Oh joy...

I woke this morning and this is what I saw when I opened my back door.  It was still snowing but the snow was sugar fine.

around 7:15 a.m.

There's a big tree across the road in front of my house and I think it always looks pretty with snow on its branches so I stepped around to the front of the house and took this picture.

After the snow stopped, it started raining a little while later and has done so most of the day with temps below 32°.  I just checked our local road condition map and this is what it looks like.  The red indicates ice/ice patches.     Oh joy...

In an earlier blog I wrote about a lap quilt I started from so old UFOs I had laying around.  I decided it needed something more so I'm auditioning these "add ons".   If I decide to use them I will tie the quilt with these pieces as each piece has a slit for ties to go through.

I've been trying out some new recipes.  I started the 10 day Danial Diet on Wednesday.  I feel this is something I've been led to do for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs.  I will share more about it at the end of my 10 days but one of the hardest things I've found so far is figuring out what to eat.  Especially for someone like me who doesn't like the eat the same thing repeatedly nor cares that much for left overs.  Then add to that fact I feel hungry all the time, though today the hunger hasn't been so bad. I guess my body it beginning to get use to not having the sugars and "whites" or meat. Two recipes I've tried are Jamaican chili and bean patties.  There is no meat, no sugars, no leavening, no fermentation (vinegars and such), but plenty of veggies and spices.  When I made the Jamaican chili it was enough for three lunches at work and I was surprised at how the chili got better tasting each day.  The bean patties, didn't last that long, David and Audre tried them and like them too.  I've learned too that if I want something hot to drink to heat up all natural apple juice.  It's a nice replacement for tea and coffee.

Well that's it for now.  I know my friends in the north are snow bound and I pray that you are being safe and staying warm.  My friends in the south with the little snow and ice like we have here in Arkansas, I pray that you too are staying safe and warm.

Until next time,
Warm Hugs,
Sonia

Thursday Favorite

As I write, the music from the Phantom of the Opera fills the air.

Our satellite system is down, but my daughter has plenty of movies, so I suggested we watch one and she picked the Phantom of the Opera.

Microsoft clip art

Spending time with my daughter enjoying the "Phantom of the Opera 25th anniversary at Royal Albert Hall".  That is my favorite for this Thursday.


Sonia

Catching up a UFO...

Hi, the other day I mentioned walking into my sewing room, looking around and seeing UFOs on my sewing table, then walking out...

Well, this evening I walked back in and took one of the UFOs in hand.  I've had these pieces for some time... long enough that I don't remember what I had planned for them.

Here's what they became.  I still need to back it, quilt it and bind it but it will be a wheelchair quilt.

After I took the picture above I set my camera down on my sewing table, as I finished up in the room.  I didn't know this picture was taken until I was going through the pictures to download.  As you can see it's time to clean my machine.

Another project I'm working on is a collection of recipes I've gathered over the years.   I'm going to type the smaller recipes so they can be combined on one page. I plan to keep the handwritten recipes handed down in the family, as they are.  It is going to be indexed so that recipes will be easier to find and the recipes will be in sheet protectors to help keep them clean for future use.

 

We had another beautiful sunset this evening.  I tried to get a good picture but I was shivering so much, it didn't turn out clear, but you can still get an idea of the colors we had.  There was lavender, blue/gray, yellows, and oranges turning to a darker orange/pink.  It was like God's painting pallet.  :)

Well, until next time, please stay warm and try to find something beautiful in your day.

Hugs,
Sonia

And then it began to snow...

My husband and I were discussing the weather earlier.  He had gone to the store and saw someone he knew. He was told, by the looks of it. everything wet weather wise was going to be south of us.  I made comment of how the weather forecasts are wrong half the time.  I mean, it's an educated guess for the most part and the weather is very unpredictable, in my mind.

And then it began to snow.

I noticed some birds gathering across the street, then I noticed there were cardinals with robins.

I put my coat on and went outside very quietly and was able to capture a few good pictures of a female cardinal and a few males.

 

I started getting chilly, so I came back into the house.  Those pretty little birds sure did look like they were enjoying the snow; all hopping around, singing and cheeping as they gathered bugs, seeds and such.

Now the ground is mostly white and the birds have flown away, but what a nice treat on a cold dreary day.

Hugs, 

Sonia

Ripples

I woke early this morning.   After my morning Bible reading, I looked out the front window and saw that it was raining.  I could see the rain drops in a puddle in the driveway and thought I'd get a pic.  So put on my jacket, and went outside.  It was a cold, very cold rain.  I tried to get a picture of the ripples in the puddle as the rain fell.

Here's the puddle....

Here are some ripples in the puddle.  Do you see a familiar famous mouse shape, like I do?

When I came back into the house, Elvis was wanting some attention.

After making sure he had food and water in his bowls, I settled down to watch some sewing shows on the local public network ~ got some good ideas and hope to put them to use.   

Did I go to my sewing room today? Yes.  I walked in, looked around, looked through my fabric, looked at the UFO on my sewing table... then I walked out.   

I just needed to rest and chill out today.  So much so, that when David and Audre asked if I wanted to go do something today, I opted to stay home and they went.  I just took it easy; fixed myself a little lunch, watched a little television, and took a nap.  I feel like I could use a few more days like that, but will take what I can get when I can.  :)

I've updated My Walk, at the top of the page.  Check it out.  :)

Hugs, 

Sonia

Brought back...

I stayed home today.  I was in bed all day with a headache.  I took something for it and it zonked me out.  I woke around 3:00 p.m.  I was still a little sensitive to light but it began to ease up.  I fixed myself a strong cup of coffee and the caffeine seemed to help clear my head.

I looked out my front window, around 4:30 p.m. and saw a few beautiful cardinals.  The males bright red showed up well against white of the snow dusted ice on the ground.  The females blended in with the surroundings.

Seeing the cardinals brought back a memory of my friend Bonnie telling me about the cardinals she had in her yard one snowy winter.  She described them to me in such a way that I remember thinking that what she saw was truly a beautiful sight.  She lives in a different area now and I miss her. She has a way of making you feel at ease and welcomed.  She shoots straight with you, and you know she is a woman of her word.  I think that is a rare trait now days.  So if you're out there Bonnie, reading my blog, thank you for being true and for being my friend.  :)

If I hadn't been in bed all day, I probably would have tried to go outside to catch a picture of the cardinals I saw today.  But I figured it was the major change in the weather that had set my headache off, as it had set in last night.  We went from temperatures in the sixties on Saturday to temperatures in the thirties yesterday.

So, since I didn't want to miss another day of work, I stayed in and didn't get a picture of the birds.

I picked a picture from Microsoft clip art to share.  This will give you an idea of what I saw, only with less snow.

I hope you stayed warm and had a good day today.

Until next time,
Hugs,
Sonia

Love is in the air...

As the Valentine weekend began, at work yesterday there were several treats to start it off.

When I got home last night, I had a surprise.  I won the drawing from the giveaway give by Rhodes Creations.

* Potpourri and Hot Maple Tody potpourri liquid
* All Natural Furniture Spray - Lemon scent
* Microfiber Cloth
* Pretty handmade ornament
* Rustic star ornament
* Help from Above - a collection of Bible verses
* All Natural Dusting Powder
* Bath Melts
* Vanilla Latte Sugar Body Scrub
* Aller Herb Tea
* Mixed Herbal Blend Honey
* Mint Lip Balm
* Massage oil

It was a nice surprise for the day.  :)
Check out Laura's website at www.laurarhodes.blogspot.com

In celebration of today, I had told David I would cook.  He had requested chicken fried steak with all the fixings.  :)

I've never cooked chicken fried steak, so I looked for a recipe but didn't find one that suited me.  So I picked a recipe out to follow and then changed it up for our Valentine meal.

I'm happy to say it turned out good.

Here's how I made it.

• 4 pork cube steaks, salted and peppered on both sides
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
• 1 egg
• dash or two of cayenne pepper
• 2 clove garlic, minced
• 2-3 cups vegetable shortening for frying

Put 2 cups of flour in a shallow bowl.  Stir together the baking powder, baking soda, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper in a separate bowl - add the egg, garlic and buttermilk and mix well (this is your batter).  Dredge each steak first in the flour, then the batter, and in the flour again.  Be sure to pat the flour on the steaks so that they are covered completely with dry flour.

Heat vegetable shortening in a deep fryer or a deep cast iron skillet to 325° F.  Fry each steak until evenly brown on both sides, about 3-5 minutes per side.  Place the fried steaks on a plate lined with paper towel to drain while you cook the rest of the steaks.

These are tender and easily cut with a fork, and are yummy.

In a blog or two back, I mentioned getting a darning/free motion foot for my sewing machine.  I've practiced some, then decided to dive in  and give it a shot.  I have updated the Quilts, Etc. tab with how it went.  Check it out.  :)  Lessons learned for sure.

I trust you had an enjoyable Valentine's day.

Until next time,
Hugs,
Sonia

Thursday Favorite

With Valentine's day coming up, I thought I share my favorite with you.

DAVID!  

He is my husband and my best friend on this earth.  We have been together close to 26 years.

I haven't found a card good enough for him or a gift, so I began to write.  Pray that I get it done in time.

Since David does most of the cooking, I told him I would cook on Valentine's day and asked him what he would like for a meal.

So, I will be cooking pork country fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, some veggies (not sure what kind yet) and probably some biscuits.   I've never made the country fried steak, but I found a recipe and think it will be good.  If it turns out, I'll share it with you later.  :)

Here's wishing you a great rest of the week and a Happy Valentine's day!

Sonia

Snap!

Hello, I thought I'd share some pics I took this week with you.

After I got home Tuesday night, I hurried in the house and got my camera.  The moon had a halo around it.

This is the first picture I took.

Then I changed the shutter speed on my camera and took this one.  I sat down on the driveway to get the right angle for this one.  I like the way the tree branches are in silhouette against the moonlight.

 

When I left the house Wednesday morning, I saw the moon just above Short Mountain with a bright star to the right of it.  So, as soon as I got to work I sketched what I saw so that I wouldn't forget it.

As I drove to work, I saw the sunrise in my rear view mirror.  So after the sketch I took these two pictures from the conference room on the second floor.

On my lunch break, Thursday, I got a little bored and just took some shots a few minutes before I had to go back to work.

I noticed the daffodils coming up when I got home from work yesterday.  It won't be long and they will have pretty yellow blooms.

That's it for the pics I took this week.

Oh!, by the way, I got a darning/free motion foot for my sewing machine.  Hopefully I will have something to show soon.

Hugs,
Sonia