I am blessed

"I am my beloved's, and his desire is for me." Song of Solomon 7:10

Since going back to work, Eric has taken over most of the cooking. He gets home earlier, enjoys cooking, and (as you'll see) is more creative with leftovers*. The other day I came home to a four-course meal prepared by my husband.

First course...

Pepper Jack cheese cubes*, olives*, crackers*, glass of wine
(Notice the lit candle?)

Second course...

Salad with mixed greens, strawberries, goat cheese, pecans/walnuts* & macadamia nuts* drizzled with a raspberry oil & vinegar dressing

Third course...

BBQ riblets*, chicken gnocchi*, fried okra, & bread stick*

Fourth course...
S'more Pie
Oreo cookie crust with layers of marshmallow, chocolate syrup, & chocolate chunks then broiled in the oven to burn the top
(everyone burns their marshmallows, right?)

Is there such a thing as being too blessed? Hmmm...nope - don't think so!!

PS - The S'more Pie came straight from the pages of Bon Appetit magazine.

PPS - We have no clue (nor do we care) about the calories, fat grams, preservatives, etc, etc, etc.

terror in the night (con't)

"Sounds of terror are in his ears, while at peace the destroyer comes upon him." Job 15:21

If you read our post about the killing/slaughter/sacrifice, you're probably wondering what we found the next day. Come with me and I'll show you!

First, let's head down the old driveway. Rather overgrown, isn't it? Perfect place for an attack!

Here we see a well-defined trail.

It appears to be used quite often.

Eric and I trekked up the hill and found nothing.

This is actually the ground underneath the tree where we thought the fought took place.


















This is on the other side of the tree - two of many dens we have found on our little plot of land.

And back up the hill to the house - another well-defined trail.

Now you've just seen as much as we saw the day after the attack. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even the slightest hint that the battle took place. Now can you understand why we are so ready to develop the land?

Count Your Blessings Monday

Marci at Down at the Farm is giving us an opportunity every Monday to not only count our blessings, but to share them with others. This is a way that we can encourage one another.

Make a post on your blog telling us about your blessing. Please put a link back to Marci's post.

My blessing is time. I will admit that time is more of a curse at times, but it really is a blessing. When I set my mind to it, I can accomplish quite a lot in a short amount of time.

After we moved to the NW, I did not go back to work for almost a year. During that year, I learned that the more time I had on my hands, the less I got done. Going back to work afforded me the schedule and structure I needed to get busy.

However, I will say that if I can be outside working, everything in the house gets knocked down on my "to-do" list. If you visit during this time, you'll see clean laundry on my kitchen table, dust on my furniture, clean dishes in the dishwasher, etc, etc, etc. The long rainy season really motivates us to use our time outside. Besides, at least the clothes are clean!! Right?

Marci, thanks for giving us this opportunity to share.

Show & Tell Friday

Welcome to “Show and Tell Friday” hosted by Kelli at There's No Place Like Home. Do you have something special to share? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, or a treasured collection. Look around your home for something to share; dig through those boxes in your closet if you have to! Share photos and the story that goes with your special item. Be sure to let Kelli know you've got something to share!!

This clock was a gift from Eric's parents the first year of our marriage. A coo-coo clock? No. A cluck-coo clock!! My maiden name is Cluck. Really. I'm not joking. I didn't realize my name was funny until we moved when I was in high school. Where I grew up, that name was common.

I have since embraced my maiden name by collecting none other than chickens. See my collection here and here. (Notice the name on the plate??)


This is the little guy that pops out at the top of every hour. The reaction of first-time visitors is quite funny. They hear the chicken clucking, but have no idea where it's coming from. They just know it's close by - like in the same room!!

Kelli, thanks for giving us an opportunity to share our favorites!

Happy Birthday Eric!!

"And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in the streets." Zechariah 8:5

Happy birthday, my love.

This verse fits Eric perfectly. As a child, he and his brother organized the best games I've ever heard of. They would get their friends together for bicycle fighter pilots, the adventures of Lewis & Clark along the creek in Mulvane KS, or war with all the little soldiers and rubber bands as ammunition. Mind you, this was not ordinary war. There were definite rules and no one could move their soldiers until it was their turn!!

Thanks Mom & Dad for providing a strong, stable environment for my future husband.

This photo was taken several years ago while on vacation at Biltmore Estate in NC.

terror in the night

"Sounds of terror are in his ears, while at peace the destroyer comes upon him." Job 15:21

Just barely asleep, Eric and I were awakened last night to the most hideous screams of terror. Before Eric was out of bed, he had the night vision monocle in one hand and protection in the other. It was coming from behind the house, but where exactly?
Gingerly, Eric walked out onto the deck. Somewhere in this tangled mess, the screams of the prey continued as it desperately tried to escape. Each act of defense forced the predator to find a new grip, dragging his victim until he found another stronghold.
Were the goats still in their pen? Neither of us spoke a word. Posed for action, I stood guard at the patio door ready to slam it shut after Eric's dash inside. Still in pursuit of a meal, the predator gave no relief to its prey. Chills of the hunt were right in front of us. But, where?
With one last bolt of energy and every ounce in his spirit, the prey did not go down quietly. Branches crackled, screams intensified, battles enraged. We stood breathless, stiffened to the bone. As Eric wildly scanned the tree with the monocle, protection prepared, the war ended as quickly as it began.

No more screams. No more struggles. No more defense. Just the tired, deliberate steps of a conqueror's victorious parade home after a long battle. It was done.

The goats were fine. Wide awake and just a breathless as we, they knew Eric's voice and were comforted by his presence.

Sleep came once again - finally. Will we ever know what succumbed to the terrors of this night? Probably not. Isn't this reason enough to continue landscaping?

Count Your Blessing Monday

Another great start to a what's going to be a great week - thanks to Marci at Amazing Graze Farm. She started this concerted effort to be conscious of our blessings. Check out her website and see what other people are thankful for. You'll meet some great people!!


These two little ladies have become wonderful source of entertainment.

Bravo (black) loves affection and will usually let you walk right up to her then put her head under your hand and expect you to stop what you're doing to pet her.

On the other hand, Alpha (brown) will let you pet her only when she's good and ready. She's the vocalist of the two, also. If she has something to say, she'll let you hear it - loud & clear & as long as it takes!

colors & textures of His hand

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD." Psalm 27:4

Enjoy these treasures we found as we trekked a mountain trail Monday.