My New Favorite Salad!

Recently I had lunch at the Garden Room located about

a mile and half from me. It's new and a perfect place for my

friends and I to meet for lunch.

I ordered a wonderful salad that was full of grilled veggies.

This didn't turn out to be exactly like it (I'm terrible at grilling vegetable!), but it was my inspiration for this salad that my husband, son and I like so much, I've served it three times since last week. I've earned raves reviews too!

Saute in olive oil - coarsely chopped green onions,  red bell pepper, yellow and zucchini squash, eggplant peeled or unpeeled, and minced garlic. May have to cover with a lid for awhile for veggies to cook through. Cool slightly and then place on top of romaine or red tip lettuce. I cooked shrimp, seasoned with cajun spices to add on top of the salad. I would say add a very good  vinaigrette dressing

but...

true confessions

I used just a bit of good ol' Ranch Dressing!

I like the creaminess it added to this salad.

My son added feta cheese.

I can't wait for Friday as I'll be linking to

Designs by Gollum

http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/



The Colors of Today

When life just becomes a little too much "life"...

we head to the deer lease... or "ranch" as we call it.

It's only an hour and fifteen minutes from our home to our

"ranch home".

It's been bone dry with searing heat these past few months,

but just last week the ranch received 2 1/2" inches of the

precious wet stuff.

What a difference!

The grass was actually green.

So beautiful and so peaceful.

Then... we came home to a breath-taking

glow in the sky.

I couldn't actually see the sun as it was setting because I

was working on this 'yer blog.

I grabbed my camera and ran outside to catch

that glow. I found two fireflies who were

flying around enjoying the evening too.

I could actually see the face in the moon as well.

Such gorgeous colors.

And then I turned and saw through the window the view into our breakfast nook where I sit

to doing my blogging.

I just stood there and stared at it.

The room isn't perfect ... nothing in particular on the walls,

but the room glowed that golden orangy-yellow

that I see in so many pictures on my favorite blogs.

It truly made me feel warm inside.

And, yes...

"God's in his heaven...."

http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/

Now for some exquisite photos of fabulous colors

visit Little Red House!

You'll find me there enjoying this blog and others.

Run Katherine Run!

CHICAGO MARATHON:
 A MOTHER'S REQUEST

Last fall, when Laura's (White Spray Paint) husband was diagnosed with

Parkinson's,  their youngest daughter took matters into

own hands.

She entered the Chicago Marathon as a member of

Team Fox,

sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.

She is running for a cure.

Laura writes, "I have felt humbled here and there in my lifetime, certainly, but

our daughter's selfless act of love and devotion has far surpassed anything I have

ever experienced."

She currently wakes at 4:00 a.m.,

drives from Dallas to Lovejoy,

where she teaches high school English,

and does her morning

run

before beginning her teaching day.

Laura is making a simple request, stating that she knows the power of blogland...

"Please display the button above in your sidebar to show your support

and to send Katherine prayers and good wishes."

Laura, her husband and two other daughters will be there cheering

Katherine on.

They want us all there, through our prayers, too! 

For Laura's latest post regarding the Chicago Marathon and

Katherine's participation, visit her blog



http://whitespraypaint.blogspot.com/

Run Katherine Run!!

Congratulations, Heather!

Congratulations, Heather!!

Today you have made the five year mark.

Ovarian cancer was not what we wanted to hear

May 10, 2006

(Heather with her mother)

But out of this horrible disease...

You've become

* A warrior

* An advocate for others fighting cancer

* A mom

* A newspaper columnist

* A volunteer dedicating hours to

civic causes

You're a fabulous

* follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ

*wife

*mother

*daughter

*sister

*friend... dear friend

You are amazing, Heather!

We love you,

Karen and David

To read more about Heather and ovarian cancer visit my September 8th posting.

Fall is in the air!

Fall is in the air

somewhere....

At least inside my home I can safely

pretend!

(We have 86 degree weather at 9 p.m.)

I love to use antler "sheds" as it truly

represents our lifestyle.

In my dried arrangements I have to love to use

some sparkle. It just gives some pazzazz

and life.

These pheasants are not indicative of deep

south Texas, but they called to me so much

that I actually bought the display pair as

the others had sold.

A little more dry and a little more sparkle!

http://whitespraypaint.blogspot.com/

Please take a few minutes to read about Katherine,

Laura's daughter. She will be running in the

Chicago Marathon in support of

a cure for Parkinson's Disease.

Laura writes "White Spray Paint".

 

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

I'm so excited to link to

The House in the Roses for

"Show Off Your Cottage".

You will love the entries!

Our Chinese Trunk

Our Family Heirloom

Chinese Chest

My husband's aunt gave this chest to us about thirty years ago. We were thrilled to get it. The story is amazing. A relative of her's along with her husband were missionaries in China in the 1930's.

The political climate of China, particularly Shanghi, was volatile.

In 1931, just as the magazine started publication, anger against the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in northern China reverberated throughout the country. In cities like Shanghai, Chinese residents organized boycotts of Japanese goods. Perhaps in retaliation for the boycotts, Japanese forces bombed Shanghai on January 28, 1932. Japanese troops withdrew by the end of May, only to return with a full-scale invasion in 1937. Around the time that Ling long magazine ceased publication in 1937, Nationalists and Communists set aside their political differences to form a united front against the Japanese. --- Ling long Women's Magazine

According to the story the relative and her husband were required to give up their post and return to the United States.

The trunk is in beautiful condition. I wish I could describe the inside of the trunk as it has the most wonderful woodsy smell. The lock and key are unique.. at least to me.

Somehow when I look at this trunk the movie,

"Inn of the Sixth Happiness" comes to mind.

I'll be linking to

My Romantic Home for

Show and Tell Friday

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/