Shoes Brains Made of Straw

Why, yes, there are shoes made of straw. They bring to mind the smell scent of those import stores of the 60's....patchouli, a mossy and dusty musty fragrance. It was one of those scents that made me feel kind of dusty and want to run the other way. Sort of like walking into a barn with lots of hay...I actually don't have any experience of barns and hay, but I can imagine.

Straw hats, straw purses, straw shoes, straw for brains...exactly what the scarecrow had on The Wizard of Oz. He just wanted a brain....exactly what I needed yesterday. If I only had a brain...

What was I thinking?

A bathroom right out of the nineties in need of a makeover....



Behind that is a bathroom wallpaper right out of the 80's....



I am a true do-it-yourselfer through and through, but I can talk myself out of some things and I should have this time, but noooooooooo...not me! I bit the bullet, bought a steamer and all of the paraphernalia....



From the first burst of steam and the first scrape of wallpaper, I began to ask....What was I thinking? Do I have straw for brains? Where's the Wizard?

It's too late now...



There is always more to a project than the original plans! One idea leads to another...like an extra medicine cabinet....or an extra electrical outlet (that has been needed for 22 years). It only makes sense...two sinks need two medicine cabinets and two outlets. It all adds up, but also adds up to more work because the likelihood of at least one mishap increases...



What was I thinking? While attempting to wire an extra outlet, a foot wearing a steel toe boot came through the ceiling. I could hear it, I knew it was coming, and all of a sudden, there it was hanging right over my head. After finding out that my hardworking, steel toe boot wearing, world traveling husband was OK, I thought about laughing and laughing we did. Now more work before a project can be completed.

What was I thinking? A vision...a project...a makeover...a beautifully redecorated bathroom to be enjoyed by guests and adult children that get swept back in by the revolving front door. Oh, I will get just what I wanted, but not without a few scars and a story to tell.

Did God have something to teach me? He gave me more than straw for brains. As I was "cutting in" the corners and around the ceiling with primer, I began to think about how I can paint such a straight line. I can cut a straight line on fabric and draw a straight line on paper. How is that? It occurred to me that I always watch where I am going rather than where I have been with the paint brush, scissors, or a pencil. When I am driving, I only glance in the mirrors to see what is behind me. If I didn't watch where I was going, well, it would add up to a lot of mishaps. The same goes for painting, cutting, and drawing. You must look ahead, with a glance behind you now and then, to see if you are measuring up.

I am looking ahead! My future holds a wonderful place, totally decorated for me (no need for do-it-yourself projects) with all of the bells and whistles. God is the master builder and Heaven is His project. Because His Son is my Saviour, I just have to look ahead! Don't get me wrong, I have lots of missed steps, but keeping my eyes on Him helps me to walk straight. Now and then, I glance at the past to make sure I'm measuring up.

God did give me a brain! Yesterday?....I wondered!

It is Sunday and I will get straight to Sunday Dinner recipes. None of our Sunday Dinner recipes used straw as an ingredient, so I settled for two down in the barn down on the farm down on the ranch recipes.

Ranch Style Beans Casserole

2 lbs. ground beef
2 cans Ranch Style Beans
2 cans Spanish Rice or Spanish Rice and Sauce Mix
1 can Ro-Tel Tomatoes and Green Chiles
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
1 onion, chopped
bag of Fritos
grated Cheese

Brown beef and onion. Add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil. Pour into 2 9X13 casserole dishes. Top with Fritos and cheese. Bake at 400 until bubbly. This recipe freezes good, but add Fritos and cheese just before baking.

King Ranch Casserole

6 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, boiled
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can chicken broth
1 can Ro-tel Tomatoes and Green Chiles
1 onion chopped
2 cups grated cheese
1 pkg. corn tortillas, torn in pieces

Combine soups, chicken, Ro-tel, broth and onion as a sauce. Layer torn tortillas, sauce, then cheese. Repeat layers ending with cheese. Bake at 325 until bubbly, approx. 30 minutes.

If the shoe fits, wear it well!