Please Pray my Friiends...

06:17 - Sunday, July 6, 2008 - comments {25} - post comment

Saturday's Snapshot July 5th, 2008

Don't let his cuteness fool you, he is Grade A Varmit. 

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

12:44 - Saturday, July 5, 2008 - comments {3} - post comment

Red, White and Blue

Red- My newly painted toenails... I finally redeemed my pedicure yesterday... Thanks Mom... please excuse my four knuckle toes.
White- Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream, a must for any 4th of July cookout! Mmm...
Blue- Freshly picked blueberries, to be made into our Independence Day Breakfast... thanks Linz.

I hope you all have a Fantastic 4th of July... be happy, be safe, and be thankful.  God Bless the USA!!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:32 - Friday, July 4, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

Sewing and such

I have been a sewing maniac lately.  I had a few stitches to finish up on a wedding gift that I finished a few days ago... My Mom has her 50th birthday party coming up Saturday and there are a few odd and end projects in my head.  Here is the wedding gift.  Pillowcases that just say newly married to me...
I enjoyed these pillowcases because I adore French knots, and these had several. Woohoo!
I am totally in love with my newest project... it is something I am making for my Mom, and I think it is just grand.  From time to time she reads my blog so I am hesitant to post a picture... I will after I am finished and I give it to her. 
I am going to be making some jam today and will be helping my sister move later on... so I must run, it is late and I am behind... I stayed up WAY too late sewing last night.  Have a Terrific Thursday.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:14 - Thursday, July 3, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Spinach Quiche

Good Morning! 
I know how busy we can be during summer, working in the garden, canning and preserving what is coming in, just general work... So last night I played around in the kitchen and came up with a delicious treat for a simple supper.
Spinach Quiche
8 eggs
1 medium onion chopped
1 can mushrooms
1 box of frozen spinach
3 cloves of chopped garlic
1 Tbsp of parsley
1/2 cup sour cream
4 oz. cream cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
2 pie crusts

Chop all of your veggies and beat your eggs, mix together thoroughly.  Break your cream cheese and butter in bits and add, add sour cream and mix.
Pour into pie crusts and bake at 375* for 30-40 minutes.
Serve with a salad.
I hope you are having a great day... May you enjoy today and all of its beauty.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:05 - Wednesday, July 2, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Hair-do's

Good Morning!
When it comes to being a Moma of little ones... girls for that matter, I have always tried to make sure that if we leave the house the girls hair is fixed.  Other than that, I sometimes wouldn't even think about fixing their hair... only later to be terribly bothered that they look like Cousin Itt running through the yard, wondering how they can stand to try and see through the mangled mess or what I called the mop on their head.  I was inspired when I came upon this blog called She Does Hair.  So yesterday, I told my girls, we are going to start fixing our hair everyday... not just on days we go to church or we go to Walmart.  So here is what we did with their hair yesterday.
Carlie Jean's criss crosses




Cameo's Mane
I French Braided her hair down each side and then left some to be spiky at the ends, I then brought each end up and tied it at the base of the head.
She wants me to let you know the reason her eyes are red and puffy in this picture was because there was talk of getting rid of her dog and it devastated her, (the dog snapped at the mailman twice... she just had 5 puppies and she is EXTREMELY protective, the mailman therefore told me off and said he was NEVER bringing my mail again, I would just have to come into town to pick it up, I told Cameo we might have to think about getting rid of Dixie if she is going to be that aggressive... although this is certainly not the first time, and with those words Cameo broke down)
Have a great day my friends, and enjoy this first day of July!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

06:43 - Tuesday, July 1, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window...
  the laundry line with some lingering laundry that got soaked by a surprise rain shower... the strawberry patch that bore us a great deal of fruit this year and our root cellar that is aching to be finished.

I am thinking...
about my plans for the week.  Laundry that needs to be done, a house that needs to be cleaned and a garden that needs tended... but really I am thinking about more than that.  I am thinking of how I want to have really great relationships with my children, how I want them to be able to look right here at home to find people they want to be like, to not look at the 'wanna be someone else' people of the world... I want them to be able to look at me and their father and see us striving to be more like Jesus and that be their goal as well. 

I am thankful...
for my husband, for my children, for my family, for like-minded friends and for God's grace and patience with me. 

In the sewing room...
I have a great desire to get in there at some point today and tidy up... I have an idea that is a big task that I want to be able to accomplish by Saturday... A great undertaking for me... but possibly do-able.  I have just about finished a dear couples present that was married Saturday, it has just a few more French Knots to go... and I want to crochet some more dish cloths for myself.

From the kitchen...
today's plans include making peach jam with my children.  We finished off the last of our last year's jam this past week... but my dear Lindsey blessed us with a jar of fresh peach jam on Saturday...mmm... inspiration in a half-pint. 

I am wearing...
it is early and I am still in my nightgown... it used to be lovely, white with tiny blue flowers and scalloped edges.  It was given to me by my precious Mom and sweet Sister when I was pregnant with Abram almost 3 years ago...

I am reading...
L'abri by Edith Shaffer, finishing up Raising Godly Tomatoes by L. Elizabeth Kruger and I have just started The Charlotte Mason Companion.

I am hoping...
that I can get a LOT of things accomplished today, and be a good Mom during the whole time.

I am hearing...
my oldest son talk to me in a very sleepy voice, asking if I remember something that of course I don't...

One of my favorite things...
productivity... I love to be productive, to make plans, to carry out plans, to accomplish my goals...
And, my children's laughter.  When they are jolly and loving and agreeable with one another and truly are happy and giddy with laughter... it is good for my soul.

A few plans for the rest of the week...
a project in my head (shhh, it is a surprise), jam making with my children, cleaning, planning a 50th birthday party for my Mom on Saturday, and spending quality time with my family.

A picture thought to share with you...
Saturday afternoon, after we finished helping our friends butcher the last 25 chickens, we went down to the river.  Eli was sitting out there contentedly fishing... it was such a sweet scene I had to snap a picture. 

You can read more about The Simple Woman and join in on the daybook entries.  Have a great day dear ones. 

06:51 - Monday, June 30, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

Homecoming Pictures

Last Sunday was Homecoming at our church.  It is usually a big time, full of good preaching, good cooking and good fellowship.  I took my camera, but I was so busy doing, I didn't take any pictures.  Thankfully Uncle Zach took enough for all of us!
That look on Carlie Jean's face was hilarious, I think she wanted another deviled egg and I told her that 3 was enough... haha...
Here is my beautiful Moma...
Here is my beautiful sister...
My dearest and I...
3 of my darling children...
A view of the crowd...
Bro  Jim was our guest preacher... The Unity Quartet was our special singers...
We had such a nice day...
I hope you are having a lovely Friday... and I hope your weekend is beautiful too. 
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:09 - Friday, June 27, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Focaccia Bread

Welcome and Good Morning!  I hope you are having a swell Thursday... 
I figured with it being my favorite day, I would share with you some Thursday love... and you will LOVE this recipe!
My dear friend Lindsey adapted it from a recipe for a savory focaccia bread from a magazine we both get through email, it is such a lovely magazine.  Beautiful pictures, great recipes and crafty ideas.  It is called Seasonal Delights... go check it out!
Anyhow back to the reason you came... the Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Focaccia Bread...  the name is a mouthful in itself. Ha
Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Focaccia Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup warm water (110°F)
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast (I used a tablespoon)
2 1/2 cups flour (I used soft white wheat)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3-4 T sugar (I used sucanat)
4 T butter, melted, divided

1/3 cup brown sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon for topping

1/4 powdered sugar, milk, vanilla for icing

Stir together warm water and sugar in a small bowl.  Add the yeast slowly, stirring constantly to dissolve.  Let stand until bubbly, about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl combine the flour, additional sugar, salt and cinnamon.  Make a well in the center and add the yeast mixture and 2 tablespoons of the butter.  Stir to combine thoroughly but try not to knead at this point.  I had to mix it together with my hands just a bit to make sure it was all mixed up.
Cover and rest for 30 minutes.  Preheat your oven to 425 degrees after 15 minutes of the resting time.
Remove dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 30-60 seconds.  The dough should still be fairly soft but also smooth.  Roll out about 1/2 inch thick and place on a baking sheet or stone.  Push your fingertips down into the dough, making dimples, not holes, all over the dough.  Spread the remaining 2 T butter over the top.
Combine topping ingredients and spread all over the buttered dough.  Bake for about 15 minutes.  Remove from oven.
Place powdered sugar in a bowl and add *maybe* 3 t milk, a little bit at a time, until the consistency of icing.  Add the tiniest splash of vanilla extract and stir.  Drizzle over warm bread (I like to cut into strips and then drizzle) and serve.

Oh yum, these were so good.  Thankfully Shannon and the kids finished them off so it freed me of the temptation.
I hope you all have a fantastic Thursday!  Love to each of you!
xoxo
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

**Oh! And YES this recipe is going in my binder, FOR SURE!**

07:34 - Thursday, June 26, 2008 - comments {7} - post comment

Moma Chas's Recipes

My Favorite Recipes, I have them everywhere... in my recipe box, in cookbooks that have been bookmarked and rabbit eared, on the computer... But there are times, they are not easily found.  My friend Lindsey shared with me a brilliant idea a long while back... since then my Book of Recipes has grown.  This is separate from my HomeKeeping Binder, which we can talk about in the future...
Of course the computer is a key element.  I have inputed most of my favorite recipes into a document file and saved so I can find them on here if I need to.
My folder is a LARGE 2" binder...
I have the printed recipes in my binder, organized in several different sections.  Main Dishes, Breads, Desserts, Party foods, and a catch-all section.
It could still use some more organization, maybe a list page that tells me what page I will find My Banana Friendship Cake or Scarecrow's Cinnamon Rolls.  But even without one, I still really enjoy using my recipe binder.  I know that my most loved recipes reside in these pages and I love just browsing through from time to time. 
I hope you enjoy this idea... It is one that I love and it helps me a lot in my homekeeping. 
Have a beautiful day dear ones!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:17 - Wednesday, June 25, 2008 - comments {10} - post comment