Today is the first day of the rest of my life.....(a challenge)

    Here I am after all these months of no blogging realizing how much I have missed it. I have a void in my life and need some structure and this blog is discipline for me. So many things have been going on in my life that were certainly blog worthy but I still didn't take the time to slow down and post about them. I will regret that one day....I use this blog as my memory bank to look back and remember what year it was that there was a manhunt in our neighborhood, the season I made the best pickles or a special sewing project. My computer brain is failing me but my virtual "computer" brain is always here floating around somewhere in cyber land.

   I will start out today with an explanation of why today and then try to catch up with a regular routine of blog posts.......

WHY TODAY:

It's Monday.....need I say more?
Actually I am in a rut with no motivation....well maybe a lot of motivation but no real gumption or energy??? Not sure what my hold back is....INSPIRATION! That's what I have been missing. I know I have the www.'s and Pinterest and all sorts of inspiration out there but if I try to use those my ADD kicks in and I sit down to look up a new quilt pattern and before you know it I am baking a new cake or learning how to clean the grill the non toxic way!

Today is Monday and it's a fresh start to my week and to my new life of living a cleaner life......and in cleaner, I mean:

A cleaner more organized house.
A closer walk with God and all things HOLY!
A cleaner diet and lifestyle.
A cleaner schedule......in EVERYTHING, work, hobbies, etc etc etc.....streamlined if I may.
A cleaner life in general.

(and not necessarily in any particular order were they listed)

It all goes hand in hand....a closer/cleaner life in any of these aspects will compliment each category tremendously. I think about how cluttered my mind and body and house and schedule and life are and wonder how I have time for God. If it wasn't for all HE has done for me and my family and a very persistent preacher who holds me accountable.......well I might not even make it to church regularly!!

So I have some great big goals that will obviously have to be broken down in little bitty goals.....like maybe on a daily basis ;-) I know me! I also have this STUPID Sarcoidosis and it wreaks havoc on my body when ever it wants to....(Maybe my cleaner lifestyle will help those bouts become more and more infrequent?) So be prepared for a lot of posts for my journaling of this new life one little piece at a time as I march thru it all one little piece at a time. Who knows maybe some of you will want to join along and share tips and ideas??? That would be great if not just remember me in your prayers as I start out on living the rest of my life.......

Now as I get started on this beautiful sunny morning I will start by becoming a "list maker"!
Once my list is made I will start on my journey but I will leave you with this......

2 Timothy 1:7

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

.......to be continued

  

More boat pics

"I was featured" and a winner! Beautiful Buffalo Mountain, Floyd County, Va.

 

 

I never thought I could ever type these three words:

 

 

"I was featured"

 

I entered one of my many photos that I have taken of the view across the road in front of my little farm, into a contest for the best photo of Buffalo Mountain.

My photo of the mountain was from clear across the county but includes so many elements that depicts Floyd County perfectly, at least that's what I was told.

I won first place!

I won the cover shot!

I also landed a bio spot in the Floyd County Publications Magazine.

(My bio is on page 40)

This Magazine went out to 25,000 people!

I also won $100!

 

 

 

 

 

A Handmade Prom Gown, My beautiful grandaughter and her cute date!

 Yes, folks, I am THAT old...old enough to have a granddaughter who attended her senior prom 2 weeks ago.

 Her and her Mom went dress shopping and she picked out a dress EXACTLY like this one for $478

That was NOT happening, so we went to our favorite fabric shop in town, Schoolhouse Fabrics in Floyd, Va, and picked out fabric and began the construction. She couldn't have been happier with her dress!!

 I was able to have a very nice little photo shoot with these sharp kids in my studio!!

 Then we went across the county and grabbed a few pics of her best friend who is dating his brother. See any resemblance?

 We decided that this looks like a movie cover of a couple pistol packing detectives!!

Knowing these two like I do, there could very well be a pistol strapped around that thigh!

 My little tough girl cleans up pretty good doesn't she?

 Her little sister, Lillie, had to get in the pics, too.

 Morgan and Robin, of course prom is more for the Moms and Grandmothers!

and here's "The Kiss"

What ya think?



Out and About in Asheville, North Carolina

• On Wednesday, Robin and I went on a little road trip to Asheville, North Carolina to visit a friend of hers who just had a brand new baby girl.

As we were traveling thru the Tennessee Mountains we were just in awe of the beauty before us.

 Good thing I had my camera.

This was taken at a rest area, nice place to stop and take a deep breathe, huh?

 At one of the beautiful scenic overlooks.

 The one above was at a very steep overlook that I endured but I have to say I did NOT attempt the upper steps due to lung capacity and the high elevation...yes, I am a wimp!!

 It was a nasty dreary cloudy day but I sure love me some clouds and I don't mind capturing them thru a car windshield either.

 The mountains just rolled on and on!

 and on....

It was such a lovely trip....really good to get away from home for the day.....great to spend some quality time with the girls and take in some awesome scenery at the same time! I am ready for another day trip!!

 

Lot's been happening around the farm and I am ready to blog about it all again so grab a cup of coffee and stay tuned!

I have missed you guys!



This is my favorite of the day!

Boat for sale, only way to get pics posted!

 

 

We have our boat listed on Craigslist but I am unable to upload pics to craigslist and this was the easiest way to put them out there for people to see. Sorry! 

Sunny Morning Farm's Italian Red Bean Soup

 I've been playing in the kitchen today, making up a new recipe.

I have to say it was a very successful attempt, this was very yummy!

 

 Of course this was made in my Electric Pressure Cooker.

This is such a multi purpose cooker and I use it practically everyday.

 Made a couple loaves of my Homemade Italian Loaves

(recipe another day)

 It was such a bright sunny day today and I was so happy to have that sunshine in my kitchen.

Getting ready for a big snow storm Wednesday.

 Not perfect but they sure do taste good!

Surprise Fruit Cake for dessert straight from Canada!

Danny's Aunt Dee sent this to us and it was in the mailbox today.

I guess she knew how much he loves fruitcake! He was so happy to get this, THANKS DEE!!!!

Isn't it beautiful, of course homemade, and delish!!

Can't wait for a slice with a nice cup of sweet creamed coffee in the morning!!

 

Sunny Morning Farm Italian Red Bean Soup

 

1 pound package Small Red Beans Dried (Minus a good handful, not really but I spilled that many of mine on the floor and had to toss them, lol)

Cook in electric pressure cooker with 8 cups water, salt and black pepper to taste, 80 lbs pressure for 40 minutes.

Or cook in pot on stovetop until beans are tender and make sure there is around 8 cups of bean juice in with the beans.

 

Add: 1 Quart Chicken Stock (I used my homemade Chicken Stock)

14 ounce can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano

1 Cup tomato puree

1 pkg sliced pepperoni (I'm not sure what size pkg but it's an adult fist size, lol)

8 ounces dry spiral noodles, uncooked

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 small can diced green chilies

3 bay leaves

1 1/2 teaspoons Taco Seasoning (I use some that I buy in bulk and it is very spicy)

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

Salt and Cracked Black Pepper to taste

 

 

After beans are cooked until tender, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer until pasta is tender and soup is slightly thickened. Serve with Green Olives, grated fresh Mozzarella Cheese and sliced Italian Bread.