Author Archives: Ellen

Leaving on A Jet Plane…

But I know I’m coming back to Southern California a week from Sunday!

 

My plane leaves early Saturday morning from LAX to SeaTac airport. I’m looking forward to some face to face time with my kids. I also get to take care of some yearly obligations with my doctor and the tax man. Thank goodness my favorite hairdresser was able to fit me in and I’ll finally get the cut and color I so desperately need. Now if I could only get a massage from Rebecca I’d be in hog heaven for sure. I don’t know what will happen with my computer time so if you don’t see me around you’ll know why. Have a great weekend everyone…

Happy Birthday to my sister Vera. She was born on LeapYear but we celebrate her birthday every non-leap year on the 28th of February.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

Friday’s Fave Five

Welcome to Friday’s Fave Five hosted by Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

 

1. On Saturday Dear and I opted for a hike instead of a beach walk because of high tides. We drove to Sycamore Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains to hike up to Scenic Point. On the way we stopped on Pacific Coast Highway to watch some Dolphins swimming and breaching the surface of the water. So cool. This hike really gets our hearts pumping and it’s good for us.

2. The skies have been less than boring this past week in Southern California. I always love to see cloud formations and I was rewarded this week with fun skies.

3. I added the photo of the path from our hike to single out another favorite this week. Our church, Bible Studies, Small Groups are all on a 40 day journey together that we started on Ash Wednesday. We are setting aside 15 minutes a day for 6 days a week to reflect on what it means to follow Jesus. It has been a blessing already. Dear and I are hosting a small group every Sunday where we discuss what we’ve learned and encourage each other to continue our journey with Jesus.

4. So I was brave enough to show a photo of me working out on the Bowflex. I have a love/hate relationship with exercise but I always feel so much better when I put in the effort.

 

5. You have to look really really close and even with my prompt you might not see the sweet Hummingbird that Willow and I saw on our walk yesterday. So what does that have to do with favorites? My favorite thing any week is seeing and appreciating what God has created for us to enjoy. When I’m out walking or hiking I love that God has opened my eyes to appreciate His wonderful creation.

Oh and next Friday…my favorites are going to be all about the great Northwest because I travel to Seattle on Saturday to spend a week with my kiddos!

Click on over to Susanne’s to see or join in on posting your favorites from the week.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

Mexican Corn Soup ~ Foodie Friday

I’m joining in with Designs by Gollum for her Foodie Friday. I’m resurrecting this recipe that I posted a long long time ago. It is a wonderful soup with a great spicy kick.

Mexican Corn Soup (prep: 15 min. Cooking: 10 min.)

1 – 16 oz. pkg. frozen whole kernel corn, thawed
1 – Cup chicken broth (I used the whole can of chicken broth and just 1 cup of milk instead of two so I wouldn’t have a half a can of broth left.
2 – Tbsp. butter or margarine
1 – 4-1/2 oz. can diced green chili peppers
1 – clove garlic, minced
1 – Tblsp. snipped fresh oregano or l tsp. dried oregano, crushed
1/4 – tsp. salt
1/4 – tsp. ground black pepper
2 – cups milk (I used one cup see chicken broth above)
1 – cup chopped, cooked chicken
1 – cup chopped tomatoes (I used a can of diced tomatoes w/jalapeno, med/hot)
1 – cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (4 oz.)
cilantro as garnish if you like it

[The soup is great with the full can of broth and tomatoes. I do not like half cans left over. ]

In a blender container combine half of the corn and the chicken broth. Cover; blend until nearly smooth.

In a large saucepan, combine corn puree, remaining corn, butter, chili peppers, garlic, dried oregano (if using), salt, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Stir in milk, chicken, tomatoes, and fresh oregano (if using); heat through. remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired (this is where I substitute cilantro instead)

Enjoy

To see more Foodie Friday visit Designs by Gollum.

ABC’s of the Word ~ Colossians 1: 15-20

 Colossians 1: 15-20

 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

To see more ABC’s of the word using the letter C visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie

Tablescape Thursday ~ Yellow & Blue

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. The table I’m showing you today is set up in the living room of my home in Washington State.

 

I’m using an off white cloth with a smaller round blue and yellow cloth as a topper. I have always enjoyed blue and yellow together.

 

I used my Chippendale dishes on top of my Mikasa Italian Countryside dishes. Yellow napkins with white rose china napkin rings.

 

I ended up using several of my pewter pieces for the centerpiece instead of the vase with the hydrangeas…

To see more Tablescapes visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

WFW ~ 1 Timothy 1: 15-17

 

The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

For more Word Filled Wednesday please visit Amydeanne at the 160 Acre Woods.

Outdoor Wednesday ~ Castlerigg Stones in Britain

 

Castlerigg is one of the most beautiful stone circles in Britain, set in a splendid position, in an open field crowned by the Lake District’s mountains, 213m (700ft) above sea level. It is thought to be one of the earliest circles in Britain, and it dates from around 3000 BC.
Thirty-eight stones are placed in an slightly oval shape of 30m (100ft) in diameter; a further 10 small stones are arranged as a rectangular enclosure on the south-east side of the ring: this is a feature unique to Castlerigg, nothing similar being present in other stone circles. The largest stone of the circle, not far from the enclosure, is 2.5m (8ft 3in) high and it weighs about 16 tons: most of the others, much smaller, are 1 to 1.5m (3-5ft) high. At the north of the ring is an entrance marked by two slightly bigger stones, and about 90m (295ft) to the south-west, by a stile at the edge of the field, is a single outlying stone, 0.9m (3ft) high.

We were in this part of England and at this sight in May of 2006. The Lake District was a beautiful place to walk. I’m really itching to get back to Great Britain now that I’ve learned a few things through blogging about taking photographs :0)

To see more Outdoor Wednesday posts visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

A 2nd Time Around for Three or More!

 

 

These are some recent thrift store purchases that I’ve made. The hobnail 3 section dish was $3.95. The little white milk glass salt and pepper shakers were $1.99 and the Silver over copper 3 piece sugar and creamer set was $8.00.

To see more Three or More visit Tam at The Gypsy’s Corner. For more 2nd Time Around visit Diane at A Picture is Worth a 1,000 words.

***Note: For those of you bloggers (like Tam) that have the verification step on your comment section where you have to keep clicking to get to the verification… No verification letters have been uploading for me so I haven’t been able to post a comment on your blogs. I’m very sorry and very frustrated. I get an uploading box but nothing ever uploads… If anyone knows what I need to do to remedy this please tell me and if you use this blogger comment step I’m sorry about not being able to leave a comment…

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.

Happy Birthday Lovella!

 

Lovella from What Matters Most is turning a fabulous age today and I wanted to give her a special Happy Birthday Greeting here on my blog. Lovella lives on a farm in Canada and is a wonderful cook and was instrumental in starting the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog. If you’ve never visited her blog or the MGCC blog you should have a look…

Lovella! Enjoy your year long celebration!

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage unless I pay them a lot of money. I’m slowly cleaning up many posts from this time period and deleting their ugly grey and black boxes with a ransom request. Such a time consuming bother.