Spring update from the holler...

Just a few springy things to share. The picture above is our forsythia, which I posted a picture of last spring. But, I can't help it,,,,it looks like a spring explosion to me! Also, the blue bells are up and I brought a few inside. All my vases swallowed them up then I thought to try this cow creamer given to us by JP's Granny. Isn't it adorable?



I took this picture of Scrappy because she had her "cute" face on. She doesn't need it to be spring to have a project. Oh boy, does she have a project--it's a tunnel!!



These are my african violets. The sun was shining in the window just right.



So there you have the spring update from the holler. We didn't have much of a winter here but I'm always glad when spring comes. Spring reminds me that God is faithful. After the winter there will always be a spring. Maybe it's that way so we'll appreciate it, maybe we should look at the "winter times" of life knowing that God will, in His time, provide the respite of future springs of hope. Spring blessings from the holler...

Easy Peasy Smore Krispies...

I've been meaning to make this recipe since Christmas and am so glad that I finally did. Even with my low energy levels it was a snap and so good. I used the amounts in the following recipe only I made mine in one bowl in the microwave. I was done in 5 minutes.



Smore Krispies

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 (10 oz) bag regular marshmallows
• 1 box of Golden Graham cereal
• 1-2 cups Chocolate Chips
• Magic Shell (optional)
In a large sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add marshmallows and keep stirring until the marshmallows completely melt and you get a marshmallow sauce. Remove from heat. Like I said I microwaved the butter and marshmallows together (only takes about 1 min - I do 30 sec intervals) then mixed in the rest.



Add Golden Grahams and stir until they are all well coated. You can chose to crush some up before adding them if you want some smaller pieces. Next stir in chocolate chips.

Grease a 9x13 pan and press S'mores down.

Once they are all pressed down and slightly cooled, drizzle with some magic shell if you would like for a prettier appearance. I thought it was sweet enough so I left out the "shell."

Blessings from the holler...

Okay, so here's the dealio...

I had decided not to post about this but changed my mind today. I'd like to explain a few things to you, our blogging friends. In the last year or so I started having troubles with my thyroid. I saw a specialist and have been diagnosed with Graves disease (it's not as grave as it sounds), a form of hyperthyroidism. I am fortunate not to have the eye problems that sometimes go with the disease. My symptoms were trembling hands, heart racing, a general crawling of the skin and other unpleasantness. Blood and nuclear tests confirmed the diagnosis.

The treatment options were surgery to remove the thyroid or a radiation treatment to destroy the function of the thyroid. The later being the least invasive is what I chose. I went to the hospital where my doctor gave me this unassuming capsule and I came home. This procedure requires the patient to be essential in isolation. Thank goodness my JP is so awesome in the kitchen and just a great all around husband. He took the my week necessary isolation off work to take care of me and cook for me. I was on a strict NO iodine diet for about a week. No iodine essential means cooking every single morsel from scratch using kosher salt and he did so well.

During the proceeding days I felt like I had the flu kind of. I've got all that behind me now and am left with fatigue and feeling generally yukky! BUT, there is hope!! The first week of April I'll be started on thyroid hormones and I'll be all better. I'm just finding my new normal :)

It's so awesome of God to have us studying II Corinthians in our Bible Study. I am living out how God's strength is showcased in my weakness. While this time has been an almighty trial, I wouldn't trade the blessings I've received for anything. So, I write this as a tribute to God's faithfulness to me His child and to JP's true devotion and care for me. Who wouldn't feel blessed beyond what they deserve? I've been treated like a princess.

So, that's why I haven't as faithful posting things and visiting your blogs. Thank you for being patient with me this post. My thoughts are jumbled and I wanted to focus on the good which has come to me. As always,,,blessings from the holler...

Links of love...

Hello to all, we're still here in the holler doing the blessed everyday thing. Except that this past weekend JP made sausage. He made chorizo and andouille sausage and they are both delicious. *side note, why does this speller not recognize chorizo and andouille? Anyway, here are the pictures I took.

Here are the little darlings going into the smoker.


The Andouille.


The Chorizo.


While we waited for the sausage to smoke we made this breakfast of pancakes, JP's bacon and fresh strawberries. It's always great when the strawberries come in from Florida. Oh, I really have nice dishes, I just happened to grab a plate with a chip in it. Hey, when the food's being served my only criteria is that the plate be clean. It's grab and growl around here!



I'm off to do errands before the bad storms come this afternoon. I plan to visit your blogs today so see you there. We pray that you all are well. Blessings from the holler...

Down by the old creek...

This winter is so unusual, so far, it has been really mild. So, the buttercups are up by the creek which means I had to get down there and get up close. I love our buttercups, some were here when we bought the place but some of them are from JP's grandmother's house. My mom had gotten some from her back when we got married and then when we moved here she gave me some...you follow?



The creek in the holler.





Ya'll have a great weekend. Blessings from the holler...