Little foxes...

Hurricane Irene is barreling towards the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where my honey and I spent the night at a quaint bed and breakfast near the beach on Ocracoke Island this last May.  Other than the beautiful lighthouse at Hatteras, Ocracoke was the only other thing I enjoyed about the Outer Banks.  There was just too little land and too much wind and water on the narrow islands for my taste. 

The village of Ocracoke has a population of only 800 people.  We saw people riding bicycles around town and enjoyed dinner on a deck overlooking the harbor during a beautiful sunset.  A lot of the homes would be considered cottages and have been there for years.  And there are unique items scattered around town that add to the quaint atmosphere of the village.  It saddens us that Ocracoke Island might be greatly changed by the hurricane.

The hurricane is a big thing that can cause major damage.  Big "storms" can occur in marriages that cause destruction, as well.  But usually, it's the little things that can ruin a marriage if they are not dealt with quickly. 

"Catch the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines..."
Song of Solomon 2:15

Marriage Tip # 8 - Don't let your personality become a frustration for your spouse.

Every personality type has strengths and weaknesses.  If there is something about your personality that irritates your spouse, it can become a little fox that destroys the vineyard of your marriage.  Spouses have to work together to identify their "foxes".  This is true of EVERY marriage. 

The Outer Banks are facing destruction right now and there is not a lot they can do about it.  Every marriage is vulnerable to little things that can become big destructive things.  But you can do something about it!

Decor

Hanging a floating shelf is fairly easy.  You will need long screws (they have to go through the cleat and drywall into the stud), a power screwdriver, a pencil, a level and a stud finder.  Find the studs in the area on the wall where you want to hang your shelf and lightly mark them with a pencil.  Put your shelf cleat against the wall where you want the shelf hung and make sure it's level.  Mark on the cleat where the studs are and put light marks on the wall with a pencil at both ends and the top of the cleat.

Drill pilot holes in the cleat where the screws will go.  Put the cleat against the wall, using your marks to place it and attach it to the wall with the screws.  Slide the shelf over the cleat with the pilot holes on the top.  Screw the shelf down onto the cleat.  Using a soft cloth, wipe off the shelf.  It is ready to decorate!

Today's Recipe - On the Border Style Vegetables
My original recipe

1 medium zucchini, cut into long thin slices
1 cup of frozen corn
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
1 red bell pepper, chopped 
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
2 Tbsp butter
salt and pepper
Tony's Creole seasoning
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp oregano

Saute the vegetables in the butter with the seasonings.