Happy Labor Day and Roasted Okra

Happy Labor Day, everyone!
Can you believe it is September already??
My, how the summer has flown by!
I know the day is almost over but I wanted to try to get in a post.

I haven't even set my eyes on a blog for the past several days...

...things going on that I will blog about later.
I will also do my best to get caught up on my reading throughout the week!
~

So...I'm doing a food post today...imagine that!

Yesterday a dear, sweet gentleman at church brought bounty from his garden.
I took home some okra, thinking I might fry me up a little.
I thought I only like it fried...well, I was wrong!

A friend at church was also taking some and she told me about the way she cooked hers.

Well, I have a husband who doesn't like his veggies plus he's also working (what, on Labor Day??), 
so I made it tonight...just for ME :)
~
I used my toaster oven for such a small amount...
...and put them on skewers...two to keep them from rolling around when you turn them over.

Drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper (I used garlic pepper) and since I didn't have any cayenne,
I used paprika for a substitute...I do think the cayenne pepper would have been delicious.




I cooked these in  my toaster oven and it worked great!

 I had the setting on "toast" so both burners were on and I flipped them once.
I went out and took my doggies to potty and when I came back in, they were done...
...I'd say probably no more than 10-15 minutes!



They were brown and sizzlin' hot...but they cool down fast, so eat 'em quickly!

I wasn't sure if  I would like them so I only cooked four.
I could have eaten four more...they were so very yummy!

All that was left behind were the handles!

~

So...there you have it...a new way (for me anyway) to eat okra!

~

I hope you have had a relaxing Labor Day...

...tomorrow, it's back to the ol' grind!

YES, I'VE BEEN HACKED!

NOTICE TO ALL OF MY

BLOG FOLLOWERS:

 

 I have been HACKED!

 

Please do NOT open an email from me

unless it looks like a blog post!

 

This is my first time (hopefully last time)

and I hope no BUGS have been released!

 

I have changed my password

so I am hoping there will be no other spam!!

 

I am so sorry, guys!!

 

 

Debby

The "Sunny Side" of Life

Welcome to the Sunny Side!

The Sunny Side General Store, that is!

We discovered this little diamond-in-the-rough back when our cabin was being built...
...as we were traveling back and forth to the Fancy Gap, VA area.

They don't make 'em like this anymore, folks.

From the front, it looks like a tiny little junky store...not much to look at, huh?

You know what they say...looks can sometimes be deceiving.

You see, it's built on a slope and there are actually three levels.
~
You can find just about anything here.
 

From hardware to underwear...literally!

I am not kidding...take a look for yourself.

 

Entering the front door, you will find hardware, old time penny candy,
lovely expensive glassware, silk flowers, miscellaneous knick-knacks and other items.



Need a some tools...or a little red wagon...or maybe a wind chime??
~
Notice that light bulbs and other household items are on the shelf above the candy bars :)

There are several stairways leading down to various other levels or "departments".



It would take you most of the day to go through just the housewares department alone!
See that rooster mug?
Jim bought one for me for my birthday a few years back :)
~
There were some really cute dresses and tops down in Ladies' too.



Good quality stuff!
~
Carhartt jackets and work clothes, jeans, boots and plenty of hats of all kinds.
(lots of farmers and hunters around these parts!)

Hang a left at men's underwear and take the steps down to...

...furniture and rugs, of course!

 

When we visited here about a month ago, I actually lost my hubby, Jim.

I am serious when I tell you it really took me quite a while to find him...lol!

~

So, if you ever make it to Fancy Gap, you really must try to stop at Sunny Side!

I leave you with this little reminder...

Blessings, friends!



Beach Fences

Hello, from Carolina Beach...I finally made it!

Do you remember back in January when I was only going to Carolina (Beach) in my mind?

Well, I am posting this as I'm listening to the lovely sound of the waves crashing against the shore!

I'm soooo excited to be here!

We arrived yesterday afternoon and drove a few miles down the coast to Fort Fisher

while we waited to get into our room.

I just love the rocks along the shoreline and this great fence.

I came back this morning to get a shot of the sunrise.

The sky was a brilliant pink, it was 81 degrees and about 90% humidity at 5 AM...

...muggy is not quite a strong enough word to describe it.

It was all I could do to get any decent photos due to the lens fogging up.

One of my favorite things about Fort Fisher are these wonderful trees...

...I love the way the wind and waves have shaped them through the years.

Back at the beach walkway from our condo.

An afternoon thunderstorm came through and cooled things off considerably...

...we were SO thankful for this!

And this evening, this friendly guy let me walk right up to him as we walked the pier.

It's back to the real world after tomorrow :(
Oh well....
~
I'm linking up with Tex at the Run*A*Round Ranch for Good Fences.
Have a great Friday!

Among the Trees

Alone with myself, the trees bend to caress me.
The shade hugs my heart.
~Candy Polgar

~

I took a little time for a personal retreat on Friday at this newly discovered nature preserve

not too far from my home...beautifully quiet and peaceful.

I really liked the quote I found (above) but the only thing I would change is the part that says

alone with myself...I wasn't alone...not alone at all.

~

I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

 "And the LORD God made all kinds of tree grow out of the ground—
trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food." 
Genesis 2:9

"TREE"

~Justin Rizzo

Unmovable, unshakable; 
let my roots go down deep
Unmovable, unshakable 
In You
~
I want to be like a tree
Planted by the streams
Of living water
This will be my song God
This will be my prayer

Until the end, until the end.



A soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit.
Proverbs 15:4

"He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. 
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. 
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:8



 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 
Psalm 42:1



"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
Psalm 62:1-2 



May you have a restful Lord's Day and a wonderful week ahead!
Blessings,

I'm sharing with...

Charlotte at Spiritual Sundays
Inspire Me Monday
Cindy at Amaze Me Monday
Joan at Beauty in His Grip

More Fences from the "Gap"

...Fancy Gap, that is.
~
You know, it's funny...

...last week I was away from internet access for a few days (because we were in Fancy Gap)
and it seemed like something was missing from my week since I wasn't able to link up
with Theresa for the Good Fences party!!

~

So, I'm going back through my old pics today looking for a few fences.

I think might just need to go out this weekend and do a fence photo shoot...

...as I seem to be running low!

 

These wild sweet peas grow wild all along the gravel road to the cabin.
They were just about to burst open, as you can see.

 

This is Buffalo Mountain, looking toward the Blue Ridge Parkway from the main road.  

You have to look closely, but there really is a fence in this pic.

See it??

 

 

I love the way the rising sun came filtering through the trees on this misty morning.

 

 

And nothing completes a picture of a fence better than a few cows grazing.
~

So until next week (I hope), happy fence finding, y'all!


 









Still Standing

Happy Tuesday morning (actually it's almost noon here)

...I hope yours is going great so far!

~

Today I am sharing photos of this wonderful old chimney.

I thought Roan's Rubbish Tuesday would be just the perfect place.

 

 

I wish I knew a little more about it's history or even how old it is.

 It sits probably no more than 25 feet off the road...at least where the road is now.

I'm pretty sure when it still had a home attached, the road was farther away...

...I hope so, anyway :)

 

I'd say it is probably less than a quarter mile from my home...

...just a hop, skip and a jump from the entrance to the subdivision where I live.

Most of the photos were snapped right out of my car window.

 

 

This photo was taken at another time, just as the evening sun was beginning to set.

I love the way the sunlight made it seem to glow. 

~

So every day I pass it by...just wondering...

...a homeless chimney, still standing, braving the elements for years and years.

I wonder about the families who must have been kept warm by it's fires...

...or if there were ever children who roasted marshmallows in it's glowing embers...

...or how many Christmas stockings might have been hung with care.

I may never know the answers but it is fun to ponder such things.

~

Have blessed day!