Saturday, March 27, 2010

Sunday Dinner, March 28, 2010

Looks like most of the storms are over, so I'll try to get this typed and posted just in case there are more storms on the way.

As you might surmise from my Sunday Dinner graphic, I'm cooking a pot of white beans and ham hocks for Sunday Dinner this week. White beans are also known as Great Northern beans to some of you.

I'm also going to make some macaroni and tomatoes and either HOMEMADE BUTTERMILK CORNBREAD or HOMEMADE PANBREAD to accompany the beans. I have plenty of garden green beans in the freezer, so I may also cook some green beans and ham to round out the meal.

So, a typical Southern home cooked meal for us this week for Sunday Dinner. What's for Sunday Dinner at your place this week? Share your plans/menu in the comments if you'd like to participate this week.As I mentioned earlier, we've been experiencing some Spring thunderstorms this evening. They were severe for a while but by the time they reached us they were mainly just loud with lots of lightning and rain, but not too intense.

Spring in Arkansas generally means waves of storms every few days, with a couple of days of beautiful sunny warm weather in between the storms that bring cooler weather for a day or so. This weather pattern usually persists until the heat of Summer takes hold for good, sometime in June in most years. However, we have storms and tornadoes year round, even in Winter. Some of our most violent and destructive tornadoes have occurred in Winter.

Spring continues to burst out all over here in Arkansas. All manner of trees, shrubs, Spring bulbs and flowers are blooming now, and the trees and shrubs are beginning to leaf out in earnest. Our daily high temps are ranging from the upper 50'sF to the upper 70'sF and our nightly low temps from the upper 30'sF through the 40'sF.

If we have several dry days, the local farmers are straining at the bit to get in the fields and prepare them for Spring planting. Our average last date of frost is April 15th, but sometimes they can get away with planting before that, and local gardeners have already planted early cool veggies such as radishes, lettuce, potatoes, onions, turnips and other greens, and even some cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, though they may have to be covered if we have more freezing weather.JESSICA and Jason are officially back together. They spent a couple of days this past week moving Jason's belongings from his apartment in Jonesboro to Jessica's apartment here in Bay. Since they're combining households again, they had to make some decisions on what to keep and what to give away.

One of Jessica's friends that she graduated high school with had a house fire this week, and lost everything. Jessica and Jason gave Heather and her parents several things to help them start over, and I'm proud of them for their generosity.

I have to say, it never even occurred to me that Heather's family could use Jessica and Jason's extra stuff. I should be ashamed to admit that, I think, but it honestly never even crossed my mind.

Jessica, Jason and Emmy seem to be ecstatic to be back together as a family, and I'm praying they can make things work this time. Thanks to all of you who have been praying for them and keeping them in your thoughts, and please continue. They're going to need all the help they can get to make their relationship work.It's getting late and I still have lots to do before bedtime, so I'm going to wish everyone a blessed Sunday. May God meet all your needs and may you have enough to share.

18 comments:

MightyMom said...

good news for Jess, I hope they've learned something and can move forward.

we lost almost everything in 97 to a fire. all help is appreciated I know. if anything did survive let them know that vinegar is their best friend. will take smoke smell/soot out of clothes (run load once with vinegar then again with soap) and will take baked on soot off dishes (again, dip in sink with vinegar then wipe clean and run through reg wash/dishwasher).


I can smell the sausage from your picture.

Jen said...

bless Jess, Jason and Emmy

God has great plans :)

Luv you my friend

Lucy Stern said...

Your beans sound wonderful.... I am not sure what we will have for dinner, more than likely we will have breakfast... I am teaching a class tonight and I need to be getting ready for that...So nothing fancy for dinner.

I'm glad that Jessica and Jason are back together... I'll keep my fingers crossed and send up prayers that things work out this time around.....

We are having the same kind of weather down here too.... We did plant the tomatoes last Wednesday and we are hoping that the weather doesn't get close to freezing again, I really don't think it will. I am hoping for lots of tomatoes this year, I want to can them up for next winter. Last years garden was the worst ever, so I am praying that we will get a good one this year...

Stay safe and have a good week....

amelia said...

I would love some of that soup, it looks so good!

I hope Jess and Jason can make a go of it, it probably won't be as easy as they think but if they work hard they will make it.

Our last frost day and for planting is the end of May. It's such a long way off yet.

We are going to the local greasy spoon today so nothing exciting for us.

Dawn said...

Amazing news. That's all I can say!

We're having sunny weather today, but not too warm - mid 50s. It's supposed to climb into the 70s this week, so it will be welcome and it will be good to have the white stuff gone once again.

We're grilling a steak today and I'm having a veggie burger on a whole wheat bun. I know, I know.

Have a great afternoon!

violetlady said...

I am very happy for Jessica and Jason and especially for Emmy. I thought I was making homemade macaroni and cheese and a ham slice, but when I got up this morning, my husband already had a big roast in the crock pot -- so maybe he is making dinner.

Mountain Mama said...

We are getting typical Spring weather in our neck of the woods too. One day sun the next day rain and many days we get both and sometimes at the same time. LOL
Good news about Jess & Jason. God bless little Emmy.
I'm not sure what I'll have for dinner today. I froze a dozen homemade burritos last week and may have one of those and a salad. Sounds easy and I'm thinking 'easy' today.
Stay away from those tornados!
Hugs

kkryno said...

I love white beans and hamhock! I wish I would have seen your post before I decided to make swedish meat balls and salad.

Oh well; it'll still be good!

I have the biggest, goofiest smile on my face over Jess, Jason and Emmy! (And maybe a little somrthing in my eye--sniffle, sniffle.) =]


Have a wonderful week!

Dick said...

Good news about Jessica & Jason. I do hope it works. I think most couples can work out their problems if they are willing to both work on them.

As to our dinner, I don't know what it is going to be but Pat did say we are eating at home today because we have been going out too often. She did buy some nice looking strawberries at her last trip to the store so I think even a non-cook like me can hazard a guess as to what desert will be! Yum!

Lib said...

Happy to hear about Jess,&Jason, and The Princess:o)

We're getting your storms today!
We had hamburgers,hot dogs, gr. pea salad anf jello fruit salad.
Have a great wk.
Love,Hugs,Blessins',Lib

Gigi said...

Well, I'm a bit late to the party this weekend, so I hope that your storms have passed, that you've had a blessed Sunday and that you enjoyed your dinner!

I am over the moon about Jessica and Jason and Princess Emmy all together as a family once again! I just know the Lord has great things in store for them! They are ever in my prayers!!

Love to all!

Rachel said...

So happy for Jessica and her family!! I just came from reading her blog post about it.

Spring is popping out here and we got some thunderstorms this morning, but nothing major at all. They just woke me up way earlier than I planned to get up, then I couldn't go back to sleep.

My lunch today was at the Mexican Restaurant! Your beans look so yummy!!

Have a great week!

Love and hugs,
Rachel

Belizegial said...

Diane, so glad to hear that all the storms have passed, not only in your area but also in Jason and Jessica's marriage.

For today's Sunday dinner, we had Shake n' Bake chicken with creamy mashed potatoes.

Have yourselves a blessed week ahead.

Brenda said...

Glad to hear about Jason and Jessica, especially for Emmy.
You have thunderstorms we still have snowstorms. But today was in the 60's. Typical Colorado springtime weather.
Have a wonderful week, Diane!

Unknown said...

Good news is something we all need, Diane and my most immediate prayers are on the way for Jess and Jason and Emmy to be strengthened and supported by many loving family members and friends! lol! :D)

Granny Annie said...

As Jessica and Jason make this transition they are going to need our prayer more than ever. I'm staying with it.

Sunday Dinner: Roasted Sticky Chicken with noodles, toasted french bread, and Sopapilla cheese cake for dessert.

RennyBA's Terella said...

Your beans sounds delicious, but I've never tried - not that common in Norway I think, so I have to ask my American wife about it (again :lol: )

Soooooo glad things sorting out for Jess and Jason - thanks for keeping us posted!

Happy Easter to all of you!

Barb said...

Spring is trying its best to arrive here in western Colorado, but it snowed yesterday! Very cold morning, but it warmed up, the snow is gone and I'm still hopeful that we will actually put winter behind us soon.

You know, it's been a while since I stopped by here, but I've been noticing Jessica's posts on Facebook, and it took me a while to realize, that's Jason in that profile photo. I'm happy this visit confirmed it for me, that they're little family is back under one roof, and giving it another shot. I'm very happy for them and especially for little Emmy. And of course I'll pray for them - but I also suspect that they both know now you don't know what you've got until you lose it. They'll try harder than ever to make it work.

I'm happy for all of you, Diane. xo