Are You Seeing RED?

It's the season for seeing RED!!

• Sun-ripened RED tomatoes....

• Ravishing RED raspberries...

• Darling RED cherries (I almost typed 'cheeries' which sooo works, too!)

This past Sunday I made a batch of RED raspberry jam, using liquid pectin instead of powdered. For me, it's a much more fresh & fruity flavor, and nicer consistency, too. YUM!

Get your fresh fruit into jars

so that you can carry summer into your winter mornings!

 

http://avonalwaysforyou.blogspot.com/2011/06/make-your-cake-and-celebrate.html

Isn't It Fun To Create?!

Since I loved the fabrics, this bag was so much to make! 

One of my BFF's daughters got this one

for graduating in the Masters Program! 

Hmmmm, what will be next???  :)

http://avonalwaysforyou.blogspot.com/2011/06/i-f-you-want-really-long-hair-dont-cut.html

This Thing Is From Me!

You don't have to tell me what you are going through right now, but God is telling you something:

This thing is from Me! (1Kings 12:24)

No matter what it is, how it hurts, that you dislike it worse than ever, or that you want to turn your back and run away, Jehovah says:

I am in control!... of your life, world, comings and goings, AND STAYINGS!

Sometimes staying is harder than going, ever notice that?

Anyhoo, God has a plan for you. He has not forgotten you. No, He has not. It just feels like it, maybe.

Trust and doubt not.

Amen.  xo

http://avonalwaysforyou.blogspot.com/2011/06/remember-these.html

 My zucchini plant has been handing me dark green gifts for weeks! It's one of the many things I love about the good ol' summertime! Eating them in a simple saute is great, but turning them into the best-tasting-ever muffins is even better! I'm sure I've shared this recipe in summer's past, but here it is again... and don't be fooled by the ingredients! My veggie-hating kids LOVE this, as well as every friend I know! 

Grab some zucchini and let's get baking!  :)

Zucchini Banana Nut Bread

Preheat oven to 350°.

Cream till light and fluffy:

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

Add:

2 eggs

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup zucchini, grated

1 tsp vanilla

Sift together, then add to mix:

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Now add:

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Pour into greased & floured bread pan

(or muffin tins) and bake for one hour

(muffins for @25 minutes).

You will love them!!!

 http://avonalwaysforyou.blogspot.com/2011/06/germs-who-needs-them.html

King Kong and Other Big Thoughts!

This week I have been thinking a lot about King Kong. No, he's not the most handsome thing around, he is too big to be able to dance around the jungle with, and I can imagine that there is no toothbrush big enough for those ginormous teeth, which would mean... no kissing the big guy.

Still, here is why I think he'd make a great catch....

1. His hands are huge - big enough to make any gal feel safe.
2. He will go all around the world to get his gal!  :)
3. He whisks said gal to remote getaway vacations. (Hey, Bill Gates must be related, because that's what he did when he got married!)
4. If he can beat off airplanes with his own bare hands, then he could for sure send all my recent cravings to kingdom come...

I have rented a Fay Wray costume this week, and I've been waiting. Too bad he's smarter than he looks!

Oh, well, I'll have to beat any cravings by myself!  Or will I...?


Our God is bigger than any King of Kong! He holds the world, and me... and you, in His jumbo hands. He pursues us like no other, He wants us, He loves us with His humongous, never-ending, non-changing Love, He writes love notes that last through eternity and beyond (take that, my beloved Buzz Lightyear; actually, my love is Woody. Yep.), He thoroughly cares for us... for all of it; if it's on your mind, He cares - dare to believe it! We are loved with an everlasting love, and Jesus, the Creator of the universe, traveled from the best place ever to come get us. He will whisk us away to our "quiet" eternal home (see Isaiah 33:20) with Him for all of our days and more. 
King Kong, you are no match for Jehovah!  Amen!!!! 

xo

THE WINNERS ARE...... drum roll.......

Good Morning, my delightful Bloggerinas!!

It's finally Friday! Are you as glad as I am???   :) 


For me, Fridays have the same feel as the entire month of December, you know, that feeling that stardust has overtaken the dust particles that float in the air (that can only be seen when sunlight's shining in through the window).


Anyhoo, on with the Giveaway Winners ---- Congrats!!!  


It is YOU... Kim


And YOU... Jean.E.Lane  

Please send your addresses!  :)  Thanks!!

Moody Press, THANK YOU!!!

GIVEAWAY!!! Just In Time For Father's Day!

CONTEST NOW OVER

Honor your father and mother" is the first command with a promise (Ephesians 6:2-3). We all know that promises from our own Heavenly Father are airtight and wonderful, so Father's Day is a good day to reap the benefits of obedience! Bless your dad!

You know who you might also want to bless? - Those first-time dad's, either recent, or soon-to-be. 


Do you remember how many books we piled high by our nightstand in anticipation of our new little Baby Bumpkins? Women do this without thinking. We eagerly search out and share the latest and greatest baby helps. We wanted to know what was coming, so that we would be prepared!!! Well, what about that for the new dad, hmmm?


Men do not rush out and buy baby books, normally. Some do, of course, but on the whole, that's mostly left up to the wife. So, help a guy!!!  :)


There are two ways to do this:

1. Win this GIVEAWAY!!!
2. Buy one on Amazon (or anywhere)! 

Here are my thoughts on this get-the-dad-trained book:  First-Time Dad is one of those books that must be read to the very end. Not only because it is packed with helpful information, sharing, and encouragement, but because it also has some chapters that, to me, might scare the courage out of any almost-first-time dad. Turning that book upside down on the nightstand would have him missing some very important truths and tips, not only for the soon- to-arrive baby, but for the careful handling of some issues his wife and marriage might undergo. So, read every page.

It was a little amazing to me how brutally honest the author, John Fuller, was, particularly in sharing some of his own fatherhood mistakes. Some of the things he shared my husband and I went through, and some of it was unique to him and his family. All of it, though, gives a healthy helping of food for thought and prayer, and it just might feed any new-dad's excitement even more!

I know this, BEING TRAINED for anything - whether for a Marathon or fatherhood - GIVES CONFIDENCE. Mr. Fuller does give first-time dad's "the stuff you really need to know". Read this book, First Time Dad: The Stuff You Really Need to Know, and the day your run of Fatherhood begins, you will be ready to keep pace!

This book would make an awesome Father's Day gift!

The publisher of this book is trustworthy Moody Press, and as always, they have been generous for my blog giveaways. At first, I was going to save my copy for my son-in-law (because I just know Amy and Tom are going to give me at least one grand-darlin' in a few years, lol), but one of you might know a future or new dad right now. 


To win, simply leave me a comment stating that you know a dad who could use John's book (and, you know what? Come to think of it, some dad's might need help somewhere in the middle... They count, too!). Please, also leave me a way to get in contact with you if you are a winner. Thanks!


The giveaway begins right now, and the winner will be announced Friday, June 10th, so that I have time to mail it to you for the day of honoring Fathers.


Blessings!!!  


xo

More Than Ready For Summer, But Still Enjoying Spring's Flowers

The view is going to change soon, I think, but as long as there are flowers out there, I'm going to pull up the shades 

and enjoy it all!

Lizzerita Pizza!

PIZZA and me have been BOBs (Best Of Buddies) for a very long time. Well, ever since Gerber smooshed it and poured it into their baby-sized jars. I think it was called Pizza-ette. Did your mom feed that to you while you were sitting in your high chair, banging your miniature fork on the hard plastic tray?

Okay, maybe I made all that up. BUT... I hope they fired the creator of Gerber flavors for not thinking inside the (pizza) box!

Anyhoo, this was my lunch an hour ago. Every day I tromp out to the garden and pick those flavor-bursting leaves. If you love basil, too, it's easy to grow - in pot or plot (mine's the latter). If you snip off the tops of the stems when they begin to flower, that mighty plant will stand its ground till Father Frost turns it into a barren icicle.

So, because I went beach frolicking instead of grocery shopping, the fridge was quite forlorn. Well, except for the stuff that is soon to be treats for my trash can.

There was an almost dead white flour tortilla (do not be afraid of a white tortilla - the brown, healthier ones have more nutrients, but come on - get creative with what you have & then write your own cookbook; I want to!), and on my counter were those sweet little grape tomatoes that are fun to pop into your mouth, but were beginning to shrivel like they'd been lollygagging in a pool all day. Not good for popping, but great for sauté-ing.

Thus -- love of pizza + not many lunch options available = Lizzerita Pizza!!

Ta Da! (This takes @ 10 min to make.)

1. Slice the tiny red darlings in half, lenthwise. 
2. Pour 3/4 tsp of olive oil into a hot skillet (lots of times I will use my Le Creuset dish, though it's not a skillet. That enamel/iron baby is sooo much fun, 'cuz I feel like I'm in the kitchen with Julia (of the Child family). Loved that movie Julie & Julia!!! I think it's because of being a happy, hopeless romantic, and who would ever not wanna be that? It's so dang much fun! Anyhoo, I digress (A.D.D, remember?) Back to the tomatoes and hot skillet: Let the sliced tomatoes meet up in the hot oil, and stir them until they are playmates. Season with sea salt, garlic powder (smooshed garlics are best for you), and black pepper, or whatever seasonings make your tastebuds cheerful. I like my tomatoes slightly dry (won't eat soggy pizza, love it or not) and blackened. To me, that gives them a yummy tang, like those delish sun-dried tomatoes. Turn off heat when they're done. Hey, I had to say it. Do you know how many times I've had too many things going at once and almost burned the house down?
3. In the meantime, in a different flat skillet, heat that tortilla so that both sides get slightly crispy, till they possess a lovely brownish hue. You'll know.
4. Put tortilla on cookie sheet or pizza dish (I heat mine in over first; adds more crisp).
5. Preheat broiler on high, keeping rack in middle.
6. Measure 1/4 tsp of olive oil (yes, it's plenty) and spread it it all around the tortilla with a brush; this is just for flavor. Oh, and it's good for you, too!  Bonus!!!  :)
7. Top with tomatoes.
8. Wash and slice very thin some basil. Spread over the tomatoes.
9. Take five Kalamata olives (black ones are yummy also) and dice the heck out of them. Sprinkle them over basil.
10. On the smallest grater holes, get your Parmesan ready (you can use mozzarella or any other cheese, but I'll always choose Parm.) Spread it evenly over the pizza.
11. Let it have a sauna in the oven till the cheese is bubbling with joy.
12. While #11 is doing its thing, grab a fancy glass and fill it with your favorite Soda and some crushed ice.
13. When pizza is done enough for you, or you just can't wait one more minute, pull it from the oven and slide onto your favorite plate.Slice it up, gobble away.  Serves 1, unless you are a very nice and are willing to share.

          xo