A New Love Affair

I have been MIA (Missing In Action) for several months now for several reasons. The biggest reason is I have found a love affair that I absolutely can not pull myself away from most of the time. The attraction is so strong...I know nothing last forever, but our chemistry is not fading. It is true love...it is Pintrest!

Stefanie, over at Abby Maddy Inspired, introduced me to Pintrest and I have been totally swept off my feet! Thanks Stef!
I have been consumed in 'pinning' and organizing my boards. I have so many projects 'pinned' that I could never have enough time to complete even a fraction of them...but just the process of sifting through thousands of such creative and unique ideas from magazines, blogs and websites is pure bliss in my world. I feel creative after spending a couple of hours on Pintrest, even though I did nothing except 're-pin' or 'like' random ideas. It is complete satisfaction!

Pintrest has been a source of inspiration for me and an escape from reality. I was struggling with being in limbo as far a job, if we are moving to Kingsport and going through a healing process. I can honestly say that I feel like I am coming out of my sand pit and starting to feel like my life it starting to be pieced back together. Pintrest did not do that, God has been with me every step of the way. He has allowed me to grieve, question and revive during the past eight months. He has listened and guided me, at times just being still with His arm around me. Pintrest has just been an outlet for me to tap into some of my desires and talents that I have shoved to the wayside over the years. Not understanding what direction God wants me to go or how to use my talents has burdened me for sometime now. The past 3+ years have not gone well for me personally, but as I say that I have to rethink that and remember all the blessings I have received in the midst of all the chaos. Oh how I have been blessed with my family growing and jewels of friends. God did not create chaos and the devil dances when I get swept up in all the drama and fear. My head is becoming clearer and I am longing to be closer to Him.

I have a few others addicted and those friends always 'get me', we are always sharing ideas and dreaming up our next project. Others feel like they should like it more than they do, but I realize it isn't for everyone. One either gets it or they don't. However, I think it is the best invention since the air conditioner!

Find me on Pintrest under Traci Camper and follow me!
Happy Pinning!

In His Perfect Timing

Things have been a little busy around the Camper homestead lately, but today was refreshing relaxing. We were all at home together ALL day, which never happens for us.
My husband works 24 hour shifts as an EMT-IV Tech and once he leaves a shift, he goes straight to mowing and landscaping. Then you add him being a Captain at the Fire hall and teaching the Junior firefighters and pulling his over-night duty there...we hardly get to see him. Did I mention the hour drive he has from our house to work each way...shew!
I recently started a new position as the teacher for the 1 year old classroom for Mom's Day Out at First Baptist. Mya gets to be in my class, I am ecstatic about this! What a blessing to combine my love of children, teaching, to be with my daughter and with my church friends. It isn't full time obviously, so there is still the need to find something that works with my husbands erratic schedule to help provide for our family.
I have been applying for over four months now for a variety of positions that I feel I am qualified for and it is tough times out there! Out of all the jobs (and it is a lot)  I have applied for, only ONE had the decency to even acknowledge that I had applied for it. It was a very polite 'you are not a candidate' letter, but it was something.
I do have one resume packet out there that all my hopes and prayers are still on. I will tell you about it in another post. It is unusual, but delightfully right up my alley! I would be able to have my daughter with me most of the time and we would be 10 minutes from my parents and my grandmother. I know that God is in control of all things and His timing is perfect. I am confident it will all work out how it is supposed to because my prayer has been for His will to be done. He will close the doors on the positions I have applied for that I am not supposed to have and He will make a way for the one that I am to accept...in His perfect time.

Easy Peach Cobbler

    I have been wanting to make a peach cobbler for awhile now and couldn't decide which recipe to use. The past couple of times I have made one, it just didn't taste as fabulous as I thought it should have. After searching several recipes, I decided to try this recipe that I found on myrecipes.com that originally came from Southern Living. It turned out better than I could have hoped for! It may be the best cobbler I have ever had and I have been a tasting judge for many of contest. It was simple and I had all the ingredients already. The breading was perfect, not too doughy or dry. My husband declared it a definite do over! He wants to try the recipe with apples next.

I used the recipe exactly the way it reads, but I noticed afterwards in the comments that several made it with half the sugar. (1/2 cup for the dry mixture and 1/2 cup for the peach mixture) I do think I will try that next time to see if it compromises the taste too much. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as we are!

              Easy Peach Cobbler

 

Photo: Tina Cornett

Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup milk
• 4 cups fresh peach slices
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

• Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
• Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter over butter (do not stir).
• Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, peach slices, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly; pour over batter (do not stir). Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.
• Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool.

Southern Living
JUNE 1997

Keeping Berries Beautiful Longer

foodlushblog.com

TIP FOR KEEPING BERRIES FROM GOING MOLDY!!
When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted I find you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge. The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila! Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft.