I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

Today is Cupids Birthday….probably figured that one out by her name.  She turned three.

About a month or so ago I started taking pictures of things I saw that were either heart related or Love related.  Most of these things are around me all the time.  I really had not realized that I had a lot of stuff in my own home or surroundings that fell into this category.

As I noticed that it was everywhere around me…I thought…you know, that is the way it is supposed to be.  Love should be in everything we do.

I remember as a young teenager, I could hardly wait to get one of those BIG RED Heart Shaped boxes of candy!  I thought it would be the greatest. They are soooo pretty, and symbolized love.  Of course flowers did too.  It was so picture perfect.

But as I got older I found that I really didn’t care for the kind of candy that came in the box.  It was just pretty on the outside.   They have come a long way in that department.  You can now get some really good candy in those heart boxes.  Still, if you get a showing of love on just one day out of the year….then it is just that… a show.

Really we should see love and show love all year long.  In everything we do and in everything we say.  Now that is just not so easy to do.  Yet, if we start little by little, it will begin to come more naturally.  Funny thing is, you will see that you are also receiving more love than you really even knew.

There are some people who do not have a special person in their lives…at least not right now.  Or maybe they have someone, but they do not feel loved.  We can show that love to people we come across everyday.  It doesn’t have to be just a boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband.

Open a door for someone, let someone go ahead of you in the store line.  Really listen to someone who is talking to you.  Take a few minutes to visit someone.  Put a card in the mail to someone who is on your mind.  Tell someone they look nice today.  SMILE…it is contagious!

Yesterday I mentioned I Corinthians 13….the love chapter…in the 13th verse it says….And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

LOVE is great….Be sure you tell someone you LOVE them today…..and show it by being kind.  Let us not just show it today..on Valentines day…but everyday.

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

HAVE A HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Chocolate Torte

Pre-heat Oven to 350 degrees

First Layer:

1 Cup Self Rising Flour

1 Stick Butter

½ Cup Chopped Nuts (Pecans)

Blend together and press into a 9×13 inch pan. Cook for 20 minutes.

Let cool—then add second Layer

Second Layer:

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1- 8 oz. Pkg Cream Cheese

I use my mixer to cream them together.

Then just spoon in:

1- 1/2 Cup Cool Whip stir just until mixed ( Let cool whip soften a bit so you can spoon it out)

Wash off those beaters because you will need to use them again….

Third Layer:

1 Large box of Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix.(can use whatever one you desire..like lemon)

(If you like you can use 2 small boxes of pudding instead of 1 large one)

3 Cups Milk

Blend together with mixer for about 2 minutes.  Pour on top of second layer.

Here you can see the second layer under the chocolate pudding.

I put the remaining cool whip on top of the pudding.  I actually used two kinds of candy on this one.

I already had some little peanut butter cups and some minature hershey bars.

I chopped them and sprinkled them on.

I like to prepare this the morning—- of the day I am going to serve it. Refrigerate until time to serve.

It will last several days in the refrigerator..that is If  there is any left.  I find it looks prettier… fluffier on the first day.

Ingredient list:

1 cup Self Rising Flour

1 Stick Butter

½ Cup pecans

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

1-8 oz pkg cream cheese

16 oz Container Cool Whip

1 Large Box Instant Chocolate Pudding (or two small boxes)

3 Cups Milk

Candy for top if desired. Heath bar Reese Cup, Hershey Bar, Butterfinger etc. Can also sprinkle more pecans on top if desired.

Just so you know…I use the Blue Bonnet instead of real butter.  I always buy salted real butter, I really don’t want to buy unsalted…so this is what I use.  I have tried

the salted before in this recipe and it was toooooo salty.

Sorry I missed showing you what the 2nd step looks like…My grandaughter came to visit…so I was pre-occupied…HEE- HEE…

If you have any questions just comment of this blog section and I will do my best to help.

Taco Soup

1 pound ground meat (beef, turkey or buffalo!)

1 Onion (I prefer sweet onion like Vidalia)

1 Package Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (dry) (I keep the large container on hand measurements to equal individual pkg are on container)

1 Package Taco Seasoning

1 Can each: Pinto Beans, Corn, Stewed Tomatoes (I prefer diced), rotel w/chilies, Bush’s Chili Beans

Brown Meat and drain, saute onion then combine all ingredients.  I usually put it in the crock pot and let it heat thoroughly.

Great served with a spoonful of sour cream and some …ok… a lot of shredded cheese.

Wow, with Valentines around the corner I have seen the word LOVE everywhere.  I like that…I love lots of things…of course there are different kinds of love.  When I made a mental list of some of the things I love it was interesting how varied that list was.

It was everything from God and people in my life, to the things I enjoy doing and eating, places…etc.

I saw a list of Acronyms and thought some of them were good.

LOVE –Listen Overlook Value Encourage

LOVE- Love Overcomes Virtually Everything

LOVE-Lots Of Varied Emotions

LOVE- Love Others Very Eagerly

LOVE- Live Our Values Everyday

Most people have heard this passage of Scripture found in I Corinthians 13 …it is read at a lot at weddings.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails…..

OUCH….I sure do like to have that kind of love extended to me…but I really have to work on being able to show this kind of love to others.

Love is a wonderful thing…..

I suppose I will ponder about this just a little longer…

And because I do “LOVE” chocolate ….

Maybe I will just have a chocolate chip cookie and a cup of coffee…..and think about all the things I love.

WHAT?    I’ll  just eat ONE …..

This is my Mama!  Her birthday was this month.  She would have been 77.  Hard to believe.

She passed away just a few weeks before turning 70. I think about her each and everyday.   In case you didn’t know by now…..I love my Mama.  I had a wonderful childhood.

I reflect on past things all the time.  I don’t find it sad, I find it heart warming.  For instance, my mother grew Jonquils at the home where we were raised.  She would let me pick some before school for my teacher.  She would wet a paper towel, carefully wrap the stems and place plastic over that to hold the moisture until the teacher could place them in water.  Mama would hand me the flowers, kiss my check, tell me she loved me and send me off to school.  We usually walked or road our bikes. It is a wonder that they ever made it all the way there in one piece.  I can’t tell you how excited I was as a child to be able to give my teacher flowers..especially from our own yard.

We have had a very mild winter so far.  The Jonquils have decided to make an appearance.  I know they are way to early, yet I have loved the fact that they came at her birthday time.  I picked the rest of them yesterday because old man winter has decided to come for a visit.

Which I find funny too.  Since it is cold she would have welcomed you into her home with a bowl of Taco soup, a pone of cornbread, and a big glass of sweet tea.

So today I couldn’t help but think about her and smile an extra smile.  I have Jonquils on the table in a mason jar, and Taco soup in the crock pot for supper.

Now that truly warms me from head to toe!

He is so funny….

Layla and Jethro.

Violet always checking on her baby.  She is such a good Mama.

Violet and Jethro enjoying the sunshine.

He is a cutie and is growing quickly.  He is so white and with his floppy ears he looks like a little lamb.

Jethro is two weeks old today.  He is taller already and for the past few days I could tell the nubs for his horns have grown.  He loves to jump around and run.  He likes to climb on things and is already taking a little nibble here and there on the grass.

Watching him is a lot of fun.  He gets all excited when he sees us come to the fence.  But then again so do I!

Here are some of the things I saw this last week.  

Wherever you live you just get used to the views around you.  I haven’t gotten used to it just yet….or maybe I should  say I haven’t grown tired of it.

I love the character that is all around.  Like this little crooked building.  I can’t see that without smiling.  Weird huh?!  I know…I’m just that way.

Makes me just want to sit and rock a while……

Especially when your looking into a beautiful green field like this.

It is no wonder why people had porches with rockers especially years ago.  Enjoying the fresh air and the beautiful view  at the end of the day.   Relaxing after dishes were done and kids were in bed.  Admiring the moonlight and the bright stars as night time was ushered in.

Amazingly enough we can still enjoy those things.  If we would just make the time too.

I just might have to start doing that, more than every now and then.

Probably the best stress reliever ever!

Layla turned 4 this week.  I cannot believe how much she has grown.

She had a birthday party where there were lots of things to play on.

She had fun with family and friends.

Mickey Mouse even came to the Party!!!!!

Layla Loves Mickey!

So does Poo-Pa….

Layla had so much fun.  I think this will be a memory she will always have.

Layla has given us a million smiles and laughs.  She is a very adventurous little girl.  If you would like to see some of my favorite pictures through the years you can click on this smilebox.  I Love you Layla!

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