Time Alone

Sometimes you just have to put things aside to make time for what's important. Like each other. Having gone back to work has meant less time for everything, and MDH has been doing a lot to help out. I thought I'd show him how much I appreciate him by setting aside one night just for the two of us to relax, talk and enjoy each other and the Season. We turned on the Christmas lights and had a little picnic by the fire. It was delightful. So was this cheese- a triple cream French with the consistency of Brie and butter combined. Heavenly!

More Christmas Decorations

I almost wasn't into the Christmas spirit, bu it's amazing what deep cleaning your house and turning on nothing but the Christmas lights will do. I found more motivation to decorate! And all with stuff I had on hand!
The tulle is from the wedding- I had tons of it left but knew it would come in handy.

O Tannenbaum!

When it was time once again to shop for our tree I asked MDH my annual question. "Why don't we get a fake tree?" Every year for, oh... 8 years or so I have asked this, only to be turned down with much protest and a list of pros for a real tree. My cons did nothing to sway the argument. Ever. This year when I asked, mostly out of tradition, he said, "Okay." Wha?! No protest, no reason as to why the change, nothing. I just sat there in shock. And two hours later as we were driving home he finally got me to admit that for just the tiniest moment I had wondered if that's what I really wanted. ;o) I love the tree. Here it is in all it's glory.

Quote of the Week

"Oh bed! Oh bed! Oh delicious bed! That heaven on earth to the weary head." Thomas Hood

They're better this way....

Dark chocolate definitely makes these special.

Got me to thinking....

I was reading one of my favorite blogs and her most recent post was "Five Things To Eat Before You Die". I loved her choices. Check it out here. And check out the "Original Post" here. 1600 items and counting! Wow- that's a lot of food to try. But anyway, it did get me to thinking- what would I recommend?! Here's my first draft.

1. A breve latte. Made with two shots in a 12 oz. or three in a 16 oz. For the unknowing this is a latte made with steamed half and half. Add a spoonful of raw sugar. Oh yeah... now that's what I'm talking about! If it's hot outside, have it iced. If you really want to get decadent- and I recommend you do- try a breve mocha.

2. A tomato sandwich made with a HUGE beefsteak tomato from your own garden. The tomato should be so big that one slice covers the bread. Cut it at least 1/2" thick. You should make it on good, thick bread- preferably homemade white. And you must use Hellman's mayonnaise. Lots of it. Salt and fresh ground pepper. And that's it.

3. Bacon, hashbrowns, eggs and coffee made up in the mountains. If you don't cook it over the fire at least have a fire going to contribute the woodsmoke. This smell, or I should say, combination of smells, as Susan Branch puts it, "sends me to the moon!"

4. A peach right off the tree, warm from the sun and perfectly ripe, and so juicy that it runs down your face. Then have your next one cut up in a bowl, with heavy cream and sugar.

5. This one is a toss up. Either young corn on the cob or fresh asparagus, as much as you can eat, slathered in fresh butter. C'mon, just once eat three or four ears of corn in a row! You know you want to. I can't tell you how fun this is- how liberating! Butter and juice dripping down your chin and hands. Not to mention a smile that wraps around your face. It's not like you're going to do it constantly, so just do it at least once this next year when the first harvest of either comes in. I promise a sweet memory.

Bonus choice: Fresh, hot homemade bread slathered with butter. Again, use the principles in No. 5. ;o)

Let me know when you post yours!

Homemaking

There are few things that can center a person more than cooking. As overwhelmed as I can get sometimes- especially with the new job, classes, obligations and Christmas coming up, cleaning my kitchen and making good food really grounds me. Here are the results of today's baking: orange hazelnut biscotti and double chocolate walnut biscotti. Ahhhhh....

Thanksgiving Morning

Since we were having dinner later in the day, and since my lil' sis had to work later in the day, we got together for a very casual- but fun!- breakfast that morning. After breakfast we amused ourselves with a contest...

DD did a fabulous job hosting her first Thanksgiving in her new home with her DH. It was so fun to help her set the table and do it all with all her new dishes- and I didn't even get a picture! The food was wonderful, as was the company. Truly we are blessed! Phil. 4:4-20 is a beautiful passage that comes to mind. I hope and pray that you all had a wonderful day of giving thanks and celebrating!

Time to Refocus

Omigosh! I just landed myself a full time job! Now, I know that it was meant to be since I have thought long and hard and prayed much about this, however, it does still give me butterflies in my stomach to think about it. MDH was excited and sad at the same time: "Oh man, this means I'm going to have to start doing dishes again, doesn't it?!" He won't, but I thought it would be okay for him to think about that, heehee!

This means I better hurry and finish all that reading! Two down, several to go. Leading with Love- very solid, very good. Disciplines of a Godly Woman- loved it! Picked up another one this week and will have it finished next Tuesday (a lot of these are for our leadership training class at church) Minister of Mercy: The New testament Deacon by Alexander Strauch. I have enjoyed this as this office in the church has been so convoluted by so many.

Ironically, I believe that adding one more thing makes me more disciplined with my time. I'm hoping the structure will enable me to complete some projects that are languishing. Speaking of which, I better get off the computer!

What I'm Reading Now

Since I last mentioned this subject I have a whole new stack. Oh, whoops, there is one book I am still trying to finish. Hear's what's lying around my kitchen, bedside and other rooms now:

Leading With Love by Alexander Strauch
The role of love in Biblical/church leadership. Truly a humbling book, and one I will refer back to often.

Disciplines of a Godly Woman by Barbara Hughes
Pretty self explanatory I think. Very challenging. No one like dicipline, and it has gotten such a bad rap, but look at what has happened to our scoiety as a result of thinking that we don't need discipline. Based on I Timothy 4:7-8. A serious call to a serious faith.

A Pillar of Iron by Taylor Caldwell
An Historical novel about Cicero and Rome 1 century B.C. and the fall of Rome into complete corruption. . Quite interesting. Based on Cicero's (and his colleauges) letters which were translated by the author herself, it offers much inisight into the book of Romans and also what is happening in our own country right now. But yes, it is fiction and not historically accurate, and yes, the author did write so as to compare Rome to the US, from our American perspective, so, there you have it. But a good novel nonetheless, and thought provoking.

The Peacemaker by Ken Sande
A Biblical look at peacemaking. Very broad and in depth. Sobering.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
"A proven plan for financial fitness". How to get out of debt permanently, save, and pay cash for everything. Great! Oh, and did I mention it's Biblically based?

Last, but certainly not least...

The Saving Life of Christ by Maj. Ian Thomas This is the one I started earlier and didn't get finished. Maj. Thomas is the founder of Torchbearer's International and the Bible Centre's they have around the world. Check it out here http://torchbearers.gospelcom.net/ and here http://www.capernwray.ca/home/ab-who-we-are.htm This is a beautiful book about, well, the saving life of Christ! AWESOME.

In between all that I must get back to my memorization of Philippians. I'm halfway through, but I'm afraid I'm forgetting the first half becasue I laid the project down for awhile. :o/

"Onward and upward!" -C.S.Lewis

I think I need to do a little "lite" reading soon. Any recommendations?! Anyone? Oh yeah, Mom said I need to read "The Number One Ladies Detective Agency" or something along those lines, so I'll have to go to the library tomorrow and see if I can locate it. Hey Emily- got any great new suggestions?! Yours are always good!

A Very Bold Move...

Okay, don't faint anyone, but here in this picture is a swatch of the fabric I am using to make a drape for my MB. It's hanging on the pillow on the right hand side. I may even make a quilt for the bed out of the same fabric and get beige sheets!

I hope that bright color won't make me faint.

Ode to White

Colorless? Or is it the most essential color? Maximizing minimal. Screaming quietly. Reveling in less. Pure. Stripped bare. Proud. Fresh. Fashionably optimistic. Elegant with a vengence. Untainted. Unflawed. The most colorful color in any palette is...... WHITE.

(From an Infiniti ad)

Ahhh, white!

Finally it happened. Fall decor in my color palette. A friend of mine told me the other day that I should watch the new HGTV show, "Get Color", to which I quickly remarked, "Are you mad?! I can't stand that show!" ;o)

Great Quotes!

"Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands and then eat just one of the pieces." - Judith Viorst

"I've been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I've lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts, I should be hanging from a charm bracelet." - Erma Bombeck

"When I buy cookies I eat just four and throw the rest away. But first I spray them with Raid so I won't dig them out of the garbage later. Be careful though, because that Raid really doesn't taste that bad." - Janette Barber

Colorguard Girls

I am so proud of my DD! Here she is with her buddy after the performance at Homecoming Game. Aren't they cute in their new costumes? What a fun senior year.

The Results of Discipline

So, way back when, I decided that I would make myself stay on a daily schedule so I could accomplish all things without running around like a chicken with my head cut off. However, it was short-lived. But, I am back on track! I love the results! I've read much more than I would usually, cleaned more and done more laundry, and today was cooking day and here's just a bit of what I accomplished in 4 hours. A huge batch of homemade chicken and leek soup (with leeks from my garden!)(only a third of it is shown) four loaves of zucchini bread, a batch of pumpkin apple muffins, a batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, refrigerator rolls (which are in the process of rising) and meatloaf, mashed potatoes and beans. I am so pleased. I wonder if I can keep it up? :o)

It's Still Summer...

Yes, the temperature has dropped significantly, the harvests are being brought in and friends are already stocking their firewood, and I've even clicked the heater on a few mornings, but the roses from my garden are proof that summer is indeed NOT over! So, have your last barbeque, go to the nursery and get some fall stuff, and enjoy that last days of summer before thinking it's over.

The gorgeous flower bouquets (not the roses) are from friends. How blessed I am!

Garden Colors

This adorable sunflower is apparently the only one (out of 4 packages) that didn't get eaten by the quail while yet in seed form. (I'm trying not to be bitter, the quail are awfully entertaining to watch) I was very pleased to see it's bright face, and will take drastic measures next year to insure a crop of not only various sunflowers, but also zinnias. (only one of those escaped as well- a coral colored cactus type) And as I was glancing around the garden I noticed what a beautiful combination of colors, and also contrasting foilage- was in this particular spot: in the very back are raspberries, then leeks, white marigolds, opal basil and there is a gigantic chard leaf in the bottom left hand corner. (Hey Sarah- want some chard?!) covering the dirt underneath all that is a mass of cucumbers.

Beans

The first picking from the pole beans. The ones on the right are delicious Italian beans. They're quite different in texture from regular beans- very meaty and beany. Great in soups, and these will all be frozen for winter minestrone.

Bringing in the harvest

Here's my fall crop of beans. We planted them when the peas were completely dried up and they climbed right over them. It was a bit tricky trying to get in between the tomato plants to pick the beans, and they are a bit tangled.