Friday 4 December 2009

A Friday morning chuckle . . .



Children often have an amazing talent for providing wonderful explanations in instances where adults are baffled. Two sisters were sat looking at a book of religious paintings and came across a picture showing the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus.

"See," said the eldest sister, "that's Jesus and that's his mother."

"But, where is his father?" the younger one wanted to know.

The elder sister thought for a while and then came up with the answer. "OH . . . he must be taking the picture of course!"

Great thinking! It works for me!

I've had such a busy week this week. The time just seems to have flown by and here we are at the end of it! Not that I'm complaining mind . . . I like Friday's just as much as the next person! Is it just me, or does time seem to be passing by at a faster rate than ever??? Possibly it's my age, which is a scary thought. Does time pass quicker and quicker as one gets older??? I look at some things which younger women do and all that they manage to pack into a day and then I look at my days and I wonder how on earth they do it!



Like my friend Jen of Tater Tots and Jello. She is the mom of four busy kids and still finds time to do all these amazing craft projects amongst other things! Her home looks beautiful and immaculate. I was so lucky to be able to meet Jen in person last winter and she is such a dear person, every bit as sweet and beautiful as she is on her page. Jen, I want to know your secret! How do you pack so much into your days and yet still stay sane and as beautiful as you are?



Then there is Erin of Prudence Pennywise. She has a passle of children and a job and yet . . . she manages to do all these lovely things with her family and cook up these tasty meals on a budget and then write about them in a very entertaining way almost every day! This year she even did Thanksgiving for 40 at her house! She amazes me! How does she do it???



And don't get me started on my friend Diane, of Duda Daze! She has three lovely boys and a great hubbie, house and dog and yet almost every day she managed to churn out lovely pieces of art that dazzle and amaze me. Her talent is seemingly unlimited and her home and family so wonderful. She keeps a beautiful home, takes great care of her family, creates these amazing wonders of art and what's more sells them almost immediately upon posting each and every time. Di, I really want to know your secrets!



One of my newest friends, Julie of A Vintage Chic, creates these amazing cards almost every day and still manages to take care of her home and family. Not only that but she also works for her local country park as a naturalist and she teaches the local children about the plants and animals in their area, taking them on hikes etc. in the springtime and then in the autumn she visits the schools, taking her show on the road so to speak! Julie, you amaze me!



I just can't not mention my friend Holly of My Kids Say I'm Silly. She has 3 lovely girls, and an amazing husband and a host of wonderful friends, not to mention a brand new puppy, and she fills her days with lovely family activities and loads of fun and her house looks wonderfully immaculate and her children so happy. She's an amazing wife and mother and I just wish I knew her secrets too, for packing as much as she does into her life each day.

And these are just a few of the lovely ladies I try to visit as much as I can during the week. There's ever so many more. Each one as fascinating and incredible as the rest. You can see them all over there in my link's list! I get tired just thinking about all the wonderful things they get up to each week. They truly do amaze me, each and every one, and if I ever am able to find out exactly how they do it all . . . I won't be greedy with the information . . . I'll share it with all of you. I promise!

Here's a quick and easy dish to use with Chicken Breasts that's every bit as delicious as it sounds, I kid you not! Cheese, Bacon . . . Chicken. I'm there!!!





*Cheese and Bacon Chicken*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Chicken breasts, crumbed and baked, and then slathered in barbeque sauce, cheese and bacon. Need I say more?

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
4 TBS fine dry bread crumbs
4 tsp butter
18 ounces barbeque sauce
8 slices of streaky bacon, cooked and then crumbled
4 thick slices of your favourite cheese
(I used a strong cheddar filled with smoked sweet peppers in this one)
1/4 cup chopped spring onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes



Pre-heat the oven to 350*F/180*C. Lay your chicken breasts in a lightly greased baking dish large enough to hold them without them touching each other. Sprinkle each one with some pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasonings and then the dry bread crumbs, dividing them evenly amongst each. Dot each one with some butter and then bake them in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, just until the chicken is barely done. Do not over cook. Remove from the oven and slather each one with barbeque sauce, making sure they are completely covered. Evenly divide the bacon between each and then top each with a tasty slice of cheese. Return to the oven for about 5 to 8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and place on heated serving plates, garnishing each breast with some of the onions and tomatoes. Serve immediately.



Make sure to check out the Mulled Winter Fruit Crumble I have on The English Kitchen this morning. It's just lovely!


15 comments:

  1. Marie, you're just always too kind to me! I shouldn't be in this list of women--my hands aren't nearly as full as they are...my baby is 13! Thank-you just the same--made me very happy to find myself included with people like that! I need to go and meet them in the morning--off to bed for me!

    So glad I met you--you are truly a blessing to me!

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  2. You do have so many talented friends...some of them I've come to know and admire too....but my dear you are just as talented and amazing with all that you do. I am always in awe of your talent and projects you accomplish in spite of the long hard hours that you work.
    And to answer your question...yes...time does pass much faster the older you get. I am sure of it.

    We just got home from the temple. I managed to get through my shift without coughing all over the patrons but I think I am high on cough drops. I didn't want to cough in anyone's face so I kept sucking on cough drops for all the hours I was there. I wonder how many calories were in all those cough drops? I think I'd enjoyed chocolate a lot more...lol.

    Have a good day. I am off to dream land. By the way that recipe looks delish! XOXOX Lura

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  3. the American Girl4 December 2009 at 10:19

    As someone who will be married within the next couple of years...I often wonder this same thing. How do they do it all? I guess I will eventually find out.

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  4. Great blog Marie. Yes time does go faster as you age;I lnow all about it. It seems I can't keep up; maybe it's because I'm slower. but it's all good. What a combination chicken, bacon and cheese; my husband' favourite things.
    Rita

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  5. Time does go by faster as we age and I know from experience that I cannot do what I once did. I've come to accept it for what it is and just keep plugging away each day. The biggest obstical that I've had to face is ignoring what doesn't get done and keeping my optimism alive by hoping that eventually it will get done. They say busy people are the ones that get things done...I'm always busy so maybe there is hope after all.

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  6. oh how I love visiting your blog...just delightful!

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  7. I seem to remember having more stamina when I was younger - now I wear out faster! I still want to do it all, but I have to take it in stages. It's all in God's plan I know but I sure wish He had planned for a little more strength! blessings, marlene

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  8. Such fun here today, Marie! Really needed a dose of fun and laughter--busy day as we prepare for family coming and a party tomorrow. And we did Christmas shopping--it's manic at the shopping centers...LOL! Hubby would love your meal today after all the shopping... ;o) So wonderful to chat with you earlier in the week--what a treat! With family coming round I may be scare around blogland this weekend, so hopefully we can catch up next week. Wishing you, Todd and Jess a lovely weekend now! LOVE YOU HEAPS!! ((BIG HUGS))

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  9. Gah! No way! I've been getting absolutely nothing done lately. Bins of decorations are sitting in the foyer still to be unpacked. I've just barely started my shopping and we had Hamburger Helper on Wednesday and frozen pizza yesterday.

    You're the one! You manage to make my mouth water every time I visit.

    Thanks so much for thinking of me though. I may just sit around and pretend that I'm as amazing as you say I am today. :)
    xo
    Di

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  10. We're all different - what a mercy! I mean, if we were all wonderful quilters or cooks, crafter or mums, we wouldn't have anything to blog about and we would never meet the amazing people that we do. Mind you - now far be it from me to criticise our Heavenly Father, perish the thought - but I sometimes think that when He was handing out the talents He failed to notice that SOME people were coming round for seconds!!!

    love from she who was at the back of the queue!

    xx

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  11. Wow, looks great. I love your blog, bookmarked! :)

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  12. marie, you are soooo sweet! this truly made my day:) the words you wrote mean so much to me. thank you my dear friend! i don't feel like i'm really that good at anything. some days i think, gosh, i can't sew, i don't scrapbook, i'm not the pta president, i kinda stink at all of my church callings, i'm shy, there isn't a sport i'm amazing at, etc. (you know, all the things satan wants you to think about yourself). yesterday i was actually feeling that way and feeling down. so reading this post today really lifted me up! i do think we do fun stuff with the kids and they are happy and we are happy. so thats all that matters, right? a goal i made when i became a mom was to create lots and lots of good memories. so, we are always looking for something new and fun to do and that makes life exciting!

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  13. What a truly sweet post! I'm on my way to visit each of these ladies!

    Also- I love your music selection! Makes my heart smile!

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  14. You are so sweet Marie! I don't know how I missed this post. It must have been when I was going crazy making a million advent calendars earlier this month.

    You are so sweet! I think YOU are amazing. I can't imagine trying to come up with such tasty recipes and wisdom every day. I so look forward to coming over here for a breath of fresh air and an uplifting message.

    I love you my friend!

    XOXO
    Jen

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Your comments mean the world to me, and while I may not be able to address each one individually, each one is important to me and each one counts. Thanks so much!