I'm Back...........

Although, I am not sure where I have been!! LOL.

Just busy, living life and taking care of the family!!

Anyway, I am sorry for those of you who are so kind to

check in regularly that there has been nothing new since

Valentines Day.....but I will take the next few

days to catch up, I promise. :)

I loved this winter cheer in my kitchen window.......

It bloomed just in time for the Valentines tea,

gave us a touch of fresh red.....

So, where have I been, what have I been up to??

On Valentines day I did two teas....

one for the ladies at noon.

and one for couples that evening......

I am still canning.....I am trying to stock up on some meals
and have a back up if I should not be able to use my
freezer or the electricity would go out or something.......

This is, from the left, kidney beans, spaghetti sauce
and chili without beans.
I am thinking I could use one of each and have a pretty good chili.

In this time some where we had another Titus 2 meeting.
We talked some about gardens, brought healthy, easy kids snacks
to share and had "Gramma Belle" come to help with
our crocheting. She loved it so much, we are
going to her house next time. :)

We have also been keeping our daughters dog for a bit, she can
not have animals where she is renting.....our only grandchild..... :)
Oh me, then since I talked to you last....I have done another tea!!
Spring Fling, Health Nut Tea
and of course, I keep on baking.....
Sunday morning Banana Raisin Muffins.

My husband has been very slow for work but he has just enough
to keep us going mostly. And we are very thankful and
Praising God for providing work in May that will help us alot.
We are looking forward to that. In the meantime,
we keep going, keep busy, and most of all keep our
eyes on Jesus the only one who can work all this out.

I am planning on getting some recipes on here soon, as well as
more canning info. Right now, though, I am "home alone".... :),
so I think I shall go spread all my stuff out on the table and make
a plan for my garden!! Just bought seeds and want to try some
early covered with plastic, so I need to make a plan.

I will show you all these things as they happen, as well as
catch up on some of what has already happened.

Hope your still with me....are you enjoying spring weather where
you are? We will have a "spring" day, then a snow day....
that is why I am not too worried about changing my background

yet...it looks "springy" to me :) our joke is for the rest of the world

April showers bring May flowers....i

n our part of the world April (snow) showers
might bring a few May flowers. :D

Just Dreaming and Keeping Busy......

Dreaming.......

Gathering a few seeds, reading up to see what can be planted early.

I am determined to try this year to grow some things in

a cold frame type structure......planning it out.......

More Dreaming.......

Have you ever seen these books?!?!?

I just got these three from the library. I had run across the

name awhile back when one book was part of a give

away over at "Warm Pie, Happy Home".

I have NEVER had so much enjoyment from

reading a cookbook. I am sure we are related, when

I browse through these books I just

feel a connection with this woman!! :)

Between my garden books, "The Pioneer Lady", reading

"Granny Miller's" blog and some of her links.....

I am anxious to grow more this year, trying to

supply us with our years food. I am excited,

we will see how it goes.

My husband built this new addition to our back

sunroom/dining room.....I love it, there will be doors later.

It is all from scraps off a job he did. It is right in the corner as

a built in....someday off the side of it will be

a bench that goes to the corner and around

for seating at a table. All built in...like an old

farmhouse breakfast nook. :)

Besides dreaming, I have been

Busy..........
Made some Nutty Coconut Granola.....

Bought a 25 pound bag of carrots to freeze or can....
and a large box of apples....
so....how about Apple Carrot Cake!!

Our food co-op had some end of season apples for a

very LOW price....when they came,

they were actually free!!

So, I am also drying a few for winter snacks and lunches.

And then, yes, it is time for yet another Tea!!

Valentines Tea in the waiting......

I am doing two Teas on Valentines Day!!

Ladies Victorian Pink Tea

and

Couples Candlelight Tea

in the evening. 21 ladies at noon and 7 couples that night.

In the above picture are some teacups I found for the

men, a bit bigger and a bigger handle that they

can hold on to. Can you believe they were 50 cents!!

Not my usual choice for a teacup, but they are red

and will go very well with the decos and I think

look quite elegant once on the table.

Best get busy....making Cornish Chicken Pasties today,

made the Cornish Beef Pasties yesterday. These are for the couples

since there will be men with heartier appetites.

Which, by the way, I was beyond excited when in

one of the "Pioneer Lady" cookbooks, I found

the recipe for Cornish Pasties.....and they

sounded EXACTLY like what we had in Cornwall.

I made some to try for lunch yesterday and

they are just the same.

Now, if I could just get down that

Cornish Clotted Cream recipe. There is

nothing here or a recipe for "mock" creams that

comes even close. But a friend found one on line

that looks and sounds just like the real

thing. Tried it the other day with store bought

cream and it does not work, you need unpasturized

cream for it to work properly. Alas, I shall search!!

Probably won't be back until after Tea....lot's to do!!

In the meantime, have a WONDERFUL

VALENTINES DAY!!

"Greater LOVE hath no man than this, that a

man lay down his life for his friends".

John 15:13

"We LOVE, because He first LOVED us".

I John 4:19

Good Bye Autumn!!

Hello December!!

I Love Autumn and all it's colors and all the Fall dishes there

are to enjoy with squash and nuts and putting things up from the

garden or locally bought produce, I love it all.But I am always

happy to enter December. December is full of so much.

Celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ!!

That He came, only to give His life for me!!

Without Him I am nothing!!

e

Giving to those we love and care about as an expression of Him

giving Hislife for me. His coming to earth was a gift

for anyone willing to take it.

e

Taking time to find those people that may be without or not have

loved ones to share with and blessing them in some way.

This of course always depends on how we are doing, this year it

will be homebaked goodsor something handmade. We do have a

neighbor that keeps to himself out here and we take him a plate

of Christmas dinner at the end of the day. He is always

happy aboutthat. He prefers that to sitting at our table. :)

e

Everything is so beautiful in December, I love all the lights!! I wish it could look like that all winter long. In some parts of our town, they do keep lights up through the winter. :)

e

I love the smells December brings, cinnamon

and spices, pine, cedar....mmmmm!!

e

Every year, I try to slow down and focus on why we do what we do. This year that is even easier because we really have $0 to spend.....so I am having fun thinking of things to make

for my family with what I have. I am so happy that

I have a stash to build from.

e

I love creating memories, still today with grown children.....I have so many happy memories from Christmas with my Mom and Dad, I will cherish them always.

e

It is my prayer for you all to enjoy this season and remember to take time to reflect on Christmas's past and the present and how we can share the love of Jesus to those around us.

Bless You All!!

Blessings.....

Blessings of the fruits of our labor....

dilly beans and dill pickles.....

Blessings of simplicity........
I made my rolls the day before, let them rise once, made into balls put in the
pan and put them directly into the refrigerator. They raised a bit, I put them in the
oven straight from the refrigerator............
Mixed and matched my dishes so that I could use

my two apple plates above :) .......

Blessings of more preparedness.......
Plum Juice Punch......

Not even attempting sales today!!! Staying home, taking down Autumn decos to make room for Christmas decos. Tomorrow, we will go to a quaint little place in the woods where there is a Christmas Bazaar and tree permits. We will cut down a tree, and peek at the Bazaar. Usually, we have a cup of soup at the Bazaar, but this year we will take a picnic. Turkey sandwiches perhaps..... :) We cannot put the tree up yet, it will be at my tea first then we can bring it home to decorate next weekend. I might do some of that today with what I do not need for my tea.

There is a chance I will not get to do my really fun and lovely Nutcracker Tea!! Have not had very many calls.....and today is the deadline.....it is a very busy weekend in our town, too much going on. If that is the case, I will quickly switch gears to put some of these things I have been making into my Etsy shop. As much as I just love doing teas and do them for others enjoyment, this one was going to help with our house payment.....that is why I would quick do Etsy. If you feel prompted, please pray about that......Bless you all on this day after Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am thankful for family, friends, a home and that

God is Good and Loves me very much!! :D
Hope you all enjoyed your day!

Welcome Home.......

Lydia!!!

Look, she is even smiling!!

When we thought we were moving to England last January, we got rid of all our animals. Well, the people who took Lydia here can not keep her anymore so wondered if we would like her back. After consulting with my son who works at the feed and seed store and having him assure me he would be sure we had hay for her, I asked my dear sweet husband and he said YES!! Since she is a good weedeater and will basically be no cost to us. :)

She has even made friends with the horse next door, they keep each other company.
I am pretty sure they stand at the fence and have an
occasional neighborly chat......or so it appears.

At the end of the day.........

Beautiful high desert sunset!

Election Day......

Praying today.....

Praying for the elections.....

Praying and being oh so THANKFUL

that GOD is

AWESOME

ALL POWERFUL

ALWAYS, ALWAYS IN CONTROL

AND ESPECIALLY

that God is

STILL ON THE THRONE!!

We as Christians can REST in KNOWING without a doubt no matter what happens after today....

GOD KNOWS EXACTLY

WHAT HE IS DOING!!

PRAISE GOD FROM

WHOM ALL

BLESSINGS FLOW!!

Autumn in the High Desert........

Beautiful picture.................
But definately a soup day!!
I am thankful to have a warm cozy home to look out from at the snow....

Consider the Ants.......

"Take a lesson from the ants, you lazy fellow. Learn from their ways and be wise! For though they have no king to make them work, yet they labor hard all summer,

gathering food for the winter."

Busy, busy times. Putting up food for the winter, catching up on outdoor chores before it is too cold to be outside,

planning ahead......

Times are hard for alot of people right now. We are all having to stretch our dollars and pinch our pennies. I am so glad I can be home to work on those very things. It takes more "home time" on my part. Doing things like baking our bread, making good meals that may take just a little more time.....keeping our home bright and cheery and comfortable.

It is a great time of year to eat more soup...that is a good dollar stretcher. Buying basic things in bulk or through a food co-op saves money, things like flour, rice, sugar....Knowing ahead what we are eating also saves me time and money of last minute purchases.

Being content and happy is a big part of my family being comfortable, especially my husband. Keeping him well fed and making our home a place of retreat for him helps him to not worry about us and

wishing he could do more.

What message are you sending your family and husbands today?? Trust God and lean on Him and do your best with what you have........send a message of Love, Contenment and Gratefulness!

Thank God for His provision

and what we do have!!

Lovely Shade of Green......

My daughter and I layed these 20 rolls of sod yesterday....I LOVE and am so THANKFUL for every bit of green we can ad to our desert landscape! AND it was FREE!!

Sun in the Kitchen Window............