Sunday, February 28, 2010

Crown of Glory

         ~ Inspiration came during 11:00am service ~



Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!

*
Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
*
Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery

Come up lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia,
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,

To the King, to King

To the King of Glory
*
This post is dedicated to my sister's childhood friend
who recently passed away.
~ You are in  His Holy Presence ~

*Thank you to the Music Group
at Grace Fellowship*
This song was so beautifully done.
:Revelation Song:

First photo of the heart in the clouds was taken by my husband
while camping at Indian Lake last summer.
(I used Picasa to add the crown)
Second photo of the rainbow taken this autumn after a big thunderstorm.


Saturday, February 27, 2010

Sugar Frosted Day

Everything here
is
s u g a r   f r o s t e d
and the snow plow is humming again.
i m a g i n e
a
sugar frosted world
then
the snow takes on a new look
We're traveling west to visit my father.
His area of NY had quite a storm this week.
With the snow still gently falling
like powdered sugar,
we venture off
Rachael, Juan and Jason are off to NYC to buy handsome suits for the wedding.
Did I tell you there's a wedding?
Travel safely one and all.

You'll love these Cupcake photos

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Charles Dickens Sky Watch

It's baaaack
*
* s * n * o * w *
It started up again Tuesday night
and it kept
 *
snowing
and snowing
and snowing
 
*
The shovel was finally retired for the night
and
we settled in for  
 hot coffee and more Olympics
 
*
Oh...and, here are some
"blue snow windows"
{When light passes through ice, 
the red light is absorbed while the blue is transmitted.}
 Because of the warm temps, 
it's the snow that snowmen are made of!
*
"Well, East Coast girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear."
*My niece's adorable "East Coast Snow-Girl"
*


Thank you to our Sky Watch Friday hosts: 
Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy 
*
Dear Family and Friends,
Have a Sweet Weekend!

Delicious Oven Baked Fish Stew

Easy and Pleasing
*
I start with the famous trio of veggies
  • carrots
  • celery
  • onions

  • I add a layer of peeled and sliced pototoes.
  • I love olives, so I slice up a can of them.
  • A large can of whole tomatoes quartered
Season as desired
(drizzled olive oil & Italian spices are fabulous)
Cover and bake veggies until tender.
Add white fish and bake until flaky.
(I used cod.)
Serve in PASTA bowls with grated  
Mangia!
Buon Appetito!
 
Join me in celebrating Foodie Friday's first anniversary.
See my snowy skies here!

Monday, February 22, 2010

What to learn from a little mouse named Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite author's.
"The Tale of Despereaux" won her a Newbery Medal.
*
What did 11 year old children
and a 54 year old teacher
learn from a little mouse
named
Despereaux?

~ COURAGE ~ 
is not measured by physical size,
but by the certainty of hope - honor - and a quest. 

~ LOVE ~ 
doesn't give up nor does it abandon,
it can move a mouse to do the impossible.

~ FORGIVENESS ~
is not just to excuse the perfidy of another, 
it's about saving your own heart. 

~ PERSUASION 
can be a devious rat's expertise,
but, from a princess or an honorable mouse, it can encourage good in others.

~ LIGHT ~
is what we seek,
it brings hope, kindness and deep joy.

The Tale of Despereaux
is such a worthwhile read, not just for a child,
but for you and me!
~Courage, love, forgiveness, persuasion and light~
essential themes that swirl into a tale that is soul stirring.

Illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering

Dear Readers,
Enjoy your week 
"with the whole of your heart."

ps:  The book is better than the movie!

From her FAQ's

Q: What was it like to win the Newbery award for The Tale of Despereaux?






A: It was the most amazing, unbelievable, wonderful, fantastic, extraordinary thing. Truthfully, I still can't believe it. I cried for days. And when I think about it now, it still makes me feel weepy.





Q: Does that mean there's going to be another book about Despereaux?






A: I'm not planning on writing another Despereaux book, but who knows? Anything is possible. And if the mouse comes and sits on my shoulder and whispers another story in my ear, I will certainly write it down.


Thursday, February 18, 2010

Healthy Heart ♥ Dinner for Two

A woman's heart
seeks love
 warmth
comfort
 
 health
 
 sweetness and a little zest

February is the month for Valentines, Love and Hearts.

Taking care of our hearts is life long.
Salmon is a heart-healthy food.
On Valentine's weekend, my husband brought home a "big catch" from the market.
He baked it for us with sliced lemons, butter (Smart Balance) and herbs.
*a lil' salt, pepper and lemon zest*
We had lots of left-overs.
...So on another night...

Voilà
S a l m o n   S a l a d

Dark leaf lettuce
pope tomatoes
celery
baby carrots
shredded carrots
sweet red peppers
sliced baby portabellas
 
Gently place Lemon Salmon on top of salad.

Sprinkle on
w a r m  b a l s a m i c  d r e s s i n g
  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
  • 1 pinch salt
  • ground black pepper to taste
  • lemon zest
Microwave for about 20 seconds to warm.

~ Enjoy With All Your Heart ~

I served fresh baked, comforting and still warm
whole wheat rolls,
using King Arthur Flour's recipe.
I used less oil, fresh skim milk and a free-range egg.
Dessert
~ Fruit dipped in Dark Chocolate ~
swirled in finely chopped walnuts
a healthy little indulgence

My tea was Celestial Seasonings Lemon Zinger.

Wishing you love, warmth, health and a little zest!
Today, I'm posting for Tablescape Thursday and Foodie Friday!

Join me in celebrating Foodie Friday's first anniversary.
salad plates:  Lenox everyday Winter Greetings
Dinner plates: Corelle's Farm Fresh
mugs recently purchased at a consignment shop
The shopkeeper told me a 90 yr. old woman brought them in.
teakettle - Lenox Winter Greetings
fondue set- Hershey
birdie salt/pepper from Pier 1


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Just a few lines of latitude . . .

What a difference a few latitude lines make!
Photos taken February 16, 2010

Upstate New York:  42° 45' N     73° 48' W
- - -
Orlando, Florida:    28° 33' N     81° 23' W


I'm way up here in the capital region of NY.

One of my daughters is in Orlando Florida.
(She had to go there for work and sent me these photos from her cellphone Tuesday morning).
*
Both places are beautiful in their own way.
 *
Find loveliness wherever you are.
...even if it's in a daydream of Orlando...
 *
*Miss you Rachael ~ Wish we were there*

We're still enjoying the warm Valentine  Days of February
Tonight some fruit will be double dipping in melted dark chocolate

Dear Family & Friends,
I hope you're having a wonderful week!

Have you visited Sky Watch Friday lately?
You'll love what
did with their site!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Your Treasure ♥

For where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also.
Luke 12:34


Heartfelt wishes
 for treasures that last.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Sixth Grade OLYMPIC GOLD

What a wonderful week we had.
~
We prepared in many ways.
Every day there was a 'little something OLYMPIC.'
One of my students was busy dreaming up a Jello recipe.
It received a GOLD MEDAL for effort, taste and perfection!
There were BIG smiles when this was 'unveiled.'
We had our own version of passing the 'torch.'
We passed around our paper chains of OLYMPIC colors...

...and...
Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the Olympic mascots, connected each student's chain.
Some of my After School Book Club students stayed a little later on Thursday to decorate the back wall in preparation for our OLYMPIC celebration day.
We'll be adding more flags when we return from winter break...
...and we will begin our Reading Olympics competition!

Several students took home extra crafts and even spent time making
OLYMPIC
mascot finger puppets!

Maria was busy making 48 cupcakes.

The Wonder Company made these cute pins ~ they became my cupcake deco's!

Wonderful OLYMPIC snacks to enjoy while I read the book Koralee sent me.
Thanks again, Koralee!

We had great fun at our OLYMPIC Extraveganza.

I hope you enjoy all the
OLYMPIC   FUN
That's about to unfold! 

Thank you Canada for hosting such an incredible event!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Morning Moon

“In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter,
and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things
the heart finds its morning
and is refreshed.”

~ Kahlil Gibran ~
~  ~  ~
and now here's mine ;o)

When the moon's out in the morning
and the day seems upside-down
say a prayer ♥ to the Creator
and the day can 
turn around
~  ~
~
I thank God for coffee too!
 * * *

Morning Moon photo taken a couple of weeks ago
on the way to work.
(I stopped the car to take the shot ;o)