Lorraine, Author at Lorraine D. Hebler

Peach Chutney

By Lorraine

Looking for something to perk up a turkey or ham sandwich or to serve alongside grilled chicken or pork chops? Easy peach chutney made from fresh peaches, has a mild kick and is a sweet condiment great in so many ways.Continue Reading

An Easy Kitchen Shelf

By Lorraine

Keeping up with family gatherings and general summer yard work and responsibilities has kept me from working on many projects but we did manage a small shelf at the end of the cabinets in the kitchen.

And as you know…

If you give a shelf a coat of paint

you begin touching-up those little nicks on the doors

which makes you notice the tiny chips on the trim work

that in turn, highlights the dings in the surbases

that brings attention to the scratches in the foyer

that magnifies the grime around the handle on the front door

then reminds you the shelf needs a second coat of paint…

An Easy Kitchen Shelf

So here is the little shelf that stared it all.

An easy DIY kitchen shelf adds a decorative and functional element to cabinets and counter top giving extra space for serving.

My project was twofold. I wanted to add a little interest to the end of the cabinet and, since I often serve from this counter top, I knew a little shelf would give added space for glasses or utensils. We had the wood scraps and brackets in the garage and came up with a simple design.

Decorative and Functional Shelf

A little decorative and functional shelf.

Think on These Things ~ White

By Lorraine

White As Snow lyrics Leon Olguin / Kelly Willard

“Come now, let us reason together,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

~✿~

No party link-up this week just a few photos of a Damselfly visiting while I photographed the bright, white phlox in my garden

🙂

Pineapple Baked Beans

By Lorraine

My very favorite recipe for baked beans is this one (also below) but when I don’t have time to prepare from scratch, Pineapple Baked Beans is an easy and delicious alternative.

Many years ago, my cousin, Tammy was married in Hawaii. Her sister hosted a reception on Tammy & Wayne’s return with a Hawaiian theme and I shared this recipe with her.

Pineapple Baked Beans

PRINT RECIPE

2 Tbs. shortening
1/2 cup green pepper chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 16-oz cans pork and beans, drained
20 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
3/4 cup catsup
1/4 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1-2 Tbs. yellow mustard

Sauté onions and peppers in oil about 5 mins. Stir in beans, pineapple, catsup, molasses, brown sugar and mustard. Cover and cook over low heat for 20 minutes.

NOTE: This recipe makes a lot so you might want to half it.

My favorite Baked Beans recipe:

The Gift

By Lorraine

Have you ever thought God had given you a no-reason gift? I think that is exactly what he did for me.

A couple of days before trash pick-up, I noticed a piece of furniture on a curb. I drove by several times doing my usual errands and glanced each time I passed.

Coming home one evening with John and Abbey, I asked if we could stop and pick up the mirror. We did and saw a bench that we grabbed as well. When we got it home and into the garage, I was so excited to see its quality and design. I loved it!

Then I thought about the piece still lying there. In the dark, I wasn’t even sure what it was but I liked the feet on it. A day and a half later, thinking it would surely be gone, John and Abbey drove over to see. They brought it home and my heart jumped for joy to see how beautiful this vanity was.

I have no need for a mirrored vanity as it was designed and thought at first I would use the vanity as a desk in the living room as it totally works there. I decided, instead, to put it in the dining room and use as a side buffet. Inspiration struck and I drug in a bookcase I had since childhood and hoisted it on top. It isn’t a perfect match but I am really liking the new look.

Even after a good scrubbing, there are some stains and blemishes but nothing a doily can’t conceal.

Graceful curves and lots of drawers for storing table linens and serving pieces are a bonus.

I am still playing around with the arrangement of items on and around the top.

The bench needs to be recovered but for now a lace panel will do.

Here is the mirror ~ it is full length and will be in the living room for the time being.

We removed the shorter side mirrors and have then standing in front of the sidelights at the front door to block Raiders view of folks passing by. He doesn’t bark if he doesn’t see anything 😉
Look closely and you can see Raiders refection in the mirror above.

I found this photo online from Stanley Furniture and learned the piece is called ‘Caroline’.

That was my mom’s name too.

Linking to Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

New Job

By Lorraine

Abbey began a new job today.

After almost four years as a server at Friendly’s she was ready to move on.

She is very excited

She even let me snap a few photos

🙂

Think on These Things #22 Wishing

By Lorraine

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Luke 18:1

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

~✿~

Has God impressed on your heart something special this week?
Was there a Scripture verse, a song, a quote, a poem or an encouraging word that came your way and caused you to pause.
I’d love for you to share.

Here’s how:
Please link directly to your post, NOT your blog home page.

You will need to leave a link back to this post (called a permalink) so others can come by
Think on These Things

Before and After

By Lorraine

My hydrangea bushes are full of buds and were beginning to bloom.

This is how they look after an twelve-day heatwave with several days in the triple digits, even with daily watering.

Fortunately, with diligent attention and watering, my other flowers are doing okay.

Hoping for some rain as we begin another heatwave stretch!

Pepper Jam

By Lorraine

Recently, a friend brought over a dip that our bible study group devoured! It was a simple dip she made with cream cheese and pepper jam. I had never heard of pepper jam and was intrigued and wanted to make it myself. Continue Reading

Summertime

By Lorraine

Sweet moments in our Sweet NY-er kids summertime…

Ryan was picked to play in the All-Star tournament. His team was undefeated and won the Championship!

He may be one of the littlest guys on the team (#3) but he brings a lot of skill and talent at center field and 2nd base. (During regular season, he played pitcher, short stop, catcher and 3rd)

Forth of July ~ love Rudy’s puppy perspective of a parade

the following two photos are from WKTV

Comment from Jill on her fb post: I didn’t feel like I was
dying even though I look like it 😉 Oh…and contrary to the clock, my time was
1:41:10. Didn’t start until 11 min after the Kenyans. They were almost done
when I started 🙂

Once again, our daughter, Jill ran in the Boilermaker race in Utica, NY where nearly 14,000 runners participated in the nine point three mile race.

This is the second time she ran and this time to raise funds for an ultrasound for CareNet Pregnancy Center of Central New York, an organization she works for. She raised over $2000!

She works as the director of abstinence education program.

Looking less pained, Jill is on the far right in this photo

~Jill and Brad~

Hot July 4th

By Lorraine

After an intensely busy May and June, then a nasty stomach bug last Saturday and Sunday, John and I enjoyed a laid back, mid-week 4th of July.

Early breakfast on the patio before the high 90’s temp with matching humidity, included Cream Biscuits with jam and strawberries from a recipe shared by Kitty @Kitty’s Kozy Kitchen.

We made plans to head to my favorite nursery for a break from chores and responsibilities and maybe pick up a few new plants to fill empty spots in the gardens.

After the thirty minute drive my head was beginning to clear and I got excited to see all of the selections offered at this beautiful nursery.

Owners James & Joan Pope are very friendly and helpful.

Rosie, the goat was at her usual place, perched on a bench shaded by a trumpet vine.

Rosie seems to be keeping an eye on the bunnies in the cages nearby.

She was cool and comfortable and looking dapper in her purple bandana.

There are a lot of animals to see here but it was just so hot we visited only a few located up front.

This young emu hatched in February and a couple of cute ducks quacked for our attention.

I came home with more than I wanted but who can resist… I wanted one of everything!

Bees, butterflies and moths were as happy as us with so many beautiful blossoms.

A peek out the back door of the shop revealed a most beautiful space!

Since it is the Popes’ private backyard, I asked Joan if we could look around and take some photos and she graciously gave us permission.

What an oasis of well designed and abundantly blooming plants

I love walking the path with the various ground cover growing among the stepping stones.

Looking toward the back door of the shop.

Keep cool, Rosie…

See you next visit!

POPES’ GARDENS

James & Joan Pope

www.popesgardens.com

1146 Old White Horse Pike

Waterford, New Jersey 08089

Phone (856) 767-3343
~*~
Remember my post on the birds nesting in the patio lantern?
Look what’s peeking out these days.

Linking to Seasonal Sundays @The Tablescaper

Think on These Things #21 ~ Striving Together

By Lorraine

Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel

Philippians 1:27

I have been blessed to become friends with this sweetest family!

Photo from Nika’s Blog Crafts for Christ’s Glory

Nika and Zhenya and their three precious children live in a distant and unfamiliar land to me yet I count it a joy to read about their love for the Lord and their work through Nika’s blog

Craft for Christs Glory.

I received a surprise package from Nika containing a delicious chocolate bar, a lovely card and this handsome trivet with a scene from her beautiful Russia. What a treasure!

Best of all, it will remind me of their work and to lift this dear family up in prayer as they serve the Lord.

~✿~

Here’s how:
Please link directly to your post, NOT your blog home page.

You will need to leave a link back to this post (called a permalink) so others can come by
Think on These Things
and be encouraged too. To get the permalink, simply click on the title of this blog post. The internet address in the browser address bar above is the “permalink”. Add this to your post. This is the link that must exist on your blog for Linky Tools to work.

You can include the

Think on These Things
button by copying and pasting the code below onto your post (while in html not compose)

Think on These Things

Homemade Greek Yogurt

By Lorraine

For the past few months I have been making Greek-Style Yogurt at home. Inspired by Paula @Salad in a Jar, it took a few batches before I found what worked for me. Because John is a huge fan of this thick, creamy, tangy and pricey yogurt, he encouraged me to keep trying. He remembered that I frequently made yogurt when our children were little using a convenient yogurt maker. That was back in the day when I pureed cooked veggies and fruits in a small grinder to feed our babies along with sterilizing every bottle and item that touched their sweet little lips!

Though time consuming, making yogurt at home isn’t hard and most of the time required is the incubation period. Paula has an excellent and detailed tutorial with an instructional video on her blog, using the oven to keep a constant incubation temperature. I ran into a problem because, even though my oven has a temperature setting of 100 degrees which is ideal for incubation, it is actually hotter than the setting. I found that if I preheat the oven for just 1 minute, turn it off and keep the oven light on during an 8-10 hour incubation period, the yogurt comes out perfect.

Here is what I do:
Pour 2 quarts of milk (I used 2%) into a large glass container.

Microwave, stirring several times, to a temperature of 180 degrees. (It takes about 15 minutes in my microwave)

Allow the milk to cool to 110 degrees.

Pour a small amount of the cooled milk into a small bowl and whisk in 2 tsps. Greek Yogurt starter that you have purchased or saved from a previous batch.

Whisk into the large container of milk.

Cover with a lid. Wrap the container of yogurt in a thick blanket or quilt. Preheat oven to 350 degrees for one (1) minute and turn off. Turn on the oven light. Place the wrapped container of yogurt in the back corner of oven near the light bulb. Close oven door and allow yogurt to do its thing.

I wait 10 hours. Remove yogurt container from oven. It will be thick with some liquid puddling on top. This is whey that will be strained off to create a thick Greek-Style product. I gently pour off the whey and then carefully pour the yogurt into a colander that has been lined with several coffee filters. Allow the yogurt to drain for several hours in the refrigerator or even over night.

Discard whey and whisk the yogurt until creamy. If desired, add vanilla extract and sweetener. Personally, I prefer mine a little sweet but John likes his with just vanilla.

Be sure to set aside a couple teaspoons before adding vanilla or sweetener as a starter for your next batch.

Sharing @Foodie Friends Linky Party

My Country

By Lorraine

I love the 4th of July and I love my country.

A festive and happy time filled with fireworks, parades picnics, ball games, family time.

Yet, I am concerned that our Freedom might be fading.

Think on These Things # 20 Cheerful Face

By Lorraine

~✿~

Here’s how:
Please link directly to your post, NOT your blog home page.

You can include the

Think on These Things
button by copying and pasting the code below onto your post (while in html not compose)

Subway Art

By Lorraine

There are many great tutorials to make subway art. The one I made was time consuming and the lettering isn’t as precise as if the words were stenciled or vinyl.

But it has a humble, handmade look and was relatively inexpensive.

I had several ideas before settling on this method. I considered building the project on Photoshop and having it printed onto a canvas but didn’t want to pay the price for a large one and I was limited to the size.

I also thought about painting the lettering onto a canvas but decided to purchase a pine board that we cut to a 13-inch x 35-inch rectangle.

I printed out the words as a Word document in two different fonts.

Using a paper cutter, I cut around each word and, after sanding, priming and spray painting the board, I positioned them in a pleasing way.

Using a stylist (seen on the lower left in photo above), I traced over the outline of each of the letters.

This was the hardest part of the project as I found it took a lot of pressure to leave an indentation in the board.

Each word was painted with white acrylic paint that I thinned just a little with water, using a thin paintbrush.

I sanded the edges of the board and some areas on the face as well.

A coat of sealer and a light wash of brown antiquing paint and a final coat of sealer finished the project.

I debated whether to drill of hole on the back, add a sawtooth hanger or add a hook to the top for hanging. I had a brass hook that I had saved from an old lamp. I thought the brass was too bright so I spray painted it black and screwed to the top of the board.

That’s it!

Newer Entries

Previous Entries