On The Road Again...

Ms. Apron was mailed to the next sister today.  It was a fun visit and I look forward to hearing about her next adventure.

Ms. Apron and Flowers

I took Ms. Apron to one of my favorite places in our little town.  A good friend of mine and her husband plant a beautiful flower garden near a walking trail every year.  There are benches placed around the garden where I like to sit and just watch the butterflies and bees at work among all the flowers.  Nearby is a gazebo where I like to go in the early morning for devotions sometimes.  The daisies were especially pretty this year and Ms. Apron and I agreed they were our favorites.

After a visit to the flower garden we stopped by the quilt garden in another part of town.  The towns in our county do flower gardens in quilt designs each year and also display quilt murals.  These are all part of a tour that you can read about here.

My time with Ms. Apron is just about done.  I'm not sure yet where she is to go next but as soon as I find out, Ms. Apron will be on the road again!

Interesting tid bit...

I have to tell you girls...my old friends and recent Norwegian guests live in the very same town as our own Felisol! Isn't it a small and often strange world?? lol
Now if we could all just pop over for a visit, I'm sure Felisol would show us around!

Ms. Apron Likes Chocolate

It's too hot to do much cooking and especially baking but my guys always like a snack so I made some No Bake Cookies.  I convinced Ms. Apron to stay home with me instead of going paint-balling with dear hubby and son so she did and was content to sit at the table to sample some of the cookies.  She wanted the recipe so they must have met with her approval. 

Here's the recipe:

No Bake Cookies

3 cups sugar (I often use a little less)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter (I use natural)

3 cups quick oats

Mix and bring to rolling boil in a saucepan the first four ingredients (sugar, cocoa, milk and butter) just long enough to completely dissolve sugar.  Remove from heat.

Mix 1/2 cup peanut butter into chocolate mixture. 

Stir in 3 cups quick oats and blend everything well.

Pour hot mixutre into greased 13" x 9" pan.  Cool.  Cut into bars. (If you prefer, you can drop these by spoonsful onto a sheet of waxed paper for individual cookies.)

These bars have an almost fudge-like consistency and are rich so I don't recommend having three pieces at once like Ms. Apron did.  But eating like that doesn't seem to affect her since she's the same size she was the day she was born! It's just not fair! lol 

Rock On, Miss Apron!

What a fun surprise to find a package from Pat in the mail today.  Dear son (age 16), was curious about it so I told him about our group and he cheerfully agreed to introduce Miss Apron to some rock music as he played his electric guitar.  He really didn't mind.  He says he is man enough to wear pink if he wants to so he's man enough to wear an apron. 

This will be an interesting week for her.  I don't have a lot of cooking planned but I'll take her to visit some of my favorite places around town.

Toot’s, It’s Been Fun ~

What an interesting week this has been with Ms. Apron.  She said she even liked being called “Toots”…it made her feel special.  We all like to feel special.

  

I invited her into the back yard to help me with a little weed pulling and gardening before it was time for her to leave.  She stopped to smell the roses along the way.  I think that’s the wisest thing she’s done.  We all need to stop and smell the roses now and then.

Of course, she couldn’t stay serious too long.  She a caused me to do a double take when I  looked up from my weeding and saw my scarecrow.  Ms. Apron can act pretty scary sometimes, but I’d never (honestly, I wouldn’t) make her stand out in the garden with that silly hat on.  I’d get her a much sillier one!

I guess she wore herself out from all her foolishness.  She’s sitting in Hal’s chair, looking like she waiting for an ice tea or something!  I think the sound of the water in the fountain put her to sleep!

I get the feeling she’s about ready to move on to the next Sister.  I’m sure she’s looking for another home that will baby her and feed her lots of goodies!  She really doesn’t need to hop the fence, I’ll soon have her traveling papers ready…hmmmm, I wonder where the next stop will be? 

I’m sending her on her way ~ with love! 

UPDATE

This morning I went to the hospital, cheery and in a good mood. When I came into my Mother's room I could tell immediately that something was wrong,
In a nutshell:
The biopsy from the colonoscopy showed that one of the polyups (sp?)is cancer along with the tumor which we already knew. This meant they were dealing with a different surgery today. My mother had to have a colostomy (where they bring the healthy section of colon through the abdomon wall and she will have to wear a bag for waste.) Needless to say she was distraught over the prospect of this! He also took her ovaries and even her belly button (precautionary measure). After 4 weeks she'll begin radiation and chemo to shrink the tumor as well as the cancerous polyup. After resting *10-12 weeks he will do a follow up surgery where he will remove the cancer and hopefully reattach the colon to what is left. At that time he will also take her uterus. She'll still have to wear the bag while she heals and will have to do more chemo and radiation. We're looking at about a year for the whole process. She is in a lot of pain and her mental state is pretty shaky! Today was a really bad day all the way around! Pop is obviously concerned and worried about her but honestly, he drove me crazy today! He couldn't be quiet for even a moment! He talked so much today that I had to leave several times just to save my own sanity! Please continue to pray for my family. I have been holding up well but I really need Dave to get into town because I need to lean on him and phone calls aren't quite the same!

CHECKING IN

I arrived in St Louis last Friday after a 12 hour drive. Road construction, accidents and RV's and boats, all headed to the Ozarks made this a tedious drive! Went straight to the hospital and was surprised at how well my Mom seemed to be doing!

I visited her again on Saturday, along with my Sister-in-law Peggy and we managed to cheer my Mom up who was having a few moments of anxiety. My stepsister and her family stopped by after Peg left and it sounded like we had ordered out for Margaritas it was so loud in there! It cheered her up greatly! I took Pop out to dinner for Father's Day that evening and then headed down to spend the night with my Bio-dad and go to church with him yesterday on Father's Day.

After church and lunch with my Bio-Dad I came back into St Charles and went to see my Mom. I stayed until 9 last night. I hated to leave her there, drinking that "drano" like stuff that will flush out her system but it was getting late and I was worn out.A few times she told me she was starting to get scared and I reminded her of Isaiah 41:10 which I felt the Lord had wanted her to know!
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Yesterday after church was over, Jennifer and Corey stopped by for a visit and when 6 year old Alyson prayed for her, it touched my Mom deeply!

Her surgery is scheduled for 2:30 today to remove the mass from her colon. I have been awake since 3:30 this morning, unable to go back to sleep. Please keep us in your prayers today it's going to be a long day!

Also: Dave's dad is being cremated today, Dave will be flying into St Louis this Saturday where he and his brothers will begin the process of going through their parent's house!

I Love My New Bowling Ball!

Look at that silly thing….she thinks that head of cabbage is her new bowling ball!

Ha!  She’s easily fooled.  I’d like to see her try to bowl with that cabbage!  STRIKE!

 

That  “bowling ball” was about to be put in a steamy pot of  water, along with a little cabbage head that was hanging around…..on it’s way to becoming dinner….stuffed cabbage.

First I had to sauté some onions with Hungarian (of course!) Paprika.

 

Then the onions went in the mixing bowl with the long grain rice, egg, pork and beef and salt, pepper and garlic.

 

Next it was time to cut the large vein off of each leaf-really Ms. Apron, it didn’t hurt (me) a bit!  It’s much easier to roll without that large vein. 

Roll up the mixture in the pretty little bowling ball – I mean cabbage leaf.

Get ready…its about to take a swim in a delicious mixture of tomatoes, sauerkraut,  (I can take or leave the sauerkraut, but Hal likes it…so in it goes) tomato paste and sauce and water.

Ummm, smelly stinky cabbagy goodness! 

Maybe your next hostess will take you bowling Ms. Apron.  I really hope she does. 

Let’s Eat!

It’s seems that eating and mischief are the two things that are foremost in Ms Scarf’s agenda.

The first thing this morning, in that unmistakable whiny tone…that’s breakfast ? ……once again showing disappointment with my choice of foods. First it was my salad, now my breakfast isn’t working for her! Sorry Toots, this is my standard breakfast, a cup of coffee and a homemade muffin. I bake up a dozen or two, freeze them, then put one in the microwave each morning….nothing like a warm muffin and a hot cup of fresh coffee! This one happens to be a Whole Wheat Flax’N Apple Muffin. Only on the weekends do we opt for a bigger breakfast, and that’s because I don’t like to make breakfast…only eat it! Go ahead, sit in that chair and pout…I’ll enjoy my muffin!

Maybe later, we’ll go outside and work in the yard…I know Ms. Apron will love that! Pull those weeds, water those flowers…I can just imagine the fun we’ll have!

Wait…..where’d she go? She’s in Hals truck, trying to make a get away!

Because I’m über energized from my Whole Wheat Flax’N Apple Muffin your attempt to flee was thwarted! Try eating a muffin for breakfast next time….Toots!

Any recipe I post on my “experience” with Ms. Apron will later be posted on the Traveling Cooking Sisters Blog…or what ever it's called! All these blogs are hard to keep straight!

Dear Sisters

Aunt Virginia, my mother and I are in desperate need of prayer.

I have posted my prayer request HERE . Please pray hard for us.
Love, Amrita

And the Answer is….

Here’s the finished product(s)!

I have no idea what these are called…the first is a hamburger/tomato/cheese pie.

The second dish with the Great Northern Beans is something we’ve always called Armenian Bean Salad. I’m sure it has another name, but my Mother in Law was the best at making salads, and this was one of her often served dishes. Since she was Armenian..and she made it … it became “Armenian Bean Salad”. Aren’t we clever? It’s a simple vinegar and oil dressing. No mixing it in another container, it’s just poured on, salt, pepper and garlic powder added along with onion and parsley….tossed with a spoon, and ready to eat. Mom had a great hand with the vinegar and oil!

That’s her bowl I served it in, it’s pink depression glass.

This guy was hanging around waiting for dinner….so I put the apron on him. He asked why he had to wear it…I told him ALL of the other husbands have worn it, that’s why! That seemed to be reason enough for him, and he went along with it!

So here we are, ready to slice the un-named pie, scoop up some Armenian Bean Salad and dig in.

I will publish the recipe on our Cooking With The Scarf Sisters page. It’s very simple, and as you saw, very few ingredients are required. If you try these dishes…I hope you enjoy them!

Did You Guess?

Have you figured out what I made of these ingredients yet?

Stay tuned, I'll be right back with the answer....you still have time to post your best guess!

STILL STANDING STRONG!

You gals are SO amazing! God has blessed me through each and every one of you! I feel badly for putting a damper on our fun adventure and yet at the same time, I feel like we are SO connected in our hearts that it's only natural to turn to all of you in our time of struggles and sorrow.

I asked Sister Donna to forward my request and she has been extrememly gracious to do so. I haven't said anything on Face Book but feel comfortable in "putting it out" over here! When they did the Colonoscopy they came across a VERY large mass in the colon. They are pretty certain it's cancer but we're awaiting the results of the biospsy. The positive in this is that it was growing inward rather than outward where it could grow on some of the other organs. She will go in for surgery probably Monday where they'll remove the mass and take out the affected colon area. From there we'll know what the next step is. I spoke with her tonight and while I was expecting her to be down and discouraged, she was actually pretty upbeat! She doesn't feel all that great but her spirits are good! I can tell those prayers from all of you righteous gals are working! I told her that she was being prayed for by ladies literally all over the world and she was so surprised!

I am heading home at 5 in the morning. I was originally going to visit my Great Aunt in Arkansas but all I really want to do is be with my Mutti! I was already heading there for the Beth Moore conference next week but now I can be there to help when she is released.

Dave's Dad: He will be cremated on Monday and we will schedule scattering his and my mother in law's ashes at a future date. We also have the overwhelming job of going through the house! The tentative game plan is for Dave to fly up to St Louis on the 26th (my conference ends that day) and we will begin working on the house then. We were already taking time to come up for our annual 4th of July Bash so this just might all come together after all.

I am holding up okay for right now. I know that I have to be strong for Dave and now with my Mom's situation I need to be strong for her, Pop and my children. I have such a peace within that I know in my heart, that God is very near!

Please continue on with Miss Apron's adventures! I am hoping to get a chance now and then to get on the computer while I am out of town, and it would be such a lift to my spirits to still be a part of her adventures!

Have I told you ladies how dear you are to me? I love you all!

We May Not Understand ~

Dear Connie ~ None of can know what tomorrow holds...but we DO know who holds our hand.

We take great comfort in the knowledge that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. We hold tightly to His hand. In times like these...we Scarf Sisters are holding His hand...right along with you. May you find comfort and peace in His love.

Before I Go On....

I am hesitant to go on with my post. So much is happening in our Scarf Sister Connie's life right now. We continue to keep her Mother in prayer as she has her tests and awaits the answers. We also hold Dave, Connie and their entire family up in prayer and offer our love and sympathy at the loss of Dave's Dad.

I don't know whether or not to proceed at this time, I would appreciate knowing how you feel. I don't want to minimize the needs in Connie's family right now, but I also know that we serve a loving God who knows all about us and what we are going through.

Dear Connie and family...we are with you in spirit... sending love and hugs and prayers.

Dave's Dad

Thanks for the continued prayers for my Mom Helga.

Please pray for our family, we just got the call that Dave's dad just passed away!

What's For Dinner?

First of all....I don't want to take any attention away from Connie's prayer request for her Mother...first and foremost -Let's all continue to pray for her Mom and believe for that good report!

**********************

With that said, today's post will just be a teaser.

These are all the ingredients that will go into tonight's dinner, plus the Mozzarella cheese which I forgot to put out!

Can you guess what it's going to be? What's your guess?

As you can see, Ms. Apron is near by. She is guarding the ingredients...making sure I prepare more then "just" a salad tonight!

Here's a hint...the jar of Great Northern Beans is going in a side dish. The main course is every thing else you see - plus the cheese!

I have to put it all together now... Ms. Apron is getting testy again! Where did all this impatience come from? She acts like she's been living with me all this time!

PLEASE PRAY FOR HELGA

I have a prayer request please. Pop (my stepdad) called last night to tell me he had to take my mother to the hospital. She was admitted and they are going to run tests on her today. It isn't related to her heart or pacemaker but rather, intense lower abdominal pain. To put it delicately, they "flushed" her out yesterday which was incredibly painful for her and she believes that they will do a colonoscopy today. In spite of the unknown here, I feel very peaceful in all of this. Please pray that she would be at peace, feel God's presence, not be discouraged and hopeful.
Thanks,
Connie

Just Salad?

After a long and tiring day at Ikea, I didn't feel much like making a fancy meal. Actually, I felt more like having a pizza delivered, but I took one for the team and threw together a salad.

I don't think it's what Ms Apron had in mind, especially after all the meals she's been witness to. Oh, by the way....she'd like Donna to lighten up on using the symbols...♪♫♥♦♪►◄↕☼...you're starting to make her dizzy.

So, she sat her fairly large bohunkus ( she can't help it, she's had way to much good food on her journey) on my counter and anticipated something really scrumptious coming her way.

SURPRISE!!

Not tonight my fine floral friend. Tonight we eat salad!

So, here's what my tired self threw together. A semi/sort of Greek salad. Made with love from what ever I could find in the refrigerator and cupboard.

Her whining about the aroma of the Feta cheese was really starting to annoy me. OK, it's not my "smell of the day" either, but it sure tastes good! Next I threw in a can of tuna...and called it dinner. I was out of olives...my favorite, that will teach me to keep my cupboard stocked.

Here's to you Ms. Apron...may your hips become slimmer and may the aroma of Feta Cheese be always at your back!

NOTE:

I forgot that I was asked what was inside my Ikea bag...here's the contents.

1. Cloudberry Jam

2. Lingonbery Jam

3. Candles that smell out of this world good...like fresh berries!

4. A gift certificate

5. Swedish Almond Cake....I really need to know how to make this cake

Welcome To MIchigan - Again!

Well guess who was waiting in my mailbox when I got home from shopping at Ikea today? Yep, our friend, Ms. Apron. She was acting a bit forward...trying to see what I bought at Ikea...I think a lesson in manners may be necessary. Between you, me and the fence post, I think Ms. Apron has been fairly spoiled. She's been to so many beautiful homes, visited with family members and dear friends and been witness to some of the most scrumptious food I've ever seen, pampered washed, repaired, ironed, and napped, and sang, praised and worshiped --- I should have such a life!

Well Toots, I think your just about to the end of your carefree journey...this ain't Disneyland! You're with the cranky old Senior Citizen now, and my mood swings may be the biggest ride you've been on! Straighten those ties...the week is just starting!

Happy Birthday Sweet Sister Jada Gigi

dear cheryl..june 10 and it is YOUR turn to be the birthday girl!
hopefully miss apron is still on the ground at donna's and will be able to greet you too..it has been one busy week for her, eh?
i hope that the day is sunny where you are and if it isn't, that won't matter at all because this is your day and it WILL be a happy one!....love from all of the sisters!


donna and miss apron have already given you the best of birthday songs and so we will let that be playing in our hearts for the next while!!

Happy 9th Anniversary to Deb and Brillo Man

Proverbs 18:22
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.



happy anniversary deb and brillo man...june 2nd..what a warm spring day it is today and how beautiful too it was nine years ago!
debbie, you and your sweetheart are a perfect example of what true love really is and we are so happy to have you as a sister!
god bless you and brillo man and olivia and that naughty doggie, bentley!

Dear sisters

Dear sisters , I seek your wise and godly counsel as my spirit is disquieted within me.

My Dad 's elder brother 's widowed wife is Aunt Virginia. She is 80 plus, infirm, invalid and needs 24 hr assistance. She doesn 't have any children. She has day and night helpers who take care of her needs - 2 women and a house help.
Aunt V had alienated herself from all her relatives years ago. Her attitude and actions just turned off everybody. We were the only one' s who were good to her and Uncle and assisted and helped them and went the second mile for them. But they were always very mean to us. I cannot even describe the ways they hurt us and tried to harm us, more so after they retired.
Aunt Virginia depends on a certain Mr & Mrs P. to help her in many ways, and they do good work I am happy. But I came to know that Mrs P speaks to her quite rudely and her night helper -Sita too.

I feel bad about this but I can 't confront these women because Mrs P is a very contentious and foul mouthed woman, I can 't stand up to her verbal assaults ( she is a Christian mind you) -she will kill me in an instant.And if the night helper leaves then Aunt V will be all alone. Night helpers are hard to get.

Aunt V also is a very difficult person to deal with Her helpers say she drives them crazy, which I know is true.
Although I feel emotionally and spiritually disturbed I cannot do anything about it.I can only do what ever I can for Aunt V and leave the rest to God.
I can only commit Mrs P and the night helper Sita in God' s hands as talking with them will only worsen the situation. And Aunt V will also not sympathize with me - this has happened before. Once she was hospitalized and the helpers she hired were not doing their duty properly, in fact I did all the hard work in the hospital- all alone.
One day the helpers were insulting Uncle and Aunty and I stepped in and confronted them. The helpers were very mean to me, and uncle and aunty supported them. No one will believe this!.
So the best thing would be to keep silent, pray and let God have His way.
Do pray for this situation, for Mrs P and Sita who is not a Christian.