Such a beautiful spring day.

Yesterday the wind was really blowing, even blew over a semi on the interstate.  And today... is just beautiful!  Not a breeze let alone alot of wind. 

Since I had today off I got busy cleaning and then had to go out and work in the sunshine.... there is something about working in the dirt with your hands, getting up the old growth, and leaves and find new growth starting up. 

So I worked in the Spring garden today.  Where most of our Spring flowers are.  Here is what I found.

Our Daffodils are putting on a show.

The Tulips and Peonie bushes are coming along.  The Butterfly bush needs to be trimmed back quite a bit so it can be full and pretty.   But I will get to that soon.

Then we found another pretty bunch.

Our Grape Hyacinth tucked under the Butterfly bush, it smells so yummy!

Jim and I have been watching another wonderful Spring event.  The Decorah Eagles.  The first egg hatched today, after "pipping" yesterday. Pipping is the first little hole that the chick makes.  It is so special watching Mom and Dad and the special care of the eggs and now this little one.  Fish is already in the nest ready to feed the little one.  You can watch the fun as the other eggs hatch, and the feeding of the little ones at http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles.
Also, you can keep up with the news at the blog. http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/. Which is on my blog list.  You can also find links to other nests of various birds on the blog and the Decorah list.  Some of these have hatched, some are just laying right now.  It is amazing to watch, and the Raptor Resource Project is an awesome bunch of people to provide this for us.

Hoping you are all enjoying your Spring day! Stop by when you can, until then... you'll find us busy in our yard and home and enjoying the warmth!

Hugs, Ma and Pa

Butternut Squash

Sorry for the delay in posting the last two weeks.  We have been busy!  Our daughter Marilyn and grand daughters Becky and Lizzy came for a visit, and Ma and Pa were so happy to have them around for a few days.  We treasure our times together.

After they left, we decided to make a new recipe.  We love Butternut Squash, and have seen where the "cup" of the squash were stuffed with yummy things. 

Another of our favorite things is mushrooms.  So we found some stuffed Portabella Mushrooms, they were stuffed with sweet italian sausage, and pepper and spinach.  We halved the squash, and cleaned it out.  Then we sliced a small trough in the longer area.  Sliced butter and put in the cup and trough, put the stuffed mushroom upside down in the cup and baked in the over at 350 for 75 to 90 minutes, depending upon the size of the squash.  Put something below the longer area of the squash so that each squash would be level.  We used a wooden clothes pin. This keeps butter in the squash.

Yummy.... so good and we will do this one more often!

Trust in the Lord!

I love Pinterest!  There is so many wonderful ideas on there. I found this wonderful plaque/picture there recently.

I so loved this, so I looked around the house to see what I could use.

This is a picture of a finch that a friend gave me a few years ago that she did.  It is a great picture, but I really did not have a place for it.  But I loved that it was a "boxed" canvas that I could use.

So, I got out my paints, and changed it.

It is not perfect... but I like it.

I wanted to have this plaque on my wall for many reasons.  Yes, I loved the look, but it is also there for a reminder to us to leave all things in God's hands.  We tend to try and "fix" things in our own strength, which the bible calls living in the flesh.. and not TRUST as we should. 

God always knows the best in all circumstances, so it is now on our wall to remind us that God is in control.

So, where is your paints?  Make one for yourself!  You will be glad you did.  Life is much better when God is in control!

Trusting.... Ma and Pa

New Cabochon

We have been working in the "shop" again, and made a new cabochon. 

This is a Blue Lace Agate.  So much fun to make, alot harder rock, and I love lace agates. Jim is tickled and so am I as to how it turned out.  Thanks to my great teacher!

Through new eyes.

Today I started a new challenge for myself.  I am finding that I am quick to judge circumstances and people, and I do not want to be that way.

I look around and am disheartened to see what has become of our little suburb of Clifton, that is near Grand Junction. We recently have had a murder within a couple miles of us.  Near us is an area that is known for drugs, and there is gang activity.  It is easy to become cynical in all this.

So, today I have asked and will continue to ask the Lord to allow me to see people and circumstances through His eyes. Rather than turn away, see what God has to show me about His people.  He loves us all, and wants us to reach out to everyone.  For them to see Him in an act of kindness.

So, today I ask that you join us.  Ask God what He wants you to see.  Do we see neglect and uncaring of someones property, or someone that could use some help?  Do we see a person that is hard, and unkempt, or do we see someone that needs my smile, and someone to listen and not judge?

If you give of yourself in a small way, and go out of your way to care about the person behind those sad eyes, you will see a lost soul that needs the Lord.  Be the Fathers ambassador, His hands and feet in this hard world, and perhaps we will see this world in a new light. 

Granted, there is much to do, but God is patient, and He will direct your steps to just the person that needs you most!

With eyes and hearts open,

Ma and Pa

I Love Genie!

For a long time now I have been asking Jim to teach me the ins and outs of jewelry making.  Now I have learned a few things, wire wrapping, and filigree... but there was so much more.

However there was a small problem.  Our little shop, is so full, and cold... it is not conducive to working in right now. 

Not to be deterred... we moved the Genie inside in the spare bedroom!

Ok, so it won't win me a place in House Beautiful right?  But until we can do something different, we have a jeweler bench and some equipment in there, and we are enjoying ourselves making things.  I guess we are officially Redneck... live in a trailer and have equipment in the spare bedroom... lol.. :)

Seriously, Jim coached me in making my first cabochon the other night and it was a blast!  He is an excellent teacher, I can see why his students for Intarsia come back class after class, some on their 4th class now.

Here is my first rock cabochon:

I love it... and want to make more! 

Eventually we will close in the front porch and put some of the equipment there perhaps,  but for now we are toasty warm and having fun this winter in Colorado!

You never know what we will be up to next... so stay tuned!

Hugs, Ma and Pa

Spring time in the Rockies.

Snow flurries are coming and going, and it is cold out there,  snow does not stay long, it melts. We really need the moisture so are glad that it is here, but it is a good day to stay inside and bake. 

It has been a long time since we had had some good banana bread, and since the bananas kept falling out of the freezer, I thought it was time. :)

Banana Bread

1 C sugar

1/2 C butter

2 eggs

1 1/2 C mashed bananas

1T lemon juice

2 C flour

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 C chopped black walnuts

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Cream sugar with butter, and add eggs one at a time, beat well.  Stir in bananas and lemon juice.  Sift together flour with baking powder, and salt and cinnamon and add to banana mixture and mix quickley, Stir in nuts and bake in a greased 9x5 loaf pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour.

We will enjoy a slice as we watch "Who do you think you are?" tonight!

We hope you are all well, we are especially praying for all the folks that went through all the tornados today!  Such damage and such loss, no one can imagine what they have gone through.  You are all in our prayers.

No matter where you are,

Have a blessed evening!

Ma and Pa

Update on Homemade Shout.

Sometime ago I shared a post by Jillee with One Good Thing.  She had a home made receipe for homemade Shout.  I really like it and feel that it is a good product!

However the mix of the products, does not stay mixed, the baking soda always floated to the bottom, and when you use a spray bottle, even when you mix it up before you use it, the spay bottle fails soon.

So, I deceided to use something else. 

This is a bottle from a flavored Gatorade water, that I repurposed to use for my home made shout.

You can still see it seperated, but just shake it up well.  Pop the top, and spread on your stain and you are ready to go!  So, do not give up on a great idea that works, find a new way! 

Hugs, Ma