Sunday, July 20, 2008

A Summer's Eve


Although Katie has already expounded on the not-so- great side of summer, I did want to put in a plug for the good side. Today, after the especially intense heat, I got to spend a few minutes outside in the cool of the evening picking these little babies, well I'm not sure if the picture shows it, but many of them are actually quite huge. And then I was able to spend another hour or more in the kitchen toodling around, cleaning them up and just enjoying my family. Summer evenings are great because they are so relaxed-bed times have been suspended until the fall to make way for the laid back summer mornings and so family time seems to be more easily found. I love sitting outside on the patio with my family sipping iced tea and watching the sunset without getting chilled. Be sure to take advantage of these nights before the night starts coming faster and colder. Take a walk, ride a bike, go for a night swim, listen to some Jack Johnson, have friends over for dinner or simply enjoy the solitude. Carpe Diem and Happy summer to all!

Friday, July 11, 2008

A Challenge From Lewis

A few friends and I have been going through Mere Christianity this summer and in my reading last night, Lewis was talking about many topics of social morality. In chapter three, book three, he discusses the point of charity in a way that was truly convicting. Take heed of this man's great wisdom.

"Some people nowadays say that charity ought to be unnecessary and that instead of giving to the poor we ought to be producing a society in which there were no poor to give to. They may be quite right in saying that we ought to produce that kind of society. But if anyone thinks that, as a consequence, you can stop giving in the meantime, then he has parted company with all Christian morality. I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc., is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them. ... For many of us the great obstacle to charity lies not in our luxurious living or desire for more money but in our fear- fear of insecurity. This must often be recognized as a temptation. Sometimes our pride also hinders our charity; we are tempted to spend more than we ought on the showy forms of generosity )tipping, hospitality) and less than we ought on those who really need our help."

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Monday, July 7, 2008

French Stir Fry

My beautiful friend, Kate, decided to post our newly made cookie recipe, and so instead of being redundant, I'll just add something of my very own creation. This was a pretty big hit at my house.

French Stir Fry
Brown one chopped onion, add 2 crushed cloves of garlic and 5-6 pieces of chicken (cubed). Cook thoroughly. Crack two eggs into the pan and let them sit for about a minute before stirring them in to finish cooking. Add 3 stalks of chopped celery, 1 1/2 cups of finely chopped carrots, 1/3 cup olive oil (give or take) and soy sauce until you like it. Use rosemary, fresh is the best, but dry works fine, celery salt, kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper for seasoning. Let is simmer for about 5 minutes and serve over rice.

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