VBS is Super Fun...

Hello Dear Ones... I hope your week has been especially sweet.  Lately things have been a bit crazy, but last night as I was teaching my class at Vacation Bible School I was just overwhelmed with God's goodness and mercy.  I love teaching children about our Lord.  VBS is super fun... here are a few pics from this week and the great thing is, we still have tonight and tomorrow!!!
Our theme is Outrigger Island.  And the motto is~
Know the Truth
Speak the Truth
Live the Truth
So we are all dressed in Hawaiian clothes... Last night was Mu-mu night.  I felt like Mrs. Roper... remember?
I didn't get a full body shot, but you can kinda get an idea from this picture Cameo and I took before we left...
Here are some pictures from the first night...

Here is my Carlie Jean and Logan...
Here are the girls in my class... My Cameo is there on the far right.       I am excited for tonight and tomorrow and hopefully will have a bunch more pictures.  Have a great Friday!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:31 - Friday, July 25, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment

An accident...

Good Morning Friends... 
I hope you are having a good day so far.
Things look promising around here today.
Yesterday things got turned upside down and crazy...
I was called yesterday at the church and told that Shannon had been in an accident at work.  A crew was moving something at work a chain broke loose and when it did it whipped backwards and hit Shannon in the head and knocked him unconscious...
When you get a phone call like that you don't know what is going on... whether he is going to be ok... whether he is going to have to be in the hospital for a while, is he going to be okay mentally???
I mean a flood of emotions and thoughts ran through my head.
I prayed and prayed and prayed on that drive that took me to the hospital...
Praise the Lord! He came to and was fine mentally.  He had a gash under his eye where it hit his face, and part of his nose is broken, if he had not had his safety glasses on it would have took out his eyes or possibly done much more damage than it did...  I know it could have been SO much worse.  I thank God that he is alright.
My scarface is home with us today to recover... a bit of a headache and probably a black eye to come and some soreness around his face... he will be fine soon...
Have a great day everyone...
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:15 - Thursday, July 24, 2008 - comments {15} - post comment

Salsa!

Good Morning my friends, I am up and feeling froggy today!  I look forward to all that the day holds around here... I have a lot to do and we have VBS tonight so I have to get moving... Have a GREAT one! God's blessings to each and all... (((hugs)))

I have had a few requests for my Hot and Spicy Salsa Recipe.  If you have visited my blog before then you know most of 'my' recipes are more of an approximation instead of exactness.  But I am happy to share and you can add, take away, whatever you like!

Ok, I had peppers, whatever kind, how many you like... cayenne, jalapeno, habanero, bell, cherry hot, Thai hot...
I took about 3 overflowing hand-fulls.  I cut off the stem, and tossed em into the food processor, yes seeds and all!

I took a HUGE onion and chopped it in the food processor as well.

Cilantro... SO good! Chop up several sprigs... this is a beautiful thing so be sure you use it.

Now as I take this out of the food processor I am putting it all into a big 8 quart stock pot. 

I now began adding tomatoes.  I would take my tomatoes and if there was any blemish I would cut that off and then quarter them and toss them in the food processor.  I really do not know how many I ended up using, I just kept processing until I had enough to fill my stock pot.  Sorry this is not more precise... but this doesn't have to be!  If I had to guess how many I would say it took about 20 tomatoes.  Remember that is a GUESS!!!

Ok, I have an almost full stock pot, I would say we are about 3 inches from the top!

Add about 1/3 cup vinegar, doesn't matter what kind.
Add about 1/4 cup sugar
Now this is a big guess because you just need to taste and see.... 4-5 Tbsp of Salt
SEVERAL-MANY grinds of freshly ground black pepper
1- 6 oz can of tomato paste
(I did not add these in previous batches and my salsa was a bit on the juicy side, these helped to add a bit more RED and to thicken things up a little!)

At this point taste... if it needs more salt, add it, if it is too sweet, add a little lemon juice, if it needs some more heat throw in some Texas Pete or maybe some horseradish... ooooooh that gives me a good idea!

I let that simmer for a good 30 min or a little longer if you need.  Get it good and hot, but not necessarily boiling.

Have your jars hot and clean and have your lids ready.

When you have it in your jars have your hot water bath ready... you want to process this for a good 15 min, in really hot water.  You  want to make sure you are getting a good seal.

07:59 - Wednesday, July 23, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

To Carlie Jean for her belated birthday...

A tribute to my Sweet One's birthday that we missed...
Carlie Jean, we missed your birthday this year because Daddy was in the hospital.  July 6th was such a special day, when you were born.  You were so precious and  you had so much hair, just what I wanted... we adorned you with a bow almost immediately.
Such a good baby.  You slept well, you ate well, you loved to cuddle.
You grew so quickly, becoming such a little beauty.
As quickly as you could you wanted to do everything you saw Moma do.
Washing dishes...

Making saurkraut...

Wearing your baby, or Dora...

Singing at church...
You are my big girl now, 4 years old... learning, growing and becoming more special to me every day. 
I love you Carlie Jean, my precious... and I am so thankful God blessed me with you.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:58 - Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - comments {9} - post comment

Oh, how I love my home...

Oh my, oh my... I love being home.  I am so thankful that I have a home I love to come home to.  Aside from the things we packed everything is clean and put away... it was a nice way to come home. 
We had a wonderful time in Gatlinburg, it was such a special time to gather with Shannon's family...
Here is the whole troop...
I have a lot to catch up on... tomatoes that are waiting on me, REAL cream to go in my coffee this morning (thank Kristin!) and things needing to be put away.  So I am going to go and get started... Have a wonderful day!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

07:47 - Monday, July 21, 2008 - comments {5} - post comment

So long...

So long,
Farewell,
Auf Wiedersehen,
Goodbye
Until Monday Dear Ones!!!
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

09:50 - Thursday, July 17, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

Lime Cordial

Cordial |ˈkôrjəl|
adjective
warm and friendly : the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed.
a cordial welcome friendly, warm, genial, affable, amiable, pleasant, fond, affectionate, warmhearted, good-natured, gracious, hospitable, welcoming, hearty

I have taken my cue from my Aussie Friend Rhonda Jean and decided to call my concoction Lime Cordial instead of the lame Limeaid... I mean really... which one would you like a glass of???
Yeah,  Me too...
Sometimes cordials have liqueur, this one does not.
I just like the friendly, old fashioned ring that it has to it.  I like how it says, come and sit a spell with me while we sip on Lime Cordial...
It makes me think of Anne (Green Gables) throwing a ladies luncheon for Diana and being thrilled to no end about sharing Raspberry Cordial with her bosom friend.  So that is what I am doing... I am sharing my Lime Cordial with you, my bosom friends.  Just pretend when you are drinking it that we are sitting on the porch together... chatting and laughing like we have known each other for a lifetime.  And stick a pretty sprig of mint in there... just to be fancy.
This is my recipe for my Lime Cordial
3/4 cup agave nectar in a 2 cup measuring cup
Fill the cup up the rest of the way with warm water and stir to dissolve
Now you want 1 cup of lime juice
You can add 2 cups if you like, but these limes are VERY strong... so I only used 1 cup.  Also before you juice your limes, grate them finely (not too much you don't want the pith) and mix in the grated rind with the juice.
This is your cordial. What you will do now is freeze it in plastic bottles if you like or put it in a pitcher to drink right now. 
You will serve your cordial with ice water.  Drinking it as is, is much too strong a drink.  Depending on your taste you might want to fill a glass with ice and water half full or even less and then fill the rest of the way with cordial. 
This is quite tasty and is a lovely summer drink.  I am tickled to have some in the freezer so sometime this fall or winter I can pull some out and have a taste of summer in December sometime. :)
Don't forget the mint...
Enjoy!

My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

08:27 - Wednesday, July 16, 2008 - comments {4} - post comment

I am *Plum* tired

Hey there! I guess you can tell I have started blogging at night again... right before I go to bed.  I vary from time to time doing that.  I prefer mornings, but lately I have been up so late I just go ahead and talk about my day with you guys...
Today has been a productive day around the homestead even though we had a run to The Country Store to get some more Pomona Pectin right in the middle of everything, I had to... I really like the stuff.  I can use honey instead of sugar to make my jam... and it sets up like it should! It is a wonderful product... I won't go back to making jam with 3 cups of fruit and 9 cups of sugar anymore!!!
11 pints and 3 half-pints of honey sweetened plum jam.  Mmm...
I also put up 11 cups of blueberries... we kept out a cup to eat and put the rest in the freezer.
I have been a busy bee around here, getting ready for our mini-cation come Thursday.  Thankfully Mom is going to be keeping an eye on things around here, it is a good thing she is like 3 seconds away!
Here is my latest readings, I look forward to browsing through these thoroughly while we are in the cabin.
Tomorrow will consist of packing and cleaning, I have a thing about not leaving home unless the house is clean... I know that is a quirk, but it comes from my Mom's side... she and my sister are the same way, as was my Nannie... and so on. :)
Well, my kitchen is clean, my feet are aching and my warm bath is calling my name... "Chas, come soak for a while... Oh yeah! Bring your book!!!" :)
Have a great day my friends...
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

10:02 - Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - comments {8} - post comment

A day in my life ~July~

Today started out rather early... I awoke to see if Shannon was alright, he was not feeling well and I was afraid that he might not ought to try to go to work.  He did decide to go in and so the children and I were up with him and out the door by 6:15 am... we thought it best to take him... we stayed there for about an hour and a half waiting to make sure he was going to be alright.  During that time the children watched Swiss Family Robinson and I read L'abri. 
We got home about 9 and I was sleepy... the children played and I dozed for a little bit on the couch. 
I felt rather like a heel for dozing and jumped up to get busy.  I started laundry and began to straighten the kitchen.  Before long it was lunch time and time to enjoy my favorite blogs. 
We left early because we needed to go and get the van serviced for our mini-cation this weekend. When I stopped by the mailbox, I received a glorious blessing.  A precious lady and her family sent a note of encouragement and a gift to our family... V, you have no idea how this has BLESSED our hearts... It was truly amazing to see God work. (((HUGS)))

We picked Shannon up from work and had a nice little drive home.  We stopped by Walmart, for I needed some cilantro.  Mine bit the dust a while back and now I have none when it is prime salsa making time. And also Carlie Jean's bicycle seat broke off... her big brother was riding it and wrecked and well, you get the idea.
So anyhow, in I go to Walmart.  ~Now I want you to remember that I believe I serve a God that wants to be involved in ALL areas of our lives, big, small and in between~ I was searching for that bicycle seat, finding only HUGE and expensive ones... not suitable for little CJ's bike.  I finally went to a saleslady and asked if she knew if there were any... She hesitated and said, "Hang on a minute"
She came back and said, "This one is laying around in the back... take it home."
It is perfect for Carlie Jean's bike!
Hooray!!! God is so good!!!

So my day really began this afternoon around 5:00...
I made a quick supper because the children were going to VBS at my Dad's church this week (Doesn't that just tickle you to death? It does me! My DAD'S church!!!  My DAD is in church now! Yippee!).  After I got everyone fed I started making up my salsa.  I have to tell you, I think this is the prettiest salsa I have ever made.  It is so vibrant and lovely.
Even after I made all 11 pints of salsa I still had this left out of the garden... it was sitting on my table in the afternoon sunlight and looked beautiful.
While the salsa was processing I was tidying up around the kitchen... You have to see the good with the bad... hee hee.
And the fruit and veggies and nuts were longing to have their pictures taken... such pretty food.
Black Walnuts, I have to do something with these soon... they have been lingering in my kitchen for too long.
Lovely lemons and limes... the limes will be made into lime cordial for the freezer and the lemons will be fresh lemonade for tomorrow nights supper. And me and my silly self of course can't say lovely limes without thinking of one of my all time favorite movies Little Women...

Plums.  I plan to make something out of these tomorrow... do you have a favorite recipe? If so, please let me know! :)
And now that I am on a tangent I am thinking of plums and another of my FAVORITES... Anne of Green Gables

So after a rather slow start we are finishing well...
This is where I long to be right now sitting in my favorite chair, covered with my treasured quilt, stitching on a potholder... before I begin a mesh shopping tote...
Oh look at my little cookies for my Etsy shop.  I think they are sweet.
Have a beautiful day my friends... thanks for visiting me and sharing my Day in my Life post.
My Cup Runneth Over...Chas

10:34 - Monday, July 14, 2008 - comments {6} - post comment

Carnival of Home Preserving...

10:25 - Monday, July 14, 2008 - comments {0} - post comment