Earth laughs in flowers... Ralph Waldo Emerson


A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word, 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.
C.S. Lewis

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Wishing Everyone…

Happy 2010!!!

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I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year!!! I pray 2010 brings many blessings to you all!!!

My family and I will be watching these guys and cheering them to a HUGE victory in the

Cotton Bowl!!! GO COWBOYS!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

A Few Christmas Pics!!!

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I’m still trying to catch up with everyone!!! Thanks for being so patient!!! These are a few last

minute pics of my kitchen and family room. Enjoy!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!!!

I’m going to leave you with a verse from my favorite Christmas hymn!!!

“O holy night the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth!”

Merry Christmas!!!

Cathy

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Merry Christmas!!!

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I have been missing everyone sooooo much!!! I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas season!!!

We have been having a bit of a family crisis of late and I thought my time and attention were needed at home. We lost our family business in the fall…it is a long story…and while we are all fine and doing well…I just felt the need to take some time off from a few of my extra curricular activities and love on my family a little more!!! I knew all of you sweet girls would understand…and I am so thankful for all of your concern. I am so blessed to have such wonderful bloggy buddies!!!

I am going to try and post a little bit while the kids are home for Christmas break and hope to be back in full swing when school starts again in January!!!

Thank you all again for your prayers, patience and understanding!!! I will try to pop in for a visit with all of you as soon as I can!!!

P.S. This is the pic I used for my Christmas card this year…my sweet kiddos!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!

From our home to yours…I hope you all have a wonderful day!!!

God Bless You All!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Sunday, November 22, 2009

I Can’t Wait!!!

 pumpkin pie

Thanksgiving is just around the corner!!!I can’t wait!!! I am looking forward to spending time with my family, cooking, watching football and lots of this…pumpkin pie…YUMMY!!!

I am so blessed and so thankful for all of God’s gifts…at the top of the list…His grace and mercy!!!

I thought you might like this tried and true recipe!!!

Enjoy!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Pumpkin Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large egg whites
1 can (15 oz.) LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 can (12 fl. oz.) NESTLÉ CARNATION Evaporated Fat Free Milk
Light whipped cream (optional)

MIX sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, ginger and salt in small bowl. Beat egg whites lightly in large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk.
POUR into pie shell.
BAKE in preheated 425° F. oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350° F.; bake for additional 30 to 40 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Garnish with light whipped cream, if desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate. (Do not freeze as this will cause filling to separate from crust.)

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sunday Blessings!!!

Joy

Do you ever hear something that  perfectly describes your feelings?

My son and I were driving in the car the other day. We were listening to a CD we have had for a long time. We

were both in a quiet mood just listening to the music and I was so moved by the power of these words I

wanted to share them with you. They say it all…so I am going to leave you with them.

Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

~~~No guilt in life, no fear in death This is the power of Christ in me From life's first cry to final breath Jesus

commands my destiny No power of hell, no scheme of man Can ever pluck me from His Hand 'til He returns

or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.~~~

Thursday, November 12, 2009

And the Winner Is…!!!

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I have to begin by thanking everyone for all of the interest in my giveaway…ya’ll are truly amazing!!! I wish I

could send you all a gift…instead you will have to settle for my sincere gratitude!!! I love blogging and I love

all of the friends I have made since I started!!! I am so looking forward to the upcoming holidays…reading

about everyone’s traditions, decorating, travel plans and special family times!!! Let the fun begin;)!!!

 

Now…the winner of my giveaway is Melissa from Melissa’s Heart and Home!!! I am so excited…Melissa

was my very first follower!!! Congrats dear Melissa…you have been such a faithful friend…I am so happy

to send this to you!!! I hope you and your sweet hubby enjoy everything!!! E-mail me your address and I will

get everything to you as soon as I can!!!

 

I want to thank everyone again for participating…you all are so sweet!!!

 

Have a wonderful evening!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Saturday, November 7, 2009

I’m Having Another Giveaway!!!

Hi everyone!!! I’m baaaaack!!! I want to thank all of you wonderful girls for all of your prayers and well

wishes!!! I am so moved by the outpouring of love and support that I received from all my wonderful blog

friends!!! Ya’ll are amazing!!!

Everyone is feeling better and back to their regular activities. I can’t believe I didn’t come down with the virus…

knock on wood…I have escaped it!!! I have been busy sterilizing and sanitizing the house and everything that

came into contact with the patients. I might just have the cleanest house in the United States…hehe!!! Just in

time to start decorating for Christmas!!!

Now…on to the giveaway!!! I hope ya’ll aren’t sick of Williams Sonoma yet because I decided these goodies

needed to come home with me…and then sent out to one of you!!! I just love these little gingerbread men

mugs…there are four of them and they all are featuring a slightly different design. The hot chocolate pot is so

cute…don’t you think? Red ceramic with the cute little hot chocolate written on the side!!! It comes with a

battery operated mixer on the top…so handy!!! I had to include the peppermint hot chocolate…it is to die for…a

favorite around my house during the holidays!!!

I want to thank all of you again for your friendship and support during my little break!!! Blogging is the best!!!

I had so much fun with the last giveaway and am looking forward to seeing the results of this one!!! I hope

ya’ll like the items I selected…I think they will be a great addition to anyone’s home during this holiday

season!!!

Good luck to all of you!!!

~To enter my giveaway… Leave me a comment on this post…one entry

~Follow my blog…two entries. I would love to get to know you better!

~Post about this on your blog…three entries.

I will use the random generator to select the winner and make the announcement Thursday evening,

November 12th at 8:00p.m. central time.

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I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Some News!!!

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Happy Sunday everyone!!! I hope ya’ll had a wonderful Halloween!!! Ours was fairly quiet. A few trick or

treaters and some football. Our team lost…boo hoo :( but we managed to have a good time anyway.

 

I am taking a little bloggy break. Our family has been hit hard by the H1N1 virus. My husband, daughter and

son all have contracted the virus over the last couple of weeks. Everyone is recovering well but I need to catch

up on some things around our house and get our lives back on track and under control.

 

When I come back I am planning another giveaway…I already have the items I want to share…I think you

will like them!!!

I hope ya’ll have a wonderful week!!! I will be back soon!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Friday, October 30, 2009

BOO!!!

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Thursday, October 29, 2009

You Have Got to Try This!!!

Roasted Chicken with Balsamic Vinaigrette

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 (4-pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces (giblets, neck and backbone reserved for another use)

1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions

Whisk the vinegar, mustard, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and pepper in small bowl to blend. Combine the

vinaigrette and chicken pieces in a large resealable plastic bag; seal the bag and toss to coat. Refrigerate,

turning the chicken pieces occasionally, for at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove chicken from the bag and arrange the chicken pieces on a large

greased baking dish. Roast until the chicken is just cooked through, about 1 hour. If your chicken browns too

quickly, cover it with foil for the remaining cooking time. Transfer the chicken to a serving platter. Place the

baking dish on a burner over medium-low heat. Whisk the chicken broth into the pan drippings, scraping up

any browned bits on the bottom of the baking sheet with a wooden spoon and mixing them into the broth and

pan drippings. Drizzle the pan drippings over the chicken. Sprinkle the lemon zest and parsley over the

chicken, and serve.

I am always on the hunt for something new to do with chicken. I made this last night for dinner and it was

amazing. It is a recipe from the kitchen of the amazing Giada De Laurentiis. I love all of her recipes…simply

scrumptious!!!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Sunday Blessings!!!

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Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.

Charles Dickens

Have a wonderful Sunday!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

A Little More Fallishness!!!

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I thought I would show you just a few more of the fall goodies at my house. The candied apples

are just a small thank you for stopping by…take one and enjoy;)!!!

Happy Fall Ya’ll!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Look What I Won!!!

I have been one lucky girl lately!!! I won two darling giveaways in as many days!!! Yeah!!! 

Lucky me!!!

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I won this wonderful giveaway from Julie at eab designs!!! She is the sweetest thing with the

most gorgeous blog!!! These goodies are so beautiful and they came so beautifully wrapped I

almost hated to open them…almost;)!!! Please go by and check it out…you won’t be sorry!!!

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An Anthropologie gift card for $25!!! Yeah!!!

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I also won these wonderful goodies from Anne at Fiona and Twig. I told you I was lucky!!! 

She sent a darling blue and white toile tote as a surprise too!!! She is sooo sweet!!! I have just

recently found Fiona’s blog…it is beautiful!!! Go by and visit her too…it is a real treat!!!

Thank you both so much for these wonderful gifts!!! I am so thrilled to have won both of your

giveaways!!! This is such an extra added bonus of blogging…meeting great new friends and

getting presents…who could ask for anything more?!!!

Thanks again!!!

Lots of Love!!!

Cathy

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Doors of Welcome!!!

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I am joining in with Karen from Some days are Diamonds today for Doors of Welcome. We are

showing off our doors dressed up and ready for fall!!! This is the front entry to my home…as you

can see I like lots of plants and pumpkins!!! I have this little bench here year round and it’s decor

changes with the season. Just about the only thing that is a constant is the topiary. If you can

believe it…this crazy thing started out life as a reject from inside. He was looking a little tired so I

thought I would see if he liked it better outside…I guess he does…he is exploding everywhere!!!

My GORGEOUS wreath was made by Kristen of Kristen’s Creations!!! I ordered it early in the

season and have been dying to show it off!!! Today is the day!!! I LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT!!!

I LOVE IT!!! I think she is a genius…I have been trying to talk her into moving in and becoming

my personal floral designer…I don’t think she is buying it…hehe!!! I think it is the crowning

glory to my entryway!!! THANK YOU KRISTEN!!!

Be sure to stop by Karen’s and check out all of the other “DOORS”!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Lots of Love!!!

XOXO

Cathy

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