TheKitchenCookie

Who likes a great strawberry lemonade? (raises hand) Who thinks boiling water and sugar for a simple syrup is a waste of time? (raises both hands) I've been trying to use up the frozen berries in my freezers and found some crushed strawberries from a while ago and decided to make a kind of Copycat Speckled Lemonade like the kids always get at Red Robin. It's super easy. Super yummy. And takes almost no time to make. For 2 gallons of lemonade place 3 pints of thawed, crushed berries into a high speed blender (I used a Ninja) and blend until smooth. Using the Country Time Lemonade mix, measure according to directions adding 2 extra scoops per gallon. Fill half full with water. Stir. Divide the blended berries among the two gallon containers then fill completely with water. Stir and enjoy. ♥♥♥ Be Blessed! 

Happy 16th Birthday to Anthony!     Where, exactly, has the time been going?! I must say that I am enjoying our teen boys immensely and love the stage of life we are in!   A few weeks ago I asked Anthony what kind of party he wanted and gave him a few days to think about it and offered 3 different scenarios. After thinking about it he said he doesn't want a party. I will admit I was rather deflated. I mean, what 16 year old doesn't want a party...all about them... but alas he was adamant. No party!   So this morning I tried a different tactic. I still couldn't quite let it go. I'm a Mom, after all! I love to celebrate my kids! :)   Me: what are you doing at 2:30 at school today? Him: Study Hall. Me: How many kids are in there with you? Him: There's actually quite a few at that time.   S udden realization hits him.   Him: You're not thinking of bringing something are you? Me: ...

  Isn't this cute? ♥ 

..."I am come that you may have Abundant Life". John 10:10b   From the looks of it God intended life to be vibrant and colorful. Nature... ain't nothin' like it!     1,5,9. Blue Birds! They are the real reasons I make homemade suet! 2. Amazing Moon! 3. Compatability. 4. Mocking Bird. I love that the sun brings out the green in it's eye :) 6. Beautiful Sunset! 7. Same sunset, but earlier. 8. Carolina Wren. I love that these cuties roost in nesting pockets on my front porch every night. They have for years .♥

Mary Landis   January 5, 2015 at 10:17 PM I love Dorcas Smucker's writing and would enjoy this book.   Congratulations Mary! Send your mailing address to luckyglicks@gmail.com and I'll send the book on it's way!   Thanks to those of you who participated and may you all have a lovely day! Stay warm!!   

Winter being the perfect time to sit back and read a book or two, I'm giving away a lovely compilation of heartwarming, entertaining, stories by Dorcas Smucker. And lest you think it's just filled with fluff. Not so! Important life lessons and stories about life that are not so funny but are character building are included as well. Another plus for me was the fact that it's a thin, easy to read volume, as are the other pieces she has in publication. My book list is always fairly long so I appreciated this especially! Perfect to sit and read as you sip some tea and unwind from a busy day! Footprints on the Ceiling is available for $15 per book, postage included.  You can mail a check to Dorcas Smucker, 31148 Substation Drive, Harrisburg, OR 97446.  US addresses only.  To send a copy to Canada or overseas, email Dorcas at dorcassmucker@gmail.com .      You can also visit Dorcas here @  www.dorcassmucker.blogspot.com ...

    From this-  To this-   To this- And finally... "There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:26,27a                                                                            If you enjoy reading stop by tomorrow for a book giveaway!     ♥Be Blessed!♥ 

 Going for an afternoon trot on a beautiful, brisk, sunny afternoon. This is what she loves to do!       Christmas was spent in Ohio and the kids enjoyed unlimited time with cousins while Lin and I hung out with brothers and sisters and my Mom. We had a wonderful time! I have two nieces who mentor Serena in her love for horses. Tiana and Rachael. And although she is 10 and they are 15 and 21 they always have time for her and all enjoy each other. She usually ends up at a sleepover at one place or another while we are there. This particular weekend they put her on Tiana's big horse 'Princess', set up some jumps and taught her to jump. Scary thought! But she managed to stay on and I fear the 'pony stage' is almost over. She does still love her special pony 'Lightening' but also realizes that she will soon be too tall for him so she's in the process of deciding whether to keep him and move him with us to Co...