How brussel sprouts went from yuck to more, PLEASE

I never knew brussel sprouts could taste so yummy… they might be a new favorite food!

• 2 cups organic brussel sprouts
• 1/3 cup of dried cranberries
• 3-4 slices of organic peppered bacon
• 1/3 cup of chopped hazelnuts
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• 1-2 heaping handfuls of spinach
• 1/3 cup of diced red onion
• 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
• smidge of butter if needed
• salt & pepper

Wash and halve brussel sprouts season with some salt and pepper & set aside. OK Pour vinegar into a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once you’ve got a boil, reduce the heat and allow the vinegar to simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until the vinegar has become thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Lets get that bacon going in a frying pan if you don’t have peppered bacon it’s totally ok, just sprinkle some pepper on both sides of your bacon!

Chop up those hazelnuts & cranberries & please set aside

Chop up your onion, into small bite size pieces

By now you bacon should pretty done, so remove from pan, here you can either save a little of the fat to use or use butter go ahead and add your brussel sprouts & onions. Let that cook for a minute or two , add hazelnuts & cranberries. By now the sprouts & onions should be getting browned :O) add your spinach, saute it all up and add chopped up bacon bits, add balsamic glaze, mix well.

Serve & ENJOY!!!!

The Door

I open the door to find an open field, the colors become clearer as the suns first rays reach out to join us. The wild flowers seem to be signing with joy and the green of the grass flows into the leaves of the trees. Which flow to the blues, yellows, peaches and reds of the breaking dawn. I can hear the birds singing a new song of morning, so different than the clanging of swords that have been raging this night. I have come to meet my Lord, to talk about the days plans. My body and soul are tired and need rest, but there is much still to do.

There He is standing looking radinent and handsome beyond words. His arms are open waiting for me . I choke back tears of joy at seeing Him and knowing the nearness of Him. As we embrace the warmth of the sun fills me, the darkness of the past has gone. This moment is all I can think about, not what has happened or what still needs to happen, but this moment with the one that Loves me with a Love that is beyond any other. It is perfect to behold. He knows my thoughts before I even think them, with Him there is no worry or concern. We walk over to the brook to sit , filled with peace that gives me strength, I am able to be myself. No longer afraid that I might disappoint my Lord, I open my heart.

Words spill from my mouth " I can't fight any longer, it's too hard. My body is too weak, there is too much to do!! I no longer see the vision you have called me to, this last battle is too much and my body is unable to recover. I must hand over the reigns to another, one more worthy of the call. One who is stronger." I take my sword and cross bow and lay them at my Masters feet. And say I am sorry I have failed you tears begin to roll down my face. With his gentle touch he lifts my head and looks into my very soul and says " My darling one, you have not failed me, you know not of the things you have accomplished for Me and my Kingdom . Your battles have been hard but you have trusted in me and we have been victorious. The Battle has been won! NO longer must you fight, but you will spend your days by my side, for I know the cry of your heart. From this day forward you shall spend your time in my courts with me and never else where...

Now, if only I could get ride of the MOLE!

In January I was really impressed upon in my heart to have a garden this year. I just knew I needed one, it would be a learning experience and would be a get me out of my comfort zone project (my family knows I kill the house plants just by looking at them).

I bought seeds and little seed houses, joyfully planted them... kept buying seed... I might have an addiction to seeds now.

I was so sad when 4 weeks later only a few had sprouted.... Mind you our last frost was not until the end of April... there was no way they could have gone out anyway.

I took classes, read online and thought I had it figured out....

We gleefully lugged bags of organic soil, topsoil, manure - both cow and mushroom all around into planters. We used planters since we where not sure if we would live in our current house or be moving... this alone caused me great stress and delays... some how I thought gardens would relax me... Sid built me a planter - it's my favorite.

I loaded up each of the planters and watered daily. Talked to the plants, checked that everything was bug free (I think I bought some cucumbers that had already been gotten). Everything was growing... but slowly... not really taking off. Sunday while at church, I heard that you can't plant peppers with tomatoes - they are not companions, even though they are both night shades ... Well, I wondered about this- Sid and I had just taken a class on herbs and what to plant with what... I didn't know that plants thrive when planted with their companions... So once I got home I spent hours researching companion planting. OH, my gosh.

You can't plant hot peppers with sweet peppers, don't plant sweet potatoes by squash, and don’t plant cucumbers by tomatoes, but you can plant sweet peppers by tomatoes... It was all so confusing.

Tuesday I went out and bought another container- a kiddie pool... Yes, I realize that I have 2 acres that I can plant but I am not ready for that!!! Thank Jesus for Gardens of Babylon and Erin, who will be helping us plot and plan.... this summer and for the next few years! And quite a few more herbs, and a few more plants... (It’s an addiction I tell you).

Quickly- ha ha I unloaded the 12 - 25 pound bags of soil I would need... It's was only 96 out... got them into the pool, cried a little because it was so hot, and started transplanting so many plants... It was so scary! As I carried each plant over, I told it, I am sorry I planted you in the wrong spot but I am sure you will love your new home. Finally got everything in, while Sid chopped down a tree. Watered and said a prayer. Woke-up yesterday and ran out to water... everything was looking a little sad. I told them, it was OK they would be happy. And that the trauma of the last 24 hours would be over soon. Last night same thing... except I planted a few more seeds. This morning I go out and everything is so happy!!! Everyone was standing straight, bearing flowers, tomatoes where turning red. It was a lovely sight!

And I realized that this is exactly like life. If we are not surrounded by our "companions” those people that add to our life, add to our growth. We will be stunted, we will not meet our full potential, or bear the fruit we are capable of bearing. I don't want to live like that. So while maybe I have to move away from those that are in the same " group" as me, I will be better, stronger, and more likely to reach my calling when I am planted with my companions. We will grow and help each other be our very best.

- Thanks garden for this great lesson. And thank you to all of my companions, that help me grow!