A Cup of Home-Grown Coffee

Well, I finally did it! I processed my home-grown coffee beans from start to finish! In my previous two posts, A Bowl Full of Cherries and Processing My Home-Grown Coffee, I described the first steps of turning those pretty red fruits into a tasty caffeinated beverage. We left off with my coffee beans drying on the kitchen counter. After about a week, they seemed to be ready to go. I let them dry a few more days for good measure, and then I proceeded.

When the beans are dry, they are covered with a papery skin that must be removed. This was done by spinning them  a few times in my food processor with a plastic blade. This loosened the "parchment" without grinding the beans. Then I used a hair dryer to blow away the waste, leaving the beans behind. I did this outdoors to avoid a mess.

Next, the beans were roasted. This can be done either in an oven or on the stove top. I simply put the beans in a skillet and roasted them, stirring and shaking to brown them evenly.

When the beans looked nice and brown, I let them cool a few minutes.

Then I ground them in a coffee grinder. The result was a delicious-smelling product that looked just like the stuff you buy in the store!

I brewed the coffee and tasted it. What do you know? It tasted just like coffee! It wasn't the best cup I've ever had, but it certainly wasn't the worst, either. This coffee wasn't "mountain grown" after all -- it was grown at about 10 feet above sea level. The whole process was quite involved, but it was a fun experiment that gave me a new appreciation for my morning brew. Now that I have satisfied my curiosity, I think I will leave the berries for the birds, and buy my coffee at the grocery store. It's much simpler, and nothing beats a good cup of Colombian coffee!  

Processing My Home-Grown Coffee

In my last post, I promised to share my experience with making coffee from my own, home-grown coffee beans. I started with these pretty red coffee cherries.

Some of the cherries are still ripening on the tree. Since a few of the cherries had been nibbled by the birds, I decided to leave some on the plant for their enjoyment. I am still picking more of them, however, as they ripen. The first thing to do after picking, is to peel the red pulp away from the seeds inside. There are mechanical gadgets for such a task, but I simply use my fingers. I split each cherry open with my nails and pop the coffee beans from their sweet surroundings. They have a fruity aroma with a hint of coffee scent, and they leave a sticky, slimy film on the fingers.

The next step is referred to as fermentation. The beans are soaked in water for a day or two to break down the slippery mucilage surrounding the seed. 

I soak them about 24 hours and rinse them in a colander. If they still feel slippery, I put them in clean water another day and repeat the rinsing. When the beans are no longer slimy on the outside, I can proceed to the next step.

The coffee beans must be spread out to dry. This can be done on a screen in the sun or in a food dehydrator. Since the weather is humid and sometimes unpredictable, I chose not to place them outside in the sun. Instead, I spread them out on baking parchment to dry and stir them up every now and then. The air conditioner keeps the environment from being too humid. I have dried fresh herbs from the garden this way with success, so I figured this would work for coffee beans, too. It may not be the most scientific method, but this is an experiment, after all. When my coffee beans are good and dry, I will report back with the news and share the rest of the process. Meanwhile, I will sip on my store-bought Colombian coffee and look forward to satisfying my curiosity in the near future!

A Bowl Full of "Cherries"

Several days ago, we noticed that the coffee cherries were getting ripe. First, there were just a couple red fruits on the branches. Then suddenly, it seemed the whole bush was loaded with them! They clung to the branches like pretty red beads -- almost too pretty to pick. But I had determined, after seeing so many blossoms this year, that I would try to harvest them and see if I could brew some coffee from my own, home grown coffee beans. It took about seven months for the flowers to turn into ripe cherries.

Last year's crop was just too small to deal with, but I did do a little research to see how to prepare them. So this will be an experiment. We'll see how it goes.Some of the cherries still need to ripen; it will take me a few more days of picking. I did notice that some of them had been nibbled by birds, so I guess I will leave a few for my feathered friends. Next, I will have to remove the pulp, or husk, from the beans. I will be doing this by hand, so it will take some time. Once I get that job done, I will post an update. So stay tuned!

The Sun Will Come Up in the Morning

It has been a week (or maybe I should say a year!) fraught with emotion. Another presidential election has come and gone, with many people happy and many others angry and disappointed. But, as President Obama told Americans, "The sun will rise in the morning." And it did. You see, while nations rise and fall, and leaders come and go, God is still in control. And He always will be.

This morning, I noticed that my coffee cherries are beginning to ripen! It looks like I will have quite a few to pick, and I'm hoping to actually have enough to brew a little coffee. Quite by accident, I noticed a year or two ago that the fruit of the Coffea arabica is quite sweet, although there is not much flesh on each cherry. I will have to start picking them as they ripen, but I must not let the dog see me do it! Penny observed us picking the fruits of our strawberry tree (see my post, Coffee Break: The Strawberry Tree) a while back and decided to try them herself. Each morning, she reaches up at the lower branches in search of some sweet fruits for herself, which she gingerly plucks from the tree and eats. I am afraid if she sees me pick those coffee cherries, she will do the same. Of course, if that were to happen, I might be able to try some kopi luwak!

My star fruit tree, Averrhoa carambola, is blossoming, hopefully to be followed by some lovely golden fruits. We haven't gotten many star fruits from this tree, but maybe the fertilizer we applied will change that.

The hummingbirds and painted buntings have returned from their summer homes, and I have been enjoying their show each day as they fly to and fro and splash about in the bird bath. The butterflies still dance around in the garden, the bees still buzz, and the mockingbirds still sing from the trees. This evening, the sun will go down in the west, spreading glorious color across the sky. And the sun will come up in the morning. 

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!

Psalm 113:3 (ESV)

It's November!

Today I saw a meme on Facebook stating, " It's November 1st...We're officially allowed to talk about Christmas." Ummm...Not yet, please! Let's enjoy November! It's such a lovely month.

November is still autumn. The flower of the month is the chrysanthemum (I didn't have a picture of mums, so I went with the marigolds instead!), and its birthstone is topaz. These are golden yellow in color, not red and green! Autumn leaves still cling to trees, hanging on for dear life before finally falling to the ground. It's a month for raking leaves and making our homes cozy for the coming winter months. And pumpkin spice drinks, along with delicious pumpkin breads and pies, should be enjoyed to their fullest.

November is a month with important holidays that shouldn't be overlooked. First of all, Election Day is the Tuesday immediately following the first Monday of the month. This is a day when Americans go to the polls to cast their ballots, deciding who will represent us in our government. We are blessed to have this right, and we should take it seriously. Next comes Veterans Day. Originally celebrated as Armistice Day, which commemorated the end of World War I, it later became a day for us to honor all of our military veterans. It is the sacrifice of these men and women that protects our freedom and our way of life.

And then comes Thanksgiving! Somehow, in our haste to celebrate Christmas, we have come to forget the story of the Pilgrims. We have forgotten about the sacrifice those brave men and women made for religious freedom. Traveling across the ocean to a wild land, they endured hardship and sickness and death so that they could freely worship God. At the end of their first year on a new continent, they set aside a day to give thanks to God for His blessings. Interestingly, the Pilgrims did not celebrate Christmas.

So I say, let's make the most of November. Let's get out and vote. Let's honor our veterans. And as we roast those turkeys and bake those pies, let's celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends and remember how blessed we are. After those leftovers are refrigerated and the dishes are washed, then we can think about Christmas!

Happy November!

Coffee Break: Genius!

One of my coffee cups has a quote by Thomas Edison. It reads, "GENIUS! is 1% inspiration, and 99% perspiration!" Probably most famous for inventing a practical, long-lasting electric light bulb, Edison held over 1000 patents for his inventions, many of which changed the world. As a young boy, Thomas was educated by his mother, who took over directing his studies after his school teacher deemed him addled. Truth be told, he was a curious and creative individual whose mind was exploding with ideas and an insatiable desire to learn. The school he had attended for only a few months couldn't handle him. And the world was forever changed.

It's wonderful to be inspired. It's great to have ideas. But in order to actually accomplish anything, a person has to work at it. Thomas Edison encountered many failures in his laboratory. But rather than quitting, he kept plugging away, saying that he had found so many ways that didn't work. 

Sometimes my mind explodes with ideas. And my curiosity is what keeps me forever looking up the answers to, what some consider, silly questions. Every so often, I even get very creative. Now, I'm no Thomas Edison, but maybe if I work a little harder I can accomplish something, too. I may not change the world, but I can change my little corner of it. The 1% is there. Now for the 99%. It's time to get to work. It's time to perspire!

Coffee Break: After the Storm

I woke up early yesterday, anxious to see the latest report on the path of Hurricane Matthew. The 5 a.m. update showed a slight shift in the "cone of uncertainty" which was encouraging to those in our area, but not so positive for those to the north of us. Nevertheless, we were prepared. The previous day had been a busy one for stores selling groceries, water, and plywood. We had everything we needed and didn't have to fight the crowds for supplies. Our hurricane impact windows were a real blessing, eliminating the question of whether or not to bother with putting up shutters for a storm that may or may not hit, and that spooky feeling of sitting in a dark house, wondering what is happening outside. I could hear the eerie silence of nearby roads with no traffic, and the sounds of circular saws and hammering as neighbors boarded up their homes.

The clouds were racing overhead from the northeast, a sure sign of a hurricane on its way. A few birds were out in the morning getting some breakfast before hunkering down for a windy day. Penny and I played ball for a while, not knowing how long we could be outside. It rained a little off and on as the outer bands of the storm passed through, and with the rain came a little wind. As the day progressed, the rain got heavier and the wind picked up, but by midnight, the worst was over.

We escaped this one. Others weren't as fortunate. We are thankful for God's protection and pray for those who lost property and  loved ones. 

Preparing for a Storm

There's a hurricane in the neighborhood, and it's a big one. With sustained winds of 140 miles per hour, Hurricane Matthew is a category 4 storm that will certainly do serious damage wherever it hits. We are currently under a hurricane warning, which means we have about 24 hours to prepare. There are plenty of checklists and information available for hurricane preparedness, so I don't think I will go through the usual list of items to have on hand. But there are a few things which have become part of my routine for getting ready and sometimes aren't mentioned in those checklists:

• Food and water are, of course, the most important items. It's best to have what you need for two weeks, but three days is the minimum. At this point, if shopping for food, get nonperishables. Tap water can be contaminated, therefore bottled water is necessary -- or at least bottle your own before the storm, in whatever containers you have handy. If you have room in the freezer, put some of those containers of water in there to freeze.
• Wash any produce, like lettuce and fruits before the storm. Again, tap water could be contaminated, and you don't want to use your drinking water for washing veggies.
• Consider doing some cooking ahead of time, like boiling eggs, browning ground meat, or baking bread. I always make cinnamon rolls -- we call them hurricane rolls. It's a tradition that just kind of happened after I made them for Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
• Begin making ice and bagging it up for a few days before the storm. You'll need it after a few days to keep your perishable food cold. 
• Because the electricity almost always goes out during these events, alternate methods of cooking must be considered. If you will be using a grill or camp stove, be sure you have fuel.
• Paper plates and cups are handy to have in order to conserve water. You don't want to be washing dishes in contaminated water. You could boil the water, but then you are using more fuel.
• Get all the laundry washed. When the power goes out, that washer and dryer won't be working. And if you need to iron clothes for work, get that done ahead of time. You may have to go back to work or school before you have electricity..
• Check the property for items that may become airborne -- patio furniture, potted plants, coconuts, etc. Strange things happen in hurricanes, and you never know what might end up in a tree or slamming into a window or somebody's car as it flies through the air.
• Get your storm shutters up or use plywood to cover the windows. A few years ago, we replaced our windows with hurricane impact-resistant ones, so thankfully, this is one job we don't need to do.
• Make sure you have flashlights, a radio, and batteries, and charge all electronic devices. 
• Take pictures of your valuables, and make sure you have important papers secure.
• Once the critical things have been taken care of, do some house cleaning while you still have electricity.
• When everything is done, take a nice, hot, luxurious shower or bath. You never know when you'll get another.
• Prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Remember, Jesus calmed the wind and the waves with His words. God is in control!

Coffee Break: A Morning Walk

I'm not much of a morning person, but today I decided to go out for a morning walk. It was a little warmer than yesterday, so I worked up a sweat as I went along. The water in the canal was smooth as glass, reflecting the trees and sky like a mirror.

A hawk sat proudly atop a utility pole, intimidating the monk parakeets and other birds nearby. Three Egyptian geese flew along the water, looking like they were in a hurry to reach some unknown destination. 

A great egret fished for his breakfast.

And dragonflies darted about and rested on blades of grass.

I walked two miles, enough to get the blood flowing and wake me up. And now, after a good cup of coffee, I'm ready to tackle my day!

Hello Autumn!

Today I noticed something different in the air. It's a little cooler than it has been for quite some time. We still have two months of hurricane season, but I can now open the windows in the morning to let some nice fresh air into the house and listen to the mockingbirds joyfully sing. My dwarf poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) has become quite an attraction to monarch butterflies. And while the rainy season is still with us and the weeds are still growing like crazy, it is much more pleasant to actually spend time in the garden.

Stores have already begun to sell holiday merchandise, from Halloween costumes to Thanksgiving centerpieces and even artificial Christmas trees. It is really too early for me to be thinking about Christmas, or even Thanksgiving, but now that autumn has arrived, I thought I would make a "to do" list for the season. Here is what I came up with:

• Get out for a morning walk at least a couple times each week. I can use the exercise, and the fresh air will help wake me up for a productive day.
• Tidy up the landscaping. After a summer of rampant growth, some plants need trimmed back a little, and weeds need to be brought under control. So I will try to set aside some time to tackle this task. I would also like to plant a few of my favorite herbs, like parsley and basil. Fresh herbs, are so much more flavorful than the dried ones you buy in bottles.
• Reassess my ten item wardrobe. I need to decide what to keep, what to let go, and what I will need to make or buy. I have been saying over and over that I need a nice red jacket for patriotic days and Christmas time. So I think I may get out the sewing machine and get to work on that. And speaking of sewing machines...
• Organize my sewing and art supplies. I have always worked on the dining room table, picking up and putting away, and spending half my time searching for equipment when I get the notion to sew or paint. This is unproductive and frustrating, to say the least. Recently, I was given a brand new sewing machine, complete with table. I need to create an efficient work space, which will certainly result in more artistic endeavors.
• Begin planning menus again. Back in the days when I was cooking for seven, I planned our meals for the week and carefully shopped for what we needed. This was necessary for budgetary reasons, as well as feeding a family with very busy schedules. Now that I am mostly cooking for two, I haven't been as diligent in the area of menu planning. I would like to try some new recipes and add a little variety to our diet. So I think I will dig out some cookbooks, organize my recipe cards, and develop a better system than flying by the seat of my pants!

I'm sure I will think of other ideas as the season progresses, and as the holidays draw closer, I will begin thinking about them, too. But this list should get me started and keep me busy for a while. Do you have any special projects or goals for fall? Let's get to work!

Coffee Break: Picking Posies

Remember when you were a child, and you picked pretty bouquets of flowers for your mom? In springtime, it was violets. In summer, it may have been dandelions. And in fall, it might even have been dried weeds that somehow struck your fancy. With a smile on your face and your hands behind your back, you would walk up to her and then sweetly present the little gift. You gave them to her for no other reason than you loved her and wanted to make her smile.

My mother loved wildflowers, and she passed her appreciation of nature on to me. This morning, instead of pulling weeds, I picked some posies. On this last day of summer, my little bouquet of blooms brightens my table as I remember Mom and her beautiful smile.

Weeds or Wildflowers?

Anyone who has done any gardening knows about weeds. Those pesky plants just seem to pop up everywhere you don't want them -- in the flower beds, among the vegetables, and along the garden path. They even spring up in the middle of a pristine lawn, ruining the effect of a beautiful carpet of green grass. Untold hours are spent pulling them out of the ground or spraying them with chemicals. We want to have beautifully manicured lawns and picture-perfect landscaping, with colorful blooms in just the right places. But inevitably, things will grow that we hadn't planned on.

I have lots of weeds in my garden, and they grow year-round. Instead of raking leaves, I pull weeds. Instead of shoveling snow, I pull weeds. And sometimes, when I just want to relax on my patio with a cold drink and a good book, I am taunted by the Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) invading my gardenias and the Spanish needle (Bidens alba) springing up in my Argentine ivy (Tradescantia microfolia). Fortunately, I prefer a more natural-looking landscape to an artificially clipped and snipped plot of land. To most people, these plants look like weeds. But upon further inspection, one will discover their beauty. These aren't weeds; they are wildflowers! It's simply a matter of perspective.

 

These tiny flowers may not look showy to a passer-by, but their colors and shapes are really very pretty. Honey bees buzz from blossom to blossom, collecting pollen to take back to their hives, and butterflies dance around, decorating the air with their jeweled wings. Ants and other  insects crawl on the leaves and stems, and lizards hop from one plant to the next to catch a tasty morsel. All this activity that goes unnoticed by the casual observer attracts birds who want to join in the fun. And then the birds splash about in the birdbath and sing from the trees. From the tiniest insect to the most colorful feathered friend, my garden is humming with activity -- all because of a few weeds.

Yes, weeds can be a nuisance. But wildflowers add to the abundance of life in my garden. And for that, I can be thankful! It's simply a matter of perspective!

Coffee Break: The Strawberry Tree

Every morning our golden retriever, Penny, and I go out in the back yard to "see what's going on". We usually play a little ball, and I check to make sure the birdbath is filled. I water the plants if necessary, and inspect the trees for pests. Penny follows along happily, chasing lizards and rolling in the grass. 

This morning, I picked a few berries from the strawberry tree to enjoy with my morning coffee. It's just a young tree that we planted a couple years ago; eventually, it should grow to about 25 feet. Also known as Jamaica cherry, the strawberry tree (Muntingia calabura) is so named because of its small, white flowers resembling those of a strawberry plant. 

The fruits are about the size of a blueberry. But the best part of all is the flavor! These little berries taste just like cotton candy! 

We discovered this tree on our first trip to Mounts Botanical Garden. You can read about our recent visit to this lovely oasis in the city here. As soon as I tasted one of the fruits from this tree, I just had to find one for my own back yard. A trip to our favorite nursery the following week proved to be successful, and we brought our strawberry tree home. Now, each time I put one of these little red berries in my mouth and taste its sweetness, I am reminded of that heavenly spun sugar and fun times at the fair -- a sweet memory of childhood!

Coffee Break (or Tea Time)

Usually I have a cup of hot coffee mid-morning with a small square of dark chocolate. It's just enough to give me a little boost before I dig into any serious projects. But yesterday, I got a sample tea bag from The Republic of Tea. The flavor is one that my friends have been anxiously awaiting these last few weeks -- that flavor that pops up in coffee shops each year when the weather begins to get a little cooler -- Pumpkin Spice! The beverage I am trying this morning is a black tea blended with a hint of pumpkin and spices reminiscent of pumpkin pie -- cinnamon, ginger, cardamon, and clove. Served with cream and a little sugar, it is delightful. This is a tea I may have to drink more often! In keeping with the autumn spice theme, I am enjoying a ginger snap cookie with my tea.

It's September. And while my northern friends are looking forward to the orange, red, and golden leaves of autumn, I am looking forward to the subtle changes of a South Florida fall. This is the time when Floridians plant their vegetable gardens. The royal poincianas are finishing their summer show of  brilliant orange flowers. And the birds will soon be packing their bags for their journey south, back to my garden. While many of you are looking forward to cozy times in front of the fireplace, I am looking forward to relaxing on the patio without melting in the heat. Instead of raking leaves, I will be pulling weeds.

Although the change in seasons is not as pronounced here as in other places, there is a different feeling in the air. Autumn is on its way. So while I sit here sipping my tea, I am thinking of fall. How can I welcome in the new season? It's time for a little change. Maybe I'll get a new plant for the front porch, or stitch up a few pillow covers for my sofa. And it's time to switch out my summer clothes for a new set of attire. For details on this procedure, check out my series of posts about The Ten Item Wardrobe.

Do you have any special rituals for autumn? How do you prepare for the change of seasons? Let's share a cup of pumpkin spice and get ready for fall!

Mounts Botanical Garden

As we pulled into the parking lot, I looked anxiously at the sky. We had driven 45 minutes to reach our destination, and now it looked like it was going to rain. I grabbed my umbrella just in case, and we walked to the entrance of Mounts Botanical Garden. Located so close to an international airport that the quiet beauty was sometimes interrupted by a large plane flying overhead, Mounts is an oasis of tropical and subtropical plants in the midst of the city. Its 14 acres are beautifully landscaped with over 2000 species of plants.

We strolled through the Rose and Fragrance Garden, filled with colorful flowers and plants that smelled as lovely as they looked. Ylang ylangs and gingers, bay rum trees and, of course, roses greeted us along the path. Two ladies worked in the garden, pulling a few weeds and tidying up, obviously enjoying their occupation. Butterflies flitted about happily and a pair of cardinals flashed their pretty feathers as they flew by.

The Garden of Well Being featured herbs, teas, and medicinal plants, as well as benches and a lovely fountain to soothe the soul. A Butterfly Garden was filled with plants for food and nectar to please the multitudes of butterflies it attracted.

There was a Begonia Garden, an Edible Landscape Garden, and a Tropical Cottage Garden. When a sudden rain started coming down, I opened my umbrella and we made our way to the Gazebo Garden for shelter. Preparations were being made there for an afternoon wedding. Fortunately, South Florida rains usually only last ten minutes or so, and that proved to be the case this time. Before long, the sun shone brightly, making for a hot, steamy walk. We passed by a Dry Stream Bed, created with both wet weather and the dry season in mind. 

We stepped into the Tropical Forest and breathed a sigh of relief from the heat as the shade of the trees sheltered us from the sun. Lush ferns, vines, and orchids decorated the trees, and benches invited us to sit and enjoy the cooler temperature. Birds chirped overhead, a raccoon sniffed about, and a few mosquitoes kept us moving. 

Mounts is filled with unusual plants and trees, and each time we visit, we see something new. This was where we first discovered the music notes plant that I described in my post, Music Notes. The variety of gardens here, from the Florida Native Plant Garden to the Mediterranean Garden to the Tropical Foliage Border inspires me to look at my own garden with fresh eyes. 

I am blessed to live in a subtropical paradise where so many interesting plants abound. But no matter where you live, God has made beauty and living things to enjoy -- if only you open your eyes!

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good...

Genesis 1:31 (ESV)

One Year of Blogging!

I can't believe it has been one year since I first launched Daily Divertissements! I started this blog as a way to share with others the blessings of life with thoughts, ideas, and encouragement. I have shared my musings and memories, plans and promises, and even a few challenges for my readers. Once in a while, a recipe found its way to this blog, usually with some sort of story behind it. I published poetry written by my mother many years ago. And one day, when a poem of my own popped into my head, I hurriedly typed it and added it to my blog. I posted pictures of God's creation and a few creations of my own. Daily Divertissements has been a blessing to me, and I hope it has blessed you, as well. My prayer is that, in some small way, you have been inspired to try something new, set a few goals, and see the beauty in each day.

If you have enjoyed Daily Divertissements, please share it with your friends and family! I have lots of ideas for the upcoming year, and I am looking forward to sharing them with you. Be sure to sign up to follow by email. That way, you'll never miss a post!

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, 

if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 

Philippians 4:8 (ESV) 

Coffee Break

Back in the day, when I was going to art school, we had a fifteen-minute break each day at 10:00 in the morning, and another at 2:00 in the afternoon. Our afternoon break was usually just a time to stretch our legs and relax, or run down to the art store for a piece of illustration board. But that morning break was for coffee! While some students brought their own thermos bottles filled with hot drinks, many of us walked around the corner to the pastry shop for our morning brew. The little family-owned bakery was only open until noon each day, but they did plenty of business in the morning! Pots of freshly-brewed coffee awaited us as we walked through the door, and pastries right from the oven tempted us from the display case. I usually got a cup of coffee and two (!) chocolate-covered donuts, and then I took them back to school with me to enjoy in the lounge. The fact that I had to climb the stairs to the third floor several times each day allowed me this indulgence -- these days, it's a cup of java with a small square of dark chocolate.

Our coffee break was a time to sit and chat and get to know each other better. We talked about our boyfriends or girlfriends or spouses. A couple of us showed off our new engagement rings. One student was restoring an old '57 Chevy, and another shared her experience with bipolar disorder. We talked about the latest movies and discussed where we might go for lunch that day. It was small talk, but pleasant for the most part -- a rest from the work we were doing on tedious lettering projects and illustrations.

Now that school is back in session, it is time to get back to some kind of routine. I love having my husband home for summer vacation, but it does disrupt the order of my day. I have forgotten about my resolve to get organized, expressed in my January series, beginning with A New Year, A Fresh Start. (You can click on the "organization" label to the right, to read  my thoughts on getting my home in order.) So as I sip on my coffee and read through those old posts, I think I will give it another try. I will get back to a more structured schedule, work on achieving the goals I have set, and maybe even make some new plans. But one thing's for sure: I will include a coffee break each morning!

The Five-Day Bible Challenge

Some time ago, a challenge was started on facebook to encourage people to share their favorite Bible verses. Each day, for five days, the participant would share a verse and explain its significance. This would be followed by challenging another individual to participate. I must confess. When my sister posted her first installments of the Five-Day Bible Challenge, I refrained from "liking" her posts in order to stay under the radar. After all, with 66 books, well over 1100 chapters, and over 31,000 verses, how does one choose just 5 favorites? Then one Sunday afternoon, I got the notification: I had been invited to participate in the Five-Day Bible Challenge. So each day, for the next five days, I shared a favorite scripture and explained why it is meaningful to me. These are my posts for those five days:

Day 1. There have been so many verses and passages that have been a blessing or a challenge during different seasons of my life. So I will start with the first Bible verse I memorized: John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. My daddy taught this to me when I was about four years old. It is the gospel in a nutshell. And while it took many years for that nut to sprout and grow in my heart, it eventually did. My daddy went to Heaven during my rebellious teen years, so he didn't see in me the fruit of his efforts. But his faithfulness to teach his children about God's loving gift of salvation was rewarded, and some day I will get to thank him for teaching me about Jesus.

Day 2. Continuing with this theme of verses that were especially meaningful at different times of my life, today's verse is one that jumped out at me when I was a teenager: James 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Wait a minute! If that's the case, who can possibly be good enough to go to Heaven? The answer is no one. As Romans 3:10 says, There is none righteous, no, not one. And Romans 3:23 tells us, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Apparently, That idea of listing the good stuff you've done on one side of the page, and the bad stuff on the other, doesn't work! Romans 6:23 tell us, For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What's this about a gift? Read Ephesians 2:8-9. For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. The definition of faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something; belief. And that brings us back to John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Day 3. Today's verse is one that spoke to me when I was a new Christian: Galatians 2:20. I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I was no longer the same as I was before. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the Bible says, Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. As I began my life as a young wife and mother, Titus 2:3-5 became a mission statement of sorts: Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so to train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands , that the word of God may not be reviled. Back then, I was one of the "young women". Now, I guess, I am one of those "older women"! But I am still learning from many women who are older than me.

Day 4. Raising five children is serious business, and I purposed in my heart to take the job seriously. As we considered what to do about their education, there seemed to be only one option for us -- homeschooling. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us, These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. The best way to do this, we believed, was to teach our children ourselves rather than send them off to strangers. Homeschooling was not nearly as common back then as it is today, and with fear and trembling we followed our convictions. By the grace of God, we were able to give our children the education we never had. Those 23 years were such a blessing, and I think I learned even more than they did! The verse that became our precept, and which graced each student's diploma upon graduation, was Proverbs 9:10: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Day 5. On this last day of the Five-Day Bible Challenge, I will share a verse that even Anne of Green Gables recognized as life-changing: John 8:32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. There seems to be a serious lack of truth in the world these days. Politicians lie to us, news anchors "misremember" things, and scientists tamper with data so it supports their agenda. So what is truth? Pontius Pilate asked Jesus this question in John 18:38. Jesus told his disciple Thomas, in John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me. There is no other way. There are many religions that burden their followers with rules and rituals. But the only way to be free from the burden of sin is through the Lord Jesus Christ. If you want to know the truth, go to the Word of God. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Make some time each day to see what God has to say in His Word. Even just 15 minutes of reading the Bible will be worthwhile. Find a good Bible reading plan and set a goal to follow it. What if you miss a day or a week or more? Just pick up where you left off. It's that simple.

Today I invite you, Dear Reader, to participate in the challenge. I know you will be blessed!

Back to School

It's that time of year again. The local discount stores and office supply merchants have stocked up on pencils and notebooks, and planners are flying off the shelves. Children excitedly don their new clothes and carry their backpacks and lunch boxes onto the bus, or walk to school with their friends, ready for a new beginning. Filled with anticipation, they wonder who their new teachers might be. Will their team win this year? Who will make the cheerleading squad? And will that cute boy be in math class? Some kids may even have plans to get good grades this year!

Children will learn how to read and write and do arithmetic. They will learn about continents and countries, plants and animals. Some will learn foreign languages; others may learn to play a musical instrument. Students will learn how to manage their time and how to make friends. But learning doesn't end when one turns that tassel or earns that degree. That is only the beginning.

As adults, we should always be learning, developing new skills, asking questions, and seeking the answers to our problems. We can enroll in classes at a college or university, not necessarily to earn a degree, but simply to learn something new. Many communities have adult education classes, workshops, and seminars on a variety of topics. Museums and art centers offer classes in drawing, painting, and ceramics. Music stores and studios have teachers that give private lessons. Most of these options cost money. But learning doesn't have to be expensive. Home improvement stores give free demonstrations. Community centers have free lectures. And there is an abundance of information on the internet that is free for the asking. Many free online courses are offered by programs like Coursera and MIT OpenCourseWare. These are actual classes taught by top professors at prestigious universities. And, of course, there is always the public library!

As the kids go back to school, now is a good time to examine our own lives. Is there something you've always wanted to learn about, or a skill you have wanted to develop? Why not develop your own curriculum this year, and learn something new? Make a list of books to read. Sign up for a class. Set a goal, and get started!

Potluck Sunday

Our church has a tradition of having a potluck, or covered-dish dinner, on the fifth Sunday of the month when it occurs. About every three months, the calendar happens to have five Sundays instead of only four. And on those days, the ladies (and a few men) bring crockpots, casseroles, and baking dishes filled with delicious things to eat. After the pastor closes the morning service in prayer, we all make our way to the fellowship hall with big appetites and growling stomachs, and the aroma of hot food awaits our arrival.

One table is filled with cold drinks -- water and lemonade and iced tea. There is hot coffee to enjoy with dessert -- and there are plenty of sweet treats to choose from. But the main table is where the action is, where people fill their plates with  a little bit of everything. The selection of foods at potluck dinners varies widely, according to region. The food I was accustomed to seeing at these occasions, growing up in Pennsylvania, was entirely different from what we have here in South Florida. The variety of flavors one finds at our church dinners is incredible. Most people in our area, with the exception of a few "native Floridians", are transplants from other places. The foods at South Florida potlucks are as diverse as our people. Dishes from the Northeast and the Midwest, as well as traditional Southern foods, grace our table.  And what really makes our potlucks special is the sampling of foods from other countries. Foods from Cuba, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands are abundant at these shindigs, as are dishes from Europe and Asia. Our church has a dear lady from India who always brings us food from her Indian culture. A South Florida potluck is always an educational experience!

After we load up our plates, we make our way to the beautifully decorated tables and enjoy good food and fellowship. We are a diverse group of people. We are different colors and ethnicities. We are different ages and different genders. Some are rich and some are poor. We have experienced very different lives. But we do have one thing in common: the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is what really matters!

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 
Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

Another Delicious Salad

A few days ago, I was making the raspberry vinaigrette dressing I shared in my post, Dressing Up a Simple Salad, when I got to thinking. Maybe I could use this basic recipe and change it a little to make other flavors. Suddenly, my head was filled with ideas for dressings to try. First I came up with this Apricot Vinaigrette, a sweet-tart dressing that tastes delicious! First, I tried it on a spinach and apple salad with goat cheese, and used a little of it when cooking some chicken tenderloins. The result was just what I had hoped it would be.

Today, I put together a scrumptious salad filled with fruits and veggies for lunch. I started with romaine lettuce and spinach, and added onions, cucumbers, and broccoli florets. To this, I added strawberries, blueberries, nectarines, and some longans that my next-door-neighbor gave me from his tree. I topped the salad off with candied walnuts and goat cheese, and some of my apricot vinaigrette. The result was a delicious, summery treat full of flavor and nutrition.

Apricot Vinaigrette

1/3 Cup apricot preserves

1/3 - 1/2 Cup white wine vinegar

1/4 Cup vegetable oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

Blend ingredients in blender until smooth, and pour into bottle. 

Keep refrigerated.

Enjoy!

Perfection?

What is perfection, anyway? The dictionary defines it as the quality of being free from all flaws or defects. The trouble with perfection is that it is unattainable. While it may be possible to get a perfect score on a spelling test, the work of our hands invariably falls short of our expectations. And in trying to reach that impossible goal of perfection, we sometimes become paralyzed, unable to do anything at all.

I will readily admit that I suffer from that malady called perfectionism. I must always be the one to paint the trim in a room, for example, because it must be just so. I want my lines to be crisp and clean, and anything less bothers me terribly. I must be the one to install the bathroom tile, because each tile must be aligned properly and evenly spaced. And yet, it still isn't perfect.

One of my favorite painters is Salvador Dali. The Spanish artist known for his melting clocks and signature mustache was a creative genius with an eccentric personality. His paintings are absolutely stunning, with colors that sparkle and subjects that require serious thought. He painted so much more than melting clocks! Perhaps one of the reasons his body of work is so immense is that he wasn't crippled by perfectionism.

My attempts at keeping a sketchbook in the past have always been sidelined by that feeling of dismay when a drawing didn't turn out to my liking. But this time, I am trying to overcome that hang-up. If it's not perfect, so what? I will resist the temptation to tear out the offending sheet of paper, and keep it for the record. And so, as a reminder to myself to give up the ridiculous expectation that everything I do must be perfect, I have written Dali's quote in my art journal:

Have no fear of perfection -- you'll never reach it.

Hopefully, his words will encourage me to press on, even when I am discouraged by my failures. I may not be as prolific in my painting as Salvador Dali, but I will try to create more art than I have in the past -- even if it's not perfect.

A Busy Week

It has been another busy week with little time for blogging. Having my husband home for the summer is always nice, and we've been spending a great deal of time working around the house and enjoying each other's company. In just a few more weeks, school will begin again, so we have been trying to get the tiling done in our bathroom. This is a project we started a year ago. But with my husband's busy schedule, we just couldn't seem to get anywhere with it. So we decided enough is enough and set our minds to getting the job done. We make a good team: I do the measuring and installation, and he does the mixing of the mortar and the tile cutting. I am happy to report that we are making progress. We are hoping to have the shower finished and usable by the time school starts.

My latest project has been creating an art journal. I've been trying to squeeze in a little time each evening to work on it. So far, I am just warming up. I have lots of ideas for pictures and quotes and things to do with my journal, and once we get the tiling finished, I will get more creative. My first page of daily entries is shown above, and here is my collage for the month of July:

I used pictures from magazines that remind me of July. It's not fancy, but it's a start. There will be little watercolor paintings and sketches and some of my favorite Bible verses. I will include quotes and ideas and memories. Hopefully, my doodles will get better and better, and my creativity will increase. And then will come more ideas and more art! Would you like to join me? Grab a sketchbook or a planner (no need to wait until January -- academic calendars start in July), some colored pencils or pens, and express yourself! It's your book; you can do what you want. Happy journaling!