3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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#10/52: Lutheran Lenten Services, My Favorite Piano, and my Favorite Lenten Hymns

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Lutheran Lenten Services and my Favorite Piano

My favorite piano sits in front of my home church, Trinity Lutheran Church in Murdock Nebraska.  It is my favorite church season of the year, Lent.

My favorite piano and my favorite sheet music Lorie Line
Lorie Line During Lenten Vespers

It’s a time of reflection when I play the piano every Wednesday night during Lent. Lorie Line is my favorite pianist and her amazing piano hymn arrangements just perfect for this Holy season before East.

I have played the piano for the Lutheran Lenten Services at Trinity Lutheran Church since 1997 (I think)  and sometimes I think I should change up my sheet music. But I keep going back to the Heritage Collection II because I love these standard hymns.

These hymns are friends, they have seen me through the worse times in my life and given me comfort.  Sitting at the piano at the front of the church listening to the reading of the passion served as a therapy.

My Favorite Hymns: Lenten Season

Below are a few songs directly from Lorie Lines You Tube Channel. I can’t count the number of times I had this CD on auto-repeat.

  • Be Thou Vision
  • Nearer, Still Nearer
  • Faith of My Fathers
  • In The Garden
  • Rock Of Ages
  • Take My Life and Let It Be
  • David of the White Rock
  • Beach Spring
  • Con Que Pagaremos?
  • O Thou Fount Of Every Blessing
  • Nearer to God To Thee
  • Be With Me Lord
  • This Is My Father’s World
  • How Can I Keep From Singing?
  • An Irish Blessing
  • How Great Thou Art

I have played this piano book from front to back and most pieces are at the intermediate level and have a strong arpeggio style. This makes it easy to play but still very stylish and sounds wonderful.

Although I have played many pianos over the years my favorite piano my church piano and is the home of my spiritual soul and faith.

As the journey of Jesus takes me through Lent, Good Friday and Easter I am humbled, I pray for peace and glory at the promise of resurrection on Good Friday and celebrate Christ resurrection on Easter.

Last year I finished a daily Advent Devotional Series and this year I will concentrate on a weekly Lent series revolving around the Lutheran Lenten services at Trinity Lutheran Church.

If you have a favorite piano hymn or link to sheet music you like place your link or website here, I’m always interested in finding more piano hymn variations.

#9/52: Shamrock Shake, It’s That Time of Year

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Shamrock Shakes are Back!

It’s that time of year again. March 1st, the day I can officially enjoy a Shamrock Shake (ok I bought this last night, I couldn’t resist) I’m also not one to be trending either, but on Twitter, #ShamrockShake is the promoted trend today. According to McDonald’s 2012 is the first year the Shamrock Shake is available nationwide. Wow, didn’t know that.

Shamrock Shake from McDonalds
Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s

Last year I learned a few historical facts about the Shamrock Shake. Maybe those in the Midwest don’t relate, but since it was originally released in Connecticut I have very fond memories at an early age.

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IRISH TREATS - 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick's Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishIRISH TREATS – 30 Dessert Recipes for St. Patrick’s Day or Whenever You Want to Celebrate Like the IrishCooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 54)Cooking with Irish Cream: The 50 Most Delicious Irish Cream Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 54)

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Why is it that a mint flavored shake is so tasty? I mean really. Mint? Should make you pucker just at the thought. But McDonald’s has found that magical combination of sweet, smooth and minty in one combination that is just delectable.

There is such a passion for this frosty drink a website tracks the appearance every year. Shamrockshake.com tracks the locations where they can be found, and yes, I added the McDonald’s 1-80 Gretna Exit to the list.

So until they run out enjoy the “Luck of the Irish” and St. Patricks Day with a Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s.

Looking for the taste of a Shamrock Shake the rest of the year, you can get your minty craving in a Keurig or just explore different mint recipes for that fres minty taste.

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Junior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve - 12ctJunior Mints Hot Cocoa Single Serve – 12ctTop 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50's Book 55)Top 50 Most Delicious Mint Recipes (Recipe Top 50’s Book 55)

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McDonalds Shamrock Shake Information

McCafé Shamrock Shake :: McDonalds.com

Smooth and creamy mint flavored shake topped with whipped cream and a cherry. But only for a limited time.

Shamrock Shake – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Shamrock Shake is a seasonal green-dyed mint flavored milkshake dessert sold at McDonald’s to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Top Secret Recipes | McDonald’s Shamrock Shake Copycat Recipe

Get the best McDonald’s Shamrock Shake recipe on the ORIGINAL copycat recipe website! Todd Wilbur shows you how to easily duplicate the taste of famous …

Shamrock Shakes Recipe – Allrecipes.com

Joe’s Shamrock Shake Recipe – A homemade version of the perennial green … shake machine was “down”, and I really needed my annual Shamrock Shake fix,  …

#8/52: Another Birthday

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17 Candles
17 Birthday Candles

My daughter turned 17 this month and it’s one more year closer to independence, one more day closer to college and one more year closer to moving into a dorm.  Every day brings me closer to the day where my “baby” won’t be within hugging distance.  It seems that with every year comes remarkable changes that leaves me in awe.

College brochures arrive in the mail, scholarships , ACT tests, all signs of the future to come.  Right now I’m just going to bask in the glow of the candles of my daughters burning light and enjoy the short time I have left and enjoy each day.

#7/52: Chevy Truck in the Barn

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Old Chevy Truck

Had some time to play around with Photoshop tonight and have been sitting on this photo for a few weeks. I miss Photoshop and post production.

For those interested I created duplicated image layers. Posterized one layer heavily, the set the opacity to 73%. Used gradient, from upper left to lower right and added a orange color overlay at about 20%. I always create adjustment layers in an action, some I use, others I don’t, but the action saves time. For the car I bumped the contrast and adjusted the levels.

#6/62: Venison Stew Recipe

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My husband was a very successful deer hunter this past fall/winter and as a result we have venison in the freezer. I’ve never cooked venison before and was a little hesitant. Always heard venison tastes “gamey”. So I started off with venison stew, figured all the flavors and vegetables would cover any gamey taste. To my surprise it taste identical to beef stew!

Venison Stew recipe
Venison Stew

We are a big fan of  jerky and the dehydrator has been going pretty much non-stop. ( I love deer jerky, but that’s another post) With so much meat, and beef prices going through the roof, I thought venison would be better used to stretch our meat budget.

I’m pretty confident with soup and stews, so it was a natural transition. Was it a success? Would I be posting it here if it wasn’t? My daughter loved it so much she would eat two bowls at each sitting. Needless to say there was no left overs. Venison stew really tastes like beef stew.

Venison Stew recipe
Venison Stew recipe

The following recipe is a guideline. I’m a dash of this and a dash of that type of cook. Pour some of this in, a little of this, a little more, and…that looks good. So use your own judgement, get creative and feel free to substitute.

Venison Stew Recipe

  • 3-4 lbs venison (cubed into 1/2-1″ pieces)
  • 32 oz beef stock (homemade from shank leg bones)
  • 16 oz potato stock (water left over from boiling potatoes)
  • 20 oz can tomato sauce
  • Olive oil for browning
  • 1 large onion
  • 3 stalks celery
  • 1 frozen bag mixed soup vegetables
  • 3 potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1 cup corn
  • 1 cup sliced carrots
  • 5 bay leaves
  • 3 TBSP dried parsley
  • 1 tsp seasoning salt
  • 1 TBSP black pepper

Directions

1. Cube the venison, season well with seasoning salt and pepper

2. Pour 2 TBSP olive oil in skillet, sear & brown venison, do not cook all the way through.

3. Place browned venison in large stock pot

4. Alternate placing venison, vegetables, and seasonings in stock pot.

5. Add liquids and stir thoroughly

6. Heat to boiling

7. Set to LOW and simmer for 3-4 hours and stir occasionally.

8. The venison stew can be cooked, or left on low for many more hours as the flavors continue to blend. In only improves with time.

In the past few years I have learned to love the taste of deer meat. In Eastern Nebraska corn fed whitetail tastes just like Angus beef. Western Nebraska mule deer fed on sage need a little different seasonings and preparation. So my mother-in-law bought me a wild game cookbook.

If you don’t have home grown venison harvested by your favorite hunter with a rifle, muzzle loader, or bow then you can order venison or other wild game online.

The Sporting Chef’s Better Venison CookbookReal Meat Venison Jerky Dog Treats (12 oz)Buffalo Bills 10oz 100% Farm Raised 7Gourmet Game Steaks – Avg 2 LB Case (all sizes are approximate)Venison Medallions – 3 pieces, 4 oz eaVenison Ground Meat – 1 lb

More Soup and Stew Recipes