Thursday, June 28, 2012

Rounding Up 4th of July Favorites!

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Next week, those of us in the United States will be celebrating our
country's birthday with fireworks, hometown picnics and plenty
of red, white and blue! 
In this week's Recipe Round-Up, we're asking for your recipes
that you'll be fixing to treat friends & family. They can be patriotic colors
or they can just be a dish Independence Day gatherings are never without.

So tell us...

What are YOUR favorite RED, WHITE & BLUE recipes?
Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!


    Perfect for any summertime get-together, here's a pie they'll all love from our cookbook, Summer in the Country . For even more from this book, visit our Menu of the Week!
Summertime Strawberry Pie
This family favorite was shared with us by Christina Hubbell from Jackson, Missippippi...thanks, Christina!
M5611 qt. strawberries,
    hulled and divided

1 c. sugar
3 T. cornstarch
3-oz. pkg. cream cheese,
    softened

9-inch pie crust, baked
Garnish: whipped cream
Reserve half of the biggest strawberries, set aside. Put remaining strawberries, about 1-1/2 cups, in a blender. Process until smooth. If needed, add water to puréed berries to equal 2 cups; pour into a small saucepan. Add sugar and cornstarch; bring to a boil, stirring, for one minute. Remove from heat; cool. Spread cream cheese in bottom of pie crust; arrange reserved berries on top, pointed-end up. Pour cooled strawberry sauce over top. Refrigerate for 2 hours. To serve, top with whipped cream. Serves 6 to 8.

Even if you don't have a blog to link below, tell us about YOUR recipe in the comments or, if you have a moment, share it with us on our website!


Link up your RED, WHITE & BLUE recipes below 
and, if you're joining this hop, link back
here by using the handy button below.

GBPRecipeRoundUp
Want to add this hop to your OWN blog?
Be our guest...just click here to get the code.
Come back this SUNDAY to see which linked recipe were the favorites of our blog readers...we'll tally up the "likes" on Friday. Add yours and YOU could be featured!
(Next week, we're taking a week off from Recipe Round-Ups...come back
on Wednesday, July 11th to see what the next theme will be!)




Doctor's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt



This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Doctor's Devotion
Love Inspired (June 19, 2012)
by
Cheryl Wyatt


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born Valentine’s Day on a Navy base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. Cheryl loves interacting with her readers and can be found almost daily on Facebook.

Word from the Author:
I do regular giveaways including a Kindle for every 250 people who join (aka "Like) my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor and I'd LOVE for word to spread about that. We have a lot of fun there as I ask for frequent reader input on current books, with helpers being mentioned in the acknowledgements and fun stuff like that.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Doctor’s Vow.

When he fled Eagle Point years ago, former air force trauma surgeon Mitch Wellington left only broken dreams behind. Now he’s back with a new dream—opening a trauma center in the rural area and saving lives. He hopes to hire the quick-thinking nurse who impressed him during an emergency. But Lauren Bates lost her faith and doesn’t believe she deserves to help anyone. Mitch knows firsthand what loss feels like. And it’ll take all his devotion to show Lauren that sometimes the best medicine is a combination of faith, community—and love.

Eagle Point Emergency: Saving lives—and losing their hearts—in a small Illinois town.

If you would like to read an excerpt of the first chapter of Doctor's Devotion, go HERE.


Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wordless Wednesday ~ Mom's Weeds ;/

Wordless Wednesday OR NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Not quite sure what I planted in this pot.  It's our family laughing stock this summer.  Mom's weeds.  I just know the bank we do our banking at passed out seed packets on May Day so I picked up a few and just sprinkled them around in this pot.  Well it is the joke of our family now.  Everytime a family member walks past it on the deck they have some comment to make about Mom's weeds.  My hubby keeps telling me if they were in his yard he'd be mowing them down.  I'm thinking they are going to be surprised once I get a pretty flower.  Don't know when that will be but I'm still holding out on them.  becoming something beautiful; even if it is a pot of weeds.  ;P

The pot on the front porch looks a whole lot more eye appealing.........



Mommy Kat and Kids



Mommy Moment





Mom Spotted


My Wee View

Go Graham Go




Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Search by Shelley Shepard Gray



This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Search
Avon Inspire; Original edition (June 19, 2012)
by
Shelley Shepard Gray


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Since 2000, Shelley Sabga has sold over thirty novels to numerous publishers, including HarperCollins, Harlequin, Abingdon Press, and Avon Inspire. She has been interviewed by NPR, and her books have been highlighted in numerous publications, including USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

Under the name Shelley Shepard Gray, Shelley writes Amish romances for HarperCollins’ inspirational line, Avon Inspire. Her recent novel, The Protector, the final book in her “Families of Honor” series, hit the New York Times List, and her previous novel in the same series, The Survivor, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. Shelley has won the prestigious Holt Medallion for her books, Forgiven and Grace, and her novels have been chosen as Alternate Selections for the Doubleday/Literary Guild Book Club. Her first novel with Avon Inspire, Hidden, was an Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.

When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

Check out Shelley's Facebook Fan page


ABOUT THE BOOK

In the second book in her Secrets of Crittenden County series, New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray delivers another page-turning romance set in Amish country

The serenity of the quiet Amish community of Crittenden, Kentucky is disrupted when Abby Anderson discovers the body of Perry Borntrager in an abandoned well. Perry had been missing for months. Everyone figured he had left the order during his rumspringa. As friends and family reel from this news, and are faced with the first death by mysterious circumstance to occur in their small town in over 20 years, a homicide detective arrives to help solve the crime

Before Perry disappeared, Frannie Eicher and Perry had been secretly courting. Now that it’s common knowledge that he was murdered, it’s up to Fannie to decide whether or not to tell everyone about the secrets he told her.

After much deliberation, she decides to tell Luke Reynolds, the visiting police officer, what she knows. At first, the two meet only on the context of discussing Perry’s death. Then, Luke begins to feel more and more at home, both with Frannie, and in Marion. The only problem is that he feels a romantic pull toward Frannie. Frannie feels that same attraction toward Luke, but is afraid to give her heart to him. After all, she doesn’t want to leave her faith.

As Luke uncovers more secrets about Perry and the case draws out, his time in Marion runs out. He has to decide whether to go back to his job with the Cincinnati Police Department…or stay in Marion.

If you would like to read the Prologue of The Search, go HERE.


Monday, June 25, 2012

Monday Daybook ~ June 25, 2012


Outside my window...the sun is shining beautifully and I hear children in the neighborhood screaming with joy

I am thinking…it is about time to get off this computer and get some work done today. 

I am thankful for...my family

From the kitchen…the window fan is humming. 

I am wearing…jean skirt and purple t-shirt

I am creating…a list of things that need my attention. 

I am going…clean out some ahummmm   books that I have too many of

I am reading…Night Buddies and the Pineapple Cheesecake Scare by Sands Hetherington

I am hoping…get some unneeded boxed stuff out of the house this week

I am hearing...fans humming and children screaming

Around the house…not much is going on just getting ready for a day of cleaning

One of my favorite things...sun tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week…getting a big part of clutter out of the house.  I'm tired of the build up. 

Photo for thought...


Can't even walk into this room it is so full of junk.  It is prime target for declutter this week.  BIG JOB!




Friday, June 22, 2012

FFF today

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five!  Join us as we look over the week and find some thing to be thankful for.  Never done a FFF before?  You can pop on over here for a minute and take a peek at the guidelines and then just jump on board.  We're always glad to meet someone new!

I haven't done one of these meme's in over a year so I thought maybe it was time to wake it up some.  ;P In Picture view.  Pictures are worth a thousand words. 








What Did YOU Make this Week?

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EVERYONE has a recipe to link up this week...the theme couldn't be simpler! We just want to see what you made (or plan to make) this week. We've always got something tasty cooking in the kitchen and we know you do too!
So tell us...

Which recipes did you MAKE THIS WEEK?
Share 'em all in today's Recipe Round-Up!


    Here's an easy-pleasin' appetizer from 101 Homestyle Favorites
that we enjoyed at a recent potluck...great for any party!
Touchdown Pinwheels
Roberta Steele of Rock Hall, Maryland shared this recipe with us...thanks Roberta! She writes, "So simple to tote 'em to a party...place the rolled tortillas in a cooler and slice them after you arrive!"
009_TchdownPinwheels-12 8-oz. pkgs. cream
    cheese, softened

1-oz. pkg. ranch salad
    dressing mix

2 green onions, chopped
5 12-inch flour tortillas
3/4 c. green olives with
    pimentos, chopped

3/4 c. black olives, chopped
4-1/2 oz. can chopped green
    chiles, drained

4-oz. jar chopped pimentos,
    drained


Combine cream cheese, dressing mix and onions. Blend well; spread evenly over one side of each tortilla. Stir together olives, chiles and pimentos; spoon over cream cheese mixture. Roll up each tortilla jelly-roll style; wrap each in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 2 hours; cut into one-inch slices. Makes about 4 dozen.

Even if you don't have a blog to link below, tell us about YOUR recipe in the comments or, if you have a moment, share it with us on our website!


Link up the recipes MADE THIS WEEK below
and, if you're joining this hop, link back
here by using the handy button below.

GBPRecipeRoundUp
Want to add this hop to your OWN blog?
Be our guest...just click here to get the code.
Come back this SUNDAY to see which linked recipe were the favorites of our blog readers...we'll tally up the "likes" on Friday. Add yours and YOU could be featured!





Thursday, June 21, 2012

I'M SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



I am going to scream!!!!!  I'm trying to get into my homesteadblogger account and I can't.  As soon as I do I'm going to start the humongous task of transfering it all here to blogger.  ARGH!!!!  I don't like,and that is saying it nice and mildly, wordpress that was why I switched and now if I lost everything over there I'm going to be even more against them.   UGH!  I don't even like posting to others' blogs that use wordpress, I cringe every time I see a blog that is wordpress operated. 




Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Rebel by Linda Windsor




This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Rebel
David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2012)
by
Linda Windsor


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Linda Windsor makes her home at a restored and "growing" late 18th century home on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Above the Windsor front door hangs a sign saying "Fort Necke, assigned 1684, established 1830," which means the land grant is older than the current building. She purposely left off the ageing brought on by the restoration to her mind and body - not enough space to accommodate the number. Chronologically, she admits to celebrating another birthday, just like the rest of us, each year on July 8th -- which also happens to be the anniversary of the day the Liberty Bell cracked.

Amid the often chaotic "country inn" atmosphere, Windsor has written quite a collection of historical and contemporary romances as both Linda Windsor and Linda Covington. Windsor's historical novels are known for her distinctive voice and flair for incorporating history with romance and adventure, while her contemporary romantic comedies are guaranteed to warm the heart, lift the spirit, and tickle the funny bone. Windsor insists that nothing is more entertaining than life itself, be it past or present.

With a degree in education from her local university, one of the greatest rewards to the innate teacher in Linda was hearing from readers that her Irish Gleannmara series was approved for some middle school English book reports as well as being used in home-schooling. To Windsor, entertaining, or keeping the pages turning, while educating is as much as any historical novelist can ask for.

ABOUT THE BOOK

With Merlin dead, the succession undecided, and the Celtic church on the defensive from Rome, intrigue sweeps the court of the High King Arthur. But it’s battlefield news that consumes Queen Gwenhyfar’s young scribe, Kella O’Toole: her fiancé is dead and her father gone missing.

Determined to find him at all costs, Kella defies the queen’s orders and sets out for Pictish territory. Her foster brother Alyn, a disillusioned priest who questions his calling, agrees to help her. The journey itself is perilous. But it’s their secrets that land Kella and Alyn in a viper’s nest of treachery that threatens both their lives and the future of Albion.

Can they summon the love and faith they need to find their way not only out of danger, but into happiness? Brilliantly researched, vividly imagined, and movingly written—a memorable climax to the Brides of Alba series.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Rebel, go HERE.


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

want to WIN a copy????





Head over to The Saturday Evening Pot for details.
Dead line June 23rd


Monday, June 18, 2012

Mary's Blessing by Lena Nelson



This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Mary's Blessing
Realms (May 15, 2012)
by
Lena Nelson


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 675,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and president of the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s also a member of Christian Authors Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with fifteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books. And she loves chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

ABOUT THE BOOK

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?

Mary Lenora Caine knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Mary's Blessing, go HERE.


Saturday, June 16, 2012

best of two worlds

Handmade by Heidi

Last night was June's FNSI,  I sewed in the best of two worlds.  The afternoon was so nice I started out around 4:30 PM taking my cross-stitch outside.  It was so lovely the breeze was beautiful and the shade made for a nice little sewing cove. 




@ 6 PM I had to pick up daughter from work so had to take a break. Then I worked on two kitchen towels for me inside @ my sewing machine.  They don't take long to make and I was in need of some new ones.  So I whipped up a couple for me while we waited for my oldest daughter to get off work @ 7 PM


Find easy directions on making these kitchen towel hangers here.

When oldest got off work and everyone in comfy clothes we made a quick supper and watched 2 episodes of  Little House and I cross-stitched again.  Below are pictures of before and after of my cross-stitch. 

cross-stitch before FNSI

cross-stitch after FNSI

Ever so slowly the picture is coming together.  Hope you all had a successful FNSI