Quiche

My husband loves all things savory.  He’d take a burger over sweets (with the exception of chocolate chip cookies) in half a heartbeat.  At the moment, one of my favorite savory dishes is quiche.  K will positively gorge himself on this stuff!

The base recipe I use is his mom’s, but I’ve changed it up a bit – adding a bit here, withholding a bit there: my favorite way to cook!  The fresh rosemary absolutely makes this recipe.  Enjoy

• 3 eggs, beaten
• slightly less than 1 C whole milk*
• slightly less than 1 C evaporated milk*
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 3/4 C cheddar cheese, grated
• minced fresh rosemary, to taste
• approx. 1/2 C chopped vegetables (bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, red onion, etc.)*
• 1 pie crust

1. Preheat oven to 375 deg. F
2. Mix together all ingredients except pie crust.
3. Line pie plate with crust (glass/ceramic works best, I think).
4. Pour egg mixture into crust.
5. Bake @ 375 deg. F 45-50 min., or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Serve with salsa / picante sauce (or not).

*If you decide to go a veggie-less route, use a full cup of milk and evaporated milk.

slowly, slowly

Slowly, I can feel it receding.

This. . .thing that’s been overwhelming me for ages.  Its face and name changes; its life-draining strength is the constant.  I’m desperately hoping this means it’s leaving forever.

But oh, how it feels to begin to breathe again.  To sleep with some peace.

To see light, and not shadow.

Slowly, slowly.

To those of you who stayed with me – who directed my eyes away from the fog, thank you.  Who wouldn’t let me fade away, thank you.

Thank you, and I love you.

And Thank You.

The Visitor

Oh, friends – I don’t know what to write today.  It’s another day where I just feel. . .weighted down.

So, I’ll show you who’s been camped out on our front porch since Sunday.

For some reason, she was abandoned on our road.  She’s not the first, nor will she be the last.  Duke was another pup who found himself homeless in our part of town, though that was before my time.  I’ve started calling her Wafer because she looks so much like a dog I know named Nilla. 

Sweet, no?  Until last night, she was especially guarded and nervous around us – barking at every sound and growling if we got too close.  Then, K came home, and it was like a switch had gone off in her brain.  She’d decided we were trustworthy, and therefore she loves us!  Haha – goofball of a dog.  She looooves to be around people, to the point that she gets grumpy if you leave her alone.

I’m not sure that we’ll keep her; we’re not at all inside-dog people, and well. . . . .Chihuahua’s aren’t really our style.  But oh, she is a sweet one!

Honey, I’m hoooooooome!

Well, friends.  Hello, again.  I’m sorry it’s been so long; I’ve been in world-avoidance mode, and the internets, while virtual, is still part of the world.

Over Christmas, K & I visited our south-of-the-equator family for three weeks, and I thought I’d share a few highlights with you.  I picked a few photos to include in the post – enjoy!

I can’t for the life of me figure out how to embed a digital preview of my scrapbook into a post – or how to make it show a full spread view instead of single pages, for that matter.  Obviously, I am not a programmer.  Feel free to peruse my unfinished, format-challenged scrapbook anyway.  It’s something like 50 pages, so. . . . yeah.  I went a little nuts.  However, it was a three-week trip, and we did visit four countries.  Make sure to get to the Victoria Falls pages to see the cliff off of which my beloved leapt, voluntarily no less.  Don’t worry, he’s still alive!

Anyway, here you go:  Scrapbook Preview Link

Tsodilo Hills – the three dots on top are my husband, his father & sister.

View from a lower vantage point than the photo above.  We climbed here to see the bushman paintings made famous by Laurens Van der Post.

Gabriel & Roxy, both adorable beyond belief.

Watching a rainstorm move across the sky along the Chobe River.

Love these people!  Also, pretty river view from inside the game park.

This guy was getting all sorts of worked up because we were driving past him.

Hungry Hungry Hippo Elephant!

T.I.A.

K spotted this little guy in a tree, and K Sr. held him so E & I could play chameleon paparazzi.

Just look at that gorgeous girl!

K spent many a childhood afternoon climbing this tree.  Huge, isn’t it?

Victoria Falls at the beginning of the rainy season.  Absolutely Amazing.  Put it on your bucket lists, people.  No, go do it now!  I’ll wait.

And there you have it – a random smattering of moments from our trip, in no particular order and in no way an exhaustive representation.

It Is Well

Sorry I’ve been absent for so long, friends.  Life has been very hum-drum of late.  It seems that every day is the same, and none of it is really worth writing about.  I get up (late), rush to work, spend 9-11 hours there, commute home, make/eat supper, read or watch TV for a bit, and then head to bed.  Weekends consist of church stuff and house stuff.  That’s about it.

Ho-hum, hum-drum!

Anyway, at small group the other day, someone asked us to share our current (or all-time, I guess) favorite worship song.  K and I chose the same one, without any pre-meeting collaboration, mind you!  We both love It Is Well, lyrics by Horatio Gates Spafford and music by P.P. Bliss.  K knew the story behind it, and shared it with me.  Now, I’m sharing it with you!

It’s a bit of a long read, but worthwhile; check it out here.  They had so much and lost so much, and this was their response!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Sensory Memory Triggers

Isn’t it crazy how scent and taste can bring back such vivid memories?  I bought this on a whim at the Walmarts the other day:

When I popped the first piece into my mouth, here’s where my mind flew:

That acreage doesn’t belong to my family anymore; I haven’t stepped foot on it for almost four years.

Yet, today, I was there.

Gazpacho

If you live most places in the country, you’re getting ready to switch out your summer clothes for something with longer sleeves and heavier fabrics.  You’re this close to turning off your air conditioning, and are starting to anticipate crisp breezes and the joy of preparing warm, filling foods like hearty beef stews and baked butternut squash.

However. . . if you live anywhere near my house, you’re throwing virtual rocks at me right now for mentioning life that doesn’t revolve around dashing from one air-conditioned space to the next.

This recipe is for you, my friends!  You, too, can eat soup in the month of September!  You, too, can enjoy the satisfying sensation of slurping that last spoonful, of mopping up the last little bits of deliciousness with homemade bread.

You’re welcome.  And I’m sorry for not posting this at the beginning of the summer.  It’s been a staple in our house for months.

• 1 onion, diced
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 can tomato sauce – 8 oz., I think
• 1 can (tomato sauce size) water
• 1 can diced tomatoes & green chilis (I use mild Rotel – 10 oz., I think)
• 1/4 C olive oil
• 1/3 C apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper

1. Mix all the ingredients together.
2. Chill* & enjoy!**

* This soup is best when really cold, so let it chill for at least an hour.  The flavors are significantly more intense the longer it sits, as well – if it’s too mild for you right away, make it a day ahead.

**If you happen to have one of these furry little eating machines, make sure to lock them in their kennel before attempting to photograph your food.  The open-faced sandwich featured above lost its appeal shortly after this was taken.  She certainly looks pleased with herself, doesn’t she?