Summer Song

On my morning run today, I was delighted with the sweet fragrance of honey suckles and pleasant chirpings of little birds. How beautiful creation is this time of year! I passed by my favorite flower shop, Leaf ‘n Petal, and took mental snapshots of all the beautiful flowers, herbs and plants for sale. I ran past bleary-eyed humans being walked by their eager dogs, bursting into the new day. And, I was reminded of the gift of summer, of new birth, sunshine and creation. This passage from Job is so true. How can any of us look at creation and not believe in the Lord and His great power?

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”

Tuesday Movie Night!

Last night Cat and I went to the movies on a school night and had a blast! Carmike at The Summit serves $1 drink and popcorn specials on Tuesdays, and we were well due on a girl’s night out.

Our movie of choice: Nicholas Spark’s The Last Song, a severely sappy coming-of-age story in which Miley Cyrus stars as the love-struck lead. Although I wouldn’t recommend the movie, I DO recommend planning fun weeknight adventure with girlfriends. Cat and I had a blast giggling over the cheesy storyline and decided that we should be Ronnie’s (Miley’s character) much-needed wardrobe consultant and posture coach.

We were so inspired by Miley’s closing piano solo that we pirouetted out of the theatre right into an unsuspecting theater attendant. I’m pretty sure it made his night.

Buttermilk Pie

If sweet tea is the house wine of the South,

Buttermilk pie is Dixieland's dessert.

Last spring I came across this write-up in the Birmingham News about native Alabamian, Robyn Porch's adorable, home-grown business.

Always a sucker for southern recipes, I baked my first buttermilk pie (using a Pillsbury Pie Crust), and have never been the same!

This pie, which can be served piping-hot-right-out-of-the-oven, room temperature or chilled, is a showstopper. Visit Robyn's website to learn about the history of Porch Pies: http://www.porchpies.com/

I've adjusted Robyn's recipe a tad bit to make it a little less sugary + added a touch of cinammon.

The two main ingredients for buttermilk pie:

1 stick unsalted butter + 2/3 cup buttermilk.

Melt that stick of butter and whisk together with three eggs.

Stir in:
3/4 cup buttermilk,
1/2 tsp vanilla extract,
2 TBSP all-purpose flour,
1 1/2 cups sugar,
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinammon

Pour into pie crust (pre-made or from scratch, your choosing).

And bake on 350 for 50 minutes.
This is one recipe, I can guarantee you'll enjoy!

Guacamole Tonight

With avocadoes currently in season, I've had a hankering for homemade guacamole. My friend Lauren is a guacamole connoisseur. She graciously shared her recipe, along with her spunky sense of humor, in the email below:

Dearest L. Cricket,

I hope this recipe does not arrive too late and you were not wanting to make it for some special occasion like tea with the ladies, while the gents were playing cricket.

Mix the following:
1 avocado
1 small roma tomoato chopped
3 cloves of garlic minced
1 slice of red onion chopped
1/8ish cup of cilantro
Juice of 1/2 - 1 lime (depending on how juicy it is)

Enjoy!
LJ

Lauren and I with her feline child, Aubie.

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

A Continued Meditation

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth

and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.

~Revelation 5:12

"We all like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
~Isaiah 53:6&7

Easter Happies

Easter is my favorite holiday. It represents the sacrifice of our Savior, our rescue from eternal darkness. Too, for me, it is an ushering forth of my favorite season: S-P-R-I-N-G! Here are some cute On.a.Whim baskets and bowls that I've been delighted to share with sweet friends and family the past couple of weeks. I love gathering little tidbits of joy (lotions, tea bags, eggs, magnets, postcards) and arranging them all together. Enjoy!