I think I’m either getting old or the weather in Minnesota is definitely something to be talked about.
When we first moved here, the sun shone in the sky almost every day. Recently, we’ve had sopping wet weather. Rain, rain and more rain. Summer is here and we may not reach the high 50’s today.
There is consolation in the fact that Seattle is faring no better. And — I would rather have cool rainy weather than hot muggy weather (which I hear is coming soon).
I didn’t think I’d be able to work in the yard this year but it’s looking quite promising — if I don’t need galoshes.
It’s always nice to have company who offers to make dinner. I did not think that I would enjoy the Mexican enchiladas suizas but they were very good – even as leftovers the next day.
Enchiladas SuizasEnchiladas Suizas with Esquites
The enchiladas were served with Mexican esquites and black beans. A nice combination!
Famous Dave’s is a restaurant that has lots of barbecued food. The portions are large.
Famous Dave's in Woodbury, MN
I ordered the boneless barbecue chicken wings and it came with mashed potatoes, corn bread, an apple compote and veggies. There were too many chicken wings and we had enough leftovers to have 2 snacks later in the week. The corn bread was absolutely delicious. There also are a few barbecue spices to choose from.
Barbecue ChoicesBoneless Barbecue Chicken Wings
The other two entrees at our table were the Briskets and a Barbecued Chicken Sandwich.
BrisketsBarbecued Chicken Sandwich
The “extra” napkins at the table are on a “faucet-like” holder. Quaint.
Famous Dave’s is definitely a place for meat eaters. It was a bit much for me as I don’t like to take leftovers home since sometimes they don’t get eaten. The food was average — the chicken wings tasted a little “doughy.”
We invited family over for Father’s Day and had a great time spending the afternoon talking, snacking, playing on the Wii and napping. (I have always found it a compliment when guests feel comfortable sleeping at our house. Having said that — there are times when I don’t want my guests sleeping if I rarely get to see them.)
Our son made roasted lamb, spanakopita and for dessert we had apple cobbler — all of which was delicious! I don’t think I have ever had lamb that good before.
In searching for the lamb, we went to two grocery stores and finally wound up at the butchers. Lamb is expensive! I don’t know if this is true throughout the U.S.
But – the day was about fathers – the role models of children everywhere. “Daddy, daddy!” I love to hear those words although I’m not a father. I enjoy seeing little children running into their father’s arms with twinkles in their eyes as they are lifted up into caring arms.
One day … I’ll run into my heavenly Father’s arms. What a day that will be!
I love blueberries! When we lived in Seattle we used to go blueberry picking in the summer. I found a great deal here at the grocery store though – with a coupon, you buy one pint and get 1 pint free. So, I’ve had to freeze some since I keep going back for more.
It looks like I misplaced my blueberry cobbler recipe so I had to search the internet for one and found this one which is really good.
Blueberry Cobbler Ingredients
Two 12-ounce packages frozen or fresh blueberries
1/3 cup plus 4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 stick (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Butter an 8x8x2 inch baking dish
Mix the blueberries with 1/3 cup sugar and 2 tablespoons flour. Spoon this mixture into the baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour and 3 tablespoons of sugar with the baking powder and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or 2 knives until it resembles coarse meal. Add the milk and vanilla and stir with a fork to form a wet sticky dough. Drop rounded tablespoons of the dough over the top of the blueberries to cover them. Sprinkle the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar on top of the cobbler (I usually leave this step out as it’s usually sweet enough.) Place the baking dish in the middle rack of the oven.
Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the fruit filling is bubbling up through the crust.
Let the cobbler cool for at least 20 minutes. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.
Blueberries
Blueberries coated with flour and sugar
Cut butter in small pieces
Add butter pieces to flour mixture and mix with a pastry blender
Make your home atmosphere fragrant with tender thoughtfulness.
Home is to be the center of the purest and most elevated affection. Peace, harmony, affection, and happiness should be perseveringly cherished every day, until these precious things abide in the hearts of those who compose the family. My Life Today, Pg 178 by Ellen White
In reading this devotional today, my heart couldn’t help but give a hearty Amen! to the thought of what our homes should be like. Imagine if every child grew up with tenderness in the home. How different our society might be. Fear, mistrust, pain, anger, insecurity — all would be abolished.
But, it won’t happen in this life. At least not in society as a whole. Little by little though, one by one, we can make a difference — each one reaching one.
If we love one another, God dwells in us, and His love is perfected in us. 1 John 4:12
Thinking back to when I was a child, I was wild, out of control, wanting to be loved but fearing it at the same time, unsure of myself, fearing rejection, dressing to be noticed but wanting no one to notice me, contrary but agreeable to please.
How does that compare with who I am today? Tame — okay, well, somewhat tame, still wanting to be loved but having some fear of being hurt either intentionally or unintentionally, more sure of myself but still questioning some things I do, fearing rejection, dressing for comfort, contrary but mainly to incite questions and make people think about what they say.
I wonder what Jesus thought to Himself as the people around Him rejected His love, His word, His very presence. Did He ever feel depressed at being misunderstood? Did He ever wonder why people didn’t want the best love one could find in the whole world?
He didn’t worry about wearing a tie to the synagogue – sandals and a tunic were good enough. He spoke what was in His heart and yet was careful not to come across as brash.
Only His and the Father’s love propelled Him to continue His work among humanity — the very people who would nail Him to a cross.
Humanity. Sometimes we just don’t get it. We’re all basically the same – the same needs and wants but on different rings of a ladder.
Thirty-one years ago, my family and I were camping in the Pacific Northwest. It was raining most of the weekend so it wasn’t the greatest experience for us. The ground and roads were sopping wet.
Packing up the tent and our supplies into our 1981 Datsun, my husband, 6 year old son and I left for home Sunday morning. As we drove on the road we noticed that they were a little slick. The speed limit sign showed 25 miles per hour. We were probably right at that limit.
The mountain snow was starting to melt and the creek to the left of the road was running quickly.
Suddenly, we skidded. The car rolled over on its side and half of it was on the road and half of it now lay resting on a large tree branch that protruded into the water. If it weren’t for that branch …
Being on the passenger side, the door to my side of the car was resting on the road so I was not able to get out without my husband, the driver, getting out. We unbuckled ourselves and looked back to make sure our son was okay. He was.
Suddenly we heard a man’s voice asking if we needed help. Yes! we screamed. He opened the driver’s side door and helped my husband out. The car rocked back and forth. We weren’t sure how stable it was lying half on the road and half over the creek. My son was then taken out and then I was helped out. With each movement, the car also moved.
Looking around, we noticed a Jeep-like vehicle that belonged to the stranger helping us. The man stated we needed to call a tow truck company to get the car out and he offered to take us to the closest house to do that. (This was before cell phones were in use.) My husband and I looked at each other and I agreed to go with the stranger. My son and I got in the man’s vehicle and we drove off.
I never thought about the danger of going off with a stranger. Being shaken by the accident, my concern was more along the lines of “Is everyone okay?”
We finally came to a house and called a tow truck. The stranger then drove us back to where my husband was waiting for us. As we waited for the tow truck, we assessed the damage to the car. We also assessed how fortunate we were not to have fallen into the quick-running creek.
When the tow truck came, they were able to get the car on the road but it was now shaped like an A (not that exaggerated though). It was driveable.
I looked to where the stranger and his vehicle were and he wasn’t there anymore. I don’t remember if we thanked him.
All of the conditions for tragedy were here – the rain, the slick road, the running creek. Instead we received all the blessings we could have asked for — immediate help, a house where someone was home, a driveable car.
Some would say we were lucky. I call this one of the miracles in my life.
I believe that even before the accident our Father in heaven arranged for our protection. The angels surrounded us and He let nothing touch us that would cause us harm.
Sometimes we go through things that we think are not beneficial for us because they cause deep pain with memories that won’t subside. But the Father is still there and He still sends His protecting angels. We don’t know why He allows some things to happen to some people and not to others. But in all the years I’ve trusted Him, He has never failed me.
So I will trust again that no matter what happens in my life or to those around me, things will be okay.
For I will restore health to you and I will heal you of your wounds. Jeremiah 30:17
I will not die but live, and will declare what the Lord has done. Psalm 118:17
