the simple front porch

I Think My Wife is an Emergent . . . or Emerging . . . or Whatever.

This weekend promises bright sunshine, gardening, a party with friends, a spaghetti dinner (fundraising for a mission trip), and a soccer game.

This is what is on my schedule:

** Thanks to a great friend — together, we dug asparagus trenches Friday evening — the crowns are ready to plant. Will be using a recipe of sand, soil, and moss.  I was very intimidated but after watching this helpful video gained much more confidence. Loved how this woman had no fear of getting dirty!

** Soaking/par boiling garbonzo beans (chic peas) for hummus later this week.  I do it all day in the crock pot.

** Planting radishes, broccoli, and beets. Starting squash seeds.

** Researched homemade self-rising flour — using my latest discover of family-friendly white wheat flour!

1 cup all purpose OR white wheat flour
1.5 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

Going to use it in beer bread. This is quick and easy and very similiar to the Tastefully Simple version which cost almost $5.00 a loaf.

3 cups self rising flour — remember make your own
1/3 cup sugar (I use an herbal replacement of stevia, only 1/4 t.
12 oz beer
1/3 cup melted butter (for the top)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 9″ x 5″ loaf pan.
2. Combine flour and sugar; stir in beer. Mix well, use your hands if needed. Dough will be sticky.
3. Pour dough into loaf pan. Brush top with melted butter.
4. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until top is golden brown.
5. Cool on wire rack, remove from pan to finish cooling.

Wonderful to cut into cubes and use with a spinach dip or sliced with soups, chilli, and chowders. Heartier Whole Wheat Beer Bread with an onion rye variation Farmgirl Fare.

 . . . and still reflecting on Salvation is Beautiful, Psalm 139:3,4

Hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Today’s pearls:

And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might.
(2Samuel 6:14)

Let them praise His name with dancing;
Let them sing praises to Him with *timbrel and lyre.

For the Lord takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.
(Psalm 149:3,4)

*The timbrel is a tambourine-type instrument. These were instruments that the Hebrew women used. Remember Miriam, Moses’ sister, after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15:20)?

Notes to self: As I go through today — how do I ‘dance’ which refects my joy for the Lord? What does that look like? A dance is lovely, smooth, flowing, exhilirating and yet peaceful; the music is mine but the dance can touch others; 

salvation is beautiful . . .

Original post: beautiful living: making God attractive

OK, I have completely wasted a beautiful afternoon watching You Tube! But another great one:

Britain’s Got Talent: Stavros Flatly

I think it is called procrastination.

Although American Idol is considered the offspring of Britain’s Got Talent – Idol often seems garish compared to the BGT performances.

Bring a tissue and prepare to be knocked off your chair. One certainly cannot judge a songbird by her feathers as the judges and audience shamefully learned.

A lesson for all of us.

Britain’s Got Talent, Susan Boyle

A simply stunning moment on many levels. Enjoy.