A Week In My Life

IN PICTURES.....

The week started out cold and snowy






And although the large snowflakes painted a rather beautiful picture, just let me say, "I'm done with winter!"
I think even this little guy agrees....




 I gave in to the desire of sinking my fingers deep into some soil, and replanted my Ivy plant, which I know feels much happier now.




The new pot gives it so much more room to grow! Joanna was interested at first, but then decided it felt much nicer laying down to take a nap. 

 
As you can see, she doesn't get excited about too much! She's just an easy going girl. ☺


I have no idea why she looks so guilty here....maybe she knew something I didn't!
Ummm, maybe she knew Ziva was up on the kitchen counter, which I generally do not ever allow!


Though in all fairness to poor Ziva, these last several months have been quite upsetting to her once peaceful existence...A new home, loud sounds (because of all the hardwood floors), strange smells, and a BIG BLACK DOG NAMED JOANNA! The first time Ziva realized a strange, new intruder had entered our domain, she nearly jumped out of her skin! Down into the basement she bolted, and claimed it as her own NO DOGS ALLOWED zone. She has stayed down there for weeks on end, only surfacing to the upstairs once she's sure the big, black dog is asleep for the night in "brudder's" room!

However, I still scolded her for being on the counter nonetheless....And would you believe she had the audacity to sass me back?! Yepper, she did. And I actually caught it in digital format ~ Lol!


See? She really is sassing me back, telling me all about why she thinks she should be able to stay up on that counter where it's safe.... Darn! How can I resist such a cute face?!

On one of the nicer days, I took a walk through the back yard.

Our Chestnut tree looked pretty with the blue sky as its backdrop...



And the sun that day looked like a pretty pink bubble when I took a picture of it...


A pair of birds are taking up residence in the birdhouse. I think they're Bluebirds, but I've not been fortunate to be up close enough to see who exactly the new family is. Can't wait to find out, and watch the activity as the season progresses!


When I came back inside, I found Checkers enjoying the sunshine, too.


 and Miss Ziva was back into a different kind of mischief!! 

"Hello, birdies! Wanna play?"



"NO, Ziva!! Get down!!



So she gave one last, longing look before hopping down into a nearby chair.....but not without keeping her eye on those interesting little birds! Lol!!


~ ♥~
 
Oh, dear.....I'm not sure what we're going to do with this girl now that she's gotten her courage back!

Chick and Duckling Cuteness

A recent trip to our local farm and garden center gave me a pleasant surprise.....


They had received their shipment of chicks and ducklings, and, as always, I just couldn't resist spending some time with them!


Who doesn't love the cute little chick peeps and soft little duckling quacks?




Can anyone ignore their adorable fluffiness?

I, for one, certainly cannot!


After a bit of time spent there, I decided to browse the store.

I found some neat ornaments they had on clearance....


Unique chicken clocks marked down as well.....


And I really liked this decorative bird house, too!


There certainly was no shortage of enjoyable browsing this time around on my recent visit to the farm and garden center. The shelves were stocked full of new Spring merchandise, and I'm always amazed at some of the neat stuff you can find there!

Where I Belong


~ Today is a beautiful, sun-filled Sunday ~
I always love to listen to worship music, 
especially on days like today!



WHERE I BELONG
Sung By: Building 429


Sometimes it feels like I'm watching from the outside
Sometimes it feels like I'm breathing but am I alive
I won't keep searching for answers that aren't here to find

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

So when the walls come falling down on me
And when I'm lost in the current of a raging sea
I have this blessed assurance holding me.

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

When the earth shakes I wanna be found in You
When the lights fade I wanna be found in You

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong


Where I belong, where I belong.....
Where I belong, where I belong.....



Spring's Arrival

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Geese ~ a beautiful sight, a beautiful sound! Five flew overhead late yesterday afternoon, six flew overhead on this cool, gray this morning!



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Just saw my first Red Winged Blackbird today! Not too long after, I heard one calling from its perch in the trees beside the house. I love to hear that "Oh-ka-lee"; it just makes my heart so glad!



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Stepped outside to post a letter in the mail, and was greeted with that wonderful smell of the first Spring rain. There's just nothing like it! And although our temperatures aren't the most regular of Spring temperatures, a mid 40's day with a pitter-pattering rainfall still smells like Spring me!



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Yes, it's true....Spring is here! Yesterday the calendar proved it, though Mother Nature still has some straightening around to do! But now that we're over what could possibly have been some of the worst winter weather in quite a while, nothing can dull my excitement and anticipation for a change of seasons!



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~ ♥~
Happy Spring my friends!

3 Ingredient Chicken Dish

I love when a dish comes together quickly and uses just a few simple ingredients that are almost always on hand in any kitchen. Even better is when the dish is a hit with the family!

And that's what happened last night. ☺
 
I grabbed the package of boneless, skinless chicken thighs from my fridge, thinking I wanted something different than the same old "seasoned and fried" chicken in a pan.
 
So I walked to the pantry, looked over my soup selection, and settled on a can of cream of chicken. In the next cupboard over, I grabbed my box of rice. The idea of a casserole type dish started forming in my mind. 

Then, I had it ~ (the recipe that is!) ~ just something I whipped together in my brain. And often, that's the way I like to work!

Here's what you'll need:

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 - 10.5 oz. can condensed Cream of Chicken soup
2 cups of instant white rice

Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Season the bottom of the dish with salt, course pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Set aside. 
 
Next, remove chicken from the package, rinse and set on a cutting board. Lay each piece out flat, and cut in half from top to bottom. Move each piece into the baking dish, making one layer of meat over the entire bottom of the dish. Season the top of the chicken with salt, course pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.

Pour the can of Cream of Chicken soup over the top of all chicken pieces, smoothing it out to the edges with a spatula to make an even covering over the meat. Cover with aluminum foil. Place in oven on middle rack, and set the timer for 30 minutes. (Chicken will be done when meat is white, and no pink shows.)


When there are approximately 10 minutes left, prepare rice according to package directions for 4 servings. 
 
 
To Serve:
 
Place a mound of rice on each plate. With a large, deep spoon, scoop chicken and soup from baking dish and place over each mound of rice. (I served 2 pieces of chicken per plate.)

Yield: 4 servings

Tender and tasty chicken over rice.
 
You can easily expand the meal by simply adding a side of steamed carrots, broccoli or any other vegetable of your choice.
~ ♥~
 
Hope you enjoy this as much as my family did! 

A Different Kind of Shopping

This weekend we got our Christmas Tree Shops flyer.

Oh, me! Oh, my! So many neat things, so much variety and lots of bright, cheerful colors.... This is one flyer that REALLY gets me excited. If I could, I would live in that store! It asks, "Don't you just love a BARGAIN?" Why yes, I do!! 


As I was browsing through the flyer, Dean happened to pass by and stopped to take a look at what had me so captivated. I pointed out things as though I were a child telling Santa what I wanted for Christmas......

"I want a set of these.....

Oh, and one of these.....


....and a white and rose quilt!


Ooooo, and a set just like this....


I have always wanted a table like this!


The black and rose ones! I want a pair of them!


I want a couple strings of these! They're kinda like the camper awning lights you know I just love....


I want white ones of these ~ like maybe 3 or 4!!


And I want one just like what's on the table....Oh, isn't it so pretty?! Like the handkerchiefs Great Grandma used to have,

and I want...." 

Then my mantra was abrubtly interrupted.


"Babe?"

"Yes?"

"You know how they say window shopping?"

"Yeah..."

He laughs.

"Well, you know what you're doing?"

"No. What am I doing?"

"You're shopping in your mind!"


Then it's my turn to laugh. 

"Yes, I guess you're right. 'Cause you aren't Santa, and we aren't rich!!"


Ohhhh, but what a fun time of "mind shopping" it was.

And I still really like you, Christmas Tree Store! I'll be back to "mind shop" again soon!