mary's book basket ~ "perfectly invisible" by kristin billerbeck

Kristin Billerbeck's latest YA novel "Perfectly Invisible" takes up where "Perfectly Dateless" left off. It's Daisy Crispin's final semester of high school and she wants to get her life back on track.

The pacing of this book is at times a bit awkward but Billerbeck does a very good job of getting the snarky, quirky dialogue down pat between Daisy and those she interacts with. She uses the humor to deal with some pretty heavy issues. It's really what Billerbeck does best.

Again, I have issues with the over the top treatment of her parents who really become caricatures of ultra-conservative quack jobs. I also got a wee bit tired of all the complaining that Daisy does. Her lot in life just isn't that bad even given much leeway for the "high drama" factor that most authors implement with the YA heroines.

All in all a good solid read with some laugh out loud funny moments.

pretty, happy, funny, real

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

@Like Mother, Like Daughter

{pretty}

the curls, the buck teeth, the tilt of the head...

...then you add a smile and she's the pettiest girl I know...
Mama a little biased I think.

{happy}

a Saturday afternoon, RISK and the two men in my life square off...
makes me so happy...

{funny}

yes...they are very funny...at least they think so...
do you?

{real}

Miss Courtney waits for another doctor in another doctor's office trying
to figure out why she is losing weight and her seizures have increased.

I'm here...I'm here...

Hi All,
Just a quick stop in to say I'm here...things are better...Courtney is gaining weight slowly but surely. She stands at a lovely 102 pounds as of Monday. Now to get another 3-5 pounds on and keep them there.

So my time is being spent doing feeds every two hours. Three a day by mouth and the rest by G-tube using her specially formulated highly-caloric homemade formula. On top of that we have four BIG doctor's appointments over the next ten days. Needless to say I am running like mad here to keep my head above water and have not been able to get to the laptop for any extended length of time.

I totally missed Tasty Tuesday and writing out my blessings list on Monday. Sorry...I have tons of recipes to post and the blessings are flowing at high speed these days. So much to share with you all.

Things will calm down in a few days now that we have a schedule in place for Miss Courtney. Thanks for hanging with me. I will be back tomorrow for a quick peek at life with {pretty, happy, funny real}.

Hugs to you all!
Mary

it's HOT!

it's HOT here on the East Coast...is it HOT where you are?...I can't wait for Fall...crisp air and cool porch sitting...right now my brain is fried...like an egg on a summer sidewalk...fried...it's like the heat just sucks all the energy out of me...I get grumpy and spend an inordinate amount of time standing in front of my freezer...I can't wait for Fall...apple cider and warm sweaters, football games and tailgating...it's really, really HOT!

Things here are HOT and hopping with Miss Courtney's new feeding schedule. So the posting is very light right now with tube feedings every two hours added to my summer school schedule. I hope to have a few new posts up this weekend. I appreciate your patience. You guys are the best readers...truly you are.

Did I mention it was HOT! Stay cool and support your local frozen diary establishment...it's HOT out there!

yuuummmm...

#1,248 reason why I LOVE my panini maker:

I sauteed one of each: yellow squash, zucchini. red pepper, Japanese eggplant,
red onion and portabello mushroom. Add some pepper jack cheese and you
have some serious yum on a plate!

Topped with some Greek Yogurt and Red Pepper salsa and ta-daaaa!
Dinner!

1.5 pounds of hope...

why does my life always come down to weight?

the weight of a choice made or a decision yet to come.

the weight I see on my scale at home or in my doctors office.

the weight of my daughter who is currently struggling to keep the pounds on.

for me it's a choice between veggies and cookies.

for Courtney...there is no choice...it's life and death.

the weight of this new diet plan and all it's intricacies and time commitment is quite heavy I must say.

I feel the weight of the stress in my head,  my shoulders, my stomach that aches and deep in my heart. It is rare for me to be scared about something. But I have to say...this scares me.

it scares me because we have done everything the docs have asked us to do and Courtney was still loosing weight. if she continues to follow this path, all kinds of really bad things can happen.

really bad things.

this morning I was up at 5 a.m. giving her her first G-tube feeding. the first of five for the day, plus two meals given by mouth and several cups of water by tube as well.

hands are on this child every two hours just like an infant.

meds are given, hugs administered, and I receive smiles in return.

I love those smiles. they are like manna from heaven.

I dress her, take care of her personal care needs, carry her to her wheelchair and we head to school.

it's monday so Miss Courtney is weighed.

101.5

she has gained 1.5 pounds. YES!

I control myself and my glee as I get back to work. when the school day is over,  I cry ALL the way home.

the blubbering nasty, ugly cry...over 1.5 pounds.

I get home and I see this posted to FB by the lovely Katie:

Sometimes people cry not because they are weak, but because they have been strong for too long.

Is this me? I don't feel strong. I feel overwhelmed and totally exhausted and the sad thing is this new fight has just started.

as I type this she is sitting next to me, snuggling and smiling. 

she is happy. 

I am happy...for now. 

onward to the next 1.5 pounds...

hello God...it's me mary...

There have been many,many, many times in my life when I have had no doubt that I am being a pawn in the Divine Chess game of life. Sometimes I capture the Queen and sometimes I go down in flames with my army in shambles around me.

Today I have laughed more than I have cried. I have shaken my head and thrown up my hands surrendering to the Chess Master in the sky who strategery confuses and confounds me on an hourly basis. There are reasons why I write a daily journal because no one would believe the stuff happens unless I wrote it down.

On Sunday I wrote out a tithe to our church. I have missed the last few Sundays due to several medical bills for Miss Courtney and I really felt a tug on my heart this week that we needed to make sure we were giving. This is a biblical mandate after all. Hubby wanted me to hold back knowing some big bills would be rolling our way in the next few days and I had calculated to the last penny what would be needed to cover things until payday. He told me he trusted my judgement so I wrote the check happily and went on about our day.

Yesterday I was doing my weekly check to make sure I had not missed a bill or a payment on something. As I went through I realized that I had forgotten a doctor bill that was already in the "second" billing phase that needed to be paid. Fudge! Fudge! Fudge!

Then I looked at the amount.

It was the EXACT same amount as the tithing check! The EXACT amount!

In my head all I heard was "Testing...1...2...3...testing...Hello Mary. This is God just checking in to see if you really trust me to provide everything you and your family need. And I mean everything down to the last penny! So do ya...huh...do ya?"


Oh yay for me...another itty bitty test on TRUST! wa.hoo.

Then when I was in spiritual direction this afternoon. I was talking about Miss Courtney and all the issues surrounding her care, God's plan in it all, how am I supposed to do this, It's just too much, etc. etc. etc.

Father looked at me and said with a smile "Mary, you have to realize that for as much time that God has given her,  Courtney is the star of the show. You and Jerry are the supporting characters helping her accomplish her mission, whatever God has asked her to do. She cannot do it without you. You are her hands and feet. You are her voice, so speak for her with love and mercy always." 


So I come home and what is waiting for me? This weeks National Catholic Register with an article that contains a quote from yours truly about who? Oh yeah, the "star" of the show, Miss Courtney herself. You can read the full article HERE.

Another divine chess piece moved on the board of life.

Hmmmm...hello God it's Mary...I get it...trust...walk humbly...speak mercy...and in case I ever forgot...I am NOT in control of this boat or the sea in which it sails...I'll just keep paddling...

smoothie for a wednesday...

Here is a fast and furious recipe for a Wednesday. This is from the August 2011 issue of Everyday Food. It is light and naturally sweet. The almond milk is a great addition and only half the calories of skim milk. It's a great start to my summer morning. The little flecks you see in the photo are the nectarine skins blended. Remember - Fiber is your friend!

So head to the kitchen now and make one. You can thank me later!!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

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Check out some other tasty treats around the blogosphere at  Full Plate @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage,
The King's Court IV, This Chic Cooks, The Lady Behind the Curtain, A Wise Woman Build's Her Home, and Foodie Wednesday @ Daily Organized Chaos
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Nectarine - Yogurt Smoothie

 Aug 2011 Everyday Food Magazine

In a blender combine:

 2 medium nectarines, pitted and quartered

(or you can use 8 oz frozen peaches)

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 tablespoon honey 

( I omitted this because the fruit was sweet enough for me)

1/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup ice

(if using fresh nectarines)

Blend until smooth. 

Serves 2

tasty tuesday ~ colorado peach cobbler

a bit juicier than my normal cobbler recipe but every bit as sweet. 

Summer is one of my favorite seasons...for food and food alone! I am not a fan of hot humid weather at all. I am however a fan of berries and nectarines and peaches! I heart peaches most of all!

This recipe was a little different than the one I usually use. It called for a cup of sugar both in the topping AND in the filling. I  knew that the sugar would be too much so I cut the amount in half and am so glad I did. It was just the right balance of sweet and crunch. I had also never used an egg for the topping. It was some sorta good! Next time I might add some chopped almonds for added weight.

As much as I love peaches, the topping is always what makes the recipe for me.

The recipe also says that the ice cream is optional. HA! Not in my house!

So bake up a little summer...

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

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It's Tuesday so head on over to Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , Domestically Divine Homemaking Link Up, Delicious Dishes, Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, Tuesdays at the Table, 33 Shades of Green, Hearth and Soul Blog Tour @ A Moderate Life and check out the yummy recipes!

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cobbler + ice cream = SUMMER delights!

Colorado Peach Cobbler

adapted from the Taste of Home Cookbook

Ingredients:

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

4 cups sliced peeled fresh peaches

TOPPING:

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup cold butter

1 egg, beaten

Ice cream, optional

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour and nutmeg. Add peaches; stir

to coat. Pour into a greased 11-in. x 7-in. baking pan.

For topping, in a small bowl, combine sugar, flour, baking powder and

salt; cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Stir in egg. Spoon over peaches.

Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until filling is bubbly and

topping is golden. Serve hot or cold with ice cream if desired.

Yield: 8-10 servings.

a weighty week...

morning tube feeding...yumm!

Hey Everyone,

Today was the first day of summer school for Miss Courtney. She attends a special program for four weeks that allows her to get PT everyday so we don't lose any of our skills before school starts again in September. It also begins a week of doctor's appointments keeping us out of the house much more than usual. So things will be a bit slow this week here in blogland since I won't have much computer time. I have several recipes ready to post so I will roll those out. Let me know what you like.

I so appreciate your understanding. You guys are the best readers a girl could have.

Yummy spinach, whole wheat pasta and chicken along with our vitamin regimen

Today we met with the dietician and g-tube team trying to figure out how we can help Miss Court gain a little weight. She has gained two pounds in the last three weeks and is back in triple digits at 100 pounds. Although a good thing we need to get her to 110-115 pounds. At 5'6" she is on the tall side for someone with cerebral palsy so we need to get some meet on those bones. So we came up with a new feeding plan that is complicated to say the least. At this point I will take all the complication necessary if it means a healthier happier Miss Court.

So we will add more tube feedings, grind sweet potatoes for lunch, and cook everything in butter. There will be midnight snacks, early morning yumminess and bi-weekly weigh-ins...Yay!

Thanks for hanging in with our girl sending your prayers and good wishes. We appreciate them all.

Mary

saturdays...

coffee brought by my sweet husband...easy morning of planning and list making...a new pancake recipe filled with ripe blueberries...grocery shopping ALONE with my honey...better than dinner and a movie...a quick trip to the book store...so many books...so little time...home with sweet Court reading some of her favorites...never take a sweet smile from this special girl for granted...#1 son comes home with good news...so cool to see him succeeding one step at a time...it's hot...really hot and humid and muggy and hot...fresh flowers set on the table bringing color to my afternoon...vegetables from the garden to grace our dinner table...the boys go off to a summer movie matinee...out in the hot, humid, muggy hot afternoon...I think I might sew but then I decide that maybe the girls should have a movie date too...so Miss Court and I  watch old movies and snuggle...I LOVE Jan Arthur...praising God for air conditioning on Saturday in July...sharing a light supper followed by cold ice cream...reminding me of my Mom's favorite summer treat when I was young...root beer floats...ahhh summer...your too hot for me...how I look forward to fall...

send a few happy thoughts...

****Updated at 3:35 p.m.
Miss Courtney had her 7th Upper GI this morning and Praise God everything is still intact from her 1996 Nissan Wrap (the stomach surgery she had to stop her reflux) and there is minimal scarring to her esophagus. This is the best possible outcome for now. She is still losing weight for an unknown reason so we will meet with the dietician team on Monday afternoon for a new plan. She has been refusing food by mouth so we have had to beef up her formula. At this point it's all we can do for her. She really likes roast chicken, sweet potatoes, meatloaf, lasagna and chicken rice casserole so that's what she's been eating. I wish I could eat that way! LOL!
Thanks once more for standing with us and praying our girl through another hospital  visit.
Fondly, 
Mary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Normally I would be posting a few photos of {pretty, happy, funny, real} but instead Miss Court will be going in for an Upper GI at 7:30 a.m. She has been steadily losing weight again and is now hanging out at 99 pounds. Not particularly good. So we need to check on her Nissan Wrap that was done on her tummy in 1996, to make sure there is no silent reflux going on causing scarring to her esophagus.

What makes this a bit more stressful is that Jerry has to take her himself. I will find myself at work prepping for summer school that starts Monday, while Daddy goes to the hospital. Have I mentioned how much he HATES hospitals. Yep, this is a first for us since I take care of all things medical for our princess.

So if you could send a few happy thoughts and healing, calming prayers our way tomorrow morning I would be ever so grateful. These procedures are never easy for her always causing a few more seizures and stress for all of us. I'll let you know what happens...

Thanks for always being there for us and our daughter!
Blessings,
Mary

tasty tuesday ~ boston blue chicken & apple salad

so good...so very good...

It's HOT! When it's hot the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven. I came upon the following recipe when flipping through a magazine while waiting to get my hair cut. Most productive wait to date. this salad is easy peasy and oh so tasty. It calls for sauteed chicken breasts but I just used some leftover grilled chicken breasts from the night before. So scrumptious, let me tell you.

The apple is crisp and a bit tart, the blue cheese smooth with just enough bite to it and the walnuts add a little surprise crunch. The balsamic brings it all together. If your looking for something quick and tasty, look no further my friends. THIS is the salad for you!

Celebrate the Feast!

Mary

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This weeks recipe is being shared with A Wise Woman Build's Her Home, Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits, Balancing Beauty and Bedlam , Domestically Divine Homemaking Link Up, Full Plate @ Miz Helen's Country Cottage, Raising Homemakers , Delicious Dishes, Tempt Your Tummy Tuesday, The King's Court IV, This Chic Cooks, Tuesdays at the Table, 33 Shades of Green, The Lady Behind the Curtain as well as the Hearth and Soul Blog Tour @ A Moderate Life. Head on over to their blogs and check out other fabulous recipes.

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Boston Blue Chicken and Apple Salad

recipe adapted from Now Eat This! Diet 

as seen in the 6/27/11 edition of People Magazine

Ingredients:

4 6-oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated

2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

1/2 cup crumbled reduced fat blue cheese

1/4 cup bottled reduced fat vinaigrette 

1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

2 tbsp chopped chives

Spray grill pan with cooking oil and place over high heat

Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper and grill until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.  Transfer to a platter and cover with foil.

In a large bowl, combine lettuce, apples, blue cheese and vinaigrette.  Toss and transfer to a serving bowl.  Slice the chicken into 1/2 inch thick slices.  

Add to salad and top with walnuts and chives.

blessings on the fourth of july...

Happy Independence Day!!

So many blessings to count this morning:

#367 ~ a "staycation" surrounded by the three most important people in my world

#368 ~ "egg-in-the-whole" with coffee and locally grown bacon

#369 ~ a bucket of hot soapy water, emanating that lovely lemon verbena scent, at the ready to scrub down cabinets and floors.

#370 ~ living in a country that allows me the freedom to worship as my heart leads

#371 ~ a son with a strong back willing to assist with the care of his sister who cannot help herself

#372 ~ my beautiful daughter's strong alto voice expressing her love for God during Mass

#373 ~ the smiles and chuckles that evokes from our Pastor when he hear's that voice knowing he has gone on a wee bit too long with the homily

#374 ~ Twitter feed and texting that allowed me to stay in contact with all my writing friends while they were in conference three states away

#375 ~ homemade popsicles that drip sweetness on a hot summer day

#376 ~ a date with my guy that ended with my toes taking a patriotic turn

#377 ~ hair color that allows me to push the passage of time away for a few more months

#378 ~ HOPE...in the future...in friendship...in Our Lord

#379 ~ words that leap off the page and inspire

#380 ~ a bountiful table filled with delectable delights surrounded by special ones we love

#381~ modern bathroom facilities

#382 ~ long talks on the front porch late at night with the man who holds my heart

#383 ~ thunderstorms that light up the sky and take care of the watering needs so #1 son doesn't have to

#384 ~ the healing power of words

#385 ~ sweet wonderful readers who email me or stop me in church to say thank you for the words in this space

#385 ~ the Eucharist in all HIS glory

Please take a moment and stop in @Holy Experience to be blessed by Ann and her readers who are all thankful for the love and mercy of Our Creator!

sweet sunday ~ lemon blackberry cupcakes

Just wanted to pop in and share a little something sweet on this very HOT Sunday in July. I made these little gems for a BBQ with our dear friends the Silva's yesterday. We had several hours of Bananagrams and quite delicious food. It's always a party when our families gather. 

I found this recipe online at Good Life Eats. The picture drew me in. Combine that with the two quarts of blackberries I had in the fridge...we had our dessert. SWEET! And let me tell you...it was so good...so very good.

You can find the recipe HERE!!

So celebrate summer with a little sweet...

Mary

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Naked but delightful lemon cupcakes...

Almost there with the addition of Blackberry Buttercream icing...

With the addition of the blackberry...we're ready to party!

five minute friday ~ "welcome" to saturday's edition...

Yes, I know. It's Saturday, not Friday.

Yes, I know. I think Gypsy Mama will forgive me, but it's been that kind of weekend...filled with lot's of surprises requiring me to roll with the punches.

So why not just skip this weeks writing prompt? Cause I really love this community and I figured better late than never.

The timer is set for five minutes and I am settled at the keyboard. Here we go with this weeks writing prompt:

WELCOME!

This word evokes so many different thoughts for me. My deepest desire for anyone who enters my home is to feel WELCOME, to feel like there is nothing more important to me and my family right at that moment than to sit and chat awhile. To inquire about their life, their dreams and their hopes. Asking "How's your mother? or inquiring about a new job. I want them to know that when they bring your little ones to my home there is nothing that can't be spilled on or broken that means more to me than the time spent with them and their children

It invokes in me a feeling of inclusion, to WELCOME everyone into that circle sitting at a table in the bar at a writing conference. Some one stops by and says hello...you WELCOME them in. There is always room for another chair at my table. Always.

WELCOME is the first thing I say when holding a new born babe in the hospital. "WELCOME to the world little one. There is a great adventure waiting for you." I love the feeling of new beginnings.

WELCOME is...

STOP!


OK, so now you get to finish. What does welcome mean to you??

mary's book basket ~ "martha" by diana wallis taylor

We all know the biblical story of Lazarus and his sister's, Mary and Martha. Have you ever wondered how they grew up? How did they meet Jesus? What happened to them after the Resurrection? In her newest novel "Martha" author Diana Wallis Taylor takes us on a journey to Bethany, a small village outside of the Holy City of Jerusalem to meet Martha and her siblings. I have to admit I was intrigued with the concept and  was looking forward to the read.

Ms. Taylor has a gift for description and setting. It is immediately obvious she has spent many, many hours researching the time period and the landscape. You are drawn in from the first page to the time when Jesus walked the earth. The description of how a home was run and how the Jewish traditions were an integral part of everyday life is both beautiful and inspiring. It places you right next to Martha as she weaves and Mary as she stomps the grapes for wine. I also love how Ms. Taylor draws you into their interior lives as well. Mary's innocence, Martha's servant spirit and Lazarus's strong moral code.

This book was a great read that kept me up late two nights in a row just to see what would happen. It's the best historical biblical fiction I have read in awhile. So give this one a shot...I think you'll enjoy it!

Happy Reading,
Mary