Jan 29 2010

The Smoothie Follies

Country Gal | Cooking and Food | 7 Comments

Smoothie FailIt all started back in October when I was grocery shopping. There – sitting in the produce aisle – was an entire banana box full of bananas for $8.00.

An entire banana box!

Yes, they were getting ripe fast – but still it was a great  deal!

I bought them and we ate them – quickly.

The last few we peeled and threw in the freezer.

A few weeks later I saw the same deal. Only this time the kids weren’t so thrilled with eating that many bananas. More went in the freezer.

Then my husband brought one home. Even more went in the freezer.

This went on well into November before we realized that none of us even wanted to look at a banana again!

Last week I cleaned out the freezer and realized that we had many, many bags of frozen bananas – and there were starting to impart a banana flavor in the homemade rolls and even the frozen french fries they shared the freezer space with.

Major banana fail.

It was time to use them up. The problem was, we are banana’d out. We’ve had banana bread, banana muffins, banana cake…you name it, we ate it, until we can’t stand to look at it again!

Then I thought of smoothies.

I taught the kids the basics, gave them a few ideas ideas – and set them loose. The only rules were they had to use a frozen banana AND they had to eat what they created.

Boy – were they creative!

Some were actually good.

Dagmar’s peanut butter, yogurt, banana and chocolate syrup was yummy. As was the blueberry, raspberry, banana and yogurt combination.

Pedro did not do as well.  His banana, chocolate syrup, raspberry syrup, and a carrot stick combo was not very tasty. It was edible, however. But in his zeal to out-do his siblings he added barbecue sauce.

Words can not describe.

He sat and tried to drink it for over an hour (remember rule #2!) until I showed him mercy and grace, allowing him to feed it to the chickens. Such relief on his face! (I did hear him tell his brother at lunch that he could still taste it several hours later!)

The kids continue to enjoy smoothies for breakfast and snack – but are more cautious about their choice of ingredients!

Little by little the massive banana pile in the freezer is slowly dwindling – one smoothie at a time.

And when I go grocery shopping – I walk right by those cheap bananas!

PS: I’ve linked this post up with my friend Myra over at My Blessed Life for her Friday Fails fun!

FlowerWhat a beautiful surprise!

I wish I could say that I planted this hyacinth bulb and planned for it to bloom in the middle of a cold and dreary January.

But the truth is – I was given the plant last spring and had every intention of planting it last fall. But things got kind of crazy and it didn’t happen.

It was placed on the catch-all shelf in the basement by the door and I forgot all about it.

Then, a few weeks ago, in a fit of organizing frenzy, I cleaned that shelf and uncovered the pot. As I was moving it, I discovered a little spot of green popping up out of the soil.

I brought it upstairs and watered it.

It grew.

Then the flower appeared. Small, and stunted, but still a spot of glorious color and fragrance in the midst of a long, cold, dreary winter.

It was a gentle reminder that spring is coming.

This cold and snowy weather will pass. It is just a season.

In time the snow will melt, the air will warm and the sun will shine.

My world will be green and fresh and vibrant with color again.

It just takes time…

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build…”‘ Ecclesiastes 3:1-3

Jan 25 2010

Winter Jam 2010

Country Gal | Memories, Winter | 0 Comments

Winter Jam 2010After last night, I think we could be nominated for parents of the year.

Last night my husband and I took all five kids, drove 2 hours, stood in the cold for 45 minutes until the doors opened and we got herded  inside, then we fought the crowd of over 8,000 people to find seats  – all so our kids could enjoy Winter Jam 2010.

So what is Winter Jam?

It is – according to my kids – THE concert of the year. It’s a massive event with an impressive line-up of performers including Third Day, Newsboys, Tenth Avenue North, Fireflight, Newsong, Sidewalk Prophets, Robert Pierre and Revive.

The cost for this amazing evening was just $10 at the door. It was a great deal.

It is also really loud.

At the risk of sounding old – I would like to point out that when music I enjoy when played on the radio is played live at a concert – the lyrics are lost and all I can hear is the pounding of the bass that is so loud it rattles my teeth.

But the kids loved it – which was actually my favorite part – watching them respond and enjoy everything about the concert.

My other highlights?

Tenth Avenue North – they are a class act all the way – and I even understood what they were singing. :)

Newsboys – pure joy! It was just plain fun to watch Mike Tait and the rest of the crew perform.

Third Day – pure worship! Singing God of Wonders with 9000 other people was something I will never forget.

Robert Pierre’s commercial for his new CD – loved it! Seriously – we need to buy the CD just because the it was so funny!

So yes, this old lady rather enjoyed the concert – despite the crowds, cold temperatures, and the blizzard we drove home in.

Yes, even in spite of the pounding bass.

Next time I’ll bring ear plugs.

Jan 21 2010

Acts of Faith

Country Gal | Book Reviews | 0 Comments

The weather is perfect for curling up with a good book and nice cup of hot chocolate and once again my Mom has a great series to share! This time it’s from our family favorites, T. Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.

The Hidden Flame

As Church Librarian, I try to keep the shelves updated with new items that will help our Faith Family grow spiritually. I read and review a lot of books and media items, and as soon as I discovered this one, I just had to share it with you! It’s a winner!

Davis Bunn and Janette Oke have teamed up to write a new series, “Acts of Faith.”  The setting is first century Judea.

In the first book of the series, The Centurion’s Wife , Alban, a centurion in the Roman army is given the order to find the truth behind a rabbi’s death and missing body.

In the second book of the series,  Hidden Flame, the “followers of the Way” have burgeoned into a vibrant, growing community that cannot be ignored by either the religious leaders or the Roman rulers!

The books are listed under historical fiction and really give you a taste of what living in that time was like. This series offers a fresh, unique perspective on the life of Christ and His followers!

These books are well written and hard to put down!

Till next time!

Nana Shirley

Jan 20 2010

Hoar Frost

Country Gal | Winter | 4 Comments

The beauty of a hoar frost.

Now imagine it covering every tree, bush, fence post, mail box, even spider webs hanging from the barn eaves.

It was breath-taking.

How can anyone doubt a creator God?

Wordless Wednesday Hoarfrost

“The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands,Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night they display knowledge there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.” Psalms 19:1-3

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