John Archives - Page 4 of 7 - Grateful Prayer

Ocean View

By Lorraine

A girl and her grandfather on a bench at the beach enjoying the ocean view. Memories, relationship and love between the generations.

Barnegat Lighthouse

My sweetheart and I planned a day together just to enjoy ourselves after a long string of working weekends doing yard work and all sorts of chores.

We are fortunate to live just over an hour driving distance to many shore points along the Jersey coast.

Mother’s Day Vintage Tablescape and Brunch Menu

By Lorraine

I love this quote. It brings back so many sweet memories for my husband and I as we remember our Mothers this Mother’s Day. Gathering many old rose pottery pieces and boopie glasses from our childhood, I created a vintage tablescape and a menu any mom would enjoy.

lilacs

By Lorraine

The sweet fragrance of lilac fills the air and it reminds me of the joy and blessing of friendship!

It’s been a perfect couple of days after some very heavy rain this week.

The grass is green, the trees are blooming and it is really spring!

It is also Raider’s birthday

I think he is feeling his 11 years

a quick selfie before heading out for another full day of yard work

my boy

Cherry Blueberry Fruit Bars

By Lorraine

Easy recipe for homemade fruit bars baked in a sheet pan and drizzled with frosting using cherry and/or blueberry pie filling.

We love these cherry and blueberry fruit bars! They are easy and quick to prepare, yummy and so pretty! Continue Reading

snapshot

By Lorraine

a quick snapshot of busy days and special moments

chubby toddler hands

French braids

surprise 90th birthday party

kids and grandkids visiting

fun with cousins

longtime friends

convo with pop-pop

Oh, my Chloe Dear!

By Lorraine

The other night my phone sounded that a message came in.

It was from Chloe

Just as you guessed, I have watched this sweet 25 second video over and over and over

As promised, we met up with PopPop for our annual Shamrock Shake lunch

at playland

with Cambrie

hello, Chloe!

Aunt Abbey was able to stop in from work as well and give a hug to Jethro

Chloe’s newborn shamrock shake face

and last years sweet little face

This little leapling will be turning 2 in a few days ~ can you believe it?

Jethro’s Turn…

By Lorraine

…to have his photo taken in PopPop’s christening outfit

I have photos of all but two grandchildren in this vintage romper as well as our youngest daughter, Abbey who is now 22 years old. Somehow, I missed grandchildren, Keri and Noah and never thought of it when our older girls were babies. That makes me a little sad since it has now become a tradition.

snowy weather

By Lorraine

getting stuck in the snow isn’t fun for anyone

such a woeful little face

but so pretty when the snow clouds depart and the sun shines brightly

all sparkly and glittery

~ no warm sunshine today, however. Just a mix of light rain and snow showers~

The Birthday Guy

By Lorraine

Yesterday was my guys birthday.

He took the day off and we spent it in a relaxed way doing some of his favorite things.

as he planned…

Not up at 5:15 this morning

a hearty, at-home breakfast.

off to the movies to see Frozen

a late-afternoon pastrami sandwich at a nearby delicatessen (yes, he has been hankering for a pastrami sandwich)

then to a second movie… Saving Mr. Banks

(we liked both movies)

and finally birthday cake with some of his huggable & snuggly grandkids

This morning, he is still talking about how much he enjoyed the day

John’s life verse:

being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Banana Oat Bars and Winter Days

By Lorraine

I take lots of photos. I keep the best and organize them into various file folders for easy retrieval should I want to find something in the future. The others I delete. Usually I keep up, but inevitably fall behind in this task each fall when I get extra busy with projects.

That’s what I have been working on these crazy weather days. After the new year we had an eight-inch snowstorm. A few days ago there were -30 wind-chills. Then is warmed up and all the snow melted. This morning is was freezing, icy rain that caused accidents everywhere and even a salt truck overturning. Tomorrow it is going up to 60 degrees F.

Like the random weather, I am sharing unrelated photos and throwing in a recipe that I spontaneously made when I saw the recipe posted on facebook.

This adorable photo is of our youngest grandchild, Jethro. His mama took the picture and I couldn’t resist sharing. I didn’t make the hat – it was in a hand-me-down container of clothes he received.

Icy precipitation covered these lilac branches yesterday.

So I didn’t expect to see this robin land on a branch as icy raindrops fell.

Almost through a cord of wood already as we stay warm in frigid temperatures. For the first time I had frost on the inside of my windows. Noah and Silas bundled up and braved the chill long enough to build a dapper snowman

Cambrie asked if she could make her favorite Silly faces as I snapped photos.

Our oldest grandson was nominated for Student of the month and his mom received a certificate for National Criminal Justice Honor Society from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia

We worked very hard liquidating Aunt Marie’s sweet little Sears Kit house bungalow and readied to sell.

A fun selfie pic of John and I enjoying a stay-at-home date-night of wine and pizza while we watched the old movie classic, Roman Holiday

My sister and I at her daughters birthday party

My favorite pup

I couldn’t share this patchwork quilt prior to Christmas because it was a surprise for our daughter, Jill who is providing foster care for a dear baby boy. With the extra fabric I made the soft cube toy for him as well.

I didn’t know this photo was taken until I saw it on our churches website. Baby Jethro in the glow of candlelight as we sang Silent Night on Christmas Eve. Abbey is in the foreground with Caleb, Chloe and Jamie in the background.

And finally, no sooner did I see a recipe on my facebook feed, I went straightway to the kitchen and gave this Banana Oat Bar a try. It caught my attention because it was suggested as an alternative to wrongful cravings (which I was having). The original recipe contains no sugar, butter or eggs and since I had ripe bananas on the counter, I whipped it together and popped it into the toaster oven in little time.

The recipe wasn’t detailed so I wasn’t sure if it would bake up like a bar or be more like baked oatmeal. I sprayed the dish prior to spreading the mixture and was happy that it came out easily and cut neatly.

I can’t say that my sweet tooth didn’t think of spreading the bars with peanut butter and (heaven forbid) pipe some melted chocolate on top but I subdued that impulse and found them to taste, well, healthy. They had a pleasant banana flavor, hint of sweetness from the raisins and a soft, chewy texture. I got 12 4-inch x 1-inch bars and with my substitutions, I figured each to be about 70 calories. A good, healthy alternative to curb a snack attack. If calories aren’t a concern, stirring in some mini chocolate chips and/or nuts would be a nice addition.

Banana Oat Bars

PRINT RECIPE

3 ripe bananas, mashed (I used 1 cup)

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (I used 1/2 cup since I didn’t have 3 bananas)

2 cups oats

1/4 cup almond milk (I used 2% milk)

1/2 cup raisins

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

optional (I added 1 Tbs Splenda)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

lightly spray an 8-inch square dish

In mixing bowl, Stir together all of the ingredients until well combined. Pour into prepared dish and spread evenly. Bake about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into bars.

Yield: 12 1-inch x 4-inch bars

Ham & Split Pea Vegetable Soup

By Lorraine

Not much better than a comforting pot of soup when one wakes up and it looks like this outside the window…

So, using a meaty ham bone I tossed into a freezer bag while cleaning up after Christmas dinner, I began by making stock.

The bone was still frozen when I placed it into a pot with coarsely chopped veggies.

Bring to a boil,

lower heat, cover and simmer two hours

Allow to cool, strain broth, pour into containers and refrigerate (or freeze if using later)

Ham Stock

PRINT RECIPE
large ham bone, preferable with some meat still attached
8+ cups water to almost cover
2 large carrot, sliced into large chunks
2 large onion, quartered
4 stalks celery, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1 bay leaf
5-10 peppercorns
No need to add salt

Directions:

Gently simmer ham bone with carrot, celery, onion, parsley, bay leaf, peppercorns, and water in a large pot for 2 hours. Let cool and strain, pulling off usable meat and discarding the solids.

Now, on to the soup…

I love traditional split Pea soup but hoping to appease John’s dislike of that green goodness, I made a soup using just 1 cup of dried split peas and lots of vegetables with some pasta thrown in for good measure. Basically, I used what was in the crisper drawer.

Ham & Split Pea Vegetable Soup

PRINT RECIPE

Note: remove the solidified fat from the top of the cold ham broth. Discard or set aside for making bird suet that I will share in my next post.

10 cups Ham stock

1 cup dry split peas

3 medium tomatoes, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

1/2 bell pepper, chopped

1 cup thinly sliced cabbage

1 cup small pasta like shells or elbow

ham pieces cut from ham bone (if desired)

Parsley for garnish (optional)

In a large Dutch oven, bring the ham stock and peas to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer about an hour.

Add tomatoes, carrots, onion, bell pepper and cabbage; simmer, covered, 20 minutes.

Add pasta, simmer, covered 10 minutes more

Adjust seasonings, if desired

After shoveling snow, serve a nice bowlful by the fireplace…

with a good friend

Our 2013 Christmas

By Lorraine

CHRISTMAS EVE

church then back home for our traditional Christmas Eve meal served in the family roomContinue Reading

Happy Birthday Little Cammie Lou Who!

By Lorraine

Look who’s turning 4!

It’s

Cambrie Noelle

or rather, Little Cammie Lou Who

mama decorated with bingle balls and whofoo fluff

Cammie gave a great big puff

pantookas hung on the ceilings high

there was feasting on Roast Beast and who-hash pie

Every sibling-Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small

had lots of fun and the best time of all!

Jamie, her dad and newest family member

pop-pop and the wee one

a stare-down

that turned to

giggles

and a surprise snow storm from the forecast calling for a covering to an inch… we got NINE inches!

After an almost two hour drive (on very slippery roads) that normally takes 35 minutes, this is what it looked like when we got home.

Since I didn’t yet officially introduce out newest grandchild born October 23rd

may I present

Jethro Ross

Jethro joins siblings

Keri, Noah, Silas, Caleb, Cambrie and Chloe

Love each other deeply

By Lorraine

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Matthew 19:5-6

Our sweet niece, Courtney married her beloved, Steve this weekend

the ceremony (above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)

(above photos from my sister-in-law’s facebook page)

dancing with her dad

(Wes is my husband’s brother)

Courtney and Wes

(Top) three of our four daughters: Jamie, (who is expecting her seventh baby next month), me, our oldest, Erin and our youngest, Abbey. Jamie’s twin sister, Jill was not able to travel down for the wedding.