Still Standing

What do I have in common with this old house?



It may have chipped paint, falling chimneys, and some termite damage... however, after many years of abuse from the elements it is still standing.

Although I have not suffered for years like this old house, I have been a little under the weather for almost a year now with not much help from modern medicine. I feel a bit like my paint has been chipped away a little, however, Praise God, I am still standing!


"Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens." Psalm 68:19

Back to School

Although technically it is still summer, I have always considered this time of year the beginning of fall. I think this line of thought dates back to my early school days. Beginning a new school year signified the official end of summer. Am I the only one who thinks that way?

We have officially started back to school in our household this week. Catie has started her senior year in the Early College program and Carson and I have started her seventh grade year here at home. I think it is going to take a while to get into the swing of things.

At least the temperatures have dropped a little and the evenings have become quite pleasant. We are once again enjoying our nightly ritual of porch sitting.

In honor of new beginnings, I thought I would share some pictures of the lovely apples that were at the farmer's market in Charlotte last weekend. Apples always seem to accompany the beginning of a school year, don't you think?

Cooking Class at the Mimosa Grill

If you have been following my blog for a while, you probably know that I am in a book club that meets monthly. We call ourselves the Magnolia Readers. Every month we chose a topic or genre and then we each select a different book on which to report. We also take turns hosting the meeting at our homes; however, whoever hosts can choose to do something different if she wishes.

Well, my friend, Lynn hosted the club this month and treated all of us to something extra special. The topic was cooking, and rather than hosting at her house, she took us to the big city of Charlotte to a cooking class presented by Zink American Kitchen. It was held at the beautiful Mimosa Grill in the downtown area. I was so excited. I love watching cooking shows, but I had never been to a class before.



After driving for over and hour and relying on a GPS for navigational assistance, we arrived at our destination, The Mimosa Grill. It is such a lovely establishment. We were greeted with drinks and had a little time to sit and relax before the class started.

The class featured produce from local farmer's markets, and each dish was prepared by a chef from Mimosa. They each shared great tips for preparation and information on where to find the best local ingredients. After each dish was demonstrated it was served to us by the waiters. Each of the four courses was paired with a wine that was discussed by another chef.

Everything was scrumptious! The meal lasted for several hours. I wish that every meal was served that way, instead of in the terrible American habit of eating hurriedly then rushing off to do something else. It reminded me of my trip to Europe and the meals that I enjoyed there.




The first course was Yorkmont Tomato and Peasant Bread Salad paired with Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc, from Marlborough, New Zealand. This featured local tomatoes, organic cucumbers, red onion, basil and goat cheese. It was named for the Yorkmont Farmer's Market located near the Charlotte/Douglas International Airport.

This dish was my favorite of all of the dishes. It also happened to be the easiest one to prepare. (I will share the recipe later on in the week.)



The second dish was North Carolina Shrimp and Corn Etoufee paired with Silver Ridge Pinot Noir from California. This dish was made with fresh North Carolina shrimp and craw fish from Louisanna. It definitely reminded me of my trip to the gulf coast many years ago. I love it when a dish evokes a distant memory. Isn't that part of what enjoying a meal should be about?



The etoufee looks yummy, doesn't it? The local produce featured in this dish was okra, heirloom tomatoes, sweet corn, and hot summer peppers.



I had my doubts about the next dish because I am not fond of turkey, but the American Turkey Melt proved that with the proper ingredients and techniques almost anything can become a gourmet dish. The smokey blue cheese, tomato, and crispy squash made this open-faced turkey burger special. It was paired with a very nice Ruta 22 Malbec from Patagonia, Argentina. I had never had a wine from Argentina before and enjoyed this one very much.



Plum Upside Down Cake with spiced gelato and spearmint simple syrup was served for dessert. I was especially glad to learn the proper technique for making a mint simple syrup. The trick to great taste is to remove it from the burner as soon as it comes to a boil. I think I would like to make some of this to keep in the fridge to add to tea. This dessert was paired with a sweet Gekkeikan Plum wine from Japan. I do not care for sweet wines at all so this was not my favorite pairing. I would much rather have a good cup of coffee with a sweet treat.



Of course, after this wonderful cooking and dining experience we were all stuffed. We decided to take a stroll down some of Charlotte's beautiful streets. If you ever get a chance to see this city, you should take it. There are fountains and beautiful artwork all around. Most people who come here are amazed by the abundance of trees. Charlotte probably has more trees than any other city of its size. That can be a problem when a storm with lots of wind blows through, but I think they add so much beauty to the cityscape.



I just had to throw in a picture of Mimosa's outdoor dining area. I love dining AL fresco, don't you? It seems that food just tastes better when enjoyed in the fresh air. I just wish this summer had not been so hot so that we could enjoy dining outside more often. Maybe the fall will bring better temperatures for that.



After a cooking school featuring local farmer's market produce, we had to visit the one on the square before our trip home. This seemed to be the perfect way to end the day. I took many more pictures of the produce at the market. I think I'll save those for a rainy day!

I would highly recommend a cooking experience like this one. If you love to cook or just love to eat, it is a fun thing to do. Thank you, Lynn, for giving us such a treat! The only negative at all is that next month it's my turn to host...whatever will I do?

My Dream

I have always wondered what it would be like to own my own Bed-And-Breakfast. Recently, this beautiful old house went on the market. It is very close to mine. In fact, I could walk to it through the woods behind my house. It is one of the oldest houses in our area.



Wouldn't it make a wonderful little B&B?



Aren't the front windows gorgeous?



If money were no object I would buy it and make my dream of owning my own B&B a reality. Could you imagine spending some time at a lovely old home in the country? What if I told you it was haunted?

New Beginnings

As summer is drawing to a close there are some things that are just beginning to happen. Children all over the country are getting ready to begin a new year of school. College kids are moving their things into dorm rooms and apartments; some for the first time. And parents, like myself, are getting ready to take on the challenges of balancing a multitude of activities.

My oldest daughter is in an early college program and takes college courses and high school course simultaneously. She started her college classes this week. Me and my youngest daughter will start her seventh grade homeschooling on August the twenty-fifth, when Catie's high school classes start. We ordered her books last week and are awaiting their arrival. There is something exciting about starting a new school year. I guess that is the educator in me!



I always pray for my children as they start a new year of school. I also pray for the teachers and school staff. I know many of you do the same. Are there any special preparations or traditions that you have for your family when starting something new?

Stopping By the Woods (Repost)

Now, I consider myself a "summer" person, however, it has been unusually hot here in North Carolina for most of the summer. The things that I enjoy about summer, like morning walks along the dewy paths and evenings spent on the front porch swing, have been next to impossible in this heat. Without these inspirational activities I seem to be experiencing writer's block. So, with that little confession out of the way, I thought I would repost one of my winter favorites. I think that I am hoping that reading this will somehow remind everyone that "this (hot weather) too shall come to pass." Enjoy! :)


Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.



My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.



He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.


The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.



John, Carson, and I went for a walk in the snowy woods this morning. I couldn't help but to recall one of my favorite Robert Frost poems. "Stopping By the Woods."
The snow was blowing off of the trees and glistening in the air like glitter. John said that it looked like glitter from angels' wings. I would have to agree with him.

Have You Heard of Bieber Fever?

If you have any girls in your household you have probably heard of Bieber Fever. For those of you who have not heard of it, let me tell you what it is. This is what a lot of young girls are coming down with these days. The symptoms are screaming, yelling, and fainting. They seem to worsen anytime Justin Bieber is in close range or on the televison or radio. Fortunately, my oldest daughter is a little too old to have it and my youngest daughter seems to be immune. She does however like his music a lot and she and a friend came up with a medley of his songs. I thought it was too cute not to share. Hope you enjoy! Happy Saturday!