01/31/10

Drip, drip went the snow today.

Black ice tonight.

No school tomorrow.

01/30/10

It snowed! :) This snow had more sleet than snow around our area, though. I thought it was rather neat to see up close, so of course I took photos of it.


There was no need for Walmart bags this year! We got us some boots!
Wesley and Mikayla couldn't wait to get outside.... ready to sled!



Steve had to work last night so once he woke up we went back outside and he got to enjoy the fun, too.





We sledded down the main road today. It was quite fun for the kids... I didn't try that one.

Snow angels were a must to do....
Mikayla and I made another cake this afternoon. I wanted to try another one to help her get some of the "kinks" out of it. We decided to call it a "Snow Cake"... with vanilla frosting in honor of the snow. The layers are still hot so we can't frost it yet, but it won't be long. That frosting is sooooo gooooooooood.

01/29/10

Snow is a comin'! :) We'll see how much we get. Here is a picture of frost on a pansy from yesterday. It was a hard one to capture because it was extremely shaded.


Enjoy this little story that is from one of our readers at school. It is simple, but it shows there are two ways to walk through life - looking at things from a positive view or a negative view.

The Two Buckets

"How unhappy you look!" said on bucket to another as they were going to the well. "Ah!" replied the other. "I was thinking how useless it is for us to be filled. No matter how full we are when we go away, we always come back empty." "Dear me! How strange to look at it that way!" said the other bucket. "I enjoy thinking that no matter how empty we come, we always go away full."

Psalm 86:15
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

John 15:7, 11
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

01/28/10

I took my camera to school today and photographed when my students were in their special classes. Did I have work that needed to be done? Oh, yes, but this was what I needed today. The frost was a nice addition to what I had originally wanted to photograph. Since they are calling for snow around here this weekend I wanted to capture the frost while I could to have another look into winter.

It had been so long since I've creatively photographed and it brought great stress relief and enjoyment. Thanks for those that gave me encouraging words to yesterday's post. I'll be sharing more in the future, but here is one from today. Frost is quite amazing to observe up close! I love this shot because you can still see the frost on the right where the flower is in the shadows, but the left, where the sun is shining, the frost has turned to "dew."


Here is a "short story/poem" shared in our devotions at school this morning. I thought it was so true of the "seasons" of our lives.

For Everything There is a Season

I sit in my rocker in the spring and watch the magnolia tree blooming across the street. In summer, I sit on the front stoop, a glass of lemonade in my hand as I chat with neighbors. Autumn inspires an arrangement of pumpkins and squash in a display beside my front door. And winter sometimes finds me wrapped in a throw on the porch, listening to the rain.

The seasons show me that nothing lasts forever - that winter, as dark and cold and rainy as it may be, is always followed by spring, a season of light and hope. Though the seasons may change, God's faithfulness is sure and certain, unfailing throughout the seasons of the year and the seasons of my life.

I know, O God, that only You are forever.
All my trials and joys will one day be redeemed by You in eternity.

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

01/27/10

The other day I asked if any of you had a question for me. I got one question:

"What is your favorite thing to photograph?"


This would be the answer... flower and nature in the "still" form. I am not so good at the active form, it seems.

I have been in a bit of a "rut" lately with my photography. I just haven't been taking any pics other than family candids. I hate these ruts but I feel my creative juices have stopped flowing. It is supposed to snow this weekend so maybe I will get back out there and try some more.

Anyone else ever get that way with things in life? I don't mean photography because I know not everyone loves that like I do, I just mean in whatever you are creative in doing.

If you have any ideas of what you do to get your "mojo" back, let me hear 'em. I think school and the kids getting older and busier has caused me to lose a bit.

01/26/10

Here's a funny for today:

Today I was teaching my students about the digestive system. We made a "human" one by different kids becoming different parts of the system. I was the food that was eaten, swallowed, turned acidic in the stomach, went through the small intestines, had my parts distributed to the liver/blood stream and then out through the kidneys and colon. At each part I would stop and ask the kids to tell me what was happening. When I had just gone through the small intestines, I asked the kids "OK, where have I just been!?" One little girl calls out "The small CONTESTANTS!"

HAHHAHAHA :) Not exactly but that was a good one.

Here is a question for you to answer... you can put it in my comments.

If left alone on a deserted island, list five things you would need to survive.

Mine:
1. the Bible - couldn't go without it!
2. chocolate - OF COURSE
3. camera - I may be able to catch some really nifty shots
4. sunblock - wouldn't want to burn
5. lighter - to start a fire

Can't wait to see your responses! :)

01/25/10

Anyone in need of a birthday cake?

You may want to call "Mikayla's Bakery" for that order.

This past weekend we had some of our friends over to celebrate the husband's birthday. Mikayla wanted to bake a cake out of her new cookbook.

Homemade.

From scratch.

Frosting, too... not the can stuff.

She has "Betty Crocker" as her Mother, so why not? lol

We had to change the recipe up a bit to go with the pans I had. That is scary for KELLIE to change up a recipe. I was on the phone with Mom just making sure I was doing it "right."

Aren't her layers beautiful? We actually overcooked them before we realized it because we were going by the original recipe and not the change up, but it was still good. LOL

Homemade frosting.

Oh. My. Word.

She and I could have eaten this whole bowl. I am honestly thinking of making some plain vanilla just for us to "munch" on... so nutritious.

I helped her with the sides and she spread the frosting on the top.

Layer one, check.

Layer two....

Layer two getting iced....

She and I enjoyed the spatula and using our fingers in the icing.

I did the swirl on top... aren't ya proud of me?

I was very proud of my Mikayla Girl. I made her do most of it and helped her with just the things she would need. We had some good math lessons (and her Mom learned, too). It was a fun time together!

01/23/10

We've had some cold days here but this past week has actually been mild. What a time for some homemade potato soup! lol Steve nor I had ever made potato soup from scratch so we went into this adventure together. For our first experience I thought we did awesome. We learned a couple of things, but aren't we always supposed to do that when we try something new!? :)

Here is the recipe. It is from our church cookbook and one I recommend. This is some serious comfort food.

Baked Potato Soup

2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. all purpose flour
7 c. milk
4 lg. baking potatoes, bakes, cooked, and cubed
(We just cooked out potatoes... not baked. We recommend not cooking them thoroughly. We found we cooked ours a little too much and it caused them to become more cream potatoish when we had the finished product.)
4 green onions, sliced
12 bacon stips, cooked and crumbled
1 1/4 c. shredded Cheddar cheese
(We used some Pepper Jack cheese we had, too, and it was awesome with the cheddar.)
1 c. (8 oz.) sour cream
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Melt butter; stir in flour; heat and stir until smooth.
Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until thickened. (It will not get TOO thick until you add the potatoes.) Add potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients; stir until cheese is melted, or sprinkle cheese on top of each bowl when serving. (We sprinkled the cheese when serving.)

Yield: 8-10 servings (2 1/2 quarts).

01/22/10

Here I am in front of Fort Macon. I thought it was fitting since this post is about ME today. LOL :)

I "stole" this from my friend Wendy's blog. I thought it was something good for a Friday.

1. When was the last time you craved a food--what was it, and did you crave? Hmmm... it would have to be something sweet. Chocolate is always first on the list, but recently I finished off the "old" Christmas candy.

2. M & M's or Skittles? M&M's.... can't really stand Skittles. They are just tooooo sweet.

3. Have you ever read the Bible completely through? Well, to be honest, can't say that I have ever done that cover to cover. I always got stuck in the geneology parts and "gave up." I must say, I enjoy concentrating on certain sections and learning that more than buzzing through.

4. How long does it take you to really wake up in the morning? It really depends. Some mornings I am pretty much awake right after my shower at 5:00am. Other days, it seems I don't "wake up" until lunchtime. My poor students....

5. Have you ever been on a cruise? No, but would like to go on an Alaskan Cruise one day. Steve says that is what we're doing for our 20th anniversary. He has three years to get that planned.

6. Who is your favorite actress? I honestly do not know. I am not good with names on most actresses (or actors)... just ask Kevin. I guess if they can act and are pretty decent I don't mind them. lol

7. ______ is something that I will just never understand. I don't know where to begin on that fill in the blank. There are a lot of things I could put, but some would not make sense in my typing them out. Let's just say I have many things and leave it at that.

8. How much of a technology junkie are you? I love my computer and have learned much of what I know by teaching myself. I have always loved to figure out certain types of things. I enjoy using certain programs, but am not a "slave" to anything other than my computer and even that is mainly email/blog/facebook, etc.... I don't have a palm pilot or ipod or anything like that. I don't even text on my phone, really. When I do, you better have some time because it takes me a bit of time to get going.

9. Do you enjoy selecting greeting cards for people, or is it more of a cultural "have to" for you? I do not always think of cards. I used to... especially when I was trying to "woo" my man. However, over time and such I have not always stood by the need for a card. I still go out and get them, but I refuse to pay a hefty price for one unless it is for someone VERY special. I do love to get them, though.

10. When was the last time you got a new style/haircut? Well, since I let my hair grow out from the butchered short look I had in 1998 through 2002/2003, I guess that would answer your question. It has gotten much longer since then and if I look back on those lovely school pictures I see that it has slightly changed each year, but no major style/haircut.

11. What do you enjoy shopping for most? I really don't like to shop. I hate to spend money. Remember that post? I guess if I had to enjoy something, I do enjoy finding things and buying them for the kids projects at school. Sick. I know.

12. What's the last thing you think of before you leave the house? To make sure I told Steve I loved him (or the kids, too, if they are not with me).... morbid thought, but what if I was in an accident or he/they were in one and I never saw them again. I always want them to know I love them.

So, do YOU have a question for me? I realize I share lots on my blog but has there ever been something you wanted to ask???

01/21/10

A rainy day so here is something else to brighten it. :)

Tonight you are going to get an excerpt from the book I have been reading, The Shack. This part is talking about how God's very essence is a "verb" instead of a "noun." It made the teacher in me think a lot about how I have viewed God. I really enjoyed that book and may even re-read it because it goes DEEP into Who God is. I realize this book isn't for everyone, but I do recommend it.

Everything in pink is from the book and not my own words. They belong to William P. Young author of The Shack.

This is the Holy Spirit talking to the character in the book to help you understand a bit of why it starts off like this:

I am a verb. I am that I am. I will be who I will be. I am a verb! I am alive, dynamic, ever active, and moving. I am a being verb.

And as my very essence is a verb, I am more attuned to verbs than nouns. Verbs such as confessing, repenting, living, loving, responding, growing, reaping, changing, sowing, running, dancing, singing, and on and on. Human, on the other hand, have a knack for taking a verb that is alive and full of grace and turning it into a dead noun or principle that reeks of rules: something growing and alive dies. Nouns exist because there is a created universe and physical reality, but if the universe is only a mass of nouns, it is dead. Unless 'I AM,' there are no verbs, and verbs are what makes the universe alive.

For something to move from death to life you must introduce something living and moving into the mix. To move from something that is only a noun to something dynamic and unpredictable, to something living and present tense, is to move from law to grace.

From law to grace.... we can't keep the law. No one is perfect enough to do so. We can try our best to abide by it, but we always fail in some point. (James 2:10) However, because of God's grace and mercy we are no longer under the law, but under the grace of the One Who died and shed His blood to cover those sins. I'll admit that even now sometimes that is hard for me to grasp!! (Psalm 32:1-6)

I am so thankful for our God Who IS a "verb"... He is active in all of our lives each day... each moment of every day! He is not dead, He is not made out of stone or wood. He is not electronically wired and possibly break down. NO, He is ever living and ever being....

I AM.

01/20/10

Here are some apples I do not believe I have shown... from the Farmer's Market again.


Busy night. Lots to do. Not many words. Some of you may be rejoicing in that fact. LOL

01/19/10

It was so pretty outside today I felt the need to show some flowers. These were at the Farmer's Market last fall.

01/18/10

I realize we are now in 2010, but I just recently got this in an email and thought it was interesting! :)

THE YEAR 1909


The year is 1909.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1909 :
************ ********* *********
The average life expectancy was 47 years.
Fuel for cars was sold in drug stores only

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
Of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in 1909 was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year ..

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000
per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .

Ninety percent of all doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as 'substandard. '

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and iced tea Hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.
Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write and
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school..

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter
at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, 'Heroin
clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,regulates the
stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health'
( Shocking? DUH! )

Eighteen percent of households had at least one full-time servant or
domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
Plus one more sad thought; 95 percent of the taxes we have now did
not exist in 1909

You can forward this to someone else in an email without typing it yourself.
From there, it will be sent to others all over the WORLD - all in a
matter of seconds!

Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.

01/17/10

II Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.

I tried to upload the video but it wouldn't give me the ability to do so. Here is the link to "I Need Thee Every Hour." I hope this works. This song is precious and was written in 1872 by Annie Sherwood Hawks. It rings true for us today. Enjoy.

I Need Thee Every Hour

01/16/10

Death.

It is a part of life.

It is a part of life that is not pleasant.

This past week we have seen death on a large scale in Haiti.

My heart has broken for those people. One minute they were going about their daily lives and the next, their world was turned upside down.... almost literally.

My mother's heart broke this morning when I saw the video of an 11 year old girl caught in the rubble. She had finally been freed from the rubble, but because of lack of medical care she died an hour later. It tore at me and I can only glimpse from my own feelings how those families are feeling right now.

When things like this occur it is so easy to say, "WHY, GOD?"

How could Someone Who loves us so much allow such bad things?

It isn't a question of a vindictive spirit. In learning more and more about the Lord's character, I don't see that. I see a Father Who holds us all lovingly in His hands. Who sees a much bigger picture than we can ever see because HE is bigger than us.

God isn't in a box, although we put Him there quite frequently. God is in control of what is going on in Haiti right now just as He was in control of my day where I ran a couple of errands with the kids, worked on school projects and "went on" with my life while those people are suffering greatly.

I cannot comprehend the mind of God. None of us can and we shouldn't.

What He is teaching me is to trust Him at ALL times. Trust Him even when the world is dark and I don't feel I can move another step. Trust Him that He knows the cries, the fears, the sadness and HE IS THERE.

He is there right now in Haiti. He has never left those people. After all, He sent His Son to die for them. He knows the pain of losing a loved one. He knows the feeling of anguish. He HAS walked where we walk.

I have been studying Romans 8 recently. I have never realized until now just how powerful that chapter is. Here are a few verses from that chapter (NASB) that can go with any struggle in life:

18 - for I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us.

22 - For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.

26 - And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

31 - What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32 - He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

35 - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

37 - But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

38 - For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,

39 - nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, God IS in control right now.

God was in control last Tuesday when that earthquake hit.

He loves all.

He is there.

He will cause good to come out of this.

We just have to TRUST and wait on His timing.

If you would like to know of reputable places to send money to help Haiti, visit my friend Sandy's blog and she has posted information.

01/15/10

Isn't it amazing how pretty an old doorknob can be sitting on some "fru-fru" bead "thingy?" (Yeah, I teach... couldn't you see that from that last sentence??)


Today I began teaching cross-stitch again to my students. I still enjoy the simple principle I try to weave in through teaching that craft. When we look at cross-stitch like our lives, we see on the back where there are messes and everything doesn't always work out right. We see "bumps" along the way and lots of mistakes. The whole time we see the back and how ugly it is, the front actually turns out quite nice.

That is how God moves in our lives. Our mistakes, our knots, our miscounted steps are all a part of the life God has given to us. While sometimes we concentrate on the mistakes, God is seeing the other side.... the side that is creating a beautiful picture. He takes those mistakes and we learn from them. Through it all, He has never left us and He helps us fix whatever is wrong. What a comfort that is to me!

My kids today made lots of mistakes. They will continue to make lots of mistakes in the weeks to come as they work on these projects. But, just like the Lord, I told them I would be there to help "fix" their mistakes just as God helps us. When it is over they will be able to look back and see just how much they learned and how far they came.

I can look back on my life and see the same thing that God has done for me.

Isn't our God amazing?

I want to publicly "shout out" to my "KT." She was so sweet in a comment she left for me yesterday saying that when she reads my blog she always "walks away" with something to think about differently. I really appreciate that because some days I know what the Lord has laid on my heart, but I am not sure if it has come across the way intended. Anyway, I just appreciated that word of encouragement. Visit her blog (Picture My Life) to see her own photography. She says I am her "mentor", but I feel like I still have so much to learn myself. She's going to teach me, though, because she is now in school majoring in photography! :) Love you, KT!!!

Tonight will be a relaxing evening by the fire at the Fowler household. We cleaned yesterday and I am ready to curl up with my book. I am reading The Shack. Oh, goodness.... it's a really great book! It is very thought provoking. Anyone else read it?

01/14/10

I'm teaching colonial times again. I LOVE History. :) Thought I'd show a little silver teacup... or is it a creamer? I am not sure, but you can just enjoy the beauty. It is antique taken from my friend's collection.

01/13/10

I have been thinking on something the last week or so. (I know that shocks you as I seem to "chew" on lots of things.) It involves this verse:

I Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

The older I get the more I realize life isn't about me. Life is about learning to let go and let the Lord fully lead in my life. Now, I am still human and still have moments, but I want the Lord to show through me so that what comes out is from Him. I know that is a lifetime lesson I will learn on this earth.

Mikayla is learning part of this poem to try out for Fine Arts Poetry competition at school. I would love for her to make the "team" but if not, that is fine as well. The poem spoke on much of what I have been chewing on the last little bit and I wanted to share to along with my thoughts.

A Bird's Lesson
Author Unknown

A little bird, with feathers brown,
Sat singing on a tree;
The song was very soft and low,
But sweet as it could be.

And all the people passing by
Looked up to see the bird
Whose singing was the sweetest
That ever they had heard.

But all the bright eyes looked in vain;
For birdie was so small,
And, with a modest dark brown coat,
He made no show at all.

"Dear Papa," little Gracie said,
"Where can this birdie be?
If I could only sing like that,
I'd sit where folks could see."

"I hope my little girl will learn
A lesson from that bird;
And try to do what good she can-
Not to be seen nor heard."

"This birdie is content to sit
Unnoticed by the way,
And sweetly sing his Maker's praise,
From dawn to close of day."

"So live, my child, to do some good,
Let life be short or long;
Though people may forget your looks,
They'll not forget your song."

01/12/10

Another shot of Fort Macon.
I'm curious.... who out there reads my blog?

I know of some who comment more "regularly", but I see all of these places on the map to the right that show someone has looked and know I haven't heard from all of them. I am sure there are those who "lurk" and would not feel comfortable posting but I would find it interesting to know. :)

I promise I won't bite.....

01/11/10

Yesterday I showed my "Susie Homemaker/Redecorater" self. Tonight I'm going to show my "Betty Crocker" self.

One of my friends was eating with us Friday night and I wanted to cook something that would be a good ole comfort food. I decided on nachos/cheese/beef. I searched Food Network and found a recipe I thought I could handle.

I had to laugh because it said the prep time was like "15 minutes".... Let's just say that prep time for Kellie with a knife was over an hour... and with Steve's help. LOL

Nachos - I believe a Rachel Ray recipe. You will need bags of corn tortilla chips to go along with this.

Salsa first:

• 4 vine ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped, for medium to hot heat level

• 1 small white onion, chopped

• 1/4 cup, 2 handfuls, cilantro leaves, finely chopped - may substitute parsley if cilantro is not your "thing." (and, yes, that is Steve using our Rachael Ray knives to cut up the cilantro)
  

Combine salsa ingredients in a bowl and set aside for flavors to marry.


Beef and Beans topping:

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

• 1 pound ground sirloin

• 2 cloves garlic, chopped ***Kellie learned a thing or two on how to properly cut a garlic!
  

• 1 small onion, chopped
  

• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder

• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, half a palmful

• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper sauce, giving you medium to hot heat level (Texas Pete!)

• 1 can black beans, 15 ounces, drained

Heat a medium non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Add oil, garlic, onion and peppers to the pan and saute 2 minutes, then add meat and crumble with wooden spoon. Season meat with salt, chili powder, cumin and cayenne pepper sauce. Cook meat 5 minutes, then stir in beans and reduce heat to low.


Cheese Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose floour

• 2 cups milk

• 3/4 pound pepper jack cheese, shredded, about 2 1/2 cups

In a medium sauce pot, melt butter and add flour to it. Cook flour and butter 1 to 2 minutes over moderate heat, then whisk in milk. Stirring constantly, allow milk to come to a bubble, sitr in cheese with a wooden spoon. Remove cheese sauce from heat. I was SO PROUD of doing this cheese sauce for the first time ever and it wasn't scorched. Y'all just don't realize the accomplishment here..... (Just ask my brother, Kevin...)

Pour cheese sauce evenly over the spread of chips in each plate. Top evenly with beef and beans and the "salsa" pico de gallo. Serve immediately as is or add extras:

• sour cream

• chopped scallions

• chopped black olives

• diced pimento

• sliced avocado, dressed with lemon juice

• hot pepper sauces

Check out the final product! Click on the pics if you want to view it up close and personal.

GOODNESS.... this was SO stinkin' good. :)