People, Places and Things

Here we are a full week into July and I've hardly caught my breath
from June.  Summer is moving at a fast pace.  It always does. Here's
a few odds and ends from last month.

People and Places

I picked blueberries with my sister 

and nephew.  I appreciate her sharing her abundance and now I have a freezer 
full of berries for muffins, pancakes and maybe even a blueberry poundcake. 

While visiting my sister, she took me shopping for my birthday present.  

I love my new cherry apron!  Thanks, Cindy.

As her dinner guest, I had my first fried green tomatoes of the season.  Yum!

Of course we had other good things too.  As much as we love fried green 

tomatoes, we don't make a meal out of them.

 I went to the Columbia temple with my new friend, Linda.  She recently

moved here from Maryland and I'm enjoying getting to know her as I visit

with her  each month as her visiting teacher.  

The visiting teaching program in our church gives us the opportunity

to serve other women as we visit in their homes, share an encouraging 

spiritual message and become a part of their lives.  As friends, we are 

there to help whenever a need arises.  It's a beautiful plan that ensures

that we are all taken care of.   I've learned that so often when the Lord

answers my prayers, He does it through others. Visiting teaching is one

way we can be an instrument in the Lord's hands.

I was able to have a quick, but enjoyable visit with my dad and Yvonne.  

I count every moment when we are together a blessing.   Love those

patriotic t-shirts, guys.

And on the other side of the family, we enjoyed a great meal at Mom

and Dad Wray's home.

I caught mom in action as she prepared lunch. 

I love this mother and son shot.

*MYOF Goals #12 - Nurture extended family relationships

                           #44- Give 50 hours of service (temple work and visiting teaching)

                           # 24 - Attend the temple each month

Things

I've been in heaven with all my veggies from the garden.

Squash - two ways.

Grilled (Healthy)

Fried (Not so Healthy- but tasty nonetheless)

I would love more recipes for squash, as I have an abundance of them. 

Other than grilling, frying and sauteing, I'm running out of ideas.  I've

been thinking about having a squash party, where everyone who comes has

to bring a recipe which we could share and then as all parties require eating,

we would eat....squash of course.   I'd have other things too.  As good

as squash is, you can only eat so much of it.  Let me know if you want to be

on the guest list.  :)

I grew red cabbage in the garden and other than mixing it with greens

for salads, I've had to come up with some new ways to eat it.  We're

loving this Sweet and Sour Cabbage recipe.  

Chop the cabbage

Put a few tablespoons of butter in the saucepan to melt.

I feel like Paula Deen here.

Next add 3 T. sugar.  Ignore my stained cookware.

It gets a lot of use.

Pour in 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

Cover and cook until cabbage is tender, about 20 min.

That's all there is to it.  Easy and delicious!

*MYOF Goals #23 - Try 50 new recipes

                           #43 - Expand my vegetable garden

With My Camera

Mason jars drying on the fence posts - Amish Country

First Pickings

* MYOF Goal #26 - Improve photography skills