Friday's Fave Five

Susanne at Living to tell the Story hosts a meme every Friday where you look back on your week and talk about 5 of your favorite things. I *love* looking for the joy, so I thought I'd do it this week. Can't guarantee I'll do it every week as I tend to flit around so much, but we'll see. :)

1. Y'all might get tired with my tomato stories, but really I am just so tickled pink about the whole thing! I wish I'd known long ago how much pleasure I could get from growing my own produce. Who knew?



2. I can't say a lot about this project yet as it is a gift, but I have gotten so much pleasure knitting on it this week. The last few things I've knit have been more 'deadline' oriented and the joy wasn't there. As this is a gift I've gotten to spend a lot of time thinking of the recipient and praying for her.

3. A guilty pleasure - mini peanut butter cups from Sprouts! I adore chocolate and peanut butter together and am also a big fan of miniature things. When I saw these babies in the bulk food section my heart fluttered in delight. Helen asked if I was going to bring some on our retreat and I had to say no - if I brought these I'd eat like a piggy! So now I 'reward' myself when I go get groceries at Sprouts with a small bit of these wonderful morsels. ~ sigh ~

4. This Bible study is simply amazing. I am learning so much about the Holy Spirit within me - pages and pages of notes! Any time a study can get you excited and give you that 'I can't wait to do it' each morning is a very good thing.

5. OK, I didn't see her this week and the photo is from Easter, but this little girl is still one of my Fav's and always will be! :)

Topsy Turvy Tomatoes

The Topsy Turvy Tomato is growing like crazy! I was getting a little concerned because it was getting so leggy, but without a lot of blooms or even leaves. But this last week it has laid all my fears to rest and started blooming with a vengeance.

I feel like such a proud mama here......this is my very first microscopic tomato on the Topsy Turvy! And...wait for it...we have 10 microscopic tomatoes on this plant! Who would've ever thought when I first hung this plant under the eaves of our house that it would actually work? As seen on tv - I give Topsy Turvy a hearty thumbs up.

This little beauty is actually the first tomato that appeared in my 'garden', which of course consists of the Topsy Turvy and three cat litter buckets. Looking very good!

Another cat litter tomato plant and this view shows five microscopic tomatoes. There are actually nine on this plant.

We've become somewhat of an Oliver and Lisa with these plants, though really that's not entirely true since it was sort of my baby. But surprisingly Keith has jumped in with both feet. Each day after work we go outside to 'check on the plants'.

For those that have had vegetable gardens or even just a few tomato plants - I wonder if the thrill is still there or if you just take it all in stride. It's really quite exciting to see the fruits of our labor - if you can call watering each night labor! :)

CFBA: JILLIAN DARE: A NOVEL

Jillian Dare leaves her Shenandoah Valley foster home behind and strikes out on her own as a nanny at a large country estate in northern Virginia. She is delighted with the beauty of her new home, the affection of her young charge Cadence Remington, and the opportunity for frequent travel to the Remington castle in England.

She is less certain about her feelings for her handsome but moody employer, Ethan. In spite of herself, Jillian realizes she is falling for her boss. But how can a humble girl ever hope to win a wealthy man of the world? And what dark secrets from the past is he hiding? This contemporary story, inspired by the well-loved classic Jane Eyre, will capture readers' hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Jillian Dare: A Novel, go HERE

MY REVIEW: As a long time Jane Eyre fan I was delighted with this book. The story has been updated, yet remains true to the story. The author did a great job developing different, but still the same characters, which I'm sure wasn't an easy task.

And really, there's something deep within many a woman's soul that makes us pine for the English castles of long ago. There's so much mystery surrounding the buildings and the families that lived there and that makes for a fun read, especially an updated version of that. Because even though I'd love to visit someday, I'd still love to have my laptop with me, so it was fun to see it as part of the story.

I look forward to more books by this author as I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Melanie Morey Jeschke (pronounced jes-key), a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from University of Virginia as a Phi Beta Kappa with an Honors degree in English Literature and a minor in European and English History.

A free-lance travel writer, Melanie contributed the Oxford chapter to the Rick Steves’ England 2006 guidebook. She is a member of the Capital Christian Writers and Christian Fiction Writers as well as three book clubs, and taught high-school English before home-schooling most of her nine children. Melanie lectures on Lewis and Tolkien, Oxford, and writing, and gives inspirational talks to all manner of groups, including university classes, women’s clubs, young professionals, teens, and school children.

A fourth generation pastor’s wife (her father Dr. Earl Morey is a retired Presbyterian minister), Melanie resides in the Greater Washington, D.C. area with her children and husband Bill Jeschke, a soccer coach and the Senior Pastor of The King’s Chapel, an non-denominational Christian church in Fairfax, Virginia.

S'mores In The Oven

So the first three day weekend of the summer is now over. We went to the lake, but since the lake level was 11 feet high we didn't even get in the water. However, we did go down to the boat ramp and watch some of the action. The picture above shows probably the most amazing boat I've ever seen as they were putting it back on the trailer. The boat was big enough that it required a semi to pull - who says there's a recession?? With the excess water the truck had to back this far into the water just to be able to find the boat ramp and be able to get the boat back on. The "little" boat to the left is a nice sized normal boat, but it looks a little small next to that big one.

And above shows what a little determination can accomplish. We had planned to roast hot dogs and then make S'mores for dessert, but the rain made it a little uncomfortable to be outside manning the fire. Plan B was to boil the hot dogs and pop in the Miss Congeniality 2 dvd - excellent family evening. Lynne' still wanted s'mores, so her Plan B was to line a 13x9 pan with foil, put the graham cracker, chocolate bar and marshmallow on top, then set the pan under the broiler (watch this CLOSELY - it took probably about 30 seconds is all!). She then put the top graham cracker on and pressed it down - Perfect! And while she was preparing these we discovered that Keith had never tasted a s'more - ever! So last night was his first and I don't think he was over impressed simply because he's not a big fan of sweets. But Lynne' and I had a big smile on our faces. :)

Card Carrier and Matching Greeting Cards

My Stampin Up rep recently had an additional stamp camp at her house and I was excited to go. You know how sometimes you'll see something and you just love it? That's what happened to me with this project.

Though this project doesn't have an official name, some ideas included picture carrier, card holder and coupon holder. I'm not sure yet what I'll use mine for, but I love it just the same.

The front and back were made with chipboard and covered with paper and there's a cute button and twine closer.

And these are the cards that go with the set. I absolutely adore these, partly because they are so clean and simple. The stamp set isn't available to buy yet, but when it is I'll probably be right there.

It was a great day and I can't wait to get the cards sent out to people.

Memory Verse

"Satisfy us in the morning

with your unfailing love,

that we may sing for joy

and be glad all our days."

Psalm 90:14