It's Friday..........

Good Morning Girls......happy Friday ....I was up early this
morning my cat "Frankie Coffee Cake"decided it was time for me to
wake up at 5:00 am.......he's so thoughtful like that....He has this way of
jumping  up walking on top of me then he meow's at me till I wake up....so being the obedient human I am we greeted the morning together. Our house is so peaceful in the early  hours....I am happy to quietly walk through the house when the light is just dawning....I feel the Lord's presence in the stillness....The garden twinkles at this time of day...the solar lights we have sprinkled around the flower beds are just starting to turn themselves off as the sun rises....the birds are just beginning to sing...Such a great way to welcome a new day......Well what are YOU going to do today....yard sale.....go antiquing ....clean the house or spend time with your kiddos......what ever your plans I hope you are blessed with a cheerful heart ......knowing that you are cherished ...deeply loved....that our heavenly father is PASSIONATE about ....YOU.......I will be playing in the Garden....thinking on some sewing projects I'd like to start...AND organizing some of my cabinets in the kitchen.....FUN HUGH....it's all good. These things need to be done...
so girls I'll be thinking of you ..........blessings and hugs......Karena

The Beauty of Bountiful......

Victoria magazine is my ALL TIME FAVORITE magazine in the 1996 issue they did a layout of a store in Venice Beach California by the name of "Bountiful"....the owner.......Sue Balmforth is synonymous with all styles "CHIC"....including Cottage...Shabby....Vintage....as the wave first started to gain momentum in the design arena...we all started to hear Sue's name or catch her on shows like ..." HGTV'' ...the Today show and others.

the article was stunning to me....the photo's were spectacular ...it was so "ME" that I held on to the issue for all these years

In 2004

my sweetie and I made a trip back to California to visit family as well as spend some time with my best friend J...it was my dream to drive out to Venice ...find Abbott Kinney Rd.....(the street Bountiful is on) to spend an afternoon at this amazing place I'd been dreaming about for almost 10 years....As we walked in I felt EXACTLY the way I always knew I would....there just isn't any explanation or description I can give you that would do justice to the Brilliant displays..furniture.......vignettes...product...or atmosphere that Sue has created ....When we continued further in we heard voices.....there in the middle of all this luxury was a group of women...as I approached them I realized that one of them.....WAS SUE BALMFORTH ...in person talking to these customers not a foot in front of me....we excused ourselves to pass by them......we meandered through the store for a good 30 minutes...I realized after some time that we had all gone off in our own direction...different things calling to us...as I was looking for J and my sweetie I turned a corner only to find myself directly in front of Sue as she asked me if I needed help....That moment turned into an hour of discussion with her....sweetie and J eventually found us ....J continued to look around outside while we kept talking...I felt so blessed to have "THIS MOMENT'....I told her how much I loved the look...told her we were living in North Carolina....it was just an amazing experience....I have been influenced by ....BOUNTIFUL...since that issue...to this day......I hope you have a chance to look Sue up online....thank you for visiting with me this morning....I pray the Lord shines his mercies on you today girls.....a BIG hug ...and Blessings to you .......Karena

An American Treasure.........

 

My sweetie and I traveled to West Virgina the weekend he proposed to me back in 1995...we drove up on this.... BEAUTIFUL ...Piece of American history....it is known as one of the greatest resort hotels in our country.....it is nestled in the mountains near the sulphur springs famous for their healing .....restorative effects since the 1700's.......people would travel to the springs to drink from it..... and swim.... in the  hope's of curing what "ailed" them.....this resort offers.... spa pampering....an Avery........indoor and outdoor pool.....common area's as well as a first class dining room with "Gourmet Chef's" preparing note worthy meals....The Greenbrier is known for their breakfast's.......the rooms started at 700..00  a night...that was back then...I have no idea what they run today....I  love the past....living on the East Coast we are soaked in it...the history of our great country is all around us....we have driven the back roads of ....Virginia....North Carolina........West Virginia....over the years.....never disappointed with the countryside...or the folks we met..or the fabulous shops we have visited along the way......I thought you might enjoy seeing the beautiful pictures of this great "Inn"....I hope you all are out and about enjoying your day...I so appreciate your peeking in on me today girls.....blessings and big hugs..........Karena

Running....Believing.......Becoming.........

My daughter is a runner......she admits  "It's not an easy thing for her to do" ....but most everyday she makes time to get outside to run....to push herself in new ways....to work at mastering the ART of running....I am in awe of her commitment...and if I am honest I am learning from her example. I am not learning to run physically but I am just as committed to LIVING the life and PURPOSE I feel my heavenly father calling me to...sometimes we find ourselves in a spot in life that is totally unfamiliar....a place that... if we aren't careful will stop us dead in our tracks........and before we know it WE ARE STUCK...I have been going through a season like this....finding myself in situations that call me to OVERCOME what I see with my eyes....I need to look with my heart....The great horse Secretariat ran and won all three races back in the 70's....The Kentucky Derby.....Preakness....and Belmont......no one believed he or his owner....a woman named Penny could make anything GRAND of him.....but time and again they BOTH proved everyone wrong....Secretariat's win to this day hasn't been outdone.......I am trying to say that even when the odds are against us......we can BREAK OUT ..WIN......ACCOMPLISH.....and DEFY....even our own beliefs and limitations.......I will keep running my own race.....someday....in the Lord's timing.... I will hit the finish line with belief.....patience......and joy for the journey.......I so appreciate your stopping by.....it is healing to share these thoughts when they pop up.......you are all so special to me......blessings and hugs girls.......Karena

Happy 4th Everyone......

 

Good Morning Girls....are you ready for the fun day ahead of you.....I bet you've got plans to feed your favorite faces.....grill outdoors.....maybe swim a little at home or at the beach....We have no hard and fast plans for today....the family was here on Saturday .... we had awesome food...good conversation...with lots of laughter....so fun.....as for today my sweetie and I are thinking about taking a ride to "window shop"....I call it dinging around....we can hear the fireworks over the city from our house....tonight were going to go up into the attic ...to check out whether or not we can SEE them....I hope whatever your doing today you will have a wonderful ....relaxing....SAFE HOLIDAY......hugs to you and thanks for stopping by...Karena

MMM....That Looks Good.....

Day 2 of this 4th of July weekend...I wanted to share one of my favorite dinners...."Italian Sausage Sandwich's".
I didn't take pictures of the rolls but any Italian rolls (shaped like a sub roll) you can find will work fine.

So ....the best tasting way to prepare the sausage is really to grill it...when we made this meal it was a last minute thing so it was stove top all the way....you can buy mild or spicy Italian sausage whichever you prefer...for sauces and such.... I always go with mild...but for this meal you could do spicy if you like a little kick ....Now as far as the the topping .....you will need white or yellow onions ....green pepper....tomatoes.......or red pepper depending on your taste (some folks aren't big on tomatoes)....slice all veggies length wise ....depending on how many people your serving... a meal for 2 requires 2 peppers 1 large onion....for 4 or more bump up the sausage and veggies accordingly....Drizzle your pan with olive oil.....(this is important because it adds to the flavor) if you like garlic crush a clove ...chop it fine...then add it to your pan stir right away to get the flavor into your pan....then throw in your veggies and saute.....this can all be done while your sausage is cooking...if you grill it keep turning it over to brown and cook all sides....don't use a fork for this ....you don't want to lose any juices from the meat as it cooks...if your trying the stove  top version get another frying pan....coat it with olive oil on medium heat add your sausage and cook ....also turning each link as they cook taking care not to pierce them ....using tongs is a good choice.... when everything is cooked get your rolls......some slices of provolone cheese and some marinara sauce ( for a quick meal just use a good bottled sauce look in your grocery store's gourmet section) get your roll opened put your cheese in.......then your sausage....veggies....sauce....and WALLA....your ready to eat.......I get a craving for this at least 2 or 3 times a year......hope you have a great Sunday girls.....hugs and blessings.......Karena