MCP Project 52 — 3/52 Shades of Grey

I am participating in a photo a week group on Flickr. There is a theme that is posted, and then each person participating seeks to take a picture within the parameters of that theme that week. This week was “Shades of Grey.” I saw the topic and cringed. You’ve got to understand for this SC girl transplanted to MI, the winters get very, very long. And the color. All gray. Trees are gray, skies are gray, snow is either white (if it’s freshly fallen) or gray. Everything seems very gray all the time. I think because of this over saturation of gray in my world, I have come to really dislike pictures in gray. I see enough gray. Give me some color already! With that being said, I did do my best to keep within the parameters of the topic and choose to take a picture that is in shades of gray. But, I did choose to take a picture of an apple, a bright symbol of the fertile, growing outdoors, and put the apple into dark shades of gray. A little oxymoronic.

Picture Praises

For the last three days we have had quite a nasty storm come through our area. We were without power at our house for about 11 1/2 hours. I found out today that a friend of mine was without power for 44 hours. This evening I went into town to buy some needed groceries. As I was coming home I saw a beautiful rainbow. By the time I got my stopped and got my phone out to take a picture, the rainbow had faded somewhat, so the picture is not great. However, I was reminded of the beauty of God’s creation, even after such a storm. I was also reminded of the faithfulness of God. That He always keeps His promises. Praise the Lord!

Smiles for Today

I just came across this video from the wedding of Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Tony award winning lyricist. The video made me smile today, so I thought I’d pass along the smile.

Cake Balls

OK. I know this makes the third post in a row dealing with cake, but these are the cutest things ever. These are cake balls! I came across a blog called Bakerella (that I now subscribe to) where she had molded cake into little balls and dipped them in chocolate. I loved the idea of them and tried it out myself as soon as I could. Here’s my version. (I know I need to practice the dipping stage some more.)

Here it is in white!

And of course, the best part of all is biting into one!

I found that I liked them best after they had been in the fridge for a while. I will definitely be making them again sometime!

If you want to make them, I got the steps from this adorable blog. Enjoy!

Pudding Cake

Last week I posted Mary’s birthday cake. Now one thing about making a birthday cake like that is that you end up with lots of bits and pieces that you’ve cut away to shape the cake. Now, I have to admit that I hate throwing away food. So, I look at all these bits of cake that are still very good, and I don’t want to just toss them in the trash. Enter the pudding cake. Very easy, and no wasted food. I made Mary’s birthday cake on Saturday the day before her birthday, so our dessert on Saturday night was this pudding cake.

First of all, you need to take out a box of instant pudding. Make it according to the package directions. I used a cheesecake flavor, you can use whatever you desire.

Then gather all of the bits and pieces of cake, make sure they’re all broken down into fairly even sized chunks, and throw half into the bottom of a glass bowl.

I know my bowl isn’t very pretty, but bear with me.

Then you pour on about half of your instant pudding, layer the rest of the cake, pour on the rest of the pudding. Lather, Rinse, Repeat. Oops. Wrong directions. Just as easy easy though. Really it’s just a matter of layering. Then dig in and enjoy! Very moist. Very tasty.

You don’t have to wait until you have extra cake on hand either. Just throw together a box mix cake and crumble it up for this recipe. Now, use your imagination! The layers can go pretty much however you want them. You can add layers of whipped topping, broken candy bars, pretty much anything you desire! Put the layers in a pretty glass bowl, and you have a dessert that is lovely enough to take to any function. Endless flavor combinations for the discerning palate–or just the hungry family.

Birthday Seal for a Birthday Girl

For every birthday I try to make a cake. There have been birthdays where my kids have gotten store bought cakes, but not very many. From the time Grace turned one, I have made their birthday cakes. My skills have improved over the years, and their traditional two layer round cakes have evolved into what my imagination and skills can create.

My Mary turned eight on Sunday. She’s been looking forward to this birthday for months. I wanted to do something special for her birthday, and in her mind, there is nothing more special than the beloved Mr. S.

The saga of Mr. S begins with a VBS. A lovely young lady named Karen taught the class that my girls were in. Karen, I am told, decided as she was about to leave for this VBS that she needed something to keep the kids attention and help teach the lessons. She grabbed a white seal puppet. His name was Mr. S. Good choice. The class of little girls vied for the privilege of bearing Mr. S into the closing ceremony. Each one carefully cradled the seal and gently cared for him when it was her turn. Then the week was over and Mr. S went back home with Karen. She had no idea how beloved this seal became in the heart of at least one of those little girls.

Just a couple of short weeks later, I was out west with my mom and kids. At one place, Mom paid for each of the kids to play a carnival type game where, in this case, the barker tried to guess what month your birthday was in. If he was off by more than three months either way, you got to pick out a prize. When Mary had her turn to get a prize, she went straight for the white seal. She had found her long lost beloved. Do you remember the story of the Velveteen Rabbit? That rabbit has nothing on this seal. Mary loves him so much that her sister and brother have grown to love him as well.

So now it is birthday cake time. I pondered it for a while and figured out how I could make a Mr. S shape out of cake. Then I wouldn’t let Mary into the kitchen until the cake was all done and hidden away. She saw it for the first time after lunch on her birthday. And as her mother, I was pleased with her pleasure over the cake. That’s why I do it. That’s why I try to make creative birthday cakes for my kids. I love seeing their faces light up.

Picture Praises – Wildflowers

One of the benefits of living in Upper Peninsula of Michigan are the forests surrounding us. In them we find wildlife and wildflowers. There’s always something to find. Last Friday we were able to spend some time with some friends at a local lake. My friend had found several lady’s slippers there at the campsite. I took the opportunity to photograph these beautiful and rare orchids.

Hospitality chart

Now, I can’t see that I can make a table in this blogger document, but I found a chart on hospitality in my Women’s Study Bible that I thought would be worth passing along. The comparison is between Hospitality and Entertainment. I will give you the lists and know that number one in the first list will compare with number 1 in the second list.

Christian Hospitality

1. Provides a safe place (Proverbs 31:21)
2. Seeks to serve others (1 Peter 4:8-10)
3. Puts people before things (Matthew 10:42)
4. Makes what is mine yours (Acts 2:44)
5. Takes no thought for whatever reward or compensation is in it for me (Matthew 6:1-4)
6. Frames itself according to God’s Word (Matthew 5:43-48)
7. Offers freedom that liberates, enabling you to exercise your gifts and creativity to the fullest (Romans 8:2)

Worldly Entertaining

1. Opens a show place
2. Wants to impress others
3. Elevates things above people
4. Claims all as mine and admires it
5. Expects something in return (praise and reciprocation)
6. Models itself after the world (television, neighbors, magazines, etc.)
7. Becomes a taskmater that enslaves, requiring you to meet the expectations of others

What do you think?

Ladies’ Retreat

Thank you for your prayers! Our retreat went well. We were a small, cozy group, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to get to know these ladies better. We enjoyed the condominium and resort amenities (thanks to my Mom, Gloria Richards, for making her timeshare available to us) and the local area as well. The picture on the left was taken on a side trip we took to a local lighthouse called the Cana Light.

The retreat was called, “Falling in Love All Over Again,” and we focused on loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbor as ourselves. I know in studying and presenting I was greatly challenged, and I pray the retreat was profitable for the ladies attending as well. I am working on putting some of the material here on the blog. I will post material as I get it done. Once again, thank you for your prayers! The only lasting value of this retreat will be because the Lord has worked.

Spring!

“While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22

Spring is finally springing up around here! The sledding hill in the backyard is completely melted, and the kids have found the first buds opening on the trees. I love Spring. I love the promise of new life that Spring brings. I feel renewed and refreshed just by having the ability to spend some time out of doors. I praise the Lord that He created and maintains the seasons.