{ Blog 365 #161 - Slow Saturday }

 

Just a slow day, watching my newest favorite Turkish shows.  

 

Obsessed, people.  I am obsessed, and rightfully so, because they are just wonderful.

 

My favorite list is growing.  You know how usually you will have like the one, the favorite, the one that stands above them all?  Recently I claimed that Magnificent Century was my favorite and that was it, nothing else could manage.

 

I wish I kept my mouth shut because right along came Dirilis: Ertugrul, and made me eat my words.

 

So now, I have two.  (I should probably say, for the moment, because I have a gazillion shows to watch still, and no doubt will find another one that will latch right onto my heart.)

 

These two ♥

No words.  Engin Altan Düzyatan and Esra Bilgiç.  The chemistry between these actors, is equally as insane as the actors from Magnificent Century.

I will say this, one thing I am loving about the Turkish shows is that there are no love scenes, no sex, nudity, not even a lot of kissing.  Most kisses between the couples are on the hand or the forehead, and yet, they are able to convey and ooze love and affection, through the screen.

That is not easy to do, but these Turkish actors are unlike any actor I've seen in Hollywood.  Thank the Lord!!!

Anyway, if you haven't watched, do yourself the favor, and add this one to your list as well.  You won't regret it. 

 

{ Blog 365 #160 - Making Sun Tea }

When we were stationed in Arizona, the summers were brutal.  Actually, all year was brutally hot, but summers especially where tough to get used to.  One of the things I constantly kept on hand, was iced tea, and especially sun tea.

 

I mean, if the sun wants to be that way, then we will use it to our advantage.  

 

I became quite used to making sun tea, and to this day, it is one of our favorite beverages to have, on a hot day.....which by the way, here in Texas, during the summer, we see plenty of triple digits too. 

 

 

Sun Tea

4-6 tea bags
Filtered water


Put 4 to 6 tea bags into a clean 2 quart glass container. Fill with water and cap. Place outside where the sunlight can strike the container for about 3 to 4 hours. Move the container if necessary to keep it in the sun. When the tea has reached its desired strength, remove from sun and put it in the refrigerator. You may or may not want to remove the tea bags at this point. (I always remove mine)

The tea will probably taste more mellow than what you are used to from using boiling water. The slow seeping has a way of bringing out a slightly different flavor from the tea. Also, because you didn't use boiling water, you should refrigerate the tea and drink it up pretty quickly - a day or two. It will not keep as well as iced tea made from boiling water.

You can add in some mint leaves or I usually add in lemon, orange or lime slices.

 

{ Blog 365 #159 - Cooking Thursday }

I absolutely adore bread pudding. Ever since I was a little girl, my stepmother and grandmother would make bread pudding and it was one of those special desserts reserved for certain occasions, so when it showed up on the dinner table we considered it a treat.

It has been quite a few years since I've made one, but a few weeks ago I gave it a go again and whipped up a Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding.  The recipe, from a vlog I was watching.  I just followed her video and I think she said the recipe is from Nigella Lawson, but I could be mistaken.

Anyway, another very easy dessert and so delicious.

Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding

4 slices of stale bread, cut into cubes
Chocolate chips, I added in about 1/2 cup of dark and 1/2 cup white chocolate
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups milk
3 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a casserole dish, add the bread cubes to it.  Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the bread.

In a measuring jug, add the cream and milk.  Whisk the 3 eggs in a small bowl and then add 1/4 cup of brown sugar.  Combine the cream and milk mixture with the egg mixture, give it a good stir.

Pour over the bread then push the bread down to soak it all in.  Let stand for 20 minutes.

After the 20 minutes have gone by, sprinkle on some more brown sugar over the top and bake for 45 to 50 minutes until nice and brown and puffy.

Once it's cool down, I like to sprinkle powdered sugar on top.  

Best part about this bread pudding is that it's not overly sweet.

 

{ Blog 365 #158 - Wordless Wednesday Favorite Books }

 

{ Blog 365 #157 - Kinda feeling like this today }

 

{ Blog 365 #156 - Happy Homemaker Monday - 06/05/2023 }

 

 

Good morning everyone, welcome back to the blog.

 

I hope you've had a blessed weekend, and I wish you a blessed week ahead as well.

 

I have a busy week, Jasmine is getting ready to move out this coming weekend, so lots going on around here.  My mama heart is proud of her, and at the same time, sad.  I'm sure all of you who have gone through this as you children grow up, will understand exactly how I am feeling.

 

Anyway, please keep my girl in your prayers, as she starts a new chapter in her life.

 

Now, let's get right on with our post. 

 

♥♥ The Weather ♥♥ 

 

Monday -  Sun and clouds, 87

Tuesday - Mostly Sunny, 89

Wednesday - Partly cloudy, 88

Thursday - Partly cloudy, 91

Friday - Mostly sunny, 93

Saturday - Partly cloudy, 93

Sunday - Mostly sunny, 93

♥♥  As I look outside my window ♥♥

It has been raining all night, just stopped not too long ago.  The grass is soaked, the fences are soaked and the leaves on the trees are filled with raindrops, making them shiny as the sun reflects off them. 

 

 

♥♥  Right now I am ♥♥ 

Writing up this post, also starting to plan the next menu and grocery list.        

 

 

♥♥  Thinking and pondering ♥♥ 

I just recently started attending our churches Sunday school, and am really enjoying it.  I feel like I get so much more out of it at times, than the actual sermon.          

♥♥ Listening to ♥♥

Nothing at the moment, but the clicking of the keyboard keys.      

 

♥♥  How am I feeling ♥♥ 

Physically well, emotionally a little sad with this big change that is coming our way.     

 

 

♥♥  On the breakfast plate ♥♥ 

Coffee and a ham and cheese toast.          

 

 

♥♥   On the lunch plate ♥♥ 

Have leftovers from last night's dinner, so will have that.      

 

 

♥♥  On the dinner plate ♥♥ 

Ground beef with chayote squash, rice, salad.          

 

 

♥♥  What I'm wearing  ♥♥ 

Long summer dress, color blocked in white, dark blue and tan.          

 

 

♥♥  On my reading pile ♥♥ 

My Bible and our study plans for church.

 

 

♥♥  On my TV this week  ♥♥ 

I have started Dirilis:  Ertugrul, and really enjoying it too.  It is another Turkish series, this time about Ertugrul who was a famous warrior from the 13th century.  He become the father of Osman who founded the Ottoman Empire. 

 

 

♥♥  On the menu  ♥♥ 

Monday - Ground beef with chayote squash, rice, salad

Tuesday - Fettucine Alfredo, Garlic Bread, Salad

Wednesday -  Broccoli Cheese Chicken, Mashed Potatoes 

Thursday - Asian Beef and Noodles, Salad

Friday -

Saturday -

Sunday -

♥♥  Looking around the house  ♥♥ 

I need to give it that Monday clean.  If you know, you know!!!            

 

 

♥♥  To Do List ♥♥ 

- Happy Homemaker Monday post

- Laundry 

- Carpet clean

 

 

♥♥  From the camera  ♥♥ 

A home full of plants, brings a smile to my face.     

 

 

♥♥  Devotional, verse, thoughts  ♥♥ 

In Sunday school yesterday, we talked about what it means to be a mentor, and how we can help others.  We talked about the difference between constructive criticism and just critical words towards others.  

 

Mainly, we discussed Moses and Jethro and their relationship, how Jethro was a mentor to Moses and so forth.  Well worth the study and in depth look, if you're interested. 

 

{ Blog 365 #155 - Sunday School - Discipleship Lesson 1 }

 

I recently started attending my church Sunday school.  I didn't know how I would feel about it at first, but I am actually loving it, and most of the time, feel like I get more out that lesson, than I do the actual sermon.

I guess that is normal for some of us.  Although I appreciate the Pastor's word, I am a person that loves learning, and learning more in depth.  

With that in mind, I thought that I would start doing a blog Sunday School, to help me study more, and to also help keep my blog post count up during this year's Blog 365.  I came across a wonderful resource for Sunday school lessons, online, and will be following that.

If you want to read, and come back every Sunday to discuss your thoughts, that would be wonderful.  You can leave your comments below and I'll surely enjoy reading through them.  If not, that is ok too, I am doing this for myself, but of course, if I feel led to do it, it must mean someone, even just one of you out there, will benefit from it.  When God pushes us to do something, even if, and especially if, we never thought of doing it before......it means there is a purpose for it.  

So, beginning today, every Sunday I will post the lesson.  I am actually quite excited about this, hope you are too.  

LESSON 1
 

SEEKING CHRIST

Scripture Text: John 1:35-51

This is a thirteen-week course of study of how Jesus Christ influences the
lives of men and women who seek and find Him. We will study the different
forms of response and varied experiences of early disciples of Christ so that
we may more easily understand ways in which He reveals Himself to those
who seek Him.

MEMORY VERSE: We have found the Messias. —John 1:41

 

Straight Gospel Preaching Causes Men to Seek Christ

 

The reason for preaching the Gospel is to cause a hunger in people for Christ. It was John the Baptist who said, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).  John and Andrew left following John the Baptist and began to follow Christ. The sermons we hear in church must be put into action before they will help us find Christ. The way we respond to a message determines what we receive from it. A message, like a road map, only points the way we should go; it does not force us to go.
When we obey a Holy Spirit anointed message, it always leads us to Christ, the Lamb of God.
 

The lamb held an important place in Jewish worship, both in daily temple worship and in feast days.  

 

Personal Faith Helps People Find Christ

 

Andrew and John found Jesus because they believed and acted on what they had heard. After finding Him, they were convinced He was the Christ.  This one message led to the change in their lives.  This incident shows the great value of church attendance and listening to the Gospel message. What might have been if these men had gone fishing, or anywhere else, instead of going to hear John the Baptist preach?  

John and Andrew, as have many others, found Christ was easy to find when they sought Him honestly and sincerely in faith. Christ makes definite changes in the inner man, and that causes a change in the outer man. 

If Christ were to ask you, "What seek ye?" what would be your answer?  

 

Personal Evangelism Helps People Find Christ

 

What was it that caused Andrew to go to Peter and bring him to Jesus?  Was it his love for Christ? Was it his love for Peter? Was it not his love for both? This is the secret to the success of personal evangelism. After men find Christ, it is natural that they want to help others find Him as well.  

 

We Become Like the People Whom We Follow

When we follow Christ, we become like Him. If we follow the world, we will become like it. The greatest challenge in life is to seek and find Jesus.
Have you found Him?

 

JUST A THOUGHT
The lazy man aims at nothing
and usually hits it.

{ Blog 365 #154 - Baking Day }

 

{ Blog 365 #153 - International Period Dramas List }

 

I already have a list of period drama series, movies, documentaries and books, that you can easily access, here on the blog. 

As I mentioned recently, over the past few weeks, I have really gotten into the International period dramas, and have been in absolute historic fiction heaven.  It took me a little to get used to the English subtitles, as it confused me a bit at first.  I spent more time reading than seeing what was happening on screen, but I've mastered it now and nothing can hold me back.

Over the last week, I have watched what now has become my favorite of all time, period series.  Magnificent Century.

I have watched it twice, and even started it again yesterday.  It's THAT brilliant, and I find that each time I watch an episode again, I see or learn something new.

I do plan on adding these to the lists above, but I felt that International Period Dramas, needed a page of their own as well.

So, with that in mind, this will officially become that place, and I'll list below, by country, the different series and where you can watch them, with English subtitles.

 

I'll continue to update this list, as I watch and find more.

 

 

TURKEY

Kurt Seyit and Sura (Amazon Prime) (WLEXT)

The Magnificent Century (Youtube)

The Magnificent Century: Kosem  (Youtube)

Resurrection Dirilis Ertugrul (First season with English subtitles on Dailymotion) (Other season with English subtitles on Youtube)

Kurulus Osman (WLEXT)

SPAIN

The Queen and the Conqueror (Netflix)

Isabel (WLEXT)

{ Blog 365 #152 - Cooking Thursday }

 

Miss Kay's Honey Pecan Pie

Source:  Kay Robertson

3 large eggs
¾ cup sugar
½ stick (4 Tbsp) butter, softened
½ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup light corn syrup (I use Karo)
½ cup maple syrup (I use Johnnie Fair) or honey
1½ cups pecan halves
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie crust, homemade or store bought


Heat the oven to 350ºF. Beat the eggs with the mixer until fluffy, about 8 minutes.

In another mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, butter, salt, vanilla, and syrups. Gently fold this into the eggs. Gently fold in the pecans. Pour the filling into the piecrust.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the filling is set and no longer wobbly in the center.

Let cool completely before cutting.