Wild flowers

Today was one of those days that just seemed to happen.
Nothing exciting just an ordinary run of the mill day. There seems to be endless days where all I seem to accomplish is laundry, dishes, meals and carpooling kids or chickens around..You ever find your self thinking really what is the point in all of this?

I often ponder where my life is leading me, am I just rambling through life, am I making any difference at all?

I went for one of my family walks today and was reminded of what life was about.
I saw it for a brief moment through the camera.. my life.

It was kind of like an old fashioned slide show, my beautiful family walking down our river trail, the beautiful flowers, wild yet fully and gloriously made.

God created those wild flowers so beautifully and perfectly. No one may see them but just look at how perfect and vibrant they are. They may never be seen or touched by any human at all, but God has a purpose for creating these beautiful flowers, perhaps they are for him?

(sorry can't figure out how to rotate picture, use your imagination!)

Perhaps they make him as happy as they make me?
 Perhaps...I am just guessing, but It came to me today that if Those flowers are so very beautiful and special to God how much more special and cherished are we?

You are a beautiful and cherished creation. Your life matters, you matter. There is an amazing purpose for your life.
 I am so glad to be able to share this blog post with you today because it was such an amazing ah ha moment that got captured  through my camera's eye.

My sweet trusting, children, my loving husband walking down the path. For a moment it was so perfect. Life often crowds in on me and I find my self just living.

 I so want to be the parent I didn't have, I want to be a kind loving wife, a good faithful friend, I want to be so much more that what I am.

Today I think I learned something though, I am on that path right along with my family walking beside them, holding fast to Gods hand.
 On a journey down a winding path, the end is not in sight but we are together, and for today that is all that matters. I am trusting God one step at a time, he knows my desires, he knows my faults yet he still loves me, and he loves you too!

So yes today was so very ordinary, the laundry got started, the dished and meals done but something very extraordinary happened ...life,..simple...sweet..and  beautiful.
My dear grandma always said stop and smell the roses, I think she had something there.

Know that I am praying for you tonight, hoping that you along with me don't just exist, but LIVE, one step at a time holding on to a hand that will lead you along the path of life, one that leads to something so much more than what we see here and now.

Fawn lilies on the river path

Love you!

Mathew 6:28
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Dead dog.......??

Husband arrives home to a huge pile of white dog fur. The fur is not just in one place but scattered all over the front lawn and side of the house.
Dear husband rushes inside expecting to see the worse, kids in tears, wife beside herself trying to console the dear children.
He thinks to himself, "it has finally happened the dog has finally been eaten by the Cougar or Eagles....poor dog". He ponders, halting in his steps.
 "I loved that dog, ya I always told every one I was not a small dog kind of man but I loved her"

So with a heavy heart he walks into the house, lump in his throat beseechingly looking for his family.

What he sees is a very different scenario.... happy children, busy wife, perhaps they don't know, perhaps the fate of our beloved dog has not come to their attention?

He looks at his dear wife tears in his eyes,
"um have you seen the dog around lately?" 

She reply's, "Yes, I guess you noticed what happened out there" I haven't had a chance to clean it up yet, quite a lot of fur, eh, not much left of the poor thing I am afraid"

The husband quite dumbstruck asks, "have you told the kids?" The wife replies, "well yes they saw the whole thing"

At this point the poor husband is at a loss for words and can't seem to figure out why every one is so darn happy...

..In walks what is left of the dog....happily wagging it's sheared pathetic tail, looking more like a pink rat than a dog...seems the wife has bought herself dog sheers and used them! The husband will refuse to walk that dog, indeed!

Poor poor dog!

Home Made Potato Chips! And the sad truth about store bought...

So like me, you love Chips, and you suffer from wheat sensitivities, or are a Celiac.

 I came across this article in my search for good information regarding Potato chips…Gulp, so sad but true…

As far as chips go, after researching to see if Lay’s Potato Chips are safe to eat for Celiac suffers, I have found that although Lay’s Chips claim to be Gluten Free they produce these chips on the same manufacturing lines as products that are made with gluten. They wash down and clean the equipment before they start making a Gluten Free product on that line but can’t guarantee that the product will be 100% Gluten Free! So I guess its trial and error with their products.
I sent an email to Old Dutch Foods and asked what snacks are gluten free. Here is their response. I have removed the products that were highlighted so according to Old Dutch Foods, all of the following are gluten free.
Enjoy!


Hi There: from Old Dutch Foods
Thank you for the e-mail.
The following Old Dutch products do not contain wheat, including spelt and kamut, or oats, barley, rye or triticale or any part thereof and therefore are considered Gluten-Free: However, some these products (corn) are produced on the same line as products containing wheat. I have bold letters for the products that are produced on the same line as our Multi Grain Tortilla Chips that contain gluten. Complete cleaning and sanitizing are performed prior to running a non- gluten product.

Old Dutch Regular Potato Chips
Old Dutch Dutch Crunch Sea Salt & Malt Vinegar (Malt is simulated)
Old Dutch BBQ Potato Chips
Old Dutch Dutch Crunch Mesquite BBQ
Old Dutch RipL Potato Chips
Old Dutch Dutch Crunch Jalapeno and Cheddar
Old Dutch RipL Sour Cream and Green Onion
Old Dutch RipL Smokey BBQ Chips
Old Dutch Rip-L Creamy Dill
Old Dutch RipL Mexican Chili
Old Dutch Salt ‘n Vinegar Potato Chips
Old Dutch Ketchup Potato Chips
Old Dutch Sour Cream ‘n Onion Potato Chips
Old Dutch Crispy Bacon Chips
Old Dutch Onion & Garlic Potato Chips
Old Dutch All Dressed Potato Chips
Old Dutch Dill Pickle Potato Chips
Old Dutch Bac’n Puffs
Old Dutch Cheese Pleesers
Old Dutch Popcorn Twists
Old Dutch Premium Cheese Flavoured Popcorn
Old Dutch White Cheddar Popcorn
Old Dutch Nacho Crunchys
Old Dutch Popcorn Twists
Old Dutch Restaurante Salsa (Mild & Medium)

Regards,
Consumer Care Representative

 So this brings me to a True Gluten free Potato chip!

Directions:

1) Pour oil in a plastic Ziploc baggie, along with whatever seasoning or spice preferred.

2) Put potato slices in bag.

3) Blow up the bag and quickly seal it shut.

4) Shake vigorously until all the slices are coated.

5) Arrange slices in a circle on a microwave-proof plate.  (Or in oven)

6) Microwave on high for 4 minutes.

7) Turn chips over and re-arrange them so they cook evenly.

8) Microwave again for 2 minutes.

Turn.

9) Watch them carefully and microwave again for about 2 minutes or until they start to brown.

They must brown a little in places or they will not crisp up.

10) Remove and let cool.

The chips crisp when cooling.

 Ta`Da! you have home made Potato chips, and you will not get accidentally contaminated!

Gluten Free Pancakes or Waffles

Gluten free Pancakes or waffles…. Oh so simple so easy!

• 1 cup brown rice or 1 cup rice flour
• 1/2 cup potato starch (NOT Potato Flour)
• 1/4 cup tapioca flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk (regular milk works, too)
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together with a whisk, and pour into waffle iron, in batches.

2. Add a bit more milk if too thick or a bit of rice flour if too runny.

3. Can be made without eggs, if necessary; just add a little more liquid to make up for them.

Just as good as regular pancakes, you can also use this for sandwich bread, sloppy Joes….so exciting to have Pancakes again!