back in a few...

I am learning so much at my writing conference thank you for all of your prayers. I wish my critique partner and Golden Heart Finalist Sharon Wray all the best this evening at the RITA/Golden Heart awards. I just know she's going to win...she has the best critique partners in the world. LOL!

I look forward to telling you all about it on Monday...

Blessings,
Mary

ultimate recipe swap: oatmeal bread

This weeks Ultimate Recipe swap over at Life as Mom is centered on Grab and Go recipes.  For me that usually means a sandwich and every sandwich needs a good bread. You will find this fabulous Oatmeal Bread recipe on the back of a flour bag. It is hearty and quite simple to make. A little investment of time will yield a fabulous compliment to your favorite sandwich filling. 

Celebrate the Feast, 

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Honey Oatmeal Bread

recipe from King Arthur Flour

Ingredients:

3/4 cup lukewarm water

1 1/2 cups "quick" rolled oats

2 packets "highly active" dry yeast; or 1 tablespoon active dry yeast; or 2 3/4 teaspoons instant yeast

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon brown sugar

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 cup instant mashed potato flakes

2 1/4 cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

2 tablespoons oats, to sprinkle on top, optional

Directions:

1) Combine the 3/4 cup water and oats, and let rest for 20 minutes. This gives the oats a chance to absorb the water and soften up.

2) If you're using active or "highly active" dry yeast, dissolve it in 2 tablespoons of the lukewarm water with a pinch of sugar. It should start to bubble as the oats and water rest.

3) Add the remaining ingredients to the oats (including the yeast/water/sugar mixture, if you're using active dry yeast), and mix and knead—by hand, electric mixer, or bread machine set on the dough cycle—until the dough feels springy; it will be quite stiff.

4) Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, and allow it to rise, covered, for 2 hours; it's a slow riser.

5) Gently deflate the dough, and shape it into an 8" log. Place it in a lightly greased 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf pan. Cover the pan loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap.

6) Allow the dough to rise at room temperature for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, till it's crowned about 1 1/2" over the rim of the pan. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.

7) Brush the top of the loaf with milk, and sprinkle with oats, if desired.

8) Bake the bread for 20 minutes. Tent it loosely with aluminum foil, and bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes. When the bread is done, it'll be golden brown, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center will register 190°F.

9) Remove the bread from the oven, wait 5 minutes, then turn it out of the pan onto a rack to cool. Cool completely before slicing. Store well-wrapped at room temperature.

small successes (vol.46)...

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

Danielle Bean @ Faith and Family LIVE!

1.
As this is posted, I will be in Orlando, Florida attending a writing convention. This is a huge success for me since I did not think I would be able to attend given the current economic climate. Thanks to my families willingness to being extra frugal for the last nine months AND my husbands generous gift of frequent flyer miles, I am able to attend. This is a shared success to say the least.

Please say a prayer that as I step out into the culture I am able to represent my faith well. It's not easy all the time when surrounded by people who do not believe as I do.

2.
I have had only ONE major freakout this week leading up to my leaving. That is a huge success in my eyes. I do not leave my family very often and when I do I try very hard to make sure things are as easy for them as possible while I am gone. Caring for Court is a joy but very challenging at times with so many details to attend to.

Please keep them in your prayers while I am gone as well. No medical emergencies would be a fabulous thing!

3.
I can't think of anything else right now other than to say thank you to each of you who stop in each week and share a piece of your life with me. I do enjoy getting to know you even if it's through a computer screen.
Have an awesome week!

Head on over to FaithandFamilyLIVE! to read more successes. Let's encourage and support one another!

Blessings and Grace.

Mary

mary's book basket ~ "the seeker" by ann gabhart

As I wing my way to Orlando to attend the 30th Romance Writers of America Conference, I thought I would leave you with a new review.

Author Ann H. Gabhart takes us into the Shaker Community Harmony Hill in Kentucky at the outbreak of the Civil War. This was the first time I had ever read about this community of believers and I have to say, it was very, very different for me. They did not believe in marriage or families which just baffles me given the scriptural dictates for such. They believed that we were all called to live as "brothers and sisters" serving the common good. The author has done extensive research to portray the sect believable and I think she is quite successful.

Product Description:
Charlotte Vance is a young woman who knows what she wants. But when the man she planned to marry joins the Shakers--a religious group that does not marry--she is left dumbfounded. And when her father brings home a new wife who is young enough to be Charlotte's sister, it is more than she can bear. With the country--and her own household--on the brink of civil war, this pampered gentlewoman hatches a plan to avoid her new stepmother and win back her man by joining the Shaker community at Harmony Hill. Little does she know that this decision will lead her down a road toward unforeseen peace--and a very unexpected love. Ann H. Gabhart brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers, and the ravages of war to weave a touching story of love, freedom, and forgiveness that sticks with readers long after they have turned the last page.

Charlotte is a very determined young woman who has an intense need to control her world. When she feels she has no other choice, she runs away and joins the Shaker Community. While I was reading this novel, I came to understand that Ms. Gabhart uses the Shaker Community and all their rules as a device to break down Charlotte's outer wall and bring her to a closer understanding for the Father's love for her and the path He wants her to follow. She is challenged in what she truly believes. She seeks to be loved and accepted for who she is. She finally finds that acceptance in our hero, illustrator Adam Wade, of Harper's Weekly.

Adam is an artist who struggles with his belief in God or His precepts. He sees the world in a detached manor as his canvas and finds it's easier to remain distant in his relationships. He is drawn to Charlotte's feisty nature and her determined heart. While they are separated by circumstance, Adam comes to understand through their war time correspondence, the divine plan and seeks a relationship with God and his beautiful Charlotte.

The setting is stunning and the glimpse into daily Shaker life fascinating. The letters written between the two tug at the readers heart strings as they take us back to a time of great destruction and strife in our country's history. Ms. Gabhart's description of the devastating effects of war are heart wrenching and incredibly graphic and quite well done. She weaves the stories of slaves, politicians and Shakers alike into a tale of survival and perseverance.

I think this book is aptly titled. The characters are seeking a better life, peace for their towns and country, a true love as well as a relationship with God that does not waiver. Isn't it what we all seek?

Happy Reading!
Mary

powerful witness of anne rice...

tasty tuesday - smothered pork chops

Smothered meat is a southern delicacy and smothered pork is a near religion in my house. Y'all know how my man feels about pork. This recipe has appeared on our Sunday table quite a few times and each time the smacking lips and smiles make me laugh.

First you have pork then you smother it with bacon and onions and it becomes a near nirvana experience. The meat is succulent and so yummy. Served with some fresh garden green beans and yellow rice and we have ourselves a lovely Sunday supper.

Celebrate the Feast!
Mary


This weeks recipe is being shared with Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and City Wife Country Life! Head on over to their blogs and check out other fabulous recipes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smothered Pork Chops

recipe adapted from American Test Kitchen Cookbook

Ingredients:

4 bone-in rib pork chops (6 ounces each), 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick

salt and pepper

2 tbsp  vegetable oil, plus extra as needed

2 onions, halved and sliced thin

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp  minced fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried

2 tbsp  water

3 oz  bacon (3 slices), chopped fine

2 tbsp  all-purpose flour

1-3/4 cups  low-sodium chicken broth

2 bay leaves

1 tbsp  minced fresh parsley

Preparation:

1. Pat the chops dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Brown the chops on both sides, about 6 minutes, then transfer to a large plate. 

2. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and return to medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until lightly browned, about 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Stir in the water, scraping up any browned bits, then transfer to a bowl. 

3. Add the bacon to the skillet and return to medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate, leaving the bacon fat in the pan (you should have at least 2 tablespoons but if not, substitute vegetable oil for the missing bacon fat). 

4. Whisk the flour into the fat left in the skillet and cook over medium-low heat until golden, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the broth, scraping up any browned bits. Return the chops to the skillet and cover them with the onions. Add the bay leaves, cover, and simmer over low heat until the pork is completely tender, about 30 minutes. 

5. Transfer the chops to a serving platter and tent with foil. Continue to simmer the sauce until thickened, about 5 minutes. Discard the bay leaves, stir in the parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the sauce over the chops and sprinkle with the crisp bacon before serving.

the sun will come out tomorrow...

There is much to be grateful for on this Monday.

First I just want to say thank you. Thank you to each and every reader who said a prayer, wrote an email or left a comment for me this past weekend. You overwhelm me with your kindness and support. You really do. I did not expect it and I am humbled by it. Truly.

I promised myself that I would be authentic here in cyberspace. It's not always sweetness and light but it is real. Sometimes after I have a crisis of faith, when the dam breaks and I wonder what it's all for, God surprises me and takes my breath away with his generosity.

I woke up late on Saturday morning and my husband had a few surprises in store for me. He knew that my world had been difficult with all of his traveling and crazy schedule, the demands of the children and my desire to pursue some personal goals and being so frustrated that nothing was going right.

So after a lovely lunch filled with fresh, healthy food that I did not prepare or have to clean up after, I was sent to get my nails done for a wedding we were attending that evening. Then I had my hair cut and colored. Just keeping it real here. I have been grey since my 20's so the lovely auburn you see is with some help. I put on a dress that actually zipped and we were off to a beautiful wedding celebration.

Weddings have a way of renewing my spirit. It is the celebration of a new beginning, a new adventure with two people brought together by God. I don't think there is a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than celebrating such a union.

After the wedding we were off to the reception. What a fabulous party. The food was spectacular, the company even better. There was music and laughter and lots of dancing.

I love to dance. I don't get very many opportunities these days other than in my own living room. My husband loves to dance as well and we had not been on a date in a long while. It was a wonderful opportunity to look deeply into his eyes and hold him in my arms and love this man that I gave my heart to 22 years ago. We boogied, line danced and fox trotted. We had an outrageously good time.

He held my hand and whispered beautiful words. He took care of me and filled my heart and renewed his role as my beloved. It had been too long between dates and sweet escapes for just the two of us. We promised each other we would do better. We would make some changes so we don't let that well go dry.

I realized that while standing on the edge of nowhere I am empty. The reason I don't want to jump is because I don't have the energy or motivation to do so. God knew this and gave me a day to just receive and oh what a difference a day makes.

No only did you love me and encourage me but so did my family and my God. I am blessed indeed. I am grateful to be so cared for.

So on this Monday, I may not be completely ready to jump off that edge that God is leading me to, yet, but I feel stronger, wiser and more full of love than I have in a long time.

My advice to anyone else who is standing in this same place, not wanting to be where you are or who you are, having lost yourself in the stress and challenges of the moment...take a breath.

Be kind to yourself. Allow yourself to receive from others who love you and want the best for you. Rest and renew. Say no and just be for awhile.

God speaks in the quietness of those moments. He speaks in the kindness of those words offered and the hands that hold you and me.

Say to yourself..."I am not alone. I am loved. He is here. I am His."

Because you are and I am too. Praise God! Praise Him for this moment and being full and loved.

Things I am grateful for today:

#1- love, new and old.

#2- a smiling 17 year old who doesn't care if her Mamma is plump or published. She loves me anyway.

#3- a son's sense of humor and comedic timing that makes me laugh so hard I snort.

#4- a husband's strong hand that holds mine gently while we pray.

#5- a full pantry and freezer that will allow me to celebrate the feast with my family.

#6- a plane ticket to Florida so that I can learn and grow as a writer.

#7- the generosity and prayers  of sweet friends and family who love me no matter what.


Blessings to each of you. I am grateful for you all.
Mary








**image was found at:
http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/on/weekly_roundup_ereader_wars_new_iphones_dc_comics_ipad_app_165901.asp

sweet sundays ~ blueberry boy bait

Doesn't the name just want to make you giggle. Blueberry Boy Bait...I know in my house it has done it's job. My honey LOVES blueberries. Loves them. So when I came across this recipe in my America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book, I stopped for a moment and then kept flipping. I searched for another ten minutes for something that spoke to my honey's blueberry heart and kept coming back to this recipe. You have to admit the title is catchy. 

It turned out really well. The top has a sweet crunch and the coffee cake is moist and light. Of course blueberries are the star of this dish. They add a sweet layer of flavor that just screams summer. Add a steaming cup of coffee and a hard boiled egg and breakfast is served. Lovely.

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blueberry Boy Bait

Adapted from America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Book

Serves 12, generously

1 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon table salt

16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 cup whole milk (though buttermilk, which was all I had on hand, worked just great)

1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (if frozen, do not defrost first as it tends to muddle in the batter)

Topping

1 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen (do not defrost)

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

Whisk two cups flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. With electric mixer, beat butter and sugars on medium-high speed until fluffy, about two minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated and scraping down bowl. Reduce speed to medium and beat in one-third of flour mixture until incorporated; beat in half of milk. Beat in half of remaining flour mixture, then remaining milk, and finally remaining flour mixture. Toss blueberries with remaining one teaspoon flour. Using rubber spatula, gently fold in blueberries. Spread batter into prepared pan.

For the topping:

Scatter blueberries over top of batter. Stir sugar and cinnamon together in small bowl and sprinkle over batter. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan 20 minutes, then turn out and place on serving platter (topping side up). Serve warm or at room temperature. (Cake can be stored in airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)

on the edge of nowhere...

****Warning**** if your expecting a post all about vegetable gardens and fruit stands, stop reading now! Post may contain some bitching and moaning so be forewarned. Oh...there will be some sailor language as well, so cover your ears!***

I was reading some of my regular blogs this week and was struck by the loveliness of summer. There are pictures of toes in sandy beaches and little ones with chocolate ice cream faces smiling and enjoying the true delight of summer days, not a care in sight. There are pictures of beautiful bowls of summer fruits and veggies just waiting to be included in some culinary masterpiece or jams and jellies stacked in tower of sweet delight.

Young mothers wax poetically about the slower pace of summer and the feeling of renewal and refreshment away from the daily carpool grind. Older mothers are delighting in children home from college, family vacations, new grandchildren and celebrating all things Grandma.

My crafting friends are thrilled with summer fabric sales and more sewing time for new projects or creating that fabulous fall wardrobe. Some expound on the joys of discovering a new pattern/technique/hobby. My writing friends celebrate finishing a new manuscript, doing line edits before publication, brainstorming a new series or reading another fabulous book while toes are dug in the sand as the smell of cocoa butter fills the senses.

It all sounds so lovely doesn't it?

It is 1 a.m. on a Friday night and what am I doing?

Flipping out over the fact that my life looks nothing like that and guess what people...it never will!

Now I know that is a dramatic statement, but anyone who reads this blogs knows that I can be a bit of a drama queen at times as I try to figure out where the path of my life is going. And yes right now next to my keyboard is a dark chocolate candy bar with almonds. You know how I feel about dark chocolate when times get tough...hey...don't be judgy! It's my crisis.

I want desperately to dig my feet into a sandy beach somewhere and wile away the hours doing nothing but listening to the hypnotic sound of crashing waves and the therapeutic giggles of little ones creating sand castles of various shapes and sizes.

Of course let's not discuss what would really happen if I was at the beach. After I had suffered severe trauma squeezing my plumpness into a bathing suit, better known as a sausage casing, my skin would look like a broiled lobster and my hot flashes would take on epic proportions. My daughter, who does not sweat, would be seizing from the affects of heat stroke and as for her skin...an alabaster nightmare. My hubby would be bitching about the sand getting into his book and my son would have a rectangle of white skin on his lap where his computer would be and stripes down the sides of his face where the ipod would be plugged in. Talk to his parents...seriously...not happening.

I dream of filling my kitchen with the wonderful aromas of fresh basil and garlic wrapping themselves around the bounty of a summer vegetables picked from right outside my door. Of course if you looked at the parched weed filled earthen patch right out side my door you would understand why this will NOT be happening any time soon...EPIC fail in the green thumb department.

This has been a difficult summer for me. I feel the weight of life not only on my thighs and ass but in my heart and mind.  You see I have discovered something recently that has really irritated the crud out of me...I do not lead a normal life. I do not have a typical family. I am not June Cleaver or Julia Childs and Tim Gunn needs to get out of my head and my closet. I am not Debbie Macomber or Nora Roberts.

I am just me and tonight that is just not enough.

I am a 42 year old fat girl who is still trying to figure out what God wants from me and how exactly I am supposed to accomplish whatever that is while trying to keep my temper and my sanity. If it's what I am thinking it is...I am screwed because...seriously...I don't think I can do it. I think this time...God has truly lost his marbles.

My days are spent caring for a 17 year old who in essence is a baby, changing diapers, feeding her, loving her as best I can. I trudge from doctors visit to doctors visit listening to neurologists expound over the damage that a lack of oxygen can cause the brain during a seizure ( I wouldn't know this because I've only bee doing it for 17 years!!!). Dietitians lecture me on calories and g-tube diets, feeding schedules and kidney/liver failure due to lack of hydration. I listen to a husband who works so damn hard to provide for his family wondering how we're going to pay for it all...the therapies, special meds, therapeutic equipment and doctor after doctor not to mention trying to make the bathroom handicap accessible. I look in the mirror and wonder how my body will be strong enough to my 5'6", 102 pound daughter into her bed or her wheelchair as I get older and try not to freak out at the thought of not being able to care for her properly. I look at my introverted son deal with the world through a computer screen and an astronomical IQ and pray for God's plan in his life hoping that it includes his own apartment someday.

Now I look over the edge of that cliff that God has been pushing me toward urging me to trust Him to catch me and all I can think to do is throw up. No way, no how am I jumping...

Sorry not today...because if I do I will look like one of those crash test dummies in the car commercials when I land and that ain't so pretty.

I know that things...that life happens for a reason. It's messy and filled with challenges. I know that worry does not come from God. It's that other a#@&*#! who has decided to put me in his cross hairs tonight and guess what...I fell for it.

I know that this time shall pass...like a freakin kidney stone...with searing pain hopefully followed by great relief and maybe even some joy once again.

I am just me...50% cupcake, 50% mamma/wife, 100% daughter of a KING!

Right now He has a smile on His face and his arms crossed patiently waiting for me to get with the program, knowing that I will eventually jump as He has asked me to...

and the very thought makes me want to stomp my foot and scream and yell some more...(insert two year old fit here)

So I stand on the edge of nowhere not being able to clearly see where I am supposed to be going, having to dig deep to find that mustard seed of faith and believe in His plan...wondering how I am going to take the next step...

yep it's 1 a.m. on a Friday night...

ultimate recipe swap: bocconcini & oregano salad

 

Today over as LifeasMom it's once again time for the Ultimate Recipe Swap. This week it's all about picnic food. This salad is another winner from my new quinoa cookbook Quinoa 365. It has a delicate flavored cheese with crisp veggies, and a lovely oregano vinaigrette that's perfect for an outdoor gathering. You could also serve it as it's own meal since the quinoa is a protein. A truly magic grain indeed!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bocconcini & Oregano Salad

adapted from Quinoa 365

Ingredients:

3/4 cup Quinoa

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup zucchini, diced

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup diced red onions

1/2 cup frozen baby green peas, thawed

1 cup diced red bell pepper

1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper

3 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried)

1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

pinch of salt

pinch of ground pepper

1 cup halved mini bocconcini cheese pieces

Directions:

Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Cover, reduce to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Turn the heat off and leave the covered saucepan on the burner for another 4 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork. Set aside to completely cool.

Combine the zucchini, tomatoes, onion, peas, and red and yellow pepper together in a large bowl.

Whisk the vinegar, olive oil, mustard, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and thoroughly mix all the ingredients. Add the quinoa and bocconcini and mix until evenly combined. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

small successes (vol.45)...

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

Danielle Bean @ Faith and Family LIVE!

1.
I realized again this week how truly blessed I am to be surrounded by some awesome women who pray for me, encourage me and are available for an emotional outburst when needed.
Thank you my sweet friends (you know who you are). I could not get through this crazy life without your help, love and support.
Also, thanks to all of you who prayed for me and my kids last week. The fruitfulness of your efforts are still present and I cannot express to you what a wonderful gift they were. We are blessed indeed.

2.
Laundry is folded and actually put away. I am sure you are tired of seeing this as an actual success here but I never tire of writing it.
Laundry was made by the devil to vex me and test my ability to fight off serious laziness. This time Mary-1, devil-0.

3.
I baked this week for the first time since starting my new food plan and I actually enjoyed it. I sent most of the goodies home with my little helpers which made the experience even better. A few nibbles and I was good to go. I just enjoyed the experience without craving the sugar.
Sweet!

Head on over to FaithandFamilyLIVE! to read more successes. Let's encourage and support one another!

Blessings and Grace.

Mary

a true example of christian discipleship...

After five years Tonia has decided to leave the net. I have learned much from this deep thinking compassionate spiritual woman. Such a gift she has for the written word. I will miss reading her insights on life, parenting and God. I wish her well as she pursues a simpler way of living surrounded by those she truly loves.

"this is best advice i can give to you:  when you are online, love.   listen.  assume the best.  speak life.  pray.  learn.  leave nothing but traces of grace behind you.   arguing over perfect doctrine, shutting people out because they read the wrong books or like the wrong authors, pointing fingers, pointing out sin, endless discussions over politics and religion, mocking brothers and sisters who don't see things the way you do, all of it is such a waste of time and i believe it grieves our Lord.   please, leave something behind you that testifies to the life and joy of your salvation!

secondly, be gentle with yourselves.  remember that no one can do it all.  no one.  if you see someone online who seems to have it all together and accomplishes everything perfectly, be assured that you do not have the whole picture.  all of us choose where to spend our time at the expense of something else.   choose wisely as the Lord leads YOU and let other people flourish where the Lord plants them.  the temptations to promote yourself, to seek after traffic, to write nonsense in order to be popular, are great.  remember who you are in Christ and why you write.  please the Lord and nothing else matters." Tonia @ Study in Brown 

Please read the rest here. It's just beautiful.

She has made me stop and pause fro a moment this Wednesday to remember why I started blogging. To share our story of  love and perseverance raising a severely disabled child. To celebrate the feast that God has provided each day for our families table. To remember the important events in our life while they are happening instead of replaying them from pictures where I can't remember who is in the picture with us. To celebrate the written word in all it's finery. To promote life and the vocation of marriage with all of it's hills and valleys. To celebrate homemaking  and promote modesty and true beauty while laughing just a little at the absurdity of everyday living.
Sometimes I wonder if anyone needs to know anything I might share or if they will just come to it on their own. I am not looking for compliments, although they are lovely to receive. I am wondering if what I have in this space is truly useful to people? Is it encouraging? Real? I am wondering what you want to read about? 
So my question today is "Am I doing what I originally set out to do? What is missing?" 

Your honest thoughts...
Mary

mary's book basket ~ "courting marrow little" by laura frantz

Inspirational Fiction author Laura Frantz has written a new novel that really captured my attention. Courting Morrow Little tells the tale of a young woman raised on the Red River in Kentucky during  Revolutionary times. Morrow Little has just returned to her child hood home after two years in Philadelphia working with her aunt as a seamstress. She picks up the pieces of her life caring for her ailing father and trying to put the past behind her.



Product Description:
Morrow Little is haunted by the memory of the day her family was torn apart by raiding Shawnee warriors. Now that she is nearly a grown woman and her father is ailing, she must make difficult choices about the future. Several men--ranging from the undesired to the unthinkable--vie for her attentions, but she finds herself inexplicably drawn to a forbidden love that both terrifies and intrigues her. Can she betray the memory of her lost loved ones--and garner suspicion from her friends--by pursuing a life with him? Or should she seal her own misery by marrying a man she doesn't love? This sweeping tale of romance and forgiveness will envelop readers as it takes them from a Kentucky fort through the vast wilderness to the west in search of true love.

Ms Frantz has done something with this novel that I don't always see done well in an Inspirational romance. She has created sexual tension between the romantic leads without once crossing the line. She relays such tenderness and devotion among her leads without being sappy or sickly sweet it takes your breath away at times. Her words are almost lyrical as the scenes play out. She writes beautifully about Morrows longing for the one she has given her heart to all the while keeping her desire for inner peace and forgiveness from God front and center.

To be able to weave both a truly romantic story with a fantastic moral tale of what it is to truly live the Christian life while forgiving the unforgivable, is absolute genius. I could not put this one down. I had to know what happened between Morrow and the one she loved. It was that good. This is Ms. Frantz second novel. I am really looking forward to reading more from this new author.

Happy Reading, Mary 

**Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

tasty tuesday...angel hair pasta w/sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese

I have recently discovered that I LOVE goat cheese. I love it warmed. I love it fried. I love it cold and crumbled or melted and smooth. I just love, love, love it. So any time I have an opportunity to cook with it I am a happy, happy girl. 

I was thumbing through my Giada cookbooks last week and came across this little gem. O Happy day...goat cheese and pasta. A marriage made in heaven. Throw in a little sautéed onion and baby kiss me some more! Wowza! It's light and comes together quickly. The cheese melts into the warm pasta and makes the sauce even creamier. So good!!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

This weeks recipe is being shared with Balancing Beauty and Bedlam and City Wife Country Life! Head on over to their blogs and check out other fabulous recipes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Angel Hair w/ Sun-dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:

1 (10-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped (oil reserved)

1 small onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 cup tomato paste

2/3 cup dry white wine

8 ounces angel hair pasta

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled

2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves

Directions:

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the wine and sun-dried tomatoes and simmer until the liquid reduces by half, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Add the pasta to the tomato mixture and toss to coat, adding some reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with the goat cheese and parsley and stir. Mound the pasta into bowls and serve.

crazy insane monday...

The alarm clock went off at 5:30 a.m. and it has been a race since then. It is now 6:15 p.m. and I am sitting down for the first time today. Ahhhh...it must be a Monday.

First I helped hubby finish packing for his trip, then I got Courtney bathed and dressed followed by a quick bowl of cereal.

Then Jerry went to the airport, Jonathan to class and Court and I were off to our Gastroenterology appointment. That took two and a half hours most of which was finding a parking space and waiting to be seen by the doc. After a mere 20 min appointment, doc was happy and I was happy and we were off once more.

Back home to change and feed the beautiful blonde one and then it was time for the days big adventure. Driving downtown with J-man so he could take pictures of some famous building for a project he is working on in his summer class. Normally he would just go himself but he needed someone to take pictures of him in front of the buildings to prove to his professor that he actually visited and took the pictures himself.

Did I mention that I hate driving in DC. I mean I hate it. All those traffic circles and one way streets make me crazy. What I expected to take only two hours turned into five because SURPRISE, SURPRISE I got lost about three different times.

I stayed fairly calm and prayed and prayed then prayed some more. We finally found our way to where we needed to be and made it out of DC in time for all the lovely afternoon traffic leaving the city.

After crawling along for what seemed like three weeks we made our way back toward home and stopped at the grocery store. We were out of T.P. which in our world qualifies as a national emergency so there was no getting out of it.

I was starving  and just about passed out when I walked in and smelled rosemary garlic bread baking. I could identify that fragrance from across the state I love it so. You should never go to the grocery store hungry. It's bad, very bad! As I passed through the prepared food section I just wanted to dive in I was salivating.

Not to worry though...only one pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream made in into the basket. No bread, no cupcakes, so I'm not feeling so bad about the ice cream!

After we purchased our precious T.P., ice cream and a few other perishables, we were off to the dry cleaners to drop off and then one more errand and HOME babY HOME!

Now all I want to do is go to bed. Unfortunately there is still dinner to make, dishes to do, laundry to fold and a cute blond ones to read to and snuggle with.

The last part I'm actually looking forward to.

How did your day go?

sweet sundays ~ espresso banana muffins

Ahhhh love. Espresso and chocolate. Love, love, love AND the good news is...it's good for you! Now that I have your attention, let me introduce you to this delightful little morsel, Super Natural Cooking's Espresso Banana Muffins. 

Ladies and Gents...you MUST try these muffins. What is not to like? Moist, chocolatey, walnut crunchy, espresso laden goodness will make any morning just plain better. This little muffin will put a smile on your face without any guilt!

Go make them NOW!!

Celebrate the Feast!

 Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Espresso Banana Muffins

adapted from Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson

Ingredients:

2 cups white whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder

1/2 teaspoon fine -grain sea salt

1 1/4 cups chopped toasted walnuts

1 tablespoon fine espresso powder

6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature

3/4 cup natural cane sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup plain yogurt

1 1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 3 large bananas)

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:

Heat oven to 375; position racks low in oven and line 12 muffin cups with paper liners

Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and 3/4 cup of the walnuts and and the espresso powder in a bowl and whisk to combine.

In a separate bowl or mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy.  Beat in the sugar and then the eggs, one at a time.  Stir in the vanilla, yogurt, and the mashed bananas then briefly and gently mix in the dry ingredients, overmixing will result in tough muffins.

Spoon into the prepared muffin tin, an ice cream scoop works well, top with remaining 1/2 cup walnuts and bake until golden, about 25 minutes.  Fill the cups about 2/3 full for regular muffins  or to the brim for a big-topped version.  Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 12 muffins.

mary's book basket ~ "touching the clouds" by bonnie leon

In Bonnie Leon's latest novel she takes us to the Alaskan wilderness during the 1930's. Heroine Kate Evans is a lone female in a man's world. She is confident that this is where God wants her and works hard to earn her place. Paul Anderson has rejected God because of a tragedy and is fighting tooth and nail NOT to be attracted to the new bush pilot. Let the conflict begin.

Product Description:
"Kate Evans is an adventurous and independent young woman with a pioneering spirit. She pilots a mail-delivery plane in the forbidding Alaskan wilderness, the lone woman in a male profession. But even that seems easy compared to finding true love. She likes a fellow pilot and would even consider marrying him--if it weren't for Paul, a mysterious man on her mail route with a gentle spirit and a past to hide. Can Kate break through the walls Paul has put up around his heart? And will her quest for adventure be her demise? Book 1 in the Alaskan Skies series, Touching the Clouds will draw readers in with raw emotion and suspense, all against the stunning backdrop of the Alaskan wilds."


Ms. Leon paints the Alaskan wilderness with broad beautiful strokes. The bush country comes alive with her words and you feel the tension of each storm, fog or blizzard. Her scenes with Kate flying put you at the edge of your seat praying she lands safely. The action is consistent throughout this book.

The love story for me was a bit predictable and the characters faith journey's could have been a bit stronger. However, Ms. Leon successfully carries you back to a time of great challenge and change weaving a tale of redemption and forgiveness. I look forward to reading the next installment of the Alaskan Skies Series.

Happy Reading!
Mary


**Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

black bean breakfast bowl...

Here's a fabulous way to start your Saturday. Filled with flavor and lots of protein and fiber, you can't miss with this hearty start. This is one of my family's new favorites. It's a little Tex Mex party in your mouth. It contains all my hubby's favorite things. Beans, sausage and cheese. This is not a breakfast for the faint of heart rather for one who soul beats like a bullfighter!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Black Bean Breakfast Bowl

adapted from Cuisine at Home, June 2010 issue 

Eggs:

1 pound breakfast sausage, cooked and crumbled

12 eggs, slightly scrambled 

4 tablespoons sour cream

1 cup shredded Pepper Jack cheese

additional sour cream for topping

chopped fresh cilantro

Scramble eggs in medium bowl. Add in sour cream. Spay a nonstick pan with Pam. Cook scrambled eggs. Take off heat. Add in sausage and cheese. Set aside.

Black Bean Sauce:

2 cups salsa (homemade or purchased, you choice)

1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained.

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat salsa in saucepan over medium heat until warms. Stir in beans and cilantro; keep warm over low heat until eggs are done. 

In a bowl put one scoop of beans. Then place one scoop of eggs over them. Add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro. Enjoy!

a contest for some lovely jewlery...

image from http://awomansplaceis.blogspot.com/

Isn't this rosary bracelet lovely? Wouldn't you like to wear one just like it? Well, head on over to A Woman's Place...Depends On Her Vocation and enter. Cam has a lovely Etsy shop as well with other fine selections. The deadline is July 25th for entries. 

Thanks Cam for your generosity!

mary's book basket ~ "perfectly dateless" by kristen billerbeck

Inspirational Fiction author Kristen Billerbeck is known for her humor and her all-encompassing storytelling. She brings the reader into the heads and hearts of her heroines. In her first YA novel Perfectly Dateless, heroine Daisy Crispin is determined to find the "perfect" Prom date.

Product Description:
"Daisy Crispin has 196 days to find the right date for the prom. There's only one problem--her parents won't let her date or even talk to a guy on the phone. Oh, and she's totally invisible at school, wears lame homemade clothes, and possesses no social skills. Okay, so maybe there's more than one problem.
Can she talk her parents into letting her go to the prom? Or will they succeed at their obvious attempts to completely ruin her life?"


Oh the trials and tribulations of a teenage girl just trying to find her place. Teenagers are all about the drama and Ms. Billerbeck does not disappoint in this coming of age tale. There is drama everywhere. Daisy is a freak of nature who spouts off random encyclopedia facts when she gets nervous, dresses like she's a greeter for a discount restaurant chain and can't decide what she wants to do with her life. It's senior year and she has promised herself that this year is going to be different. Her best friend Claire is an even more confused, if not better dressed.

I have to say as far as best friends go, these two were made for each other. Opposites in every way and yet, they completely understand one another just like best friends should. They have a great give and take throughout the book while they are getting into and out of a lot of trouble. The dialogue is like quick-fire throughout the book.

Claire's parents are portrayed as the worst kind of hovering, overprotective, helicopter parents known to mankind. Now I must say that I have known that kind of parent. I have actually been that kind of parent from time to time. It was hard to read at times because all the emotions portrayed were so real. Very believable. For her first foray into Young adult fiction Ms Billerbeck does a good job tapping into the every teenagers worst nightmare, public humiliation.

She also does a good job of keeping Claire's inner conflict front and center. Like most seventeen year olds, she is struggling with who she is in God's eyes and the type of young woman He is calling her to be. Ms. Billerbeck weaves a tale of self-discovery slowly revealing Claire's true heart as well as the true intentions of those who love her.

The type of trouble Claire gets into is a bit over the top for me. I think that Ms. Billerbeck brushes over a few of the more serious issues she raises. I also thought the prom scene was over too quickly, especially since the whole book was geared toward this event. The ending in general was rushed and all the conflict tied up into a sweet little package. Not very satisfying for the reader but a happy ending nonetheless. If she can work these things out, than Ms Billerbeck will be just as successful in the YA market as she has been in Woman's Fiction.

Happy Reading!
Mary

*Available July 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

interview with author Deborah Vogts

Recently I had the opportunity to do an online interview with author Deborah Vogts. I always find it fascinating to talk with other writers about their process. I hope you find something helpful in what Deborah has to share about her journey.

Happy Writing!!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author Bio:  Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas where they raise and train American Quarter Horses. As a student at Emporia State University studying English and journalism, Deborah developed a love for the Flint Hills that has never faded. In writing this series, she hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there.

Was it difficult to portray a minister as a leading romantic hero?  What kind of challenges did you have to overcome? 

Great question, Mary. I really struggled with having a pastor as my male leading character, mainly because I didn’t want him to come over as preachy—I wanted my readers to see him as a man with troubles and sensibilities, just like the rest of us. It was fun putting Jared in the ranching scenes, to see how he would handle horses and cattle. I had a lot of help from our pastor and kept him busy with questions as I was writing this book.


As a fairly new author, what single piece of advice would you give aspiring writers? 

Never give up. My journey to publication took a LONG time, as I knew I wanted to write books when I was in high school. Right before I landed my second agent, I almost gave up on my dreams, and I am so thankful I didn’t. Not that God would have let me. I searched and asked that he give me scripture answers that would lead me in the right direction. Some of those he gave were: Isaiah 41:13, Deuteronomy 31:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, and my favorite one that ministered to me and still does today, “Be Still and Know that I am God.”

Your characters are well developed and you portray their personalities "showing" so much through their actions.  What is your method of character development?

Before I begin working on a book, I like to develop my characters. I do this by filling out a detailed character sheet as well as “interviewing them” asking them all sorts of questions about their life, their childhood, interests, fears, joys, family, etc. And then as I’m working on the manuscript, I’ll go back and revise or add to this characterization. Another thing I like to do is picture who my character is. Usually I’ll find a picture of him/her from a horse/ranch magazine, but sometimes the character I imagined is an actor. This allows me to have a visual to go to, which is so helpful. So far, this method has worked very well for me, and I feel that I know my characters inside and out.

Your love for Kansas shines through your book.  How important is the setting of your story and in particular, how do you research your settings?

The Kansas Flint Hills is essential to the setting of the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, and has become like a character for me. For each book, I wanted to bring out the basics of each ranching season, whether it had to do with spring pasture burning, summer haying, transient grazing of cattle, etc. A lot of my research for ranching comes from internet searches, but I also have a few people who live and ranch in the Flint Hills, and they’ve been a great help with specific questions or scenarios. My favorite part of research is driving out into the pastures and taking pictures. (I’ll attach some pictures from my favorite views if you want to include them.)

Finally, what comes next? Another book? Are you speaking or giving workshops?

So far, I’ve had a busy summer promoting my book series. I always enjoy speaking to women’s groups or libraries, and I like meeting new readers! In between marketing & promotion, I’m finishing up my next book, Blades of Autumn, set to release next summer 2011.

"With a café to run and three children to raise, Clara Lambert doesn’t have time for men or loneliness, despite what her heart might tell her. When two handsome cowboys vie for her attention, one of the brothers proves to be her soul mate, but at what cost? Will it tear the brothers’ relationship apart or is blood really thicker than water?"


After that, I’m hoping for another contract—on the fourth book in this series (Winters Frosty Path), or possibly another series.

Thanks Deborah for taking the time to answer my questions. I wish you great success in the future.

mary's book basket ~ "seeds of summer"

   I was really excited to read the second novel in Deborah Vogts Seasons of the Tallgrass series. Ms. Vogts has a talent for deep character development creating a canvas of people that you wish you knew in real life. In Seeds of Summer she took on the difficult challenge of pairing a Rodeo Queen, Natalie Adams, who questions the existence of God in her life with a newly ordained minister, Jared Logan. Now there's conflict for you. Once again Ms. Vogts does not disappoint.

Here is the publishers blurb for Seeds of Summer:

Book #2 in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series. A heart-warming contemporary romance set in the Flint Hills of Kansas where a former rodeo queen abandons her dreams in order to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two half-siblings, only to realize with the help of a young new pastor that God can turn even the most dire circumstances into seeds of hope.


Once again the author visits the Flint Hills of Kansas with such vivid imagery I have now added the prairie state to my list of those I must visit. The sweeping plains, the beautiful animals and the colorful townspeople are a joy to read about. In this novel Vogts goes in depth with the rodeo scene, particularly Miss Rodeo America. Fascinating stuff.

I really enjoyed Natalie's character arc and how she comes to trust God with her life. Vogt's takes her time with this revelation slowly bringing the reader along through all the inner turmoil Natalie goes through. Her relationship with her younger siblings is tenacious at times and tender at others but very realistic. Again, character development is what Vogts is known for.

I was hesitant about the hero being a minister but I will admit to being pleasantly surprised with the outcome. The realities of his chosen profession challenge Jared as he comes to trust where God has placed him and realizes the gift of forgiveness.

I think you will enjoy the Seeds of Summer. A great love story filled with sweeping plains, great secondary players and two wonderful main characters you find yourself rooting for from the beginning. Learning to trust God as well as the one He choses for you can be challenging at times. Vogts writes beautifully through it all. I am looking forward to book three being released next summer.

ultimate recipe swap: blackjack steak

Today over @ LifeAsMom and The Ultimate Recipe Swap we are talking all about cooking out, grillin and chillin. Flank steak is one of our families favorite things to grill. It's economical and takes a marinade very well. I think it's one of the simplest meats to grill.

I have been trying to make my own marinades this summer instead of purchasing the bottled variety. They don't take very long and the fresh ingredients really do stand up well to the grill.

Fix, Freeze, Feast has been a gold mine for me this summer as far as marinades are concerned. I can take three pounds of flank steak, separate them into two freezer bags, pour in the marinade, seal, freeze and whallah...a simple fantastic grilling experience is one thaw away.

So give this one a try. I served it with veggie cous cous and fresh corn on the cob. Yumm!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blackjack Steak

adapted from Fix, Freeze, Feast

Ingredients:

3 pounds of Flank Steak (2 steaks)

1 cup balsamic vinegar

1 cup molasses

3 teaspoons dried thyme

1 teaspoon salt 

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 12 cloves)

2 one gallon freezer bags, labeled

Directions:

1. Rinse and trim steaks as desired. Put one steak in each fresh bag.

2. Whisk together vinegar, molasses, thyme,salt, pepper, and nutmeg in medium bowl. Divide the marinade evenly over the steaks. Into each bag measure 2 teaspoons minced garlic.

3. Seal and freeze.

4. When ready to grill, completely thaw one entree in the refrigerator. 

5. prepare a medium fire in a gas or charcoal grill.

6. Cook 15 to 20 minutes for medium-rare to medium. Turn occasionally and baste as desired. Do not baste during final 5 minutes of cooking. Discard remaining marinade.  

small successes (vol.44)...

"It’s important for moms to recognize that all the small successes in our days can add up to one big triumph. So on Thursday of each week, we do exactly that."

Danielle Bean @ Faith and Family LIVE!

1.
I re-organized and cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and one bookcase yesterday with the help of my friend Christine and her two wonderful daughters. So happy to have that chore done, done, done.

2.
The cleaning schedule is holding steady but the exercise one has taken a few hits. I must get to bed at a regular/earlier time or the next day I just pay though the nose. Self-discipline does not get easier with age!

3.
I finally mailed off two packages that I have had for weeks. I also need to figure out how to get back in the swing of writing letters again. I do love it and it is possible to accomplish without much fuss. I just need to plan my time better.
Again with the self discipline!

4.
Bonus:
Please continue to hold up my two kids. They are both struggling a bit right now and we could use a little prayer boost. I so appreciate every ones generous hearts when it comes to praying for our family. Please be assured of our prayers for you as well.

Head on over to FaithandFamilyLIVE! to read more successes. Let's encourage and support one another!

Blessings and Grace.

Mary

deep conversations...

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."  

~Mother Teresa

These young sprites are my heart. They look so serious in this picture. Like they are kindred spirits sharing the same journey. I suppose they are in one way and yet their paths are so different. They fill my life with such joy and laughter and at other times great sorrow. Children are a gift from God. They stretch you in ways you didn't think were possible and sometimes you think you might break.

This has lead to many deep conversations with God lately over the how's and why's of my current circumstances. Today my heart is troubled and clouded with so many questions and all of them seek one answer. 

To find peace in this place my Lord has brought me to. To trust once more in His plan and to rejoice that He trusts me so much.

Courtney has lost two pounds and I am at a complete loss as to how this is even possible. Frustration doesn't come close to what I feel at this point. Jonathan is facing some serious life challenges right now and could use some support. So, if you think about it today, could you send a little prayer our way. I would be eternally grateful.

I am humbled that you stopped by my little piece of cyber space. May your day be filled with His grace and wonder. 

Blessings, 

Mary