Everyday Living

A Nod To Autumn

~ Decorating

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭73:26‬

College football is in full swing, there is a slight drop in early morning temps, and pumpkins have made their debut at grocery stores nearby.  Guess what friends?  Autumn is sneaking up on us!  I am not in full blown decorating mode just yet, but I am well on my way!  Last week, I purchased some candy corn and the next thing I knew, I had created a little vignette in the kitchen! 
  
Just a little nod to autumn on the French chest in the sitting area of our kitchen…a reminder of the season to come!


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I found this cute plaid pumpkin at Home Goods a couple of weeks ago and I could not wait to use it!READ MORE

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 99

~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;  he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing”
Zephaniah 3:17
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I remember exactly where I was when I heard of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on our country.  It’s hard to believe it was 15 years ago…it seems just like yesterday.  

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May we never forget the men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day…

sss 
“Oh the Lord, our strength and song! Highest praise to Him belongs
Christ the Lord, the Conquering King, Your Name we raise, Your triumphs sing
Praise the Lord, our mighty warrior! Praise the Lord, the glorious One!
By His hand we stand in victory”
Aaron Keyes

 
“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'”
I Corinthians 2:9


“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”
Galatians 2:20


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope”
Romans 15:13

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The Nitty Gritty of Grits

~ Food & Entertaining, Recipes

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭

There has been much debate on grits, the humble food of my Southern childhood.  What are they made from…is it corn?  Do you butter them or top them off with a little sugar?  Instant?  Quick?  Stone ground?  Even the Italians have chimed in, and they call it something completely different…polenta!  Whatever the case may be, I know one thing…grits have reached rock star status in the world of food! Today, let’s get down to the nitty gritty of grits…

Growing up in the Deep South, my Mother made a traditional breakfast every morning…home-made biscuits, bacon or sausage, scrambled eggs, and you guessed it…grits!  But as a child, I would rather scrape the grits off into the garbage can than have to eat them.  And even after I married, I prepared them for my grits-loving husband, but still rarely ate them!  But through the years I gradually started to love and appreciate the food that all good southerners should love.  


 Shrimp and grits became one of my favorites on any menu while vacationing along the beaches of the Gulf Coast!  And when visiting our good friends Patti and Mike in Raleigh, I always looked forward to Mike’s famous sausage grits…which still receive rave reviews from all their friends and family!  I began to see all the well respected chefs in the South slowly adding grits to their menus…no longer a humble breakfast food!  It was on dinner menus and not just in the South!

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