Sunday, December 28, 2014

this recipe is for the best sweet 'n sour crockpot beans you'll ever eat!

This recipe is for the best pot of beans you will ever eat - thank you Alleen Bock!  One look at the beautiful cooked beans and your mouth will be watering.  However, you will just have to take my word for it.  For some reason, blogger is not letting me download pictures.  So no step by step photo recipe today.  Since it was so popular at our Christmas Eve party and so many have asked for the recipe,  I decided to post it without pictures. 


Alleen  Bock’s Sweet ‘n Sour Beans 
8 Bacon Strips – Dice
2 Medium onions.  Cut in ½ and slice thinly
1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

½ Cup Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Mustard
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 Can (28) oz) Baked Beans (do not drain)
1 Can (16 oz) Kidney Beans (rinse and drain)

1 Can (15 ½ oz) Pinto Beans
1 Can (15 ½ oz) Lima Beans
1 Can (15 ½ ox) Blackeyed Peas

Start in skillet.  Cook bacon.  Save 2 Tablespoons of drippings.  Sautee onion in drippings.

Add Brown Sugar – and all ingredients. 
Bring to a boil.
Then, put in slow cooker and add beans.  Cook 3 – 4 hours.
Serves 15 – 20 people.  (I often double the recipe, if your crockpot can handle it)



Saturday, December 27, 2014

change

working on changing the face of this blog and the timeliness in posting.  this photo is precious to me.  these are the siblings mentioned in "more about me".  the year is probably 1956.  location is 619 5th street north, wahpeton north dakota.  daniel looks a bit bored.  charlene still had some of her beautiful blonde curls.  david was the baby and we were all crazy about him. me. four eyes.  from 6 years old on I was completely dependent on those glasses!  (or some such vision correction)  until January of 2014 that is.  cataract surgery and lens implants changed my life.  I do not even use reading glasses any longer. how does it make me feel?  like superwoman.  like I can take on the world.  give me any task and just watch me keep up with you. and that is just what I did this past year. ha!  youthful.  that is what it feels like.  with the exception of a few incidents such as:
  • leaving a restaurant in riverpark.  dutch and I walking along and holding hands  suddenly we hear two teenage girls behind us say "look at those two old people.  aren't they cute.  holding hands!"  of course, we quickly looked around for the two cute old people holding hands. couldn't find them anywhere.
  • or this one:  first visit with my new dentist.  examines my mouth and says "hope my teeth are as good as yours when I am your age" well, he was a kid, I have to admit.  probably out of dental school no more than fifteen years.
  • hair color.  yes hair color.  almost tried to go with out coloring.  not a pretty sight.  so got that out of my system pretty doggone quickly.
and the list could go on.  maybe I will embellish at a future date.  For now, I will leave you with this thought: 
"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4



Thursday, December 11, 2014

putting my week in perspective


Me: God, can I ask you a question?

God: Sure.

Me: Promise you won't get mad.

God: I promise.

Me: Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

God: What do you mean?

Me: Well, I woke up late.

God: Yes.

Me: My car took forever to start.

God: Okay.

Me: At lunch they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait.

God: Huummm.

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call.

God: All right.

Me: And on top of it all, when I got home I just wanted to soak my feet in my new foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

God: Let me see, the Death Angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me: (humbled): OH...

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed): Oh...

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.

Me: (embarrassed): Ok...

God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me: (softly) I see, God.

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw outall of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in thedark.

Me : I'm sorry, God.

God: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.....in all things, the good and the bad.

Me: I will trust you.

God: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan.

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, thank you for everything today.

God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God, and I love looking after my children

Thursday, July 31, 2014

this little girl and her cousin have made july 2014 a great summer!



052  More photos to come soon. 
Ally, 3 1/2 and her cousin, Kezney, 6 years old, came to California.  It was glorious!  Their visit included a trip to Disneyland that will never be forgotten.  We had the time of our lives.  More pictures in about a week!  \

Sunday, May 4, 2014

sisters

There is no better friend than a sister. And there is no better sister than you.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

quail and the hawk

this quail family used to frequently stop by for a meal

 
We have always had lots of birds in our neighborhood and that included quail.  In fact, once in a while we would pull out of the driveway and stop before reaching the end of the block - to let a parade of quail cross the street, taking their own sweet time to safely arrive on the other side.  Lately we've been wondering where all the quail went.  the hawk!  Now it's not that uncommon for him to swoop down and prey upon our birds.  But this, sadly, is more than we would have predicted.  Yesterday he was perched high in our neighbor's tree and was making quail calls.  Seriously!  Did you know hawks mimic quail?  That was a first for us. In fact, I would not have believed it if I had not heard him.  Sneaky creature, no wonder they have disappeared.

 

Sunday, February 23, 2014

saturday at home

 temperatures in the 70's and it's only February!  a day spent outdoors since there is lots of yard work to be done!  must have picked 200 grapefruit and there's still more.  so sweet this year!
hidden in the picture are doves - we've been listening to mating calls all day. they mate for life.





always have to have flowers in the house.  these tulips will soon lose their bloom for the year but how I have enjoyed them.
 

picture reflects a little of our home - candles, candy:  always have it out, even if I no longer eat it!  bible open and glasses on the couch  where the Dutchman has been in the early morning.  flowers.  single rose in a bottle given to me by a young woman I chatted with in line at walgreens the other day.  puts a smile on my face.

Friday, February 21, 2014

the call came yesterday afternoon:

"Hello...Elizabeth?"
"yesssssssssssssss"
"Hi Elizabeth!  This is Amanda!"
slowly & grumpily responding:  "yes Amanda" ....as I settle in my mind this is definitely another telemarketing call.  hang up?  or give enough time to say, once again, take my name off the list!!!?  grrrrr!!!
fortunately I waited long enough to hear:  "I'm calling you back to work next week...."
"OH!  That Amanda!!  Hi Amanda!!!  I thought you were a telemarketing call!  Yay! I'm so glad it's you!"
So it is.......next week back to work for the tax season.  A few things to ponder and settle:
  1. Since September I have had the freedom of spending 2 hours at the gym.  5 days a week.  morning or afternoon.  a luxury.  not only a good workout but the steam room as my reward!  Now it will require a discipline to get myself there outside of work hours.  Especially since I have activities 3 nights a week.  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday nights cannot be changed.  Neither can a commitment of going to the gym. Message to myself:  make it work beth!!
  2. O  the 5:00 a.m. mornings begin again!!  the older I get, the more I struggle with that early a.m. call!  Message to myself: you can do it beth!
  3. A sedentary job.  that means get up from that computer and move throughout the day.  walk on breaks.  volunteer for jobs that require movement.  Message to myself:  nothing can prevent me from continuing on this journey of weight loss and good health!
  4. Reminder to me:  You do well on a schedule.  Plan your day!  Plan your meals/snacks.  Plan your GB3 time.  Write it out.  Then live it!  And do it with joy!

"Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 
1 Corinthians 5:16-18





Saturday, February 15, 2014

Carole King & James Taylor YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND Live at the Troubad...


 

 You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am

 I'll come running to see you again.

 Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there, yeah, yeah,

 you've got a friend.

 

 If the sky above you should turn dark and full of clouds

 and that old north wind should begin to blow,

 keep your head together and call my name out loud.

 Soon I will be knocking upon your door.

 You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am

 I'll come running to see you again.

 Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there.

 

 Hey, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend? People can be so cold.

 They'll hurt you and desert you. Well, they'll take your soul if you let them,

 oh yeah, but don't you let them.

 

 You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am

 I'll come running to see you again.

 Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call, Lord, I'll be there, yeah, yeah,

 you've got a friend. You've got a friend.

 Ain't it good to know you've got a friend. Ain't it good to know you've got a friend.

 Oh, yeah, yeah, you've got a friend.

Friday, February 14, 2014

to my love this valentine's day and always



annie's song - sung at our wedding almost 33 years ago.  As true of us today.  xxoo

"You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again
You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again"




Songwriters
DENVER, JOHN (DEUTSCHENDORF)/DENVER


Read more: John Denver - Annie's Song Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Monday, February 10, 2014

how quickly the week has gone - and today it's a tearful goodbye


jayme has long drive home - shannon gets a truck!

two of God's best
 
these days with jayme flew by.  so tough to say goodbye.  not so easy to live 12 hours apart. but the joy when she or any of the others come visit is exquisite.  we created more good memories. cherish them in my heart.
"the Lord bless you and keep you.  the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace"  Numbers 6:24-26


  


Sunday, February 9, 2014

jayme teaches me to make a tie blanket


cut out the corners.  then cut strips.

after cutting, tie each strip
finished!  took us about an hour.  I love it!



and of course-a pic of ally!
Jayme is really missing her!
 
there is something about a daughter that can compare to no other relationship.  it has been such joy having jayme here for a week.  she drives home tomorrow.  God speed dearest daughter of mine!  xxoo

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Jayme arrived today and all is well with the world



 
 
 
A week with my daughter is a bit of heaven on earth!  LOVE having her come visit!  She lives too far away and my times with her are some of the best.  She is one of the nicest people I know!  xxoo to you my daughter!


Monday, February 3, 2014

jay and cindi @ the superbowl!

Sharing my nephew Jay's photos just seemed like a good thing to do.  He and his wife, Cindi, were there.....live and in person..........at the Superbowl.  You'll see a photo of him down on the field...yes, he has a lot of "klout". Actually, it's his job.  And he is at every Superbowl.  Besides that, he is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Has a wonderful family too!   Great memories of a summer he spent with us in Florida as a teenager.  Jayme's memories include a canoe trip on the river and  alligators!    My heart did skip a beat that hot Florida summer afternoon back in the 1980's when they got home and told the story!

lovely Cindi
Jay in the tie



Sunday, February 2, 2014

fun is homemade pizza and movie night with the tuesday night bible study ladies

vivian makes her Italian grandmother's pizza dough and sauce























we all gathered around Vivian for a pizza making lesson. margie & lynn worked on salad.  Juanita, deedee, barb & anita added  cheese, olives, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni, peppers.....the works! beth acted as a photographer.  it was delicious!!!  no!  I could not eat the pizza, but they loved it!  and I was completely content with the out-of-this-world salad.  then movie time ...  a good chick flick...pass the Kleenex please!  and topped off with dessert. before we parted....a time of prayer.  for we are not only His beloved daughters, we are also His needy daughters.  oh this group does love one another and enjoy life at our get-togethers!