Just Blogging Along...

It's been a while since I posted.

I've been enjoying our beautiful Alabama fall.

The leaves are wonderful right now.

The skies are a perfectly clear blue.

And the temperatures couldn't be better.

(I wish I was a poet so my lines would rhyme. :)

I've been using my oven more since I don't have to worry about heating up the house.

I made my favorite Focaccia Bread.



Picture courtesy of Taste of Home



The bread was wonderful paired with this Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry!

My recipes came from the Taste of Home website and my family loves them!



Picture courtesy of Taste of Home

Well, it's off to school for me again today.

I've really enjoyed my first couple of subbing jobs. 

In fact, I've enjoyed them so much that I've now asked to be a classroom volunteer. 

I especially enjoy the happiness and enthusiasm of five and six year olds, so I've asked to be a classroom volunteer for kindergarten and first grade classes.

My first assignment is helping a kindergartner with his letter recognition and I can't wait to get there!

I've missed teaching children.

My youngest graduated from our homeschool last year so I was forced into retirement after 16 years.

But I still have the love of teaching in my heart and can't seem to be completely happy without it.

So, I decided to take some advice from a wise old bear:

You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you.

You have to go to them sometimes.

~Winnie the Pooh~

And that's the reason I'm off to school today.

Won't you join me in my happy dance?

 

Welcome to my backyard...

 Meet my watchdog, Bowzer...

... and take a peek at my beautiful plants....

Just joking!

 

All the pictures above were taken at the Birmingham, AL Botanical gardens this weekend.

The picture below was my surroundings for the weekend.

Sweet hubby and I took a long weekend and stayed at Oak Mountain (AL) State Park.

The fishing was bad but the vacation was wonderful!

Happiness Is...

I've spent this cool Monday morning getting my homey chores done up because...it's back to the classroom tomorrow!

My laundry's washed, dried, and put away.  The floors are all clean and my menu's made out.

Here's what's on the menu for tonight:

                Black beans (cooking away in the crock pot right now)
                Coleslaw
                Cinnamon Sweet Potatoes (see recipe below)
                Cornbread

I made tonight's meal with an eye out for tomorrow night since I'm substitute teaching tomorrow and don't want to come home and cook a meal from scratch.  So here's what's on the menu for tomorrow night:

Black Bean Soup
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans black beans (or leftover beans)
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes                                                 
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Heat oil  in saucepan.  Saute' bell pepper, onion, and garlic until tender.  Add beans, tomatoes, water and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and simmer 15-20 minutes.  Serve with sour cream, grated cheese and bacon bits.       

I plan to put this  in my crock pot in the morning so that I can just come home and warm up the left-over cornbread to round out the meal.                      

Gather the crumbs of happiness and they will make you a loaf of contentment. 

~Author Unknown