Summer Garden Salsa

My Raised Gardens

This AMAZING salsa recipe was the inspiration behind my salsa garden! I have tweaked it a little from my Mother-in-law's original recipe but it is without a doubt still her incredible recipe.

Summer Garden Salsa

2 Large Tomato's

3 Roma Tomato's

1/2 Red Onion

1/2 Yellow Onion

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

1/2 Yellow Bell Pepper

2-3 Jalapenos (without seeds or with if you want to breath fire!)

1 1/2-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil

2-3 Tablespoons of Garlic Salt

3 Tablespoons of White Vinegar
Cilantro to your liking!

Chop up all your veggies into large chunks. Combined all your tomato's in a food processor and blend until all the chunks are gone. (if you like your salsa a little chunky blend it a little less) Pour tomato's into a large mixing bowl. Combined onions, peppers and jalapenos in the processor and blend (you may have to do each veggie separate if you have a smaller food processor like mine). Pour into the large mixing bowl. Add the olive oil, garlic salt, vinegar and minced cilantro to your mixing bowl. Stir all the ingredient together and there you have your homemade Summer Garden Salsa...ENJOY!

For the love of tomato soup

I think the title says it all...enough said!

Summer Project 1- check

So, I have never gardened before but I was gun hoe about making a salsa garden this year. My dear friend Natalie just continues to inspire me and pushes me to "live" and not keep up with the Jones. Mine you she has garden that is beyond awesome. Austin jokes about keeping up with the Fabry's...love ya guys! Anyhow we made a beautiful garden this year and we will have salsa coming out of our ears by the end of summer. So, if you get a can of salsa for a gift this year do be surprised. :)
We started or raised garden by getting old used lumber out of the dump pile--$0
With that wood we were able to make two 4x6 raised garden beds and two flower boxes.
I purchased 10 4gallon buckets off of craigslist for $1 each--$10
In the buckets we planted four tomato plants and three bushes.
Austin and I then found dirt and top soil that someone had dumped in an extra lot near our house that had been just sitting there. So, we loaded the pickup down with dirt--$0
We then purchased our veggies, planting soil and peat moss.-$45
Our total garden adventure--$55.00 bucks---I think Dave Ramsey would be proud.
What we planted:
4 jalapeno plants
8 yellow onions
16 purple onions
3 yellow pepper plants
3 red pepper plants
2 roma tomato plants
2 larger tomato plants
4 zucchini
4 yellow squash
8 garlic

Haulin' Dirt

Bushes-we are hoping this will break up the dogs running path
Flower boxes and Ellie Mae
Raised garden

Raised gardens and tomato plants

Good Friday

I woke up the this morning and had a wonderful reflection time with God. It got me thinking about Good Friday and what it really means. Of course, I am completely thrilled that Good Friday means that Austin has off work but what does it mean from a biblical perspective.
John 19:42 Because it was the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus their.
Jesus Christ was crucified and was put to death at Calvary. Good Friday is a day of observation of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for us.
So, this leads me to question. Why do most places stay open? Why are schools still teaching today? Why? Why? Why are we not slowing down our lives long enough to reflect on the most important event that will ever take place? Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected and we can't even sit still long enough to reflect....oh, and trust me I am guiltily of this myself.
So, what does it mean that Jesus died on the cross...in a book that I read this morning it was put this way....
When Jesus died on the cross, it simply means that Jesus took all that I have coming to me-pain, sickness, failure, confusion, hatred, rejection, and death- and gave me all that He had coming to Him-all His wholeness, healing, love, acceptance, peace, joy, and life. (7 Prayers)
In conclusion, whether you are running around like a chicken with its head cut off (I'm guilty) or you have the day off. Take a moment to notice what God is doing in your life, the people that He has blessed you with and His word that we can openly live by. He is continuously blessing our lives....How has God blessed you? I love you all...and God has truly blessed me by allowing me to have each and everyone of you in my life.

April

Wow, April is here and almost gone again. I have been a sad little blogger lately and to those that take interest in our crazy little life...I am sorry! Below are a few fun pictures that I have taken throughout the month of April.

April 17, 2011-Ridgeway Baptist Church Egg Hunt

Grace Ann helped Logan Faith fill her Easter basket. Logan had fun picking up the eggs

Logan helping her Daddy build flower baskets. Two peas in a pod

Logan watching Qubo in the morning...more importantly her first ponytail :)

A day at the ball field

Daddy teaching Logan the in's and out's of home run durby

Lunch in the back of the van before we head out to the ball field.

Logan loves to give high five's

Hello Spring

Ahhh, spring has finally sprung and I am feeling it. I have struggled with doing anything indoors; I want to play hooky from "life" and celebrate God's beautiful spring weather by playing outside. Oh, but as life would have it we have been thrown a curve ball or two or three....ok so they just keep comin'...so I just keep swinggin'. It has been a while since I have last blogged and a lot has happened. I will attempt to catch you up to speed on what is happening....so no pictures this time around. Austin is doing GREAT as always. He is playing basketball on Wednesday and Friday mornings with the guys from church and loving every minute of it. On Tuesday mornings he is doing a bible study with a few guys from our church. He just finished up Place bible study class on Wednesday evening which he loved. His home inspection company is doing good; we imagine we will see it pick up a bit more as the weather continues to get nicer. You should check out his website at www.relianceok.com; he created it himself. I love it, nothing is out of reach for Austin, his skills are limitless. Including being an amazing husband and father. I am completely convinced that Austin could be Mr. Mom, his love for Logan is amazing. I have learned a whole new and incredible side of Austin when he became a father. Ahhhh....ok....so I will just say it....my husband ROCKS and I love him to pieces. Logan is becoming this little girl and I mean "girly girl"...she loves her purse, baby doll (gusanna), helping do anything (cleaning, laundry, getting ready, putting on makeup), loves being outside, dancing, music, animals, people and so much more. She is extremely cautious and a very calculated decision maker; although when she is sure about something she just goes for it. She loves her dogs (Lincoln and Ellie) but is sure to tell them who is boss if they get in her face. This past week and half we have been battling Logan's first double ear infection and cutting her back teeth...can anyone say lack of sleep...oh, but we just keep on keepin on! We have a follow up appt. today, so please say a pray that she is healthy. Logan is learning so much including some of the things we hoped she wouldn't like hitting. I know that she gets this from me and man she has one mean little swing on her for such a girly girl...she is going to have a rockin right hook. Anyhow, when I discipline the dogs for getting in her face I will tell them no and spank them on the butt. And I know that she has seen me swat them for stealing her food....like mother like daughter. So, needless to say I have hit a learning curve myself...how to disciple the dogs without hitting...if only someone would give me a timeout to think about this....oh, yes please give me a timeout. :) Speaking of timeout, Logan has been such a little snuggle butt lately and has loved our time rocking in the mornings, before bed and sometimes in the afternoons and I have loved taking the time to just relax and hold her in my arms...ahhh, to be a mom...I love it! As for me I am doing good...I feel like I have been busier than a one legged man in a butt kickin contest (visualizing that is quit funny). Anyhow, I am still working from home with Tulsa OBGYN and I am struggling finding the want to work attitude like I use it have. I find that I have been more focused on my families needs, God and finding my health happy spot in life. I am also selling Mary Kay and am extremely happy about it and feel like it offers such a great opportunity. This past few weeks I have seriously neglected work of any kind and I am beginning to feel guilty for not being able to juggle it all. Ahhh, the life of a working wife and mom. On the upside of things I am really driven about my relationships...God, my husband, daughter and family in general. I am learning and not just saying that "the most important things in life aren't things". I am so excited about what God is doing in our life...I love love love our church and our church family. I have started taking pictures once a month for the church which in turn has made me think about photography classes. How cool would it be to capture life and be able to frame it, make it still and preserved it for a visual memory. I am also taking a Wednesday night women's bible study that will last a life time, the study itself is a year long but the application is a life time. Logan and I just started going to "stroller mom's" running group on Tuesday and Thursday morning. It is so great to get out and meet other stay at home mom's and it is such a positive environment. I have so many projects in mind that I just can't keep up with myself. Right now we are working on a raised salsa garden. My inspiration comes from my amazing friend Natalie. I have found that our idea's of life and what it should be parallel so much. Ok, so this is my dream like in a nut shell...a small self sustaining farm. I really wanted to be Amish when I was growing up....no really! :) I think I am reverting back to my childhood dreams....Amish with electricity of course. Wow, apparently I had a lot to say....yes I had a cup of coffee this morning...just call me chatty patty. A few last minute things. We are trying to sell our house so we can would on that whole self sustaining farm dream...yes I am for real so please keep us in your prayer. This past week I drove to Illinois to pick up Kallie and Codey Spragg. They stayed with us for spring break and we had a blast. Thank you Josh and Kari for letting us steal your kids for a week. We had so much fun swimming, baking, planting flowers, going to incredible pizza, hiking and going to church. I loving having a house full of kids the chatter was certainly endless...hahaha. I love you all very much and I hope you each find that life offers you such happiness... --SLOW DOWN--And notice God working in your life; He is in everything you do. Engage in what you are doing at the moment; be present. Make space in your life for God and you will find contentment, rest, joy and abundance on the inside....this is from a Sunday service that Pastor Scott preached on.

Craft Project

This is a craft project that I did in December, I had a lot of fun making this wall hanging. Of Course, it is our last name and the year Austin and I got married. I got the idea from a craft blog that I follow; I changed a few things up based on materials and price. Anyhow, I thought this would be a great idea for a homemade gift or personalizing your home decor. This was certainly my first go around with it and I would change a few things about it. I found the frame at a garage sale (I would spray paint it black to match the wording), the stencils are from Hobby Lobby, I use acrylic paint for the lettering (I would have put the lettering on the back of the glass & made the numbers smaller and put est. 2008), and the backing is a material that I picked out at a fabric store. A fun little project overall!