New Recipe~

This is a recipe I came up with on the fly last night and it was really good! I love mushrooms and garlic so it was a win win for me :)


1 16 oz box of spaghetti
12 button mushrooms,wiped off and sliced(I didn't use the stems)
2 TBSP Butter
3 TBSP olive oil
3 cloves garlic~sliced
1/2 Cup Heavy cream or half and half
1 tsp each of parsley,thyme,tarragon
dash of salt and pepper
freshly grated parm


Cook pasta according to directions,set aside
Saute shrooms, garlic in olive oil and butter on low/medium heat till tender (about 10 min or so)
add cream and herbs stir
add salt and pepper to taste then simmer on low for a few minutes
Add sauce to pasta then sprinkle the parmasean cheese over top.YUM!!! It's very rich and earthy,a nice change from all the Thanksgiving leftovers :)

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever! There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high, and a happy heart. I will marvel at the Universe seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds, the trees, the flowers, the birds. Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people. I'll make someone smile. I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for her and how much she means to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things the Universe has already given me.

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in the Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I got to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Universe for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because now tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!

~by Gregory M. Lousignont

 

Happy Monday all!!!
I wanted to post a pic of all the amazing Cucumbers and Zucchini I got from my mother in-law's garden yesterday. I would love to have my own garden one day and would like for it to be behind my white farmhouse on 10 acres in the Tenn. mountains! :p Well a girl can dream right!
I love Zucchini and have so many recipes that I'll be making. I learned a few years ago that you can shred it and freeze so I'm going to do that as well.

Here are some of the cucumbers~ They are just perfect with a dash of sea salt

 Zucc and mushroom Quesedilla~ I had never made it before but it was so good!
I sauteed the Zucchini,portabellos mushrooms,onion, in olive oil until tender then added to 2  tortillas with some shredded cheese then cook for approx. 3-5 min on either side.(I just used the same pan I sauteed in)

It's so good with sour cream or salsa~ Delish!

I think I'll be making the Chocolate Zucc cake next :)

It's super hot today and we're under a heat advisory until tomorrow. It's getting ready to storm so I'm hoping that will cool it off some. I know it's only July but my mind is already wandering to those crisp cool days of Fall,I can't wait!

I have returned :)

Hey All~ If anyone is still stopping by I thought I'd pop in and make a new post today. It's been a long time since I have and to tell you the truth I wasn't sure I would ever go back to blogging but I think I'm going to try it again. I started my blog 4 years ago pretty much just to keep a record of my kids and all the things we did and it is so amazing to go back and read some of those posts. We all have grown and changed SO much since then!
My life has taken many twists and turns in the last 5 years or so but I feel very blessed today and every day.
I have no idea if anyone is still reading or ever will but I'm going to continue here with what's important to me now....my family,my faith,my home,cooking, and who knows what else! We'll see how it goes :)

Cooking

"The Gift of an Ordinary Day" by Katrina Kenison

IIf you haven't seen this and especially if you have children,you must watch.

Dreaming of Tennessee

Our 17th wedding anniversary is coming up in a few weeks and I'm hoping and hoping again to be able to go to Tenn for a couple of days. We were married there in a sweet little Log Chapel on a snowy February afternoon. It was just the 2 of us but it was beautiful.
Tennessee has always been our "special" place. It's been almost 3 years since we've been able to go so I'm really looking forward to going again. Life is different there, everything is just different there.
The video above is the cabin I would like to stay in,we've stayed in some amazing places there over the years but this is one I've always had my eye on.It just looks so warm and cozy and what a VIEW!!!!

Winter Wonderland

 We have been getting alot of snow today,I think at this point it's at about 4 inches with more coming. the kids got out of school early today and probably won't go tomorrow. It looks like our temps will be hovering around 0 by morning so we're gearing up to stay in with some jammies and hot cocoa!
I do not enjoy driving in the ice and snow at all but it is sure beautiful to look at.
Some winter images to enjoy~~~

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time is Here Song

Country Living Fair!

I am super excited to be going to the Country Living fair this weekend!I've wanted to go for years but just never did manage to get there for one reason or another.The ladies from Gooseberry Patch will be there and I can't wait to meet them!! I've been a fan for more than 12 yrs now and have tons of their cookbooks!
So to prep us all I'm making "Easy Chicken and Noodles" from this one.................

It looks like it's going to wonderful "fallish" weather this weekend to boot.
Be back soon to post pics of the fair...wooo eeee I can't wait!

September~

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
- John Updike, September

Miranda Lambert - The House That Built Me

I heard this song on a few different blogs that I visit and I just love it!The lyrics made me think of the house that I grew up in.SO many memories.

Halloween Giveaway!

"Briar Ridge Halloween" is having a really neat giveaway on their blog.Go check it out and enter to win!!

Love this~

Vickis Most Delicious Pumpkin BreadTaste Testers Top Choice from Through the Country Door®

Vickis Most Delicious Pumpkin BreadTaste Testers Top Choice from Through the Country Door®

Thinking of fall~~~

Gosh it sure has been hot around here!I make no secret of the fact that I don't like the heat and really just don't do well in it at all.(cranky,tired,etc)
It's definitely had my mind wandering to fall with the cooler temps and crisp air.I thought I'd post some pics to remind me that all this summer heat will soon turn to cool breezes and all the warm and wonderful colors of fall.Call me crazy but I might go get a fall candle out and light it up just to help get me there!
There are a couple OF new scents at Yankee Candle that I'm looking forward to trying out.
One is this "Apple Pie"
YUM!

The other is this...."Mountain Lodge".That reminded me of Tennessee.




I can't wait!

Summer is a comin and other random thoughts

Wow it's really warm here today! I absolutely have to get out and do some weeding this afternoon but I might wait till it cools off a bit.It went from Spring to Summer in like a minute!

I made a new veggie lasagna over the weekend and hope to post it tomorrow.I have to say it was pretty good!It was actually a really nice weekend,I spent time on Saturday with some family that I had not seen in several years.That's always good.

Going totally off topic but.........there are not too many movies that I'm ever excited to go see but right now I really want to see this~




and this!


Yes,I am a huge SATC fan,watched every episode ever and I'm anxious to see what happens between Carrie/Mr Big/Aidan!!!

So anyhoo tonight I have to help my 9 yr old son finish a report on George Washington and somehow manage to dress him up to look like GW!Should be fun.

Free Chick Fil A!

I LOVE Chick Fil A! Get a FREE sandwich~(and grab some sweet tea to go along with it!)

http://www.getspicychicken.com/

My new read

Just a little note to share a wonderful book I'm reading right now~ "Firefly Lane" by Kristin Hannah.
I was drawn to this book when I saw it the other day at the store (1 reason is the fact that I have this "thing" for fireflies)and I had heard great things about the author so I started reading it 2 days ago.
I'm already looking forward to reading some of her other books!

Her website~http://blog.kristinhannah.com/