot this week.
I didn't realize it until recently, but I seem to have a problem with being grateful/thankful. Verbally, at least. But an older woman whom I look up to immensely encouraged me to practice being grateful. She's gonna check me on it Sunday.....It adds a whole new dimension to it when you know some one's gonna ask you how you did this past week......
Well, I have to make a run by the grocery, so this isn't a long post, but at least it is a post. :)
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Spanish Tuesday
Well, I had to change my plans a little this week.....so Tuesday turned into the Spanish/Mexican day. And I think I may say that it all turned out a success. :)
For breakfast we had
Mexicana Brunch Pie
5 large eggs
2 Tbls. melted butter or margerine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 ts. Baking powder
1 cup cream-style cottage cheese
8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (with peppers if you wish it to be spicier).
4.5 oz. chopped green chiles
Beat eggs, melted butter, flour, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is blended. (I used a hand-whip, I don't think it made that much of a difference.)
Stir in cottage cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and chiles; pour mixture into a well-greased 9-inch pie plate.
Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees, and bake 20 more minutes or until mixture is set. Cut into wedges. Yield: 8 servings.
(I added Canadian Bacon for a little more substance; of course that will change the nutrition facts.)
Nutrition facts: (this is for you, Ellen!) Per serving: calories-304; fat-22g; cholesterol-222mg; sodium-581mg.
Dinner was Spanish Quiche
3 7.5 inch flour tortillas
16 oz. Refried Beans
4 oz. diced green chiles
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 lb. reduced fat cheddar cheese, grated
7 eggs
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 ts. paprika
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9-inch pie pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cut 2 tortillas in half and place each half in the pan so that the rounded edge is 1/4 inch above the rim. Place the remaining tortilla in the center of the pan. Spread beans over tortillas. Top with chiles, onions, and cheese. Mix eggs with milk and pour over top. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 5o minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges. Yield: 8 servings.
Nutrition Facts: Per serving: calories-199.3; fat-10.6g; protein-12.9g; carbs-12.3; cholesterol-161mg; sodium-280 mg.
Corn Salad
2 cans white shoe-peg corn (I prefer the mexican-style, if you use that the tomato and green onions are optional)
1 med. tomato
green onions
2-3 heaping Tbls. Mayo
garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight.
Spanish Rice
3 Tbls. vegetable oil
2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
2 large green peppers, chopped. (I didn't have any, so used 3 cayenne peppers, it definitely made it spicy!)
2 large stalks celery, chopped
2 med. onions; finely chopped
2 ts. cumin seeds, crushed
1-1 1/2 ts. salt
1 ts. chili powder
1/2 ts. pepper
1/4 ts. garlic powder
6 cups water
8 oz. tomato sauce
Heat oil over med-high heat in a heavy Dutch oven (if you don't have a Dutch oven, make do, I did!); add rice and next 8 ingredients to Dutch oven, and cook until rice is browned, stirring often.
Stir in water and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to med.; cover and cook 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Yield: 8 side-dish servings.
Nutrition Facts per serving: cal-266; fat-6.1g; chol-0mg; sodium-330mg.
Spicy Okra-Tomato-Corn Saute
1/2 sm. onion, chopped
1/2 Tbls. vegetable oil
16 oz. frozen okra, thawed (I used fresh, but then you have to cook it first)
1 cup corn
10 oz. Ro-Tel tomatoes & green chiles, undrained
1 ts. sugar
3/4 ts. salt
1/4 ts. pepper
Saute chopped onion in hot veg. oil in a large non-stick skillet over med-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add okra, cook, stirring ocasionally, 5 more minutes. Stir in corn and remaining ingredients, and cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Server immediately.
There was quite a bit of dinner conversation over this meal, and half of it was centered on the meal. If you like spicy, mexican type dishes, this is a must-go!
For breakfast we had
Mexicana Brunch Pie
5 large eggs
2 Tbls. melted butter or margerine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 ts. Baking powder
1 cup cream-style cottage cheese
8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack cheese (with peppers if you wish it to be spicier).
4.5 oz. chopped green chiles
Beat eggs, melted butter, flour, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until mixture is blended. (I used a hand-whip, I don't think it made that much of a difference.)
Stir in cottage cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and chiles; pour mixture into a well-greased 9-inch pie plate.
Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees for 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees, and bake 20 more minutes or until mixture is set. Cut into wedges. Yield: 8 servings.
(I added Canadian Bacon for a little more substance; of course that will change the nutrition facts.)
Nutrition facts: (this is for you, Ellen!) Per serving: calories-304; fat-22g; cholesterol-222mg; sodium-581mg.
Dinner was Spanish Quiche
3 7.5 inch flour tortillas
16 oz. Refried Beans
4 oz. diced green chiles
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 lb. reduced fat cheddar cheese, grated
7 eggs
1/4 cup skim milk
1/4 ts. paprika
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9-inch pie pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cut 2 tortillas in half and place each half in the pan so that the rounded edge is 1/4 inch above the rim. Place the remaining tortilla in the center of the pan. Spread beans over tortillas. Top with chiles, onions, and cheese. Mix eggs with milk and pour over top. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 5o minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let sit for 10 minutes before cutting into 8 wedges. Yield: 8 servings.
Nutrition Facts: Per serving: calories-199.3; fat-10.6g; protein-12.9g; carbs-12.3; cholesterol-161mg; sodium-280 mg.
Corn Salad
2 cans white shoe-peg corn (I prefer the mexican-style, if you use that the tomato and green onions are optional)
1 med. tomato
green onions
2-3 heaping Tbls. Mayo
garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste.
Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight.
Spanish Rice
3 Tbls. vegetable oil
2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
2 large green peppers, chopped. (I didn't have any, so used 3 cayenne peppers, it definitely made it spicy!)
2 large stalks celery, chopped
2 med. onions; finely chopped
2 ts. cumin seeds, crushed
1-1 1/2 ts. salt
1 ts. chili powder
1/2 ts. pepper
1/4 ts. garlic powder
6 cups water
8 oz. tomato sauce
Heat oil over med-high heat in a heavy Dutch oven (if you don't have a Dutch oven, make do, I did!); add rice and next 8 ingredients to Dutch oven, and cook until rice is browned, stirring often.
Stir in water and tomato sauce; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to med.; cover and cook 25 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Yield: 8 side-dish servings.
Nutrition Facts per serving: cal-266; fat-6.1g; chol-0mg; sodium-330mg.
Spicy Okra-Tomato-Corn Saute
1/2 sm. onion, chopped
1/2 Tbls. vegetable oil
16 oz. frozen okra, thawed (I used fresh, but then you have to cook it first)
1 cup corn
10 oz. Ro-Tel tomatoes & green chiles, undrained
1 ts. sugar
3/4 ts. salt
1/4 ts. pepper
Saute chopped onion in hot veg. oil in a large non-stick skillet over med-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add okra, cook, stirring ocasionally, 5 more minutes. Stir in corn and remaining ingredients, and cook 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Server immediately.
There was quite a bit of dinner conversation over this meal, and half of it was centered on the meal. If you like spicy, mexican type dishes, this is a must-go!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Meals
I decided to go ahead and plan out my meals this week.
I'm in charge of food for two days, Tuesdays and Fridays; so Tuesday is Spanish/Mexican day. I'll be making a Mexicana Brunch Pie in the morning; lunch is always leftovers or sandwiches; and for supper I'm planning Spanish Quiche, Mexican Corn Salad, and Spanish Rice. I couldn't find a Spanish/Mexican dessert, so I'm going with a Deluxe Cheesecake.
Friday we'll have Buttermilk Biscuits and Creamy Egg Scramble; and supper will be something with venison as the main dish, haven't figured that one out yet. :) We'll also have Lemon Dill Potatoes and Broccoli Cheese Casserole, and Chocolate Pecan Torte for dessert.
I'm pretty happy with my meal plans for this week; we had most of the ingredients on hand already, and the few we don't are pretty inexpensive. I'm hoping to post the recipes later, and I'll definitely let you know how they turn out. :)
I'm in charge of food for two days, Tuesdays and Fridays; so Tuesday is Spanish/Mexican day. I'll be making a Mexicana Brunch Pie in the morning; lunch is always leftovers or sandwiches; and for supper I'm planning Spanish Quiche, Mexican Corn Salad, and Spanish Rice. I couldn't find a Spanish/Mexican dessert, so I'm going with a Deluxe Cheesecake.
Friday we'll have Buttermilk Biscuits and Creamy Egg Scramble; and supper will be something with venison as the main dish, haven't figured that one out yet. :) We'll also have Lemon Dill Potatoes and Broccoli Cheese Casserole, and Chocolate Pecan Torte for dessert.
I'm pretty happy with my meal plans for this week; we had most of the ingredients on hand already, and the few we don't are pretty inexpensive. I'm hoping to post the recipes later, and I'll definitely let you know how they turn out. :)
Personality Types
These are some pretty cool sites. I thought I'd post them for you, and if you happen to be someone I know personally, I would love it if you left me (either here, email or facebook) your name and type. I thought it would be nice to understand each other a little better. :) My type is ISTP.
http://www.personalitytype.com/quiz.asp
Once you've taken the above to determine your type, take these; they'll tell you a little about yourself (as if you didn't already know!). =)
http://www.personalitypage.com/portraits.html and http://www.typelogic.com/.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Special thanks to Sam for sending me these links in the first place. :)
http://www.personalitytype.com/quiz.asp
Once you've taken the above to determine your type, take these; they'll tell you a little about yourself (as if you didn't already know!). =)
http://www.personalitypage.com/portraits.html and http://www.typelogic.com/.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. Special thanks to Sam for sending me these links in the first place. :)
Friday, August 3, 2007
Runnning
Verse Of The Day
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training....exercises self-control in all things....They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." I Corinthians 9:24-27
How are you running? Are you exercising self-control in all things? These words of Paul's convict me every time I read them. My exhortation today is, run in such a way as to receive the prize; run with aim, and self-control.
I write this, with the knowledge in mind that I need myself to do this. It is not because of anyone else, but what I see in my own life. I realize more and more as I grow older how impossible it is to do anything on my own. Thus, this is a simple way of reminding myself to take it to God today; to trust and lean on Him. And if it helps you as well, then praise the Lord!
I sprained my knee slightly yesterday evening, running. I stepped into a hole....how embarrassing! It was pretty stiff this morning when I got up, but as I've moved around, it has felt better. Perhaps this is what sparked 'running races'. :)
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training....exercises self-control in all things....They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." I Corinthians 9:24-27
How are you running? Are you exercising self-control in all things? These words of Paul's convict me every time I read them. My exhortation today is, run in such a way as to receive the prize; run with aim, and self-control.
I write this, with the knowledge in mind that I need myself to do this. It is not because of anyone else, but what I see in my own life. I realize more and more as I grow older how impossible it is to do anything on my own. Thus, this is a simple way of reminding myself to take it to God today; to trust and lean on Him. And if it helps you as well, then praise the Lord!
I sprained my knee slightly yesterday evening, running. I stepped into a hole....how embarrassing! It was pretty stiff this morning when I got up, but as I've moved around, it has felt better. Perhaps this is what sparked 'running races'. :)
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Overcoming the World
Verse Of The Day
"In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different. 'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High...there shall no evil befall thee.'" Oswald Chambers.
Oh, the truth to these words! I must confess that all to often, I lose sight of that simple truth. In the trials of this world, I often become overwhelmed, wondering how I could ever hope to stay afloat. I forget that I can't, not on my own. But Christ has overcome the world. And in His secret place I am safe. But I have to go there. I have to accept His help, in fact, give everything to Him. And then in that place shall no evil befall me.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6
Am I willing to trust Him every day of my life? To let Him test me, producing endurance? To admit my lack of wisdom, and humbly ask Him for more? And to ask in faith, without the nagging doubts that so often assail us? Am I willing to 'be of good cheer', with joy in my heart when the hard times come?
These questions must be asked. Hopefully, you're answer is yes to all of them. But while that is what I really want my answer to be, sometimes I find I do not live my life according to that answer. You have to be willing to let God grow that desire in you, to seek Him daily and cultivate that relationship with Him. I find that I have to constantly rededicate my life to Him and to His will. I wonder, does there ever come a time when we don't have to do that? The answer seems to be no; you will have to make decisions for Christ every single day of your life. We live in a sinful world, full of temptations; and unless you live as a hermit, miles from any human contact all your life, you will be tempted by this world to turn from Christ. You should not feel guilty for being tempted, but you should for giving in. I want to encourage you to fight temptation; to continually seek His face. To persevere in the trials, leaning on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Knowing that He has indeed overcome the world.
"In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"An average view of the Christian life is that it means deliverance from trouble. It is deliverance in trouble, which is very different. 'He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High...there shall no evil befall thee.'" Oswald Chambers.
Oh, the truth to these words! I must confess that all to often, I lose sight of that simple truth. In the trials of this world, I often become overwhelmed, wondering how I could ever hope to stay afloat. I forget that I can't, not on my own. But Christ has overcome the world. And in His secret place I am safe. But I have to go there. I have to accept His help, in fact, give everything to Him. And then in that place shall no evil befall me.
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have it's perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6
Am I willing to trust Him every day of my life? To let Him test me, producing endurance? To admit my lack of wisdom, and humbly ask Him for more? And to ask in faith, without the nagging doubts that so often assail us? Am I willing to 'be of good cheer', with joy in my heart when the hard times come?
These questions must be asked. Hopefully, you're answer is yes to all of them. But while that is what I really want my answer to be, sometimes I find I do not live my life according to that answer. You have to be willing to let God grow that desire in you, to seek Him daily and cultivate that relationship with Him. I find that I have to constantly rededicate my life to Him and to His will. I wonder, does there ever come a time when we don't have to do that? The answer seems to be no; you will have to make decisions for Christ every single day of your life. We live in a sinful world, full of temptations; and unless you live as a hermit, miles from any human contact all your life, you will be tempted by this world to turn from Christ. You should not feel guilty for being tempted, but you should for giving in. I want to encourage you to fight temptation; to continually seek His face. To persevere in the trials, leaning on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Knowing that He has indeed overcome the world.
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