Late entry Christmas 2011 -Merry Christmas from God's Cozy Acres, Inc.

Merry Christmas from God’s Cozy Acres, Inc.

The constant reminder of how fast time passes is ever more present at this time of the year.  We stop and review what we have accomplished and compare it to the wish list. There should never be regret if we realize everything is in God’s time not ours. This year is no exception for God’s Cozy Acres as reflections of the past activities are reviewed. 

With a great deal of preparation and under the guidance of Charles Christiansen at SCOPE- the learning, deliberation, consultation, laughter, smiles, and prayer- the first step was completed April, 2011 with the filing of the 501c3 corporate documents for God’s Cozy Acres, Inc.  This was one year from the actual date God put the project on my heart (April 2010).  December 14 we received the approval of the IRS for our Non-Profit Corporate status.  We did get a few monetary contributions this year and we sincerely thank everyone.  We have fund raisers lined up to raise funds to cover the outstanding balances for renovations completed, additional renovations and the beginning of programs. 

       I helped my neighbor replace fencing for the calves that would be coming to graze on God’s Cozy Acres. So far one of my two steer, has been sold and the funds helped with expenses.

       Carol Marie Smith, a speaker with Widows International, along with David and Lori Lyon, brought prayers and ideas for the work here on God’s Cozy Acres early in the year. 

Talking to others about our programs:

        Joyce Nelson was instrumental in my speaking to members of First United Methodist Church in Sweetwater.

        Barbara Killion  helped at First Baptist Church Madisonville, TN

       Carl and Becky Goodman helped at Tuckaleechee United Methodist Church, Townsend, TN

        Ona Herndon helped at a luncheon for Charles Angles from Tellico Baptist Church, TN

       Mary Ann Mowen helped at St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Port St. Lucie, Florida

What a blessing to share with all these wonderful people.

Special blessings by the work done by volunteers 2011.

       Two youth groups who helped were with

o    Michele Rhoads and the youth at Christ Our Savior Lutheran in Loudon and

o    Chad Lane and youth from Christian Church Loudon, TN.  

       Volunteers were members of First United Methodist Church, Sweetwater, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Loudon, Cedar Fork Baptist Church, Roane County, St. Andrews Lutheran church, Port St. Lucie, Florida, as well as other widows, friends and the youth mentioned above.

       Gifts of furniture and appliances from Mrs. Smoker, Mr. Mrs Cervi, Ms. Ruby Nicholson, Ruth Schmale and Nancy Pritchard, Mrs. Mowen, Linda Dahlke, and a few others are helping us meet our goal to be able to use the retreat center.

       We were very fortunate to use the cottage porch for some widows meetings this summer. We also were fortunate to have picnic outings to Cades Cove, Clingmans Dome and Gatlinburg. We were fortunate for Ava Custer’s positive attitude to make this possible. Ava, a widow in March 2011 has since moved to Lake Wales, Fl. My recent visit found her very happy in her new home and we thank the Lord for her and asked for continued blessings!

We hope to start the year 2012 out by opening up the Retreat Center for January gatherings as we still complete other necessary work.

Looking forward to those volunteers who have not been able to come out to the farm yet! We need you! Our kitchen could use some renovation, the picnic table cover needs new posts and we need another picnic table. We need input on a stairway change to make it easier for those with challenges to get upstairs.  We need some trees taken down, cut up and collected in piles we can split to burn for heat.  

We extend an open invitation to the youth groups who helped- to come out again for time on the farm just to enjoy God’s gifts to us year round. 

The Lord has been good to us with many blessings and so we thank the Lord for giving us the things he feels necessary to do his work. I especially want to thank the Board of Directors of God’s Cozy Acres, Inc.  for keeping up their help and support! 

We always remember Jesus is the reason for the season and celebrate what HE has done for us year round! Blessings always!  To find humor and more as I discover life on my new path check out http://godscozyacres.blogspot.com/ this is a work in progress and there is so much I will try to add next year.

Merry Christmas to you all as we remember Jesus is the reason for the Season All Year Round.

Your sister in Christ

Maryanne Jerome, President

God’s Cozy Acres, Inc

a non-profit Christian Retreat for Widows

I CAN COOK

"I can cook..." just seems very strange to my mind, my nose, and my smoke alarm. My chef husband, Dennis, who passed away 9/29/09, left me with no desire to eat since I really cannot cook. My life is now full of oatmeal, cereal, hot dogs, flour tortillas with various ingredients (all bad for me) along with lots of Fruits, nuts and crunchy veggies like celery and carrots.  

In March 2010,  I flew down to Florida to visit my daughter Christa Lee and watched as this wonderful chef exhibited the many talents inherited from her father. The pantry door would fly open, a hand would glide in, take hold of an object or two, and then the refrigerator would also comply with the wishes of her hand again and two or three things would slide to the counter top with ease; as if this was a ballet Act I. The perfect pan for the creation, the right heat to release the flavors without destroying them and the dance had begun and this was ...Act II. The perfect apron, the concentration, the right chop (with a sharp knife) and the joy was all here as she spoke the ingredients one by one embellishing their particular delightful enhancement of this delectable creation. Rachel Ray eat your heart out!

As Dennis cooked I watched in amazement and envy as seasonings dusted the corners of the culinary specials with color. As an artist I would pick the perfect settings, napkins, silver, stemware, doilies and centerpiece. Then the best part of my job would be to assemble each plate with the aroma filled delights; garnishing just enough for a spectacular presentation. We made a perfect couple! 

It’s been two and a half years since my favorite chef drove his John Deere Tractor to heaven. There is hope I may really learn how to cook and who knows another 37 years at 100- I may be a great cook! That’s if the creek doesn’t rise and the house doesn’t burn down. This is where I really trust in the Lord! 

My “I CAN COOK”  recipe collection is below! Not hard to follow there are only three but they work and best of all...I cooked!  They are great for parties!

“I CAN COOK”

by Maryanne Jerome

Recipe One

Crust-less Spinach Quiche

Prep time 20 minutes -

Ingredients

1tblsp vegetable oil

1 onion chopped

1 (10 ounce) pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

6 eggs, beaten

3 cups shredded muenster cheese or any blend (I use thin shredded)

¼ tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9” pan (I use a glass pie plate). Heat oil in large skillet over medium high heat.  Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are soft. Stir in spinach and continue cooking until excess moisture has evaporated.

In a large bowl, combine eggs, cheese, salt and pepper. Add spinach mixture and stir to blend. Scoop into prepared pie pan.

Bake in preheated oven until eggs have set, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. (you can cut into sections and freeze) Serve with a dollop of sour cream for a change. (Toss an extra basil leaf on sour cream) For future changes add cooked mushrooms drained or peppers etc. Also this recipe will fill 48 tiny muffin cups and they are great for parties!

“I CAN COOK”

 Recipe # Two (from my daughter Chief Christa)

Meraviglioso (Fabulous)Asparagus 

Meraviglioso is an Italian equivalent of the English word "wonderful." ." The pronunciation is "MEH-rah-vee-LYOH-zoh." The feminine equivalent, meravigliosa, is pronounced "MEH-rah-vee-LYOH-zah." Specifically, the masculine adjective meraviglioso means "wonderful

Ingredients

1 Bunch pencil thin Asparagus with firm tips (not mushy)

¼ -1/2 cup Olive Oil

2tbs chopped garlic (I buy the garlic chopped in a jar so it’s ready to go)(1/2 for 2nd pan)

2 bunch green onions (whites only) (1/2 for second half of Asparagus)

2tbs soy sauce (you can use the lite or less salt brand)(1/2 for the second half of Asparagus) 

Directions:

Use a frying pan that will allow you to spread the Asparagus out in one layer in the pan. If necessary you may have to cook two batches. Preheat pan with half the olive oil on Medium Low. Saute olive oil, onions and garlic on medium low. Carefully lay the Asparagus across the bottom of the pan on top of the hot olive oil and garlic turn your heat to medium and cook until heated through keep turning each with your tongs (not mushy) 5 minutes . Now add the soy sauce and be ready to cover the pan and shake lightly to mix this all together. Have a heated plate ready for this mix and roll the Asparagus onto the plate.  Eat immediately (I usually can’t wait and I start while I’m cooking) If you need to cook two batches use a plate that can be heated in the microwave and combine both batches when done.

“I CAN COOK”

 Recipe # Three (from the wonderful chief at Rugby, TN restaurant)

Sweet Basil-Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

Ingredients

1 Jar Classico Traditional Sweet Basil Pasta Sauce (my version)

            Original recipe calls for 12 oz tomato sauce

1 8oz container of Half/Half

1 Onion

1 Red Pepper

1 Green Pepper 

Directions:

Wash peppers bake at 350◦ 45 minutes or until soft. Remove and cool until you can handle them. Remove stem and seeds. Put in food processer and pulse until well mixed

Medium chop and Sauté the onion until clear add to the food processer with peppers.

Heat the tomato sauce stir constantly when it is hot add the pepper/onion mixture continue cooking until well heated.

Slowly add the container of Half/half- stir constantly. 

Serve in 1 cup bowls with liner place a sprig of basil in center.

These three recipes were so good I still can hardly believe I made them and they were terrific! I have to thank God for getting me to move forward! He gives me the courage for the next step in life!

God's Cozy Acres First & Second Open House January 21st and 28th 2012

Merry Christmas from the IRS

On April 27, 2010 the Lord put the project of God's Cozy Acres a Christian Retreat for Widows on my heart. In April 2011 by the grace of God and with the help of Charles Christiansen at SCOPE the 501(c)(3) documents were completed and submitted to the IRS.  The challenge has been to keep everyone motivated believing that this event would take place and that with God all things are possible.  We all knew that fundraisers and grants must have the letter from the IRS giving us 501(c)(3) approval.

Merry Christmas from the IRS came today in the mail with the approval of our 501(c)(3) status. I shouted "Praise the Lord" and called my mom, daughter, best friend Marty (Board member), Diane (Board Member), Vivian (Board Member), Celest, Pastor Johnson and Pastor Mark.

Now comes more paperwork, more renovation, more talks and more challenges but each step adds excitement, blessings and joy in my life

I am so excited about 2012 and the beginnings for God's Cozy Acres Christian Retreat for Widows. I am so happy to be in the Lord's service, what a blessing and joy!

Have a great day in the Lord everyone everywhere!

Moving On or Holding On

The leaves have dropped from most of the trees in this area, giving the sign of the season coming to a close. I loved the farewell party at the end of October, all the bright red, orange and yellow color waving in celebration of another segment time coming to a close. A flashback of our child years raking piles of leaves and plowing into them with a gleeful “weeeeeeee”. There was no thought of any endings then.

The few leaves remaining hold fast now as the winds of change swirl around trying to play tug-o-war. Now comes a breeze and the tug ends. A vibrant green leaf- now brown and withered- glides back and forth like a see-saw until it is gently laid to rest with others.

Portions of my past life experiences have not been so easily released, they hold on as the winds of the present yank them to and fro. There is no timeframe for letting go. I gathered some of the celebration leaves in October and placed them in a special flower press Dennis made for me. They will wait for me to visit in the future.

My heart is the special memory press the Lord has given me. This is where so many of those memories will live on- fresh and vibrant- like the day they were made.

As the snow sneaks in, like a mother laying a blanket over a child and tucking them in, so comes sleep. This is easier now but not the same. A fresh day of opportunities appears as we move along our new life path- pulling behind us a wagon of memories that we enjoy holding, like our favorite teddy bear, from time to time.

May you all have sweet loving memories in your Christmas stockings as you celebrate the reason for the season “Jesus Christ”!

Expired, Expired, Expired

Proud of the new accomplishment but disheartened to find everything needed for more creations had expired two years ago.   It was actually two years ago that my sweet husband “the chef” drove his John Deere tractor to heaven. I’m an artist not a cook, was my excuse in the past as the smoke alarm sounded on a regular basis. I invented blackened and it’s just the way I like it, charred. Well, that’s not the truth at all; it was the inevitable outcome when the cook finds standing in front of the stove boring.

 My enjoyment could be found in table cloths, dollies, candles, flowers, dishes, silverware, stemware and the placement of the finished product on the plates. It was all about the look not the preparation.  So Dennis would cook and then step back from the stove and say, “it’s all yours” and that’s the part I loved.

 For the better part of the past two years I have defrosted my refrigerator freezer (an old refrigerator) weekly; as I make frequent visits; expecting the cooking ferry to leave something special some day, but no such luck.  I have this little snowman (Hallmark) that lives in the refrigerator and it has four sayings when the light comes on, “Is it cool in here or is it just me”;”Here in the frig where it is nice and cool there is one very simple  rule once you find what you’re looking for do me a favor and shut the door”,” Hey close the door your letting out all the cold”, and “ You again I’m going to have to get a lock for that door”.  But, then this to was another voice-- besides my own, in the cottage, perhaps I wanted to hear that voice more than find something new in the refrigerator, perhaps.

 I was proud of my most recent culinary triumph the “Swiss steak” ensemble now divided in four single serving containers, living in the freezer with the quiche quarters, prepared Monday. There is hope for me, actually; like the little red steam shovel with Mike Mulligan there is always hope! Not everything is expired around here; there are some interesting changes cooking in the mind of this artist, I’d call that inspired!

PROCRASTINATION PROTECTION

I had the task to complete, but knowing the heartache it would bring I protected myself by procrastination.   I locked the tool room door, the room was not in the order he would have kept it in, due to others searching out what they needed and not replacing it accordingly.  The tornado of nondiscrimination had turned tool boxes upside down, showering nails, screws, washers, nuts, bolts, drill bits, staples, razor blades and more over the bench top.   Add to the mix some type of liquid that must have been tipped leaving a brown pool of goo that looked like maple syrup, never tempted to take a taste I recalled the container of mustard I had found earlier.  This was his work room, the carpenter’s project room where skill from years of experience made light work of intricate plans or repairs. 

We had a small Mom & Pop Construction business for a number of years, something the entire family of three worked in.   What a team, he knew how to do anything almost, the unique things I would toss in an idea and together we would come up with some great answers to customer’s needs.   The mailbox that looked like the golf home, everyone wanted that because it was special, but how to get the terracotta tile roof look on the small (not so small) mailbox was my quick idea of cutting white plastic pipe to the size, glue and paint.  It was perfect and so our projects went.   My favorite was matching the wallpaper on the light switch covers so no one could find the switch, that was my job!   Final inspection was my job, now when I walk into a new home or business I can’t believe what other professionals call finished.   But, that was a life gone now and my construction talent could never hold a candle to his work, but it will get me by in a pinch.

Early start 7:30 AM at my church- setting up for coffee hour between services, than the service 8:30 to 9:30AM, coffee 9:30 to 10:00 AM Bible study 10:00 to 11:00 am.   Make one stop on the way home to pick up last minute soda, arrive at home and make a snack for myself, check on everything being ready for volunteers.   The volunteer youth group from the Lenoir City Church had arrived, with energy only the young can claim which was evident as the line formed and boxes flowed from the work room on to tables set up in the front room.   Well there was some laughing and a few, ”woops sorry” comments, only one light finger tip cut , singing with the radio (station of their choice) and no problems.  They made short work of clearing the entire room making tool identification much easier.   With some hot dogs, chips and soda the job was done, to that degree.   They took a great amount of unused energy back with them, wow I don’t remember but I can only guess we were like that at 11, 15, and 17 too.

With that job done to a degree, I did a quick change to meet friends at a concert that would bring me home after 10:00 PM much too late to do any more work on the tools.  I pushed the reality out of my mind and had a great time with other widow friends.  As I drove up the driveway I saw the retreats center (a large monitor barn) and knew that I would have to start the rest of the job Monday.  I went in the cottage, was greeted by Tiger, Jazzy and Cuddles (two cats and a dog) everyone had a treat and a movie was slipped into the DVD player for noise as I prepared for bed.  My prayers included a plea that I may have the strength to do the job that needed to be done, I knew it would hurt, I pulled up the covers, felt a heavy pounce on the end of the bed where Tiger would spend the night and went to sleep.

I knew the task may cause heartache and tears, but I  had courage once again to move forward in my life- with God at my side!