Thursday, January 22, 2009

When It Rains {Snows}, It Pours...

Literally and Figuratively,
and In Various forms of Precipitation!

But first, I would like to THANK all of you for your prayers!
You all are a Blessing!
My brother is back at work and recovering well.
And it looks like my SIL's health issues are stemming from her gall bladder.

So, what have I been up to since my last post a week ago?
Sunday, we had a Seafood Dinner for Josh,
to celebrate his 18th Birthday.
The Saturday evening before, my THREE year old stove stopped working!
Luckily, most of the seafood was going to be cooked outside.
But then.....the RAINS came.
It poured all day Sunday, so the cooking was moved inside my garage,
which was still temporarily housing my Christmas decorations.
{They hadn't quite made it to the attic.}
Despite the nasty weather, we still had a wonderful time.

Below is Josh and his sister Kayla, who is 364 days older than him!


Monday, the kids were out of school. So, we decided to run to Fayetteville to find ski gear for Ashley's upcoming ski trip with her church youth group. When we got home around 8:00, we let Coco out to go to the bathroom. When he came back in, he was lethargic and dazed, had a bloody nose, was tucking his tail, and had a gash under his chin. After calling my dad, who was an animal science grad, and then the emergency vet, we headed to the Animal Emergency Room, an hour away. I didn't know there was such. When we left home, I honestly didn't know if Coco was going to make it. His diagnosis: Head trauma to his right side. After giving him fluids, injections of steroids and pain meds, and observing him for a short while, we were released at 2 a.m. The best we can figure based on his injuries, he must have fell off the back porch, or down the steps, which were slippery. He isn't a 100% yet, but doing much better. {smiles!}

And then Tuesday morning, 8 a.m......
Oh, Could It Be???
Oh, Yes It Was......SNOW!
I looked out of my window, and saw a vision of white I haven't seen since 2002.
And then, it was just a mere dusting.
Below, looking out of the back door.
In my 40 years, I have only seen it snow in our county about 5 times.
The last "big snow" was in 1988!
Starting to accumulate!

Thirty minutes later, it really began coming down.


The poor birds didn't let falling snow deter them from their feast.
The feeder was empty the next morning!
Bailey was not nearly as excited as we were.
He just wanted to be left alone. {lol!}
Southern Winter Wonderland.....


Ashley wouldn't wake up and play with David, so he threw snowballs at me as I was trying to take pictures.



Opps...left the blinds up, that I was peering from earlier this morning....
Okay, that is better.....

Neighbor's flag, below....
Palm Tree covered with snow in the hedgerow....





After taking pictures, I spent the next TWO days in front of the fire, wrapped in blankets, and read a really good book, The Land of Mango Sunsets, by Dorothea Benton Frank.
The fan on our downstairs heating unit kept freezing up, therefore it was 66 degrees in the house most of yesterday. I wondered just what else was going to break or go wrong. But thank goodness, today it is in the 50's and the unit seems to have recovered.


Next post, ....a little snow frolicking in the snow....
~Rhonda :)


Friday, January 16, 2009

{THANKS!}

You ladies are awesome!
Thank you for your prayers and kind comments,
and I know my family appreciates them so much, also!
My MIL reads my blog and browses through many others,
and the first thing she asked Wednesday evening was,
....please ask your blogging friends to pray.
She thinks ya'll are amazing too!
My SIL, is scheduled for a stress test this morning, so please continue to keep her in your prayers. From experience, I am a firm believer in prayer and it's power.
I won't be back until Monday.
Josh's 18th Birthday is this weekend, so I hope you all have a great weekend!


Just a Note....Blogger has dropped many names from my blog roll list sometime in the last few weeks, and I have got to update it. So, if your name is not there, I apologize and it will be corrected very soon! Please don't think that I deleted you!

Hugs, Rhonda :)

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Prayer Needed...

Please be in prayer for my SIL, Leighann...

She has not been feeling well for several days, and has had very high blood pressure, swelling of her legs, and vision problems. Her next door neighbor is a doctor, and after having just checked her out, thinks it might be heart related. She is only 38, but has family history of heart problems. {Keep my MIL in your prayers, too. She is very worried!}
.......................................

Also, my brother, Ron, is recovering from surgery on his shoulder {yesterday}, and is experiencing a lot of pain.

......................................
Thank You All, for your prayers! ~In His Love, Rhonda

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Simmering Soup on a Cold Winter's Day

Lisa, at Stop n' Smell the Chocolates, is graciously hosting a "soup week," and today is the day to link up and share favorite recipes.
It certainly feels like soup weather.
Last week it was 60-70 degrees, this week it has dropped drastically to the 40's, and below.
Please visit Lisa, for more delicious soup recipes.

While on our last cruise, I was introduced to Strawberry Soup. It was a light, refreshing and delicious treat. Imagine my delight, when Lisa provided a Strawberry Soup Recipe. I intend to try this recipe real soon!


Last night I tried a new Taco Soup Recipe.
But that is not what I am sharing today, because although it was good, it needs a little more tweaking. {"smiles"}
Instead, I have posted two other yummy recipes, Chicken Corn Chowder and Potato Soup.

Chicken Corn Chowder
4 strips of bacon
onion
carrots
3T flour
1 qt. chicken stock
2 cups cooked chicken (save stock for ingredient above)
2 cans cream style corn
1 can regular kernel corn
1/2 tsp. poultry seasoning
1 cup heavy cream

Saute' bacon until crisp, add onions and carrots. Cook until tender. Stir in flour and cook 2-3 minutes. Pour stock in slowly while stirring. Add chicken, corn, poultry seasoning. Stir in cream, simmer 3-4 minutes.
....................

Potato Soup
5#'s baking potatoes, cut into 1" cubes
1 stick butter
salt & pepper
1 cup half 'n half
1/2 cup sour cream

Place the potatoes in a large pot and add enough water to just cover the potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil, then uncover and cook over med-high heat for 20 minutes. Reduce the heat and add butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Over low heat, add the half 'n half and sour cream. Keep warm over low heat until serving time.

....................
Yesterday, I received a book that I won over at Sally's blog, Smiling Sally.
It is a great book by Katie Brown, Katie Brown CELEBRATES, and features wonderful get-together ideas and recipes, including decorations, for each month of the year!
Thank You, Sally!

I ran across more pictures of the cruise in my archives. They are a welcomed sight on this cold winter day....

The formal dining room, and home of the Strawberry Soup.

David....

Josh...

{Who I might add, turns EIGHTEEN this weekend! Woohoo!}

Josh, Katie (our niece), and Ashley...Ashley took the picture below, as we were sailing out of the port....

~Rhonda :)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Two for One ~ Blue Monday & Trash To Treasures....

Long story short,
Monday's Blue Monday post is
combined with Tuesday's Trash to Treasure post.
Now I can't separate them without losing pictures.
Sorry!
So, if you're still with me, you might want to get comfortable for the long post! {smiles}

For my Blue Monday contribution,
I'm traveling back in my archives to October,
and the NC State Fair,
which had the following display of a BLUE horse....

....and a BLUE cow!

With a notable Cow Tail.

A few more pics of our day at the fair.

David never meets a stranger.
He would talk to the wall, if he thought it was listening.
5 seconds on the ride, and he made a friend.


Ashley and David rode a few together....


I had to sneak this picture.
Ashley expressing some brotherly love.
These moments really make me smile! :)


And MY favorite part of the fair....

Funnel Cakes....

I can't wait until Spring and the flowers it brings...
{...sigh...}

For more BLUE on this MONDAY,
visit Sally, at Smiling Sally!

...........................


Trash to Treasures Tuesday
is hosted by Diane, at A Picture is Worth a 1,ooo Words.

My mantle has been cleared of Christmas.....


...only the wreath remains.


The white vase in the middle was found at a thrift store for $4.00.
I wanted to fill it with fresh flowers, but the local "affordable" places were nearly out.
Boxwoods were used instead.



Yard sale plate. Can't remember the price, but I'm sure that it was under a dollar.



Silver ice bucket, an eBay find. Such a versatile and useful piece, making it's third appearance on my blog in some capacity.

I encourage you to visit both of these ladies, for more great contributions!

~Rhonda :)