Humble Beginnings

Roast Beef Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette

Spinach Salad with Nectarines & Raspberries

Cherry Refrigerator Cookies

Cherry Refrigerator Cookies
A very festive cookie, especially if you use both the red and green candied cherries.

1 c Unsalted Margarine
1/2 c Sugar
1/2 c Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 t Vanilla
2 3/4 c Flour
1 t Sodium Free Baking Powder
1/4 t Sodium Free Baking Soda
1/8 t Cinnamon
1 c Candied Cherries, Chopped
1/2 c Walnuts, Chopped

Cream margarine and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well. Stir together dry ingredients and add to mixture. Stir in cherries and nuts. Form into rolls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap in waxed paper and chill overnight. Slice 1/4 inch thick. Place on baking sheet 1 inch apart. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Yield: 60 Servings

Per Serving:
85 Calories
1 g Protein
4 g Total Fat
1 g Saturated Fat
1 g Polyunsaturated Fat
2 g Monounsaturated Fat
12 g Carbohydrates
0.2 g Fiber
4 mg Sodium
34 mg Potassium
0 mg Cholesterol

Vacation! :)

Yeah.....I survived in getting ready to leave on vacation....I seriously was doubting going away.  Why is it so hard to go away?  We leave tomorrow very early in the morning!  My dad and uncle came to dogsit and take care of the garden for us.  What a blessing they are!  :)   Sammie is loving all the attention he can get from my uncle, and Holly is laying in the recliner in my dad's room (her favorite spot when he is home).  :) 

I hope to get pictures of our trip to share!   We will be  staying with my aunt and uncle in Northern California (near San Francisco)  and drive home the coast and spend one night in Pismo Beach.  I can't wait! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

My blog, resurrected...

Well, boy has it been a while!  With all of life's ups and downs and unknowns, I backed away from blogging here until our big "whatever" happened and I could have some stability once again.

If any of you remember my blog entries from years past, we have been on a long journey to selling our house and finding work with a Christian camp.  It's been a roller-coaster ride to be sure (just check my archives under the Camp Quest category!!) but has finally come to fruition. 

I will likely write a book about this great adventure, since there were so many lessons to be learned along the way and God did, many times, show Himself in both large and small ways.  I give Him all the glory for the process as well as the result!  And, of course, it isn't over.  No, this is only the beginning of the adventure, as the song from "Narnia" goes.

We did indeed finally sell the house.  Last winter.  In the worst housing market in decades.  Within three weeks of listing!!!  That, my friends, was a miracle.  And I don't say that lightly, I truly believe it.

The rest of the story gets interesting, but bears telling, at least in outline form.  The same week we received the offer on the house, we were contacted by a camp manager who saw our profile with CCCA.  To that point, he was the only one to do so.  Wow!....Cool!  Sell the house and get the camp in the same week!  Well, not exactly.  Hah!...did you expect it to be so simple?! 

Long story short:  my husband decided not to take the camp position.....

Our "Plan B", if you will, had always been to head to Florida.  My dad lives there, which is why we chose that state.  Also, despite the bad economy, we figured there were at least more job opportunities there than in our little rural NH area.  True, in theory.  Reality??...not so much.  We did come to Florida the first week in April.  Moving itself was a nightmare and I won't get into those details now (mostly becasue I don't want to think about them!  lol!).  We thought we had a good plan in place before we left, and in another time it might have been, but basically every lead we had in both housing and jobs just fell totally flat.  We spent a lot of time wondering what in the world we had done.  I never "blamed" God for any of my circumstances but boy did I cry out to Him for help!!  You have to remember, God often sends you to your knees to get your attention.  He had mine good! 

We did eventually find a place to live, but DH never did find "real" work.  God has sustained us, much like the Israelites in their wandering of the wilderness, but just like them, this was never meant to be the final destination.  I know that now.  It's been a place of growing and learning and trusting God for ALL things.  We love it here, by the way, but it's expensive!  We could never stay here and live the life we want for our family.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch (literally...), my husband has kept in touch with the camp he "almost" went to work for.  Why??  None of us can really figure that out, except to say that it would seem the Lord wanted it that way.  They still hadn't found someone to fill the position, and he we are still looking for work....

*DING!*.....You are now free to move about the country....

Two weeks ago we hopped in our van and headed west to Texas.  We spent 10 days at the camp, during which time DH was able to help out and both see what it would be like as well as show what he can do.  It was a match made in Heaven.  Truly!  Oh, and the house we can live in?.......

Is my long-dreamed-of HOMESTEAD!!!!!!!!!!!

Next time I will post pictures of the house and the grounds, and they will serve as my "before" pictures for all I have planned!

Maybe the 4th is over now ?

Its 1:53 a.m. here and fireworks are just slowing down. Numerous phone calls into the Police Sept. Here in the suburbs, a few houses behind are still celebrating and I have been armed with waterhose to keep grass from catching fire. Already our big dog in the back yard has yelped as if hurt and is still going bonkers . I checked her and couldn't find anything but I am betting she either stepped on a hot firecracker or a hot fireworks something... maybe bit one laying on the ground or it hit her. She is okay but I am really not in the mood for more of this, I sat up looking through blogs and commenting on some... thought I could pass time. Its late, I am tired and I am getting pretty grouchy now. I can hear fireworks still going off in the distance but I think the ones right behind has stopped. About time.

Looks like someone here will be sleeping in on a sunday morning.

Goodnight !

Blessings from

A tired Abbygrouch

4th of July

         Happy 4th of July !

      Time was taken this morning to phone family out in East Texas and they were wished  a Happy Holiday as I had my morning coffee and chat with them.

     Sweetgirl and Son are home today and its just been a very laid back day .

      I have spent part of the day cleaning here and there and have a few clothes to hang out on the line. Not to spend the day busy though , as Hubby will be home soon and we're planning on grilling burgers out and I'll be baking a lemon cake for dessert.

    My big finds at Auction last night for $3.00...... crochet needles and yarn . I sorted through it all and some of it will be donated that I will not use and there are crochet needles to be split at this week's needlework meeting, between friends who use the "pointier" crochet needles. My fav is the Susan Bates needles with the rounder hook. I guess my big find in that box was a real handcarved ivory crochet hook , about a size H. Oh and there were some tiny vintage steel hooks as well that were  needed in sizes  for doilies that I have been wanting to crochet up but didn't have small enough needles. All will be shared and what is kept , used.

     Nothing really to tell... its been a quiet week on the little Homestead here. Everyone is well and the weather is still very hot and sunny !

    Enjoy this day !

    Blessings !

     Abby

Happy July 4th

What a day of celebration!  I think specifically this year as we see things changing in our country, it takes me back to our roots.  If you would like to read the Declaration of Independence, you can do that here:

www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/index.htm

Or, maybe you would prefer to hear and see it read on you tube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYyttEu_NLU

I want to personally thank each and every veteran who has served our country.  Your sacrifice, your bravery, your dedication has kept our country free.  We have freedoms to vote, to protest, to live as we want, to work hard, to enjoy entertainment, to worship God in the way each of us has chosen, etc.   

There is no country as great as ours, however, if we are not careful, we will lose those freedoms.  So, let's set aside a little time today to remember our founding father's and what they truly gave us on July 4, 1776.  May God's hand be on and bless America!

Patriotic Fruit Pizza

Patriotic Fruit Pizza

1 (16 1/2 oz.) pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 C of sugar, divided
2 T of cornstarch
1/2 C of orange juice
1/4 C of lemon juice
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1 T of milk
1 t orange peel, grated
2/3 C of heavy whipping cream
1 apple, peeled and sliced thin
1 1/2 C of fresh strawberries, halved
1 C seedless dark purple grapes, halved
1 banana, sliced thin
1 C of fresh raspberries
1/2 C of fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the cookie dough and let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.

Carefully spread the dough onto an ungreased pizza pan. Bake the dough 15 minutes or until a golden brown. Remove and allow the dough to cool on the pan.

Dump half of the sugar into a small saucepan. Add the cornstarch and toss slightly to combine. Pour the orange and lemon juice into the mixture.

Place the pan over medium heat bringing the mixture to a steady boil.
Continue boiling for 2 minutes stirring constantly then remove the pan from the heat, setting aside to cool. Cube the cream cheese and place in a large mixing bowl. Pour the milk over the cream cheese. Add the orange peel and the remaining sugar. Beat the mixture until blended together well and smooth.

Place the whipping cream into a small mixing bowl. Beat the whipping cream until soft peaks begin to form. Fold the whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture until blended in well. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Place the apple slices around the outside edge of the crust.

Next layer the strawberry halves around the crust. Circle the halved grapes on next. Add the bananas to the ring. Place the raspberries onto the crust next. Finish the ring with the blueberries. Spread the reserved glaze evenly over the all the fruit. Place covered in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until chilled.

Makes 12 servings

Preparation Time: approximately 30 minutes

Firecracker Cupcakes

Firecracker Cupcakes

1 (18 oz. ) box of devils food cake mix
1 1/4 C of sour cream
3 eggs
1/3 C of canola oil
2 T instant coffee crystals
1/2 t ground chipotle chili pepper
1 (11.5 oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate chunks
2 t flour
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 C butter, room temperature
1/2 t vanilla
2 1/2 C of powdered sugar
Red and blue food coloring
2 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 C of whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Dump the devils food cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Add in the sour cream, eggs, and oil. Sprinkle in the coffee crystals and pepper.

With an electric mixer on low speed beat the ingredients for 45 seconds.
Adjust the speed to medium and continue beating 2 minutes making the batter thick.

Place the flour in a small bowl. Add the chocolate chunks and toss to coat.
Fold the chocolate into the cupcake batter. Fill the prepared muffin cups 3/4 full of the batter.

Bake 20 minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to continue cooling.

Place the cream cheese and the butter into a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and beat until combined.
Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until the mixture reaches a frosting consistency.

Separate the frosting into 3 small bowls and tint one bowl with the red food coloring and 1 bowl with the blue food coloring. Frost the cupcakes dividing between the 3 different colors.

Place the chopped chocolate into a small mixing bowl. Heat the whipping cream in a saucepan over low heat to just boiling. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes then whisk until smooth.

Place the mixture into a sealable baggie. Snip one corner of the baggie and drizzle the chocolate over the frosted cupcakes.

Makes 24 cupcakes