Tuesday Treasure

When we part with a dear friend, it may knock the wind out of us. Beloved, we don't know the exact number of our days. The last good-bye you say to a loved one may be the last earthly good-bye you speak to them. As Christians, we will see one another in Heaven. My treasure today is my friend Tina. A treasure.

Today, my friend Tina's body was laid to rest in a cemetery, but on Father's Day her spirit already went to Heaven. I'm saddened in one respect that I can't hear her thick Russian accent and laugh together that I just couldn't get the hang of speaking Russian. She was patient with me when I tried to call her seistra for sister.

The people we get to know as friends and buddies are blessings.

Especially when we feel like we're kindred spirits and can relax around them knowing that we can be ourselves and they're alright with that.

I met Tina at Christian Women's Club 10 years ago. She was always ready to be a Hostess at a table and attended the monthly Prayer Meetings. When our club shut down close to 2 years ago, she said this would be the first time in over 30 years that she wouldn't be attending this Club. She was faithful.

When she was a young girl living in Russia, she had to disguise herself as an old woman to go to church. If caught going to church, she wouldn't be able to attend school. Her cross necklace would be worn under her clothes to where others couldn't see it. She came from a wealthy Russian Family, but they lost their wealth during the revolution to the communist. Most of her family was sent to Siberia. Just before Tina was to start college in Moscow to become a Doctor, her family sought safety in America.

When she married her husband, an American Bomber Pilot, her wedding dress was made from a parachute...the best silk around. She taught herself to speak English by watching television. She'd teach American Soldiers to speak Russian. She could speak 5 languages. Her husband forbid her to speak Russian in their home, but when he died she got satelite television so she could watch Russian television. She didn't like stairs. She stayed extremely active and tried to convince me that I should join her for water aerobics. She'd dream about her homeland and where she had lived. She hadn't returned since she moved to the States.

She was 85 years of age, widowed, Mother to three children, a Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and a friend to many.

I will miss my friend Tina. Do you see her necklace in the picture? After coming to the States, she could wear it on the outside of her clothes and she did.

Bye for now,

~Deanna~

Meatloaf Madness

It's a hot one today! Guess what my daughter and I cooked up for week-end fun? That's right, MEATLOAF. We didn't place at the First Paxico Meatloaf Festival Meatloaf Contest, but we sure had fun trying. We had delivered our Award Winning Italian Meatloaf on time at the check in and were on our way back to the car to drop off the cover pan when CHEF ALLI came out of the building and asked us if SHE could take our picture? We said, "Sure!"

So this picture of us is by Chef Alli! Check her website out http://www.chefallis.com/ .

Though we didn't place, I still felt like a winner. A couple of weeks ago, Beauty and I practiced making meatloafs and came up with the one we wanted to enter. We had fun as mom and daughter creating our award winning loaf.

During the week, we decided on what to wear and like a couple of Donna Reeds we wore aprons and pearls. We looked MARVELOUS DARLINK.

Then early this morning we whipped the meatloaf up for the contest,

baked it in our small oven,

let her cool before flipping her onto the platter,

selected a platter for presentation,

and figured how to transport our entry as we drove the distance to Paxico.

It was all in good fun. We stood abit stunned that there were as many entries as there were AND the work others applied toward their presentations. We walked away full of ideas for next year, Lord willing we do this again.

We officially are two Meatloaf Mommas that set a goal and then went after it with vigor. Why I even wore lipstick and shaved my legs for this!

God Bless,

~Deanna~

Hormone Free Milk and the American Way

Hello Beloved Bloggers!
Strawberry, Chocolate, Cookies n' Cream, White and Root Beer Milk...just how far will we go to get our calcium? Let me tell you, a long way. I'm not one to turn my nose up to a ice cold glass of milk in the late evening before bed.

The little town I live in has one grocery store and a convenience store that sells milk. The grocery store sells Iwig FAMILY DAIRY and they're having trouble keeping this milk in stock. Tells me that the area locals love this glass bottled extra creamy milk that doesn't have the added hormones that so many other milks have. www.iloveiwig.com

The milk comes in glass bottles which helps keep the milk colder than plastic. Glass bottles don't allow chemicals to leach into the product being stored in it. When plastic containers are heated up, they leach chemicals into the contents, then you ingest these chemicals known to cause health issues.

Iwig milk is free of rbST and rbGH injectable Hormones and free of antibiotics. This is where I have decided to take action for a healthier me by avoiding these things as much as possible. This year, I decided to start drinking Iwig milk instead of other milk from cows that has added hormones and antibiotics that the owners give their cows to encourage larger cows before going to market or milking them. Next I'm working at AVOIDING XENOESTROGENS.

Xenoestrogens contribute to troubling health issues with the human reproductive systems such as developing cancers, fibroids, heavier menstral cycles, miscarriages, infertility, low sperm count. Besides just reading and studying about fibroids, I wanted to change some actual things about what I eat and drink. I have had Uterine Fibroids for years and have been taking a watch and wait outlook with them. Uterine Fibroids are known to grow because they are estrogen fed. I try to avoid soy products because soy is a natural estrogen. I'm studying up on xenoestrogens so I will be better informed how to avoid these in my life. More blogging about this later.

Just about every January, I make a New Year's Resolution. If I take baby steps to getting where I hope to go, I'm more likely to stay on track getting there and actually reaching my goal. I know that what I eat and drink and wear and spend and save and talk and walk is more likely to take place if I keep it simple. Drinking milk is simple to me at the time.

Easy does it,
~Deanna~

Dear Lord, may I desire the sincere milk of the word...
1Peter 2:1-3
1. WHEREFORE laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
2. As new born babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3. If so ye have tasted that the LORD is gracious.

Tea on Thursday

Thank you for joining me for Tea. This Thursday, I want to travel down Memory Lane with these Grocery Store DISHES for Tea! Won't you join me? Don't you have a story or two about dishes that came in a Detergent box, Oatmeal box, Cereal box or won at a Carnival?


These JOHANN HAVILAND BAVARIA GERMANY China pieces from the grocery store caught my eye when I was pinching pennies as a young momma of two and married to my husband of 4 years. With blue roses on white china pieces high lighted with platinum strip, the Blue Garland Pattern was what I was looking for to add a little formality to my very casual life.

I remember full well how difficult it was to purchase these dishes. I'm thinking maybe circa 1978 or so was when I started to collect them. Each week the grocery store had a feature piece of china that was discounted when buying a certain dollar amount of goods. All of the china pieces could be purchased while the campaign was going on, but not at a discounted price and heavens knows I was waiting for the weekly special where every penny pinched was a shiny copper piece saved.

Another go round of this china pattern was on the market about 10 years ago, but this time the china was from Taiwan. They are heavier than the ones from Germany.

To this day, I'm still enjoying my Blue Garland Dishes. I use them for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter meals and when wanting a more decorative table setting. From time to time I add a piece that I come across at sales. I'd like to have more of the vegetable bowls and salt/pepper shakers. Still on the prowl for my dishes.
Would you like some more Tea? Croissant with jam? Hows about a cookie or two? There's plenty. I really don't like to see anyone go away hungry.
Blessings to you today. I'm so glad you stopped by.

1 Corinthians 13:13 AND now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

~Deanna~

Tuesday Treasure

Beloved, did you know that your smiling face can brighten up another's day?

You never know when another person sees your sincere gesture how it may cheer them up. What they might be going through may be difficult to bare and your smile may become a natural remedy for healing. Even those that seem to have it all at times need a encouraging word or gentle hello.

I cannot wait to see this treasure transformed into a lighted accent piece resting on the diningroom window ledge. Standing tall at 18" soon she'll be wearing a glass chimney. As time passes, she'll glow with a decorative globe on her new frosted chimney. I've been looking and think I can get a 14" chimney to fit this electric wired white metal lamp. L&L WMC is embossed on the bottom.

This lamp put a smile on my face. From what I can find out L&L WMC stands for Loevsky and Loevsky White Metal Casting. This New Jersey Corporation closed in the late 1970s. If you have any additional information that you'd like to shed some light on, I'd appreciate this.

A few weeks ago I attended a garage sale where some of the furniture was still inside the house. The Granddaughter and Daughter were running the sale. The Granddaughter said her Grandmother had entered into a Nursing Home. The Daughter appeared to be nearing 80 years old herself, so I imagine that her Mother is around 100. Just a guess.

Most the furniture was already gone, but this lamp caught my eye for a dollar. One dollar. Amazing. She came home with me to my Haven and is respectfully waiting for a new chimney and to be used.

May life be all that it is suppose to be. A gift to treasure and enjoy.

Just like you...you also are a treasure. So let your light shine!

Blessings to you,

~Deanna~

The Boring Stuff! Challenge

Oh my goodness...Being the exciting and interesting person that I am, I had no idea what boring meant. I had to hit the dictionary on this one to read just what exactly boring means. This could be good Monday reading stuff.

'The Boring Stuff!' CHALLENGE comes to me from southern drawl at mopsandpopsplace.blogspot.com (I think if you visit her blog it would be entertaining for you!)

You-all that read about my challenge might find it a tedious and tiresome task...Okay, I'll try to tackle this!

I am to share 6 B O R I N G things about myself.

1) I am a very boring person that has to work at being exciting.

2) I am very boring.

3) Today when I woke up, I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a boring person looking back at me. How dull is that?

4) I am bored with television.

5) I am bored with trying to lose weight. Find it tiresome.

6) I am bored with tedious task.

WHOOPS! I MISUNDERSTOOD...I am to share 6 uninteresting things that I love. Okay, here we go again...

1. I love candy.

2. I love tearing pictures out of decorating magazines.

3. I love wearing denim...almost always.

4. I love sorting paperwork.

5. I love a clean house.

6. I love going barefoot.

There, I did it!

Wasn't so bad. I will be surprising others with this challenge. Tag you're it.

~D~

Featured Friday

Blessings Beloved. I'm thrilled you're visiting me today. After visiting a different blog concerning immorality issues, I got inspired to feature a person. I haven't gotten deep and heavy into the current events of the day or political powers...not sure I want to go in that direction.

Since I'm a woman, I figure that it's alright to add some mystery once in awhile soooooooo I just might pull a few strings and blog about the President, the Wars going on out there, Spiritual Trauma, Women's Rights, Cloth Diapers VS. Disposable, Wrapping ourselves in plastic wrap and meeting our honeys at the door (remember this one from the 70s? You youngens missed out), etc.

Our Featured Guest today is none other than the late great Carrie Nation. Born November 25, 1846 in Gerrard County, Kentucky named Carrie Moore and dying June 9, 1911 at 64 years of age in Leavenworth, Kansas. She lived an interesting life, if you ask me. As a Temperance Advocate, the Women's Christian Temperance Union inscribed on her grave headstone FAITHFUL TO THE CAUSE OF PROHIBITION, SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD.

If I were to see her determined 6 foot tall 175 pound body coming through the door carrying a Bible in one hand and a hatchet in the other...I'd hope I 'd have the good sense to get out of her way and say nothing to upset her. Get this, it was her 19 years her senior husband's idea to carry a hatchet instead of still throwing rocks.

She described herself as a Bulldog running along at the feet of Jesus, barking at what He doesn't like. She signed pictures Carry Nation- Your loving HOME defender.

She campaigned for the enforcement of Kansas Ban On Sales Of Liquor. Her methods escalated from simple protests to greeting bartenders with pointed remarks like, "Good morning, destroyer of men's souls," to serenading saloon patrons with hymns on a hand organ.

"Men, I have come to save you from a drunkard's fate!" Between 1900 through 1910, she was arrested 30 times.

If Carrie were alive today, what do you suppose she'd say about the New York City billboard advertisement of a half naked teenage female lying on a male's bare chest with her showing the side view of her breast as she kisses another half naked male as another half naked male is on the floor with his jeans unbuttoned??? 3 guys with 1 gal. It's an ad for bluejeans. Hummm.

I can invision her climbing the billboard as she waves her hatchet and barks, "People, I have come to save you from being part of an orgy because some money loving jean company thinks this advertisement attracts teenagers to depart from their money!!!"

The Bulldog has spoken,

~DEANNA~

P.S. Do you have some Bulldog in ya?

Tea On Thursday

Dear One,
So glad you dropped by for a spot of tea. How have you been?


I'm tired today...so I think I had better take it easy and just spend time sitting. I have everything ready to go for virtual tea, so won't you sit a spell with me and chat away? I'd like to know what you've been up to as well as to if you have any big plans for the week-end.

I hope to be working on prepping the family room walls for papering. Have the paper. Need to get a few more supplies. Oooooh when it's finished...we can celebrate!!! I've not papered a room with such high ceilings before. It will be a challenge.

The Kansas temperatures are starting to heat up so we'll have tea in the Parlor with a cool breeze blowing on us from a fan.





Today, I'll be serving our tea in this delicate light weight Sango CHINA made in Japan. We'll be having tea in the Granada 3651 white on white cups decorated with platinum edge. My picture doesn't show the delicate design so we'll use our imaginations while having virtual tea. Thank you for coming to visit with me in the parlor. I needed some chat time.
I believe I'm going to drink some Licorice Spice Tea that Queen Peggy told me about. It's her new favorite. Would you like some as well? Did you know that licorice comes from a European perennial plant of the legume family? Medicines and candy flavorings come from this...this surely will perk me up.
Thank you for these tasty cookies you brought along, they look delicious! That was so thoughtful of you. What did you call them again? Aren't you glad you have this secret family recipe? And you want to share it with me? Good gracious, yesssssssss. I'm ready. I'll just whip this pad of paper out and take note.
I'm just full of questions. Please forgive me. I don't mean to sound so snoopy. I just look forward to our visits and it's just so easy to talk to you. You're just one of these people that's comfortable to be around!
Praise the LORD! We're people with many gifts. Blessings to you, 
~Deanna~

Pleasant Drive In Kansas

Welcome to the Kansas Flinthills. If pictures are worth a thousand words, then what must these pictures say? Blue skies with clouds, green and brown fields, wide open spaces...


Just a few pics from a week-end drive. More to follow.

Blessings and pleasant thoughts to you,

~Deanna~

WORD ON WEDNESDAY For A Bad Hair Day!

Beloved, Have you ever had a bad hair day to where it didn't matter what you did, the hair was doin' it's own thing and told you to get out of town??? Now you know lying is a sin and 1 John 1: 8 of the Bible tells us that 'If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.'

Now the good part...1 John 1:9 goes on to say, 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.'

So it would be alright to admit to the Bad Hair Days and be done with it.



If all else fails, wearing one of these attractive bonnets that swallows up your face and covers your unmanageable hair would be a workable solution! I'm not poking fun at anyone that wears these bonnets already because they want to.

This bonnet was bought years ago and I wore it to the Elementary School where I worked as a Para. We were reading Little House On The Prairie Books and I couldn't resist wearing this bonnet to school to be in character as I read the students stories. They weren't anymore impressed with this as when I went to the school Halloween Party dressed as a grocery store check-out clerk wearing a red Dillions's apron. I tried!

Recently I've had more than my share of Bad Hair Days. If you were to knock on my door on one of these days, you'd find me wearing this bonnet. Ummm...I'm fibbing. I will meditate upon 1 John 1:8 and 9. AND that's no lie.

My prayer today is that if we do have a bad hair day, that we keep a sense of humor and admit oh well, it happens to the best of us.

~Deanna~
from the Kansas Flinthills where the wind blows really hard on some days and a bonnet wouldn't matter anyhow.

Treasured Tuesday.

I have a Tuesday Treasure I'd like to share with you.Dearly Beloved, We are gathered here today to join this glass cake plate to this metal cake covering in tasty companionship. Together they shall compliment many a cake and we'll all be a whole lot better off because of it!

If for any reason you believe that this shouldn't happen...speak now or forever hold your peace.

What Deanna has joined together, let no hungry soul put asunder!

I now pronounce you cake protector and pretty plate.

I found this great combination for a dollar bill. I was delighted that I found this little treasure at a yard sale. The glass plate is really pretty by itself, but the metal cover came with it. So I didn't hesitate to adopt this into my family.

Treasures may come and treasures may go, but while we have them in our presence, let's enjoy them. Give thanks to God for all the treasures that we come

across that bless our families and friends. God will provide.

1 King 17:13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son."

Dear One, Be encouraged. Go Home and do as you have said.

~Deanna~

P.S. 34 years ago today at 3 in the afternoon, I gave birth to my first child, a son. We would name him Anthony. Today he stands 6'7" tall. He's married and they're expecting their 3rd child in November. His employment ended about a month ago. Would you please pray God's Blessings on him and his family? Many Thanks.

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO A GREAT SON. You are a treasure.

MIGHTY MONDAY

BELOVED,

It's an on going pleasure to be a woman. The things I've learned over the years!

Number 1: Be flexible.

I'm not too modest or ashamed of telling you my age. Even with understanding the saying out there: if a woman tells you her age, she'll tell you anything. I don't happen to agree with this statement, because I tell people my age without spilling the beans about everything else.

Oh my goodness, who wants to spill the beans? What a mess. I find it a blessing to tell others my true age, because I seriously thought I wouldn't still be on planet Earth at this present age due to a childhood illness that I lived through. I'm 53 and so pleased to be able to say this.

This 53 year old woman had plans for Monday, but the plans soon would be changed. I had hoped to get up earlier than normal to have early morning coffee time before getting a toddler ready for an outting. The alarm was set. White Flashes of lightning woke me before the alarm went off. My day began earlier than I had planned. House coat on and baby crying in my arms, I entered the family room to find my husband and daughter returning home. They'd encountered a hail storm on their way to work and returned home to wait the storm out.

Within a short time, the weather became milder and my plans were changed again. Flexible. I had planned on preparing the family room walls for wall papering. This didn't happen. The only thing to happen concerning papering was to think about papering.

I had Prayer Time Therapy, picked up the mail, drank some coffee, polished my fingernails, went through mail, checked email, read some Christian material by Noah Hutchings (did you know America is $55 TRILLION in debt???), ventured over to a different community, ate, shopped at Discount Shop, visited with friend and drove the long way home because Toddler fell asleep. After getting home, allowed time on the computer, laundry, went to grocery store, unloaded some things at a storage unit, ate supper and watched the weather. Threatening weather blew in and the Weather Man grew increasingly more important.

Still thundering outside. Slowing down for bedtime.

May tomorrow not have so many challenges. May I be...flexible.

Laundry to do. Cards to fill out for Father's Day that's approaching. Oldest Son's 34th Birthday.

Papers to file. Did I mention laundry to do? Baby Sitting. Blogging. Take Vitamins. Treasured Tuesday is just a day away.

Will I get anything done on the wallpapering?

53 and counting...Flexibly Yours,

~Deanna~

Featured Home Of The Month

Marion, Kansas has a 15,000 square foot SECRET
on 3rd and Santa Fe Street. It was built in 1886 of native stone and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Being restored to its historic grandeuras as a unique Bed and Breakfast within the walls of native limestone and handcrafted hardwoods is The Elgin House Apartments!

The Elgin House Apartments was originally a 42 room Hotel with a Diningroom that seated 80 guests and provided billard and card rooms.

Last Thanksgiving, we attended a Family Gathering and as we were seeing the sights we saw something happening inside this local building that was at one time a celebrated location. I'm not sure of the lastest update of when it will open as a Bed and Breakfast, but we got a surprise as we peeked into the majestic structure.

The Historic Elgin Hotel started out as a eloquent watering hole then morphed into Marion, Kansas Apartments. Now she's being transformed into a lovely Bed and Breakfast.

She'll be a beauty when completed. What a gorgeous place this will be for a small community of about 1500 people.

Homes come in all shapes and sizes...from Single Dwelling Houses to Hotel Suites, Economy Studio Apartments to Dorm Rooms, Double Wide Trailers to Parsonages, Nursing Homes to Shelters, Three Story Houses to Three Bedroom Bungalows...and the descriptions are unlimited. Just like people with all kinds of talents and abilities we come in all shapes and sizes.

The Good Lord knows us all. The very number of hairs on our heads are numbered and He knows the number.

This month's Featured Home is The Marion, Kansas Historic Elgin Hotel. If this place could only talk, it'd tell you that many have called this place their home. Some wanting it that way and some not.

It doesn't have to be a secret that God's most treasured position are people, not buildings.

Do you know that you are a treasure to Almighty God? He adores you. He values YOU. Buildings are by products of what people design and build. Yes, God gives some people talent to build huge structures and though the buildings are important, we shouldn't worship the building. This isn't of eternal value. This isn't God. Still our places of residence are our homes to live in while we're here on Earth. Let us worship God while we live.

God Bless our Havens that we call Home for now,

~Deanna~

UPDATE: FOUND OUT THAT THE HISTORIC ELGIN IS INDEED OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND HERE'S A PHOTO OF THE REMODELED INTERIOR!!!

GASP...IT'S GORGEOUS.

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Chicken Pot Pie

Welcome to A Home Haven 'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Meal In One Dish. Quick and easy is the name of this game
when you're in a hurry or too tired to make a Gourmet Meal.

This Family Style Chicken Pot Pie recipe is really simple for a meal in one dish.


Ingredients:
2 ready made pie crust in tin pie plates
1 small can of cream of chicken soup
1 13 ounce can of canned chicken
1 small can of mixed vegetables
salt and pepper


After taking the pie crusts out of packaging, allow crusts to warm to room temperature. Spread half of the cream of chicken soup in one pie crust.

Drain juice off of canned chicken. Dump chicken into crust. May have to break chicken up abit with fork. Season to your liking with salt, pepper, etc.

Drain liquid off of canned mixed vegetables. Dump veggies onto chicken. Top veggies with the rest of the cream of chicken soup.

Without taking the other pie crust out of tin pan, place the other crust on top of chicken pot pie and leave second pie crust still in tin. Crimp crust together by gently squeezing the edges of the pie tins together.

With tin still on, bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Remove tin and prick a few holes in top of crust to vent steam. Bake until the crust turns brown like you want it. Close to another 20 minutes.

Remove Chicken Pot Pie from oven and allow it to cool off til ready to serve. There you have a quick Family Style 'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Chicken Pot Pie!

Blessings to you as you look for easier solutions to help make your busy days go a little smoother and hassle free. If you bake several of these at one time, they freeze pretty well.

We all need a helping hand from time to time. I sure do.

God Bless,

~Deanna~