Hail!

I am still such a Kansas newbie as anyone would have been able to see on Monday night during the hailstorm. Why? All of us, DR, the kids and I were all standing on the front porch watching the hail come down. When it started I was putting Leola to bed and I stopped just to bring her and the boys outside to watch because they'd never seen it before. In the past it hail has always come after their bedtime. 

Hail, for me, is still a curiosity. In the two years we've been here I've seen hail 3 times which is just about the same number of times I saw hail in Indiana/Illinois in my 30+ years in that area. Hail is so common here that hardly anyone pays it any mind...unless you are a farmer worrying about what damage it's done to your wheat. 

The hail was falling for quite a while, probably a good five minutes. No one else was standing on their porches mesmerized by it I noticed. I was starting to get a bit worried though when the hail hitting my car sounded like a snare drum in a parade. No damage though (phew!) 

The boys were enjoying trying to catch the hail as it fell without getting hit by it, I wish I'd had video of that :) I was impressed with the size of the hail, marble size, until I started talking to my pastor about it. 

"Shoot!" he says, "I've seen hail as big as tennis balls that shattered car windshields!"

*Gulp* Really? (He's a pastor; he wouldn't lie!)

I can barely imagine golf ball size hail but tennis ball hail? I just hope I never have a picture of THAT to show you because I'm pretty sure I'd have to share some terrible car pictures as well! 

Foody Friday - Homemade Chicken Alfredo

I love homemade sauces..and I love them even more now that I'm finally learning how to make them :)

The first time I ever tried to make a cheese sauce it turned into a gigantic pot of lumpy goo. 

But I'm getting better!

 (Here's a great site with tips on how to make a cheese sauce. After reading this, I got it right the very first time!)

This Chicken Alfredo came from Chicken Recipes to Die For. Really, this one wasn't hard at all either. 

Chicken Alfredo

mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

2 large chicken breasts, cut into cubes

fettuccine pasta or egg noodles

3/4 cup cream

1/2 cup milk

5 T butter

1 T olive oil

clove of garlic, chopped

1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1 T flour

parsley, salt and pepper

Add the olive oil and 1T butter to pan on medium heat. When pan is hot add mushrooms and sprinkle with salt, then cook for 3-4 minutes per sides until brown. While the mushrooms are cooking bring a pot of water to boil. 

Set aside mushrooms and add chopped garlic to frying pan. cook gently for about a minute, then add chicken cubes. Stir so chicken cooks on all sides. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Remove from pan and set with mushrooms. Boil the pasta in the pot. 

Add the rest of the butter to frying pan on medium to low heat and when butter has started to melt, add the cream and milk stirring continuously. Slowly sprinkle in the flour while continuing to stir. The sauce should start to thicken after about 5 minutes at which point add the Parmesan cheese and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste and add the chopped parsley. Stir in the cooked chicken and mushrooms to the sauce, and simmer gently until the chicken and mushrooms are warmed through. Serve on top of pasta.

DR has started requesting that I include his "star rating" on the foods. I didn't get a chance to ask how he liked it before I posted but considering he had two bowls of it for lunch today, I guess he rates it fairly well. 

My kids on the other hand.....in their eyes, sauce of any kind is tainting the pure wonder that is pasta! Eh, they'll grow out of that someday...until then they'll just have to suffer my cooking. 

Have a great weekend! 

Week 14 - Music

Sorry, I'm a bit late :) 

Week 14 - Music. Honestly, I've been occupied with other things this week and hadn't given any thought on how to shoot music. I mentioned yesterday to Amy Morrow, the missionary who's been a guest in our town the past few days that I needed to shoot Music and she pulled out an African thumb piano for me to shoot! Luckily I had some wonderful sunshine coming in the window just at that moment. 

1/50sec., f5.6, ISO 1600

a bit of editing 

1/40sec., f5.6, ISO 1600

Next week, Week 15 is Plinth.

Do you know what a plinth is? 

I admit I had to look it up! 

The garden is started and spring is joyous!

We have been so blessed here in Kansas lately. We've had spring rain and Kansas is actually green. Last year I didn't think a green Kansas was even possible and I admit that last summer and the severe drought we were going through was a seriously depressing thing to go through. Of course just because we've had a little rain so far doesn't mean we couldn't use more. I'm still praying for a downpour and no one out here would complain if Kansas flooded! 

With spring and some wonderful warm weather, up in the 80's, we've been itching to start in the garden. But if nothing else the last year I have learned how quickly the weather can change in SW Kansas. It's not uncommon for the temps to drop 20 degrees or more in 24 hours. 

We didn't get the entire garden planted this weekend, we stuck with safe stuff like peas, kale, spinach.

I'll hold off for a couple more weeks before we go any further...just to be safe. On Sunday I was talking to a woman who remembered a blizzard hitting SW Kansas in the 50's in late March that left 15 feet of snow on the Main Street of town!! Unbelievable! 

I'm pretty sure we are safe from that much snow but you never know. The weather today was in the 80's but is supposed to drop the 50's and 60's later in the week with rain (YAY!) No, that white stuff in our garden plot isn't snow but shredded paper DR brought home from work. He figured it might help as mulch. I don't know if it will work, has anyone ever used shredded paper in their gardens?

Spring has sure been pleasant this year, I just hope the good feeling continues. Our yard is full of weeds and these beautiful little flowers. But I have to agree with DR, after last year with barely any rain, when absolutely nothing grew I can't bear to mow anything down that is growing. Even weeds. 

Airport and the African Missionary

I am heading to the airport right now and I am soooo excited!! 

Nope, I'm not going anywhere and no one is flying to see me. 

I'm going to pick Amy Morrow from the airport. 

Amy Morrow is a missionary in Zambia, Africa where she and her family have started the Kazembe Orphanage. 

Look at all those gorgeous kids! 

I first learned about Amy a couple years ago when I stumbled on her blog; Amy's Assorted Adventures. On her blog she shares stories about all these wonderful kids, the adventures of living in rural Africa which includes a 3 hour one way drive once a week to the grocery store! 

Amy is currently in the United States on her annual fundraising trip for the orphanage and she has agree to come to our little corner of Kansas to share her story with us. I'm excited to finally meet her and helping her spread her message. She'll be in my little town speaking most of the day tomorrow at the school and the Methodist church. 

I know that most of you reading this won't be able to come hear her speak but would you mind saying a little prayer for her right now? I ask that you pray for Amy's safe travels and that her trip to SW Kansas is blessed. Thanks!! 

Hopefully I'll have more of Amy's story to share with you next week! 

Marker Monday - Hammocks!!

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Late last summer I made hammocks for the kids to hang on a big pine tree in our front yard. They were such a hit! Last year I just used old bed sheets to make the hammocks, which was fine until a strong wind came blowing in the fall and ripped the sheets to shreds! 

This year I was much smarter! 

First, I bought about 7 1/2 yds of burlap from WalMart, altogether about $26. The burlap measured about 48" wide with selvage edges so no sewing there! I cut them each 88 inches long before I put in a 2" casing at each end which means all the hammocks are big enough for me to chill out in; last year I was a bit cramped. I'm typing this up swinging lazily bag and forth in a hammock right now as a matter of fact! 

Even if these burlap hammocks don't survive until next year I consider $26 and a couple hours of sewing a pretty good investment. 

Here are the instructions I've used to make up these hammocks. 

I especially like the Josephine knot diagram included with the directions. It's a simple and durable knot that is easy to untie when you need to take the hammocks down. 

I'm STILL trying to figure out a way to install hammocks permanently in the house and get rid of all the beds. LOL...hammocks are sooooo comfortable!! 

Sunday Devotions - Fasting

Fasting 


When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting but only to your Father who is unseen; and your Father who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18


I'm not Catholic but I gave up something for Lent this year; sugar and pop (Diet Pepsi is my weakness). Once I indulge in sugar I can't seem to stop. I've learned these last few weeks that sugar is addictive! The pop was easier to give up than sugar. I've been trying to tell myself, if I get sugar cravings, to take them as a signal that I need to satisfy the needs of others rather than myself. 


It was hard at first!! I thought I was going crazy craving sugar! I had to do something to keep my mind off cookies and desserts those first weeks. Sitting down reading a story or playing a game with my kids helped. I admit I've only "cheated" once. I was substitute teaching at a preschool on a day one of the children was celebrating their birthday. I did eat the cupcake because I knew it may break his heart not to eat the cupcake, he was so very proud of them! It was sickeningly sweet though. Eventually the sugar cravings have subsided, they aren't gone but they have become much more manageable. 


I didn't tell anyone, other than my husband, I was giving up sugar. I didn't feel the need to share, or complain, to anyone about it. Complaining to others wasn't the point of my giving up sugar. Lent and giving up something isn't about living healthier or losing weight or something, but is about sacrificing something to help get in the mindset of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice leading up to Easter. None of us can ever really understand what Jesus sacrificed and the agony he was put through. 


I'm not sure that I was expecting any reward by sacrificing sugar, I haven't gotten any skinnier that's for sure, but I have learned that life isn't all about me. There are so many others needs that should take priority over my selfishness. 


Dear Father, Thank You for the season of Lent as a time of reflection and mindfulness of the sacrifices of Jesus. Thank You for allowing me to reflect on my daily life and make it more pleasing to You. Thank You for centering my thoughts on the most important needs in life. Amen.