Goals for next week

Goals for the week ending Saturday, May 4, 2013

1. Continue daily Bible reading

    Memorize James 1:1-25 

2. Continue Weight Watchers 26 points per day

3.  Continue cutting out next quilt top using leftover fabric

4. Laundry Room--Have print framed. 

 5. Garden

          A.  Roses

          B.  Succulents

          C.  Birdbath

          D.  Cucumbers & Tomatoes

          E.  Meyer lemon

6. Reading

     Letters from the Hive by Stephen Buchmann

     Woodrow Wilson A Biography by John M. Cooper (Audio CD)

     The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult (Audio CD)

     Up and Down in the Dales by Gervase Phinn

7. Cooking

     Make 4 dinners

     New Recipe: Roasted Strawberry Muffins

     New Recipe: Cod Chowder

8.   Make appointment to get estimate on clock repair

9. Voter registration training

Goals for Week Ending April 27, 2013

Goals for the week ending Saturday, April 27, 2013

1. Continue daily Bible reading--done. 

    Memorize James 1:25--done. 

2. Continue Weight Watchers 26 points per day--done. 

3.  Continue cutting out next quilt top using leftover fabric--done. 

4. Laundry Room--Have print framed if it comes in. Print is in and I am taking it to be framed tomorrow. 

 5. Garden--done. 

          A.  Roses

          B.  Succulents

          C.  Birdbath

          D.  Cucumbers &Tomatoes--We have tiny tomatoes forming. 

          E.  Meyer lemon--We have tiny lemons forming. 

6. Reading--done. 

     Letters from the Hive by Stephen Buchmann

     Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear--Finished. 

     Up and Down in the Dales by Gervase Phinn

7. Cook 4 dinners--done. 

8.   Make appointment to get estimate on clock repair--Still not done. 

9.  Make reservations for trip to Washington, D.C.--done. 
10.  Purchase 6 individual pot pie dishes--Done. I have a good chicken pot pie recipe and am ready now to use the new dishes. 

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup 

(4 servings)

2 stalks celery

2 carrots

2 Tbsp. butter

1/2 tsp. salt

1 sprig fresh thyme

1 bay leaf

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

32 oz. box chicken stock

2 cups fine egg soup noodles

1 small handful fresh parsley

Salt & pepper

Crusty bread, to serve (optional)

1. Chop celery and carrots. Heat a medium pan over a low heat, then add butter.  Once it is foaming add celery, carrots, salt, a few grinds of black pepper, thyme leaves, and bay leaf.  Cover with a lid and cook gently for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are starting to soften, stirring occasionally. 

2. Place the chicken breasts on top of the vegetables, then pour in the broth. 

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover, then cook for 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board.  Shred the meat using 2 forks or chop it into small pieces with a knife, then return it to the pan. 

4. Remove the bay leaf from the pan. Add the noodles and simmer for 4 minutes, until the noodles are tender. Roughly chop the parsley and stir it into the soup. Season with salt and pepper if desired. 

5. Enjoy the soup on its own or with crusty bread & butter. 

Jacob's Ladder Quilt

I finally finished the quilt for my daughter's wedding gift.  The pattern is Jacob's Ladder and the fabric is by French General.  It isn't perfect but I've come across very little in life that is.

 

 

Boston

I heard about the terrible bombing at the Boston marathon yesterday. It is an awful thing and my sympathy is with those that were injured and the families of those murdered. I have also learned about the outpouring of kindness to the people who were hurt. But I will not listen or watch the 24/7 coverage of it. The police and FBI are investigating and will eventually find the person responsible for it.  I will listen or watch or read about that at that time and then only once. I think we do ourselves no good to be constantly bombarded by one tragedy/horror/crisis after another. 

Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake

Gulf Coast Ribbon Snake

I was startled yesterday afternoon when I went to work on the roses to come upon a beautiful green and yellow striped snake. As much as I was startled, the snake was much more startled and moved amazingly swiftly farther down the row. I lost sight of him almost immediately.  You wouldn't think that something that bright would blend into the garden so completely. 

I looked through our copy of Texas Snakes to identify him. The pictures in the book and on the web do not do justice to his bright yellow racing stripe.  They feed on frogs and other amphibians. They are not poisonous although their bite can hurt because they ingest frogs which contain irritant toxins as part of their defense. I don't like for my little green froggies to be dinner for anything but a snake has to eat too. And he really was beautiful. 

Fabric sedimentation

I have been quilting for 30+ years and accumulating leftover pieces of fabric from various projects.  I got the bright idea that I would cut these leftover pieces into 3 and 6 inch squares and use them to make a scrap quilt.  Well, I have accumulated enough for several scrap quilts but the interesting thing is that going down through the layers of fabric is like traveling back in time. I remember we were living in Midland when I used that fabric to make the Sampler Quilt that TSM has now. And so on down through the layers. And interspersed I have found various UFOs (UnFInished Objects). I found a set of placemats all pieced and ready to quilt, a very pretty quilted wall hanging, and some dreadful green fabric that I cannot imagine why I would have bought.
I am about half way through the stash and I have piles and piles of squares and hearts (to appliqué on the 6 inch squares).
I have several ideas rumbling around my mind as to how to put the quilts tops together. Nothing definite. I probably have enough to make 3-4 quilt tops. We shall see.

Meditation

1st Advice. Seek to know an inward retirement, even amid the activities of daily life. Make a quiet place in thy daily life, wherein thee may learn the full meaning of prayer, and the gladness of communion with thy Heavenly Father. Remember the special opportunities for refreshment of spirit and for service which the first day of the week affords; use them faithfully, as befits the Friends of the Master. When opportunities for worship arise, be earnestly concerned to enter reverently into communion with God. Come with mind and heart prepared. Yield thyself up to the influence of the Divine Presence so that thee may find the evil in thee weakening and the good raised up. God calls each one to his service. Be obedient and faithful, whether by word or silent prayerful waiting; and be ready to receive the message of others in a tender spirit.
1st Query. Does thee give time of private retirement to the Lord each day? Is thy daily behavior conducive to meditation and communion with God? Does thee maintain a witness for waiting spiritual worship and a free gospel ministry? Does thee seek out fellowship with Friends, as thee is able, with such means as the Lord provides thee to otherwise connect and commune with others living in the Truth and the Way? 

Goals for Next Week

Goals for the week ending Saturday, April 13, 2013

1.  Continue daily Bible reading--done. 

     Memorize James 1:24--done. 

2. Continue cutting out next quilt top using leftover fabric--done. 

3. Continue Weight Watchers 26 points per day--done. 

4. Laundry Room

          A. Install new blinds--done. 

          B. Have picture framed-- not done. In fact, I am back to looking for another print. Les Lavandieres was much darker than I had anticipated and I didn't want to waste money having it framed when I don't like it. Back to square 1. Ack!

 5. Garden--done. 

          A.  Roses

          B.  Succulents

          C.  Birdbath

          D.  Cucumbers & Tomatoes

          E.  Meyer lemon

6. Reading--done. 

     A Cold Treachery by Charles Todd--finished. 

     George C. Marshall by Mark Stoller

7. Cook 4 dinners--not done. Went out to eat once and had pizza once. 

8.   Make appointment to get estimate on clock repair--not done. 

9. Make reservations for trip to Washington, D.C. --not done. 

10. Wedding gift for Tamara & Chris--done. 

11. Birthday card to Charles Rice