Rachel / Mug from Zazzle.com
This is a mug I made up for a gift for a daughter.....you can have one with YOUR family photos on it. Completely costumizable. Come order one!
So many things to write about - everyday life,gardening, cooking,France,Kansas,family,holidays, church,God,Jesus Christ,Christianity,missions, ministry,abortion, politics, art, music, "Sullivan" our English bulldog,reading .....
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Apron/hospitality from Zazzle.com
Apron/hospitality from Zazzle.com
Nice-size, barbeque-style apron with photo of blue china cup and saucer sitting on red-print cloth - and the Bible verse, in French: Hebreux 13, versez 2 / Hebrews 13:2 about hospitality
Nice-size, barbeque-style apron with photo of blue china cup and saucer sitting on red-print cloth - and the Bible verse, in French: Hebreux 13, versez 2 / Hebrews 13:2 about hospitality
Monday, July 25, 2011
Summer Squash
Due to some unpleasant things (husband's major surgery, long hospital stay, etc. ) happening at crucial gardening moments ... as well as this Kansas drought, our garden this year is pretty much dead. :( This is disappointing, after our nice, green Spring garden of lettuces, radishes and green onions. We are still watering tomato plants, okra and a few pepper plants, but don't know what will happen with them. The big question amongst Kansas gardeners in our area seems to be: "Do you have any tomatoes setting on?" Well,,,,,,,,,we DID pick and eat two little cherry tomatoes recently. A sign of hope? :) We'll see; but I'm not REALLY getting those hopes up.
Fortunately for us, we do have some friends who have managed to have some garden, with their regular watering. And, also fortunately for us, these same friends have been very generous with us and others with the fruits of that garden. We have, therefore, been feasting on garden potatoes, onions, turnips, cucumbers, okra, zucchini and yellow summer squash (also some home made bread and rolls!).
I have been putting many bags of this fresh produce into our freezer.
Did you know you can freeze cucumbers? I didn't, but read it in my "old" how-and-what-to-freeze freezer book. So, I gave it a try and, sure enough, you can. :) In case you'd like to know about the cucumbers: the book says to just chop them up in the blender, then freeze the chopped-up cucumber in ice-cube trays and freeze; than you can defrost a cube or two and pop them into winter salads - and the cucumber will actually still taste like cucumber. Well, I decided to try it. I froze two trays-worth of cucumber, popped them out of the trays and put them into a freezer bag ... defrosted a couple to see, and they DID taste like fresh cucumber! Learned something new from that old freezer book after all these years. Actually, when we lived in France, I learned to also COOK cucumbers ... saute them, sliced or chopped up, with a little onion, bacon and bacon grease (or, olive oil). Yum! I decided to also try freezing some peeled, cut in half, and seeded for cooking. Will see how they turn out.
Now, back to the title of this post: squash. Summer squash is one of my favorite things. I love cooking them. I love eating them. So does my husband. They are such a versatile and easy to fix vegetable. My absolute favorite is the yellow squash. As I blanched slices of yellow squash to freeze I would snitch a piece here, a piece there, pop it into my mouth and, mmmmmmmmmmmm, good! Just plain like that. That may sound strange to squash-haters, but you squash-lovers will surely understand.
Probably my favorite way to cook the squash (zucchini or yellow) is to cook a few slices of bacon, add some sliced onion and then the sliced squash and stir it all around, cooking, for just a few minutes. Talk about "fast food" - this is it! And good for you, too.
This basic stir-fried squash can be eaten as is, as a side-dish, or used in various other ways as a main dish. Some of my tried-and-true uses:
Do the cooking in a skillet (I use cast-iron), then spread the mixture out over the skillet ...I then
crack eggs, individually, over the squash mixture (I usually do 4 eggs) - sprinkle with grated cheese (or not, we like it both ways), cover and let cook two or three minutes until the eggs are set. I also often top the eggs with: chopped cilantro, chopped parsley, chopped green onion,finely-chopped red pepper, etc. ...use what you like. We've had this for both breakfast and supper, with a green salad added. It's a quick, economical and delicious dish.
Another way I use this mixture is to use it as the topping for rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta. I've put it on top of rice, adding some salsa on top of the squash mixture and then some grated cheese, for a Mexican "flavor". It's very good with spaghetti, too - adding some Italian-flavored pasta sauce on top, if you'd like. Haven't tried this one yet, but have thought it would be good: mix the squash mixture with some cooked rice and use as stuffing for bell peppers ... with (again, or without) some tomato sauce and grated cheese on top. Sounds good to me.
The other night I stirred up a skillet-full of this mixture, with a little red bell pepper I think, and then stirred in some already-cooked barley that I had in the freezer, sliced a few okra pods into it, sprinkled on some salt and pepper and cayenne pepper flakes, some half-and-half, and some shrimp. Simmer on low for just five minutes or so, 'till the shrimp are pink and cooked. That was supper. Quick. Simple, And, good! Try it.
Fortunately for us, we do have some friends who have managed to have some garden, with their regular watering. And, also fortunately for us, these same friends have been very generous with us and others with the fruits of that garden. We have, therefore, been feasting on garden potatoes, onions, turnips, cucumbers, okra, zucchini and yellow summer squash (also some home made bread and rolls!).
I have been putting many bags of this fresh produce into our freezer.
Did you know you can freeze cucumbers? I didn't, but read it in my "old" how-and-what-to-freeze freezer book. So, I gave it a try and, sure enough, you can. :) In case you'd like to know about the cucumbers: the book says to just chop them up in the blender, then freeze the chopped-up cucumber in ice-cube trays and freeze; than you can defrost a cube or two and pop them into winter salads - and the cucumber will actually still taste like cucumber. Well, I decided to try it. I froze two trays-worth of cucumber, popped them out of the trays and put them into a freezer bag ... defrosted a couple to see, and they DID taste like fresh cucumber! Learned something new from that old freezer book after all these years. Actually, when we lived in France, I learned to also COOK cucumbers ... saute them, sliced or chopped up, with a little onion, bacon and bacon grease (or, olive oil). Yum! I decided to also try freezing some peeled, cut in half, and seeded for cooking. Will see how they turn out.
Now, back to the title of this post: squash. Summer squash is one of my favorite things. I love cooking them. I love eating them. So does my husband. They are such a versatile and easy to fix vegetable. My absolute favorite is the yellow squash. As I blanched slices of yellow squash to freeze I would snitch a piece here, a piece there, pop it into my mouth and, mmmmmmmmmmmm, good! Just plain like that. That may sound strange to squash-haters, but you squash-lovers will surely understand.
Probably my favorite way to cook the squash (zucchini or yellow) is to cook a few slices of bacon, add some sliced onion and then the sliced squash and stir it all around, cooking, for just a few minutes. Talk about "fast food" - this is it! And good for you, too.
This basic stir-fried squash can be eaten as is, as a side-dish, or used in various other ways as a main dish. Some of my tried-and-true uses:
Do the cooking in a skillet (I use cast-iron), then spread the mixture out over the skillet ...I then
crack eggs, individually, over the squash mixture (I usually do 4 eggs) - sprinkle with grated cheese (or not, we like it both ways), cover and let cook two or three minutes until the eggs are set. I also often top the eggs with: chopped cilantro, chopped parsley, chopped green onion,finely-chopped red pepper, etc. ...use what you like. We've had this for both breakfast and supper, with a green salad added. It's a quick, economical and delicious dish.
Another way I use this mixture is to use it as the topping for rice, mashed potatoes, or pasta. I've put it on top of rice, adding some salsa on top of the squash mixture and then some grated cheese, for a Mexican "flavor". It's very good with spaghetti, too - adding some Italian-flavored pasta sauce on top, if you'd like. Haven't tried this one yet, but have thought it would be good: mix the squash mixture with some cooked rice and use as stuffing for bell peppers ... with (again, or without) some tomato sauce and grated cheese on top. Sounds good to me.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Trusting God With Life's Disasters
Life is never certain from one day to the next. Things may be going well one day, everyone well and happy and healthy. The next day, or hour, or moment - disaster. Our family has just had this happen - again.
My husband came home from a nine-day emergency stay in the hospital on July 4th. Though we didn't celebrate the 4th this year with fireworks bursting in the air, our hearts were bursting with gratefulness that he was still with us. I could have lost him a couple of times from heavy bleeding. I never cease thanking God now that my husband was able to get to the hospital and was diagnosed and treated by such wonderful and capable doctors and nurses.
My husband, John, had had colon cancer four years ago, and has had regular colonoscopies ever since. He'd had his last one a week before he entered the hospital, bleeding profusely. He'd never had any bleeding from the colonoscopies before.
Our son and their four kids had been here for several days. The day the bleeding started my husband and son and grandkids were going to another town a couple of hours away to visit Grandma. Before they left my husband told me there had been some blood in the toilet when he went to the bathroom, but said it was probably from the colonoscopy and nothing to worry about so he would go ahead and go.
Mistake.
At noon he called from a restaurant where they'd gone for lunch before visiting Grandma, and told me to call his doctor, as there was a lot of blood when he went to the bathroom. The doctor said, "tell him to come straight to the hospital immediately - go to the lab, where I'll leave instructions ...". Long story, short: he was hemorrhaging so badly and his blood pressure dropping so quickly that he was admitted to the hospital right away. He was about two days in our local hospital, losing lots of blood and having transfusions. Late the afternoon of the second day he was sent by ambulance to a larger hospital in a larger town a half-hour from us.
In the new hospital the surgeon kept hoping for the bleeding to stop on its own . Tests were done to find the reason and location of the bleeding - which was from the areas where two polyps had been removed after the colonoscopy, and from some diverticulosis that was discovered during the colonoscopy. After several days of continual bleeding and transfusions, there was one day of no bleeding; giving everyone hope that surgery would not be needed. My husband was moved from the ICU unit to a regular room. The next day the bleeding started again, and the surgeon then decided he'd have to go ahead with the surgery.
Surgery happened. Colon removed.
The doctor came to tell me the surgery went well - that my husband was in the recovery room. And ... something else had come up during surgery ... "had to take out a small part of the small intestine as there was some hardness there, need to biopsy it for cancer; also had to cut a tiny piece of the liver that had a small nodule on it to send for a cancer biopsy ... will need to wait several days for the results ...". Wow. The colon surgery had been enough to take in; now, two biopsy results to wait on to see if there is cancer.
Thankfully, the biopsies came back early and showed no cancer. Now, we could concentrate on the colon removal and recovery. No colostomy bag was needed, as the small intestine was attached to the rectum. According to the surgeon there are many people living long and happy lives without their colons. God created such amazing bodies!
Minutes before my husband was rolled into surgery I asked him, "Are you still praying?"
"I've never stopped", he replied.
I quietly said, "I'm angry right now with God."
"Why?", my husband asked.
"Because I've been praying this wouldn't happen; that you wouldn't have to have surgery to remove your colon. That you wouldn't have to suffer through surgery again. How come God isn't answering my prayer?"
My pastor-husband looked at me, quiet for a minute, as we held hands, then said, "Sandy, has it occurred to you that He DID (answer my prayer)? We could have been in Haiti or somewhere else (Haiti was mentioned because we've ministered there) where we might not have been able to have the medical care I needed as I lost all that blood? Or, out somewhere where I couldn't have gotten to a hospital ...".
Well, no, it didn't occur to me, as I was honing in on the only way I thought God should be answering my prayer. I simply didn't want my husband to suffer anymore; and I thought I knew what was best.
My husband's answer, though, made me stop and think. God's way is not always MY way. My way may seem so logical from my human viewpoint - but God sees and knows and understands so much more than I can ever hope to this side of heaven. His answer made me think of the old "embroidery illustration": that our lives are like an embroidery-in-progress. We are down below, seeing only the knots, tangles and loose ends of the underside of the embroidery motif. God, though, not only knows of the knots, tangles and loose ends ... but He sees the top. He sees the whole picture. He knows what the finished piece will become.
So, it comes down to trust. Trusting God. I may not completely understand God's way; but I can choose to trust Him. Trust that He cares for my husband and knows what's best for him. Trust that He Cares for me and understands and forgives my anger at Him, my fears.
Trust. Yes. This pastor's-wife has been through the fear/anger thing before. You'd think I'd have learned for sure by now that I can trust God. I could have trusted Him from the beginning of this ordeal and saved myself from some of the stress and worry. I can trust Him now, as He is with my husband through the recovery period. I hope I will remember the following verses, and not let my trust in God waver if, and when, another life-disaster arrives.
Psalm 31:14 (NIV)
"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' "
Psalm 30:11 & 12 (NIV)
(11) "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
(12) that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."
My husband came home from a nine-day emergency stay in the hospital on July 4th. Though we didn't celebrate the 4th this year with fireworks bursting in the air, our hearts were bursting with gratefulness that he was still with us. I could have lost him a couple of times from heavy bleeding. I never cease thanking God now that my husband was able to get to the hospital and was diagnosed and treated by such wonderful and capable doctors and nurses.
My husband, John, had had colon cancer four years ago, and has had regular colonoscopies ever since. He'd had his last one a week before he entered the hospital, bleeding profusely. He'd never had any bleeding from the colonoscopies before.
Our son and their four kids had been here for several days. The day the bleeding started my husband and son and grandkids were going to another town a couple of hours away to visit Grandma. Before they left my husband told me there had been some blood in the toilet when he went to the bathroom, but said it was probably from the colonoscopy and nothing to worry about so he would go ahead and go.
Mistake.
At noon he called from a restaurant where they'd gone for lunch before visiting Grandma, and told me to call his doctor, as there was a lot of blood when he went to the bathroom. The doctor said, "tell him to come straight to the hospital immediately - go to the lab, where I'll leave instructions ...". Long story, short: he was hemorrhaging so badly and his blood pressure dropping so quickly that he was admitted to the hospital right away. He was about two days in our local hospital, losing lots of blood and having transfusions. Late the afternoon of the second day he was sent by ambulance to a larger hospital in a larger town a half-hour from us.
In the new hospital the surgeon kept hoping for the bleeding to stop on its own . Tests were done to find the reason and location of the bleeding - which was from the areas where two polyps had been removed after the colonoscopy, and from some diverticulosis that was discovered during the colonoscopy. After several days of continual bleeding and transfusions, there was one day of no bleeding; giving everyone hope that surgery would not be needed. My husband was moved from the ICU unit to a regular room. The next day the bleeding started again, and the surgeon then decided he'd have to go ahead with the surgery.
Surgery happened. Colon removed.
The doctor came to tell me the surgery went well - that my husband was in the recovery room. And ... something else had come up during surgery ... "had to take out a small part of the small intestine as there was some hardness there, need to biopsy it for cancer; also had to cut a tiny piece of the liver that had a small nodule on it to send for a cancer biopsy ... will need to wait several days for the results ...". Wow. The colon surgery had been enough to take in; now, two biopsy results to wait on to see if there is cancer.
Thankfully, the biopsies came back early and showed no cancer. Now, we could concentrate on the colon removal and recovery. No colostomy bag was needed, as the small intestine was attached to the rectum. According to the surgeon there are many people living long and happy lives without their colons. God created such amazing bodies!
Minutes before my husband was rolled into surgery I asked him, "Are you still praying?"
"I've never stopped", he replied.
I quietly said, "I'm angry right now with God."
"Why?", my husband asked.
"Because I've been praying this wouldn't happen; that you wouldn't have to have surgery to remove your colon. That you wouldn't have to suffer through surgery again. How come God isn't answering my prayer?"
My pastor-husband looked at me, quiet for a minute, as we held hands, then said, "Sandy, has it occurred to you that He DID (answer my prayer)? We could have been in Haiti or somewhere else (Haiti was mentioned because we've ministered there) where we might not have been able to have the medical care I needed as I lost all that blood? Or, out somewhere where I couldn't have gotten to a hospital ...".
Well, no, it didn't occur to me, as I was honing in on the only way I thought God should be answering my prayer. I simply didn't want my husband to suffer anymore; and I thought I knew what was best.
My husband's answer, though, made me stop and think. God's way is not always MY way. My way may seem so logical from my human viewpoint - but God sees and knows and understands so much more than I can ever hope to this side of heaven. His answer made me think of the old "embroidery illustration": that our lives are like an embroidery-in-progress. We are down below, seeing only the knots, tangles and loose ends of the underside of the embroidery motif. God, though, not only knows of the knots, tangles and loose ends ... but He sees the top. He sees the whole picture. He knows what the finished piece will become.
So, it comes down to trust. Trusting God. I may not completely understand God's way; but I can choose to trust Him. Trust that He cares for my husband and knows what's best for him. Trust that He Cares for me and understands and forgives my anger at Him, my fears.
Psalm 31:14 (NIV)
"But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' "
Psalm 30:11 & 12 (NIV)
(11) "You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
(12) that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever."
Monday, May 30, 2011
"On Second Thought"
On Second Thought
Lonely is the wind
flowing through the windows of my soul.
Does it seek
another lonely one to share its lonely life?
Or, does it
poke and thrust to coax me out for fun?
"Go away!", I say
and wrap myself tighter in my arms.
"My soul is wounded, bleeding, it can take no more."
Oh, but it can, I know,
because He is always there within
He will heal and love and help me grow.
So, lonely wind,
perhaps you are a friend.
And, if I loosen my grip on me,
if I slip out of my window
and join you on this day,
could it be that you and He
will lift my soul in play?
flowing through the windows of my soul.
Does it seek
another lonely one to share its lonely life?
Or, does it
poke and thrust to coax me out for fun?
"Go away!", I say
and wrap myself tighter in my arms.
"My soul is wounded, bleeding, it can take no more."
Oh, but it can, I know,
because He is always there within
He will heal and love and help me grow.
So, lonely wind,
perhaps you are a friend.
And, if I loosen my grip on me,
if I slip out of my window
and join you on this day,
could it be that you and He
will lift my soul in play?
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Print/Apple Still Life from Zazzle.com
Print/Apple Still Life from Zazzle.com
Beautiful, bold print of my original oil painting ... red and black borders
Beautiful, bold print of my original oil painting ... red and black borders
Friday, May 27, 2011
My Online Zazzle Store ..... come in and browse. :) ... Product Panel
New and different gift products - come in and see............
Father's Day Card from Zazzle.com
Father's Day Card from Zazzle.com
Original Father's Day card: photo of leather saddle in the barn on front, inside: Happy Father's Day to the greatest of Dads!
Original Father's Day card: photo of leather saddle in the barn on front, inside: Happy Father's Day to the greatest of Dads!
samecla*: Fathers/Dads/Daddys: Zazzle.com Store
samecla*: Fathers/Dads/Daddys: Zazzle.com Store
Come and check out my unique Father's Day gifts.............
Come and check out my unique Father's Day gifts.............
My Online Zazzle Store ..... come in and browse. :) ... Product Panel
make custom gifts at Zazzle
Everybody needs a gift at one time or another - I have lots to choose from. Come in and look around.........Father's Day is coming up - but there are also birthdays, anniversaries, girl-friend gifts, etc. Choose from what you see - or I can design something personally for you, with your photo; all gifts can be customized.
Man's Cap/Father from Zazzle.com
Man's Cap/Father from Zazzle.com
Father's Day coming ... here's a nice gift for the horse-loving Dad ... brown and tan cap (available in other colors) with photo of leather saddle. Come see!
Father's Day coming ... here's a nice gift for the horse-loving Dad ... brown and tan cap (available in other colors) with photo of leather saddle. Come see!
"Green Things"
Kansas pioneers, I remember reading, were always so thrilled when spring arrived and they began seeing green "things" growing again. After their often-times long, hard winters, as they kept trying to stretch their provisions, I can well imagine their relief and delight at the arrival of Spring. And green things.
I'm not a pioneer; but,sometimes I have to do some "food stretching", too. Not for the same reasons the pioneers had to - all I need do is run to the grocery store any time throughout the winter. Depending on finances - which is what MY "food stretching" hinges on.
Still...I can relate to the excitement of Spring that the pioneers had. During the winter my mind harbors visions of - no, not sugar-plums, but GREEN THINGS. Not just any green things. My mouth waters with the anticipation of fresh green salad fixin's popping up from the newly-awakened earth. When I notice the first Spring flowers (which I also love) pushing their way up from the ground I know the green-salad-stuff can soon be planted.
Nowadays my husband does most of the planting. He loves it, and is an old hand at it. He prepares the ground and plants. We both wait and watch for the salad-bowl-green-things to grow. I pick (he does sometimes)and prepare a salad.
And, ooooooh!, the subtle but distinct taste of just-pulled-out-of-the-dirt lettuce makes the long winter longing for "green things" worthwhile. So good. So much better than the grocery store lettuce. Yes. It is better.
Along with the tasty and pretty green things are the young scallions and the beautiful, bright red radishes. Mixed all together, they combine to form a most delicious and very healthy salad. One of life's small pleasures, for sure.
There is, however, a difference between pulling my green-things salad fixin's straight from the dirt and buying a bag of ready-to-eat lettuce at the grocery store. The store-version comes already clean and ready to throw into the salad bowl.
MY lettuce comes with dirt, pieces of dried leaves, maybe a bug or two - and has to BE cleaned before throwing it into the salad bowl. So - I give it a quick rinse in one side of the kitchen sink, while filling a plastic dishpan on the other side of the sink with cold water. Then, all of my green-things fresh from the garden are plunged into the cold water and swished around and around several times. Still not done, though. I then grab a handful at a time for a final rinse-and-check under cold running water, where I may still unseat a final bug or blade of grass.
When pronounced clean the green things fill the basket of my French salad spinner; a very inexpensive plastic one bought when we lived in France years ago and still working. Spun dry, the lettuce is then transferred to a plastic bag (a recycled grocery bag or a large freezer bag), with a clean rag or a couple of paper towels on the bottom of the bag to catch any left-behind moisture. My treasured and cleaned green things are then stowed in the fridge veggie bin where they last several days, depending on how fast we eat them up.
A little work ...but, SO worth the effort.
*********************************************************************************
A favorite, simple fresh-from-the-garden "chopped" salad:
Put washed and spun-dry garden lettuce or lettuces (we have two kinds, so far)and some fresh spinach leaves (also in our garden) in a large bowl ... chop it up with kitchen shears ... add cut-up green onions,cilantro or parsley, red radishes, celery, bell pepper, green Granny apple, dried cranberries, a few walnuts or pecans and sprinkle in some freshly-grated parmesan cheese. Shake a bit of garlic powder and freshly-ground pepper into the mix.
Our favorite dressing is just plain old HOMEMADE vinaigrette. Toss it all together and, Yum!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Enjoy this garden-fresh salad as a first course, as a side salad with the meal or add some left-over meat(s) (chicken,beef,etc.) and enjoy it as the meal itself. The salad may, of course, be altered in many ways ... with the greens as the base for ANYthing that suits your taste. Get creative and mix up your own "house salad". :)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A simple French Vinaigrette (makes about 1/4 cup)
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tblsp red wine vinegar (or more or less, to your taste)
1/2 small shallot, or small green onion, chopped fine
3-4 Tblsps olive oil
fresh herbs, chopped (optional)
2 Tblsps Dijon mustard (more or less, to your taste)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Put all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake well to mix.
.................................................................................
(I make vinaigrette all the time without a recipe; don't be afraid to do so. I usually make about 2 cups at a time ..... adding the olive oil, vinegar and mustard to taste. We like the vinaigrette with less vinegar "sharpness" and with lots of the mustard. I usually make it in a bowl and mix it all up with an old-fashioned "egg beater", before putting into an old vinegar cruet.)
....................................
I'm not a pioneer; but,sometimes I have to do some "food stretching", too. Not for the same reasons the pioneers had to - all I need do is run to the grocery store any time throughout the winter. Depending on finances - which is what MY "food stretching" hinges on.
Still...I can relate to the excitement of Spring that the pioneers had. During the winter my mind harbors visions of - no, not sugar-plums, but GREEN THINGS. Not just any green things. My mouth waters with the anticipation of fresh green salad fixin's popping up from the newly-awakened earth. When I notice the first Spring flowers (which I also love) pushing their way up from the ground I know the green-salad-stuff can soon be planted.
And, ooooooh!, the subtle but distinct taste of just-pulled-out-of-the-dirt lettuce makes the long winter longing for "green things" worthwhile. So good. So much better than the grocery store lettuce. Yes. It is better.
There is, however, a difference between pulling my green-things salad fixin's straight from the dirt and buying a bag of ready-to-eat lettuce at the grocery store. The store-version comes already clean and ready to throw into the salad bowl.
When pronounced clean the green things fill the basket of my French salad spinner; a very inexpensive plastic one bought when we lived in France years ago and still working. Spun dry, the lettuce is then transferred to a plastic bag (a recycled grocery bag or a large freezer bag), with a clean rag or a couple of paper towels on the bottom of the bag to catch any left-behind moisture. My treasured and cleaned green things are then stowed in the fridge veggie bin where they last several days, depending on how fast we eat them up.
*********************************************************************************
A favorite, simple fresh-from-the-garden "chopped" salad:
Put washed and spun-dry garden lettuce or lettuces (we have two kinds, so far)and some fresh spinach leaves (also in our garden) in a large bowl ... chop it up with kitchen shears ... add cut-up green onions,cilantro or parsley, red radishes, celery, bell pepper, green Granny apple, dried cranberries, a few walnuts or pecans and sprinkle in some freshly-grated parmesan cheese. Shake a bit of garlic powder and freshly-ground pepper into the mix.
Our favorite dressing is just plain old HOMEMADE vinaigrette. Toss it all together and, Yum!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Enjoy this garden-fresh salad as a first course, as a side salad with the meal or add some left-over meat(s) (chicken,beef,etc.) and enjoy it as the meal itself. The salad may, of course, be altered in many ways ... with the greens as the base for ANYthing that suits your taste. Get creative and mix up your own "house salad". :)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A simple French Vinaigrette (makes about 1/4 cup)
1/8 tsp salt
1 Tblsp red wine vinegar (or more or less, to your taste)
1/2 small shallot, or small green onion, chopped fine
3-4 Tblsps olive oil
fresh herbs, chopped (optional)
2 Tblsps Dijon mustard (more or less, to your taste)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Put all ingredients in a jar with a lid and shake well to mix.
.................................................................................
(I make vinaigrette all the time without a recipe; don't be afraid to do so. I usually make about 2 cups at a time ..... adding the olive oil, vinegar and mustard to taste. We like the vinaigrette with less vinegar "sharpness" and with lots of the mustard. I usually make it in a bowl and mix it all up with an old-fashioned "egg beater", before putting into an old vinegar cruet.)
....................................
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
"Oh, Those Eggs ... "
In The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, "eggs" are defined as: "the round or oval female reproductive body of various animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes and insects, consisting usually of an embryo surrounded by nutrient material and a protective covering" and "the oval, thin-shelled reproductive body of a bird, especially that of a hen, used as food."
Eggs are good things. Really. They've gotten a few bad raps in the past few years, but, like for a lot of things, opinions have changed. Now we're told they are "okay". Could even be good for us. Like any food, you don't want to eat them 24/7 (well...unless that's all you have!), but DO eat them. They are a very versatile food.
Over my long years of cooking I've reached many times for that egg carton. For breakfast. For lunch. For supper. Fried eggs. Poached eggs. Creamed eggs. Scrambled eggs. Egg sandwiches. Hard-boiled eggs. Omelets. Egg sandwiches. Soft-boiled eggs. Mexican eggs. Italian eggs. Deviled eggs. And so on and so on and so on ...
Who knows how many ways there are to prepare eggs? About the time I think I've see all of the ways to cook an egg, up pops another recipe I haven't seen. Most egg recipes are pretty simple; a few a bit more complicated.
At any rate, I know one thing for sure: eggs are good things. They've been my answer many times to "what is there to fix for supper?". Or, "unexpected visitors - what to fix?" Or, "I'm so tired - what to fix quickly?" Eggs! Of course! Voila! Pull out that carton and crack those shells (or not). In a very short time you will have a tasty meal ready to eat.
Trust me. If you are not already an "egg person" you will become one - when you see how easy it is to create a quick and yummy meal with eggs.
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How To Boil An Egg (no, not everyone knows how!)
1. Place eggs in a deep saucepan and add enough cold water to cover them
2. Set pan over medium heat and let water slowly come to boiling.
3. Reduce heat to keep water just below boiling point (this is "simmering").
4. Cook 15 minutes - remove from heat.
5. Let cooking water cool - or drain and run cold water over eggs 'til cooled.
6. Peel and eat! Or, peel and fix in any number of ways! :)
(from a 1942 "Fannie Farmer Junior Cook" cookbook)
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A Quick Supper ...
Scrambled Eggs / broiled tomatoes / toasted English muffins / fresh fruit
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
One of my favorite egg "recipes":
... I butter a slice of whole wheat bread, tear it into small pieces and put it into a cereal bowl
... Usually, I will salt and pepper the bread and add a bit of onion powder and garlic powder
... Then I poach two eggs in simmering water and put the two poached eggs on top of the bread pieces
... I like to sprinkle some grated cheese on top
... Then I top that off with chopped cilantro or parsley and more black pepper
... Chop everything together with knife and fork and ... Yum!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Another of my "ways" with an egg:
... In my old-faithful cast-iron skillet I put just a bit of olive oil and a tiny bit of butter and heat it up
... Slide in an egg and cook just to a soft-yolk stage (or hard yolk, if you prefer)
... Sprinkle grated cheese on top
... Slide onto a plate
... Top off with a couple of spoonfuls of salsa and chopped cilantro
... Enjoy!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
One more "favorite":
A fried egg on top of hot grits, sprinkled with a little cheese (full-fat, no-fat, ANY kind of cheese!) and topped off with chopped cilantro or parsley and LOTS of black pepper. Mmmmmm, good!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Do YOU have some favorite egg recipes you'd like to share? Feel free to do so here. I'd love to see them and try them out. :)
Eggs are good things. Really. They've gotten a few bad raps in the past few years, but, like for a lot of things, opinions have changed. Now we're told they are "okay". Could even be good for us. Like any food, you don't want to eat them 24/7 (well...unless that's all you have!), but DO eat them. They are a very versatile food.
Over my long years of cooking I've reached many times for that egg carton. For breakfast. For lunch. For supper. Fried eggs. Poached eggs. Creamed eggs. Scrambled eggs. Egg sandwiches. Hard-boiled eggs. Omelets. Egg sandwiches. Soft-boiled eggs. Mexican eggs. Italian eggs. Deviled eggs. And so on and so on and so on ...
Who knows how many ways there are to prepare eggs? About the time I think I've see all of the ways to cook an egg, up pops another recipe I haven't seen. Most egg recipes are pretty simple; a few a bit more complicated.
At any rate, I know one thing for sure: eggs are good things. They've been my answer many times to "what is there to fix for supper?". Or, "unexpected visitors - what to fix?" Or, "I'm so tired - what to fix quickly?" Eggs! Of course! Voila! Pull out that carton and crack those shells (or not). In a very short time you will have a tasty meal ready to eat.
Trust me. If you are not already an "egg person" you will become one - when you see how easy it is to create a quick and yummy meal with eggs.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
How To Boil An Egg (no, not everyone knows how!)
1. Place eggs in a deep saucepan and add enough cold water to cover them
2. Set pan over medium heat and let water slowly come to boiling.
3. Reduce heat to keep water just below boiling point (this is "simmering").
4. Cook 15 minutes - remove from heat.
5. Let cooking water cool - or drain and run cold water over eggs 'til cooled.
6. Peel and eat! Or, peel and fix in any number of ways! :)
(from a 1942 "Fannie Farmer Junior Cook" cookbook)
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
A Quick Supper ...
Scrambled Eggs / broiled tomatoes / toasted English muffins / fresh fruit
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
One of my favorite egg "recipes":
... I butter a slice of whole wheat bread, tear it into small pieces and put it into a cereal bowl
... Usually, I will salt and pepper the bread and add a bit of onion powder and garlic powder
... Then I poach two eggs in simmering water and put the two poached eggs on top of the bread pieces
... I like to sprinkle some grated cheese on top
... Then I top that off with chopped cilantro or parsley and more black pepper
... Chop everything together with knife and fork and ... Yum!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Another of my "ways" with an egg:
... In my old-faithful cast-iron skillet I put just a bit of olive oil and a tiny bit of butter and heat it up
... Slide in an egg and cook just to a soft-yolk stage (or hard yolk, if you prefer)
... Sprinkle grated cheese on top
... Slide onto a plate
... Top off with a couple of spoonfuls of salsa and chopped cilantro
... Enjoy!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
One more "favorite":
A fried egg on top of hot grits, sprinkled with a little cheese (full-fat, no-fat, ANY kind of cheese!) and topped off with chopped cilantro or parsley and LOTS of black pepper. Mmmmmm, good!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Do YOU have some favorite egg recipes you'd like to share? Feel free to do so here. I'd love to see them and try them out. :)
Friday, May 20, 2011
Speck IPad Case/Planes from Zazzle.com
Speck IPad Case/Planes from Zazzle.com
Beautiful Speck Products brand hard-shell IPad case. Customizable. Great gift for Dad for Father's Day ... or for anyone for ANY day.
Beautiful Speck Products brand hard-shell IPad case. Customizable. Great gift for Dad for Father's Day ... or for anyone for ANY day.
Travel Mug/Tools from Zazzle.com
Travel Mug/Tools from Zazzle.com
Father's Day coming up .... or, have a brother, uncle, cousin, etc. who needs a gift? Check out this nice stainless steel travel mug ... with TOOLS! :)
Father's Day coming up .... or, have a brother, uncle, cousin, etc. who needs a gift? Check out this nice stainless steel travel mug ... with TOOLS! :)
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
NONNY AND HER THOUGHTS .....: My Zazzle Store Panel
NONNY AND HER THOUGHTS .....: My Zazzle Store Panel: "make custom gifts at Zazzle"
Holy Sufferer
They pushed a crown of thorns
down upon His head.
He could have hated them then;
He chose to love instead.
Jesus bore our burdens,
bore our sin, our wrongs.
He pushed the heavy cross along,
as He was jeered by the throngs.
The painful thorns drew blood,
the nails caused burning pain.
Yet He endured it all.
"Finished". He went home again.
Oh, Jesus, Holy Sufferer,
a glorious gift You gave.
You chose to shed Your precious blood,
this sinful world to save.
- Sandra Mers Clayton -
down upon His head.
He could have hated them then;
He chose to love instead.
Jesus bore our burdens,
bore our sin, our wrongs.
He pushed the heavy cross along,
as He was jeered by the throngs.
The painful thorns drew blood,
the nails caused burning pain.
Yet He endured it all.
"Finished". He went home again.
Oh, Jesus, Holy Sufferer,
a glorious gift You gave.
You chose to shed Your precious blood,
this sinful world to save.
- Sandra Mers Clayton -
Saturday, April 16, 2011
I'd Like To Say .....
I'd Like To Say .....
My "old",original, blog ... that I tried transferring to this new one. Don't know if this will work or not........
My "old",original, blog ... that I tried transferring to this new one. Don't know if this will work or not........
Sandra Clayton's Art and Photography : Home
Sandra Clayton's Art and Photography : Home
Come in and shop for original and beautiful photos, greeting cards, posters, prints (different sizes and framed or unframed). Great place to find that unique gift.
Come in and shop for original and beautiful photos, greeting cards, posters, prints (different sizes and framed or unframed). Great place to find that unique gift.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Woman's T-Shirt/Mother's Day
Pretty new t-shirt design ... great for a Mother's Day gift - or for anytime!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Stainless Travel Mug/Inspirational from Zazzle.com
Stainless Travel Mug/Inspirational from Zazzle.com
It's a new season - why not have a new travel mug for that hot coffee OR iced coffee??? (or any other non-alcoholic drink). This 15 oz. stainless steel travel/commuter mug is also available on other mugs of different materials, sizes, colors and prices. Come check them out. You just might find one you can't live without. :)
It's a new season - why not have a new travel mug for that hot coffee OR iced coffee??? (or any other non-alcoholic drink). This 15 oz. stainless steel travel/commuter mug is also available on other mugs of different materials, sizes, colors and prices. Come check them out. You just might find one you can't live without. :)
Ornament Gift/Religious from Zazzle.com
Ornament Gift/Religious from Zazzle.com
A pretty ceramic "ornament" ... a special gift for a special friend. A great gift for that "secret prayer partner" ... Sunday School teacher ... your pastor's wife ... a child ... just anyone, really. The design is on both sides. Bright, happy colors (pinks, purples, yellows) and the words, on one side: 'Jesus loves YOU and ME!", and on the other side: "Jesus loves ME and YOU!"
A pretty ceramic "ornament" ... a special gift for a special friend. A great gift for that "secret prayer partner" ... Sunday School teacher ... your pastor's wife ... a child ... just anyone, really. The design is on both sides. Bright, happy colors (pinks, purples, yellows) and the words, on one side: 'Jesus loves YOU and ME!", and on the other side: "Jesus loves ME and YOU!"
Necklace/Religious from Zazzle.com
Necklace/Religious from Zazzle.com
Beautiful sterling silver necklace. Share your faith - wear for Easter and ANY time. Image of brown torn-paper cross and the words: He Lives!
Beautiful sterling silver necklace. Share your faith - wear for Easter and ANY time. Image of brown torn-paper cross and the words: He Lives!
Button - Easter from Zazzle.com
Button - Easter from Zazzle.com
"He is risen" buttons - give 'em to your kids, grandkids, Sunday School class, Christian school class, ANY one!!!!
"He is risen" buttons - give 'em to your kids, grandkids, Sunday School class, Christian school class, ANY one!!!!
Easter bumper sticker from Zazzle.com
Easter bumper sticker from Zazzle.com
A bright, sunny yellow bumper sticker to let the ones behind you see the truth of Easter. "He is risen!", with Bible verse.
A bright, sunny yellow bumper sticker to let the ones behind you see the truth of Easter. "He is risen!", with Bible verse.
Greeting card - Easter from Zazzle.com
Greeting card - Easter from Zazzle.com
Pretty Easter card showing that Jesus Christ IS the Easter story! Bunnies and yellow chicks cards are cute and fun to send ... but why not also send a card that shows the real reason we celebrate Easter?
Pretty Easter card showing that Jesus Christ IS the Easter story! Bunnies and yellow chicks cards are cute and fun to send ... but why not also send a card that shows the real reason we celebrate Easter?
Easter card from Zazzle.com
Easter card from Zazzle.com
Bunnies and yellow chicks are sweet Spring time decor - but the CROSS is the real symbol of the Christian holiday, Easter. Christ suffered for us, died for us, and was resurrected for us. That's the real Easter story. Why not send a card showing this? Card has a brown torn-paper cross image on outside and a Bible verse inside. (Image also available on other products.)
Bunnies and yellow chicks are sweet Spring time decor - but the CROSS is the real symbol of the Christian holiday, Easter. Christ suffered for us, died for us, and was resurrected for us. That's the real Easter story. Why not send a card showing this? Card has a brown torn-paper cross image on outside and a Bible verse inside. (Image also available on other products.)
Baby Onesie Tshirts from Zazzle.com
Baby Onesie Tshirts from Zazzle.com
Perfect baby outfit for baby to wear on Mother's Day - "Mommy Loves Me". Design also available on other products (t-shirts, mugs, etc.)..........
Perfect baby outfit for baby to wear on Mother's Day - "Mommy Loves Me". Design also available on other products (t-shirts, mugs, etc.)..........
Mother's Day Card from Zazzle.com
Mother's Day Card from Zazzle.com
Cute Mother's Day card ... drawing of an angel on front ... is YOUR Mom an angel? Send her this card and TELL her so! :)
Cute Mother's Day card ... drawing of an angel on front ... is YOUR Mom an angel? Send her this card and TELL her so! :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Family friendly organizations stand firm against new ABC show ‘Good Christian B–ches’ » Bible Chick
Family friendly organizations stand firm against new ABC show ‘Good Christian B–ches’ » Bible Chick
The "bitch" word is insulting and vulgar for ANY women, not just Christian women. I am continually trying to tell young girls and young women that they should never stand for being called such a thing by anybody, boyfriend or enemy! What happened to womens' self-esteem and dignity? How come all the liberal womens' groups aren't protesting this T.V. program? Why aren't they giving seminars and speeches for the girls and women to help them stand up against being called this word? I cannot understand why a teen girl will allow her boyfriend to use this word "on" her, without throwing him a good slap before walking away from him - permanently. The word is demeaning and controlling.
Another thought comes to mind about this new ABC T.V. show: insulting and mocking Christians and Christianity is "okay" ... just don't let it EVER be insulting and mocking Islam! ABC and many others nowadays are VERY fortunate that Christians (in general) won't rise up in anger, killing "our own", threatening ABC and it's employees, destroying buildings and automobiles because of the insults and mocking of the Christian faith.
As the article says, "pushing the line" has gone on for quite sometime now ... pushing the line on sex, cursing, vulgarity in general, morality. They've gotten away with inserting, little by little over the years, every vulgar and immoral thing they could - and any of us, Christian and non-Christian, who may have opposed it kept silent. Now, there is little left to the imagination in T.V. programs and movies and music - including in this, our latest: "Good Christian B-ches"!
I end here, sounding like the Christian pastor's wife that I am. I quote from the book, HEAVEN, by: Randy Alcorn: "To sin is to fall short of God's holy standards. Sin is what ended Eden's Paradise. And all of us, like Adam and Eve, are sinners. You are a sinner. That's the first thing you need to know. Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong (Proverbs 14:12). Sin has consequences, but God has provided a solution for our sin. 'The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans 6:23).
We sin but God provided a way for us to be forgiven ... the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on a cross - then His resurrection. A horrible and painful death that He was willing to endure because of His great love for sinful humanity.
"Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong". Take heed ABC. Sin has consequences.
The "bitch" word is insulting and vulgar for ANY women, not just Christian women. I am continually trying to tell young girls and young women that they should never stand for being called such a thing by anybody, boyfriend or enemy! What happened to womens' self-esteem and dignity? How come all the liberal womens' groups aren't protesting this T.V. program? Why aren't they giving seminars and speeches for the girls and women to help them stand up against being called this word? I cannot understand why a teen girl will allow her boyfriend to use this word "on" her, without throwing him a good slap before walking away from him - permanently. The word is demeaning and controlling.
Another thought comes to mind about this new ABC T.V. show: insulting and mocking Christians and Christianity is "okay" ... just don't let it EVER be insulting and mocking Islam! ABC and many others nowadays are VERY fortunate that Christians (in general) won't rise up in anger, killing "our own", threatening ABC and it's employees, destroying buildings and automobiles because of the insults and mocking of the Christian faith.
As the article says, "pushing the line" has gone on for quite sometime now ... pushing the line on sex, cursing, vulgarity in general, morality. They've gotten away with inserting, little by little over the years, every vulgar and immoral thing they could - and any of us, Christian and non-Christian, who may have opposed it kept silent. Now, there is little left to the imagination in T.V. programs and movies and music - including in this, our latest: "Good Christian B-ches"!
I end here, sounding like the Christian pastor's wife that I am. I quote from the book, HEAVEN, by: Randy Alcorn: "To sin is to fall short of God's holy standards. Sin is what ended Eden's Paradise. And all of us, like Adam and Eve, are sinners. You are a sinner. That's the first thing you need to know. Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong (Proverbs 14:12). Sin has consequences, but God has provided a solution for our sin. 'The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord' (Romans 6:23).
We sin but God provided a way for us to be forgiven ... the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, on a cross - then His resurrection. A horrible and painful death that He was willing to endure because of His great love for sinful humanity.
"Sin deceives us and makes us think that wrong is right and right is wrong". Take heed ABC. Sin has consequences.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Stickers/Sheep from Zazzle.com
Stickers/Sheep from Zazzle.com
Stickers, with photo of sheep in the pasture and the Bible Verse: John 10:14. Give to yourself, your kids, grand-kids or friends. Stickers are good for your Sunday School class, too! :)
Stickers, with photo of sheep in the pasture and the Bible Verse: John 10:14. Give to yourself, your kids, grand-kids or friends. Stickers are good for your Sunday School class, too! :)
Stickers/Christian from Zazzle.com
Stickers/Christian from Zazzle.com
Christian stickers .... Bible verse and image of the cross .... Isaiah 53:5: "...was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Stickers are "good" for your kids, grand-kids, yourself, friends .... your Sunday School class, to put on your Easter cards, etc.
Christian stickers .... Bible verse and image of the cross .... Isaiah 53:5: "...was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Stickers are "good" for your kids, grand-kids, yourself, friends .... your Sunday School class, to put on your Easter cards, etc.
T-Shirt/Christian from Zazzle.com
T-Shirt/Christian from Zazzle.com
T-shirt ... with a cross and the Bible verse: Isaiah 53:5 - "...was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Wear the words that tell the true Easter story.
T-shirt ... with a cross and the Bible verse: Isaiah 53:5 - "...was pierced for our transgressions,he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
Wear the words that tell the true Easter story.
"Summer Harvest" Magnets from Zazzle.com
"Summer Harvest" Magnets from Zazzle.com
I just sold 100 of these "tomato" magnets. Come in and take a peek; maybe YOU would like one, too. :)
I just sold 100 of these "tomato" magnets. Come in and take a peek; maybe YOU would like one, too. :)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Greeting Card/Easter from Zazzle.com
Greeting Card/Easter from Zazzle.com
Easter greeting card: photo of the sheep in the pasture and, inside, the Bible verses John 10:14 & 15, and the message: "May you have a blessed Easter."
Easter greeting card: photo of the sheep in the pasture and, inside, the Bible verses John 10:14 & 15, and the message: "May you have a blessed Easter."
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Poster/The Good Shepherd from Zazzle.com
Poster/The Good Shepherd from Zazzle.com
Beautiful poster, for Easter or anytime. Photo of sheep in a pasture and the Bible verse: John 10:14 ... "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-".
Would make a nice gift for anyone, a good poster to hang in a Sunday School class, on a bulletin board, a living room wall (can be framed) etc.
Beautiful poster, for Easter or anytime. Photo of sheep in a pasture and the Bible verse: John 10:14 ... "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-".
Would make a nice gift for anyone, a good poster to hang in a Sunday School class, on a bulletin board, a living room wall (can be framed) etc.
Stickers/Sheep from Zazzle.com
Stickers/Sheep from Zazzle.com
Stickers for Easter or ANYtime ... photo of sheep in the pasture and the Bible verse, John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-" (the design is also available on stickers in other shapes: hearts, ovals, etc., and on other products)
Stickers for Easter or ANYtime ... photo of sheep in the pasture and the Bible verse, John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-" (the design is also available on stickers in other shapes: hearts, ovals, etc., and on other products)
Tasse/Lapin de Zazzle.fr
Tasse/Lapin de Zazzle.fr
Pretty mug with photo of a rabbit and the words, in French and English: RABBIT LAPIN. Very cute - would make a sweet Springtime gift for a child, perhaps at Easter, filled with goodies. :)
Pretty mug with photo of a rabbit and the words, in French and English: RABBIT LAPIN. Very cute - would make a sweet Springtime gift for a child, perhaps at Easter, filled with goodies. :)
Magnet/Lapin Aimants Pour Réfrigérateur de Zazzle.fr
Magnet/Lapin Aimants Pour Réfrigérateur de Zazzle.fr
Cute magnet ... photo of a rabbit, with words in English and French: RABBIT LAPIN
Cute magnet ... photo of a rabbit, with words in English and French: RABBIT LAPIN
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Treating and Beating Fibro Blog: Traditional Medicine Offers Little for Fibromyalgi...
Treating and Beating Fibro Blog: Traditional Medicine Offers Little for Fibromyalgi...: "With so many different symptoms, it’s no surprise that fibromyalgia and CFS patients are typically taking 6–12 different prescription dr..."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Sandra Clayton - Kansas fine art prints at Imagekind.com
Sandra Clayton - Kansas fine art prints at Imagekind.com
Come see my original photos from the beautiful Flint Hills area of Kansas. These are available in various sizes, papers, printed on canvas, framed or unframed. Great gifts for yourself and/or a friend!
Come see my original photos from the beautiful Flint Hills area of Kansas. These are available in various sizes, papers, printed on canvas, framed or unframed. Great gifts for yourself and/or a friend!
Old Stone School House by Sandra Clayton in Kansas on Sandra Clayton's Art and Photography
Old Stone School House by Sandra Clayton in Kansas on Sandra Clayton's Art and Photography
Beautiful, original photograph for sale - available in various sizes, prices, framed or unframed. Come see! A beautiful gift for yourself or another.
Beautiful, original photograph for sale - available in various sizes, prices, framed or unframed. Come see! A beautiful gift for yourself or another.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Man's T-Shirt/Grandson and Grandpa from Zazzle.com
Man's T-Shirt/Grandson and Grandpa from Zazzle.com
Original photo of grandson and grandfather's hands on the check board .......
Original photo of grandson and grandfather's hands on the check board .......
Poster/"Grandson and Grandpa" from Zazzle.com
Poster/"Grandson and Grandpa" from Zazzle.com
Beautiful, original photo of grandson and grandpa hands on the checker board ... available in various poster sizes and papers, framed or unframed. Photo is also available on greeting cards, stickers, postcards, t-shirts, etc. Come in and see!
Beautiful, original photo of grandson and grandpa hands on the checker board ... available in various poster sizes and papers, framed or unframed. Photo is also available on greeting cards, stickers, postcards, t-shirts, etc. Come in and see!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Memorable Meals
In one of my pastor-husband's sermons he mentioned "memorable meals" we've shared in various countries. "Various countries" because, though we've relocated back to the states, we lived about sixteen years in France as missionaries. During those years we were fortunate to have had contacts with people of many nationalities in France, as well as by traveling to other countries from France.
In his sermon my husband was pointing out the closeness between people when they sit down together at the table for a meal. Food is shared. More importantly, communication is shared. People tend to relax and get to know each other around the table.
We found this to be true wherever we went. Accepting an invitation to sit at the table and share a meal with someone, no matter how simple or how luxurious the meal, was often the key to communication between us - to understanding, to becoming friends. Many barriers were done away with, in our travels, when we agreed to sit down at the table with strangers, as well as friends.
If we accepted their invitation, sat at their table and ate their food (or invited someone to our table), then they were more apt to believe we were truly interested in getting to know them. They believed we really did care. And we did.
What did we eat, you might ask? Does it really matter? Is it not the fact that we DID eat that matters? We happily sat at the poorest of tables, as well as at a few of the wealthier tables, sharing not only the food but, even more, their lives...their hopes, dreams, sorrows, joys.
"Yes, yes", you say impatiently, "but what did you eat?"
"So much", I will answer, "and so little".
French cooks, for the most part, live up to their reputation. From the five-to-six-course Sunday afternoon dinners to the afternoon cups of tea and coffee and slices of "gateaux" (cakes). Delicious. How nice it was to enjoy some of their meals.
We were fortunate, too, to have had contacts with many of the immigrants in France - and delighted to get acquainted over their different ethnic foods.
Kimchi and gingsing tea with our Korean friends ... couscous and mint tea at our Algerian, Moroccon and Tunisian friends' apartments (with slight variations from each country). Tiny, sweetened cream cheese dumplings with Polish friends ... coffee and kougelhopf and madeleines with French friends ... parsley, lemon and couscous salad at a Lebanese friend's. Diversity, for sure!
During the worst drought ever in Mali, Africa (at that time, anyway), when food was so scarce people were dying by the multitudes every day, we sat on the sand floor of a small hut. Forming balls of hot rice with our fingers, out of a large common bowl, we dipped the rice balls into the other communal bowl of hot sauce. We didn't want to eat what little food they had. They insisted. We did eat. They were sharing not only their bit of food with strangers, but their lives. Their culture. We made new friends. We communicated.
Right after the Romanian revolution we sat at a poor farmer's table, humbly and gratefully swallowing the cabbage soup and cabbage rolls (which were delicious). The family stood around the table watching silently as we ate (their custom). We were the well-fed westerners eating at the table of the almost-starved. They were so proud to have us at their table. We could not refuse. We ate. And our bodies, our souls, were filled with much more than cabbage soup.
Such meals are etched in our minds forever; and the people in our hearts.
Now, back in America, we see many changes in family life and meals. Much of American "table life", we've seen, consists of restaurants and fast-food places. Too many of us live life at such a fast pace that we've lost the importance of "memorable meals", of shared tables ... the importance to our children, to ourselves, to extended family, to friends and to foreign visitors. Might this not be a factor in so many youth being lost to gangs, drugs, other crimes? Could the loss of much of their family togetherness - sitting down together at the table and eating a real meal together, sharing their lives with each other - could this be, perhaps, a huge factor in our children heading in wrong directions? All kids deserve good memories of some home-cooked meals and sitting around the table with their families, eating and talking - communicating with each other. Loving each other.
I don't need to travel far to find someone, besides my own family, to share meals with at our table. I just need to take the time to do so. To reach out. To want to get to know someone more intimately...to make a new friend.
As a Christian, what better way to share the Gospel of Christ, to show His love for everyone, then by inviting someone to sit at my table and share our food? When someone sees that I am honestly wanting to get to know him or her, to listen, to show interest - then that person is more apt to listen to me; to hear about and discuss the Gospel.
So ... there are many reasons for sharing meals. For me to accept to eat with another. For me to invite another to sit at our table, whether I can serve a full-course meal or simply a cup of water and a shiny apple, I store up many "memorable meal" memories. I get to know someone else; and someone else comes to know me better. I show the love of God by sharing.
Romans 12:13 (the Bible) tells us:
"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
And, in I Peter 4:9 (the Bible) we see:
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."
We don't need to be wealthy to do this. As it says in Proverbs 15:17 (the Bible):
"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fatted calf with hatred."
Want to make some memorable meals?
In his sermon my husband was pointing out the closeness between people when they sit down together at the table for a meal. Food is shared. More importantly, communication is shared. People tend to relax and get to know each other around the table.
We found this to be true wherever we went. Accepting an invitation to sit at the table and share a meal with someone, no matter how simple or how luxurious the meal, was often the key to communication between us - to understanding, to becoming friends. Many barriers were done away with, in our travels, when we agreed to sit down at the table with strangers, as well as friends.
If we accepted their invitation, sat at their table and ate their food (or invited someone to our table), then they were more apt to believe we were truly interested in getting to know them. They believed we really did care. And we did.
What did we eat, you might ask? Does it really matter? Is it not the fact that we DID eat that matters? We happily sat at the poorest of tables, as well as at a few of the wealthier tables, sharing not only the food but, even more, their lives...their hopes, dreams, sorrows, joys.
"Yes, yes", you say impatiently, "but what did you eat?"
"So much", I will answer, "and so little".
French cooks, for the most part, live up to their reputation. From the five-to-six-course Sunday afternoon dinners to the afternoon cups of tea and coffee and slices of "gateaux" (cakes). Delicious. How nice it was to enjoy some of their meals.
We were fortunate, too, to have had contacts with many of the immigrants in France - and delighted to get acquainted over their different ethnic foods.
Kimchi and gingsing tea with our Korean friends ... couscous and mint tea at our Algerian, Moroccon and Tunisian friends' apartments (with slight variations from each country). Tiny, sweetened cream cheese dumplings with Polish friends ... coffee and kougelhopf and madeleines with French friends ... parsley, lemon and couscous salad at a Lebanese friend's. Diversity, for sure!
During the worst drought ever in Mali, Africa (at that time, anyway), when food was so scarce people were dying by the multitudes every day, we sat on the sand floor of a small hut. Forming balls of hot rice with our fingers, out of a large common bowl, we dipped the rice balls into the other communal bowl of hot sauce. We didn't want to eat what little food they had. They insisted. We did eat. They were sharing not only their bit of food with strangers, but their lives. Their culture. We made new friends. We communicated.
Right after the Romanian revolution we sat at a poor farmer's table, humbly and gratefully swallowing the cabbage soup and cabbage rolls (which were delicious). The family stood around the table watching silently as we ate (their custom). We were the well-fed westerners eating at the table of the almost-starved. They were so proud to have us at their table. We could not refuse. We ate. And our bodies, our souls, were filled with much more than cabbage soup.
Such meals are etched in our minds forever; and the people in our hearts.
Now, back in America, we see many changes in family life and meals. Much of American "table life", we've seen, consists of restaurants and fast-food places. Too many of us live life at such a fast pace that we've lost the importance of "memorable meals", of shared tables ... the importance to our children, to ourselves, to extended family, to friends and to foreign visitors. Might this not be a factor in so many youth being lost to gangs, drugs, other crimes? Could the loss of much of their family togetherness - sitting down together at the table and eating a real meal together, sharing their lives with each other - could this be, perhaps, a huge factor in our children heading in wrong directions? All kids deserve good memories of some home-cooked meals and sitting around the table with their families, eating and talking - communicating with each other. Loving each other.
I don't need to travel far to find someone, besides my own family, to share meals with at our table. I just need to take the time to do so. To reach out. To want to get to know someone more intimately...to make a new friend.
As a Christian, what better way to share the Gospel of Christ, to show His love for everyone, then by inviting someone to sit at my table and share our food? When someone sees that I am honestly wanting to get to know him or her, to listen, to show interest - then that person is more apt to listen to me; to hear about and discuss the Gospel.
So ... there are many reasons for sharing meals. For me to accept to eat with another. For me to invite another to sit at our table, whether I can serve a full-course meal or simply a cup of water and a shiny apple, I store up many "memorable meal" memories. I get to know someone else; and someone else comes to know me better. I show the love of God by sharing.
Romans 12:13 (the Bible) tells us:
"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
And, in I Peter 4:9 (the Bible) we see:
"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling."
We don't need to be wealthy to do this. As it says in Proverbs 15:17 (the Bible):
"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fatted calf with hatred."
Want to make some memorable meals?
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Off the Roller-Coaster and Under His Wings
Several years ago I told myself I would never again say, "It couldn't happen to us" and, "It couldn't get worse" ... because it did happen to us and it did get worse. We were missionaries at the time; and missionary families are not immune to sorrows.
I've come through the shock, the anger, the "what-did-we-do-to-cause-this?" questions, the forgiveness, the "where-have-you-been-God-and-why-did-You-let-this-happen?" questions. I've come through them, though not entirely unscathed. There is still a lingering low-lying sadness that can be controlled, that doesn't take over every day - but still there, nonetheless. There is a loss of energy that can be, I think, attributed to sorrow and adversity (among the other usual reasons). God can certainly bring good out of painful situations, but life is never the same afterwards.
We continue to cope with family stresses. Sometimes I feel as if I am on that old roller coaster. Up. Down. Around the bend. Hang on! It's getting worse. Look out! We're going down fast! But I don't want to hang on. I just want off. Enough. I want to make all unpleasantness go away. I want to fix it. Can't I fix it, God? How long do I have to stay on this wild ride? And why? Why can't everything be like it is "supposed" to be? Why can't we all be perfect ... and happy ...and kind ...and loving? Why can't You just intervene, God, and make this happen?
When I read in Psalms I SO understand David. In Psalm 142, my study notes tell me, David was in a cave praying for deliverance from his enemies. He'd had enough. He wanted off of HIS roller coaster. He was tired. He was sad. He didn't want to hang on - he just wanted to let go of it all and have some peace, some rest.
"I pour out my complaint before him: before him I tell my trouble" - Psalm 142:2 NIV
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need" - Psalm 142:6 NIV
David yelled "HELP"! He was tired of trying to avoid his enemies. That took up a lot of energy. He was full of fear. Maybe he, too, had learned to never again say "it couldn't happen to me" or "it couldn't get worse".
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need" ... "help me, please!"
I often pray the same things when adversity strikes. Just when I'm thinking I can let down my guard and relax, when I'm feeling as if maybe God heard my cry after all - WHAM! Something new happens. But all I want is rest, and peace and to be free of the fears that arise with adversity and sorrow. I don't want to learn any lessons. I don't want to know the "whys" of it all. I just want out of it. Like David.
A good many years ago, when we still lived in France, I experienced one of those "it-couldn't-get-worse-but-it-did" moments. I'd had surgery on my nose for what had been thought was a minor problem, a perforated septum. During the surgery the doctor decided it was worse than he'd thought, and ordered a biopsy done. Later, I left my hospital room to go down to his office for the biopsy results. In France the doctors will rarely (at least back then) tell you that you have "cancer", if you do. Their theory is that patients do not want to hear it, so they will beat all around the bush to explain the problem rather than use, "the" word.
My doctor was no different. He stared at the ceiling as he told me he had the results back. My heart pounded and fear rose quickly as I awaited the verdict. He continued to stare at the ceiling, in silence (really!). I feared hearing the results but desperately needed to hear them. Finally, I grasped one of his arms and I used "the" word: "Is it cancer?" He nodded and said, "yes". Wow. Talk about sorrow, pain, adversity. And fear. Shock.
I was allowed to go home for the week-end, but was to check into a larger cancer hospital, in another city, on Sunday evening. I asked myself some of the same questions then, as I have asked myself at times during the past few years because of family crises. I cried out to God, as David did. "Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need." I wanted to "fix" the situation - I wanted off of that roller coaster ride, as it was way too dangerous. I wanted to forget it all and rest. I didn't want any more sadness. Enough already!
I had allowed the fear to so burden me down that I'd lost sight of what our then-sixteen-year-old daughter had seen, in spite of her own fears about her Mom - that the only way "out" was through prayer. The only way out of the the fear, if not the cancer itself, was through crying out to God, through resting in Him, through trusting Him to handle it.
Our daughter had written Psalm 34:4 on a small yellow piece of paper (it's still taped into the front of one of my Bibles) and taped it to the top of the tissue box I'd packed for the hospital.
"I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears" (NIV).
I once again saw God's response to prayer (why do I ever forget?), as I read that verse on my hospital bed at two in the morning. I was terrified. And alone. And God came through, as He always does. Instantly. It was one of the few times in my life that I could honestly say God has instantly responded to my prayer. He just took that fear away. It was as if He'd literally lifted a huge boulder off of my chest. I called my husband and told him. Whether I had cancer, or not, I could cope - since the debilitating, suffocating fear was gone. Just gone. (By the way, after all the tests, scans and three biopsies were done, the doctors were puzzled, finally deciding I must have been given a wrong diagnosis - with one doctor not ruling out "miracle".)
God brought me through that fearful, stressful time. He can still do the same for me and my family now. We can all, with God's help, learn and grow stronger from the sorrows and painful situations we may go through. God can, and does, bring good out of some pretty bad things.
"If the murder of the perfect Son of God can be explained, how much more can we trust that God is accomplishing His purposes through the adversity we face every day?" (Charles Stanley, "Victory Over Life's Challenges", 199, Part II, 'How to Handle Adversity', p. 207.)
I don't welcome adversity. Let's be honest here. I would definitely like to flee from it when it appears. However, as we just read from Charles Stanley, I need to trust that God is still in charge, the He is accomplishing His purposes, even if I don't understand His methods. Even if it hurts. Even if it's
tiring. Even if it's sad.
I need to be still, and know that God "is" (Psalm 46:10). All my stresses, sorrows, angers need to be bundled up and handed over to Him. That's the way I can build my energy level back up. That's the way I can not only forgive, but continue loving and helping. That's the way I stop worrying, stop trying to fix it all myself.
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone: my hope comes from him" (Psalm 62:5 NIV).
Only in God will I find rest from adversity. I can let go and trust Him to work it out, according to His plans.
Psalm 91:4(a) NIV is such a beautiful picture of finding peace and rest from the trial and adversities of our lives: "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge ...".
I am SO ready to snuggle under those wings and be safely covered by those soft, protective feathers.
Care to join me?
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
He Waits
"Come to Me",
my Savior said,
"and I will give you rest."
And, yet, I linger.
Tired, worn-out,
rarely at my best.
"Come to Me,"
my Jesus said,
lay down your weary head.
"But I'm too busy,"
I say to Him,
and struggle on instead.
"Come to Me,"
my Redeemer said,
"you will find release."
Then, "yes, my Lord,"
I say to Him,
and find rest, joy and peace."
-Sandra (Mers) Clayton-
(This was first published in the Christian magazine, "To His Glory" , Spring Issue, 2005)
I've come through the shock, the anger, the "what-did-we-do-to-cause-this?" questions, the forgiveness, the "where-have-you-been-God-and-why-did-You-let-this-happen?" questions. I've come through them, though not entirely unscathed. There is still a lingering low-lying sadness that can be controlled, that doesn't take over every day - but still there, nonetheless. There is a loss of energy that can be, I think, attributed to sorrow and adversity (among the other usual reasons). God can certainly bring good out of painful situations, but life is never the same afterwards.
We continue to cope with family stresses. Sometimes I feel as if I am on that old roller coaster. Up. Down. Around the bend. Hang on! It's getting worse. Look out! We're going down fast! But I don't want to hang on. I just want off. Enough. I want to make all unpleasantness go away. I want to fix it. Can't I fix it, God? How long do I have to stay on this wild ride? And why? Why can't everything be like it is "supposed" to be? Why can't we all be perfect ... and happy ...and kind ...and loving? Why can't You just intervene, God, and make this happen?
When I read in Psalms I SO understand David. In Psalm 142, my study notes tell me, David was in a cave praying for deliverance from his enemies. He'd had enough. He wanted off of HIS roller coaster. He was tired. He was sad. He didn't want to hang on - he just wanted to let go of it all and have some peace, some rest.
"I pour out my complaint before him: before him I tell my trouble" - Psalm 142:2 NIV
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need" - Psalm 142:6 NIV
David yelled "HELP"! He was tired of trying to avoid his enemies. That took up a lot of energy. He was full of fear. Maybe he, too, had learned to never again say "it couldn't happen to me" or "it couldn't get worse".
"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need" ... "help me, please!"
I often pray the same things when adversity strikes. Just when I'm thinking I can let down my guard and relax, when I'm feeling as if maybe God heard my cry after all - WHAM! Something new happens. But all I want is rest, and peace and to be free of the fears that arise with adversity and sorrow. I don't want to learn any lessons. I don't want to know the "whys" of it all. I just want out of it. Like David.
A good many years ago, when we still lived in France, I experienced one of those "it-couldn't-get-worse-but-it-did" moments. I'd had surgery on my nose for what had been thought was a minor problem, a perforated septum. During the surgery the doctor decided it was worse than he'd thought, and ordered a biopsy done. Later, I left my hospital room to go down to his office for the biopsy results. In France the doctors will rarely (at least back then) tell you that you have "cancer", if you do. Their theory is that patients do not want to hear it, so they will beat all around the bush to explain the problem rather than use, "the" word.
My doctor was no different. He stared at the ceiling as he told me he had the results back. My heart pounded and fear rose quickly as I awaited the verdict. He continued to stare at the ceiling, in silence (really!). I feared hearing the results but desperately needed to hear them. Finally, I grasped one of his arms and I used "the" word: "Is it cancer?" He nodded and said, "yes". Wow. Talk about sorrow, pain, adversity. And fear. Shock.
I was allowed to go home for the week-end, but was to check into a larger cancer hospital, in another city, on Sunday evening. I asked myself some of the same questions then, as I have asked myself at times during the past few years because of family crises. I cried out to God, as David did. "Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need." I wanted to "fix" the situation - I wanted off of that roller coaster ride, as it was way too dangerous. I wanted to forget it all and rest. I didn't want any more sadness. Enough already!
I had allowed the fear to so burden me down that I'd lost sight of what our then-sixteen-year-old daughter had seen, in spite of her own fears about her Mom - that the only way "out" was through prayer. The only way out of the the fear, if not the cancer itself, was through crying out to God, through resting in Him, through trusting Him to handle it.
Our daughter had written Psalm 34:4 on a small yellow piece of paper (it's still taped into the front of one of my Bibles) and taped it to the top of the tissue box I'd packed for the hospital.
"I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears" (NIV).
I once again saw God's response to prayer (why do I ever forget?), as I read that verse on my hospital bed at two in the morning. I was terrified. And alone. And God came through, as He always does. Instantly. It was one of the few times in my life that I could honestly say God has instantly responded to my prayer. He just took that fear away. It was as if He'd literally lifted a huge boulder off of my chest. I called my husband and told him. Whether I had cancer, or not, I could cope - since the debilitating, suffocating fear was gone. Just gone. (By the way, after all the tests, scans and three biopsies were done, the doctors were puzzled, finally deciding I must have been given a wrong diagnosis - with one doctor not ruling out "miracle".)
God brought me through that fearful, stressful time. He can still do the same for me and my family now. We can all, with God's help, learn and grow stronger from the sorrows and painful situations we may go through. God can, and does, bring good out of some pretty bad things.
"If the murder of the perfect Son of God can be explained, how much more can we trust that God is accomplishing His purposes through the adversity we face every day?" (Charles Stanley, "Victory Over Life's Challenges", 199, Part II, 'How to Handle Adversity', p. 207.)
I don't welcome adversity. Let's be honest here. I would definitely like to flee from it when it appears. However, as we just read from Charles Stanley, I need to trust that God is still in charge, the He is accomplishing His purposes, even if I don't understand His methods. Even if it hurts. Even if it's
tiring. Even if it's sad.
I need to be still, and know that God "is" (Psalm 46:10). All my stresses, sorrows, angers need to be bundled up and handed over to Him. That's the way I can build my energy level back up. That's the way I can not only forgive, but continue loving and helping. That's the way I stop worrying, stop trying to fix it all myself.
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone: my hope comes from him" (Psalm 62:5 NIV).
Only in God will I find rest from adversity. I can let go and trust Him to work it out, according to His plans.
Psalm 91:4(a) NIV is such a beautiful picture of finding peace and rest from the trial and adversities of our lives: "He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge ...".
I am SO ready to snuggle under those wings and be safely covered by those soft, protective feathers.
Care to join me?
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
He Waits
"Come to Me",
my Savior said,
"and I will give you rest."
And, yet, I linger.
Tired, worn-out,
rarely at my best.
"Come to Me,"
my Jesus said,
lay down your weary head.
"But I'm too busy,"
I say to Him,
and struggle on instead.
"Come to Me,"
my Redeemer said,
"you will find release."
Then, "yes, my Lord,"
I say to Him,
and find rest, joy and peace."
-Sandra (Mers) Clayton-
(This was first published in the Christian magazine, "To His Glory" , Spring Issue, 2005)
Monday, February 21, 2011
President Day Sale!
Everyone loves a sale ... come check this one out. :)
President's Day Sale at my online store, zazzle.com/samecla*, 20% off of hats, posters and t-shirts
Original designs and photos used to make up many different products: t-shirts, hats, posters, shoes, skateboards, magnets, bumper stickers, stickers, aprons, binders, phone cases, etc.
When you need a gift, try me out. Quick and easy ordering; product is mailed directly to you. Guaranteed returns if not satisfied.
Sit back. Browse. Choose. Pay. Wait for your gift to arrive at your door. Couldn't be easier. Try it!
President's Day Sale at my online store, zazzle.com/samecla*, 20% off of hats, posters and t-shirts
Original designs and photos used to make up many different products: t-shirts, hats, posters, shoes, skateboards, magnets, bumper stickers, stickers, aprons, binders, phone cases, etc.
When you need a gift, try me out. Quick and easy ordering; product is mailed directly to you. Guaranteed returns if not satisfied.
Sit back. Browse. Choose. Pay. Wait for your gift to arrive at your door. Couldn't be easier. Try it!
T-Shirt/Bible Verse from Zazzle.com
T-Shirt/Bible Verse from Zazzle.com
T-Shirt, for men or women, with Bible verse: Mark 10:45 - "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve". On the back is space for YOUR church name and/or group (youth group, choir, womens' group, etc.)
T-Shirt is available in several styles, colors, materials and prices.
Come take a look.
T-Shirt, for men or women, with Bible verse: Mark 10:45 - "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve". On the back is space for YOUR church name and/or group (youth group, choir, womens' group, etc.)
T-Shirt is available in several styles, colors, materials and prices.
Come take a look.
Greeting Card/Thank You from Zazzle.com
Greeting Card/Thank You from Zazzle.com
Beautiful mountain scene on front, with Bible verse: Mark 10:45 ... "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve". Inside: blue background and the words: "Thank you for following His example."
Beautiful mountain scene on front, with Bible verse: Mark 10:45 ... "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve". Inside: blue background and the words: "Thank you for following His example."
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Faith
In the middle
of the darkness,
in the middle
of despair,
I cling to the knowledge
that God is still there.
When the fires
fall upon me,
when the waters
race and flood,
God keeps me from burning,
He pulls me from the mud.
His strong arms,
they hold me,
and He does not
let me go.
In the middle of life's sadness,
He allows my faith to grow.
-Sandra Clayton-
of the darkness,
in the middle
of despair,
I cling to the knowledge
that God is still there.
When the fires
fall upon me,
when the waters
race and flood,
God keeps me from burning,
He pulls me from the mud.
His strong arms,
they hold me,
and He does not
let me go.
In the middle of life's sadness,
He allows my faith to grow.
-Sandra Clayton-
Parents And Prodigals
I am sad for you
so sad for you
you run and hide
yourself from whom?
we made you from our love
our very selves became you
and we know you more
much more than
you think we do
though you wound us
with words and care not
that we bleed
we open our arms
to you and your need
are you in sin?
are you afraid?
do you attempt to hide
yourself from you?
do you hear God?
do you know that He's there?
with His arms open wide
your burdens to share?
the tears that He sheds
mingle with ours
to form a dark river
of unending sorrows
yet He extends forever to you
a bridge of forgiveness
your life to renew
that bridge
is sturdy
and strong
and sure
the way back to Him
the way to the cure
-Sandra Clayton-
so sad for you
you run and hide
yourself from whom?
we made you from our love
our very selves became you
and we know you more
much more than
you think we do
though you wound us
with words and care not
that we bleed
we open our arms
to you and your need
are you in sin?
are you afraid?
do you attempt to hide
yourself from you?
do you hear God?
do you know that He's there?
with His arms open wide
your burdens to share?
the tears that He sheds
mingle with ours
to form a dark river
of unending sorrows
yet He extends forever to you
a bridge of forgiveness
your life to renew
that bridge
is sturdy
and strong
and sure
the way back to Him
the way to the cure
-Sandra Clayton-
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
The Valentine Supper
 |
| Our Valentine Day supper table |
Though Grandson, Christian, received a "bought" gift (a Hex Bug), his Papou (my husband, John) received a baked gift. A heart-shaped banana cake. Of course, Papou had to share it with us, too; but he didn't seem to mind. Besides the pretty rose-bud corsage my husband bought me, he also gave me a reproduction tin sign. Okay, I know some of you may not understand a tin sign as a Valentine's Day gift. However, I like "rustic, old, antique, unusual". I also like "new" mixed with "old", though I sometimes have to argue with my husband about that. So I love the sign, which advertises "cream separators" and shows the various kinds of cows that make the cream! The only problem is where to put it - this house doesn't have much space for wall-hanging, and what there is is pretty much taken up. I did, though, manage to hang it today - I switched it with something else, and moved the "something else" (grandson's framed pastel tennis shoe he did in art class) to a space on the living room wall. It works. Both tin sign and pastel shoe look happy. I am happy, too.
 |
| My tin sign Valentine gift |
 | ||||||||
| Grandson, Christian's, pastel tennis shoes |
 |
| My spur-of-the-moment recipe |
Sandy's Spur of the Moment Rice and Cabbage ..... I used red and green cabbage, since I had a half a head of each ....I heated a little olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet, dropped in about a half an onion, chopped, used a paring knife to cut the cabbage into shreds into the skillet, added a little salt and black pepper, to taste, along with a lot more garlic powder (love it!) - stir-fried it all a few minutes, then threw in a handful or so of dried cranberries and chopped pecans. Stir-fried another couple of minutes, then added the cooked rice (left over from another meal), maybe two cups, stirring some more to mix in the rice and let it get good and hot. That's it. Simple. Fairly quick. And really good.
 |
| The "Love You" gift cake |
Until NEXT Valentine's Day ...................................................................................................................
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Urban Angel | Sandra Clayton
Urban Angel | Sandra Clayton
Need a gift? Come see some of my art and photographs ... you might find something that grabs your attention. Give an ORIGINAL - something no one else has. Available framed or unframed, in various sizes and prices.
Need a gift? Come see some of my art and photographs ... you might find something that grabs your attention. Give an ORIGINAL - something no one else has. Available framed or unframed, in various sizes and prices.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Baby Onesie/Heart from Zazzle.com
Baby Onesie/Heart from Zazzle.com
Do you know of a sweet little one who would look so cute in this? Take a peek and see it. Cute, colorful hearts design, with both French and English: "Je t'aime" and "I love it". A great gift!
Do you know of a sweet little one who would look so cute in this? Take a peek and see it. Cute, colorful hearts design, with both French and English: "Je t'aime" and "I love it". A great gift!
T-Shirt Femme/St. Valentin de Zazzle.fr
T-Shirt Femme/St. Valentin de Zazzle.fr
Pretty woman's t-shirt/joli t-shirt femme ... with both French and English/avec francais et anglais ... "Je t'aime" et/and "I love you". Cute designs of colorful heart and fun African-American angels/dessins d'un joli coeur et des anges africain-americains
Pretty woman's t-shirt/joli t-shirt femme ... with both French and English/avec francais et anglais ... "Je t'aime" et/and "I love you". Cute designs of colorful heart and fun African-American angels/dessins d'un joli coeur et des anges africain-americains
Carte Postal/St. Valentine Cartes Postales de Zazzle.fr
Carte Postal/St. Valentine Cartes Postales de Zazzle.fr
Post card/carte postale ... St. Valentin/Valentine's Day ... with both French and English: "Je t'aime" et/and "I love you"
Post card/carte postale ... St. Valentin/Valentine's Day ... with both French and English: "Je t'aime" et/and "I love you"
Une carte de St. Valentine/Valentine Card de Zazzle.fr
Une carte de St. Valentine/Valentine Card de Zazzle.fr
Valentine card, with a colorful heart on the front and on the inside: "Je t'aime. I love you."
Valentine card, with a colorful heart on the front and on the inside: "Je t'aime. I love you."
Friday, February 4, 2011
Hwlp............
Oh, I need help on here. I spend hours trying to figure the technological things out ... like, how to make the "Feedjit" thing smaller ... or anything smaller, for that matter! How to shorten the "labels" column??? How to make my blog look as good as so many others that I see! And.........how do you get people to leave a comment, anyway?????
Help? :)
Help? :)
Greeting Card/Valentine from Zazzle.com
Greeting Card/Valentine from Zazzle.com
A sweet Valentine.....on front: original photo of a "praying" praying mantis, sitting on a pink zinnia ... inside the words: "You are the answer to my prayers. I love you."
Get one for YOUR special one!
A sweet Valentine.....on front: original photo of a "praying" praying mantis, sitting on a pink zinnia ... inside the words: "You are the answer to my prayers. I love you."
Get one for YOUR special one!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Tasse de voyage/Coeur de Zazzle.fr
Tasse de voyage/Coeur de Zazzle.fr
Travel Mug with original heart design and the Scripture verse: Proverbs 23:12 - "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
Travel Mug with original heart design and the Scripture verse: Proverbs 23:12 - "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
Mug/Heart from Zazzle.com
Mug/Heart from Zazzle.com
Pretty ceramic mug with colorful heart design and the Scripture verse: Proverbs 23:12: "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
A pretty gift for a friend, child, grandchild - or yourself!
Pretty ceramic mug with colorful heart design and the Scripture verse: Proverbs 23:12: "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
A pretty gift for a friend, child, grandchild - or yourself!
Button/Heart from Zazzle.com
Button/Heart from Zazzle.com
Pretty digital-design heart with Proverbs 23:12: "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
Need a little gift for Valentine's Day....for your Sunday School class , child, grandchild, a friend?
Pretty digital-design heart with Proverbs 23:12: "Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge."
Need a little gift for Valentine's Day....for your Sunday School class , child, grandchild, a friend?
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Brains and Hearts"
The "Wichita Eagle" newspaper has a "call-in" section on the op-ed page. This one, on Tuesday, January 18th, prompted me to write.
The call:
"Can you imagine any previous Republican president with the knowledge, sympathy and intelligence to deliver a message like President Obama gave in Tucson?"
My response is:
Yes. I can imagine ANY previous Republican President OR Democratic President with the knowledge, intelligence and, yes, the sympathy to deliver a message "like" President Obama gave in Tucson ... perhaps an even better message.
Contrary to what some people seem to think, President Obama does not "have the edge" on any other President when it comes to knowledge, sympathy and intelligence. He is not the only President we've ever had with a brain and a heart.
What a ridiculous statement. Purely my opinion, of course. That's not to say that all of our Presidents have not been unique - they each have had their own ways of using their knowledge, intelligence ... their sympathies. Yet, I am always rather appalled at such statements as this caller made.
I mean, think about it. No one becomes President without something in their brains. They've had to have had SOME intelligence to get to the place they were in. Sympathy, too. With few exceptions, if any, past Presidents have shown great love and sympathy in the midst of crisis...whether out of honest emotion or for political gain. Probably a little of both in most cases.
We may disagree with each other's politics - but surely we know that you don't become the President without that brain and heart.
Even a Republican.
The call:
"Can you imagine any previous Republican president with the knowledge, sympathy and intelligence to deliver a message like President Obama gave in Tucson?"
My response is:
Yes. I can imagine ANY previous Republican President OR Democratic President with the knowledge, intelligence and, yes, the sympathy to deliver a message "like" President Obama gave in Tucson ... perhaps an even better message.
Contrary to what some people seem to think, President Obama does not "have the edge" on any other President when it comes to knowledge, sympathy and intelligence. He is not the only President we've ever had with a brain and a heart.
What a ridiculous statement. Purely my opinion, of course. That's not to say that all of our Presidents have not been unique - they each have had their own ways of using their knowledge, intelligence ... their sympathies. Yet, I am always rather appalled at such statements as this caller made.
I mean, think about it. No one becomes President without something in their brains. They've had to have had SOME intelligence to get to the place they were in. Sympathy, too. With few exceptions, if any, past Presidents have shown great love and sympathy in the midst of crisis...whether out of honest emotion or for political gain. Probably a little of both in most cases.
We may disagree with each other's politics - but surely we know that you don't become the President without that brain and heart.
Even a Republican.
Greeting Card/Valentine from Zazzle.com
Greeting Card/Valentine from Zazzle.com
Valentine, Christian: Proverbs 17:22(a) "A merry heart does good ..."
Valentine, Christian: Proverbs 17:22(a) "A merry heart does good ..."
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Child's Organic T-Shirt from Zazzle.com
Child's Organic T-Shirt from Zazzle.com
Cute kids' organic cotton t-shirt ... "Friends" ... original drawings and bright colors!
Cute kids' organic cotton t-shirt ... "Friends" ... original drawings and bright colors!
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