The Effects of Soft Drinks to our System

I got this from a blog I follow and thought that it was neat and needed to be shared with everyone. This diagram explains it all though it doesn't make me the happiest camper. Now I'm not hooked on soft drinks as a matter of fact I drink very little but when I want one I don't want to think of THIS!

Mixes from the Heartland Spring Muffins Mix Review

I've so enjoyed my time with family and friends! We had a small lunch together at the house and then the girls spent the afternoon shopping in downtown Greenwood and the men drove around and visited the farm. At the end of our time we ate supper at The Crystal Grill, where everyone indulged and enjoyed every bite.

I baked the men an Old Fashion Apple Pie, recipe taken from Deep South Dish. It was so rewarding to be able to make Apple Pie for my company with apples from my own trees.

I also made Spring Muffins for me and anyone else who might have been interested. These muffins are wonderful! The mixture of zucchini, carrots and cranberries are a perfect combination. Beside loving the taste you feel that you are eating a little healthier also.

Ingredients

Brown and white rice flour (organic), sugar, (Non GMO) corn starch, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, non aluminum baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, sea salt, dehydrated carrots and zucchini, freeze dried cranberries, natural vanilla powder (Non GMO corn starch, vanilla beans).

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Add 3 eggs, 3/4 cup vegetable oil, and 1/4 cup water. Mix well. Slowly add dry mix, folding until moist. Fill greased muffin tins 2/3 full. Bake 15-20 minutes until center is done.

 click on to enlarge

You can always order "Mixes from the Heartland" by selecting the button on the side of my page. Please check their page out and see what all they have; I promise you can't go wrong!

Honey has won Punkin's heart, with vanilla ice cream I might add, she now wants him over ME anytime he is around. Honey just beams he can't get over that she really loves her Pepaw!

Fried Apple Recipe and Punkin

The first of the week I went and took care of Punkin for the day so A could go to the dentist. I love my grand-babies soooo much and enjoy moments spent with them. When Punkin woke up from her nap

A sandwich, I think this may be her favorite meal right now.

I'm sure she was saying mmmmmmm.

With our sandwich we had a little string cheese

and it was soo good.

After she finished eating I decided to cook some apples for A and B. I had carried them some from our trees and they already had some so I didn't want them to go to waste.

I had to try them, I didn't want them to make anyone sick!

So the next day I went to the dentist myself and then drove back to the hills, in the rain mind ya. It was awful I thought at times that I was going to have to pull off the road, I could barely see anything. After this drive I was worn out so I decided to clean the house some instead of starting to put up the apples.

The next morning I had to start on the apples. I was sooo looking forward to it that I didn't think about all the consequences involved. I didn't think about my poor hands having to peal all those things and the pain I must endure. Our family has a history of arthritis and I'm afraid that I already have it in my hands. It was tough but I managed to get it done most of it done. I decided to leave about a dozen to cook with for the weekend.

Honey knew that I was working on them so he came in looking forward to eating fried apples, imagine the disappointment when I told him that I had put all of them in the freezer. I promised that he would get to enjoy them later. I'm so glad that I did this because it will be worth it this winter and I'm also so glad it is done and over.

As for the recipe I didn't really measure anything so I'm guesstamating what I did. Adjust to your own taste.

Fried Apples

Ingredients:
¼ c. butter
6 lg. granny smith (my apples are a lot like granny smith) apples; peeled, cored & sliced
1 c. sugar (I used sugar blend)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Instructions:
Melt butter in large skillet boiler over medium-high heat. Add apples, sugar and cinnamon. Saute until apples are tender.

I didn't know they existed... now I need recipes!

 Ok, now to show my ignorance, I know nothing about trees. I remember in high school our teacher taking us on nature walks and pointing out different trees and the history behind them. I also remember thinking what is he talking about? I never could get the gist of it. Well Honey and I were passing by our house a couple of days ago and I noticed something hanging from several of our trees. I asked, "honey what is that"? And he told me that's apples. Friend I had no clue that I have fruit trees in my yard. I've told you before I'm not an outside girl as much as I would like to be, oh I use to spend a lot of time outside but now when I go out my face itches, I start sneezing and I stop up tight as a drum besides it being over 100 degrees here right now. So I have chosen to go out on short walks to the mail box and maybe pull a few blades of grass from my flower beds, don't come looking because I haven't done that lately, or sweep off the front porch or deck other than that I am in the house where it is comfy and cool! Ahhhhh

Well Honey and I picked the apples off our trees, we don't know if they are ripe or not we just picked what felt right. But listen to me friend we picked around a bushel! Yes, you understood me we went out dressed nicely thinking that we would get about one dozen apples and surprise, surprise! I plan to make some dishes with my apples but first I have a chore on the farm.

Send me your favorite Apple recipe PLEASE! You can tag it in an e-mail or write it in the comment section! I'd appreciate it I love trying new things.

I have to go take care of Punkin, we'll see what we can get into. Here's Punkin the last time I was there with her.

By the way we met some more neighbors, they were on their afternoon walk and couldn't help but notice the crazy lady up in the tree. They chatted with us as they walked to the end of the street and turned around.

Now besides an apples tree we have this little jewel and I don't feel quiet so bad because Honey doesn't know what it is either. Would you be so kind as to identify it for us? You can just leave me a comment, we'd sure appreciate it!

It's leaves are different from the apple trees and it has a slightly fuzzy feel, by the way it didn't feel right so we didn't pick it!


Sunday morning we went to church and when parking we noticed that the parking lot was full of antique cars. Now I don't guess I'm the sharpest tool in the shed because I really thought that they were there from a antique car show. Honey said that he thought they were part of the movie "The Help" being filmed in town but I disagreed. Well, he was right, it seems the church parking lot has the campers of the set up crews, cars, props and utility type vehicles parked there for now because one of the sites for "The Help" is right next door to the church. That afternoon we drove by and I took my camera but the crew were out working so I didn't want to look like a complete nut and only took a few photos on the run.

After reading the book, which I loved by the way, I'd like to see some of the stars in the future. Maybe???????
Don't forget to send me your favorite apple recipe!

Amy's review and opinions needed!

Have you tried any of Amy's gluten-free dinners? I've tried a lot of the Mexican and the Mac and Cheese. They are all great, I love to eat the Mexican dinners with a few tortilla chips topped with sour cream. I've found these in Wal-mart and Kroger so far, go get some to try!

Ashia took a few photos of my treasures and I had to share this one with you.

After all of the family left Honey and I had leftover roast beef so I used my Pamela Baking Mix and made a beef pie. It was delicious we ate every bite!

1. the kids and grand-babies wall

2. Above our bed

3. The other family members wall, most in original frames

4. another wall

I need your help! I am going to hang photos such as these in my bedroom. The walls are a medium gold and I want all black and whites to go with my red and gold  see HERE. My question is (please give your opinion) should I reframe all of the older ones in a black/gold frames such as #1? I still have a lot to frame that are not shown here. Please leave a comment or you can e-mail me.

Happy Birthday!

 Monday was my Honey's birthday and he worked all day. I appreciate the sacrifices he makes for me. Happy Birthday Honey.

We enjoyed a lazy Sunday with my dad and some of our children. Our oldest daughter (Mary) and her family were in town for her mother and father-in-laws 50th wedding anniversary and they made a special attempt to come see us and the new house. Also our youngest children were here with their baby Punkin. Since Monday was Steve's birthday we had a special lunch for him on Sunday. What better birthday gift than to spend the afternoon with your children and grand-children?  I promise we would have it no other way. 

While shopping for the kids to come for a visit I realized that "Wishbone" labels their dressings if they are gluten-free. When I find something like this I buy only that brand, so from this day forth Wishbone it is!


Honey's favorite dessert is apple pie. I try to make him an apple pie anytime there is a special occasion, it just makes it more special. Since it would be his birthday I wanted to make him a pie, but for some reason I wanted it to be different. Lord only knows why because it would be filled with gluten and I wouldn't know whether it was good or not, but I did. So I went to one of my favorite blogs "Deep South Dishes" and searched for a new apple pie recipe. I chose her "Old Fashioned Apple Pie" recipe and it was a hit, the family ate almost the whole thing even though I had a gluten-free yellow cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate chip cookies also with gluten.


Here are a few photos to share our time together!

Get Recipe HERE!

The only change I made was I used apple jelly instead of mango.

We had not seen them since February so this was a special treat! J was sooo full of personality and kept us laughing while the girls are growing into such young ladies.

Punkin played with our Chunky Monkey's phone.

But she really watched him when he had her tether.

After a while she decided that he didn't need it any longer.

G is always thinking.....

Our children and treasures!

A letter of apology. I'm horrible at taking photos! When I have company I just want to spend time with them and sometimes they leave before I realize that I missed getting photos of some of them. During the time I took these the older girls were upstairs playing so I totally missed them, but it doesn't mean that I love them any less. Maybe soon I can rob some good ones to share from Ashia, she always does a good job!