Once Upon Blue Willow

06/20/2026

04/25/2026

We solved the riddle of "why did the chicken cross the road?". Because she was coming to Willow City Church!! Finally, we have an answer!

If you don't have peeping chickens at your church door, you might not be doing it right! 🤣😂🤣😂

These ladies live around here and they know they need a little Jesus on Sundays, so they stop buy and cluck along to the music and throw in their versions of HALLELUJAH and AMEN! They always come in the Sunday best. So cute!

And we have a wonderful lady that brings fresh eggs for anyone who wants them from her girls.

04/25/2026

English muffin breakfast sandwiches can be made any time of the day!

This is an egg, canafian bacon and cheddar "breakfast" sandwich for lunch. I warmed up some of my leftover asparagus, made some protein deviled eggs by mixing the yolk with cottage cheese and diced bread & butter pickles and scooped back into the white, half.a avocado speinkled with some smoked bacon salt, add a bowl of plain Greek yogurt with a drizzlle of honey and a spoonful of the strawberry compote from making homemade strawberry syrup and finally some fresh pineapple, which is good for fighting inflammation in your body.

Voila! A quick and easy lunch!

04/24/2026

Need an easy lunch that still helps on protein goals?

This is a simple tuna salad made with Dukes Olive Oil Mayo, diced boiled egg white and chopped bread & butter pickles on top of a bed of spinach and grape tomatoes, some cottage cheese (I sprinkled mine with Good Sh*t seasoning for a touch of sweetness, and roasted sweet potatoes that I meal prep for different bowls and to add to meals.

Loads of flavor and good protein.

Take care of yourself. You deserve good food to fuel your body.

04/22/2026

I have large windows at the top of my vaulted ceiling in my bedroom and one morning I was in my room looked up and saw pink and orange pouring in. I look out the windows and saw those colors magnificently rippling in some clouds. It was stunning.

I quickly dressed and went out the back door. The photos show, in order, how I came to see such an incredible display of God's artistry, a true gift of beauty for us to enjoy.

The first photo is coming off my side patio. The secod is from the edge of our yard where it meets the 4th green of our golf course. The next two are from the golf course looking toward the pond.

The colors!!! Pink, purple, orange, a hint of blue all shining down on the green of the grass and trees surrounding me. The amazing texture of the rippling clouds at various depths. It was absolutely jaw dropping and awe inspiring. I just stood there with my furbaby, Kimber, staring at it. I had to capture it, because this was an amazing gift from our Creator I just have to be able to look at over and over. Every morning we have a sunrise, but every morning does not bring the absolute richness of this one. Don't let moments like these slip away unnoticed. See them as a gift to you and bask in them.

04/21/2026

Sheet pan meals for the win!

Cut up what you like, throw it on a sheet pan, drizzel with olive or avocado oil and sprinkle with your favorite seasonings. I am loving the McCormick Garlic Butter right now with Badia 14 Spices blend.

On my pan - Asparagus, potatoes, orange and green bell peppers, onion, beef smoked sausage and mushrooms (for me, thus why they are separate from the other mix 😉 apparently not everyone is made for the mushroom life).

Cooking done simple and nutritious.

04/20/2026

A Bloom Super Geeens Cherry Limeade

Bottom layer - 1 scoop of Bloom Super Greens and PK Hydrate Citrus electrolyte packet, 1 scoop creatine powder, 2 Tbsp collagen powder mixed with water.

Top layer - 1 packet Great Value Cherry drink powder.

This is so delicious and has some beneficial goodies!

04/19/2026

Delicious Strawberry Matcha Latte

I make my own strawberry syrup by boiling a 1:1 ratio of sugar to water (I usually do 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar) and a few of handfuls of chopped strawberries (You can use frozen. I live near a strawberry farm, so get can pick my own this time of the year). Let it come to a boil and let low boil for 6 to 7 minutes. Take off the burner and allow to cool and add a capful of vanilla extract. Once cool, strain out the fruit (keep the fruit to put in yogurt or mash to put in drinks), store your syrup in a glass bottle or jar. I keep mine in the fridge.

Make you matcha as usual. I use the Japanese way with the bamboo whisk and bowl with hot water.

Pour some strawberry syrup in your glass, then ice and your choice of milk(I use oat milk), then pour in matcha and I like to add a sweet cold foam (milk w/ a little heavy cream, a tsp of brown sugar and a little strawberry syrup and froth it up - love my hot/ cold electric frother) and top with either some of the strawberry compote you have from making the syrup or freeze dried strawberries.

Enjoy!