New Day . . . New Look . . .

If you've been visiting here for a while, you may notice that things look a little different. First and foremost, that I haven't been here lately.  

Over the years, this blog has grown with me. It began as a place to share the busy days of raising a family, cooking large meals, celebrating grandchildren, and posting about life's everyday moments. But time has a way of gently changing us. Now, in my seventies, I've realized my heart has grown to hold even more family time and more quiet moments. Family will always be at the center of my life, but so are quiet mornings, faith, creativity, country living, good food, lifelong learning, and finding joy in the ordinary days that life has so graciously given to me on a daily basis. I hope this new chapter of my blog reflects not just where I've been, but who I am today. Thank you for walking this journey with me. I'm so glad you're here.

You know that music has always been a huge part of my life, so it just wouldn't feel like my blog if I didn't occasionally share a song that I have listened to through the years—or maybe a new one I've recently discovered. Since this blog is beginning a new season centered around a country woman's heart, it seems only fitting to start with an old country favorite. Even after all these years, this song still makes me smile. It takes me back to simpler days and brings with it some of my sweetest memories of yesteryear...

Our family is growing!

I mentioned in one of my last posts that my granddaughter, Taylor, and her husband, Braedon, are expecting a baby boy. Needless to say, I'm beyond excited! She's due in August, and as the big day gets closer, I find myself getting more and more excited to meet this precious new baby.

This photo was taken at Taylor's baby shower. Doesn't she look absolutely radiant? There's something so beautiful about an expectant mommy. Happy, glowing, barefoot, and pregnant... I hope she treasures this happy season in her life.

We bought a new car!

As we've gotten older, we've realized how important it is to drive a car that we can depend on. After a lot of thought, we decided it was time for an update.

As it turned out, the timing was perfect! Our grandson and his wife were looking for a new car, so they bought ours. It couldn't have worked out better for everyone.

We ended up buying a Lincoln Nautilus. Now, I have to admit, this car definitely comes with a bit of a learning curve! It has more technology than anything we've ever owned. But can I just say...my husband absolutely loves it! Every day we seem to discover another feature, and little by little, we're getting the hang of it.

This is Christian and his wife, Lisa, standing beside their new car. They absolutely love it, and that makes me smile.

Since they live in a large city, it gives me peace of mind knowing they have a dependable vehicle. As a grandma, you never stop caring about your family, no matter how old they are. It's comforting to know they're driving a car they can rely on.

We did some landscaping!

After taking down four very large pine trees in our front yard, we knew it was time to do a little landscaping. We added a new flower bed across the front of the house, and I can hardly believe what a difference it made. It completely changed the look of our home!

When Christian and Lisa came to visit last week, the first thing they asked was, "Are you staging your house?" They thought we were getting ready to sell!

Nope...we're not going anywhere. We simply wanted to freshen things up and make our little home more inviting.  A few flowers, a lot of hard work, and a fresh perspective are all it takes to fall in love with your home again.

We still have a few bare spots that need to be replanted, but it's coming along beautifully! Next year, after we've finished filling in the flower bed and making any changes we decide on, we're thinking about adding concrete edging to give it a more finished look.

As with most projects around the house, we're taking it one step at a time. So far, we have loved watching this flower bed take shape and add beauty to our front yard.

The weather and the wind!

If there has been one theme this spring and summer in Idaho, it's been the wind! I honestly don't think we've had more than a handful of calm days since the weather warmed up. 

To make matters worse, we're in the middle of a severe drought, and the constant wind only adds to the dry conditions. Lawns are struggling, gardens need extra attention, and everything seems to dry out almost as soon as it's watered. We're hoping and praying for a good, soaking rain—and maybe a few peaceful days without the wind!

We did plant a garden this year, and can I just say...I have a bumper crop of rhubarb and weeds!

The first part of June brought a hard freeze. Even though we covered all of the tender plants, they still got touched by the frost. My tomatoes suffered the most, and at this rate, I'm not sure I'll be picking a fresh, homegrown tomato until September.  With a little patience and sunshine, we might even get a zucchini!

Tonight I made Spanish Rice for dinner, and it was delicious! It's one of those recipes that takes me right back to my childhood.

My mother used to make Spanish Rice years ago, and no matter how many times I've tried, I just can't make it taste quite like hers. Isn't that funny? There always seems to be something special about our mothers' cooking that can't quite be duplicated.

I only wish she were still here so I could stand beside her in the kitchen one more time and write down exactly how she made it. I'd probably discover that her secret ingredient wasn't anything fancy at all...just years of experience and a whole lot of love.

This may not be my mother's recipe, but it's my version, and I have to admit...it's pretty tasty!

SPANISH RICE

1 lb. ground beef                          1 green pepper, diced

1 medium yellow onion               4 cups prepared white rice

1 15 ounce can tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes                    

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbls. chili powder or to taste

In a large pot, add the ground beef, green pepper, diced onion.  Over medium high heat, fry until the ground beef is done and the onions are translucent.  Add the rice and tomatoes.  Stir until everything is combined.  Add salt and pepper.  Stir together and enjoy.                                      

Well, I think I've said enough for tonight.   I have so much more to share, but I think I'll save it for another day.

Hugs and love until next time.

Barb