Independence Day in Pictures

fresh corn on the cob

plates stacked and ready for the feast

old fashioned coca-cola on ice

a surprise gift from my husband!

a thoughtful bouquet from our guests :-)

glow bracelets for the kiddos

and a patriotic puppy just waiting for that bar-b-q to hit the floor!

"My country, 'tis of Thee,

Sweet Land of Liberty

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountain side

Let Freedom ring."

Supper Menus
July 7th-12th

Monday
homemade pizza, lettuce and tomato salad
Tuesday
jalapeno chicken enchiladas, black beans, roasted corn salsa, tortilla chips
Wednesday
summer sub sandwich, potato chips, pickles
Thursday
tacos, spanish rice, Texas caviar, tortilla chips
Friday
invited to dinner at friend's house, taking oatmeal cookies
Saturday
invited to dinner at friend's house, taking summer dessert pizza

If you would like to see more menu plans, you can visit Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at www.orgjunkie.com.

Skillet Chicken Spaghetti

Garlic Chicken Spaghetti

4 servings

1 package (8 ounces) angel hair pasta

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes

1 cup boiling water

1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons olive oil

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, place tomatoes in a small bowl; add boiling water. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain and chop tomatoes; set aside. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and garlic salt. Add chicken and shake to coat. In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil until done. Add the broth, parsley, basil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir in the tomatoes and heat through. Drain pasta. Add chicken mixture and cheese; toss to coat. Enjoy!

We all really enjoyed this! I think I will call it "summer-time" chicken spaghetti and save my regular, oven baked, chicken spaghetti for the fall and winter. :-) Thank you to Laura, at www.orgjunkie.com for recommending this delicious spaghetti.

A Month Of Proverbs

Proverbs Chapter 6

Warnings Against Folly
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-
11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart he always stirs up dissension.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away;
34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.