Isaac.......

I sure have been a slacker haven't I? I am honestly not sure where the time has gone since I last posted. I guess life just took over? I DO know that this past week....Isaac has taken over! Man O Man...for a Category 1 hurricane, this bastard storm has wrecked havoc on so many areas. Luckily we were spared but not so lucky for some of our neighboring cities/towns. There is wide-spread flooding, levees overflowing or breaching, water rising in rivers, creeks and bayous...and swamps! Thousands have had to evacuate either due to flooding or impending flooding. I just cannot imagine a knock on my door saying.."you have 90 minutes to evacuate". Where do you begin? What do you take with you? What do you leave behind? I thought we "had a plan" but when I really sat down and thought about it...I have no plan. So this weekend, a plan will be made. Sure I have your normal "hurricane survival kit" but if I had to leave, not knowing if I had anything to come back to...I shudder to think about it.So after complaining...yes I was a complainer, I admit it...about having no AC for 2 days...I am ashamed and humbled after seeing the pictures on the news of surrounding areas. Someone posted that we should all be ashamed about complaining and my comment was that its human nature to complain about inconveniences during these storms. That doesn't make us bad people...it just means that at that moment, perhaps we aren't looking at the big picture. What's important is that once we do take the time to look at the big picture....we look within ourselves and know that we had a moment of weakness...we regroup.....and find a way to help those who have lost so much more than we have. This weekend we will be baking and cooking and delivering it to those in need, whether it be one of the shelters or a group of those Entergy/power workers who are working hard, risking their lives, to restore power to thousands who are still without power. It feels like such a little to do and I wish I could do so much more. But I guess if enough people does just a little...it will grow into being a lot. I still have visions of working at the shelter after Katrina...the stories we heard...the horror...the pain...the sadness...

it is something I will never forget. 

None of us ever should.

We can do no great things, only small things with great love.  

~Mother Teresa~

Manic Monday and Banana Pineapple Bread

Thank you Monday for kicking my behind! Dear Parents, if your child needs a back to school note for lunch, bathroom privileges, medication, physicals, or all of the above...PLEASE do not wait until the week that school begins to get these filled out! Thank you kindly, the nurse who has to do this for you! O M G it's been a wild day....can you tell?? Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, but its no fun being swamped at the last minute or having a Mom being angry because you cannot have what she needs done immediately. And how was your Monday???

On a brighter note, had a really nice weekend. Dinner with friends Saturday night and dinner with family last night....and my little man is learning SO much. Last night he learned how to blow a duck call! Its a southern thing...some of you will understand! Now we are working on teaching him to say "WHO DAT"!!!! Speaking of WHO DAT...we enjoyed watching our Saints take the field last night and winning! AND we got to see Drew Brees on the sidelines dancing to "Play that Funky Music" as he munched on sunflower seeds! It was SO classic...L.O.V.E.D. IT!

 

Cannot wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for our Saints!!!

Here is a great recipe for a soft, moist homemade quick bread with banana and pineapple...yes pineapple!
Don't hate until you try it!!

Banana Pineapple Bread

Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients: 

3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium bananas)
1 cup crushed pineapple
 (with the excess liquid drained; this is almost the amount in a 15-ounce can of pineapple)

Instructions: 

1. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

2. In another mixing bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar. 

Add remaining ingredients, beating until well mixed.

3. Pour wet ingredients into bowl of dry ingredients and stir until moistened. Don't over-beat.

4. Pour batter into two greased and floured loaf pans

 (use smaller loaf pans -- 6x3-inch, or use several mini loaf pans).

 Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until loaves test done.

OLYMPICS - FAB 5 - PEPPER JELLY!

What an awesome night for these young ladies and the
U S A!

 

It brought tears to my eyes, as I am sure it did for thousands!

I am really enjoying watching these Olympics!

O M G is it hot or what? I know we say this every summer but

this summer seems hotter than last summer. My hubby calls me daily to

remind me that he is on his 2nd or 3rd set of clothes and to see

if I am enjoying sitting inside sucking up the AC. And the answer

is always the same.....HECK YEAH!

Stay hydrated out there folks!

Here is something I read the other day and wanted to share with you.

GOD's HEART FOR YOU....

Think of it...

You belong to a God who has no limitations.

He is able to do things for you,

be mighty in you, and bring blessings to you.

His provisions are endless,

His blessings are measureless,

and His generosity is boundless.

All that is in His heart (for you)

flows out in waves of love.

They are sent to touch you, to fill you, and to cover you.

You cannot contain them for they are

more than your mind can imagine,

more than your arms can embrace,

and more than your heart can hold.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
 Amen.
 Jude 1:24-25

Powerful words I'd say!

Speaking of powerful...this peach pepper jelly is sweet and hot!!!

And super easy to make.

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 cups peeled and diced peaches (about 2 1/2 lb.)
• 1 jalapeño pepper, minced
• 1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped

• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 (1.75-oz.) package powdered fruit pectin

Preparation

1. Stir together all ingredients in a 4-qt. microwave-safe glass bowl.
2. Microwave at HIGH 8 minutes (mixture will boil). Stir mixture, and microwave at HIGH 8 to 10 minutes or until thickened. (You're going for the viscosity of pancake syrup here. The mixture will thicken to soft-set preserves after it cools and chills.) Cool mixture completely (about 2 hours). Serve immediately, or cover and chill preserves in an airtight container until ready to serve. Store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.