The Old Vinson Home Place

Last summer I went with my brother, Charles to visit the old Vinson farm. I was just a baby when grandma moved from the farmhouse into Mangum, so I have no memories there, but I love hearing stories from my family, from siblings and cousins who talk about the farm and grandma and grandpa Vinson. I never knew my grandfather so the photos, pages from his personal journal and stories about him are precious to me. I learned that he was something of a poet, so I know where my yearning to write poetry of all sorts came from. The town of Vinson, 20 miles west of Mangum, OK was named for Henry Benjamin Vinson, townsite owner and my great-great grandfather .

Wonderful, lonely, old house nestled in amongst the rattlesnakes and mesquite bushes

When I excitedly showed my aunts, uncles and mom the photos on my laptop it was so sad for them to see it as it is now,
but I love the layers on the old roof, the sagging boards, remaining windows and the rusty tin.

A roost for huge turkey vultures now. I'd like to tell you that they're hawks, or bald eagles...something majestic,
but they serve a purpose and they have pretty nice digs. 

I'll post more pics another day from when we saw great uncle Parker's house.

A bloom in the dry soil of West Oklahoma 

Kinda reminds me to bloom where God's planted me

Fruity Spinach Salad

I'm all about saving money by figuring out how I can make something at home for less. This recipe was inspired from three different sources: TV guy I saw make something similar, Panera Bread and the Wednesday night church salad bar. I can eat a whole huge bowl of this stuff! Eat it with one of my Sandwiches - not Just For Kids, or add some chicken to the salad for a meal. It's like having dinner and dessert at the same time! Feel free to add mandarin oranges or fresh pineapple, or to subtract other fruit. 

Fruity Spinach Salad

• Fresh or bagged Spinach (whole bag if for a crowd)
• Blueberries (or blackberries, raspberries...)
• Strawberries
• Walnuts (or pecans)
• Purple Onion
• Feta Cheese crumbles

Wash spinach in a colander and take the stems off the larger leaves while it drains. Wash fruit. Cap and quarter strawberries. Very thinly slice a small portion of the purple onion and cut into pieces. 

Place spinach in the bowl first then top with the rest of the beautiful ingredients. Drizzle the strawberry dressing over salad right before serving, or serve it on the side for guests to drizzle desired amount. 

Strawberry Dressing

• 1/4 c. Virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4 c. Honey (could cut this down a little)
• 1/4 c. Apple Cider Vinegar
• 4 large Strawberries

  Throw all together into a blender or food processor and blend until berries are fairly smooth.

People Can Disappoint

People can disappoint me, they can disappoint you.

I recently thought I was okay with a "something" that happened, or actually failed to happen, in spite of my lofty expectations. The Lord has lead me to realize this week that I need to overcome idol worship in many forms. No, I don't have any golden idols that I burn incense for and bow down in front of, but I have idols nonetheless. You probably have a few that need tearing down too. I think I'll share a series of my thoughts on various idols I've struggled with, and some I continue to haul around with me. These idols sit on my back and weigh me down. I'm ready to chop them to bits and have done with them, but I suspect I'll be just like the Israelites and keep struggling with honoring and fretting over things and people that were never meant to be God to me. A wise woman will realize that only with God's help can we be free of those things which drag us down, and eventually make slaves of us.

So first is PEOPLE as idols. My pastor says "Folks are just folks."  What he means is that people are flawed. They aren't prefect. They WILL hurt and disappoint us. Even the best people in our lives cannot be perfect. They can't fix everything, can't be there for us always....the list goes on. We expect so MUCH from people. Humans were never meant to be God to us. Our children, our husbands, our parents, our teachers, our pastors are not God, but we often treat them as if they should be. We either expect perfection and holiness or a relationship that was never meant to be filled by anyone other than God.  Or WE can set ourselves up as a god. Not THE God, but a god, because we demand perfection of others without mercy. We want adoration as the only one whose agenda matters, and we forget Who the true Lord of the Universe is. (We chuckle at that, but you know it's true)

We can be seriously hurt...both our pride and feelings if we set ourselves or others in God's place, AND it is a form of idolatry.

"Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other."  -Deuteronomy 4:39

Summer Blender Drinks - Pina Colada - Family Version

Drinks bought at coffee shops and restaurants can rack up the $$ for families trying to stay on a budget. There are probably plenty of recipes online for those willing to dig around and who really want to save money.
I will stick to what I know and love to make on my own. Feel free to add a link to your favorite recipes if you like. All of my drinks are family friendly, so there are no "adult" beverages here. :)
Making your own drinks can be quick and easy if you keep some things on hand, like fruit juices, fruit and yogurt. 
 

Pina Coladas for 2

• 1 cup Pineapple juice
• 4 Tab. Cream of Coconut (Not fresh juice. The stuff in a can has added sugar)
• 2 cups ice cubes
 

Put everything in the blender and blend, turning the blender off and on as needed to let things settle and blend into a frosty wonderfulness! That's all there is to it!  Can you believe it? Couldn't be more simple. Figure out how many of these you can make for the cost of juice and a can of cream coconut and you'll think twice about going to Sonic or anywhere else even at happy hour.If there are ice cube chunks in the bottom of your glass that means you either didn't blend long enough, or your blender is having trouble withe the cubes. I have a blender that was mom's, made in the 1970s and it is a powerhouse!

Now go make some other fruity drinks and smoothies. You can do it!