Author Archives: Ellen

Happy Birthday Vera! Born on Leap Year Day in 1948 ~

My sister Vera was born on Leap Year Day in 1948. That means she’s 15 years old today. Well this is just the 15th time that her actual birthdate has occurred in her lifetime.

 

Vera is the one on the bottom row holding the cake. I’m next to her holding the skirt of my dress. My sister Kathy is in the top row between our cousins June and Nancy. My brother Fred is the the one in the overalls on the bottom row. My cousin Vera is next to me and my cousins Mike and Bill are in the top row as well.

 

This has to be Easter judging from the dresses and the white patent leather shoes. Vera, Kathy and Me.

 

This is Vera and me sometime in the 50’s. Fall or Winter judging from the black patent leather shoes! 🙂

 

This is a photo of the 4 of us sisters a year ago at another birthday celebration. Kathy, Lana, Vera and Ellen. We also have 4 brothers.

VERA! I hope your day is filled with love, joy and happiness. Looking forward to celebrate with you soon. Praying for God’s continued blessings in your life…

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Know & Tell Friday ~

Question 1
I can’t bear the sound of_________.


A smoke detector going off when there isn’t a fire. Ouch hurts the ears. We have one that goes off when the bathroom gets steamy.  I also can’t bear the sound of someone being criticized without mercy and love.

Question 2
I would love to time-travel back to_________.

My husband says he’s really reluctant to go back to the age before the flush toilet.  :0) But he doesn’t have a blog so I guess I better answer this one. I would like to go back and sit in on an Inklings evening at The Eagle and Child (Bird and the Baby). It would be fun to hear Lewis and Tolkien read from their works in progress.

My husband and daughter outside The Eagle and Child in Oxford,  England.

Question 3
Shop alone, shop with mom, or shop with friends? If I’m doing serious shopping I prefer to be alone. A fun shopping day at Goodwill I like to share with my loved ones…

My sister Lana in the book section of one of our favorite Goodwill’s in Bellevue, Washington.
 Question 4
Worst movie ever? Oh this is an easy one for me. Ishtar hands down is the worst movie ever. I think Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty were in it. From the 80’s. There have been many lousy movies but I don’t watch many to be able to judge them.
Question 5 (More of a poll)
Have you ever had your heart broken (by the opposite sex…not by a family member, or close friend)Oh yes, it was high school, when I thought I was in love, and I was dumped. Thank God from whom all blessings flow, that I was dumped….

Bonus Questions
Question 6
In what area of your life have you felt the most judged (by others or even self condemnation) My verbal communication skills have been a challenge for me. I do a lot better with writing my thoughts. So when I share deep thoughts or feelings verbally and it comes out wrong I feel the most vulnerable and judged.
Question 7
(relates to number 6) Are you now free from that judgment, and how did you get free if you are?

Over the years I have learned to let people know about my challenge verbally. This has helped them be more patient in letting me express myself more clearly.


What is one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or other ministers) this year? I think the most effective way I can bless my pastor and other ministers is to pray for them faithfully and let them know that I am praying for them.

~For more Know and Tell or to join in click here.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

 

Pasta Carbonara ~ Recipe

 I made this Monday night after being inspired by a Fun Monday post. It was very satisfying.

The next time I make this I’ll add sauteed red onions for my taste buds. The penne pasta was just what happened to be in my cupboard so I used it even though the recipe calls for fettuccine or spaghetti. I think farfalle would work well, too.

~
PASTA WITH CARBONARA SAUCE
Printed from COOKS.COM

4 eggs
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. whipped cream
1/2 lb. bacon, cut up (I used pancetta from Trader Joe’s that was cubed already)
1 lb. fettuccine or spaghetti
1 c. grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1/4 c. snipped parsley
Pepper
Let eggs, butter and cream stand at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours. In a skillet, cook bacon until brown. Remove bacon and drain on paper toweling.Heat an ovenproof serving dish in a 300 degree oven. Meanwhile, beat together eggs and cream just until combined. Add pasta to a large amount of boiling salted water. Cook 10 to 12 minutes or until tender but not firm; drain well.Turn hot pasta into the heated serving dish; toss pasta with butter. Pour egg mixture over and toss until pasta is well coated. Add bacon, cheese and parsley; toss to mix. Season to taste with pepper.Serves 12 side-dishes.

Olivas Adobe ~ Ventura, California

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Since I have 13 photos in my collages on this post I decided to make this  my 23rd Thursday Thirteen entry.

The restored 1847 Adobe home of Raymundo Olivas stands as a monument to the rancho period of California’s history.

Born in 1809 in Los Angeles, Raymundo was the seventh child of a poor family. He joined the Mexican Army in California at the age of 16 and was assigned to the Presidio (fort) of Santa Barbara as a Lancer (cavalryman). He met his wife in Santa Barbara was married in 1832 and had 21 children -8 girls and 13 boys!

In return for his service to the State, Raymundo Olivas and his friend, Felipe Lorenzana, were granted 4,670 acres by the Mexican Governor Juan B. Alvarado. Raymundo began ranching his land in 1847. He started building this adobe home in 1847 with Chumash Indians providing the labor. The main house for the Rancho San Miguel was one of the few two story haciendas in Southern California and one of the most impressive homes in the Santa Clara River Valley.

 

For many years the Rancho prospered but droughts in the 1860’s and the death of Raymundo in 1879 was the beginning of the end for the Olivos fortune. The house was sold in 1899. After passing through many hands the Adobe was purchased by yeast king Major “Max” Fleischmann who restored the building in 1927 and built the distinctive bell archway. Upon Fleischmann’s death, the adobe was given to the city of Ventura and it opened as a museum in July, 1972

 

I’m going to go back and visit the grounds later in the Spring to visit the 100 year old fuchsias in the front yard and the 140-year old grapevine that can trace its roots to the days of Fray Junipero Serra and the missions.

I got the history information from the Historical Park brochure. They have a web site here.

For more Thursday Thirteen posts click here.

Word Filled Wednesday ~ James 1: 5-7

James 1: 5-8 ~

“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

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

ABC Wednesday ~ F is for…

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

F is for Farmers Market where we shopped this last Saturday.

 

The Farmers Market in Old Town Camarillo, California

 

F is for fruit. We have fields of strawberries in our town and strawberry stands where we can buy them all during the week fresh from the fields when they are in season.

 

F is for flowers the more unusual and flamboyant

 

and some more fragrant flowers

We bought purple cauliflower, artichokes, brussel sprouts, and limes. (Nothing starting with F) but all very fresh and flavorful. The artichokes were wonderful. My husband likes to have his with mayonnaise and I love mine with Ranch Dressing. Yum! I made a cauliflower soup that was blended with onion and garlic. (strange to eat purple soup). It was very good.

 

This is a strawberry field near my home. This made me want to sing “Strawberry Fields Forever”

 

This is a strawberry stand in my town that sells fresh berries from the adjoining field. So luscious, sweet and juicy!

For more ABC Wednesday photos go visit Mrs. Nesbitt all the way in the UK!

Ventura Harbor ~ High Surf Advisory

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Monday I drove up to the Ventura Harbor to see the high surf that was promised because of storms in the area. The day was clear and warm for a North-westerner. The power of the waves was amazing. I wish I could have made a video with the loud crashing sound. The power of the waves produced airy foam that floated up on the shore.

 

 

I was amazed that this boat decided to head out in this surf.

 

 

 

The awesome power of God’s creation is breathtaking…

Fun Monday ~ February 25th

This week’s Fun Monday is easy, Mariposa is hosting and asking TWO things –

First (1) Please share with us how the NAME of your BLOG was made? I can’t wait to hear interesting funny stories!

This is a photo of my brother starting my blog. He’s sitting in front of his laptop excited that so far it’s all working. Now understand that I hadn’t started blogging yet so I still had a lot to learn about taking good pictures for posting.

When my brother told me he was going to start a blog for me I was a little afraid that I wouldn’t be able to handle the technology. He convinced me everything would be ok. We then started brain storming about what I should name it. We came up with a few fun names but the way I came up with my keeper is…

a. I’m generally a very happy person.

b. I’m also someone who wonders about a lot of things and have a deep need to know.

So as we were discussing point a and b my husband came up with The Happy Wonderer.

As far as the purpose of my blog I chose “to Honor and Encourage”. I’m an encourager to people around me and I wanted that reflected in the relationships I’d develop on my blog. It is very important to me to Honor Jesus Christ who I consider to be my King.  I want my words and posts to be things that will encourage people and be something that won’t reflect poorly on my King. My blog was born on March 3, 2007 so I am very close to my first bloggy birthday!

(2) Please share with us (in words or photo, though a combination of both will be a bonus!) your favorite/ most common dish!

Oh boy, I love food! I also love to enjoy people around a table with good food. So what to show? I’m going with a favorite dinner, lunch and breakfast!

 

A typical dinner is some protein with a couple veggies items. This is a easy dinner that we enjoy. Some great bbq’d Rib Eye Steaks, sauteed mushrooms with caramelized onions, and a green salad with tomatoes and cucumber. Now to go with this my hubby will make me one of my favorite drinks, a Kensington Dream. It’s a drink he copied after watching a bartender in South Kensington (England) make it for me. Update: A few of you wondererd what is in this drink. There is brandy, creme de cassis, juice of half a lemon, amaretto, shaken together and then you top it off with champagne! They don’t call it a dream for nothing, cuz you’ll soon be dreamin after you drink it 🙂

 

For lunch I am always ready for Mexican Food with lots of good salsa and cilantro! This happens to be a meal at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants in town, El Tecolote.  We are having an Open Tamale, chips, salsa, and guacamole.

 

Most mornings I have my high fiber cereal with a banana and large cup of black coffee. In the summer I add more fruit that is in season.

For more Fun Monday visit Mariposa who is hosting this week.

Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.

Rejoice, the Lord is King ~ Hymn ~ Wesley

Rejoice, the Lord is King

Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore;
Mortals give thanks and sing, and triumph evermore;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love;
When He had purged our stains He took His seat above;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail, He rules o’er earth and Heav’n,
The keys of death and hell are to our Jesus giv’n;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He sits at God’s right hand till all His foes submit,
And bow to His command, and fall beneath His feet:
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice;
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

He all His foes shall quell, shall all our sins destroy,
And every bosom swell with pure seraphic joy;
Lift up your heart, lift up your voice,
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come,
And take His servants up to their eternal home.
We soon shall hear th’archangel’s voice;
The trump of God shall sound, rejoice!