Vader is gone to kitty heaven

 My handsome Vader left Thursday, June 1, 2023 morning around 5:00 am, like normal and didn't return home that day, I thought it was strange, but he has done it before.  When he didn't return the following day I started getting worried.  I kept calling and calling him.

One time I looked out the back and saw a red cardinal and thought, oh my dad was visiting.  Then another time I looked across the street to the church office and I saw a bunch of birds digging at something.  I thought hum, I wonder if that is Vader over there.  

It wasn't until a couple hours later, after some meetings that I started going for a walk around the yard and the church to see if maybe he was laying around over there hurt.  I decided to walk down the street towards Alexander and I saw a black blob in the field and I thought please tell me that is not him.

To my horror, it was him.  He had been attacked by an animal or two, I'm thinking coyote or foxes or something that snuck up on him and took him by surprise because he was in 4 pieces just ripped apart.  I was in shock.

I was so upset, but, kingdom work still was at hand and there was nothing I could do at this point.  I could not bring myself to pick up to bring him home to bury him properly.  He already had flies all over him and intestines hanging out, etc.  Horror site to say the least.  

So, I cried a bit and pulled myself together to go and set up for Vacation Bible School (VBS).  I shared with a couple people what happened and everyone in shock.  

Got up again Saturday morning to work on more VBS and I was about to leave when Randall came in and said I couldn't leave, I needed to stay until 4:00 pm, joking of course.  I said "I don't think so" I've had a bad weekend and showed him the picture of Vader and he was so upset.  I left and met with Christine to go to lunch and some girl time. 

Laura called and was distraught to say the least and just couldn't believe it.  She reminded me that Satan is just hitting me hard right now now.  With everything happening with tests this next week Satan is trying to distract me from Kingdom work.  When one is in the middle of the Lords will Satan will always try to hit hard, I just don't get why he is so stupid to think this would distract me from kingdom work.

anniversary party

Tonight was the anniversary party for Hewitt and Christine Mincey.   What a great time of fellowship with good friends celebrating 35 years.

VBS Planning

 I love how the Lord works and brings together HIS plan.  Tonight I met with Brenda to discuss this year's VBS and what our focus would be.  We came up with a plan and the Lord blessed it so much with giving us ideas that we were able to bring to fruition after dinner when we went to the Dollar Tree.  We wanted to work on some decoration ideas and we were BLOWN away with what we found tonight.  Can't wait to get it all together for the kids.

KIDS giving to KIDS.  Love that.

We also were able to come up with our Mission action for the week.  In August we will be packing backpacks for students so we will be collecting school supplies to go into the bags.  The kids will be participating in collecting items to go into the bags, then during Sunday School or Worship time they can make cards that will be placed in the bags to encourage the students.

So, went into the bathroom and in one of the bathroom stalls was an electrical outlet.  WHY?  What would you need an electrical outlet for when you are going to the bathroom?  HMMMMMM.

Cherry Cheesecake Tarts

 

Cherry Cheesecake Tarts

1 Cup Vanilla Wafers, crumbled

4 TBL oleo/margarine/butter melted

Combine melted oleo/margarine/butter and crumbs together and press in cubcake papers

Beat until smooth

8 oz cream cheese

Add: (beat until smooth)

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

2 tsp lemon juice

½ tsp vanilla

Spoon on top of crumb mixture

Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Cool and spook canned cherry topping (or any flavor, but cherry is the best) on top.

Keep refrigerated

Approximately 12 tarts

350 10 min small size cupcake papers

Hot German Potato Salad

 

Hot German Potato Salad  – Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library

9 Medium Potatoes

6 slices bacon 

¾ Cup Chopped Onion

2 Tablespoons Flour

2 Tablespoons Sugar

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon celery seed

Dash Pepper

¾ cup water

1/3 cup vinegar

Pare potatoes.  In saucepan, heat 1 inch sated water (1/2 teaspoon salt to 1 cup water) to boiling.  Add potatoes.  Cover; cook 30-35 minutes or until tender.  Drain; set aside

In large skillet, fry bacon until crisp; remove and drain.  Cook and stir onion in bacon drippings until golden brown.  Blend in flour, sugar, salt, celery seed and pepper.  Cook over low heat, stirring until mixture is bubbly.  Remove from heat.  Stir in water and vinegar.  Heat to boiling, stirring constantly.  Boil and stir 1 minute.

Crumble bacon.  Thinly slice potatoes.  Carefully stir bacon and potatoes into hot mixture.  Heat through, stirring lightly to coat potato slices.

Crabtree variation of this recipe

Do not use low sodium bacon, it doesn’t produce enough grease.  Do not use thick bacon, you won’t get enough bacon.

We typically cook about 1 lb bacon because we double this recipe.

We do not double the salt – we stick to 2 teaspoons.  If you do not double the recipe, cut the salt in half.  

Bread Stuffing (Master Recipe) – from the Mary Margaret McBride Cookbook

Bread Stuffing (Master Recipe) – from the Mary Margaret McBride Cookbook

4 cups stale bread cubes

¼ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon thyme or marjoram

½ to 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning 

¼ cup finely chopped onion

¼ cup melted fat

Combine bread, seasonings, and onion.  Slowly add fat, tossing lightly with a fork until blended. 

For a more moist stuffing slowly add up to 1/3 cup hot water or stock.  Makes about 4 cups stuffing.  Allow 1 cup for each pound of poultry.

Bread Stuffing Varations:

Celery stuffing: to master recipe add 1 cup finely chopped celery.

Sage Stuffing: in master recipe, omit thyme or marjoram.  Add 1 Tablespoon crumbled sage leaves.

Crabtree variation of this recipe:

Omit the following:

Thyme or marjoram

Poultry seasoning

salt

Add celery and sage 

The “melted fat” is a stick of butter, not margarine

Use Swanson Chicken Broth with less salt – enough to make moist (typically about 2 ½ cans)

Use 2-3 bags of fresh bread torn into cubes

Mix the celery, onion, chicken stock and meted better together until it is hot, enough to soften the celery.  Pour this mixture over the bread crumbs and cook in 2 8” square aluminum pans covered or in the turkey.  We typically cook it for about 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Some Favorite Disney movie quotes