Mosaic Monday

My summer hutch demonstrates  many things I hold dear!! 

Visit Mary at the Little Red House for more Mosaic Monday!!

Monday Homemaker

The Stay at Home Mom hosts this each week.


The weather in my neck of the woods:
Well, this Monday morning  has dawned  humid and  hot,,,  a continuation of the  very  extreme  temps we've seen  in the month of July.  August  appears to  be offering more of the same.  Im staying in the house!

Things that make me happy:
receiving letters from  the children we sponsor in India.   We  are sponsoring  little  Joseph, age 6 and  Angel, age 9,   Such beautiful  children,  they are receiving a wonderful Christian education and and the  standard of living for their families is  improved.   What a joy it is to receive  letters from them  to hear their  little  spirit soar in their  appreciation  of  the  good things  that are happening in their lives.   

Book I'm reading:

The Normal Christian Life, by Watchman Nee

Spiritual Warfare, by E. M. Bounds

What I'm enjoying on TV:
I did watch Extreme Home makeover last Friday and I was riveted to the tv.   They were redoing the home of a  returning wounded  marine  from Afghanistan...   Father of 4 children,  this single parent  demonstrated the most  heroic and  and amazing character.   it was the best 2 hours of tv I've witnesses in  a long, long time.

On the menu for dinner:
Tonight braised beef with  veggies,  friend  squash, fresh from my neighbor's garden and cole slaw...   hmmm, I can hardly wait!

On my To Do List
Monday-  catch up day...   cooking ,   laundry,  and  general housework
Tuesday- luncheon with the gals,  marketing
Wednesday- Dinner- adult Bible Study
Thursday- dad to the doctor
Friday- something fun I hope
Saturday- Prayer  vigil for our nation at the church
Some  things I must fit in... are 

Quiet  day here at home to spend  reflecting   and praying
allergy shot
 visiting  my parents

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Crab Cakes  with  Sweet Tomato Dressing

Ingredients

•   Sweet Tomato Dressing (recipe follows)

• 2-1/4 cups  soft bread crumbs

• 1/2 cup  mayonnaise or salad dressing

• 1/4 cup  diced red sweet pepper

• 2 tablespoons  thinly sliced green onion

• 3/4 teaspoon  ground cumin

• 3/4 teaspoon  chili powder

• 1/2 teaspoon  salt

  
  

  1 clove  garlic, minced

• 1/4 teaspoon  ground black pepper

• 1/2 pound  lump or white crabmeat, flaked and cartilage removed

• 2 tablespoons  canola oil or cooking oil

Directions

1

Prepare Sweet Tomato Dressing.

2

For crab cakes: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of the bread crumbs, mayonnaise, red sweet pepper, green onion, cumin, chili powder, salt, garlic and black pepper. Gently stir in crabmeat and mix well.

3

Shape mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties. Coat the patties with the remaining 1/4 cup bread crumbs.

4

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Cook crab cakes over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until they're golden and heated through. If necessary, reduce heat to avoid overbrowning.

5

Remove crab cakes from skillet and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately with Sweet Tomato Dressing. Makes 4 servings.

SWEET TOMATO DRESSING

In a small saucepan, combine 3 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped, with 1/3 cup water and 1 tablespoon brown sugar. Bring mixture to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half. Remove from heat; let cool. In a blender container or food processor bowl, combine tomato mixture, 1 tablespoon snipped fresh cilantro and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Cover and blend or process until combined. With blender or food processor running, slowly add 1/4 cup salad oil in a thin, steady stream. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 1 cup.

  
Looking forward to this week
This  Saturday  we are hoping for a nice turn out at church as  we  join along side  the folks in Houston  in a pray for the nation event...    Our nation has never before  had such challenges.. in the  attack on the  family, the church, the government,  our finances,   our jobs,  our  economy,  the moral decay of our  society...   so much  so fast.  I   hope that  people realize that our only hope and help  will come from  on high...  through  prayer, fasting,  and supplication....

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):







Thinking back on a cold and  wintry  Christmas  scene about now  with the temps  teasing the 100 mark....  


On my mind:
AW!  Only 22 more days and Lynn will be retired!!!

Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses

From  Streams in the Desert for today, August 1

"My dear child, are you wondering at the sequence of trials in your life? Behold that vineyard and learn of it. The gardener ceases to prune, to trim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit only when he expects nothing more from the vine during that season. It is left to itself, because the season of fruit is past and further effort for the present would yield no profit. Comparative uselessness is the condition of freedom from suffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruning your life? Shall I leave you alone?" And the comforted heart cried, "No!" --Homera Homer-Dixon

It is the branch that bears the fruit,
That feels the knife,
To prune it for a larger growth,
A fuller life.

Though every budding twig be lopped,
And every grace
Of swaying tendril, springing leaf,
Be lost a space.

O thou whose life of joy seems reft,
Of beauty shorn;
Whose aspirations lie in dust,
All bruised and torn,

Rejoice, tho' each desire, each dream,
Each hope of thine
Shall fall and fade; it is the hand
Of Love Divine

That holds the knife, that cuts and breaks
With tenderest touch,
That thou, whose life has borne some fruit
May'st now bear much.
--Annie Johnson Flint