Happy Birthday America. Let's Eat!

Photo: Country Living

Bon Appetit: Top 11 Fourth of July Menu's

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Happy Birthday America. Let's eat!

Sunset: Mix-and-match July 4 party menu

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Treat the gang to easy cocktails, perfect grilled dishes,

our best sides, and star-spangled dessert...

Bon Appetit: Red, White Blue Desserts

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Americana dessert goes well beyond apple pie. From Red Velvet Cake to White Balsamic Custard Tart—and of course Blueberry Hill Cupcakes— these recipes are all-American and all delicious.

Southern Living Party Tips and Ideas

The Wow Factor: Window Boxes

Raindrop N Roses: Flower Boxes

BHG: Easy Recipes For Window Boxes in Shade

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Don't let shade get you down. Create window boxes that beautify your landscape

 with our easy plant-by-number ideas...

This Old House: How To Hang Window Box

Add a splash of color and visual interest to your home with a traditional wooden window box. These charming wood boxes have been used for centuries the world over to dress up plain, somber windows. And now you can install one in just an hour or so with a minimal amount of effort or expense....

Window Boxes Revive Container Gardening

There are a lot of great reasons to garden in containers, in addition to the fun. Compared to fighting tight, heavy clay in the landscape, it's also easier to provide a good environment when it comes to soil or planting mixes for your plants...

So, How's It Taste?

Spicy Pasta Salad with Chicken and Smoked Gouda

Blog: So, How's It Taste?  

It’s delightful. It hits every note of flavor with just a few ingredients.

This pasta is so easy to whip together....

Perfect Summer Salad

 Eight Layer Salad

Blog: The Meaning of Pie  

While cleverly plated salads have never died, the cleverly assembled salads seem to be trapped in the era of the first color cookbooks. Ah, but they are around. This example is merely a layered salad, frosted generously with a creamy dressing...

Peach, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Salad

Blog: MY BEST days EVER

This is a salad I have lived on every Summer since I discovered it. The flavours are simple, fresh and beautiful, and with its milky orbs of buffalo mozzarella and segments of drippy golden peaches, it is quite possibly the sexiest Summer salad I have ever eaten...

No swimming upstream required....

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

Blog: One Vanilla Bean

Sometimes I leave work exhausted with no desire to cook anything for dinner. I just want to pick up something on my way home. And there is one thing that I love, something that never disappoints me and always leaves me satisfied: the smoked salmon pasta salad...

Dreams are Nature's Answering Service

Dreams are nature's answering service -

don't forget to pick up your messages once in a while. 

~Sarah Crestinn

God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.

Elizabeth Barret Browning

We are not only less reasonable and less decent in our dreams...

we are also more intelligent, wiser and capable of

 better judgment when we are asleep than when we are awake. 

~Erich Fromm

Dream as if you'll live forever,

live as if you'll die today.

James Dean

Shattered dreams often lead to a world-impacting destiny.

But getting there is often a process where we must work through

honest feelings before we can see the God who redeems even the

most devastating shattered dream.

Be careful what you wear to bed at night,

you never know who you'll meet in your dreams.

Our heart oft times wakes when we sleep
and God can speak to that, either by words,
by proverbs, by signs and similitude's,
as well as if one was awake. 
John Bunyan

The River of Dreams

Billy Joel

In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
From the mountains of faith
To the river so deep
I must be lookin' for something
Something sacred i lost
But the river is wide
And it's too hard to cross
even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and stand on the shore
I try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find what I've been looking for
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the valley of fear
To a river so deep
I've been searching for something
Taken out of my soul
Something I'd never lose
Something somebody stole
I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is I've been looking for

In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the jungle of doubt
To the river so deep
I know I'm searching for something
Something so undefined
That it can only be seen
By the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night

In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth
To the river so deep
We all end in the ocean
We all start in the streams
We're all carried along
By the river of dreams
In the middle of the night

Stars and Stripes Forever!

Martha Stewart: Flag Cake Stand Monument

Pledge allegiance to this festive flag stand. We put it on top of a two-tiered cake stand to create a mini cupcake monument

 Martha Stewart: Stick-On Stars Template

Use these templates to make these adhesive stars, which transform a basic enamel bucket into a fun picnic beverage station...

Martha Stewart

How To: Red, White and Blue Garland

Fashioned from red, white, and blue paper stars, this festive garland adds a patriotic touch to a doorway or mantel. Easy and inexpensive to make, it's a great holiday project for both children and adults.

Country Living: 4th of July Crafts

Inspired by turn-of-the-century celebrations, the following joyful tributes to red, white, and blue harken to a time when impromptu hats were folded from leftover newspapers, and marching bands, firecrackers, and lawn games marked the day. These projects by Melissa Neufeld can be made ahead of time to decorate for the holiday, or assembled with the help of family and young friends at the party itself.

 

 

Summer Homes with Visual Oomph

Traditional Home: East Hamptom Summer Home

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Ken Wyse’s East Hampton summer home resembles a bespoke suit, but without the buttoned-up attitude. Impeccably constructed, elegantly tailored, and tweaked to display handsome lines, the Georgian-style house is dressed for summer and weekend living

Traditional Home - Showhouse Color: Pastels

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Pastels are often passed over in the world of design. These pale beauties can be soft in their commitment to color and can lose the visual oomph needed to make a dynamic statement...

Traditional Home: Nantucket Summer Home

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Painted in white, the kitchen reads clean but not sterile, with folk art finds peeking from every corner....

What a wonderful room with a view!

Country Living: The Ultimate Summer Cabin

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Welcome to the fun house! With a restaurant-worthy kitchen, room to sleep 16—and a deck perched above Georgia’s Lake Burton—Robin and Archie Lowe’s home is always up for a party

Have a lovely Father's Day weekend!

Sizzling Summer Appetizers + Cool Cottage Charm

Diabetic Living: Thai Spinach Dip

This stir-together treat delivers big peanut flavor with a hint of heat.

The dip takes just minutes to prepare.

BHG: Wrap and Roll Basil Pinwheels

Make these appetizers yourself or put out all the fixings

and have everyone create their own.

Spicy Melon Skewers

BHG: Sizzling Summer Appetizers

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The bounties of spring and summer star in these refreshing appetizers

-- tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, and more.

BHG: Decorating With Homemade Cottage Charm

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When you think outside the box, the possibilities are endless. That's the philosophy proven in this stylish and colorful cottage home, which taps into the charm of vintage goods and repurposed pieces for a look that is as comfortable as it is chic.

Classic Chicken Flavors

Serious Eats Grilling: Chicken Involtini with Prosciutto and Basil

All the classic flavors are here—tomato sauce, cheese, chicken—

but done in a more sophisticated way....

Serious Eat Grilling: Beer Marinated Chicken Tacos

The recipe called for a 2 to 4 hour marinade, but I pushed it further to overnight,

 and the chicken really picked up the deep flavor of the beer. The marinade also

caramelized over the high heat, forming a crisp crust...

The Professional Palate - The Art of Eating Well
Rosemary Poached Chicken and Pecan Salad

Is There A Science To Good Chicken Salad?

Baking is a science. Chicken salad is not.

Let me explain. I don't find good chicken salad to be dictated by a set of weights and measures. There is room for improvisation and customization. That said, there are still some general rules that must be followed if you want to please the chicken salad tasters at my house....

Beat the Heat Coolers and Slushy's

Bless Her Heart: Blackberry Ginger Cooler

Blackberry Ginger Coolers are a refreshingly

tasty way to beat the summer heat.

Notebook.com: 5 Easy Healthy Slush Drinks

Next time you feel like a store bought slush or cola, make one of these instead.

Chow: Wine Cocktails

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Featured here is a red-wine sangría with all of the classic flavors to recipes for making a  light and peachy sangría that’s slightly frizzante! 

Ecclesiastes

 Love Always Shines Through...

 

There is an appointed time for everything.

And there is a time for every event under heaven ~

A time to give birth, and a time to die;

A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill, and a time to heal;

A time to tear down, and a time to build up.

A time to weep, and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn, and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.

A time to search, and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep, and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together;

A time to be silent, and a time to speak.

A time to love, and a time to hate;

A time for war, and a time for peace . . .

Ecclesiastes - Tim Hughes

This song is from Tim Hughes's album, "Love Shine Through."

 His Love does shine through even the darkest of places.

Nancy writes . . .

Because of a foreclosure and a move to a much smaller home,

I'm having to let go of things I once thought important.

 I hope to gain what is truly important, a closer walk with my Heavenly Father.

While I'm letting go of possessions with one hand,

the other hand is being held by Jesus.

Together, we dance.

Flush Away All Those Little Nasties

Health Benefits of Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar

What Are the Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey?

Well, our bodies are prone to a build-up of acid crystals; the fantastic benefits of these ingredients include its ability to flush all those little nasties out of our systems.

 

*Anti-viral agents
*Anti-fungal agents
*Anti-bacterial agents

Personal comment:

For several months,  I've been having problem with aches and pains in my shoulder and neck.  Nothing was working.   Frustrated, on Monday, I decide to go to the Lord in prayer about this and the Holy Spirit showed me several verses in the book of Proverbs that spoke about the benefits of honey and the benefits of vinegar. 

One website suggested drinking 2 tsp of each mixed with a glass of water, taken twice a day. 

Not only did this drink taste great but within 24 hours I was feeling fine! 

To learn more, please check out either link above or below:

The Wonder "Drug" of Yesterday and Today: Apple Cider Vinegar and Honey

P.S. I don't know if this  natural remedy of Honey and Apple Cider Vinegar can help people in Europe dealing with this horrid E-coli bacterial outbreak or not but it certainly can't hurt.

Mom, I'm bored...

Nature Walk Bracelet

Let your child save outdoor treasures

and craft a fashionable bracelet at the

same time with this easy-to-make accessory

Martha's Crafts for Kids

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Let your children create one-of-a-kind accessories with these easy craft ideas.

Love this!

Martha Stewart: Kid's Party Crafts

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This chic party pin is easy and fun for kids to make.

BHG: Fun Backyard Game Ideas

 

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You remember these classic games, but you probably haven't played them for years.

See if you can find your favorites, offered here with variations to make them more fun

-- and secretly healthy -- for you and your kids

Summer Kebabs

Scallop Orange and Cucumber Kebabs

Both wooden and metal skewers are great for kebabs.

Wooden skewers need to be soaked in water for 30 minutes before use.

Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Chili paste and fish sauce give these shrimp a Thai-inspired flavor.

Pacific Pork Kebabs with Pinneapple Rice

 

 

Martha Stewart: Kebab Recipes

 

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We love grilling kebabs for their ease and versatility. The different ingredient combinations offer loads of tasty possibilities, which is especially helpful when feeding a crowd.

BHG: Best Healthy Kabob Recipes

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Heat up the grill for a simple backyard pleasure.

These meat-, veggie-, and fruit-skewered kabobs will help you welcome the season in healthy fashion

Sunrise, Sunset

From dawn to dusk . . .

Sunrise, Sunset

 (Men)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze

(Women)

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

(Tevye)

What words of wisdom can I give them?
How can I help to ease their way?

(Golde)

Now they must learn from one another

Day by day

(Perchik)

They look so natural together

 

(Hodel)

Just like two newlyweds should be

 

(Perchik & Hodel)

Is there a canopy in store for me?

(All)

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

Fiddler on the Roof

Take Away Points To Consider

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,
 always bring your own sunshine.
~Anthony J. D'Angelo




A smile is the light in the window of your face
that tells people you're at home.
~Author Unknown

The Lord does not shine upon us,

except when we take his Word as our light.

 John Calvin

There are two ways of spreading light;

to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Edith Newbold Wharton


The stars are the street lights of eternity.
 ~Author Unknown

 

Photographs: Cubagallery