The Crockpot!

In the POT...boneless turkey roast, red cabbage and scalloped potatoes.

~~~

It was very tasty!

I have loved cooking with the crockpot for over 30 years. And for Valentines Day I got this wonderful set of crockpots. It cooks an entire meal!!! It will keep foods warm not cooked in the crockpot for serving. I really enjoy using this terrific kitchen tool...

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!

C. A. J. E. Rally Tonight!!!!!

As I prepare to attend the annual Congregations Acting for Justice and Empowerment (C.A.J.E.) rally tonight at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, I was considering the reason I attend these. We, personally, have only been "rallying" for a few short years, but C.A.J.E. has been working for the needs of the poor and disenfranchised here in the area for a number of years. They work with area leaders in government and education to encourage improvement in the lives of those in need. This year's continued topic is affordable housing and expansion of transportation. It's amazing what numbers of people can accomplish. A few short years ago a free dental clinic was built out of concern and determination. It works. One must persevere. With large numbers together One becomes Many and if we all persevere GOOD will prevail.

The poor must know that we love them, that they are wanted. They themselves have nothing to give but love. We are concerned with how to get the message of love and compassion across. We are trying to bring peace to the world through our work. But the work is the gift of God. by Mother Teresa from Love: A Fruit Always in Season

And so tonight, I rally! I encourage! I am encouraged! I live in a place where rallying seems to make a difference.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Before and After...

I did it!!!!!!!

It took a couple of days and commitment and the avoidance of distraction but I did it!!! I cleaned up the office and my space...The hard part was the avoidance of distraction. That is what has taken me so long to clean the office in the first place. I'd find something and get side-tracked. Start reading something and poof the time was gone. BUT not this time...NO!!! I DID IT! Now how long it will last I cannot tell.

BEFORE

AFTER

Have you any Spring Cleaning Nightmares to share? Wishing you all a productive Spring Day.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Felt like a little Carly Simon music today...Hope you enjoy!

Spring In Full Bloom~~Mosaic Monday~~

It has been a glorious weekend and a walk about proved to be a wonderful journey into the gallery of our Creator!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

A Friend In Need of Recipes...

There's really no grand story behind this recipe except that a friend, Theresa, at Aussie Coffee Shop is wanting some new recipes. Maybe you could help her by sharing some with her and posting them for us as well. So here is my offering...

Chicken Brunswick Stew

2 medium onions, chopped
3 large chicken breasts
2 (15 oz.) cans cream style corn
1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 (12 oz.) bottle chili sauce
1 (14 1/2 oz.) can chicken broth
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup butter, cut up
2 tablespoons cider vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon pepper sauce (Tabasco Sauce)

Place onion in a 4 quart slow cooker; place chicken over onion. Add corn and remaining ingredients . Cook, covered at HIGH 4 hours or until chicken is tender. Remove chicken, shred and return to stew.

This is wonderful with Sour Dough Bread or warm French bread. It really is good any time of the year because cooking in the crockpot doesn't heat the house and yes, I do fix it all year round.

Wishing all a grand weekend!!!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

When you've finished posting your recipe for Theresa. Please link to it here so we can all share in the delights of you recipe box!

Proud to be Catholic

My mother emailed this to me. I thought it important to share.

Proud of being Catholic

(These are excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller, prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman - NOT Catholic.)

Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important
institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic
Church?

Do you know - the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at
the cost to that Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other
hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. The graduates go on to
graduate studies at the rate of 92%.

The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment
of 700,000 students.

The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which
account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people - not just
Catholics - in the United States today.

But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the
Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia
on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the
institution of marriage.

At this point in our original posting of his letter, Mr. Miller cited statistics indicating rates of sexual misconduct among Protestant Ministers, one of which claimed that "10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia." The Reverend Rob Pollock of Vancouver B.C. showed us that this statistic was false. We thank the Rev. Pollock, and have removed the entire paragraph which compared rates of sexual misconduct among Catholic priests and Protestant Ministers. We apologize. The Reverend Pollock's email, which alerted us to the error, and which traces the roots of the erroneous statistic to an article in Sojourners magazine, is posted in the comments section below. To continue with Mr. Miller's letter:

A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and
find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the
choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR
the church has been receiving.

The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that
Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church.
You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably
been totally weeded out by now.

Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the
most important non-governmental agency in the United States. Then remember
what Jeremiah said: 'Stand by the roads, and look and ask for the ancient
paths, where the good way is and walk in it, and find rest for your souls'.
Be proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what
your Church does for all other religions. Be proud that you're a Catholic.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!

The above has been edited to include a statement offered by Father John Malloy, SDB in his blog A Shepherd's Voice. Thank you, Father John. Thank you, too, to Reverend Robert Pollock for calling this to my attention.

Tea Talk

May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you, and all your heart might desire. Irish Blessing

I'm having...Good Earth Original tea, warm and sweet and spicy.

My teacup is...another of my teapot/tea cup sets. This was a birthday gift from my daughter Marianne.

I'm feeling...a bit tired. Wish I could crawl back under the covers and go back to sleep but the day has begun and I must begin with it.

On my mind...finishing my Bible Study responses. This year's study of Exodus is nearly over and I have learned much.

As I was working on "the cookbook" I found this recipe that was given me many years ago by a patient who would deliver these cookies to the office for us. One day she gave us all the recipe.

~~~~~

Deluxe Sugar Cookies.

1 cup margarine
1 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix thoroughly margarine, confectioner's sugar, egg and vanilla. Blend in flour, soda, and cream of tartar. Roll out dough and cut into desired shapes or just drop cookies onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake 7-8 minutes or until lightly brown on the edge.

Wishing all a grand and glorious day!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea with us.

A New Adventure

Imagine a co-worker calls you on your cell at work and tells you she has run out of gas. Imagine "Gasoline Annie" running home to get the gas can you know has gas in it. Then imagine it's a 5 gallon gas can. Next I want you to imagine two women, yes it takes two, putting the gasoline into the truck that had run out of gas. In all the time "Gasoline Allie" and I were filling her tank only one young man stopped to see if he could help. Of course we thanked him for stopping, but imagine only ONE! No one even stopped to see if they could call (I guess supposing everyone has a cell phone now). At any rate we both got to work safe and sound and only 1/2 hour late.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!!!

A Weekend of Family and Celebration!

We had glorious weather for the Easter Week gathering of some of the kids and grand kids. We were gathering at 2:00 p.m. for the meal and then just sit around and talk or nap. Anisley wanted know if we were going to eat at 2:00 what was this meal called. "You know the meal between breakfast and lunch is brunch. What do we call what we are doing?" (Sophisticated for seven, and I had no answer. "Lunner?) We we ate a grand meal, chatted, played euchre or, like I said, napped.

The kids ate and Sandy was waiting for the scraps to fall.

When all were finished there were few leftovers.

We played and ate and had a grand time.

Finally, before he fell asleep, Daniel had an opportunity to entertain Ainsley and me. By the way, Ainsley is the director in this production.



So I'm hoping your weekend was as much fun as mine, for tomorrow we start all over again.

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!!!!!

Easter Continues!

Therefore we thank Thee for our little light, that is dappled
with shadow.
We thank Thee who has moved us to building, to finding
to forming at the ends of our fingers and the beams
of our eyes.
And when we have built an altar to the invisible Light,
we may set thereon the little light for which our bodily
vision is made.
And we thank Thee that darkness reminds us of light.
O Light Invisible, we give Thee thanks for Thy Great glory!
T. S. Eliot

Our celebration of Easter continues this week as the Kellers and Stauffers from INDY arrive and join us here with the Ackermans from across town. We will celebrate the Resurrection with food and family. And for entertainment we will attend the Spring Musical performed by the Students of Memorial High school.

There will be the usual ham, sweet potatoes, veggies and pie. We will chat and laugh and eat way too much. The kids will giggle, the dogs will beg at table and there will be meaningful and not so meaningful conversation.

Then it will be off to the high school for this year's performance of Annie. It is always a thrill to watch kids sing and dance and this year will be no different. Kellie is a sophomore and part of the cast (we have been entertained by the students here since Kellie began as a wee extra when she was 4). Neil her brother is an extra. What fun we will have.

The traditions of the Church allow us to celebrate this Holy Season for fifty days, not just one. We are to "party" through the Ascension of Our Lord and into Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. We are to celebrate who we are!!!!! We are the Body of Christ!

So everyone!!!! Do it!!!! CELEBRATE!!!!! We do have a lot about which to rejoice. Continue to worship and commemorate Our Lord's glorious resurrection for this is our legacy! Alleluia! Alleluia!!!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!