Make do… Tucson Tuna Noodle

Teddy Bear Cholla

We were out of mayonnaise and I decided to substitute the Marie’s Jalapeno Ranch and top with tortilla chips instead of the traditional Lay’s. The dish was quite a nice twist on the traditional, and my family real enjoyed the standby casserole on a chilly night.

1/2 jar of Marie’s Jalapeno Ranch

1/2 jar of Newman’s Own Alfredo Sauce

1 – 12 ounce can of Starkist Tuna drained well                                                                                         

1 box of noodles cooked ( I prefer bow tie pasta/ whole grain if available)

Mix well, and place in oiled pan topping with buttered,  hand crushed tortilla chips.  (Just throw a few dabs of butter here and there after you put the chips on top, and bake till golden @ 425 degrees.

Enjoy,

Trish                                                                                                                                                  

 

Patty’s Cakes

We ran out of flour so I made do with a substitution of 1 cup of “Hodgson Mill”, whole grain brown flax seed and 1/4 c of 100% whole grain whole oats.  The family raved about them, and we have now switched over on a permanent basis. 

1 c of whole grain brown flax seed

1/4 c of whole grain whole oats

2 ts baking powder

1 beaten egg

1 c milk

1 tbsp oil (your favorite)

2 tbsp sugar

Mix well till smooth, and allow to cook thoroughly on the griddle.  Take care when flipping and use two spatulas if possible.  Makes 8 small patty-cakes. 

Serve with a dash of sugar and a squeeze of lemon.

Flipping cakes,

Patty

aka Trish

Luddite

My cord broke on my laptop and I will be unable to blog till it arrives. By choice I’m not watching TV this year, but now without the internet I’ve become a Luddite, not by choice, but of circumstance.   I’ve been spending time watching a spider weave her web outside my kitchen window, and I’ve nicknamed her Charlotte Mason.  Ann Kroeker introduced me Charlotte Mason,  many years ago and in Ann’s book  “Not So Fast” she advocates that children spend 5-6 hours outside a day.

I’m not quite outside as I watch this magnificent red spider weave, but I’m moving in that direction.  How am I writing this particular blog you may ask?  Through the gracious sharing of a friend.

Slowing way down,

Trish

The Pumpkin who dressed up as a Sweet Potato ~ Margie’s Pumpkin Squares

Here is the recipe for the delicious Autumn dessert that Margie Orr made for the church potluck.  I posted  a note on my wall asking who had made the tasty flavorful dish and no one fessed up.  I ran into Margie at the Women’s Retreat last weekend and she said very humbly it was hers and she gave me permission to share on my blog.  Margie is a lovely lady, beloved Sunday School teacher, mother of 4 grown children, and  volunteers as the Hope Treasurer.  All the flavors of fall, and  a colorful comfort-food that fooled me into tasting sweet potato when it was actually pumpkin.  Sweet!

 

 
Pumpkin Pie Squares
 
1 c. flour
1/2 c. quick oatmeal
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. (1 stick) Imperial margarine (the only one I use)
 
Combine in a mixing bowl.  I use a pastry hook to mix well.  Pat on bottom of 13 x 9 inch pan.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
 
While the crust is baking combine
 
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
3/4 c. white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
 
Mix well and then pour over crust when done.  Continue baking for 20 more minutes.
 
Combine 1/2 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. ( about 2 1/4 oz) finely chopped pecans.  Sprinkle over pie filling then continue baking for 15 to 20 more minutes or until filling is set.  Cool in pan on rack.  Cut into 2 inch squares.  Top with a swirl of Cool Whip topping.  Makes about 2 dozen.
 
Enjoy.
 
Margie Orr

Early Morning Fright

Very early this morning while driving my Cross-country runner and friends to school I realized I forgot to line my lips. I reached into my make up bag, grabbed the lip liner, and while driving , perfectly lined my lips… with Loreal khol black eye liner. The girls, apparently the only ones in the car who were wide awake, had a good laugh.  I batted my eyes and smiled widely for them in the rear view mirror saying ”Girls, what do you think I’ve done?”  Both screamed so hard they could barely respond. 

I usually put on Rimmels, East End Snob, or Wild Clover first thing in the morning and Chapstick the rest of the day, but what if we lined our mornings with dark thoughts and dark things?   We’d have a very difficult time shaking off the covers, and greeting the family, not to mention the people we work with and our neighbors as we scoop up our morning papers. 

I dropped into my favorite coffee shop and decided to give the barrista’s a good laugh as I relayed my morning misstep — Halloween would come early for them this year.  They laughed hysterically, doubled over and left the front counter. 

How do we chase away the ghouls and goblins of October?
We Praise God.
We read the Psalms and Praise God for who He is.
The darkness and light cannot coexist.
The light will bust in and you’ll be in the Almighty’s Zone.
Praise God.
Our days must be lined with hymns of Praise or they will run down to valleys.
Psalm 104 is a great place to rest your soul and refresh your spirit.
I’ve always associated the Psalm with garments, foundation and the face, because those words are sprinkled throughout the text.  I sat down to read my bible and would you believe today’s reading was 104?

Here’s just a few…

Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great.  You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment. v.1

You set the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never be shaken. You cover it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. vs. 5,6

When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath they die and return to their dust.  when you send forth your spirit, they are created: and you renew the face of the ground. vs. 29,30.

Lining up my day in the Lord,

Trish

Sandwiched Between Two Parents

 

 

One morning this week Todd was making lunch for our lovely teen daughter. She has always preferred one piece of bread cut in half with just the meat. Mom’s just know what their kids like best. My husband was making a sandwich with everything in the fridge on it with two pieces of bread. He had large pieces of lettuce, a large slice of tomato, mayo on both pieces of bread, 6 or 7 slices of turkey, a real Dagwood sandwich.   I was aghast…she doesn’t like mayonaise…or lettuce.  But I held my tongue.  She would face this alone.  Mom needed to step back as there was no sense micromanaging my husband’s sandwich production.  My daughter could just pull off what she didn’t like at school.

I envisioned her distaste as she slipped the gigantic sandwich from her lunch bag in front of all her friends.  Later that evening she called me into her room.  I expected she would quietly bemoan her mayo and meat behemoth.  But this was a meeting of another order, a monumental announcement from our formerly finicky eater who is exploring new horizons this year from cross country to choir.   In the kindest way possible she said “Mom, I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I like how Dad makes my sandwiches.  Do you think you could add all the extras like he does?”

 

Stepping back,

Trish

The Smaller Footprint

During our years in Tucson our small group read a book by Randy Frazee “Making Room fo Life”.  The Navigator staff couple leading the group asked us to read and implement the changes in every area of our life.  Our first change was to purchase a home in an area walking distance to school, a market, and would allow us to ride our bikes to and from work in good weather.  Freeing ourselves from the additional expense of one car, and ultimately allowing ourselves more time as a family.  We recently moved to a Texas and our home we selected had to fall into all the categories to be a “go”. 

Walking home from work today took exactly 16 minutes. 

These hidden blessings to our family have been the sunshine in the occasional cloud of inconvenience.

First off, our windshield time has been reduced dramatically. We stopped going in all different directions and started moving in the same direction as a family laughing, exercising and simply enjoying each others company as we are physically in each others presence.

Our school, tennis courts, restaurants, market and work are in close proximity to our neighborhood.

Walking to anywhere or riding your bike is not only is refreshing 

During our years in Tucson our small group read a book by Randy Frazee “Making Room of Life”.  The Navigator staff couple leading the group asked us to read and implement the changes in every area of our life.  Our first change was to purchase a home in an area walking distance to school, a market and would allow us to ride our bikes to and from work in good weather.  We are now free from the additional expense of one car.  We recently moved to a Texas and our home we selected had to fall into all the categories to be a “go”. 

Walking home from work today took exactly 16 minutes. 

These hidden blessings to our family have been the sunshine in the occasional cloud of inconvenience.

First off, our windshield time has been reduced dramatically. We stopped going in all different directions and started moving in the same direction as a family laughing, exercising and simply enjoying physically being in each other’s presence.

Our school, tennis courts, restaurants, market and work are in close proximity to our neighborhood.

Walking to anywhere or riding your bike is not only is refreshing as you enjoy fresh air, we are together more often laughing  while doing these things  and modeling a smarter, simpler lifestyle for our teen. 

Our daughter had a flat tire recently and undeterred rode her skateboard beside me as I rode my bike to the new breakfast spot that opened near our home.  We ride our bikes to the orthodontist, our family doctor, the post office and the library.  I rode my bike to pay my recent speeding ticket at the local police station.

My husband keeps our one car in tip-top shape, keeping up with repairs.  We rent a car when taking long trips out-of-town, and when attending a women’s retreat in Dallas I was able to rent from Enterprise a nice sedan for the weekend.

We communicate each day about our various errands, talking through our day instead of living out our lives separately.

Park a car for a day, a weekend, and work up to a month and perhaps permanently.  Methodically move towards a slower and healthier life creating a tight-knit family in today’s jam-packed lifestyle.

I advise something which frees you of additional financial pressures, your family leaves a visible smaller carbon footprint, and all relationships in your life especially the one with God have the space they need to flourish.

Resting in Him,

Trish

Vegetarian Refried Beans

 This week our church started reading Ann’s book “Not So Fast”.  We had a  lot of laughs as our leader Debbi Keller had us name off all our roles on any given day.  The small group  spent most of the time just  getting acquainted.  We will meet for the next ten weeks to discuss two chapters a week, and pray for our children.  Two of the Mom’s are vegetarian and from India. Interesting to hear their stories of having arranged marriages.  Looking forward to next week and developing friendships with all the women in the group.

 

 

 

 Rosh Hashanah is literally the head of the Jewish New Year followed by ten “Days of Repentance.”  I think of my Jewish friends on Jewish holidays and of the many blessings they bring into my life.  I have learned the importance of planning meals ahead of time for the weekend and lessons of their Jewish faith, both lasting gifts from Stacie, Elisa, Julie and Wendy.   They prepare dishes early on Friday mornings so they can enjoy their family over the Shabbat or Sabbath. 

Here is a simple, heart healthy starter dish you can prepare for your family in advance for the weekend.  Top off salads, fish or tortillas, convert to chili, or do or anything else you imagine for that matter:

Boil 2 pounds of pinto beans for 1 hour  and drain off the water completely

Saute in EVOO, one ice-cream scoop full of chopped garlic 

Chop 1/4 of a red onion and toss in with the onions

Slice off 1/4 of a fresh jalepeno

1/4 cup of Valentina Salsa Picante 

Combine all with drained beans in crock pot on low and add water to about 1/2 way up the beans

Put the top on and set for 3 hours on low 

 The beans will be quite dry the first time served, but after a day or so in the fridge they’ll be quite nice. 

Serve with fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime, and if your diet allows, La Morenita, Queso Fresco crumbled sparingly on the beans.

The only oil in the recipe to help justify the refried title is the extra virgin olive oil.

Cynthia Heald speaks on the Sabbath and rest in her new release this month.

“Jesus confirmed that the Sabbath, a day of rest instituted by God, was made for us (See Mark 2:27). Christians now set aside the Lord’s Day for worship, for our rest is not in a day, but in a Person. We are no longer bound by the Old Testament law to keep the Sabbath, but nevertheless I think that as we observe the rhythm of God, we would be wise to rest one day a week. I do my best to schedule one day where I do not have to do anything. It doesn’t mean that I sit all day and do nothing, but I avoid pressing appointments or obligations for that particular day. For me, at my season in life, it is a day for quiet, for extended time with God, or for time with a friend. I know what it is like to have children, activities, work, etc., but even with your family, do what you can to keep a day that is commitment free. I think that this is God’s way for us to manage stress – to stop and rest from our labor one day a week. ”  

                                                                                                                                       -  Cynthia Heald, Becoming a Woman of Simplicity,Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2009, pg.122, www.navpress.com

Rest up this weekend,

Trish

Todd’s Four Herb Salmon

Salt

 

 Jesus said,

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is the good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”  Mathew 5:13 RSB

 

Last night after a long day of work I came home to a lovely dinner prepared by my husband Todd.

Todd grew thyme, marjoram, basil and rosemary this summer, and used them in preparing a white sauce from scratch.  He began by melting butter then blending in flour to make a rue from which to add milk for a smooth, creamy white sauce.  He then seasoned it lightly by adding a sprig each from the four herbs, steeping the sauce like cup of hot tea.  Along the way he lightly seasoned with salt to bring out the flavors, and added a splash of pepper.  He later added in some leftover ”Newman’s Own” Alfredo sauce for the mozzarella flavor.  He lightly salted and peppered the salmon, pan searing it in olive oil in a cast iron skillet preheated to a very high heat then reduced immediately after putting the salmon in the skillet.   The salmon was plated and laid  on bed of steamed green beans, corn and peas and, then drizzled with the aromatic white sauce.  Mmmmmmm….My love language is acts of service, so I felt very very loved.  When asked how he prepared the dish, he said “Fresh ingredients, simply cooked, artistically presented” quoting Marco from Chopped, a cooking show he and Sabrina recently watched.    

Seasoning our world is that simple.  Be of service to another and they will see Him in us, as I saw My Father in heaven in Todd by his act of love in service to our family.

Stay seasoned,

Trish

 

Being Too Busy Gives You Nightmares.

Being too busy gives you nightmares.  Ecclesiates 5:3 TLB

Riding to church sunday morning I glanced in the vanity mirror and noticed I was sporting one gold and one pearl earring.  This occurred even with our Sunday morning devotion on “Becoming a Woman of Excellence” by Cynthia Heald.

Clearly I’m still in the becoming stage.

My nightmare is being in public with two different earrings on. 

 Time to slow down.

Trish

Traveling Pants…Make Do and Dye in Blue.

 

Lydia, the maker of fine purple cloth in the book of Acts,  closely resembles my life after college where I was privileged to sell exquisite, high-end women’s clothing, the purple cloth of our day.  Loving it so much, even after moving to a fancy desk job at the corporate office, I worked any weekend shift available at the retail store Mandels.  Their clothes were the staple of my business wardrobe.    God is molding me to be more like hospitable Lydia as I interface with my husband. Lydia was known as God-fearing, something I hope and pray comes to mind as you know me…something I aspire toward in my daily walk  

Meet Lydia:

“On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting.  We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them.  One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman.  As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the master gave her a trusting heart and she believed!”

 After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.  “We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.” (Acts 16:13-15, The Message)

 I wrote a study for women leaders on Acts, mostly to share all the incredible insights wise men and women had poured into me while in Chicago, and to freshen and cement the teachings into my brain. Fun note… I would sneak into D.A. Carson’s class whenever I could, and sit with all the scholars.   Sticking out like a sore thumb with my faux black fur vest and matching hat…complete with leather gloves trimmed in black fur, who was I kidding?  I’d sit in the back row and glean.  I could only glean from the words spoken in English…the class required both mastery of written and spoken Greek…ouch, that’s why I had to sneak. 

I love dyed cloth like Lydia.  Every 6 months I dye my jeans with Rit dye and they are a crisp, cool, blue indigo much like the water at Lake Travis.  The jeans have traveled east and west as much as my weight.  Just like the girls in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, each girl had a different figure, but the pants miraculously fit each one as the girls shipped the pants around to all the exotic locales the girls visit.  

Make do with blue, and dye your jeans to keep them fresh looking. On a note of interest, Thyatira, our new friend Lydia’s hometown,   was famous for its purple dye. A handful of kosher salt in the hottest water your machine will give you and dye away. Throw in a worn out white top and girlfriends, you’ve got a new look for the weekend…extra slimming when you where the same shade top and bottom. 

We learn so much from the prayerful women sitting riverside on the seventh day…2000 years later.

Rest in Him, Trish

Uncommonly Beautiful Girlfriends Weekend

My weekend began  in a torrential downpour while driving north on I-35.  It was thunderbolt alley all the way to Dallas.  Every fiber of my being wanted to stay home and not endure the stress of a rain-soaked ride.  Todd prayed for me, and encouraged me to take my time, stopping often.  What was the hurry anyway?  Contemplative exercising began on my way to the retreat, I meditated and slowed my pace.  My pace was sooo slow, I arrived 6 hours after departing, usually a 3 hour tour so I’m told. 

One of my dearest and oldest friends Amy(we’ve known each other 32 years) stayed on speaker phone supporting me along the journey as the water flooded the roads and buckets full of water blasted my windshield.  She has been with me in all sorts of dicey situations and this was no exception.  She was voted nicest in my high school.  A woman of gentle strength.  A true leader.  Her persuasive speech led me to a retreat 30 years ago where I met my Lord for the first time.   

Once I arrived, however road weary and rain soaked, it was another wonderful, life changing, and life challenging retreat.  This was the retreat of the women of Stonebriar, a congregation northeast of Dallas.  For many of us, we were renewed in all ways eternal, detoxing the synthetic ideas away as we  sat under the teaching of accomplished author and speaker Cynthia Heald (Author of the Best Selling Series Becoming a Woman of…. ) 

CARE (Christ’s Arms Reaching Everyone), a women’s ministry I was involved for four years until moving away in January, nourished me in this way.  Now it was a weekend of care for the soul – CARE was evident in the lives of the ladies over the whole weekend. Leaving CARE in Tucson, directed by the godly lady Barbara Tompkins was a raw and painful loss from my life in Arizona.  After 4 months away from the beloved women of CARE  God was lavishing me with John 15:15 as he did 30 years ago this month.

God’s friend:

A friend is a term of endearment that literally means one who walks beside, one who is near, one who is beloved, or those who belong to one another. As God made man, Jesus had every right to expect those He died for to serve Him as slaves, yet He chose to consider us His friends: “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends”

 (John 15:15)   Live Fearlessly by Lenya Heitzig & Penny Rose pg.197,

  Uncommon Beauty, 7 Qualities of a Beautiful Woman , Cynthia Heald’s latest book,  was our spiritual formation class for the weekend.

Although the women we will discuss were ordinary, they became beautiful by choosing to live extraordinarily. They were comfortable with who they were, they rose above their circumstances, and they persevered. Their lives have encouraged me to take risks, to seek wisdom, and to live selflessly. It is so easy for me to get caught up in my own world and seek comfort for myself alone. It is easy for me to focus more on my outward appearance than to develop gracious character. I have learned that lasting beauty is bestowed on those who posess ”a certain something,” qualities that are the “soul’s own doing,” which can only be described as uncommonly beautiful. ”                 

 Cynthia Heald Uncommon Beauty , pg.8

Side note…I would like to place a copy of this book in every young woman’s hands I know in  middle school and above.  

  April 21st Chambers stated “We look for God to exhibit Himself to his children, but God only exhibits Himself in his children.” 

 He exhibited Himself in ladies I met through passion, wisdom, integrity, selflessness, graciousness, contentment and courage, the titles of all the chapters.  Cynthia also refered to her book Maybe God is Right After All,  because it was clear Cynthia has kept her hand in His encouraging us to do the same, for God’s Word Is All the Truth You’ll Ever Need, a chapter in the book… 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-

 His good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2 

The radiance of Christ was clearly evident at a Marriot just north of Dallas.  The beaming smiles of godly women greeted me as I pulled into the underground garage, bathing away the grime of stress from this harrowing drive, and my new-found gracious friend Mary Shave (entertainment and emcee for the entire weekend) guided me to my room.  Joy and sorrow is part of every woman’s life, and this weekend was no exception.  When the speaker shared that  her Mom was struggling at the end of her 96th year of life, a group of women quietly left the room to pray for her non-stop while she spoke.  Servant’s hearts  were everywhere.  I received welcoming hugs from women I’d never met at most every turn.  More than Texas hospitality, this was the love of Christ in action.  The women in white were our spiritual leaders for the weekend.  Karen Hawkins and her worship team were obedient and humble as they spoke and sang us continually into His Presence in a ballroom.

My keepsake for the time with these eternal beauties was led by a woman of excellence, Dana Cooper,  in a deeper walk with my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and revived friendship with Christ and new friendships with women.

Reporting from Dallas…

Resting in Him, Trish

Hummus

 The neighborhood book club met recently and our hostess Mary, passed out Tahini to all of us in the club as our starter.  My family really likes hummus, and we often nosh through serious amounts of it.  Yours truly decided to make a batch from scratch.  By volume it was more of a vat.  On the  wall of  my extremely talented friend Cecilia Tompkins ( my former Bible-study co-leader who also quilts, knits, embroiders, models in commercials, parents 3 boys and is a sewer extraordinaire) was her admission to  whipping up a batch.  What is a Mom to do?  Cuisinart some for the Southards.   Two hummus billboards showed themselves and I was up for the challenge.  Off to the HEB market, first to snag a few bags of various beans for the pantry and a bag of garbanzos (chick peas) for the hummus.  Our neighborhood book club read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver and we are encouraging each other to cook fresh items for our families.  The recipe we all used is from Magloubeh and the Great Diplomat.

                              “Start the Party ” Hummus

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas…I made my own as you’ll see below

2 tablespoons of olive oil…4 or 5 is better if you cook up a 1/2 bag of beans like I did

Juice of two lemons

3 cloves of garlic… I used prechopped and added 5 tablespoons

1/2 cup of tahini

1/2 teaspoon paprika

Salt to taste

 

Threw the beans in my crock pot and cooked them all day on low.  They did not cook thoroughly, very chewy, and for the last two hours I cranked the pot to high and the beans caught a few bubbles and softened finally.  Throw about 1/2 the beans in a large food processor and whirl away.  Add a few splashes of evoo, the rest of the above ingredients and serve with warm pita.  Rona Mertink brought by fresh radishes from her garden, a perfect companion for hummus,  and dip away.

Resting in Him, Trish

Be the Squirrel

My backyard in Texas is a wonderland for two particularly playful squirrels that cause us to laugh hysterically from time to time.  The male squirrel is all guy, and you can tell that spring is in full bloom where he is concerned as day after day he seeks to swoon his lady, putting on his best little Fred Astaire dance for Little Miss Lady, the Ginger Rodgers of the backyard ballroom.  Forget Dancing WithThe Stars, we have Dancing With The Squirrels, only their’s is a three dimensional dance floor that extends into the trees and from roof top to roof top.  Fred lays around all day on our oak tree as if depressed, his arms and legs dangle from the branches of his perch unless he gets hungry, at which point he gets off his wooden couch at goes foraging for something to eat  (You ladies know what I’m talking about).  Its funny, whenever his lady friend shows up its as if someone cued the lights and said “action!”  Then, wow, what a performance:  leaping and chirping loudly at our dog Daisy from his tree perch as if saying “beat it dog, my lady just arrived.”  On one particular day he stood up on two legs and began to shake his booty from side to side, tail flickering in the wind and swaying from side to side.  I could almost hear Luther Vandrose and Lou Rawls singing backup for the little guy.   It didn’t take a squirrel expert to help me realize that romance was in the air.   Our ill informed desert dog Daisy, who never saw a squirrel until our recent move, has no idea what to think, nor did she care, Fred and Ginger were about ready to start dancing…

I suppose I always thought squirrels were squirrels wherever you went, but not so.  Their sizes and shaped differ wherever you live.  And if my back yard Lothario is any indication, they have different dispositions.  In Arizona they had “ground squirrels”, small and cheerful little guys who like their name implies, live in the ground.  They lacked the size and bushy tails of their eastern cousins, and look more like Chip and Dale than any squirrel I’ve have ever laid eyes on. 

In Iowa where I grew up, the squirrels look pretty standard, except for their beautiful black fur, unique to that area.  Growing up I took it for granted that all, or most, squirrels were this color as it was all I knew.  I still love watching those beautiful black squirrels in the evenings with my Mom from her courtyard whenever I am home visiting.  We  often will sit into the early evening until the sun sets and it is too dark to see them, but giggling at their cheerful play together as the baby squirrels leap from branch to branch until then.  I find myself wondering if they’ll miss, but with skillful dexterity, they never do.

God has given us the ability to jump from unbelief to belief…we are called to faith and called to trust.  Like the branches of a tree God’s hand is there when we take leaps of faith into His perfect will.

 As I watch our dancing squirrels  jump from  my neighbor’s roof to a trellis, I am reminded of the woman warrior in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (if you have not seen the movie, envision the   jumping off the dunes at Kitty Hawk aka Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight.), stealthily moving from limb to limb as if defying gravity, and I find myself wondering if perhaps Texas has flying squirrels… They are wonderful examples of God’s delicate, and intricate design, beautiful, sleek, agile, playful, yet taken for granted as the little scavengers of the back yard.   

So here is my question for you today.  On May 15th Oswald Chambers wrote:

“God is the Master Designer, and He allows adversities into your life to see if you can jump over them properly-”  He then cites Psalm 18:29 “By my God I can leap over a wall”  

Outrageous to think we metaphorically may look at challenges and literally jump off Jockey’s Ridge at Kitty Hawk with God offering Him praise and thanksgiving for the situation.

He asks that we believe.  Believing Him for the outlandish desires of our hearts.  Be the squirrel says HE. Be Orville or Wilbur. Jump

“The things that are impossible with men are possible with You.”  Luke 18:27 NKJV

Hope in Him and take a giant leap of Faith, not tomorrow, do it now.

Jumping and Resting in Him, Trish

P.S. If you are squirrel # 1 …be married

Make Do Silver and Copper Cleaner

Friday morning, I worked diligently setting up my first baby shower here in Texas. I enjoy hosting women’s events, bridal showers, teas, birthdays, etc.  Ann has convicted me of making do and I did not have my copper or silver cleaner after our move from Arizona.  We were not able to move any cleaning supplies, so it was another case of having to make do.  I learned through a quick Google search that adding a cup of vinegar and a cup of salt to a large boiling pot of water would remove the tarnish from my copper tea kettle.  The instructions were so simple it was hard to believe: “Boil item in pot for two hours. ”  HAHA …are you kidding me?  Two hours later I was astounded to see my kettle looking presentable for the shower. 

I pulled out my silver and tried the same thing.  I learned in my search that I could line a pan with foil, pour baking soda all over the item and top off with boiling water to cover.  Once again I thought there was no way this could work.  I save foil because my husband’s grandmother who lived during the Great Depression taught me the value of reusing foil by cleaning and saving it.  I have a hard time reusing it, but I am persisting in my effort to honor her frugality. To my suprise yet again,  I waited and watched all the tarnish fall off a pan full of silverware.  How could this be?  Why had I wasted so much of my time in the past polishing?   

Thank you Ann Kroeker!  Making do is once again eco-friendly!

Sweet Tea for my Sweetie (He’s a Tarheel)

Place 2 cups of sugar in a pan on the stove with a smidgen of water, stir with a wooden spoon over very low heat till dissolved, gently simmer a bit, and let cool. Rest for 5 minutes err ugh…., come back and put 5 small tea bags in a pitcher and pour in tepid water.  Rest again while placing used tea bags on your eyes.  Add the liquefied sugar into the tea while the water is still warm and chill in a bowl of ice, or refrigerator. Serve tea with 3 cubes in a tall crystal or glass tumbler with sliced lemons on the side.  A sprig of mint to top the glass is lovely for presentation.  Enjoy!

The Golden Anniversary

The Southards are arriving in Corolla, North Carolina for a very joyous occasion, Lee and Marilyn’s 50th Anniversary.

Marilyn starting coming to the Outer Banks in 1948,  she was ten years old.  She and her parents stayed at the Cavalier Motel.

Lee and Marilyn came on their honeymoon to the Outer Banks and stayed at the Whalebone Motel, in Whalebone Junction.  The motel had just opened and they were the first people to stay in it. 

They will celebrate by renewing their vows on Corolla Beach as the sun sets with their son, Reverend Todd Southard, officiating.  A private family dinner catered by “Kelly’s Outer Bank’s Restaurant and Tavern”  serving fresh from the sea favorites such as oysters, clams, shrimp, scallops, crab, sashimi, and the best of Kelly’s award winning delicacies will follow. 

They were married at First Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.  Marilyn Wood and Lee Southard met in Richmond on a blind date at Lakeside Lake in the summer of 1957.  Since then they have raised four sons.  Lee is currently Chairman and Ceo of Vasogenix Pharmaceuticals and Marilyn had been very active with Stonecroft Ministries.  they are also big fans of their six grandchildren, Matt, Allie, Gabbi, Sabrina, Chase and Christian.  The Southards spend a great deal of their time supporting their endeavors. 

Congratulations to Lee and Marilyn and their commitment to each other through high tides, low tides, falling tides and rising tides.  

Don’t come in with an exit plan”  Lee Southard

“God must be the head of your household”  Marilyn Southard

              “A good sense of humor is very important”  Marilyn Southard

We are privileged to honor a rare and great faithfulness to God and to each other as husband and wife for half a century.

Reporting from Dolphin’s Watch,

Trish Southard

Sashimi “No Cooking Allowed”

The men of my family head out to sea most summers, deep seas actually about 50 miles out into the gulf stream where Yellow Fin, Big Eye tuna, Dolphin, and Swordfish abound for the Southards to enjoy not just at the beach, but for at least 6 months afterwards as we all head home to different parts of the U.S.  The wives and daughters meet the boats and ooh and aah and cheer on our brave men back from the deep over the catch as it’s laid out before us on the dock.

The men caught 139 lbs. in a nice variety of fish and the first taste is always fantastic as it’s cut fresh that evening and bagged for freezing and traveling via suitcase.  Our first taste of  the the Yellow Fin tuna is  raw in soy…aka…sashimi.

Jeff, Camille, Todd, Brian and I have a passion for sashimi.

Raw tuna allowed to be alone or set out will start to stink and become rancid when its unholy alliance the parasite arrives to make it stink.  The tuna and the parasite have an unhealthy relationship.

Our boundary for sashimi is non-negotiable.  Tuna is toxic if the limits of raw are pushed at all.  We cut it fresh and enjoy it together.  Hold the thought on the company of others and the ability to remove yourself from toxicity.

Certain relationships  occasionally cause soul horror.  Think of it as the gory movie lived out in real life slashing up your sanity and invading your thoughts.  This is the raw tuna bacteria lying in wait to attack and invade when you forget the necessary boundary of fresh and cold.

My husband batter dipped Mahi Mahi for breakfast in corn meal. Later my brother-in-law Tom, an accomplished chef, worked with our daughter to create a feast of tuna bites and tuna ~encrusted with sesame seeds served with mango salsa.  The key to the delish on all the dishes is the fresh factor.  The fish is moving briskly into the company of its fellow coated friends and not allowed to set out alone.

When I encounter the above I meditate in John 10.

Stay with friends (sheep) and our Shepard (Jesus) to protect yourself from the theif aka. the bad shepherd coming through your roof (mind) .

Remember when a toxic individual tries to corner you alone, step away and remove yourself from the situation.   Chill in the company of others quickly  or be smelly.  The freshest fish will take on the odor of the stinky fish.  A miserable inedible mess.  The miserable stinky fish makes the fresh fish take on its characteristics.

Dr. Henry Cloud refers to this as following the misery in your life and make a rule.

Look at the misery, and then make a personal rule that will keep it from happening.”

The One Life Solution, Dr. Henry Cloud,  page 154

You are frying in oil when you allow yourself to meet with them or be alone with them in any situation.

Enjoying the omega 3’s,

Trish

Recipe:

Pan~Seared Teryaki Tuna

Marinate in teriyaki (30 minutes minimum or 6 hours max on the triage marinade) pan- sear tuna ~encrusted with sesame seeds in evoo till a lovely tan surface (watch closely this happens in just a few minutes)  and serve with mango salsa —- chopped mangoes,  cilantro, lime juice, tomatoes, garlic powder, pepper.  In a hurry buy the fresh salsa or if desperate in jar, and lots of chopped mango and wha..laaa, such a crowd pleas-er.

Tuna Bites

Throw cubed tuna in freezer bag with 1/2 flour  & 1/2 cornmeal with a smidge of  Old Bay and fry in peanut oil or whatever oil is handy till a lovely golden crunchy surface appears.

Crabby Crafts…Crabs for Christ

Looking for a great family project?  The Southards are enjoying food, fun and funding the Chapel building fund!  Here is an example how we have noshed locally from the Currituck Sound supporting a local fisherman, who also attends the Corolla Chapel here on the Outer Banks.

Last night was our crab feast. 

Buddy, the local crabber caught one bushel of crabs for our traditional crab night at “Dolphins Watch II”.  Interesting fact about the feast; no females are consumed only “Jimmy” male crabs to be good stewards of  Currituck Sound conservancy and allowing the generations of families yet to visit the Outer Banks  sweet blue claw crabs.  While attending the ”Moms Class” in Tuscon Arizona I learned the importance of  ” make do” eco-fashionable crafts for Christ (term from Barbara Tompkins).  We all had a desire to create gifts to  bring back to friends and family, but a large piece of our creative spur came from raising  money for the Corolla Chapel, the local church where we love to worship the Lord surrounded by families visiting from around the globe. Last Sunday our guests were visiting from Germany and England.

Uncle  Tom, the nieces and nephews fav Uncle,  has taught Sabrina and Chase the basics of boiling Blue Crabs and today we are using the shells to create art.   The Southard family is heavy with artistic talent, especially the visual arts.  Camille loves to paint and play piano, Tom and little Chef love the culinary arts and all are patiently working with the crab shells making Christmas ornaments to sell and make a little coin for our beloved Corolla Chapel.  The Chapel is currently feeding three families in the area, and the church asked the children if there was anything they would love to have in their food basket?  Mary Ellen quoted a very reticent  boy, who said “I always hope for something crunchy”.

The entire Southard clan of 15 on the front two rows of the Corolla Chapel were saddened when they heard the boy’s statement (except for baby Christian who is always smiling),  and hearts broke simultaneously…

At Uncle Tom’s suggestion, we cleaned the crab shells after eating them, spray painted them blue, white or gold and when dry, the children all painted pictures reminiscent of the past week.

The church can sell those creations of the crabby crafters to attendees of the Chapel as souvenirs of their vacation on the Outer Banks.

Painting crafts for Christ,

Trish

Brian’s Chopped Salad

^{Daniel 1: 14 -16} The steward agreed to do it and fed them vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked better and more robust than all the others who had been eating from the royal menu. So the steward continued to exempt them from the royal menu of food and drink and served them only vegetables.

   ^{17 -19} God gave these four young men knowledge and skill in both books and life. In addition, Daniel was gifted in understanding all sorts of visions and dreams. At the end of the time set by the king for their training, the head of the royal staff brought them in to Nebuchadnezzar. When the king interviewed them, he found them far superior to all the other young men. None were a match for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.  

 The Message

                                                                                                                               

 My brother-in-law Brian is the only person I know who eats more veggies than my husband.   My husband likes salad but has observed that the animals in the wild that appear to be the largest, fattest animals on the planet seem to be vegans: elephants, hipopotamus, rhinocerous, manatees…all salad eaters, while the sleek, lean kings of the African plains and Eastern jungles are all carnivors: lions, tigers, and such.  Anyway,  After Brian made the salad and it was such a big hit at the beach even with my pack of carnivors, I decided to try it out on my health conscious family in Iowa on my recent visit.  On a particularly beautiful day back home on the Mississippi River I made “Brian’s Salad” for my sister Peggy and her family…We ate it for 4 days straight, sometimes for lunch and as a side for dinner. 

1 Head of Bok Choy

1 Bunch of Turnip Greens

Bag of Spinach

1 Head of Cabbage

1 Head of Lettuce

1 Bunch of Red Leaf Lettuce

1 Bunch of Sprouts

1 Bunch of Cilantro

1 Stalk of Celery

3 Lemons squeezed onto the salad

6 tb. of chopped Garlic

1/2 Vidalia or Sweet Onion chopped

Radishes ~ sliced

Cherry Tomatoes

Sliced Almonds

Sunflower Seeds

First, rinse all your veggies thoroughly.  Trust me on this, its a lesson learned the hard way: a few extra minerals are good for you, but too much grit is a bad thing as far as your fellow diners are concerned (just ask my father-in-law).  Chop every thing into small bite size pieces according to your personal size preference.  I prefer ours very small, like a chopped salad for more intermingling of flavors and textures.  Add green scallions, 8 tb. of chopped garlic, (1) vidalia onion sliced or chopped, radishes, and cherry tomatoes if available, bag of sliced almonds and a handful of sunflower seeds. Squeeze (3) lemons on top of it all and toss.  Add tomatoes onto your plate when serving.  You will be able to keep this in the fridge for 5 days with a loose cover on top saving you time in the kitchen, keeping your kitchen cooler during the summer, and providing a healthy food alternative for your family.  The salad tastes better every day and it’s so refreshing without dressing.  I recently served this gigantic salad in a punch bowl for a Friday night pizza party.  Everyone laughed about the punch bowl, but the salad was completely gone after sending a small bit of left overs home with a few new fans.  There is no fixed formula with this salad, so change it up as often as you like adding other items you prefer, being careful to add only items with a long shelf lives into the salad mix, and then adding the shorter shelf life items to your plate at the dinner table.  Otherwise, all your hard work chopping will be spoiled in short order and you will be feeding your garbage disposal in a day or two instead of your family and friends.

Resting from Chopping,

Trish

The Case of the Missing “Southern Lady”

 

 

Struggling to find a dessert appropriate for the Park Place

Literary Society (neighborhood Book Club), the above magazine title captured my attention from inside my neighbor’s bin. 

 Wednesday is recycling day in our neighborhood, a magazine “Southern Lady” peaked out at me as I was walking Daisy.

  I was Eve and this was my apple.  If I chose to pick this up, am I recycling, repurposing or stealing?

Do not steal.  Deuteronomy 5 v. 19 HSB

A wee bit gauche,  the question was placed on my Facebook wall in hopes friends would prevent an errant deed on my part, and waited.  Letting on I had it in my possession,  I simply asked “would it be stealing if I was sitting here reading it now?”

Here are the responses I recieved:

Noelle- I would say no.  BUT (lol) if you walk away with it, maybe.

Sharilyn- No way. You are actually recycling it.

Sandy- Nope!  You know what they say about one person’s trash…

Tim- No.  because once they throw it out it’s no longer their property.

Noelle- Is any compensation paid to the homeowner for his recyclable items? ( in Seattle you get a small sum back)

Tim- Good point, put it back when you are done.

Margaret- I know you will do what is best dear sis, you have an honest and clean heart.

The winning recipe came from my own, BHG  Better Homes and Gardens (New Cook Book) page 81, Blueberry Buckle.

Hoping to hear your thoughts,

Trish