A Sunny Place

Hostess Gift

We got invited to my brother-Inlaw house for a cookout on July 4th with him and wife and grown family what would be a nice gift to take them? I would like it to have something to do with July 4th but it doesn't have too..Thanks..

BLessings Sister Brenda

Birch Beer

Does anyone have a birch beer recipe they would like to share? I would love to make some.. I make our homemade rootbeer...

Thanks.. Sister Brenda

Letting go and the need to leap

Let go.
Let God.

That’s what’s been humming in my head the last few days. I am in the midst of an opportunity to take what to me is a giant faith leap . . . .
I’ve always thought when such an opportunity presented itself that I would fling my arms wide and jump for all I was worth and without hesitation.
Instead it’s been a lot of false starts- I begin to run, ready to jump and just stop short.
Frustrated.
Big time.
Scared.
Just a bit over a smidge.
Well, okay, more than a smidge.
I am a planner. Not only do I have plans, but I have contingency plans- if A goes wrong, I’ve got Plan B and possibly C and D.
My faith leap requires me to totally let go of the need for any other plans than Plan G- God’s Plan.
So why am I afraid to leap into God’s plan?
Good question. I’ve been asking it to myself many, many times and wishin’ my self would answer.
It isn’t like God hasn’t been speaking to my heart and reassuring me.
Time and time again.
For instance- the following is scribbled on a piece of paper that floated out of a mess on my desk- just the other day.
When you pray about a problem, live as though you believe Jesus can do what He says.

Then this was my verse-for-the-day yesterday,

For the Lord gives wisdom: out of His mouth comes knowledge. Proverbs 2:6
And
When blog-visiting today, I found this beautiful reminder.
God is speaking to my heart and yet I’ve done a pretty poor job of listening.
I know that God desires my obedience above all else.
And I know that the good Lord rewards obedience.
I’m just plain chicken scared. It’s a big leap.

BUT

It’s a leap into God’s will. How can I not do it?
Of course, I’m going to do it. I’ve made up my mind that I will do so.
But what needs to change is the quivering anxiousness I have about the whole deal.
I serve an amazing, awe-inspiring, incredible Lord who not only knows my needs better than I but also knows my heart. He knew I was going to have troubles with this leap before I even knew such a leap would ever be necessary.

And so ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let go.
Let God.

WFMW: 5 recipes with 5 ingredients or less

Today being the 1^st Wednesday of the month means it’s Theme Day for Works for Me Wednesday. Today’s theme is to share recipes that are 5 ingredients or less.
I happen to love such simple recipes and already have a few available for trying- so I'll share links to 5 of my best 5-ingredients or less recipes:
Ranch Chicken
Triple Fudge Brownies
Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip
Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
Crockpot Lasagna
I am a big fan of my crockpot. Check out more great recipes by clicking on Recipes under catagories in my side bar AND by visiting Rocks in My Dryer- the official site for all your Works For Me Wednesday tips.

Garden update and Birthdays

My last post was about the first tomato of the summer.......while still fun to spot a red one, now there are quite a few.  Over the weekend we picked about 20, so we officially have tomatoes now!

Friday I picked enough green beans to have 19 bags to sell at market.  I didn't pick again until today and got enough for at least one canner full.  They are snapped and ready to can in the morning.  I know they should be done straight from the garden, but it doesn't always work out that way........  The first planting is not producing much, I think I will wait to see if they come back after the rains we had a few days ago before pulling them up.  We waited a long time between the second and third plantings, but the third planting is coming along nicely.  Four more rows were planted last week and they are starting to peek up today.  We were needing a rain and got .70 on Thursday night and .80 on Friday night.  It is hard to believe how the plants grow with some good old rain water!

Speaking of rain.............the neighbor started mowing our hay this afternoon.  Seems he broke down as he only worked a short time and then left?  He is on vacation this week, which means the hay needs to be done this week! Today was a beautiful day and tomorrow is supposed to be nice, BUT then they are talking about rain again and I really hope God doesn't allow our hay to get wet!!!  (He did last year).  I was nearly in tears several cold winter evenings when I had to pull apart many bales of hay flake by flake, trying to salvage some that wasn't molded to feed the hungry little goats!  When I would get a nice bale I think I was just as excited as the goats were.

Since I last talked with you here things have been pretty normal what ever that is.  Friday I spent the day baking ~ a peach pie, a strawberry-ruhbarb pie, 3 mini apple pies, 10 small loaves of friendship bread, 1 dozen large muffins, and 4 dozen cinnamon rolls.  As you remember hubby had already baked 10 small loaves of lemon-poppy seed bread for me!  We also had potatoes, cucumbers, green beans, eggs, meat and jam to sell.  Market was slow it seemed, sprinkled in the middle, but at the end of the morning it was the best sales of the year so far.  Hubby was having problems with low blood pressure, so he did not feel like driving to Emporia market that morning.  He went with me and I sure enjoy having him along, help loading and unloading it great!  He will also go here this weekend since it is a holiday.

Today was a nice day and it seemed like I got some things done!  Yeah me!  Some days just go by and I don't feel like I accomplish much or at least enough.  Almost everything is marked off of my to-do list tonight, so that feels really good!    Hubby's sister and family planned to stop by here this afternoon on their way home from vacation for a short visit.  Today is her birthday and I was to bake her an apple pie, but as it turned out they needed to get on home and could not stop by.  Today is also our wonderful little grandson, Nick's birthday.......9 years ago tonight was a pretty special occasion! 

Country Blessings,

Marilyn~at Heritage Hill Homestead

Esty

Is any one haveing problems bring up there Esty acct?? I am and I've lost all the aprons I had posted on my blog??

Blessings Sister Brenda

Special menus for this week!

Notes: We’ve got a special week planned. The weather has cooled some so we’ll be having campfires at the beginning of the week (Camp pie pizza- yummo!). Plus we’re celebrating my dad’s birthday (pie & h’made ice cream) Wednesday evening then dear friends of ours will be bringing their children over- all 5- to stay the nite with us on the 3^rd (so our friends can go out & celebrate their anniversary!). The 4^th we’ve got quite a bash planned- some family and friends coming over to celebrate & eat good food. Mr. Steady will be making his h’made port-a-pit chicken and tons more food- I’ll be posting separate about that! I am thankful that we’ve been able to keep the food costs hovering around $50 this week. Thankfully we were able to pay for our Independence Day party without having to touch the food budget.

Monday 
B: Pancakes (leftover from Saturday)
L: chicken patty sandwiches, chips
D: Messy Tacos
Dessert: none
Snack to Moms group: Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip & crackers
Daily Cost: $15.20
Tuesday
B: Oreo vanilla yogurt, honey oatmeal toast w/jam
L: nachos (from last nite’s leftovers)
D: Campfire Pizzas
Dessert: smores
Daily Cost: $7.84
Wednesday – My Dad’s Birthday
B: choice: cereal/yogurt and toast
L: Ham & cheese biscuit sandwiches, chips
D: Ballard Biscuits, greens salad
Dessert: birthday pie @ my parent’s home
Daily Cost: $8.49
Thursday – The Five Friends Sleep-over!
B: French toast
L: Diner Dinner (gotta clean out the fridge!)
D: Bologna Burgers, chips and dip
Dessert: iced monkey bread
Daily Cost: $10.54
Friday – Independence Day Party
B: Red, White & Blue Coffee Cake, breakfast casserole
Party Food: The party food will be shared separate- the cost for the food did not come from our food budget but from returning a large amount of pop cans. It is also potluck- so that has cut down on our cost.
Daily Cost: $6.64
Saturday
B: Daddy Cook (egg, bacon, toast etc.)
L: Leftover Smorgasbord
D: Leftover Smorgasbord
Daily Cost: $3.00
Sunday
B: Cocoa Wheats, toast
L: Diner Dinner- leftovers!
D: Dinner @ church
Daily Cost: $1.25
Weekly Total: $52.96
~~ Don’t forget to check out the yummy menu ideas every Monday over at The Organizing Junkie’s blog. You just might find your next favorite family recipe!

Simple Woman's Daybook entry 2

FOR TODAY

Outside my Window... I see the grass is in need of cutting and the garden in need of weeding. The sun is shining and a cool breeze is blowing. A truly beautiful day.

I am thinking... that today is errand day and I’m going thru the list of To-do’s in my head. It’s laundry day too.

I am thankful for...God’s constant presence and reassurance. All will be well.

From the kitchen...a snack must be made tonight for my homeschool moms’ meeting – Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip with crackers. Messy tacos for Mr. Steady and my little crew at home.

I am creating...messes. Boxing up items to be moved to the garage temporarily so that we can turn a storage/junk room into my office, then turn my office into the girl’s bedroom and the kids’ current bedroom into Mr. Conductor only’s room.

I am going...to Little Busy Town soon to run various errands with the children.

I am wearing... khaki capri pants with a pink T-shirt. Currently I’m barefoot but will soon be slipping on my brown leather sandals for errand running.

I am reading... The Island of Heavenly Daze series by Lori Copeland & Angela Hunt plus various homeschooling materials and a youth worker magazine.

I am hoping... that all will go well with the financial decisions made today, that my errand running will be efficient and frugal, that I will have all my notes ready for the homeschool group meeting tonight and that it will be a wonderful productive meeting. Lastly, I hope that the Lord will make me a blessing to someone today.

I am hearing...the water draining from the washing machine, the breeze snapping the flag in the garden and the children playing nearby.

Around the house... all those boxes need to be filled and moved to the garage, laundry washed & dried then the folding and putting away. Perhaps a loaf of bread made this afternoon.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 can chunk chicken
½ cup hot sauce
2- 8 oz. pkg cream cheese
16 ox. Bottle Ranch Dressing
16 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
-- Combine all ingredients in a crockpot and cook on low until bubbly approx. 2.5 to 3 hours. Keep an eye on it!
Serve with crackers or tortilla chips.
Cost breakdown: can of chicken $1.69 (Aldi’s), hot sauce approx. 50 cents (bottle purchased for $1), cream cheese $1.78 (Aldi’s), Ranch Dressing 99 cents (Aldi’s) and cheese $3 (on sale at local grocer).
I’ll be serving it with wheat and butter crackers I purchased for $1/each at local dollar store.
Total Cost: $7.96 or $9.96 with crackers.

Fabric

Does anybody know where I can find hot dog fabric?? There is a vender in town that has a hot dog cart and asked me to make her an apron..Any help on this would be great.. Thanks..

Blessings Sister Brenda