Author Archives: Ellen

C is for…

For April I’m challenging myself to an A-Z photo a day excluding Sundays and in addition to any regular posts that come to be.

Today is April 3rd and C is the letter for the challenge.

C is for the Cross of Christ…

We will be celebrating Easter in April this year and the Cross of Christ and Resurrection of Christ is central to Christianity.

Matthew 16:24-26

24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

*This sculpture is from the Bishop’s Garden in Wells, England, taken in 2013.

Who’s Fool Are You?

We were at Trader Joe’s in Spokane on Sunday and they had 20 stem bunches of daffodils on sale for just $2.99. We bought 2 bunches! They are such a happy Spring flower. The trumpets announcing that Easter is coming.

Thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond for our Hodgepodge questions this week.

1. No foolin’! April is here. What’s one fun thing on your April calendar? 

Our grandson’s birthday is in April and we will enjoy his Batman party with family. JJ’s  party is scheduled on our Son-in-law’s birthday so we will have another double party weekend soon.

2. It’s often said, ‘A fool and his money are soon parted’…what’s the last thing you wasted money on? 

Sometimes my impulses get the best of me. I buy before I totally investigate. A dish rack is going into the garage sale pile. Instead of having a tilt and easy flow of water into the sink, it pools the water in the pan under the rack.

3.  April 2nd is National DIY day. Are you a do-it yourself kind of person or maybe you’re married to one?

I am married to a DIY master. When it comes to major projects, I like to leave and come home when they are all done.

We have a fun mini DIY project happening this week. Our old bird bath bit the dust and we found this lovely solid one on Sunday from a store called ‘At Home’. We are choosing the right spot for it and will set it into place soon.

If so, what’s the last thing you DIY-ed. (I’m going with the ‘Royal We’)

Replacing our water heater was probably the last DIY job around here.

If you’re not a DIY-er what’s the most recent job you had to hire someone to complete? 

I hire out the window washing of our home. They come and complete that job in about an hour!

This year we will probably have our Septic serviced…which is a major job. Definitely a hiring out job with a company that have all the necessary equipment.

Our water hydrants both need replacing and that will be a labor intensive job. Digging is the intensive part. This job will be done by Greg and our son.

4. Do you eat lamb? If so do you have a favorite dish that calls for lamb? 

Yes! I was raised eating lamb and Greg enjoys lamb. Greg did not eat lamb growing up but when we married he was introduced to lamb and is happy to eat it. Lamb was the main course for my family’s Easter meal growing up.

Shashlik is a favorite. You can see what that is by clicking here.

Lambsickles (Rack of Lamb) is another favorite and I enjoyed these recently in Dallas.

Butterflied Leg of Lamb is another way we serve lamb on Easter and other occasions.

A properly cooked lamb shank is very good. I ordered this lamb shank at a Mexican restaurant.

5. Do you fit a stereotype in some way? Explain. 

I used to be a stereotypical soccer mom but now I’m more of the benevolent grandmother. This Baba loves her grandchildren and will do all she can for them.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here is a sampling of Bible verses about the fool and the foolish and the wise.

Psalm 14:1 ~ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”

Proverbs: 10:1 ~ A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Proverbs 12:15-16 ~ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent ignores an insult.

Ephesians 5:15-17 ~ Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Titus 3:3 ~ For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others, and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

B is for…

For April I’m challenging myself to an A-Z photo a day excluding Sundays and in addition to any regular posts that come to be.

Today I’m on the letter B.

Brothers, before digital photography.

Bonus: Brothers then and brothers now;

Psalm 133

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.

Goodbye to March

A month to climb and hide in trees.

A month where birds return and greet the morning with song.

A month to wrap up homeschool projects.

A month to try new things…

Sweet Tamarind was a thumbs up. Don’t swallow the seeds.

Red cactus pear was a thumbs down.

Trees are blossoming at Josh and Laura’s.

We are still waiting here on the northeastern edge of Washington State to see blossoms and blooms. The daffodils are just shooting up out of the ground. No yellow blooms quite yet.

What’s blooming in your neck of the woods?

Let Everlasting Glories Crown ~ Hymn

Let Everlasting Glories Crown

Let ev­er­last­ing glo­ries crown
Thy head, my Sav­ior and my Lord;
Thy hands have brought sal­va­tion down,
And writ the bless­ings in Thy Word.

What if we trace the globe around,
And search from Bri­tain to Ja­pan,
There shall be no re­li­gion found
So just to God, so safe for man.

In vain the tremb­ling con­sci­ence seeks
Some so­lid ground to rest up­on;
With long des­pair the spir­it breaks,
Till we ap­ply to Christ alone.

How well Thy bless­èd truths agree!
How wise and ho­ly Thy com­mands!
Thy pro­mis­es, how firm they be!
How firm our hope and com­fort stands!

Not the feigned fields of heathen­ish bliss
Could raise such plea­sures in the mind;
Nor does the Turk­ish pa­ra­dise
Pretend to joys so well re­fined.

Should all the forms that men de­vise
Assault my faith with trea­cher­ous art,
I’d call them van­ity and lies,
And bind the Gos­pel to my heart.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1707.

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

My sister made this dish for me and her when I was visiting in California and I wanted to try them out at home with a few modifications. It’s a messy process with a tasty result.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, rough chopped
  • 1 pound tomatillos, husks removed, washed and rough chopped
  • 1 Poblano chile, seeded and rough chopped
  • 1 Anaheim or Jalapeno chile, seeded and rough chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, smashed
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups fresh cilantro
  • 1-1/2 cups Mexican Crema or sour cream
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
  • 1 cup frozen corn
  • 1-1/2 cups or more grated Mexican cheese blend, or Monterey Jack.
  • 10-12 corn tortillas

Tomatillos are also called “tomate verde” in Mexico (which means green tomato) and are considered a staple in Mexican cooking.  Tomatillo is a member of the nightshade family, related to tomatoes.They grow in a husk.

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Add the onion and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionaly.
  4. Add the chiles, tomatillos, garlic, and seasonings to the onions and cook for 8-10 minutes.
  5. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a food processor, add the cilantro, and pulse to a rough chop.
  6. Add the crema and puree until smooth.
  7. Taste sauce and add more salt if needed.
  8. Spread 1-1/4 cups of this sauce in bottom of a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  9. Transfer the remaining sauce to a medium sized bowl.
  10. In a large bowl combine chicken and 3/4 cup of the sauce.
  11. Add the corn and 3/4 shredded cheese to the chicken mixture.
  12. Wrap the tortillas in double layer of damp paper towels; microwave on high until soft, about 1 minute.
  13. Working with one tortilla at a time, dip in the remaining sauce in medium bowl shaking off any excess.
  14. Place on a work surface like a large plate or cutting board (this is the messy part!).
  15. Add about 1/2 cup of the chicken filling, roll up and place in baking dish seam side down.
  16. Repeat the process with the remaining tortillas and filling, I had enough filling for 10 tortillas.
  17. Spoon any remaining sauce on top of the rolled tortillas.
  18. Sprinkle remaining grated cheese evenly on top, cheese lovers can add more cheese if desired.
  19. Bake until the cheese begins to brown, 12-15 minutes.
  20. Serves 4-6 people.

Although there are many steps to making these creamy Suiza style enchiladas the effort is worth it. If you like heat add one or two jalapeno chiles instead of the Anaheim chile.

I
I found that with all the sauce and the melted cheese it was hard to distinguish each enchilada. Just split up the pan in even portions for your family or friends.

Puzzle Highlight

Our kids left a puzzle for me last weekend. This was a fun one to put together and it came together quickly. I was happy to see the puzzle poster included.

A trip to the seashore would be lovely.

One last weekend ahead in March. It has been a good relational month for us. What was a highlight of March in your corner?

Truth for Today #137

Thursday March 27th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like to share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth again this year!

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you! 

Hebrews 7:23-28

 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,  but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.  For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

From Vera:

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

From Karen:

Romans 5:8.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Moving Into Spring Hodgepodge

Joyce is rolling out some fresh Hodgepodge Questions for us. 

1. Spring has officially sprung (in the northern hemisphere anyway)…did she roll in more like a lion or more like a lamb in your neck of the woods? What needs more of your attention in terms of a good spring clean this year-your house or your garden/yard? 

It rolled in more like a lamb.

I’m going with garden/yard. There will be a scheduling of window washing inside and out, soon.

The great thing about Spring is the fact that both Addy and JJ were born in Spring and we get to have family celebrations for them and then the ultimate celebration in Spring is Easter when we celebrate the new life available to us because of what Jesus accomplished on the Cross and his Resurrection.

2. What’s put a spring in your step lately? 

Family love always puts a spring in my step. Along with that, Spring blooms lighten my heart.

3. When you were a kid, what was the best snack to find in your lunchbox? If you didn’t do the lunchbox thing, tell us what was your favorite after school snack. 

We took sack lunches to school growing up. I’m trying to remember if there was ever an added snack and I don’t think so. I think milk was provided by the school for a small amount of money.

4. In what area of your life are you planting seeds ? 

In my Spiritual life through God’s Truth, the Bible, and hopefully the fruit it produces in my life is evident to everyone in my life, especially my grandkids!

Hosea 10:12 ~ Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.

Galatians 6:8 ~ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

5. Why do you live where you do? Would you consider living somewhere else? Why or why not? 

We were on the verge of Greg’s retirement and our first grandchild was born so it was a no brainer to move to a more affordable area of our state within a few miles from where our grandchildren would grow up. At this stage moving again is not on our radar.

The only reason I’d want to move elsewhere is the crazy legislation our state is trying to pass to tax us more and more and make life harder for the common person.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We had so much fun celebrating Addy this past weekend. She requested a Hardy Boys Mystery Theme for her party and it was a hoot! My full birthday post is here.

Keep as much spring as possible in your steps dear people!