It’s Been Awhile

I know, it’s been awhile since I last wrote a post. I have been extremely busy. I know you all are busy too. It’s seems like I am more busy since I retired than I was when I was working. But I am really enjoying myself.

I’m driving a lot, over an hour drive down to take care of Mom. I drive her into town to do her shopping, and we eat in town. Then back out to her house. She lives 7 miles out in the country. Sometimes I help her with things she can’t do, like change out light bulbs and such. Then I drive back home. It’s pretty much a full day, 2 to 3 times a week. It’s actually kind of nice to get out of the city and go to the country.

I’ve also been trying to work on some projects, in between the Mom-visits. Here’s one of my projects. I had this bench that I had decided to recover. It originally had a cruddy green cover and right away I covered over that with a plum colored corduroy. Well, tastes change and so has my sofa. We bought a gray sofa last year and I wanted something that would coordinate with the sofa.

recovered bench

I like this a lot better than the corduroy.

I did a quick project for my kitchen. I repainted my knife block and used the same paint that I used to paint the pantry door. Plus I added a wood cutout. I think it turned out pretty good.

knife stand 2

knife stand 1

knife stand 4

knife stand 3

And another little Pinterest pick-me-up. I found this great recipe, a copycat Mocha Frappuccino. Actually it has saved me a lot of money. I used to go to my favorite coffee shop every  day and I haven’t been there since I found this recipe. I use ground coffee which I bought at my local grocery store.

I make the coffee in a 3 cup coffee maker and I double the ground to make it as strong as an espresso. I refrigerate it to cool it down and I keep the remainder in a glass jar in the fridge, ready for whenever I want a frap.

I altered it to my taste and I use my NutriBullet to mix it up.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup French Roast ground coffee
1/4 cup sugar (or just under the quarter cup)
1 cup 2% milk (I add a little extra over the cup)
1 tablespoon dark chocolate syrup (you could substitute Caramel syrup for a caramel frap)
ice to not quite fill the large NutriBullet cup (use less if you don’t want it too thick)
RediWhip to top off the glass.

copycat mocha frap 3copycat mocha frap 6copycat mocha frap 7copycat mocha frap 8

It is sooo good. Only thing is, it makes a huge glass, probably enough for both a venti and a grande. It lasts me all of an hour.

Another project. I had been looking for some pretty magnets for my fridge but couldn’t find any so I decided to make some. I bought a package of magnets and some scrapbook paper that would coordinate with my kitchen décor. I had a hole punch that was exactly the right size to fit the magnets so I punched a bunch of holes from the paper and peeled the paper off the back of the magnets and attached the scrapbook paper punches. Easy. For some of the magnets, I painted the edges of the magnets with coordinating nail polish.

magnets 1magnets 2magnets finished

I do love DIY projects, especially the ones that I can do on my own and not have to bother my husband for help. He has quite a list of his own projects (some of which I put on his list).

My most inspiring photos are this flag. Amazing, right. I do love  this flag. I think about that flag and our founding Fathers, and all the men and women who served to defend our flag. I’m proud of them all.

flag wavingflag waving 2

I know we’re all aware that this is an incredibly important election year. And we’re all sick and tired of the mud-slinging campaigning. The closer we get to November, the worse it seems to get. But let’s all remember that this was a great nation, and we can be again. I think about this verse that tells me that no politician is going to “fix” America. Only God can do that. Though we do have a responsibility to vote for leaders who stand for God and stand for Israel. 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

What scares me most, is that there are millions of people who call themselves Christian but they do not vote with Christian values. They vote for Liberals who support abortion, homosexuality, taking God out of everything. They vote for the politicians who support everything that God hates. How is it that a Christian can vote for leaders who hate the God that they say they love? That’s one I will never comprehend, unless they are only carnal Christians. If that’s what they are, they have more to worry about than who is going to be the next president.

In case you didn’t guess, I’m as frustrated as many of you. But I want to encourage you with this. God is on His throne, and none of this election stuff has surprised Him. He is in control of all that is going on. I do believe that another great awakening is coming to America. All is not lost. We do have hope. Our hope is in Jesus. Be sure to read your Bible, stay in the Word. And remember, our hope was never in our politicians. Let’s pray for a revival to come to America. Pray. Pray. Pray.

Keep your chin up and shoulders back and smile.  🙂

Love ya,

Karen

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