A review and things to come......

2013..... Where have you gone?  It seems as if it were just a few weeks ago, that we were welcoming in the new year.... Many things happened this year... Our family was blessed in so many ways and we are so thankful.  We gained a new son in law, our 4 grandbabies, became "legally" ours, and our youngest is one semester from graduating from OSU.  2013 also has had its share of sadness.  We have seen friends leave this earth and we continue to miss them.  And many would say "that's life"... and yes it is, but it doesn't make it any easier.  Our first big "cold snap" has left us wishing for warmer weather and as the song goes,  it's Christmas time in the city..... well, it's also Christmas time here at Redstone Farm.  
Things to come.... 2014 is not far off.  In fact, about 24 days away.... My plans for the New Year, are to continue to improve my photography skills, enjoy my job, and be kinder.  My plans also include to do a better job of updating this blog.  I've got several ideas and hope you will enjoy them. 
This is my last blog for 2013... so from our "heart" to yours,  May the good Lord bless and keep you and remember this....

Don't ever sell your saddle
Never owe another man
Watch where you spit on a windy day
Find the Lord before you need him
And never lose your pride
Don't ever sell your saddle
Cause life's a long, long ride...... Randy Travis

with love and hope,
Charla

Happy 4th of July

IWell it's actually late on July 5th, but am reminiscent of the day's activities... How did you spend yours? Ours was a slow paced, not planned out day.   A visit with our kids and grand kids and fun time in the pool... It's so much fun to watch the grand kids having so much fun and them just knowing that its a normal event in their little lives. We ended our day with a get together with our best buddies, enjoying great company, great food and watching several fireworks shows.  And then we were free to drive home and enjoy a good nights rest in our comfortable home in our wonderful bed ... And once again I give thanks to our Lord, for the blessings in our lives, and thank those who provide the freedoms we enjoy.  I do truly appreciate living in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

A Day of Blessings

Our journey began in August of 2010, and our hearts were filled with joy as one by one each of these children became our own. Through many ups and downs, tears and fears of them possibly being taken from us, June 18, 2013 finally arrived and they became forever ours legally!   My heart is overflowing with gratitude to our family and friends who stood by and supported our Amy and Jeff through this entire process.  And our thanks to Jessica Woods of Two Sticks Photography for capturing the moments of this day!

Count Down

Well, another school year is coming to a close. Only 3 weeks left and another PreK class becomes kindergarteners and another Senior Class become alumni. My wish for both of these groups, preparing to take that next monumental step is kindness. I wish for my young PreKers to stay sweet, caring and loving throughout their lives. I wish for this senior class to become all that they can be while keeping kindness in their hearts. Our world is filled with such hardness. The only way it can be changed is through one heart at a time.
So to the Senior Class of 2013 and the PreK Class of 2013, may your lives be filled with kindness and may all your dreams come true.

It is SPRING!!!

Can you believe it?? Winter is OVER!!! I repeat... Winter is OVER!!!!! Spring has arrived at least in my mind... Yes March 20 began Spring 2013, but since Easter has not come yet, anything can happen! And it is cold and Oklahoma breezy here in southern Grady County. Getting ready for longer days.. Lost an hour 2 weeks ago ..check! Days are a bit longer...check! Check !!! New haircut ... And pedicure!!
Hmmmmmm.... I'm all ready! Why isn't Mother Nature???

Reflections

I try not to be sentimental all the time, but for me and my family, today is important. It marks the 25th anniversary of my mom aka Judy Teel, leaving us after a battle with cancer. So now it is my job to instill those values that were so important to her in my generations of children and grandchildren. I do my best... But it's those hugs and kisses that my girls miss.
On a bright side, she would be so proud of Holly, Amy and Laurie. And she would be head over heals for her 5 GREAT grand kids ! So today I celebrate the healing and home on high that became my mom's on this day in 1988.

Changes

Everyday brings changes to our lives. It may be tiny changes that we don't readily notice or it can be changes that absolutely rock our world. A childhood icon, Danny Williams aka 3D Danny, Xavier T. Willard, Danny's Day host and radio host has died. He was 85. Many great memories are flooding back after hearing the news of his passing. A sweet man that I had the pleasure of meeting back in 1995. If the one thing I could say that would summarize my impression of this man it would be a quote from Danny himself... "I love ya, pass it on."

Redstone Images

Hey to see what I've been up to lately, jog over to 

               redstoneimages.zenfolio.com
redstoneimages.zenfolio.com 
and take a look around.
If I can help you preserve your memories of special events, or just everyday glimpses,  please let me know.  I would be honored to help you.

Another February

Well, it's here again.... And if the days of this month go by as quickly as January did, we will blink and be into March! As most of you know, this month holds many sad events for our family.... But it may turn out to be a month of blessings for our family as well.... And if things turn out as we are hoping, I will shout the news from our rooftop (aka this blog and Facebook )
Please keep our family in your prayers. Your friendship means so much to us!

In the kitchen with Charla.....
            This is such a hilarious statement.... but to really understand you have to really know me..... A bit of background.... 
            My mom... Her name is Lena Jewel Braswell Teel, aka "Judy".  Sadly we lost her to cancer in 1988.  But between the years of 1918 and 1988, she truly lived.  There is a poem entitled "The Dash"... and it is about the life lived between the year a person is born and the year they die. Here is a glimpse of her dash and how it has influenced me in just one small minute way.
       Judy  was one of 6 daughters.  Only 4 grew to adulthood.  But the 4 Braswell girls could C O O K!   And everything they did was by "scratch".  Now this is not so unique to the era of which they were born and raised.  But it is unique to me.  I was  and still am, the baby of the family.  (I use this to my advantage quite often...ask my brother...)  I would rather play outside in the dirt... ride horses and mow the grass as to learn any type of good housekeeping skills.  My mom tried to teach me to cook... but opening a can of Campbell's chicken noodle soup was fine with me. And you would think with a family of my own, I would be more interested in cooking... but no... I would rather play in the dirt (or the playground at school with my students), ride horses or mow the grass...... 
           Then 1988 rolled around and Mom was diagnosed with a type of lymphoma cancer.   I wanted to keep her.... and now I wish I had paid closer attention to the things she wanted to pass down to me.  I did pay attention to the most important things, the love of God, the love of family.... but the cooking thing.... sadly no.... and now my family and friends have SUFFERED through my dismal efforts in the kitchen.
           So now for the quest of improving my  culinary skills...(It is a bucket list thing...)  Tonight I attempted to make "Shepherd's Pie".   The original recipe is from a Southern Living cookbook (and if you could see all my cookbooks...that's another story) and as I am famous for substituting and bombing a recipe... I still substituted.... One of the ingredients was lamb.... I do NOT eat "Mary's favorite pet...you know.. he followed her to school one day.... how would I ever exsplain that to my Pre K class???   I used hamburger... Not just any hamburger...but lean 93% fat free from Ridley's in Duncan, Oklahoma.  I'll post my revised recipe a bit later.  I also do not care for peas.... so I substituted again.... but the rest of the recipe remain the same..  oh wait..no it doesn't.. I didn't put carrots in it either.... I love fresh carrots... I love carrots cooked with a roast (momma style) and that's it...  so the rest is original to Southern Living's authors.  
           It looked really good coming out of the oven.... It looked good on the plate.....and according to Rick... it is something I can make again!  Success!

           So here is the "In the kitchen with Charla" version of Shepherd's Pie

1 pound of very lean ground beef             1/2 chopped onion (or dried minced onion)
2 T butter                                                3 T flour
1 (14.5 oz) can Beef Broth                       1 large egg slightly beaten
1/3 Cup bread crumbs                              1 can sliced green beans drained
1 can corn  drained                                  1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper                                  2 packages of "loaded' mashed potatoes
                                                                   (yes the instant stuff!)
Finely shredded Cheddar Cheese ... probably about a cup and a half.... Oh and a really important ingredient...GARLIC!  I use Tone's Minced Garlic.. I like fresh better but Tone's is great in a pinch!

1.)  Brown the ground beef, onion and garlic...drain (if it is Ridley['s...you won't have anything to drain)
2.)  In a separate pan, melt the butter and add the flour... Wisk constantly till flour and butter is smooth and browns.
3.)   Add the beef broth to the flour/butter mixture and cook for about 10 - 15 minutes.This should thicken up. It did for me... if It doesn't for you... I don't know what to tell ya!
4.)  In a large bowl, combine the hamburger mixture, the broth misxture, the slightly beaten egg, the vegetables, bread crumbs, salt, pepper.. in other words... everyting else EXCEPT  for the mashed potatoes.
5.)  Make the potatoes according to the package directions. I made mine in the microwave....
6.)   In a 9 x 11 pan, spread half the potato mixture on the bottom.  I first sprayed the pan with olive oil.... 
7.)  Pour the beef mixture in, spreading evenly..... top with the rest of the mashed potatoes.
8.)  Add the cheddar cheese to the top....AND BAKE!

I baked mine in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 45 minutes.... till the cheese is all nice and bubbly.... let it set up about 10 minutes before cutting into it... 

And as a side note...after I calculated this recipe... if you divide it into 8 pieces... it is about 7 WW points per serving!!!!   
 For a picture, check out my Facebook page... I will try to learn how to post pics to this... but not tonight...

And by the way..... If you visit Ridley's in Duncan... tell them that Elton Teel's daughter sent you.... Mr. Ridley used to call on my dad when he was in the grocery business,.  Mr. Ridley and I had a nice walk down memory lane about how things used to be... and he remembered my dad and mom... 

And that is the first edition to "In the kitchen with"...... 
                

A New Beginning

It's the first Sunday of 2013....spent some wonderful time with my church family this morning and evening .... Can't think of a nicer way to start a new year off!

School starts tomorrow ... Which means we are half way thru this school year! Things are going fast!

Some new things to look forward to on this rambling blog of mine....
1). The results of an accidental cook
2). Glimpses of Redstone Images
I just know you are so pumped !!!

Hopefully you will like what you see and will be so kind as to comment.

That's all for this "First Sunday in 2013

Happy Trails!