Happy Birthday

What a fine day
for tea
Lady Katherine!

I do
hope your
birthday was special

Every Day Chili

I know most of us are looking for lighter meals as Spring and Summer approach. However, this recipe was a special request. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Keep Sweet,
Becky

Chili Recipe

2 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium onion (diced)
2 pounds ground beef (80/20 or better)
1 large can tomato juice
2 cans Mexican or chili beans
4 tablespoons chili powder
1 green pepper (diced)
Salt and Pepper to taste

• Saute together in oil the green pepper, and onion
• Add ground beef break up and brown evenly. Drain grease and discard properly. Transfer this mixture to a large pot.
• Add tomato juice, beans, seasonings and optional jalapeno pepper.
• Simmer 2 hours.
• Optional serving accompaniments; cheddar cheese, onions, corn chips, grilled cheese, corn bread.
  

Spring for the mantle

I decided to try my hand at decoupaging an egg to add to my spring decorations. This is not my own idea. I found it somewhere along the way.

I started by blowing out three eggs. I poked a hole in both sides of each egg. I used a tack. The kind you might use on a bulletin board. Notice, there is a small hole on one side and a slightly bigger hole on the other. You will blow through the small hole and the contents of the egg will come out of the larger hole. I did add a little bleach to disinfect the egg and let it set out over night to air dry. You can google "Egg Blowing" to get instructions on how to do this if you have never done it before.

I gathered the supplies that I would use. Do you see the stamps? Yeah... I thouht that since stamps were the right size I could use them for this project. Maybe I'll try it again sometime, however I was not getting the look I wanted for this spring project. The ink ran and well it just looked a mess. The ribbon turned out looking nicer. The ink did not run and the wrapping paper was a little more pliable.
I took time to cut out the bows from this wrapping paper. I chose this paper because Iwanted to use supplies I already had on hand.
Instead of using the brush I found it easier to use my finger to apply the mod podge and "ribbon". After squirting a little mod podge onto the foam tray I dipped my finger in and rubbed it onto the egg. Then put the "ribbon" on top of that adding more mod podge on top of the "ribbon". The nice thing is that I can store these eggs and get them out agian next year for some more decorating fun. After covering the egg with the paper I stategically placed different colored "ribbon" around the egg for visual effect.

Here is a picture of where the egg ended up. Do you see the other two eggs? I did something different with them. One was traditionally dyed the other tea dyed.
Since I already had the supplies on my craft shelf this project only cost me a little time.

Friday Project Party

I am excited about my first blog party. Everyone was invited over to the Sugar Plum Cottage for a Party.
If you would like to see what others have been busy doing today then hop on over to http:sugarplumcottage.blogspot.com


As you can see I have been busy putting a little spring in my home. This is one side of the armoire that is in our family room. Although pink and blue are not the colors that I use in that room these plates just say Spring. They are the plates that I have used for years on Easter Sunday morning for our breakfast.

We have enjoyed this ostrich egg for several years. It was given to my daughter at a farm tour. Do you like the letters that I found on my craft shelf. I know it is a little hard to see, it spells out spring.






Isn't that little birdie cute. A thoughtful friend gave it to me, she loves to give gifts and this one is especially sweet. This birdie reminds her of a funny story that I shared with her that happened to me in my early married years. Maybe I'll share it with you one day.





As you can see I like to use the lamb for Easter decorating. It is truly symbolic to us of the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world for each of our sins.






I did some other projects today that I will share at another time. Now it is date night and I am looking forward to sharing a wonderful evening with my husband just catching up on the day.

Have a wonderful evening and as always,
Keep Sweet,
Becky

Ramblings

My kids seem to be all grown and wanting to fly from the nest. I suppose that is the plan and I am going along with it most days. One daughter has spread her wings and flown around the world and is making a little nest of her own in Japan. My eldest daughter is recouping in her old nest after being on a cruise ship for a year and a half serving vacationers. Then there is my boy finishing up school and letting us know in his own way that he is ready to make his way in this world.

Are you there yet? People often ask "What are you going to do now that your nest is emptying out"? Honestly, there is so much more to the nest. It is truly an ongoing quest in making a home a place of peace and beauty. There is a lot of inspiration out there in blog world from those that are gifted home decorators, frugal shoppers and just happy home makers.

I do have little ones that comes to my home now and then. The little guy in the above picture comes over most days of the week. His momma needed a helping hand. He has filled our home with love and laughter. As you can see he loves to get into my pantry. He gets a box, any box, and empty's the contents. Of course he shares this treat with our dog. My husband has since helped me out by securing that door with a lock. Thank you Mr. Fix-it. Less messes for me to clean up.

Investing in little ones is like storing up heavenly treasurer. I like to think that I am blessing their momma and giving that little one a little nugget of hope and faith to take through life. Not that their own parents are not doing the same.

Do you like the little bags one of my little friends made for her family? She told her mom that they can put them in their underwear drawer. She was excited to make these little bags filled with potpourri and popcorn mixed with refreshing oil. Simple you say. Yes, I know, but, that did not matter to her. She was very pleased with her accomplishment. It does not have to take much time or money to make a little person happy.

These little hands and feet make life all the sweeter. At times a grown-ups life can be filled with too much "stuff", you decide what that is. Taking time to share life with little ones can put perspective right back where it belongs. They likely will listen to your stories and help with tasks. They will make your heart light as your ears ring with the sound of laughter, only to realize that it is you laughing your head off. Who ends of really help whom?

So, although I am enjoying this new phase of our life, the emptying nest. It is a wonderful adventure rediscovering my man. I really like the maturer version of him. Grey hair and beard to boot. It is rewarding to share what we have with others even if the others are little ones that take the energy right out of ya.

The mission field is not always so far away. Do you agree?

Keep Sweet, Becky

Chicken Enchiladas

My youngest daughter, Ruth, teaches English Second Language in a private school in Japan. She misses good 'ol American cooking and often request recipes from home. I thought I would share them here so that she can have a quick reference and a love note from home. I have to confess that I also thought that I might make a few friends out there in blog world as well.
Do you mark your recipes with a smiley face like I do? It is something I started doing years ago. Those little smiles sure come in handy when I just don't know what to put on my menues for the week. Chicken Enchiladas is a family favorite, a recipe with a smile.

Chicken Enchiladas
Chicken, boiled and de-boned
2 cans of cream of chicken soup
1 (8 oz) bottle of taco sauce
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 pkg, cheddar cheese, grated
1 pkg Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 pkg (8 oz) flour or wheat tortillas

Put 2-3 cups of small pieces of chicken in a large bowl. (freeze the rest for another recipe) canned chicken would be fine for this recipe. Add 1 can soup, taco sauce, sour cream and 1/2 of both cheeses and mix well. Spoon 2 tablespoons or more in flour or wheat tortillas and roll. Place folded side down in pan sprayed with Pam. Spread other can of soup on top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Freezes well. I use a 9x13 inch pan for this recipe.

Welcome

I have recently been inspired by many homemaking and decorating blogs. Wishing to be a contributor and not a taker I created this blog.