Hot Stuff!

It has been very hot - especially for the area we live in.

Hotter than hot! It actually wound up being hotter than predicted.

The heat index for our area yesterday was 126!

It has given me more time to read my Bible, and get some inside cleaning done

(thanks to our wonderful air conditioning!)

We really, really need rain! We are having to water our gardens daily to keep them alive!

I'm praying and hoping for rain!

And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.
Exodus 16:21

Hope you aren't melting today--keep cool!

Home Happenings...

Thought I'd share some things happening around our home recently...

Below is a pic of Brad w/one of the many groundhogs he has trapped.

To his great surprise, he also found this raccoon trapped one morning!

Not that I want it eating my garden...but, I did feel sorry for it--it was scared to death and shaking

like a leaf!

Above--squash and zucchini from the garden! :)

These sunflowers were towering over me while I was grilling out...

so bright and cheery!

 Yep, I still have tiny peaches on my Bonfire Peach tree!

My flowers are doing well despite the heat

Cherry tomatoes are on!

We did get some rain-which beat these sunflowers down.

We were very thankful for the rain!

This is our new garden bed. These are Phil and my tomatoes.

 These cukes are planted beside them--they have bacterial wilt though...so we are

going to try and replant. :(

Some of our squash and zucchini plants

Above is Brad's garden. He has cantelope here on this edge.

Everything he plants always grows like crazy!

Bri's garden isn't very showy right now--it was gorgeous earlier in the summer

I think the heat has gotten to it.

Our other garden bed includes asparagus and potatoes

oh, and rhubarb and celery

and squash!

Close up of Brad's cantelope

And his watermelon ( I love this moon and stars melon)

even the leaves have yellow splotches!

I think our grapes are doing great for the first year!

Can you see this pesky pest on the blackberries?

That is one problem we're having with them...

We've gotten a few off though--not bad for the first year!

Well, just a little update.

How is your garden growing?

Daddy Daughter Day

My hubby had off last week-Yeah!

And he spent a day doing something special alone w/each one of us.

He took Brad fishing--but alas, there are no pics.

He took me for lunch-no pics there either.

But, he took Bri to the park where she snapped away!

All photo credits to to her--she loves nothing better than spending the day at a park

just hiking and photographing!

Her dad did some of the trail challenges!

She had fun identifying flowers and herbs.

I'm not sure what this little guy is trying to say?

I'm so thankful for a husband who is a great dad!

And, for a daughter who is so special.

Glad they enjoyed each other's company! :)

Monday's dinner...Independence Day

July 4th was a hot one-so, we ate indoors

What do you think about this Patriotic Trifle?

This bowl weighed about 4 or 5 lbs! lol

What a blessing to have each of these smiling faces around

the table!

We hope that your 4th was a fun family time together too!

Thanks to Taste of Home for the recipe:

 Patriotic Trifle Recipe

Directions

• In two small bowls, combine each gelatin flavor with 1 cup boiling water. Stir 1/2 cup cold water into each. Pour each into an ungreased 9-in. square pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until set.
• In a large bowl, whisk milk and pudding mixes for 2 minutes. Let stand for 2 minutes or until soft-set. Fold in 2 cups whipped topping.
• Set aside 1/4 cup blueberries and 1/2 cup strawberries for garnish. Cut the gelatin into 1-in. cubes. In a 3-qt. trifle bowl or serving dish, layer the strawberry gelatin, half of the cake cubes, the remaining blueberries and half of the pudding mixture.
• Top with blue gelatin and remaining cake cubes, strawberries and pudding mixture. Garnish with reserved berries and remaining whipped topping. Serve immediately. Yield: 16-20 servings.

Ingredients

• 1 package (3 ounces) berry blue gelatin
• 1 package (3 ounces) strawberry gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup cold water
• 2 cups cold whole milk
• 2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
• 1 pint fresh blueberries
• 1 quart fresh strawberries, quartered
• 1 prepared angel food cake (8 to 10 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes

ChickFilA Fun!

Talk about fun!

I had the privilege of winning 50 free sandwiches from our local ChickFilA off of facebook.

They asked if you had 50 free sandwiches...what would you do with them?

I answered that I would share them with our neighbors-and they gave them to me!

So, Saturday, Brad and I went around the neighborhood handing them out--

it was great!

So much fun for the kids--they loved it! (even the BIG KIDS!)

Lots of excitement!

We had a great time doing it--thanks ChickFilA! :)

Our Trip-Day Four-Part 2 (Final day)

Alas, all good things must end, and so we went to our last visit of the trip...

We visited with these dear ones one last time, and had such a great time of fellowship with them!

We were also able to visit with their dear friends, and so enjoyed the laughter and bantering!

Lots of fun!

We hated to leave the company of these dear ones...and I have to admit that I shed some tears as

we said our goodbyes.

And, I am reminded of this verse from Philippians:

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
And I do!

Thanks for taking the time to read about our trip!

Independence Day thoughts...

How many more posts will we get to do on independence and freedom?

Sadly, it sure seems like they are slipping away here in the USA...

Only here in America do we celebrate Independence Day...on July 4th

Here in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave, we should be thanking God

daily for His bountiful gifts provided in this country.

Thanks to our Founding Fathers, and our servicemen we enjoy more freedoms than any other country.

I don't know how long that will be true, but it has been true during my entire lifetime.

"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here."
- Patrick Henry

America no longer honors God, or His principles put forth in His Word, and so I believe that judgement has begun in our land.

But, we shouldn't give up! We should speak up! We should unite and fight for the principles that this country was founded on! (As others before us have done)

We should drop on our knees in prayer for

this land.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

So today, I want to thank God for His blessings on this country, and, I am praying that this country's leaders  will drop to their knees and acknowledge Him.

I hope America realizes Who has been responsible for the freedom we've enjoyed, and thanks Him for it by obeying and honoring Him. And, I hope that this happens soon, for the sake of my children and grandchildren.

This year as I celebrate Independence Day, I am going to be especially thankful to God for this country...

Long may she wave!