3rd Post of the Day

Today was a busy day in "big town". I drove in to San Angelo this morning

and spent the day running errands for my mother -- getting groceries,

picking up a few things at Hobby Lobby,

and I took her to coumadin clinic.

Coumadin is a blood thinning prescription that she takes

and a bi-weekly blood test is required to make

sure her blood is not too thick, not too thin, but

just right.

I am glad to help my mother out with all these things.

It gives us a chance to spend a little time together and

visit some.

Usually, I drop her off at the front of the building and then find a spot to sit in the car

and watch for her to come out and go pick her up and we're on our way to something else.

Sitting there, watching people, as I love to do, is very hard on me.

I see people entering the building for cancer treatments, cardiologist appointments or

coumadin clinic. In any case, none of it spells "great health" and I usually leave

there a bit depressed.

Well, today was different.

And I've just gotta share it with you while it's fresh on my mind.

I found a spot to sit and wait, right in the front of the building....Primo people watching

spot.

Out comes this couple --- moving very slowly. He is walking with

a bit of a limp and his left hand is turned a bit -- possibly recovering from a stroke?

He is every bit of 90 and she is at least 85.

They are holding hands.

She is wearing a lovely hot pink sweater set with a very pretty, bright floral skirt, heels,

great jewelry and the hair....wow!

She has brilliant white hair that is teased

to within an inch of its life and shaped into the classic "helmet" shape. So cute!!

A beautiful lady, still very shapely and walking tall.

He is dressed in a charcoal gray suit with a light gray stripe, a light gray shirt

and a matching gray tie. He's wearing a black belt and shoes.

And THE worst toupee I've ever seen. Really.

But he was so cute !!!! Just so adorable !

This couple was holding hands, talking and laughing from the time they exited the building.

They obviously enjoyed each other's company.

She just had the sweetest, adoring countenance and he

had such a sweet, huge smile -- the kind that you could see all the dental work

he'd ever had done every time he smiled.

There was just that something about them that drew me.

They were so happy !!! I don't know why they were there today.

Don't know which one is the patient, which one is sick, but they were so

different from everyone else that I saw while sitting there.

They were just so obviously glad to be. Just glad to be, ya know?

They got to their car just helping each other along.

He opened the door for her and helped her in.

Then, he went around and got in. They drove off and I just sat there

smiling. What a treat the LORD let me have this afternoon.

I saw something very, very sweet, very moving, very special.

Very encouraging.

A very old couple still very much in love!

I 've had a good feeling the whole rest of the day.

Gwynie Pie

Second Post of the Day

Yep, some days just require more than one blog post. This is one of those days !

I just got back from eating dinner with William before

he went to the church to help with packing all the big stuff

they are taking to Guatemala.

AND it's worth telling y'all all about it ---

We ate a Hot Dog Combo at Sam's.

If you've never had this DE-lightful culinary

concoction,

go at your earliest opportunity --

run, don't walk

it will sooooo be worth it !!

Now, I'm a fan of the hot dog.

BUT, not just any dog.

I try to eat only the dogs that have been

blessed by the Rabbi.

No, I'm not kidding.

You thought I was kidding??

Oy vey!!

That does mean I'm rather limited when it comes to

hotdog brands -- it's either Nathan's or Hebrew National

and I much prefer Nathan's, which is exactly the brand SAM'S

serves.

Now, when you get your Hot Dog Combo at SAM'S, you will get

a 32 oz. cup to be filled with a delightful beverage of your choice

and a juicy Nathan's dog in a fragrant and fluffy bun.

At the condiment bar, you may add mustard, mayo, ketchup,

relish, onions, and there are cute little packages

of sauerkraut --- Frank's sauerkraut to be exact.

Now,

I don't know this Frank, but the man makes a mean

sauerkraut --- even better than my German grandmother.

You MUST try the kraut.

You will not be sorry.

AND are you ready for this ---

the total of this sumptuous feast for two

$3. 48 !!

Total !!

Yum !!

Give it a try sometime,

Grins,

Gwynie Pie

Happy Birthday Grammy !!!

Today is my mother-in-law's

birthday!

She is 84!

Some of the family took her out to

Cheddar's last night for

her birthday dinner.

It's always fun to get together

and

just get to hang out

and

visit with the family !

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth !

We love you !!!

It's Already Tuesday !

My husband is leaving this Saturday for a week long mission trip to Guatemala.

I am so excited for this to be happening.

It is truly an answer to our prayers.

William had the privilege of going on his first mission trip

to Guatemala in January 2008, with the entire staff and all the lay elders

from our church.

This was truly a life-changing experience for William

and he has been looking for the chance to return ever since.

We began praying for this opportunity for him to return

almost as soon as he got back and we believed

that the LORD would make a way for it to happen.

When the trip was offered and sign-up began, we knew William needed

to put his name on that list, believing that the LORD

was going to provide the money ($1600), even though we

weren't seeing "the how" with our physical eyes.

We just believed the LORD had said "Go" and

He would make a way.

Through a series of wonderful and sometimes surprising avenues

ALL the money has been provided and our faith

has been rewarded.

Don't ya love it when that happens?!?

And

Don't ya love it when the LORD confirms

that the path you are moving down is The path

He has laid out for you

"for such a time as this"?

One of the most amazing ways the LORD has provided all this money,

almost half of it,

has been through William's second "job".

He is an ordained and licensed minister.

His 1st job is working at Hospice of San Angelo.

One of the "hats" he wears is that of part-time chaplain.

So he gets asked to preside at funerals

and also to officiate at weddings.

Well, he was asked to preside at two funerals a couple of months ago,

both in the same week.

(And just a couple of weeks from one of the

financial deadlines for the money for the trip to be turned in.)

Now, understand.....this is remarkable on so many levels....

first of all, sometimes he gets paid for these services, sometimes

not....in any case, it is a ministry on his part and he is always glad to help people out,

money never being the object.

Also, for weddings, a minister can be more specific and just tell

the couple "my fee is $___".

But, for funerals -- he has never had a fee nor expected any payment, but is sometimes

pleasantly surprised by $50 or $100

from the family.

So, imagine the surprise when in the course of this week of two funerals,

he is handed $750.00 !

THAT was from the LORD !

The LORD put it on these families hearts to give William such a generous

amount and he turned around and turned in the amount

that was needed for the next financial installment

for the trip -- $750.00 !

Now THAT'S God !!

And William had the privilege of then further ministering to this sweet widow by

telling her how he was using the money she had given.

That her gift to him was going to be used so that

he could go to Guatemala and help build

houses for four widows there.

Sweet !!

God is good !!

And I am so excited that William gets to go wield a chain saw and a hammer

and help build these houses.

He gets to return to see the apple trees that he pruned last trip, now

producing their fruit.

He gets to hand out plates of food to the people that come for

what is the only meal they'll have that day.

He'll no doubt play a little basketball or soccer with some kids.

And, if I know him, and I do....he'll be holding some babies

at some point in the week.

Please pray for William and the entire mission

team from Paulann Baptist Church,

as they are leaving on Sat. morning and returning

the following Friday.

God is going to do some great things...

both in the hearts of the people there

and

in the hearts and lives of the ones He is sending to them.

With great excitement and anticipation --

Gwynie Pie

A Weight-y Matter

Okay, I know you are going to "feel my pain".

Not, perhaps, because you have experienced the exact

same pain.

But, I know you have experienced

something very similar.

You do live on planet earth, after all......

First, a little background ---

Since I was about 12 years old, I have been on one weight-loss plan

after another.

In the early days, it was NOT my choice to be on a diet.

But, I was encouraged to lose weight in order to become more

likable, more appealing, to become, in a word...attractive.

Guess what that planted in my little pre-teenage brain about what it

takes to be "successful" in the world???? I know!! But....

that's a whole 'nother post(or twenty). I can't go there today :)

I've been "dieting" in one way or another ever since then - 40 + years now.

Man, am I tired!!!!!!

And I have discovered that all diets work. They do. You can lose

weight on any diet where you deprive yourself of food.

Not all of them are healthy. Not all of them are maintainable.

Not all of them have a result of keeping weight off for the

rest of your life.

But they work. I am at a place in my life, being older and wiser now,

where I want to lose weight for reasons other than lookin' good.

That ship has sailed, know what I mean?

I just want to live long, live strong, live loud, live right up until I die!!!

Sooooo, after several months now of having a very desperate need for,

yet really rotten attitude about attempting any more

"diets", with the accompanying tears, hunger, sadness and anger that a

diet always brings me,

I decided "Okay, I'm gonna give it another try."

Really, I'm very tired of being overweight, very tired of

being tired.

And besides, this was one of those "God-given"dreams I blogged about

earlier this year. I still truly do believe it is God's desire for

me to be healthier -- and that translates into

thinner.

I got my hair cut 10 days ago. I know this because I've been on this new eating plan for 9 days now.

My hairstylist is a living testimony for "low-fat" eating.

She has lost over 200 pounds!!!!

And is today, healthier and happier because of it.

I asked her advice. She laid out for me exactly how she did it.

It made sense to me.

Everything in me said "yes, this is what I need to do".

I prayed about it, had confirmation from the LORD.

Felt so encouraged. In a way I haven't felt in so long.

I was hopeful. I was going to eat well, eat low-fat, lose weight,

feel great, live long, live strong.....

I didn't realize really how very radical the change from my

usual diet to the low-fat diet would be.

But, I stayed on it --- to the letter !!!!!!

I've been hungry many times....painfully so.

But I've been hungry so many times in my life and
I know it's not always "stomach" hunger.

Most times, it is "soul" hunger.

Eating disorders are about soooo much more than

the food. It is such a big, emotional deal.

Many people sit back and wonder why, if a person is

overweight, they don't just stop eating?

OR just start eating right?

"Step away from the candy and ice cream!!"

THAT person has never had a struggle with

food as their addiction. Their comfort.

Their, dare I say it?.....God.

For some who are trying to lose weight, it may be just that...

they are just trying to lose a few pounds, get healthier.

For them, they will cut out all bread products

or

make some adjustment in the time of day they are eating

and

voila, they will lose the extra pounds.

And ..... I'm glad for them.

I truly am.

But for me it's about so

much more than the food.

For me, and I know this, I know this, I know this !!!

It is a spiritual issue.

It's about God wanting to be GOD in my life!

It's about desiring the Giver more than the Gift!

It's about the LORD growing the fruits of the Spirit

in my life.

It's about me letting Him do His work in my life.

It's about me cooperating with Him as He

refines me.

NOT so that I will be pretty and pleasing

to man.

But so that I will be who He has created me to be.

ALL that He has created me to be.

I need to tell you here that after 9 days of this eating plan,

I have gained 2 pounds.

Talk about discouraged.....yesterday, I was so low.

I'm thinking "come on, what do I have to do here?"

"give me a break!!!!!"

By this morning however, I was righted....I'm back on track.

And I know this.....

the LORD is showing me something

so good,

so priceless,

so BIG....

THIS

this experience

is the only way I'm going to "get it".

So, today, I submit again to the LORD'S leading

to His showing me what's good and right and healthy

to eat,

to Him showing me to turn to the right or to the left.

And I so desire

to follow where He leads.

Thanks for listening to me share my heart.

Maybe you relate.

In any case,

Blessings on your day!

Gwynie Pie

Camp Pops 'n Pie

It's almost time, once again, for Camp Pops 'n Pie !!! We've been talking about what fun we're going to have this year. Last year was great! Lily Kate is our only camper so far. But we're certain there will be more as the years go by. What a fun time we had last year. Pops takes the week off work and we just play the whole time.


Here we are having mani/pedi day.

Lily Kate is a great helper and wanted to rinse the dishes.

She's also a really good cook. She loves to help put the meal together.

Wonder where she gets that ??

Lily Kate and Pops went for a long walk every morning after breakfast while Pie straightened up the house a bit.

Checking out the peach crop. And as the summer went on, WOW! Did she love those peaches!

Stopping off at our neighbor's field to visit with Trouble was a regular stop on their walk.

We got out my old metal doll baby bed and high chair for Lily Kate's baby to sleep and eat.

She needed to try it out first.

Yep, that's pretty comfy.

Every day we went out to the pool to "jump watti". Lily Kate is a little fish and loves being in the water.

Lily Kate and I were eating some potato chips and well....I guess I taught her a bad thing....a very bad thing!

"Hey look! See food!" Mercy, what kind of grandmother am I????

We went in to town one day to visits the Grands and to eat pizza at Double Dave's. Yummmm!

Lily Kate loves my toaster oven and "cooks" all kinds of delicious pink and purple playdough cookies in there.

"Oh man. I'm tired! Somebody take me home so I can get some rest.

Pops and Pie are wearing me out!"

So, that's some of last years pictures from camp. This year camp will be July 8 thru 12. We are already making plans -- lots of swimming,

probably some more neighborhood walks. We'll visit the Grands too. Also, we are going to take a little trip down to Sonora to visit Ronnie and Colin (and Jigs and Chrissy and Ranger). Looking forward to the 2nd Annual Camp Pop 'n Pie. This year maybe we'll get t-shirts made......

Gwynie Pie

Last Night's Dinner - YUM

As I mentioned yesterday, I fixed Swiss chard for dinner last night.

It was so good! Along with that we picked our first

yellow squash - 4 of them -

and I fixed those also.

I usually just slice them, almost cover with water

and then boil just until tender -- drain completely

and then rough chop the squash

and add 2 or so Tablespoons of butter.

I have this on-going inner debate over the question --

Butter OR margarine

Butter is certainly more natural, but unless

it is organic and hormone-free ???

But then, most of the newer margarines, the

good- for -you kinds are loaded with

chemicals and are just one step away from being plastic....

so ---- whatdayagonnado????

You choose.

Back to the recipe --------

I throw in a pinch of kosher salt and a little pepper

and usually about a small spoonful of sugar

and

it's done.

So good, so clean, and pretty healthy !!

In addition to the chard and squash, I made tuna patties.

My mother always made them from canned salmon,

also good, but I've always preferred tuna.

This is really pretty economical as well as tasty.

Here is the recipe as I did it last night ---

3 small cans of tuna, drained

4 eggs

1/2 cup Zatarain's Fish-Fri

1/2 cup cornmeal mix (or 1 Corn-kits pkg)

1/2 finely diced onion

or

1-2 finely diced green onions(with tops)

Onion is totally optional -- I love it!!

William does not love it!!!, therefore, no onion

at our house.

Mix it all up, make it into patties

Drop in small amount of hot oil in frying pan.

Brown on medium heat, flip over, brown the other side.

Serve with tartar sauce, cocktail sauce or ketchup.

This is the first time I used Zatarain's but it will definitely be included

in the future. Zatarain's, as you would expect,

has just a slight kick to it and it worked

great in the patties.

Hope you will try this.

Let me know how it goes.

Gwynie Pie

How Does Your Garden Grow?

We had quiet the storm last night! Lots of majestic lightning, lots of rain.....it was wonderful !!! I went out to check on the garden this morning, to assess any damage that was done. None. Lookin' good !!!

Our garden spot isn't huge, by livin' in the country standards. We are trying a garden again this year after several years of not even trying because of our enemy, fire ant.

We are growing cucumbers, yellow squash, spinach, tomatoes and Swiss chard. We wanted to keep it simple so that we don't get overwhelmed by the garden work, since we both have other things in our lives that need tending. Past experience has taught us that the "overwhelmed" stage leads to the "discouragement" stage which quickly disintegrates into the "feghit about it" stage, at which point the garden is done for, "sleepin' with the fishes" stage. Might as well get out the tiller and turn it all under....a sad day of personal defeat for all.

THIS, though, is the "lookin' good" stage!

Here is the Swiss chard. I can not adequately express to you my deep love of Swiss chard. I could eat it every single day!! They sometimes carry it at HEB in the big cellophane bags alongside the turnip, mustard and collard greens. Chard is very mild, doesn't have a spicy bite like mustard greens, and really is more similar to spinach. Here is how I fix chard or spinach or any kind of greens :

* Prep the green by stripping the leaf from the biggest part of the stalk

* Of course wash and wash and wash again to remove all dirt

* In large skillet or pot, drizzle olive oil, maybe 3 Tablespoons, on bottom

* Smash and peel 3-4 garlic, add to the oil and heat. DO NOT let the garlic brown.

Remove garlic and set aside

* Add the chard, stuffing it into the pot -- keep on stuffing it down

* Cook on medium heat until the chard begins to shrink down, then with grabnabbers

(that would be kitchen tongs to all you who do not watch Little Einsteins on a

regular basis) turn the chard over until all is cooked. Takes maybe 7-10 mins.

* Mince the garlic you removed earlier and sprinkle over the chard

* Also, sprinkle with Kosher or sea salt. Any salt will do, but don't overdo, because

chard is naturally salty tasting.

ENJOY!!! It is soooooo good -- good for you, tastes like heaven. I can't wait until tonight when I cook it for dinner again.

OH ---- IMPORTANT -- I started out with a large laundry basket FULL and it cooked down to a half a skillet full. Chard and all other greens reduce down dramatically !! Just wanted you to be forewarned.

And yes, this does "fly in the face" of everything you ever learned about Southern-influenced vegetable cooking. And know this --- I can cook a mean pot of greens, Southern style. You know the kind where you cook them in water for waaay too long, with a slab of bacon or salt pork in the pot. And then eat them in a bowl with all that yummy juice poured over a huge slice of cornbread......oh, yeah! I love those kind too!!!! My recipe however, is much healthier and I'm trying really, really hard to be all about healthy !!

And finally -- a picture of my backyard. Well, the cotton field just beyond the back fence. You can tell how much it rained last night. If you look really closely, you can see the cotton already coming up. It was planted on Memorial Day, just 9 days ago. But it was up and growing at about 6 days. I love !!!! watching this field go through all the changes as the year goes past. I am my Daddy's daughter, after all. A real farmer's daughter!

I am very thankful today for the abundance of my life. There are the big things -- Jesus in my heart, a husband who adores me, children whom I adore, a wonderful shelter to keep me warm and cool, a great church family and many friends. And then there are also hundreds and thousands, millions even, of blessings of abundance that the LORD has given me...not enough space, even here, to list them all. I am just so aware that this garden and this field and the rain that fell last night are all on that list.

Blessings on you today,

Gwynie Pie

Tuesday !!

Here it is 5:53 on Tuesday afternoon

and

I feel like I'm really just getting started

with all the things I wanted to accomplish today.

I've worked all day long at something, but turns out much of my "work"

is not visible to the naked, untrained eye.

It's all been "undercover" kind of work, I guess.

At least that's what I'm claiming.....

Here's just a sampling of what I did today --

* I started off in the kitchen this morning.

There were no less than 2 yards of dishes to wash. I measure this by how much space

they take up on the counter top when they are drying.

Yep,

'bout 2 yards worth.

Just cleaning the kitchen always makes me feel like I'm almost done -- no matter how

much more is left to do.

* Went searching in my closet (the biggest closet in the house) for items for the

yard sale this weekend.

You practically need a passport to go in this thing -- it's pretty cavernous.

It isn't as luxurious as it sounds. :)

Actually, it gives "walk-in" closets a bad name.

My clothes closet holds all our luggage,

2 Christmas trees - no kidding - a 4 ft. tree and a lighted 6 ft. tree.

Of course, it isn't lighted while in the closet.

You knew that!,

the feather beds,

all manner of partly full and completely full paint cans.

I keep the paint cans in the house so the paint won't freeze and

be useless after spending the the winter out in the barn.

There isn't any other place indoors for the paint --- so, my closet, it is.

Also in this closet is all of my clothes, shoes, purses; all winter outerwear;

the footspa and all mani/pedi stuff; AND

a chest of drawers. And that's really just a partial listing.

I really have to psych-up for searching the closet!

I must be brave!

But, I came out with a big box full of

yard sale items. AND the closet is all straightened up

and neat.

* It was "fresh sheet" day yesterday, but that didn't happen, soooo-

today I took sheets off our bed and washed them -

then took them out to the clothesline to line-dry them

in the sun -- ummmmm!

Only just as i got the big, heavy flat sheet muscled over the line and

all spread out and clothespinned down,

an E-nor-mous !!! whirlwind hit!

I probably would have been knocked to the ground

except that the sheet whipped around me, grabbed me up and trapped me!

By that time, I'm talking to myself.

AND to the sheet.

And I just give up,

fight my way out of the sheet,

wrestle the sheet off the line

and take all the wet clothes back inside

to the dryer, muttering the whole way.

BUT ---

being very thankful for my "servant girl",

the dryer.

* In addition to the sheets, I've washed

and dried 4 more loads of clothes today

with a couple more waiting in the wings.

* While cleaning off my desk and computer area today, I stumbled upon a bill from

the electric company.

In my busyness of the last couple weeks, I had neglected paying it on time

and was perilously close to sitting in a dark, hot house tonight.

Oooops!!

I tell ya -- bills and the paperwork that goes with them, that

is my Achilles heel.

I would love someone to teach me a great system

for this on-going, never-ending chore.

Anyway, I paid the bill on-line. It's so quick and easy to do.

But then I was afraid

it might not go through immediately -- you know how things

sometimes go. So -- I spent at least 30 minutes

of my life "on hold" to talk to

a real human, so that I could make

certain they knew I had made a payment.

They knew.

* I folded more white bath towels today than I even knew we had.

I love white towels !!! You can bleach the dickens out of 'em

and know they are truly clean. We just had a bunch of

dirties, I guess!

Not any more!!

* The aforementioned white sheets that assaulted me about the head and neck

are dried and back on the bed. Ahhhhh!

I love white sheets !!!!

AND clean sheet day is just the best !

They will feel wonderful by bedtime tonight.

* I remembered to take the pork chops out of the freezer - yeah !!!

Then pan fried them for dinner tonight. I made brown sugar glazed carrots and

brocolli to go with them.

We are trying to eat "low-fat", counting those

pesky fat grams.

I'm trying to stay around 20 grams of fat each day

and I gotta say --

I'm a tish bit cranky!

You probably couldn't even tell that.

Why, oh why, can't losing weight be easier?????

* In addition to all of this,

I tidied the rest of the house.

Tidy, tidy, tidy

Love that word!

My kids hated that word!

Probably because I was always urging them to

"Tidy up your room."

Tidy, tidy, tidy!

:)

* Now - William is home, dinner is eaten -- very yummy!

and we are heading out to the barn

to drag out stuff for

the BIG yard sale

on Saturday !!!!

Our goal is to make a little money for his upcoming trip to Guatemala

AND

to be able to park at least one car in the

two-car garage

next time there is bad weather

in the area.

SO

If you are in need of something

in particular....

just ask,

I'll tell......

Sure do hope you had a productive day as well !

Whew, I'm kinda tired....

Gwynie Pie

THIS is funny !!!! ,,,and true

I just saw this one another blog this morning. It made me laugh.

A new sign in the Bank Lobby reads: 'Please note that this Bank is installing new Drive-through ATM machines enabling customers to withdraw cash without leaving their vehicles. Customers using this new facility are requested to use the procedures outlined below when accessing their accounts. After months of careful research, MALE & FEMALE Procedures have been developed Please follow the Appropriate steps for your gender.

MALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to the cash machine.
2. Put down your car window.
3. Insert card into machine and enter PIN.
4. Enter amount of cash required and Withdraw
5. Retrieve card, cash and receipt.
6. Put window up.
7. Drive off.

FEMALE PROCEDURE:
1. Drive up to cash machine.
2. Reverse and back up the required amount to align car window with the machine.
3. Set parking brake, put the window down.
4 Find handbag, remove all contents on to passenger seat to locate card.
5. Tell person on cell phone you will call them back and hang up.
6. Attempt to insert card into machine.
7. Open car door to allow easier access to machine due to its excessive distance from the car.
8. Insert card.
9 Re-insert card the right way.
10. Dig through handbag to find diary with your PIN written on the inside back page.
11. Enter PIN.
12. Press cancel and re-enter correct PIN.
13. Enter amount of cash required.
14. Check makeup in rear view mirror.
15. Retrieve cash and receipt.
16. Empty handbag again to locate wallet and place cash inside.
17. Write debit amount in check register and place receipt in back of checkbook.
18. Re-check makeup.
19. Drive forward 2 feet.
20. Reverse back to cash machine.
21. Retrieve card.
22. Re-empty hand bag, locate card holder, and place card into the slot provided!
23. Give dirty look to irate male driver waiting behind you.
24. Restart stalled engine and pull off.
25. Redial person on cell phone.
26. Drive for 2 to 3 miles.
27. Release Parking Brake.

Memorial Day Fun - part 2

Makeshift flower vase -- Colin picked some flowers for Ronnie on their morning run and couldn't find a real vase. So, he improvised with an old bottle of Lily's --- looks kinda cute, huh?

Jump Watti !!! That's 2 year old talk . It means "get in the pool already !!"

Happy girl !! Even though the water was bone-chilling cold !!!!

It's Memorial Day !! We're gonna swim, doggone it!!

THIS whopper was Lily Kate's second catch of the day.

And THIS is Lily Kate's very 1st catch, EVER !!

She was pretty thrilled. She informed us when we asked

"Where are the fish you caught?" ---

"Dey made me fro 'em back."

Lily Kate leaving for her fishing trip to Dry Hollow -- Barbie fishing pole in one hand, Dora backpack in the other. And here is our grand-dog Jigs with Ronnie -- he's wearing Lily's sunhat. He's such a good sport!

We had a wonderful all-American Memorial Day !!!

We played a little baseball,

played a little football,

went swimming,

had a weinee roast,

made s'mores,

laughed,

visited with family and friends,

and totally enjoyed

this uniquely

American

holiday !!!

Thank you to all who served and are serving this country. Those sacrifices

allow us such freedom.

I never take that freedom for granted.

It cost many, much!

Thank you,

Gwynie Pie

Memorial Day Fun -- Part 1

Fish Fry on Saturday was a huge success. We got the recipe from friends at The Mesquite Bean Cafe in San Angelo. They have spectacular fried fish on Fridays. That along with every thing else I've ever eaten there is great !!! Stop by and visit them. They are fun, sweet folks!!! Anyway --- this fish frying formula is theirs. Coat fish pieces in mustard, then coat with Zatarain's Fish-Fry, then drop in hot grease. DE lish ous !!!!!!!!

I've never ever been a big fan of fried fish. But this --- honey child....I'm craving it even as I type this at 8:45 in the a.m. Yummo !!!! Dana made jalapeno hush puppies, fried potatoes and THE best jalapeno tartar sauce EVER !!! A delicious start to our weekend !

CINNAMON BITES

I just made these spectacular cinnamon bites. I'm not sure where I found this recipe or I would give credit to the source. These are so super easy and tastes waaaaay more complicated than they actually are ------

Canned biscuits - I used 2 can for the bunch this morning. Each can of 10 biscuits makes 30 bites. Snip each biscuit into 3 pieces -- kitchen scissors work great.

On a jelly roll/cookie sheet put about half a stick of butter, cut into snippets.

Place pan with butter into heated oven just until butter melts -- watch it closely.

Then place all the bites on the sheet and coat each bite with butter.

Then roll each bite in a cinnamon sugar mixture until well coated.

Place back on the cookie sheet.

Bake at 350 for about 15-20 mins.

THEN-- while still hot and still on the pan, drizzle with icing.

ICING -

2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tablespoons brewed coffee
1 teaspoon maple flavoring (even if you think you don't like it, just try it!)

Mix up and if this needs to be any thinner, add a small splash of milk or cream until it is at drizzling consistency.

These are so easy but taste like you spent hrs. in the cinnamon roll process.

Gwynie Pie

Deeee - wish- us recipes

Easy Chocolate Pie

4 eggs
1 stick softened butter
Mix these two items together with a mixer.
Add 1 carton chocolate icing
1 large teaspoon vanilla
1 can evaporated milk
Mix well

Pour into 2 unbaked pie crusts. Bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Creamy Lemon Pie

3 egg yolks
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup lemon juice, fresh is best (I use the kind that is in the frozen fruit juice section)

Mix well. Pour into one unbaked pie shell. Bake at 325 for 30-35 minutes.


Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake

1 can pie cherries
1 can (same size as cherries) crushed pineapple
1 butter yellow cake mix
1 stick butter

Spray Pam in 9 by 13 pan. Dump the cherries, the pineapple -- mix together. Pour the cake mix over the top evenly. Very thinly slice 1 stick of butter and dot over the cake mix. Bake at 350 for 30 mins or until golden and bubbly. Delicious warm with ice cream.

Try 'em! Bon appetite!

Gwynie Pie

YEAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

This picture says it all !!! Yeaaaaaaa!!! It's Memorial Day weekend and fun is gonna happen here !

I know it's been a whole week since I last blogged. But this past week was such a busy week. Here's how it went down -

Last Saturday was totally and completely dedicated to the mowing and weed eating of the property. Living out in the country, we really do have an enormous yard that gets bigger from time to time, depending on just how hot it is outside ! And how tall the grass has grown ! Whew ! We worked hard, especially William, and by 8 p.m., it all looked spectacular.

Sunday was busy with worship, small group and a benefit lunch. The lunch was in Miles and the entire community, and then some, turned out in support. BBQ chicken, potato salad, beans and the trimmings. Ummmmm good. We had fun visiting with old friends. It sure did make me appreciate my raising and the small towns I lived in during my growing up years and continue living there today.

Monday was "super clean" the house day. It needed it after the busy week. Then Tuesday, William and I stayed in San Angelo overnight so that we could take care of two little girls whose parents had to both be out of town. Got home late Wednesday and spent Thursday "zoned out" and being fairly lazy. Not much got done. But William called late in the day and asked if he could take me in to get groceries and we could go eat some dinner somewhere. Bless him !

William was looking for a cane fishing pole for Lily. So we checked Academy, finally found one at Wal-mart, of course. Wal-mart has it ALL! And I got all the shopping done in one spot.

We are having a fish fry tomorrow for lunch, along with fries, hush puppies and Dana's jalapeno tartar sauce....yummmm! Can't wait! I'm making some pinto beans and a little potato salad and have made 3 desserts -- THE easiest chocolate pie ever!, lemon cream pie and cherry-pineapple dump cake. (recipes will be in the next post)

Then Sunday includes a brisket and making tamales. Dana swears they will be easy....we'll see. I'll take pictures.

I love Memorial Day. It ushers in summer living -- swimming, vacations, lots of sunshine, family reunions -- all things I love! And most of all, we should never forget that Memorial Day is for honoring the men and women who have served so bravely and selflessly in our Armed Forces.

Have a wonderful weekend ! Be safe ! Have fun !

Gwynie Pie

Bright Ideas

I had such fun getting things ready for the talk I gave Tuesday night on "Use What You Have" decorating. I had been accumulating ideas that I am constantly finding here and there, thinking "Oh, how cute! I need to do that". Well, all of a sudden --- I REALLY needed to do that !! And now, I will share with you. Presenting -- candle ideas.....except, this first one --- NOT a candle. But so could be used to hold a candle. It's filled with buttons collected over probably 75 years. I found two jars of these buttons at my Mother-in-law's house when we moved her to "the Village" and I fell in love with them. They came to live with me !!!! The look of these buttons in jars is one of those things that just so appeals to my eyes. The jars usually are not decorated, but this I had to try. I like it!
I took an old piece of sheet music and cut a length that would reach around the jar. You don't have to destroy music to do this. Just copy onto regular paper, dip in leftover tea or coffee -- both work -- tea smells better. Then smooth out and let it dry completely. Attach to the jar with glue or I attached it with double-sided tape so I can easily take it off and do something else if I want. Then I covered the top and bottom edges with what looks like antique lace. NOT. I bought it in a spool at Wal-mart -- 3 yds. for less than $3. I used the tape here as well. Tie a piece of jute twine around the middle and embellish with an old broach. A clip-on earring would work great too. Or slip a charm of any sort on the twine and embellish it that way. It just needed something kinda blingy, I thought. I really like this look.

Here is a new quart jar with a new piece of taffeta (found at Hobby Lobby) wrapped around, jute wrapped around several times and ties and an old broach pinned on. Instead of cutting the fabric with scissors, I am really liking the look of torn edges. It just is another element of interest. Place a chunky pillar candle in the jar.....lovely. I think a whole row of these on a mantle OR down the middle of a table OR I want to make about a dozen to put on my back porch for summer parties. This is an inexpensive Dollar Tree pillar candle with torn muslin ribbon wrapped around several times. Then a piece of the lace to secure the key and the picture is just tucked in under the muslin. The picture is my grandparents house, the key belongs to the front door. If you look very closely you see my mother, about age 10, riding her bike (right side of the picture, in front of the first porch post). I love this picture!!

To make muslin ribbon --- buy the cheapest muslin you can find. It has the least shape and wrinkles easier than the pricier kind. Then literally rip ribbons of the fabric, tearing across the fabric. Just experiment with it....you'll see what I mean. I'll post more about this soon since I have some more uses for this muslin ribbon.

Here -- a couple of pillar candles embellished with upholstery tacks. Choose your design, choose the type tack you like-- the cross is black tacks, the "R" is antique brass. You can also use thumbtack -- they come in all sorts of colors. Just find your design and transfer it onto the candle using a pencil or a toothpick -- just "trace" the design. This is VERY inexpensive to do, but I've seen embellished candles in stores that are pretty pricey. I left these plain so the design could be seen, but I think something like leather strips tied around top and bottom would be nice. Two antique cheese graters, given me by friend Mendi. I just stood them on end, tied them together with jute twine and no, you can't see it, but behind there is a small canning jar containing a votive candle. It stands in the corner of my counter top and at night looks very interesting. There are all sorts of cheese graters out there. Even a new grater can be spray painted to match the kitchen. You don't have to go with the rustic look like I do. Make it your own.

Well, those are a few sweet and inexpensive projects. None of these took much time and they each have a little, warming effect tucked in here and there in my home. Give it a try!

Blessings on this Friday,

Gwynie Pie

Sweet Day

The Fly Lady (a.k.a. Marla Cilley) was in San Angelo at the Convention Center as the speaker for a Healthy Woman series event. I learned about The Fly Lady waaaay back during my Heart days, when I was part of a group of women who met weekly to live out Titus 2:3-5. The passage begins "you older women teach the younger women....." well, I was an "older women". We covered various topics each week - raising Godly children, respecting our husbands, and being keepers of the home with topics in areas of decorating, organization, de-cluttering AND cleaning the house.

House cleaning can be overwhelming, but The Fly Lady taught us real methods and some skills to make it as quick and painless as possible.
Her first book was called Sink Reflections. The first thing she instructs a homekeeper to do is clean your sink. And not just scour it our with Ajax! Oh no! She says to obsessively clean that sink. Get out an old toothbrush and work on every part of that sink until it absolutely sparkles and shines. I must say when I did practice her methods and keep that sink shiny, my "cleaning chores" really were lighter and much more manageable. She just has really thought through each task you might be faced with. Great book. And now she has another book called "Body Clutter"....oh lawsy !!!! Can I go there?

Soooo, I went to the luncheon today where she was the speaker. I totally enjoyed myself. Sat at a table with some great friends and visited, laughed a bunch and listened to The Fly Lady speak. Marla is so unassuming, so not flashy or glamorous, but just very "real". Now THERE is a Real Housewife who is a real housewife.

Well, right now I can't see the sink for the dirty dishes stacked there. So, I'm going to go remedy that right now !!!

I'm also probably going to post again later tonight....stay tuned. I have a few fun decorating ideas I used in Tuesday night's talk that I want to share with y'all.


Happy sink cleaning,
Gwynie Pie