MOVIE Review: Act of Valor

Language, violence, blood, gore...real-life situations "acted" by real life Navy SEALs.  Incredible movie.  All I can say is to go see it.  And take tissues.  [A little too much for kids though and the very squeamish.]

REVIEW by Plugged In.

Project 52 / Week 8 / Cabin Fever

This week's photo for our Project 52  assignment was themed Cabin Fever.  [I am #36 this week.  To see my other photos in this project, go HERE.]    Talk about being at a total loss of what to photograph!  The definition for cabin fever is "irritability, listlessness, and similar symptoms resulting from long confinement or isolation indoors during the winter".  Since I live in Florida, this condition does not exist for us except maybe during the rainy season and even then, for only a few days.   In fact, my garden is just about in full bloom.


I decided to interpret the phrase in a different way and just focus on the word cabin.  Our home was built in the 1970s but we have updated some things with color and accents mostly in pastels to make it lighter and a bit more current.  The one room that we have hardly touched and that we absolutely love is our "cabin" room, a/k/a our family room.  It even has wood (real wood) paneled walls which we have never painted or had removed.  We spend most of our group family time together here and guests seem to love this cozy room the most when they visit. It opens into our kitchen and living room, which function together almost as a great room.   So, welcome to our little "cabin" room...  :)


Instead of causing "listlessness and irritability", it tends to soothe the soul and give a warm welcome to all who enter.  When the fireplace is lit (behind the loveseat), it is even more warm and inviting.  

On a much smaller scale, it reminds us of many fun family vacations spent in the cabin below in Tennessee... ahhh... treasured memories.

Hebrews 13:2 

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 

Aldi Product Review: Spinach & Artichoke Appetizers

These little spinach & artichoke bread bowl appetizers were delicious.  $1.99 for eight / that's 25 cents apiece.  I could probably make them pretty easily from scratch but at that price, they were a special hors d'oeuvres for Valentines home dinner.  :)

I also tried these little bacon -wrapped filets... $1.89 for 5 oz.  They would probably have been better on the grill.  A little tough but very tasty.

Valentines Menu

Spinach / Artichoke Hors d'oeuvres*

Bacon Wrapped Filet*

Fresh corn on the cob*

Fresh broccoli*

Seasoned fries*

Fresh strawberries and cream

White Zinfandel wine

Cappuccino Bambinos (chocolates)

*Purchased at Aldi's

Project 52 / Week 7 / True Love

Here are my photos for Project 52, Week 7--True Love.   I am #79 if you go to the Project 52 site.    My other photos for this project are HERE.   What to do with this theme?  I had some ideas in my head and finally took a few photos.  I had hoped to do some hand holding hand of our wedding rings with my husband but forgot to take the photos last night.

This first photo is of flowers and a sweet mushy card  from my husband on Valentines Day morning.   After almost 25 years I still love receiving these.  There were chocolates and 2 other vases of flowers as well.  The heart-shaped photo frame has a picture of us when we were dating back in 1982.  :)

This is what I prepared for dinner for the two of us on Valentines evening...

I didn't take the photos below of course, but wanted to include them in this Valentines grouping:  The heart-shaped photo, our walk down the aisle on our wedding day and one of my favorite photos of our family of four.  

We're all  having a  Valentines dinner tonight out at a nice restaurant to end Valentines week--an evening with the people I love the most--that's the best Valentines gift of all.  :)

Spring Is Busting Out All Over! (a little early)

I don't know about  where you live but spring has sprung in Florida.  Lots of blossoms everywhere (you can tell by the sneezes and stuffy noses, including mine) but the flowers  are  just beautiful.  I love fresh flowers and gardens.   Last weekend my husband and I had breakfast in a little French pastry shop and then spent a lovely morning strolling through our local park and farmers' market...Enjoy!

Aldi Product Review: Artisan Lettuce

I love this relatively new Aldi product:  Artisan Lettuce.  It is just the right size for singles, a  small family or a couple.  I used to buy this at Sam's Club but often about 1/4 or more of it would go back before we could use it all.  I really dislike throwing food away. 

There are 3 kinds of lettuce inside and it makes a colorful, delicious and healthy salad.  

Price:  $1.99  (on sale this week for $1.29)  and most importantly, it is a  Product of the USA.

Happy Valentines Day, Everyone!

Happy Valentines Day!

We're celebrating all week...

Valentines  concert Sunday afternoon, cards, flowers and  chocolate this morning,

cooking a special dinner on Tuesday night for my husband and me

 and a special family dinner out on Friday night.

Have a great week!

John 15:12-13 

This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Valentines Dinner at home

Family Valentines Dinner out

Winter Days Icicles Photography

It's been nice and warm these last few weeks but over the weekend it turned quite chilly.   We had a sprinkler valve freeze in the open position overnight --not good for the water bill-- but it sure made a lovely sight when we left for church on Sunday morning.  Don't see icicles like this in Florida very often!

Icicles

Icicles

Although it was a sunny day, just seeing the ice made me think of the old Christmas carol In the Bleak Midwinter.

Aldi Product Review: Spaghetti Sauce

Here's another product that we love at Aldi's:  Spaghetti Sauce, 24 oz. bottle costs $1.19 which is a good buy. Tastes just like Ragu or Prego.   No coupon needed.

For a quick meal, pour some over cooked meatballs (we usually get ours from Sam's Club but you can also make your own).    I cook the meatballs the night before.  Add Italian seasonings and heat.

Serve on French bread with  chip,  apple slices and a fruit smoothie.  Voila!   Lunch in about 15 minutes.  This is a man/boy pleaser meal and makes plenty for company as well.

Project 52 P52 / Week 6 / Drink Up!

This week's theme for Project 52 is Drink Up!  [I am #33.] Since I have the creativity of a teaspoon, I had to really think hard about this one.   I chose two of my favorite beverages--fresh coffee and wine.  I love drinking  both out of pretty cups  or glasses.  It makes it taste even better, don't you think?  :)

A shelf in my china cabinet from a different angle...

A Valentines Day toast to you all...  I used a mirror for this one. :)

I had  friends over for coffee this morning and I served it in these pretty china cups.

Hope you enjoy the photos. Can't wait to see yours!

Project 52 P52 / Week 5 / Shadows

This week's theme for Project 52 is Shadows.  [I am #53.] All I could think of was sunlight--didn't even occur to me to do a hand shadow or a person's silhouette.   Glad we're all so different with varying ideas. :)

Here are three photos that I took recently.  Just click on a photo to enlarge it.

This first one was taken with my iPod Touch about 2 weeks ago.  I was on a morning walk and the sun was just coming up.  It's actually my favorite though it's not the sharpest image.

My husband and I went out for coffee last Sunday evening and I remembered this week's theme so I made sure I had my camera.   On the way  we passed this park and gardens.  I think he almost wrecked the car when I yelled to pull over so I could take this photo.  :)

This one was after we reached our destination and were walking around sipping coffee.  All the shops were closed up and this breezeway had just been prepared for the next day.

Hope you enjoy the photos.  Can't wait to see yours!