Mosaic Monday

Join us over at "Little red house " for Mosaic Monday........

~ Words for life's journey ~

A heartfelt thanks to all of you for your comments on my last post...I have such wonderful friends and  it was truly appreciated.

 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 
 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Little Grandma"

Early this morning, my sweet mother passed away peacefully in her sleep. How appropriate that it’s a Sunday and today she’s worshipping and dancing for joy ……in heaven.
Keep me in your prayers,
Suzy

Mosaic Monday

Grandson Alex knew that he really wanted to play an instrument in the school band...but which one?  Well, I think it took very little convincing once the teacher said that he was the only one that could blow hard enough to get a sound out of the ...slide trombone. On Thanksgiving we were entertained with " Hot Cross Buns" and "Merrily we roll along".  He was excited to hear that his great - grandfather also played the trombone... in a marching band.

Join in over at "Little red house" for mosaic monday.

Count your blessings...

Sweet Potato Cake

Serves:15

Ingredients:

1  Betty Crocker Super Moist yellow cake mix
1/2 cup chopped pecans, if desired
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 eggs
1 can (18 ounces) vacuum packed sweet potatoes or 2 medium sweet potatoes, cooled and mashed =1 3/4 cups)


Additional chopped pecans if desired
Betty Crocker Cream cheese icing


Directions:
1- Heat oven to 350°. Grease bottom and sides of rectangular pan, 13 x 9 x 2 inches, with shortening; lightly flour.


2- Beat all ingredients except icing and additional pecans in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds (batter will be thick). Beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scrapping bowl frequently. Pour into pan.


3- Bake 28 to 32 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Run knife around side of pan to loosen.
 Cool completely, about 1 hour.
Spread icing over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans. Store covered in refrigerator.


High Altitude (3500 to 6500 feet): Bake 35 to 40 minutes.


1 Serving: Calories 315 (Calories from Fat 70); Fat 8g

HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING!

Mosaic Monday

I'm such a sentimental soul......I love anything old.

 Old china, old linens and ladies hankies,

 old stories, old houses and barns

 and...

Thanks to Mary over at "Little red house" for her  Mosaic Monday meme.

~ Words for life's journey ~

 If there is no passion in your life,

 then have you really lived?

 

Find your passion,

whatever it may be.

 Become it, and let it become you

 and you will find great things happen

 for you,  to you,

 and because of you.

~ Inspiring women ~

I received this e-mail recently and it's a little lengthy, but it did my heart good to read it and I wanted to share:

Annie
(Author Unknown)

Dr. Frank Mayfield was touring Tewksbury Institute when, on his way out, he accidentally collided with an elderly floor maid. To cover the awkward moment Dr. Mayfield started asking questions, "How long have you worked here?"  "I've worked here almost since the place opened," the maid replied. "What can you tell me about the history of this place?" he asked.  "I don't think I can tell you anything, but I could show you something."
With that, she took his hand and led him down to the basement under the oldest section of the building. She pointed to one of what looked like small prison cells, their iron bars rusted with age, and said, "That's the cage where they used to keep Annie."
"Who's Annie?" the doctor asked.
"Annie was a young girl who was brought in here because she was incorrigible - which means nobody could do anything with her. She'd bite and scream and throw her food at people. The doctors and nurses couldn't even examine her or anything. I'd see them trying with her spitting and scratching at them. I was only a few years younger than her myself and I used to think, 'I sure would hate to be locked up in a cage like that.' I wanted to help her, but I didn't have any idea what I could do. I mean, if the doctors and nurses couldn't help her, what could someone like me do?

"I didn't know what else to do, so I just baked her some brownies one night after work. The next day I brought them in. I walked carefully to her cage and said, 'Annie I baked these brownies just for you. I'll put them right here on the floor and you can come and get them if you want.' Then I got out of there just as fast as I could because I was afraid she might throw them at me. But she didn't. She actually took the brownies and ate them.
"After that, she was just a little bit nicer to me when I was around. And sometimes I'd talk to her. Once, I even got her laughing. One of the nurses noticed this and she told the doctor. They asked me if I'd help them with Annie. I said I would if I could.
So that's how it came about that every time they wanted to see Annie or examine her, I went into the cage first and explained and calmed her down and held her hand. Which is how they discovered that Annie was almost blind."

After they'd been working with her for about a year - and it was tough sledding with Annie - the Perkins institute for the Blind opened its doors. They were able to help her and she went on to study and became a teacher herself.
Annie came back to the Tewksbury Institute to visit, and to see what she could do to help out. At first, the Director didn't say anything and then he thought about a letter he'd just received. A man had written to him about his daughter. She was absolutely unruly - almost like an animal. He'd been told she was blind and deaf as well as 'deranged.' He was at his wit's end, but he didn't want to put her in an asylum. So he wrote here to ask if we knew of anyone - any teacher - who would come to his house and work with his daughter.

And that is how Annie Sullivan became the lifelong companion of Helen Keller.
When Helen Keller received the Nobel Prize, she was asked who had the greatest impact on her life and she said, "Annie Sullivan." But Annie said, "No Helen. The woman who had the greatest influence on both our lives was a floor maid at the Tewksbury Institute."

~ Mosaic Monday ~

Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God.

Join in over here for " Mosaic Monday ".

 Mary Manin Morrissey

A gaggle...

"Two sounds of Autumn are unmistakable,

the hurrying rustle of crisp leaves blown along the street or road by a gusty wind, and a flock of migrating geese.

Both are warnings of chill days ahead, fireside and topcoat weather."

- Hal Borland

" The Homecoming " - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Thanks to all our veterans, past and present, who risk their lives

 fighting to keep us safe.

We appreciate what you do for us.

{ Almost } Wordless Wednesday

 Post a photo and join in over at Wordless Wednesday........

~ Mosaic Monday ~

Rules for Happiness:

something to do,

someone to love,

something to hope for."

Immanuel Kant

"The most important thing is to

 enjoy your life,

 to be happy, 

 it's all that matters."

Audrey Hepburn

Mary, over at "Little Red House"
is our host for ~ Mosaic Monday ~
Stop on over and join in the fun!

Words for Life's Journey.......

“We need to find God,

 and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.

 God is the friend of silence.

 See how nature - trees, flowers, grass grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence...We need silence to be able to touch souls.” 

 Mother Teresa

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for,
 forgotten by everybody,

 I think that is a much greater hunger,
 a much greater poverty

than the person who has nothing to eat.”

“Do not think that love,
in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary.
 What we need is to love without getting tired.
Be faithful in small things because
it is in them that your strength lies.”

And we eat this stuff.......

Sally Davies knew this photography project — done on a lark to win a bet with a friend  was going to be a little weird. But 24 hours in, it turned really weird. Davies, a New York artist and photographer, decided to buy a Mc*Donald’s Happy* Meal, set it out on a plate in her East Village apartment, and document its gradual decay (or lack thereof).
 Check this out:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39656461/ns/today-foodwine

“Listen, I’m not the little artist taking on Big Meat,” Davies said. “But if there’s enough salt and fat in that thing to turn it into a freaking doorstop, you’ve got to wonder: What’s that doing to your arteries? ...

Todayshow.com

Autumn's last fling....

Preserving Autumn Leaves


Try turning autumn leaves into decorative home accents.

The key to leaf crafts though is to keep the leaves from crumbling, curling or turning brown. On an ironing board place the leaves between two sheets of wax paper with the waxy side on the leaf. Cover with brown paper (like a grocery bag) and iron on medium heat. The iron will melt the wax onto the leaf, preserving not only its shape but its color.

"There are not more than five primary colors (blue, yellow, red, white, and black), yet in combination they produce more hues than can ever been seen”

~ Autumn Treasure  ~

Summer’s glory, Autumn’s crown,

Casts it’s treasure to the ground,

Red and yellow, orange and brown,

Spinning, twirling, round and round,

Waltzing slowly to the ground,

One last curtsy, one last bow,

Then kiss the earth and make no sound,

Paper jewels on the ground…waiting to be found.

~Caramel Apple Yogurt Parfaits~

 2 cups creamy vanilla yogurt

2 medium unpeeled apples  cut into chunks

 1/4 cup caramel topping

 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped
pecans or walnuts


Reserve 1/4 cup yogurt for topping. Divide remaining yogurt among 4 (8-oz) glasses or dessert dishes. Spoon 1/2 cup of the apple chunks over yogurt in each glass. Top each with 1 tablespoon of the remaining yogurt. Spoon 1 tablespoon caramel topping over yogurt. Sprinkle pecans over each parfait. Serve immediately!

Join us over here  for  " Mosaic Monday ".

~Words for life's journey ~

Here's some inspirational quotes about life from a "giant of a man..."
Please watch this video and be blessed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ZuKF3dxCY&feature=related

10 minute pumpkin....

I found this pumpkin craft somewhere on the internet and I thought it was a clever idea for only ten minutes of my time.

I bought 20 inches of pumpkin material (45 inches wide) and cut it on the fold giving me two pieces. (One for you and one for a friend).

Grab a roll of toilet paper and sit it in the center of one piece of fabric. Tuck the fabric into the center hole of the roll (no need to glue anything)

Cut a piece of brown paper bag about 12 " long and fold accordion style.
Add some raffia, if you've got any, fold in half and push it into the center.
I added a piece of green plaid fabric for leaves.

And there you are!...a instant fall decoration!

This is a re-post from 11/09/09. I thought it was worth repeating.

Southwest Zucchini Boats

4 Servings Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:
4 medium zucchini
1 pound ground beef
3/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided
Sour cream, optional


Directions:
Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; cut a thin slice from the bottom of each with a sharp knife to allow the zucchini to sit flat. Scoop out pulp, leaving 1/4-in. shells.
Place shells in an ungreased 3-qt. microwave-safe dish. Cover and microwave on high for 3 minutes or until crisp-tender; drain and set aside.


Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Remove from the heat; stir in the salsa, bread crumbs, cilantro, chili powder, cumin, salt, pepper, and 1/2 cup cheese. Spoon into zucchini shells.


Microwave, uncovered, on high for 4 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
© Taste of Home



{My version}

I had 3 large zucchini so I decided to turn this recipe into a casserole. I added all of the above plus:
1 small can of corn
1 cup of brown rice ( cooked )
1/3 finely chopped pepper
1 can tomato sauce


I chopped the zucchini into small pieces and omitted the fresh cilantro. Didn’t have it…don’t need it!

Cooked @325* in a 13x9 glass dish until the zucchini was tender.

We really liked this....Enjoy!

Mosaic Monday

These photo were taken in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

Mary, over at  "Little Red House" is our host  for
 ~ Mosaic Monday ~ Stop on over and join in the fun!

~ Weekly words to live by ~

Remember the tea kettle -
 it is always up to its neck in hot water,
 yet it still sings!

 ~Author Unknown~

Why don't you join us over at Tracey's blog?

What I like about Fall....

Indian corn and raffia

simmering homemade soup

plump orange pumpkins

wood-burning fireplaces

 

tattered scarecrows

bonfires and hayrides

homemade crusty bread

warm spiced cider

baskets of apples

a bountiful harvest

geese heading south

crisp fall days

piles of raked leaves

squirrels gathering acorns

canning jars of vegetables

warm bulky sweaters

 

And…vibrant autumn colors !!

Tell me what inspires you when the leaves turn...