TORNADO OUTBREAK FORECAST

Here in Alabama we are being told to expect some Super Cell Tornadic activity tonight and into tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27th.  My blogging friend Marlene at StitchinattheLake lives in Arkansas and is without power possibly till Friday!  She could only send a message through Madame Samm via Sew We Quilt @ Stash Manicure!

Given the ominous forecast, I thought it wise to tell everyone I may possibly be in the same "boat" as Marlene at some time during the next 2 days.  We have learned to take Tornado watches and warnings VERY seriously and take prudent precautions.  I'm headed to the store to stock up on batteries, candles, water, and nonperishable food.

On a scale of 1-10, the Weather Cahnel plus local weather men rate our chances of super cell tornadoes as a 9.  This is very rare, in fact the highest I've seen the rating is a 7 and the weather spawned a few F3/F4 tornadoes.

Therefore, #1 Husband will be making an inspection of the "storm Pit" making sure no critters have taken up residence since last spring.  Our shelter was built in 1974 after the severe tornado outbreak of over 300+ tornadoes spreading from Texas up thru Xenia, Ohio.  7 neighbors locally were killed and hundreds of concrete "storm pits" were built in reaction to the tragedy.  

I'm not talking about these more modern pre-fab storm cellars with electricity and benches to sit on.  Oh NO, this shelter of ours is like going down into a large root cellar thus the term "PIT" is very accurate.  I hate it with a passion but when a funnel cloud is headed in your direction, I'm one of the first to climb in after my children of course.  MY own children and grandchildren have much better accomodations for stormy weather which is one less worry for me.  My youngest daughter is on an Eastern Caribbean cruise about now so I know she's OK.

So...for now I will make preparations, listen and watch carefully to all local and national weather forecasts.  #1 Hubby is very good at knowing when is the right time to go to the storm pit so I feel safe with him making the decisions.  He is the kind of guy that makes you feel safe!

Let's hope everyone remains vigilant, safe, and no loss of property or life is the outcome of this current weather situation.  may you stay safe wherever you are and May God Bless.

EASTER BLESSINGS

to 

all my friends and family!

For those of us who profess to be Christians, the Easter Weekend is the HOLIEST of all Holidays in the Christian Calendar.  The sacrifice that Christ made on that Old Rugged Cross is the source of our 

HOPE

I January I chose the word HOPE as my word of the year.  At no other time is this word more significant to me than during Easter.  I love when Easter comes late because most all the spring blooms have bloomed and it truly harbors the sense of NEW LIFE.  

This Easter is a little different for my family in that we will not all be together for various reasons...no Easter Egg Hunt, no Big Family Dinner, no sitting together in the same church, no Easter finery, just the idea that Christ IS ALIVE and sits at the right hand of the Father!  A little child in Scott's pre-school asked the teacher "Who sits on the left Hand?"   Aren't children wonderful???

On Thursday night, I took a nasty little fall in my bathroom and ended up with a fractured left ankle, broken left ring finger, and several nasty little bruises.  I'm Ok and getting around on an air boot & crutches.  My husband had to go out of town as have all my children so I'm fending for myself and doing quite well I might add.  Yeah, it's more difficult but I'm figuring things out.  I have an even more empathetic heart for my two friends who just recently lost their husbands.  I can look forward to #1 hubby coming home and for that I'm grateful!

Last week, I took some Spring pictures in my back yard..nothing exotic..just the simplicity of a dandelion, or branch of a budding dogwood makes me mindful of New Life and the New Life I have in Christ.  I thought I would share these pictures with you and MY TESTIMONY.

My future vegetable garden 2011

You see, I grew up going to church and did all the things good little church girls do.  I got baptized at the age of 10 and based my salvation on that one act.  I began to have doubts about my salvation in my teen years but some well meaning adults reminded me of my baptism and all the good things I had done.  It became an ever mounting thorn in my side until at age 42 I finally surrenedered my life to Christ!  I was a Deacons' wife and youth Sunday School teacher.  Satan kept telling me if I did this thing, it would ruin my husband, my place in the community and I would be disgraced. 

However, I decided to listen to the Holy Spirit's call instead and during a community revival I gave repented of my sins (mostly the sin of Pride), came forward to make a public profession of faith and was baptized the following Sunday night!  Guess what??  All the things I feared never happened but rather 3 girls in my SS class gave their lives to Christ and I was wrapped up in love and support.  That very week, 2 of my best friends made a public profession of Faith because like me they had been relying on an act of baptism as a child for their salvation experience. 

I believe baptism is an act of Obedience which symbolizes my death and resurrection in Christ!  The fact that my first baptism was not done as an act of Obedience and Symbolism of repentance, I felt it imperative that I be publicly baptized again.

This may be different than your belief but I believe we can all agree that salvation is an act of Faith and a gift from God depicting His mercy and Grace.  It was important for me to share my brief testimony during this Easter Holiday. " I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" is a line in one of my favorite songs, "Not Ashamed",  I want that to be a line on my headstone...She was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ

One of my two apple trees

New growth of variegated monkey grass peeping up out of the winter ground

My Hostas sprang up over night it seems!

May you know the Love of Christ as your Personal Lord & Saviour

MORE STRAWBERRY LOVE

I borrowed this picture and copied the Paula Deen's recipe  I use to make my dessert.  I received several requests for both recipes. I've added another recipe sent to me by my sister.  So... ...ENJOY!!

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• 3/4 cup melted butter
• 3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (8-ounce) container whipped topping
• 2 (3-ounce) packages strawberry gelatin dessert mix
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 (10-ounce) packages frozen strawberries
• 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple
• Whipped topping or whipped cream, to garnish
• Note: For all of us Diabetics out there use Splenda, low fat cream cheese, light margarine(65% oil), sugar free Cool Whip, Sugar Free Jello.  I prefer to omit the pineapple 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar. Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar. Fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust. Refrigerate until well chilled.
In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly. Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese mixture. Refrigerate until serving time.
To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping.

Strawberry Bread
3 C plain flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T cinnamon
2 C sugar
1 C canola oil
1 8 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces - I use low fat
1 C chopped nuts
3 well-beaten eggs
2 10 oz boxes frozen strawberries, thawed - I use 2 1/2 C of chopped fresh strawberries
Combine dry ingredients & nuts. Mix together eggs, oil, and strawberries. Add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Batter is very thick. Mix cream cheese pieces into batter. Pour into 2 9X5" well greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 1 hour or until tester comes out clean. Cool 15-20 min. before removing from pans. Freezes well. Very rich! Kind of like a dessert bread. Enjoy!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Ingredients

• 2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces
• Fresh Green Leaf or Bibb Lettuce is a good addition to the spinach
• 4 cups sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
• Optional; Almonds, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds add as much or as little as you like ( I prefer the walnuts and/or pecans)
• Dressing:  I've found the Creamy Poppyseed Dressing by Kraft to be wonderful. Easy too!!
• Dressing Option #2: Ken's Steakhouse LITE Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette is a good choice or any good vinaigrette dressing can be used if you prefer.

Directions

1. In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat. 
3. Play around with this salad or Google Strawberry Spinach salad and look at ALL the yummy options for this salad
4. KRAFT Creamy Poppyseed Dressing is a great substitute.  I tasted this dressing at a sports banquet and won me over
5.  Some of the strawberry Dressings I found online puree the strawberries as part of the dressing so I intend to try some of those as well.

IT'S STRAWBERRY TIME

It's SPRING and the STRAWBERRIES are RIPE!!!

I LOVE all things Strawberry and thought I would share some Strawberry love with you!!  

Scott and I were coming back from the grocery store where I had bought a pint of those red "things" they call strawberries in the produce section.  Some poor migrant worker probably picked the berries when they were green and were force ripened somewhere between Arkansas and Alabama....but I digress....it was on our way back from the store when we saw...

THE SIGNS.  Brown Strawberry Farm Signs!

Around here, Brown Strawberry Farms put up Direction Signs when the berries are ripe and ready to pick.  It's a U-Pick Farm but yesterday, Scott and I were too anxious to bite into one of those luscious red fruits so we paid the big bucks and bought a gallon bucket already picked.  

Facebook lights up with the announcement "The Strawberries are ripe!  I saw the SIGNS!" This year is my first at buying on the first day!!  Hey, I've told you it doesn't take much to make me happy!

Spring Strawberry Season 2011 poses a Challenge...how do I make my strawberry desserts now that I'm Diabetic??  yep, the Doctor gave me the good news about a month ago.  I suppose Splenda will be my new best friend.

I found a fabulous Broccoli/Strawberry salad recipe that I wanted to share.  I haven't made it with Splenda but I'll give it a whirl in the next few days.

Strawberry Broccoli Cheese Salad

8Cups Fresh Broccoli Florets

2-3 C. Strawberries hulled and quartered

1/2 cup cubed Monterey Jack Cheese

Toss together

Dressing:

1 cup Mayo (Lite Hellman's is my choice)

2-3 T. sugar or honey or Splenda

1 t. apple cider vinegar

Whisk together and add to Broccoli/Strawberry mixture

I prefer my refrigerated for awhile to blend the flavors!  Yum!!  Great to serve for brunch, luncheon, or perhaps a lucky quilt guild meeting

Strawberry Shortcake Trifle

Layer the following in a trifle bowl (use sugar free items if desired)

Strawberry Jello

Angel Food cake cubed

Vanilla cook and serve pudding

Top with Strawberries

Serve with Cool Whip

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

from

http://creativelydomestic.com

My absolute FAVORITE DESSERT

MORE STRAWBERRY LOVE:

I HAVE to find some of this stuff!!!

Strawberry Torte

Remember Strawberry Shortcake??  My #1 Daughter's favorite doll back in her childhood of the 80's.

Strawberry Shortcake Cup

Love in a Bucket

Simple but Oh so Delicious!

Scott and I will be making several treks over to Brown Farms!  How lucky am I to live 5 minutes from a HUGE Strawberry Farm???......PLUS...they also sell fabulous plants and container gardens to DIE FOR!!!

I just know Heaven has fields and fields of Strawberries all the time!!!

BLESSINGS

GMAMA JANE

Grandmama UNPLUGGED

Grandmama Jane Unplugged

Since Wed. of last week, I have been without my Internet.  Not only have I been without Internet, I was away from my computer due to taking care of my daughter and Grandson James.

Oh my word, God gives us children while we're young for a reason.  Taking care of a daughter who can not lift ANYTHING for 2 weeks PLUS my Grandson with Cerebral Palsy who comes with enough equipment to outfit a third world country!!!  James can not stand independently, so a task as simple as pulling down his pants is very difficult....for the person pulling down his pants!  

My daughter  injured her umbilical hernia from all the heavy lifting and had to have emergency surgery to repair the hernia before it ruptured.  I barely had time to brush my teeth much less, keep up my blogging.

So....................needless to say, I haven't written in my blog nor have I read any of your blogs!  I even lost THREE followers!!  I don't know HOW but my numbers have  dropped by 3 over the past TWO weeks.  Boo Hoo!!! 

I did however enjoy my individual time with James.  He giggled down to his toes when I crawled in bed with him to read a book.  I was the Queen of Show Business when he and I worked up an "ACT" worthy of Las Vegas complete with drums and kazoo.  I would hear, "Grandmommie!!, I want to do our show!".  We entertained his Mommy and I'm sure it was the medicine that made her recuperate so quickly! 

The two of them 

Halloween 2009

 are at Physical Therapy Boot Camp at UAB in Birmingham for the next 3 weeks AND living in a fabulous Ronald McDonald House.  I am praying for Good Samaritans to help #1 Daughter to transport James + equipment back and forth on their daily 3 Block trek to  PT camp.  

This particular camp is especially designed for children who have had the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)surgery.  James had SDR last June and has participated in 1 other 3 week camp which proved to be instrumental in his amazing progress.  Last Aug. James took his 1st step in a walker at the end of camp.  This April, James is walking long distances with his walker but needs to build up strength and improve the quality of his walking.  

We are praying for and expecting major goals to be reached at the end of this 3 week boot camp.  I ask all my blogging & quilting friends to place James and my daughter in your prayers for the next 3 weeks.

Spring Break 2011

 Here is my CREW...ALL 5 plus PaPa

Is this not the greatest picture you've ever seen??  Talk about laid back!!

Swinging in the back yard with PaPa!

 

I have some new quilting projects to share with you as well as my trip to our local strawberry farm with Scott!

Come back for a visit soon!

BLESSINGS

GMAMA JANE 

I NEED A DO OVER

MAY I PLEASE HAVE A DO OVER?

 

Have you ever had a day that you wish you could have just gone home, slipped into bed, pulled the covers over your head, PRAYED,  THEN got up and Started OVER???

WELL...This past Thursday was one of those days!  It started off rather smoothly but by 8:00 a.m. I knew I was in WAAAAy over my head!  I was charged with taking my Grandson James

to Pre School.  His Mother/my daughter had hernia repair surgery so James spent the night with Grandmama and PaPaw.  If you have never dealt with a child with special needs you have no idea how much extra "STUFF" they come with!

You need to know that I am NOT a mechanical whizz kid by any means!  I have trouble operating our TV remote and if it ever finds itself OFF the cable???....I have been known to call my husband while out in the middle of a lake fishing to ask HOW or WHAT button to push to find my way back to OPRAH or HGTV.

Putting shoes on James is quite a process which includes braces, straps, pads, velcro, special made shoes and scrunched toes NOT wanting to fit inside the shoe.  I finally get them on with minimal groans and ouchies.  

 

I get him dressed which is difficult with a child that doesn't sit up without leaning to his right and left if not placed in just the right position.  We eat breakfast together and as I help feed him, his precious little hands reach over and begin rubbing my arm and he them leans over to kiss me and says, "I wuv ooo (you) Gwanmommie". 

I load up the car with walker and because I don't have his wheelchair, I have to take a stroller so the teachers will have some form of transportation other than the walker.  I then take him out to the car to buckle James in his car seat.....Oh NO!!  I can't get the bottom buckle to insert correctly...Oh Well, the buckle is turned around backwards but  I get it snapped...Whew, and we're FINALLY OFF to school.

Here is an old picture of James eating in his car seat.  He was NOT eating last Thurs..

Once we get to school, 30 MINUTES LATE I might add!!...I pull up to the wrong door and am directed to another side entrance which is locked and I have to BANG on the door to get someone to let me in.  

THEN... the big problem happens!

Remember that buckle that was turned backwards??  

Well, I can't get it to unlock!! 

Thinking it's due to my lack of hand strength (bone spur on right thumb) I get help.  A teacher's aide comes out and tries to unlock the buckle...No Luck!  

By then James is becoming upset.  

Special needs children do not deal with stress and lots of people up in their face.  

Another teacher tries...no luck...Another teacher tries....still no luck!

James is NOW SCREAMING, I'm CRYING, and everyone is trying to think of what to do other than cutting the straps to the car seat.

One More time cries out Mrs. Willow...let me try ONE MORE TIME.

SUCCESS

 By now, I'm a basket case and Jame's aide is trying to not only console James but Grandmama as well.  James is carried into the classroom and I stay to watch thru a two-way mirror to make sure he's OK.  he finally settles down and I leave.

I stop by McD's to get some much needed coffee

and on my way home I realize....

Oh NO!!!

I forgot to give James lunch money!!

So....I turn around, go all the way back to school and take his lunch money to the front office.  I don't dare risk James seeing me again and crying to come home.

I'm now driving home, trying to decompress, listening to Kenny Roger's new CD of Old HYMMS, sipping my coffee, when ...

sputter...sputter...sputter...

I RUN OUT OF GAS!!!!!!!

 

All I can do by now is burst out laughing!

Thankfully, my cell phone was fully charged and I called my WONDERFUL son who came to rescue me!!!  Love My Matthew!!!

Needless to say, I was happy to be home! and it is 11:00 a.m.  This saga began at 7:00 a.m.!!

What happened to my FREE morning of sewing and quilting before grocery shopping and picking up Grandson Scott from Pre-school at 12:00 ??

AWWWWW.....just to be a sleeping baby without a care in the world for one morning...

May I Please have a Do-Over??? 

Gmama Jane

I Get You!

Not many people outside my family circle "GET ME"  so to speak.  I love fiercely and will fight to the death to protect one of my own.  I am often blunt...my daughters would say ALWAYS blunt..nevertheless, you never need to doubt where you stand with me.  I care deeply, I love deeply, I give without wanting in return, I am passionate about my husband of 38 yrs and can not dream of life without him.  Which brings out the real reason for this post.  Two friends of mine lost their husbands recently..one as recent as Sat. morning.  Neither husband had been sick but died suddenly of a heart attack and both wives were going about their regular routine when they FOUND Robert and Wayne...already in the arms of Jesus.

My dear friends, this hits too close to home.  Some of you have even grieved the loss of a mate...your soul mate...the love of your life.  I want to say to young couples especially young wives...please, please, please, learn to pick your battles, love your husband warts and all, and learn to live "HAPPY".  By that I mean, learn to live as the apostle Paul said.."Content in whatever state I am in"

Here is a picture of #1 Husband and I, 2 yrs ago at the beach on a family vacation in October. He gets me...at least most of the time but I have to say he gets me in the areas that really matter.  He understands my rhythm of life, my routines, my need for rest when everyone else is gearing up for round TWO.  #1 is content to have me sit beside him in my chair and quilt while we watch our "shows" like tow old codgers.  He know how I like my eggs cooked and how many Splendas I use in my coffee (well sometimes he forgets but Most of the time he remembers!).  He understands my need for "alone" time but it still drives him crazy that I leave the tops off EVERYTHING. 

 My daughters have become my best and truest friends...two of a handful of people I truly TRUST!  Life does that to you unfortunately.  You think you know someone and then they betray your trust.  I had that happen in the last 3 yrs.   Two friends of mine betrayed my trust and I'm still reeling from it's effects.  One friendship had lasted 14 yrs...I learned that for some the need for power and position outweighs a friendship.  The following pictures are of people who not only Get ME but I GET THEM and besides loving them...I TRUST THEM with my heart and soul.

Daughter # 2 and comic relief in my life

The women in my life who "Get Me"

Ok, one little gentleman got in the picture but he counts!

Grandsons Ryan and Clay  up to mischief!

Emma Grace...don't you love the tats???

#1 son and his 4th child's birth.  He's still MY BABY BOY!

Halloween 2009, #1 son and #1 DIL   psst...my son LOVE STAR WARS

#1 Daughter and #1 Granddaughter being crafty!

Family Prank...long story! I won't divulge whose behind this is!!!

SISTERS #1 & #2 on a day they're getting along!

MY SCOTT...doing his exercises

MY son running his nephew and my Grandson in a RACE.  That's a good UNCLE

My Sister and BEST FRIEND

57th Birthday Daddy & PaPaw...plus my #1 SIL holding James!!

Yes...these precious ones really GET ME

Blessings

Gmama Jane