Australian Memories – Banksia

 

Banksia

Cheesy Baked Portabellas

 

Some time back I made this simple, but elegant side for a dinner I was giving for family.  It is a little more expensive than some things, but really easy to make!

You will need:

whole portabella mushrooms
round cheese, sliced
seasonings of choice
salt to taste

Remove the stems and wash off dirt from portabella mushroom tops.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil (optional) and lightly grease/oil it.  Lay the portabellas top side down on the sheet.  Bake at about 350F till they are approximately halfway done – a little of the juices should be coming out (see photo above).  (Keep an eye on it as it doesn’t take terribly long.  Sorry, I can’t give an exact time.)

Remove from oven.  Sprinkle lightly with salt and lay slices of a round cheese on top.  You can use whatever you like: Provolone, etc.  I used a Mexican melting cheese.  I had to cut the slices in half to get them to fit nicely on top. 

Then sprinkle with whatever seasoning, herbs or toppings you want.  Use your imagination.  I used French’s onion crisps and parsley here.  You could also use a number if different fresh or dried herbs, caramelized onions, seasoning blends, fully cooked bacon bits or sun dried tomatoes.  You could even make them into miniature pizzas and serve as a main dish!  Yum!  (Note: Adding more toppings may require longer cooking time, so take the portabella tops out sooner so they don’t get overdone.)

Return to the oven and finish baking just till the cheese is melted.  Serve whole, or cut in half.

The Promises of God – A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

 

Here is another beautiful poem by dear Annie.  How I look forward to meeting her at Home!

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God's promises are like the birds of heaven
That fill the hours with music all day long,
Too oft unheard and oftener unheeded
Amid earth's voices of despair and wrong;
Each one a thought of God, a joy, a comfort,
If we but pause to listen to its song…

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Berry Fun Saturday – A New Idea

 

I have had a great liking for strawberry motifs since I was around 11 years old.  I started “collecting” strawberry themed things then - some for my room, some for my hope chest.  I am working on a strawberry theme in my kitchen and have included a little in the dining room.  Some of you may remember my post about my old strawberry cookie jar.

I was poking around looking at strawberry things online and it occurred to me that it might be fun to mix up our Saturdays a bit and throw in some strawberry themed crafts and sewing projects.  I’ll give it a go and see how it works out.  Some of these will be things that I actually make myself, but probably a lot of them will be things I would like to make, or just a starting point for another idea.  I hope you enjoy my little side hobby.  (I have a niece who also likes strawberries, so I’m thinking at least she will find this interesting.)  :-)

For something pretty and easy I simply sewed strawberry ribbon onto a red hand towel that I use in the kitchen.  I pinned on the ribbon and sewed carefully down one side, removing the pins.  Then I sewed the other side.  Before I started sewing the ribbon on, I folded the ends under so that I could catch them as I sewed from the front, but I missed one side on both ends.  It was a simple matter of sewing them down by hand, though.  If you try this, make sure you use washable ribbon.

The Thousand Word Project – A Pleasant Reminder

 

Song of Solomon 2:11-12  For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

 

 

 

 

Food Memories – Experiences with Chop Suey

 

Grandpa and Gramma in their yard at Gull Lake.
This was taken a few years before this story starts.

Gramma’s birthday was February 21st, so this seems like an appropriate post for this week.

Experiences with Chop Suey

Back in the "dear dead days" not quite beyond recall, we used to enjoy visits to Gramma's house at Gull Lake a number of times each year. These mostly occurred during good driving weather - spring, summer and fall - with an occasional trip during the winter. (Since Gramma's house was so small, I think we tended to avoid winter visits and she came to us during that season more than we went to her.)

During the years I am referring to we lived exactly 80 miles north of Gramma's house.  (She figured this out herself on one of her trips, though I don't remember which of the two routes she took.) Consequently, our visits to her usually involved at least two meals, a lunch and a supper, or dinner if you will. Of course, it was more if we stayed over night…

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Jesus Knows Thy Sorrow

 

 

Jesus knows thy sorrow,
Knows thine every care;
Knows thy deep contrition,
Hears thy feeblest prayer;
Do not fear to trust Him --
Tell Him all thy grief;
Cast on Him thy burden,
He will bring relief.

Trust the heart of Jesus,
Thou art precious there;
Surely He would shield thee
From the tempter's snare;
Safely He would lead thee,
By His own sweet way,
Out into the glory
Of a brighter day.

Jesus knows thy conflict,
Hears thy burdened sigh;
When thy heart is wounded,
Hears thy plaintive cry;
He thy soul will strengthen,
Overcome thy fears;
He will send thee comfort,
Wipe away thy tears.

--Rev. W.O Cushing

Psalms 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Matthew 11:28-30  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Sew Happy Saturday – Just A Couple Things

 

Keepsake Quilting is having a “Fabric for Life” sweepstakes or giveaway.  If you’d like to enter click here.  By clicking through this link you will be helping me get extra chances to win.  I think you’ll get your own link to give out for more chances to win. :-)  Whether you quilt or sew cotton clothing, fabric “for life” (20-year supply) would be very useful. :-)

I finally cut something with some of the fabric I brought home from Australia.  I had no idea that minky fleece would create such a big mess!  And, it was so fluffy that it would blow all over the place if there was any breeze.  I was tired that evening and didn’t clean up the mess right away because I realized I should vacuum it in order to avoid spreading it.  I asked my husband not to sneeze on it when he ate breakfast at the table in the morning and he kindly obliged me. :-)  I think I need to resist the urge to buy any more of this stuff as I really don’t like making such a mess when cutting!  (I hope to show you what I made, but I don’t have a photo of it yet.)

Australian Memories – Working Together

 

With my sister-in-law.  :-) 

Note: I took my own apron along. 
“Have apron, will travel.”  :-D

My dad and brother making salsa.

Adding liners to the curtains to reduce heat.  It really helped!
The weather was quite hot part of the time we were there.

My nephew helping get breakfast.  :-)

Smart Living

 

My mom and I some years back organizing her “smart living” pantry.

My friend, Jo, at “Stop – Have At Chat” made this excellent list of suggestion for what she prefers to call smart living.  Please go over and take a look if you want some useful hints on how to live “smart”. :-)

She writes, “I don't like the word "frugal" living as it doesn't sound like a lot of fun.  It sounds like drudgery to me.

I much prefer to use  "smart living" instead, now that sounds like much more fun.

Smart living isn't just about making your money stretch further, but:

• not wasting what you have
• using what you already have
• valuing what you have
• thinking careful before adding to what you have.”

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A Few Words to "The Mother Club" on Behalf of the Hurting Ones Outside

 

Here is a new article I wrote on the Home Maker’s Corner.  I hope that you will make the time to read this if you are a Christian woman.  It is something that has been heavy on my heart and the Lord brought about a situation that forced me to get this said.

A Few Words to "The Mother Club"
on Behalf of the Hurting Ones Outside

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own...

Recently I read a blog post by a well-meaning lady who was addressing an important subject.  She was debunking the "perfect family" ideal that has developed, thanks largely to Quiverfull, Hyper "Biblical Patriarchy" and Family Inclusive Churches.  This is the ideology that large families are more special, more blessed, have better "quivers" and are generally more to be admired by Christians than small families.  (And, let me say here that I have no problem with large families if that's what the parents want.)  The attitudes of some become almost idolatrous, if not fully so.  I was very glad to see her dealing with this subject as it is a serious issue.  No mother should be made to feel like a failure or inferior because she "only" has one or two or three kids!

However - my heart was also very deeply hurt by this lady's article (which is one reason I'm not sharing the link or quotes).  As I read her article I was so glad she was saying many of the things she said and yet so torn because of all the things she missed and even the things she was making worse and more hurtful for others.  You see, for all her good intentions she totally missed the fact that mothers of small families are not the only ones that are hurt by the "motherhood IS our identity" ideal.  She pointed out that women who are mothers to one or two or even adopted children are still "in the club" of motherhood.  I sat there and grieved in my heart for all of us who are mother to none.

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Australian Memories – A Happy Moment

 

My dad and his Aussie grandchildren.
(That’s a bottle brush tree on the right.)

Random Evening List

 

I took this photo in February a year ago.

I got this list from another blogger, though I did adjust it some for my own use. :-)  (Gotta change those recipes, you know!)

I have been….

Making…a quilt top, a pillow cover, and a winter scarf.
Cooking…simply lately, as we’re recovering from a stomach bug.
Reading…a book that I don’t like much.  Think I might delete it. (Kindle)
Wanting…to feel well again! 
Looking…tired.
Playing…Wordament.
Deciding…what changes to make in the living room next.
Enjoying…having had a good one-on-one conversation with my mom today.
Waiting…to find out when Mom’s next surgery will be.  (sigh)
Liking…the idea of getting the T.V. out of the living room.
Wondering…how to adjust my diet to improve some health problems.
Loving…my husband. :-)
Pondering…the Hyper Patriarchy Movement and its beliefs.
Considering…how I want to spend some money I have for projects.
Watching…myself type.  (No brainer.) ;-)
Hoping…to get to go to prayer meeting tomorrow night; and that my mom will be able to walk even better after her next surgery!
Marveling…at the glory of winter sunsets.  God’s artwork is without equal.
Needing…to take an Epsom salts bath.  Ahhh…..
Smelling… - probably, but that is none of your business. :-D
Wearing…comfortable clothes due to being sick.
Noticing…that my husband and I look middle aged now.
Knowing…that we need to go to bed soon.
Thinking…about people’s tendency to make others perform to their expectations through guilt.
Admiring…batik fabric.
Buying…groceries?
Getting…tired of this list already.  Hmmmm.
Bookmarking…too many things to mention.  I’m an incorrigible researcher.
Giggling…with my sister-in-law.  :-)
Feeling…a little melancholy from being sick, having so much cloudy weather, and my mom facing more surgery.
Thanking God…for helping me to feel really well for a little while when my in-laws spent a long weekend with us; and that we had a very blessed visit with them!  Also, for some sunshine and a sun bath this afternoon!
Smiling…because I changed this list some more.  :-D

And so good night!  (To quote a famous diarist – to whom I bear no resemblance in style, but it’s always more impressive to quote someone famous…right?) :-)

Thoughts from the Past – Works As to the Lord

 

Here’s an article that I wrote some time back relating to people doing works as unto men instead of as to the Lord.  This is a very important subject as we see so many people these days in many different groups who are working to follow men’s rules to please men rather than living by faith and working in faith to please the Lord.

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Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

1Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

These two verses stood out to me recently. A friend and I had been discussing the trouble some people have with doing works (namely dressing a certain way) in order to please men and measure up to men's standards.

Hearty service should be unto the Lord, not unto men. If we dress a certain way, if we abstain from certain activities or customs, if we forego certain pleasures, whatever we do, it should be heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. If we do it as to men it is wasted - even if it is a good and right thing to do. The Thessalonians had a good testimony. They had works of faith and labors of love. But, these things were in the sight of God, not "in the sight of men". They were doing what the previous verse said. They were doing their works and labors unto the Lord and not unto men.

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