Everyday Living

Take Your Pick!

~ Food & Entertaining

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer”
Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭14‬

I always look forward to late April and May for one of my favorites-fresh strawberries!  All of the rain that we had in April made for great conditions for the juicy, sweet berries.  Last week, Katy and I headed over to Norris Farms to pick our own!  There was a pleasant breeze and the day was perfect for filling our baskets to the brim!  Grab your straw hat and join us in the strawberry patch…there might be some tasty treats after we finish picking!
You can pick your own or they will pick for you!
When you realize the sweet reward…the work is fun!
You have to test for sweetness before you do all that work!
They were berry good!  Well-kept vines make for juicy berries!Norris Farms has abundant strawberries, in spite of all the rain!Katy and I picked 2 gallons quickly and then I bought a gallon already picked!Ready for a gentle washing!Our local gourmet popsicle shop makes a fresh and fabulous strawberry pop!  Wish you could just taste the flavor!An easy and delicious way to enjoy fresh strawberries…you can make this little snack in 5 minutes!  If time permits, make your own shortbread.  But a  delicious alternative is Walkers Shortbread petticoat tails (TJ Maxx usually keeps these).  Then, add one of the greatest gifts from Italy, Nutella, and top with a fresh strawberry.  Could it get any easier-and it is so good!I made strawberry cobbler from my Mother’s recipe and it is perfect with or without ice cream!A great appetizer…a bite-sized salad!  I used the original Wheat Thins with a baby spinach leaf on top, but you could use any cracker of your choice.  A slice of strawberry is placed on top of the spinach and drizzled with poppyseed dressing.  Strawberry salads are not complete without candied pecans. Needless to say, I ate way too many! My take on strawberry shortcake…Mother’s pound cake recipe, juicy strawberries, and fresh whipped cream! With fresh strawberries on hand then there has to be pancakes…I made my usual pancake recipe and then topped with bananas, toasted pecans, and sweet berries!  Delicious! Fresh strawberry-lemonade on the patio!  So refreshing!! So…what’s your pick?  How do you like to eat your strawberries?

pam closing

Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Simple + Southern Sunday No. 27

~ Simple + Southern Sunday

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Psalm‬ ‭139‬:‭23-24‬sss24 “The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin”
-Frederick M. Lehman
1A lovely church with English Tudor style architecture! 2Unusual sunrise with a misty fog on our pasture!1A red barn-always demands a photo!IMG_8269Little birds on the loropetalum outside our dining room window!  Can anyone identify them?IMG_8273 Deacon is so proud of his new friend, Mr. Turtle! 2This beautiful old two-story mansion (near our home) was built in 1842.  Five thousand acres were purchased from the Cherokee Indians for the plantation!IMG_8494 Risotto with asparagus, Black Forest ham, mushrooms, and parmigiana-Saturday dinner at home!4 The world-renowned Fox Theatre was originally conceived in 1928 as a Shriners’ headquarters! Quickly it was sold to William Fox (movie mogul).  The 3,622-pipe Moller organ was the crowning addition when the theatre opened its doors on Christmas Day in 1929.  Butch and I have attended several plays and concerts in the splendid movie palace.  However, the most memorable concert was taking my Daddy to hear Johnny Mathis with a full orchestra performing a Christmas show in the storied Fox!!IMG_8444 New York City’s got nothing on our little downtown hotdog stand! barnMiniature log cabin completely handmade by my late uncle!flowerWe love sharing our week in pictures with you on Sundays!

“I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’”
Psalm 122:1

final-closer-both-1Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm, The Turquoise Home

Visiting Visby

~ Travel

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God”
‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭16

Visby is one of Butch’s favorite villages that we have have been privileged to visit.  We only spent a day, but leisurely walked the perimeter of its city wall and took in the medieval history, local culture, and breathtaking beauty of the sea!  Visby stakes its claim to be the best preserved medieval city in Scandinavia.  It is the capital of Gotland, Sweden’s beautiful “holiday island”, famous for its soft sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, distinctive grey-fleeced sheep, and wild orchids.  The island lies between Sweden and Latvia in the Baltic Sea. The town is a Unesco World Heritage Site.  Lace up your walking shoes for a little stroll through this quaint Scandinavian village! Arriving from the sea, the old town’s skyline greets you!  The most notable structure of the city is the stone wall built during
the 13th century!  The spectacular town wall is about 2 miles long and was built of
limestone.  There are 44 towers dotting the wall!  Lovely homes line the cobble-stone streets!  One of the 44 towers The preserved historic buildings of Visby-merchants’ homes, storehouses and warehouses-reveal its heritage as the largest trading hub in the Baltic Sea!  Overlooking rooftops, to a spectacular view of the sea!  Visby Cathedral was built as a church for German traders.
Construction started at the end of the 12th century!  The cathedral has a massive square tower and two smaller ones!  Views of red tiled roofs, medieval ruins, and the Baltic from the hilltop
where the church is located!  The Visby Cathedral is the only medieval church still in use, with
twelve other churches in Visby preserved as ruins only!  Behind and to our left, is the open-air ruins of St. Karin’s Church.  Our beautiful ship, Marina (Oceania Cruise), is anchored in the distance! The limestone wall is beautifully preserved!  The old town center of Visby!  The beautiful colors of Scandinavia!  The town is sometimes spelled Wisby! Roses abound all over Visby as it is often called the city of roses!  The ruins of St. Karin Church date back to 1233 dominating the central square of the old town!  The church was the first Franciscan monastery founded in Sweden!  The skyline of Visby is dominated by St. Karin Church with its
arcade of towering arches!  Visby is a popular vacation destination for Scandinavians during the summer!  The harbor remains the epicenter of Visby!

Thank you for traveling with us. Where would you like to visit?  We love reading your comments!

final-closer-both-1Linking with Pieced Pastimes, It’s Overflowing, Be Different Act Normal, Silver Pennies, Life on Lakeshore Drive, Thoughts From Alice, Pink When, Mod Vintage Life, Coastal Charm, My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, The Dedicated House, Dwellings-Heart of Your Home, Savvy Southern Style, Ivy and Elephants, French Country Cottage, From My Front Porch To Yours, Stone Gable, Confessions of a Plate Addict, Worthing Court, Between Naps on the Porch, Cedar Hill Farmhouse, A Stroll Thru Life, The Style Sisters, The Charm of Home, The Winthrop Chronicles, Cornerstone Confessions, A Delightsome Life, Imparting Grace, Craftberry Bush, Posed Perfection, Katherines Corner, My Romantic Home, Chic On A Shoestring Decorating, Rooted In Thyme, Share Your Cup, The Enchanting Rose, Alabama Women Bloggers, 21 Rosemary Lane, Northern Nesting, Oh My Heartsie Girl,  Cozy Little House, Rattlebridge Farm