*sigh*

It's been awhile. I've missed this blog ~ but I would have otherwise missed much more... This summer has been an unexpected smile. The weather has been quite cordial, reminding me of what I loved of the season when I was [much, much] younger. The days of heat and humidity seemed to be held together only by one hand...sent fleeing at my first inclination toward irritation. And so, as a backdrop to my children's merriment, I have enjoyed the loveliest of fairweather seasons to grace my home in a long, long time.

School doors have opened and I have been busy there. Very, very soon I will meet my new family of twenty or so. I am excited and I hope they will be too. Yesterday at a staff meeting, we were asked to write letters to ourselves from the perspective of a parent. I share it with apology for the spontaneity with which it was written. But more importantly, I share it as a recorded commitment to the young ones who, I know, will have a positive impact on our world someday...

Dear Mrs. Green,

This year I hope you will teach my child as if she were your own. All of the expectations you have for your own children are important for mine as well. I want my child to develop the traits of empathy and self-control, the willingness to take risks and accept the learning that comes from making mistakes, and an appreciation of the world around her. I hope that my child will see you, too, as a learner so that she will realize that learning is a journey without endpoints. Some of the most critical life lessons will occur in your classroom this year. You have an important role in my child's life and it is my prayer that you value that unceasingly. Know that I am sending my best, and I thank you in advance for doing the same. xoxo

And so we begin...

Here in America

I remember visiting with Rich Mullins years ago as a teen. His advice, written on a note I've kept tucked away somewhere, was simply,

"Be God's."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCUfIT5Lm3g

I love this.

My Country 'Tis of Thee

Beyond any political persuasion, I am a patriot. The Star Spangled Banner never fails to tug at my heartstrings. Fireworks, barbeque, parades, red white and blue, Old Glory, family and friends, freedom, lemonade and apple pie, corn on the cob, laughter... These I love as a part of my 4th of July celebrations.

Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Some time ago I read a book by Cokie Roberts. I think you might enjoy it... Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation is a testament to the heroines who helped clear the American path. It is astounding, their efforts. (And to think I complain about the heat!) I offer a prayer of gratitude for the blessings I so richly enjoy today.

May you have a healthy, happy, and safe Independence Day.

Remember When

I am in love...and I want you to see why. Today my sister and I took a drive downtown.

We spent the day with the kids at "The Castle" (and to a three year-old, it truly is).

We are so blessed to be surrounded by such beauty and history, and to be able to share these with the young people we adore.

It was nice to journey back to a time when the weapons of war were a bit less frightening,

and to visit with old friends at the mercantile.

Mr. Samuel Langhorn Clemens even sat for a picture. His friends know him as Mark Twain.

We took a respite in the House Lounge. Thomas Hart Benton's murals are breathtaking. A plaque outside the entrance states, "He painted the Missouri that was familiar to him, convinced that therein lay the reality of the average Missourian."

I suppose that's why we felt so at home.

We then dropped by to visit with another old friend in the office of the Speaker of the House. Beautiful...the office and the friendly faces.

Wishing you many hometown blessings as you prepare to celebrate in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Angel Mother

“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.” ~Washington Irving

Happy Birthday, Mom.

I love you.

English Lovely

Tonight I said farewell to the last last two finches in the porch nest. So soon they grew to look like miniatures of their parents! Just this morning mom and dad were visiting the nest. Then, this evening as I watered the flowers, I startled the younger ones and they flew away. It was time. Bye, bye birdies...

I have fallen in love all over again with a blog on my 'eye candy' list. Maybe it's the English countryside...or the farm...or the comforts of her home... Whatever the reason, today I am addicted. Won't you visit Bertie Meadows and see for yourself?

Ready to book a flight? Me, too.

Also of note is a new novel I just purchased. My local library is hosting a meet-the-author event in October and I'm reading the current book club selection, The Night Birds, by Thomas Maltman. I've only just begun, but I'm becoming addicted to it as well. I love the historical setting and sense of adventure. You can sneak a peek, too. Just click on the title. Until then...

Sleep tight.

South of the Border...Ole!

I did it! I received a compliment from my husband about last night's supper. This is a rare treat. (He can't help it...he's honest.) I made another of my "cooking club" meals and this is one that I created! I can't wait for you to try it! The recipe below is designed for six 8"x8" pans. The next time I prepare it for freezing, I'll assemble it in three 9"x13" pans instead...OR you could also divide the ingredients by one-third for a single, 9x13 family-size meal.

Mexican Stuffed Pasta Shells

(again, this recipe is the large-batch version and the instructions are for a plan-ahead-stick-it-in-the-freezer-or-give-it-to-a-friend-in-need type of meal)

90 jumbo pasta shells,

(about 3 boxes)

6 medium onions

6 lbs. lean ground beef
3 Tbsp. chili powder

1 lb. cream cheese,

room temperature

4.5 cups taco sauce

6 cups Colby Jack cheese,

shredded (4 oz.)

3 cups corn chips

six 8" square pans

(or three 9"x13" pans)

12 small zipper bags

(or 6 small bags if using three pans)

Prepare: Cook ground beef and onion. Drain. Cook pasta shells and drain. Package 1 cup of shredded cheese in small zipper bag. Package 1/2 cup corn chips in another small zipper bag.

Assemble: Reheat beef. Stir in chili powder, cream cheese, and 1/3 of the taco sauce. Heat until cream cheese is melted. Spray pans with non-stick spray. Fill each pasta shell with about 2 tablespoons of meat mixture and place in pan. Pour 2/3 of taco sauce over filled shells. Cover with foil. Add one bag of cheese and one bag of chips and store meal kit in a gallon-size freezer bag.

Serve: Thaw. Bake covered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and chips. Bake uncovered for 10 additional minutes. Garnish with green onion and sour cream. Enjoy!
Hint: If freezing this dinner, you may wish to add additional taco, enchilada, or tomato sauce over the dish to completely cover noodles. This should prevent the noodles from drying out.

And for dessert...

These Farmstand Candles from Wal Mart are, in a word, delicious! I'm in love with the Sugared Pears and Fresh Picked Apples. And the timeworn look of the canisters reminds me of yesterdays at Grandma's house in the country.

On another note...

Recently my family journeyed to Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The scenery was beautiful. If you go, you must stop by Wilson & Wilson Folkart Co. The owner, Ms. Blakeley Wilson, is a ray of sunshine! She is a self-taught artist who paints in-shop. Her folk art pieces are amazing! (Click on the link, visit "shop online" and read About the Artist.) Here are a few sweet treats I picked up during my visit... The watering can will hold a class vase or jar so you can enjoy fresh flowers anytime. And the polka dot, large wooden mug...I can't wait to fill it with sweet surprises for my classroom visitors!

And this sweet pillow made from old quilts and scrap fabric reminds me that there really is

no place like home.