good friday...

"papa?" mack finally said in a way

that felt very awkward, but he was trying.

~~~

"yes, honey?"

~~~

mack struggled for the words

to tell her what was in his heart.

"i'm so sorry that you,

that jesus, had to die."
~~~

she walked around the table

and gave mack another big hug.

"i know you are, and thank you.

but you need to know that we aren't sorry at all.

it was worth it. isn't that right, son?"

~~~

she turned to ask her question of jesus,

who had just entered the cabin.

"absolutely!" he paused and then looked at mack.

"and i would have done it

even if it were only for you,

but it wasn't!" he said with an inviting grin.

~~~

excerpt from the shack by wm. paul young

~~~

i'm reading the shack

and read this

this morning...

~~~

and cried.

~~~~~

~~~

~

know that jesus would have died

even if it were only for you!

peggy

morning walk...

nell and i

took a walk

down our country gravel road

this morning,

as we do most mornings.

~~~

each day the sights and sounds

are different.

~~~

these days

it's looking like...

sounding like...

spring!

~~~

it is very promising

to see the leaf buds

on the trees,

blue skies,

and sunshine.

~~~

it was good to hear
the wind blowing
across the water
and making music
with the clinking chunks of ice.
~~~
it was also good to hear
the blackbirds singing
their own song of spring.
~~~
it's sooo good
to see and hear
the sights and sounds
of spring!
~~~~~
~~~
~
looking and listening to spring...
peggy

tasty tuesday...

yummy, yummy

good-for-me

and good-for-you

bran muffins!

~~~

here's the recipe!

~~~

bran muffins

~~~

1 1/2 c wheat bran

1 c buttermilk

1/3 c oil

1 egg

2/3 c brown sugar

1 t vanilla

1 c flour

1 t baking powder

1 t soda

1/2 t salt

1/2 c raisins

~~~

mix wheat bran and buttermilk

together in a large bowl

and let stand for 10 minutes.

beat oil, sugar, egg, and vanilla

together in a small bowl

and then add to buttermilk and bran mixture.

add flour, baking powder, soda, salt,

and raisins

and stir until moistened.

bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes.

~~~

makes 1 dozen muffins

or 6 jumbo muffins.

~~~

p.s. i sometimes add 1 t cinnamon

to my bran muffins~yummy~ and

i always add extra raisins~

yummy yummy~ to my muffins!

~~~

bran muffins are one

of my very favorite muffins

and i love these!

~~~

i hope you'll try them!

~~~

p.s.s. i know that these

bran muffins would be

much healthier

without all the butter

but, like paula deen,

i looooove butter!

~~~~~

~~~

~

make it a buttery muffin day!

peggy

bunnies...

it's almost easter

and what would easter be

without bunnies?

~~~

this bunny

sits beside

his pink basket

waiting for it to be filled
with yummy easter candy!

~~~

this bunny family,

all soft, cuddly and sweet,

is clary's.

~~~

i found this cute little bunny

at an antique shop

and had to have him

for my own.

~~~

he's made of a hard rubbery plastic.

i love his pink eyes!

~~~

the springy-colored sprinkles

are in my kitchen

where i can see them

thruout the day and

enjoy their

pretty, pastel colors.

~~~~~

~~~

~

wishing you a hoppy day!

peggy

yellow...

spring is all about

color for me.

~~~

what would spring be

without yellow?

~~~

the shining sun...

~~~

daffodils...

~~~

sweet baby chicks...
~~~

and fuzzy baby ducks!

~~~
spring wouldn't be

spring

without yellow's

brightness and cheer!

~~~~~

~~~

~

make it a bright and cheerful day!

peggy

thinking spring...

the tulips

think it's spring...

~~~

the daffodils

think it's spring...

~~~

the snowdrops

definitely

think it's spring!

~~~

but looking outside my window

i can't be as sure.

~~~

it's cold, windy

and white fluffy snowflakes

are blowing wildly

thru the air!

~~~

it doesn't look like spring

and it certainly doesn't

feel like spring,

at least not today!

~~~

i think the tulips, daffodils, and snowdrops

are rite!

~~~

it is spring!

~~~

if not today,

tomorrow...

~~~~~

~~~

~

awaiting spring's return...

peggy

seeing green...

i'm happy to say

that i'm seeing green today!

~~~

green is

my color of choice

this time of year...

~~~
how about you?

don't you just love green?

~~~

this sweet little chicky

is proudly carrying

her green!

~~~

soon there will be

more green...

in my egg pots

and all around

outside!

~~~

it can't be soon enough

for me!

~~~

thinking green...

peggy

tasty tuesday...

sweet strawberries

and tart rhubarb

are bubbling together

with some sugar

to make some

yummy jam!

~~~

here's how...

~~~

strawberry rhubarb jam

~~~

2 c strawberries

3 c rhubarb

3 c sugar

1 pkg strawberry jello

~~~

combine strawberries, rhubarb, and sugar

in a large pan.

bring to a rolling boil.

reduce heat and

keep at a boil for 20 minutes.

remove from heat

and stir in strawberry jello.

pour into jars,

and refrigerate.

~~~

enjoy!

~~~

this is one of my favorite jams!

i enjoy it most mornings

on cracked wheat toast!

~~~

yum, yum, yum...

~~~

this jam is especially good

when you can harvest your own

fresh-grown

strawberries and rhubarb!

~~~~~

~~~

~

make it a tasty day...

peggy

another easter dress...

here is another

of clary's easter dresses,

a pretty white eyelet

easter dress

clary is not a girly girl

so a new easter dress

isn't likely...

~~~
clary's more of a

jeans and sweatshirt kinda girl,

like her mom!

~~~

so,

as it turns out,

i have saved her first

and probably last easter dresses!

~~~

she did look cute

in her white eyelet dress

and shiny white shoes!

~~~

she looks cute in her

jeans, sweatshirt,

and tennis shoes too...

~~~~~

~~~

~

wishing you fond memories of

a favorite easter dress!

peggy

signs of spring...

i was going thru some old pictures

and came across clary

in her first easter dress!

i thought it would be fun

to see this sweet little dress

every easter

so i pulled it out

of a chest filled with clothes

i've saved of hers

and

hung it in her room!

~~~

here it is...

all pretty and pink!

~~~

there are other signs of spring

in clary's room...

chicks,

a baby goose,

bunnies!

~~~

all sure signs of spring!

~~~

and the surest sign

of spring...

perched atop a pretty little hanky...

a robin!

and then this morning

i looked out

the kitchen window...

and saw a real robin!

spring is here!!!

~~~~~

~~~

~

enjoying the signs of spring...

peggy