Busy, busy, busy days at the Putnam house!  Blessed to say that I am experiencing 3 of my grandchildren living in our home at this time.  Lillie Catherine who is 3 years old, Rose Elizabeth 14 months and Jase Ryder 13 months.  YEP! like I said, FUN TIMES AT THE PUTNAM'S. Two out of the three are teething and yes you got it mostly at night.  But I am proud to announce we have sightings in both children. Their one year molars have made there appearance.
 Lillie is learning to be BIG way to fast.  She has lots of fun trying new and different things.  She also loves her lip gloss.  But what girl doesn't...  Sometimes she and I just get in Nannie's car and slip away for a little private time.  Barnes & Noble is one of our favorite hangouts. 
Luke is busy doing all my projects I've wanted done for some time now.  I have a window in my master bath that opens. YEA!  He has put tile behind the snack bar in the basement and is now working on my new patio at the side of the house.  It will be a great place to sit and watch the kids play, light up the fire pit and grill.
Looking forward to summer, the pool, Dairy Queen on Sunday nights and eating our meals on the deck.  Here's hoping everyone enjoys their summer!!!!!!!!!!

SEE YOU AT VICTORY1

I'm BACK!

Where have you been?  Doing one of the things we do probably way to often, moooving and getting settled in.  Wow!  This has been a real long, drawn out event.  I would never call it an ordeal because I love my new house.  I call it "My French Country Home".  From the time the house went on the market until our occupancy it took over a year.  Well worth waiting for.  You know the saying, "Good things come to those who wait" and wait we did.  Why the wait? First of all the house had to come on the market.  Second the price had to come way down. Third we had to be convinced in our hearts and minds that this was the right house for us at this time.  It was love at first sight when I first saw the house with the swooping roof line.  The inside was just my style but had it in me I needed this huge great room with kitchen open to it.  We found a house like that but we felt like we were rattling around in that big room.  You see I am from the south we do rooms not a room.  Third we had to sell our house.  The great thing is once we made the decision to buy this one things moved very quickly.  The family that looked at and wanted to buy our house had to sell theirs first.  It was so sweet the kids were leaving us notes saying we love your house when they looked at it.  So, we prayed and believed God to sell their house for them so they could buy ours.  God is so good!  Their house sold, our house sold and we bought this house.  Yes the price came down to a tune of five figures. The move was on!  We closed in three weeks, moved into a hotel and stored our furniture in the fellowship hall of our church. One week later we began the move into our new house.  Here it is three months later and we just finished moving the rest of our belongings out of the fellowship hall.  It was a little strange walking into the church and seeing your personal life piled up for everyone to see.  But you do what you have to do.  The fellowship hall became known as "The Putnam Flea Market".  Hmmm wonder who started that Brian?

A big thanks to everyone in our church that helped to make this move possible.  We love you and appreciate all you do for us as your pastors.  You are the most loving, giving people with hearts of gold.  Here is a small list of things you did.  Moved our belongings to church and from church to home, sold items on Craig's list for us, painted the entire house inside, removed unwanted landscaping, continue to mow our yard, changed all our locks, replaced boards on our deck and stained it, put back splash tile in, and you have all been extremely happy for us. 

My Preacher Man says, "Maybe by the next time we move we will clean out all of our boxes we have moved over the years from house to house without ever looking in them".  Probably NOT!!!

Looking forward to posting pictures and events from "My French Country Home".

 Love to all,
The Preacher's Wife

Yummy 🍴

               Braised Short Ribs                       Chicken Tenders, Cheese Waffles & Scrambled Egg Salad


Yummy, two of my favorite meals.  Absolutely love these meals!  I also love sharing these meals with family and friends.  So far family as they are new to my recipe collection.  Naturally they become mine once I have fixed them a couple of times.  I definitely believe in taking ownership of a favorite, successful recipe.  That is unless they come from someone near and dear.  I would never dream of calling one of my Mother's recipes mine alone or Aunt Jean's famous Turtle Cake or her fudge she so lovingly changed the name to Sarah Beth's Fudge because of Sarah Beth's complete devotion and undying love for it.  My Mom's Carrot Cake could never be Jacque's Carrot Cake.  It just would not taste right or be right.  Back to the my two favorites, for now anyway.  I serve these tasty short ribs over a sour cream, cream cheese mashed potato along with a very unique slaw made with brussel sprouts and fennel slaw. A little different but totally awesome.  Just imagine a nice pile of mashed potatoes topped with ribs and gravy and a little taste of slaw on the edge. Ok now let's look at those chicken tenders dipped in mayonnaise, rolled in bread crumbs and fried.  Need I say more?  Never could grasp the chicken and waffles until I made these great tasting savory cheddar cheese waffles with just a tad of chopped fresh thyme in the batter to bring it all together. Of course if it is breakfast for dinner soooo you simple must have something green.  Sounds a little yuck but it all comes together.  Mixed greens, carrots, bacon and of course scrambled eggs.  What you want a dressing?  Well how about  Dijon Vinaigrette for a little excitement?  Olive oil, apple cider vinegar and of course Dijon mustard.  The best ever!!!  Go ahead, surprise your family with something different. It could become a family favorite just like these two meals have at our house.
I believe about now all famous cooks conclude with BON APPETITE....

Lions & Tigers & Duvets - OH NO!

Full of energy, a good night rest, coffeed-up, flip flops on and totally ready to Spring-Up the master bedroom .... oh and headband in place.
There it is and remember it is what it is a DUVET.  Perfection, a place you will never reach with a duvet.  Shabby Chic should be the first warning for Ms. Perfectionist, but somehow, someway you over looked the warning and became totally mesmerized  by the gorgeous floral pattern and the encouragement that someday spring will come.
Everything is great until that day when out of the bag (a small square bag) it comes and reality has made its mark on your brain - a duvet...it is what it is.  It's like a linen skirt or top it will never, ever be wrinkle free.  Steam iron all you want but the moment it goes on the wrinkles appear.
Duvets, not for the weak, not for Ms. Everything Perfect, not the typical "Bed in the Bag" comforter set. Duvet: do-vat if you can - should have been in small print somewhere on the thing.  Let's look at not for the weak.  The actual plan here is to stuff a giant pillowcase with a fluffy comforter the same size  smoothing and stretching the thing out as you go.  There is nothing like being man handled by an object that goes into the most peaceful, calm, quiet place of rest in your home where you spend a large portion of time here on earth.  Once you have achieved this remarkable feat, lay it out on the bed and smooth it until you realize it will never be smooth.  Then the question comes up, Which end is the top and which end is the bottom?  Naturally whatever you do is wrong. Of course!  Now for the turning -use at your on risk and be happy.
PS My Preacher Man ask, "What's a duvet anyway?"  If you don't know what a duvet is disregard this blog and I'll catch you later. 

Projects Projects Projects!!!

You know there are various kinds of projects.  When this becomes a reality, acceptance and going forward in life definitely becomes more agreeable.  The burden of an unfinished project turns into "Oh well" or Why did I ever start this anyway?"  Here are a few solutions I came up with.  You can black bag it (trash it), Good Will it (then it becomes someone else's unfinished project), or leave it to the next generation to wonder about it or even maybe ooh and ahh over.  The point is get it out of sight out of mind.  In other words get over it.  Quit moaning over the money you spent and how you went crazy collecting stacks of items to do the project.  Sometimes I think collecting the materials, researching, planning and dreaming about the project is actually more fun than the actual project. Years later you look at all your plans, notes, resources and think "What was I ever thinking to want to do this?"  That is when you quietly do away with all evidence and give a puzzled look should anyone ever mention it.  
Now you do know that as soon as you clear everything out or finish whatever it is you've started you will not be content!  The brain will go into action and I MUST HAVE A NEW PROJECT.....
Wherever it leads you enjoy, obsess, dream, create, research, but never ever go the guilty, miserable route.  Remember black bag it, Good Will it, or leave it for the next generation. NO REGRETS!

Sisters

Rose Elizabeth

Rose Elizabeth & Lillie Catherine

Lillie Catherine

Sisters! What a wonderful time they will have as they grow up and together.  We can already see they have different personalities but it is yet to be seen just exactly how Rosie will be.  Lillie is very nurturing and loves being mommy to Bitty Baby and Lammie.  Yes those are her favorites but she makes room for a host of other dolls and stuffed animals.  Rosie loves being held and cuddling.  Lillie has hazel eyes that differ in color according to her clothing or the light where as Rose has brown eyes.  Lillie is lillie white while Rose is more of an olive complexion.  They are both beauties.  The joy they bring to their family is indescribable.  I look forward to watching them love and care for each other.  I know they will have their differences but I know the love of God  will abide in them and they will always have a place in their hearts for each other.  If people ask me "Jacque how does your garden grow?  I will surely tell them with lovely Lillies and darling Rosies.  Yes that is how my garden grows!"

SOOOO LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS!

 Looking back at pictures from Summer 2013 reminds me that Spring will come bringing green grass, bulbs springing up with bright blooms and buds and blooms on trees.  I LOVE Spring!  Of course I Love Summer when it is Spring and I LOVE Fall when it is Summer and so it goes.  Trying to decide if I love Winter?
At the end of Summer I am always tired of yard work and everything looks so tired and worn out.  Then comes Fall with all its glory.  Colors of the most beautiful kind along with rays of sun shinning through magnifying them. 
Of course the first snow is exciting too.  So pure and clean and bright with a quite peace of its on.  Snowmen pop-up all around, kids on sleds, mittens, hats, boots, scarfs and all that good stuff.  BUT, you got it cold, slick streets, dirty snow and I am totally fed up with this cold, cold weather and being stuck in the house. 
I guess I'm one of those gals that love all the seasons of the year.  Each one has its good and each one has a way of encouraging you to look forward to the next season. 
SO Spring bring it on!!!