God Infuses Unexpected Elements of Joy

Marianna practices her court reporting in a most serene setting with Sweetie, and Daisy our new rescued baby duckling...

Why is Sweetie not with the flock you may ask?

The other evening we had quite a scare.  Mar noticed out the window our new little pup, Coffee over a clump of something playing with that something as if it were her squeaker toy.  The something was Sweetie!  The girls were hysterical because we have prayed over Sweetie and nursed Sweetie back from a most grave condition if you remember, thus we call Sweetie, our Miracle Chick. Sweetie is very docile, very sweet and we were worried about Sweetie being vulnerable.

We thought Sweetie was  perhaps gone from us this time.  Mar picked Sweetie up and Sweetie picked his little head up and closed his eyes, laying his head over on Mar's shoulder. We prayed and treated Sweetie and are keeping him in our abode until the wounds heal, and then Sweetie can go back with the flock.  God sure uses this little chicken to show His grace and mercy not to mention Healing Hand.  Jem is workng hard finishing up a bigger and better fence today for the flock. 

On a very sad note, we did lose a little chick the other week, Charlie one of our doglets, brought a new baby chick up to the porch and dropped her down, the little chick was dead.  We have no idea what happened exactly or how the chick had gotten loose.  Poor thing.

Not only do we have Sweetie inside to get well  but we have this sweet little rescued duckling too!  One of Mar's classmates rescued her from the bay.  Mar brought her here and she can eventually enjoy our pond.  She is so darling and very social too!

Her name is Daisy.

 Today, Sweetie.

Sweetie and little Daisy are getting along so well, I think the duckling thinks Sweetie is her mommy...isn't that darling?  Sweetie doesn't seem to mind. God's little creatures.


"Into all our lives, in many simple, familiar, homely ways, God infuses  this element of joy from the surprises of life, which unexpectedly brighten our days, and fill our eyes with light."
 ~Longfellow

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Something funny that happened today!

  Our oldest daughter, Li Li had a friend come over for an outing.  Her friend came a few minutes early and Li Li was upstairs.  Mar Mar was downstairs totally unprepared for any company-conversation or appearance whatsoever.  I put my lippystick on and came on out to say hello and offer my Southern glass of iced tea of course.  I go to the pantry to get a to-go glass for our friend and a hand comes out of the pantry with a plastic cup in it. (Mar-Mar).  She had quickly gone into the walk-in-pantry for refuge.  It was hilarious and ya know friends?  I didn't miss a beat. I just took the cup from the "hand" and went on my merry way!
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Decluttering:

This week I've given away 10 blouses and a dress.  Several of the blouses are like new, but the colors or collars weren't working for me, I would have to force myself to wear  three of the blouses.  I felt (still feel) guilty because two were gifts, and thoughtful gifts.  One I ordered on clearance and have only worn it once. But I have to remember a lady will be soooo blessed to have those blouses. Some lady out there has been praying for some very nice blouses and the colors will be perfect for her.  The dress was a nice resale shop find, a very nice dress but not the fit I thought so Mar Mar will enjoy it or she will pass it on. 

For supper:

A Lima Bean Mediterranean Soup with olive bread.

Sweet Movie:  We watched part of Kit Kittredge an American Girl last night, so darling.  It's a sweet movie, rated G and educational of the Depression.  Jem thought it was very good as well. 

Prayers:  Please pray for our doorman at Walmart in Smalltown, he is an elderly gentleman who has been working there since Mar and Li Li were little bitty girls.  He just lost his wife, and bless his heart, his head was stooped over as he grasped the bar where the carts were. I was leaving with my cart...I stopped to make sure and make eye contact, I wanted to say a little something...to be Jesus with skin on to him.  I know what it's like to lose someone you love and the world is spinning around.  He suddenly looked up and smiled sweetly, thank God I was able to look him hard and sincerely in the eyes with a heart of compassion and say a little something to him and I know there will be other times too, but I pray others will see the burden there too.  Please God show yourself in special ways to this precious man. 

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I hope you all are having a pleasant weekend, God be with you!   ~amelia

Don't You Dare!

Oh yay for me!  I get to treat myself to a nice little blog today. So far this morning I've enjoyed reading my devotional, Be Still and Know by Millie Stamm  I am really enjoying that devotional!  I've also made my dad a Father's day card, Father's Day popped up on me!  In the card, I wrote, To the Swellest Daddy Ever!  That is so appropriate for his times when he was young, his brother, my Uncle Wesley had written that very thing on his military school portrait to my grandfather back in the 30s  My dad?  He is now 83 years young. 

I talked with my dad yesterday over the phone, I was telling him about our satellite internet here in the country and how the bandwidth was eaten last week by some glitch etc.  He tells me:  Maybe when y'all move back to America you can get regular internet!  I laughed a little hoping he was being humorous, but not sure. He quickly sensed my apprehension over the phone and then said on moving away from the country...

Don't you dare!

I laughed so hard and so did Daddy!  Yep, that's my dad!  Happy Father's Day to the swellest Dad ever! 


This is my mom and dad when they were first married I'm thinking this was taken around 1953 or 54.  I just love this portrait, it's just sooooo period.  So retro...so vintage.  Those of you old blogging friends who have seen this photo please oblige.

Mother and Daddy are both 83 and look remarkably well for their age.  I just showed Mother the 'Forks Over Knives' dvd and I sent a copy to my dad.  Yep, that should help keep them on the right track healthwise, at least a little. I'm a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons, and that goes for most dairy, I cannot call myself a full vegan because I will eat eggs if they are from a humane source.  It's good to be careful on how God's creatures are treated as you probably agree and the health benefits are amazing!  We can go back to Genesis. : )

Last night Jem and I had a nice evening on datenight, so fun.  We keep it simple, nothing expensive, usually an outdoor cafe on the square etc. maybe coffee if we're up to it.  Jem and I were talking about our childhoods, Jem, he had been brought up on top of a grocery store in a poor, more humble part of town, and there was nothing wrong at all with that...and then the family moved to a larger home in one of the most snobbish areas in the world.  Vanity Fair.  The people there are about as warm as a witches broom til this day.

Poor little Jem was thrust into a school with very wealthy & rude children.  It's not that they were wealthy, I know wealthy people who are kind and remember where they came from but the particular area that I am writing about, for some reason...It's just wreaks of a very sick and synthetic lifestyle...the children were horrible to Jem, never inviting him to birthday parties, making fun of the way he talked, the way he walked.

My highschool experience was the same in many ways...I went to highschool with the most intellectual kids in the country.  I was a Seabrook girl, daughter of two founding families, one Italian, one German...and then NASA moved in.  The astronaut's kids, the scientist's kids...the cream of the crop in academia.  One could be a very smart youth but would feel very average in this circle of kids shipped in from other parts of the country. 

Many (not all) of those youth made us Seabrook youth feel second class, it's so sad, so very tragic now that I think about it.  We were the salt of the earth and these new people came in, we welcomed them and then we were treated in that horrible way. It was nothing more than a farce, an ugly farce. The grade curve was a cruel one.  I wonder how many futures were tainted because of it. There are many farces in life, all counterfeits for what is real.  May we teach our children and youth to recognize them.  It reminds me of the Twila Paris song about God speaking to her... 

When You speak to me When I take the time to listen There is more than what I think, I feel When You speak to me When I sit and still the motion There is nothing left but what is real.  ...There is an answer to every question, the answer is You...And the Heavens open when you speak to me... pouring life into my waiting heart...


But all in all, all of these experiences in our childhoods or youth, they make us a better person, a person of mercy and compassion.  A  person of.....discernment in most cases.  There is nothing left but what is real.

Medicine seems to run in the German side of my family.  In this society it's difficult, there are days when society makes you feel as you should slap a stethoscope around your neck. Ha! There are even homeschool moms who also would like to make you feel this way, they have no idea of our backgrounds or who we are, where we are from, what we are capable of, most are too busy grasping for approval, the god of academia, perhaps false religion and the ever present and juvenile-I-want-to-belong takes over any true love for the Lord with many of them...It's interesting, they forget about the Lord or perhaps think godly people are too-too or either they are into their new-found circle (whatever it may be, I've even seen new-found false theology) ... until their family gets in trouble.

And really... it really doesn't matter about those fleeting thoughts of what those in this world think  I'll be a Mary any day at all.   

We'll know them by their fruits and we'll be known by our fruits.

On academics and talents:  My art has been used with my girls soooo much in homeschool, and any medicinal knowledge or giftings I have has been used in the study of nutrition and herbology and I've used it sooo many times to treat our own family.  God is the ultimate Healer and He teaches us so many things if we ask.  He answers prayers. I can be a doctor of sunshine in my home and the nursing home ministering with my toothy grin and hugs, whispering a prayer and the name of Jesus into the resident's ears, it may be the last time they hear the sweet name of Jesus. We see the reward of grown children who have caught the vision also as we watch and observe them minister too.  Whether it be medicine or art, the love and care for animals....A love for family and real friends, not mere numbers of acquaintances mind you, I'm talking the real deal here... My Father in Heaven reigns.  He is so much bigger than any world system...just so much bigger.  It will never, never make sense to the world.  Never.  Rejoice!

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We had a great Sunday, our entire family went to a little town church, the big old fashioned one that our old acquaintance pastors. It was so very nice, they even had an altar time after service.  We don't see altar time much anymore do we?

  I met two great ladies in the church restroom, it seems to be the meeting place there to meet new acquaintences.  So funny!  But so great! 

I'll close this deep thinking blog with some pics of late, I hope you enjoy them:



A little miniature tomato from our garden!  See how tiny?  This isn't a cherry tomato.  Isn't that something?




Delle & Becs cleaning out the pool. (horror movie scream!)  *big smile*  They are being rewarded now with a clean pool to float around in!



 Jem preparing for the post for the chicken fence.   All kinds of goings on at the Forest Cathedral!



  Marianna taking care of those chickens! I love the look of her in her skirt, I think it's so feminine and pretty.

Muffie watching the chickens, these little Schitzu doglets are the sweetest ever.  See Sweetie the miracle chicken in the background?  Isn't that great?




This says...Home.



Two cotton clothing items Mar picked up at the resale shop, they will be dyed navy-blue.  Dying is a great way to refurbish clothes!  Make sure and get enough (doubling) dye for dark colors!


We had quite the storm that afternoon!  Isn't this so dramatic?




And a pretty evening  the next day, sunsets are pretty in the summer here, the reflection in the pond is so hard to capture!

Randomness:   

For supper?  I think I'll cut up some unusual looking squash from the garden and make a light pasta gravy with it.

I'm listening to:  The theme to Pride and Prejudice...I just love it...

Reading?   'Patch of Blue' by Grace Livingston Hill.  The inscription in my old book?  To Violet, Merry Christmas 1937, Love, Mother

I'm sooo loving this book.

This week holds our 33rd wedding anniversary!  We have fun together and get along better now then ever.  We're so blessed to have four sweet daughters too.  We're just little peoples here that love and take care of each other all the while tellin' it like it is; truth and boldness sprinkled with discernment but saturated with love. Yes indeed.

Take care All, We see through a glass darkly don't we? 

   ~amelia

Riding With Miss Joycie

One of my most favorite things in the world to do is go to Smalltown with my daughters.  This photo was a day with Miss Joycie.  We have so many memories here in Smalltown, she was a little girl taking piano lessons from sweet Mrs. Blinn with big sister, Li-Li.  I miss Mrs Blinn so much, she was my friend and confidant' as many of you know. You may also know Mrs. Blinn in her younger years actually looked like Greer Garson. She was from the city, and landed in Smalltown, being her husband was a coach for the school.  She later lost her husband and I recently learned her life had been a hard one beside the fact of being left a widow with three children.  Do you know this beloved sweet Christian woman never complained to me once?

Speaking of Greer Garson...

I love this description of Greer Garson:

Actress. Greer Garson was beautiful, bright and most of all strong - strong enough to make Laurence Olivier wither in "Pride and Prejudice," and Walter Pidgeon to back down in their multiple, memorable pairings.  Yet when she joined her strength to theirs and others, she became the symbol of a nation unconquered by Adolf Hitler.   Complete bio HERE

One of my favorite old movies with Greer Garson is Mrs. Miniver (1942).

Elements of the film have been well combined with drama, romance, light humour, and finally, tragedy. It may have been given the Hollywood and typical glossy MGM treatment, but it hasn't forgotten either humanity or the sacrifices associated with war time problems.

Showered with accolades and awards at the time, the movie won Oscars for Greer Garson, Teresa Wright, screenplay, William Wyler and Best Picture of 1942.

An agreeable screenplay and the direction of veteran William Wyler make this a forgotten treat. Few films have been as effective as this, and although its message may not ring as clear now as it did then, it has to be saluted for the war time morale it brought to movie goers around the world.
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 Mrs. Blinn also lived during the WWII era during blackouts in the city, children from London were sent here for safety to relatives during the bombings.

This is sweet Mrs. Blinn's house...Oh the afternoons I would drive this way and around the corner here, a little baby or bab(ies) in the car too.  This was taken in early spring and the trees haven't bloomed yet.  This neighborhood has one car garages and is representative of the way middle America used to be when children played in the backyards.  Laundry line frames are still seen and used too.  A sweet simple life.  No water parks or complications coupled with ridiculous homeowner fees.  Driving past Mrs. Blinn's house makes us tearie eyed for sure.  Her house is a landmark of sorts for moms like me...I was in our favorite Smalltown restaurant and I hear a table of women...the conversation went something like this:   You know where, it was over near Mrs. Blinn's house...

Today Becs and I went into Smalltown and it is so delightful as always...

We were at the store, the little store where older women can shop in house shoes.  Once I saw a pair of house shoes in the produce department laying so nice in front of the tomatoes like it was someone's private closet.  I later saw the elderly lady who the shoes belonged to, apparently she always did this, those shoes bothered her and no one seemed to mind her shoes in front of the tomatoes, not a bit.  Sooo sweet.

The peaches were 25 cents a pound today!  Can you imagine?  A sweet older man was requesting an entire box and the produce man called him by name... Yes Mr. Watkins I'll have those right out for you. 

Mr. Watkins and I had a sweet little chat about peaches.  Mr. Watkins tells me with his sincere baby-blue eyes: I just wash'em with soap and I eat the whole thing ...except for the pit!

I tell him with my big toothy grin... Me too! 

He further tells me how he puts'em on cereal and with his ice cream too!  Sooooo darling!

 I watched as people would come and look at the peaches but not buy any.  *strange*  I saw a family with youthful kids and the mom said how handy the peaches would come in for smoothies...the teenaged boy just stood there looking unfazed.  *good grief*  The mom and her overgrown "children" just mindlessly trudged away. These kids are like zombies I tell you. I think people are so used to processed, junky, cutesie, lazy warm-up foods they are much like overgrown spoiled children, many adults included...or it could be they are so full of artificial sweeteners that.... their brains have been snatched?

I kept looking around for people to grab with glee these beautiful little peaches for 25 cents a pound and it was only Mr. Watkins and I at this particular time...It is so strange to me, this is the second grocery store trip that I have noticed this strange and sad phenomenon, sadly typical of the modern culture. We don't have to buy into it!  

Mr. Watkins is from that generation Mrs. Blinn was from, where my parents are from too.  I'm so glad my parents raised me simply.  Mr. Watkins has been through frugal times, he appreciates goodness, and good peaches for 25 cents a pound!   And I do too!  : )

Yes, we are also used to frugal times, I'm not only married to Jem in the country but Jem transforms to George Bailey in Oldtown at our real estate company housed in an old 40s convent. Real Estate is commission only, yes Virginia it can be done.  One income on commission only.  God is good.   I always figure any way I can be frugal, make my own, do without...I add to our family's income!  No spoil-ties (as my Italian Grandpa would say) here!

 Grace is making a peach pie for desert.   I'm making some Italian pizza bread for supper with some of Li-Li's stuffed artichokes.  Yes Indeedie.

I was in the mood to blog today and it's plum luverly to do so! 

Charlie, one of our rescued fur angels thinks so too!
God bless Y'all!  xxxooo    ~amelia

That's a Moo-Moo and Sweet Recollections. God is Good.

We've been having a fun time moving the chicken coop. Really!  I just love being outside with Jem and our daughters...Today it was Jem, Becs and I...I love looking up at the blue sky and white fluffy clouds.  It was the sweetest thing...I asked Jem if he still needed me outside, and he looked up and smiled and said...I'll always need you.  God is good. 

Yesterday Jem and I took a walk to the back of the property and I sat on his lap like a little girl and we just talked and enjoyed the blue skies and old oaks with that great strong breeze we get on the back of the property.

Li-Li lovingly made Italian stuffed artichokes yesterday and that is a blessing, a work of love and art! She said Jem and I were being "bad parents" (instead of bad children) ; ) going off on a walk right before supper time! *big smile*

Marianna is making Jem a lunch menu so he'll be a healthy daddy.   I think. that. is. so. sweet.  Mar makes sure to make Jem daily lunches so she is further tweaking her lunch making skills. 

This morning our girls went to have coffee with a friend and I thought Mar looked soooo sweet in a yellow cotton vintage dress and pony tail.  The yellow cotton dress is sleeveless with a zipper back, cinched waist and gathered skirt.  She wore it with ballet flats because no vintage-girl should ever wear flip flops with a vintage dress!  : )

Speaking of vintage, you know what I found????? (Rather what Mar found?) Mar was shopping on Etsy, her precious friend, Sarah gave her a gift certificate for etsy for her un-birthday and Mar stumbled across a genuine 30s dress that fits my measurements perfectly and the price was half!  *Oh*  The more I prayed and thought about it the more I thought I was going to have a wonderful time wearing that dress to the old, old downtown church or dress-up occasions as well.  It reminds me of something Alice Faye would have worn in a Shirley Temple movie.  And the dress is nice and long tea length like I like them! My Italian grandma would have worn this dress when she was young, and she would have loved it. 

I sooo understand you now Grandma Oddo, how you loved lace and pretty things and didn't like the super mod things. 

I've decluttered four pair of shoes today!  Yay for me!  I've decluttered a pair of blue jeans that fit strangely! The waist was tight, the thighs too large, that's a new one! Now that's a moo-moo (said like Ethel & Lucy when they were space aliens) ; )  That's what we girls say here when something is strange.

 That's a moo-moo!

Yesterday Becs and I went into smalltown to the grocery store, we had a sweet time, it's our buddy time.  I love to hear her say..."That was a good crowd today at the store"  I think that is sooo sweet.  The crowd is mostly elderly and other mommies like me.  God is good.

Tonight for supper I think I will do a huge pot of kale, I made a huge pot of corn on the cob already and will probably add a potato dish of some kind along with more of Li-Li's Italian stuffed artichokes, my Italian grandma's heirlook recipe!

What do I hear now?  I hear Jem in his workshop outside the bedroom window and sweet music, Christian music of various kinds.  God is good. 

Well, I have a few things to try on to see if I should keep or donate so here goes as I close now.  So many sweet things to thank God for and notate. : )

I'll close with a little pic of our sweet new rescued doglet:   Coffee Belle 

Little Coffee has had it rough, we can tell, but she is a hilarious ball of energy at times!   Her eyes are so very expressive.  So glad Mar brought this girl home to a sanctuary of sorts. Thank God convictions and mercy have been caught in our home.  It always, always, always blesses my heart to see our girls say and do things from their own hearts because of what has been caught in our home and of course taught as well. 

Do you like the photography above?  This is one of Bec's shots! : )

You may enjoy Bec's blog for more photos of in and aournd our homestead:
See them here:  http://poeticcapture.blogspot.com/

Take care all, I'm off to treat myself to some iced tea and maybe more decluttering if I get the druthers!

Love,  ~amelia
God is good

Mrs. Amelia's Daybook

I thought I would treat myself to a daybook today...These are nice I think.

Outside my window...It's a nice day here, breezy, green, sunny.

I am thinking...That I'm a little worn out today so I will just chill a bit. I'm also thinking and am thankful for some confirmations on simplifying my life in some ways, the Lord showing me quite matter-of-factly one particular way in simplifying some online things. Yay God!  I'm also praying for my oldest daughter that she would have divine guidance.

I am thankful...For a husband who has been faithful and a strong spiritual leader.  We've been married for almost 33 years and we have so much fun, whether it's taking a drive into a little town to pick up a lawn mower or whatever, in our middle years we are having a sweet life together.  Through thick and thin we get each other now more than then, do we always agree? Most of the time, but the key is we have learned how to disagree agreeably for the mostpart when we do disagree. : )  We love our life in the country and I love seeing hubs outside the window when he gets home; gets out of his loafers and throws those old jeans on hopping on his tractor.  That makes me happy.  Thanks be to God for all the great things He has done!  Our four sweet daughters who love Jesus too, that is a big thing to be thankful for! : )

In the kitchen...Right now there is nothing really, just remnants from Memorial Day and a lonely little pan soaking from some scrambled eggs I just made myself.

I am wearing...a white vneck ladies Hanes tshirt top I purchased from walmart.com (I really like those tshirts, you can pair them with skirts too, they also come in scoop neck and those are nice as well).  The price is right at $4. (And it is so nice to be able to order dog food, paper towels, laundry detergent delivered to my door!) I'm also wearing some capris out of a cheerful tiny plaid of peachie pink/white...kind of retro I think.  I purchased those from ebay and they are a blessing!  I have my hair back in a low ponytail. 

I am creating... simple napkins I throw in the wash with my dishtowels, I've noticed the paper napkins are a bit pricey and we go through those like crazy.  I just cut squares out of material remnants I already have...I pink the edges and zig-zag.  Just simple little cloth squares or rectangles, from 6 to 12 inches across, I toss them in a large bowl or basket unfolded for our family to take as needed.  I made a bunch of them so it's cost effective to wash.

I am going...Probably nowhere today, but later this eve perhaps a datenight with my husband!

I am learning... To trust the Lord more and more.  To simplify by giving even more clothing to bless others, especially when I like other things I have better.

Around the house... Delle and Becs are cleaning the above ground pool. Marianna and Lea are getting loose ends tied up in their business deals, Mar also rejoicing over a scholarship for court reporting...and a small matter smoothed over for her court reporting class by the Dean of students. (talk about favor from the Lord!) PTL  The wash is going, black berries are being picked throughout the day.  We have a new little adopted doglet Mar brought home, this poor baby girl puppy dog was dumped in a neighborhood and we will take care of her.  We are still thanking God  for Sweetie and the most precious reminder of God's Healing Power even in what some would consider small. 

I am pondering...  Churches. Churches.  *sigh* We visited a church Sunday and the music hurt my ears, the preacher used a pg13 movie to illustrate part of his sermon : ( and worship leaders were wearing jean type pants including the pastor's wife.  I looked at the sweet older, elderly ladies who've attended the church for years and their sweet dresses...I thought to myself sadly...These sweet people deserve so much better, just so very much better.  On the other hand we can go to churches where they dress nice, respectfully and the music doesn't hurt my ears but people won't talk much.... 

A favorite quote for today...
"Much of what is sacred is hidden in the ordinary, everyday moments of our lives.  To see something of the sacred in those moments takes slowing down so we can live our lives more reflectively."     Ken Gire

One of my favorite things...Old retro homes, old things like old WWII USO centers....I try to imagine what went on there...the parties, the entertainment.  Settings from "It's a Wonderful Life" and WWII soldiers.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Grocery store, more gentle decluttering.  What books to start on next.  Listening to the Lord...taking care of, treating our new doglet...taking Becs to drive and enjoying our buddy times.

A peek into my Sunday...

Oh George...I just love that old house...
 ~It's a Wonderful Life

Me, after church service we traveled to USO-town and ate, then we crossed the street to this wonderful old home.   I love this place...It's a huge woodframe home with many original furnishings scattered here and there. 

Hubs and I spying a green material couch I would love to have...It's simple and has pretty lines. The kitchen not only has one porcelain rolling cart like the one my mom gave me...but three of them!  The great room in the back with the green couch and piano is huge-huge-huge!  It's almost ballroom sized...tall french doors open to other rooms, including that kitchen.  And from the massive tall ceiling hangs one single huge ..tiffany style lamp. It's not tiny pieces of glass but one solid piece with swirls of color in it...Simple design but lovely.  This is a homie place...Just like what we see in old 40s movies but my suspicions are this home is much older from seeing the iron beds and the old ticking mattresses. 

 This is just the side of the old home...

Me again in front of the dark mysterious underground cellar, concrete steps lead down below...Soooo neat.

I have other pics of this place too that I'll have to share another day.

I hope you all are having a nice week, thanks for joining me in day to day life here.

I used prompts from The Simple Woman's Daybook it looks like a nice opportunity for fun and fellowship.: )

Thanks so much to all who read here, you are a blessing to me.    Love,  ~Amelia

Pasta Bowl for That Warm Evening...So Good...So Easy Plus an Old Movie Suggestion

Wednesday eve I was sooo tired.  Everyone was sooo tired.  But we wanted something good to eat for supper as usual.  We cherish our family suppers. : )  

The answer?  The good Lord whispered.... That pasta dish Dear One...look in your old handwritten recipe book...

So I did!... and I found my old recipe I used to make all the time when my girls were little.  I don't know why in the world I stopped making it!

I think I will share it with you as I'm listening to:



I so love the theme music and the movie itself...We own the movie as well.  Very appropriate for Memorial Day too.  Check into the history of the movie if you like, one of the actors without arms is a true Veteran from WWII.  Yes, his arms were truly lost in the war and he had no actor's training from what I understand.   There is alcohol used in the movie but it is not shown in positive light at all.  What is shown is what our soldiers go through and how they felt (feel) upon returning. (We must never forget)

The returning soldier without arms marries the sweetest gal ever....I love the simplicity of things  (you'll see)...  SO sweet.  This young lady has such a beautiful character, it's not one that is esteemed in this culture these day but God esteems it.

Some other good movie suggestions are "Destination Tokyo",  "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and of course...."Sergeant York".   Maybe I'll add more if I think of any. : )

People are so darned busy now-a-days they just go-go-go- ...it doesn't seem like there is much substance or thinking going on does it?  One thing I especially ponder in this movie is the part of Myrna Loy...The reason?  I think her character is very much in the same season of life I am...almost exactly.  My oldest daughter is 30 and our youngest daughter is 18.  So much going on in our culture that makes it difficult for nice young ladies, they feel unappreciated and understandably so.   But never the less...it's a nice season too.  : )  It's a sweet time in our home.  But all in all, I really do understand Myrna and how she feels at times, those heart to heart talks and how we too remember so well how life is, ... and was.  Oh do we!

Now for that recipe!

Amelia's Quickie but Goooooood Pasta Bowl  (said like Andy Griffith)   gooooooooood

Put enough olive oil in a large pot, a goodly amount, around a 1/4 inch deep.

I sauteed 4 very large cloves of garlic for about 1 minute.  No longer!  Only til fragrant!

Okay girls, the easiness of this recipe is going to floor you...

Dump a large can of diced tomatoes including juice in the pot.  (around 27 oz.)

Dump a regular size can (14 oz.) of white northern beans, drained and rinsed or any bean that you have on hand, or no beans works too but I like to add beans to my veggie dishes.

Dump a can of black olives to the mix.

Dump a half box of veggie broth, that's what I had left in fridge.

A few teaspoons of dried basil.

Let it simmer a bit.

Serve with a ladle over angel hair pasta!   Bella!!!

I top my bowl with lemon pepper....oh ladies, this is really good!

The add-ons are endless, I'm thinking of adding some kale next time too.  Walnuts on top?  Mm. Mm.

I added toasted sesame bread with olive oil dipping sauce to round it out and you will have a very nice supper for your family! 

I hope everyone is doing well, we're doing good, just busy at the Forest Cathedral here! 

I thought you might enjoy seeing the above pics of two of our daughters leaving for a Spring Formal, I thought it was so cute, the girls in their pretty dresses here at The Forest Cathedral.  The Spring Formal is a nice old English folk dance, young men are encouraged to dance with each girl once unless they are in a courtship...It's  a very nice wholesome event. : )  I just thought I'd share the atmosphere here.

Four young ladies, a husband, wife in middle age years, little baby chicks who are also our pets...even a miracle chick! four doglets, four sweet cats and lot's of cookin'.

Live - Love - Laugh -   Pray Hard...

That's life at the Forest Cathedral.  God bless America and may America Bless God! : )  Hug a soldier, ask the old soldiers questions, cherish them they are treasures.  

Love to All,    ~Amelia

Driving With Grace and Sweetie Walks! A Miracle!

A short little update here!  We are so excited that Sweetie is walking now!  She is so enjoying being with her sister-chicks and it is so adorable.  Thank you so very much for those who joined in and prayed.  God cares even about our little chicks!

First I thought I'd quickly share a couple of pics too from Grace and my country drive.  We took an old less traveled road and oh the eye candy there.

  Grace and I had sooo much fun.  We would stop and take pics and talk....So fun.  Of course these pics on my blog are from my little cheapie camera. But I still like them. : )  Grace's are much better though!

Sometimes when Grace and I drive we go to smalltown and through the drive-through soda place for some good ol' unsweetened strawberry tea....and always enjoy the country scene here behind the drive in.  Such a privilege to live in the area.  I thank God that He brought us back.

Sweetie!

Is this not the most precious thing ever?   Joycie and I have been nursing this little Bantam and in our carnal minds we thought she would be lame at best and would have been so excited at that even.  Oh God did so over and above!  

Her little claw was froze it seemed, (and before that the vet had suggested to euthanize).  You see a week or so ago she was feverish, one leg was completely frozen in a forward position and the other entire leg was frozen in a backwards position.  Both claws were limp as they could be. 

We prayed and took care of little Sweetie and last week I noticed when we would pick her up her legs started operating back and forth as normal!

 God gave me the thought or idea to place a piece of masking tape on the bottom of her one foot that was left froze and also on the top to make a cast of sorts. That leg was also partially still froze.

  Joycie and I went to work. : )  Grace did her part in cuddling the little chick too.  These little Bantams, (Banties) have the cutest little feathers on their feets!  They look like house shoes!  

When we were doing our Sunday evening family devotions, I heard the chicks tweeting and I snuck into the hobby room where they are kept...Lo and behold...Sweetie was walking!  I smiled hugely and just stayed put in that room for a while praising the Lord for what He did!  It was a miracle!

Sweetie is here on our table as we very carefully removed the masking tape after she showed us for a day or so she could walk and walk well!  Praise the Lord!

Sweetie is a little darling, she knows our voices.  All of our chicks do.  She is a wee little Bantie, I suspect that since she was so sick she has a little catching up to do, but she may stay petite too and that's okay with us. : )   

So that is an update for those who were wondering how Sweetie is doing!  God is good.  So very good!

Supper:
I'm making some vegan lasagna for supper tonight so it's assembled and ready to pop in the oven!  I made my Grandma Oddo's pasta gravy so it will be double good!  I also have some frozen bread rolls rising and a green veggie will be served too.  You may be wondering what I use for ricotta?  I use tofu in my own little ricotta recipe.  Yes indeedie.  I do believe it's just as good as Cousin Phillip's. ; )

Hope you are all doing well.  What are you cooking tonight for supper?  Do you have any praise reports this week?  Any prayer requests?

Praying for our country,  take care now, until the next time....    <3 br="" melia="" nbsp="">