there be babies here

DS and his family are here to visit for a week. We’ve been able to visit them twice since the babies were born, so are glad to have them under our roof for a week.

We expected them around 8AM but they were able to leave earlier than planned so arrived around 6:00. I’d been awake since 4:30, so was glad to see them come early!

Grandma time

Hi, Grandpa

Just look at that face…

baby blue eyes

Right now they are napping, as well as their mom and dad. Our DD10 and their DD10 have been flitting from one activity to another and haven’t lit in one place long enough for pictures yet. We’ll catch them later. 🙂

~~Rhonda

anniversary day

DH and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary this week by visiting Wine Country Gardens. We’ve been there several times in the past seven or eight years. We’ve purchased quite a few daylilies from them. This year we picked up only two new ones, but it’s hard to find something different when you have more daylily varieties in your yard than the nursery carries. 🙂

We had lunch at the nursery which has a nice cafe. The food was delicious (I had a great chicken salad on wonderful herb bread). I must say, their creamy coleslaw with apples was also delicious. I’d love to have that recipe. The dressing had a tiny bit of a spicy bite to it. I couldn’t put my finger on it. The view from the restaurant is supreme! The nursery is located at the top of a hill and overlooks a wide valley.

the view

The veranda used to hold all kinds of unique containers filled with beautiful flowers and greenery. I was disappointed to find they no longer make those, as I had planned to take some pictures for ideas. The veranda and terrace are still beautiful places to rest and enjoy the wonderful view.

the terrace

in the garden

The nursery has a few golf carts the customers may use to visit the daylily fields. I drove, DH got in and out to check out the names of ones we liked. The nursery needs to do a better job of labeling them. There were four or five we did not purchase as we didn’t know the names.

row by row

We enjoyed our visit there. On the way home we stopped at Red Lobster for supper. We haven’t eaten there for probably 20 years. The meal was good and we’re glad we tried it. I’ve made “Red Lobster” Cheddar Bay biscuits at home in the past, using this recipe.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits
2 cups Bisquick baking mix
2/3 c. milk
1/2 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 c. butter, melted
1/4 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)
parsley flakes

Combine the biscuit mix, milk and cheese and stir for about 30 seconds.
Spoon onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.
Bake 450*F for 8-10 minutes.
Combine butter and garlic powder and brush over hot biscuits. Sprinkle with parsley.

I have to say, the biscuits at Red Lobster last night were NOT even close to being as good as the ones I made at home. I couldn’t find a trace of cheddar cheese in the biscuits we had last night and they were not as dense as I thought they should be. But overall, the meal was quite good. Not like having fresh seafood in Florida, but good. 🙂

We crossed the Mississippi River coming and going. The flooding is supposed to be cresting about now, though more rain to the north could send another crest next week.

Mississippi river

Mississippi River

In our own garden, it was fitting that the first flower out on the daylily ‘Forever Loving You’ opened on our anniversary. 🙂

DH is the best. He’s hard working, loving, kind and considerate, sacrificing for me and for our family. I thank God for him every day. Thirty one years encompasses a lot…good and bad, easy and hard…but we wouldn’t have it any other way. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) The perspective of thirty-plus years is a great vantage point from which to see the truth in that verse.

~~Rhonda

Menu Plan Monday

It’s the week of VBS, which means supper has to be quick and easy.

Monday
sloppy joes
veggies / chips / dip

Tuesday
chicken / noodles
green salad
corn / peas

Wednesday
leftovers

Thursday
turkey sandwiches
veggies / chips / dip

Friday
spaghetti
garlic bread
green salad
corn
zucchini / yellow squash stir-fry

Saturday lunch
BBQ beef / buns
chips / veggies / dip
We tried this BBQ beef recipe last week and everyone loved it. Gonna have it again. 🙂

Saturday supper
brats / hotdogs
buns / pickles / mustard / ketchup / relish
Cowboy Beans
coleslaw
chips / veggies / dip

Sunday
pork chops
mashed potatoes
salad
corn on the cob
sugar snap peas / cherry tomatoes

On Saturday, DS and his family arrive for a week, so it will be a big week, menu-wise. I’m giving it some thought ahead of time. I’ll need to include some lunch ideas, which I usually don’t do as we just have leftovers or a sandwich, etc. But we’ll have five extra people in the house, as well as DD who is home for two weeks, so lunch needs to be planned for and not “catch as catch can.” But more about that next week. 🙂

More menu ideas here.

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday

I’m trying two new recipes this week. Last week I made Crash Hot Potatoes and they were a huge hit with DH and DD. Crispy and delicious. I’ll be making those again, soon.

Monday
Sloppy Joes / buns
veggies / chips / dip

Tuesday
spaghetti
garlic bread
sauted peapods
corn
spinach salad

Wednesday
leftovers

Thursday
Crockpot Chicken Cordon Bleu
steamed broccoli
corn
spinach salad

Friday
BBQ Beef / buns
veggies / chips / dip

Saturday
leftovers

Sunday
turkey in the crockpot
mashed potatoes
carrots
peas
salad

“Turkey in the crockpot” is a frozen boneless turkey (thawed) with a can of cream of chicken soup over it. So good. Tender and moist. I use the leftover liquid to add to the gravy packet for flavorful gravy. It’s a great dish for Sunday as I can put it on early and it’s ready when we get home from church.

More menu ideas here.

~~Rhonda

father’s day

The day started with gifts for Dad. DD gave him three daylilies, an artemisia, a shovel, garden gloves, and his favorite candy…York mints.

Happy Father's Day!

Then I made a bouquet for church. The hydrangeas are just coming on, so I used them.

bouquet for church

The young people hosted breakfast for dads…pancakes, sausage, tater tots, peaches…delish!

have you hugged a presbyterian today?

Have you hugged a presbyterian today?

kitchen crew

We’re proud of our young people. They’re the best!

they're the best!

Herschel favored us with hymns and songs on his harmonica, including one of my favorites, “Faith of Our Fathers.”

Herschel

It was fun to have breakfast served to us by such willing servants of Christ. The young people did a great job, as usual. 🙂

After church, we had Russell’s favorite meat dish for lunch. He loves marinated pork tenderloin. I made the marinade last night and left the meat in it in the fridge overnight.

Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Saute until golden brown and caramelized:
1 yellow onion, diced
2 T. olive oil
4 T. sugar

Place the following ingredients into a gallon-sized plastic zippered bag and marinate at least six hours or overnight.
3/4 c. apple juice
1/3 c. light soy sauce
2 T. cider vinegar
8 slices fresh ginger root
1 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
freshly ground black pepper
the caramelized onions (above)
2 pork tenderloins

In the past, I’ve baked the tenderloin on a rack in the oven until done. Today I put them in a crockpot and cooked them on high for three hours. It was SO tender and delicious. Yum! The marinade can be used on chicken, too.

In the afternoon, DD and I made an apple pie for DH. He loves pie. The pie making is fodder for another post, coming soon. 🙂

~~Rhonda

world’s cutest grandchildren?

Mine, of course. 😀

Tabby and Panda

sketch

Sean Cairns, an art major, had done a sketch of a friend’s house and we asked him to do one of ours. He came by this afternoon and produced this lovely drawing.

our home

I asked him to come back when he has time and do a detailed drawing of the front door.

~~Rhonda

menu plan monday

I didn’t post a menu last week as DH and DD were at church camp. That left DD#1 and me at home and we didn’t cook. Just ate as we were hungry. This week, DD has left for NY to go to camp as a counselor and we are back to our regularly scheduled program here at home. So here’s the menu…

Monday
BBQ chicken / buns
veggies / chips / dip

Tuesday
pork chops
rice
spinach salad
green beans
corn

Wednesday
sloppy joes
chips / dip
corn on the cob
asparagus

Thursday
salmon with honey-dijon sauce
peas
corn
green salad

Friday
chicken and noodles
asparagus
carrots

Saturday
leftovers

Sunday
crockpot turkey
mashed potatoes
green beans
corn
green salad

More menu ideas on Laura’s blog.

~~Rhonda

camp

DH and DD spent this past week at church camp. DH is the director, a fact that DD loves. So great to have Dad there when a girl gets tired or homesick or just needs a hug. There were 94 campers and 20 some staff members.

welcome!

The campers enjoyed all kinds of fun activities. Paddle boats and canoes…

paddle boats

Crafts and woodworking…

crafts

woodworking

Kiddy pool kick ball…

kiddy pool kick ball

Camp is for new friends and old…

camp

Dinner time!

dinner time

Celebration and worship.

celebration

Active and involved staff… 😉

resting my eyes

A favorite part of camp is always the Nathan Clark George concert. This year he brought Mark Stoffel with him. Mark was one of the musicians Nathan brought with him to our house concert last Christmas.

The campers loved the concert!

a favorite part of camp

The campers had quite an adventure this year when a tornado warning sent them to the shelter at 4:00 AM one morning. A tree fell hitting the porch of one of the cabins and crushing a counselor’s van. The crown of the tree fell five feet from DH who was going from cabin to cabin hustling campers into the shelter.

4:00 AM storm

Everyone was safe. We can’t say the same for Heather’s car, though.

didn't miss the van

missed the cabin...missed DH

We thank God for His care over the campers and staff this week. He is good indeed!

DH says it was a good camp. The campers were smiling all week and we’re getting reports from parents telling us how much the kids are talking about camp…non-stop. 🙂 We hope we’ll see them all again next year!

the bridge

~~Rhonda 🙂

thanking God for His watchful care

Thursday morning, the winds blew and a tree fell…right on Gary and Laurie’s house. At 5:30 AM, while telling Gary goodbye as he left for work, Laurie watched a hickory tree give way and fall on their house. As it came down, it snapped off a second tree which helped cushion the fall and prevented damage to the house.

ouch...

The bottom of the tree looked like it had some rot in it.

inspection

God’s watchful care was evident. The tree fell around the tall chimney and didn’t disturb it at all.

how did it miss the chimney??

from the south

After the insurance agent came out to take pictures, Gary got started on the first cuts.

first cuts

It didn’t take long for word to get around and members of our church family and friends began to show up to help.

lots of helping hands

It seemed a daunting task at first.

long way to go

But there was a lot of help and a lot of prayers on behalf of Gary and Laurie.

off the north side

“Here Grandpa, you’re gonna need these…”

grandpa's helper

This was as far as they could go without professional help.

as far as we can go

The men took a break while we put out lunch for them. In the afternoon, they were able to procure a crane and had the trees lifted from the house. In all, they lost six trees, including two that had to be cut to make way for the crane to get into position. But after all was said and done, the house was inspected and there was NO damage found other than a few disturbed shingles. We thank God for His watchful care over Gary and Laurie and their home. He is good indeed!

~~Rhonda