Etoufee = a-two-faye

This past weekend our strange February weather resumed to normal.

The old folks might say we had a "cool-snap".

Have you ever heard those words?

Anyhow, perfect time to have a warm bowl of

Shrimp Etoufee

This is such a quick dish to prepare.

Definitely not to be labeled healthy,

 due to the number of cans to be opened.

But very tasty and (heavy).

Quick was what I needed, because the

 three hungry guys needed something "substantial" and fast.

I served the etoufee with garlic bread. 

The serving dish to the left of the bowl was for the bread.

My picture taking had to be fast too,

because they were not waiting around long for me to

change settings on the camera and do any staging.  :)

Shrimp Etoufee

(easy recipe to half)

2 cans  cream of celery soup

2 cans cream of mushroom

2 cans Rotel (I use mild)

1/4-1/2 cup green onion chopped

1 stick butter (unsalted)

2 tsp. garlic

1&1/2 lbs. shrimp (pre-cooked & frozen)

Optional: I added a tsp. of liquid shrimp/crab boil

not necessary because I have prepared with or without

Saute green onion in butter.

Open and place contents of cans in large pot.

Add sauted onions & butter.

Heat until bubbly and add thawed & de-tailed shrimp.

(I run warm water over my shrimp and pull tails off.)

Let simmer on low or place in crock pot on low for about

an 30-60 minutes. (be careful will stick easily)

Serve over rice. 

Hope you enjoy!

~Karen

adding a little SPRING to the step~

The beautiful spring came;

and when Nature resumes her loveliness,

the human soul is apt to revive also.

Harriet Ann Jacobs

the color yellow just does me some good

we've not had much of a cold winter,

but the days have been long & dreary

the body don't seem to do well with those

I've noticed the wonderful forsythia bushes blooming

and adding such brightness to the landscape.

I added some sunny yellow blooms to our foyer table.

Just seems to add some cheer and life.

The lemons add just the touch to

brighten the top of the frig.

Don't take much just a half-dozen lemons

and some stems of forsythia to add

a little spring to the step. :)
~Karen

Linking to:

   

 

Tea Time Anyone?

I've always been an "iced sweet tea" kinda girl.

But, I've matured with age.

Afternoon Tea Anyone?

My mother-in-law told me about the

Blueberry flavored and so...

this afternoon, I enjoyed

a cup of Celestial Blueberry Flavored Tea.

It was so delicious and I encourage you to try it.

(No compensation for sharing this product with you.)

Tea should be taken in solitude.  ~ C.S. Lewis

~touches of sweetness

just little reminders

 are needed

to let others know

they are special and loved

adding a touch of sweetness

always makes life more enjoyable

Happy Valentine's Day

to all of you who have encouraged and

scrolled the pages of

Places of my Heart~

The best and most beautiful things

in the world cannot be seen

 or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.
~Helen Keller

~INTO

Wednesday's capture with my phone

while headed to eat lunch with my sweetheart

Have your heart right with Christ,

and He will visit you often,

And so turn weekdays into Sundays,

meals into sacraments,

homes into temples and earth into heaven.

~Charles Spurgeon

~Warming the Heart

Happiness consists not of having,

but of being;

not of possessing,

but enjoying.

It is the warm glow of a heart

at peace with itself...

William George Jordan

May your heart be warmed this weekend,

by being and enjoying the moments.

~Karen

Roots Exposed ~

The ride to the bluff was a treacherous one...

bumps, washouts and ruts

it was twenty four days into November

we made the late afternoon ride to mark it with
 a 2 and a 5
 to remember the day we said "I do"
~~~

the tree that bore the first markings

as fresh sweethearts

 was no where found after a lengthy search
we had hoped to mark the years spent
underneath the first

maybe the wind, man or other forces

 had taken toll?

~~~

the knife with skillful hands

 carefully scratched the years

in the smooth bark of a new beech 

as I waited with camera in hand

my eyes and heart were not able to miss

the sight of the tree's base down below, 

 the beech tree roots

 running on the ground

 reaching for nourishment

but exposed so raw

 tall and straight
roots bare and sprinkled with colors of beauty

but exposed to forces of nature and man

My hearts condition lay bare
at the base of the tree
the LORD stirring my heart

with full exposure
the shutter clicked

convicting thoughts tugged
~~~
send your roots deep
prepare for the storms of life

desire a fresh word
~~~
how am I to withstand the
"mama said, there'd be days like this"

standing straight to the trials and the forces
 that come with the living-life
~~~
 the inevitable but unseen and unknown
making their unwanted visits


The unwanted is no respecter of persons
~~~
My roots must be covered
they must run deep into God's Word,
be buried in His way.

Landscaping using His Word to cover
and watering with prayer to add beauty
of My Saviour's Love

 within a few short weeks,
of the ride to the bluff, life storms blew
the inevitable was encountered
death visited our family
...How did we stand?

with the support of God's ever-ready
 comforting peace
and the love of family and friends

“The tree on the mountain

 takes whatever the weather brings.

 If it has any choice at all,

 it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible."

---Each New Day” ― Corrie ten Boom

I found this on pinterest

a few weeks ago - 

just another affirmation

of His desiring us to be grounded

In HIM.

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Karen on Pinterest

I pray you are sending your roots down deep.

In Him,

Karen