Saturday in March Ramble and Roll.....

Hello everyone... 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this Saturday evening.. 

A very blustery and cool one here at home..

I am so happy you stopped by.. 

It takes me awhile to get back but I eventually make it.. smile.. 

We have been busy doing this and that but there is always some more of this and that to do!  grin.. 

I thought this evening that I would invite you into my kitchen perse!  smile.. 

Have a sit down and we can chat... 

It has been few weeks since I have been here so there is a bit of catching up to do...

I expect you all have been busy looking forward to Spring and such...

We have been doing some cleaning up here at home.. 

Down in the basement in our workshops is the main focus... 

So much stuff .. 

We had the craft business for over 20 years and have not disposed of all of those supplies ... 

Finding some treasures, though.. grin.. 

 

Just so many bits and pieces... 

Love finding bits of old lace and linens.. 

They come right upstairs with me!  smile.. 

And it seems I want to just make something with them.. 

I did make this wool type apron the other day.. 

I follow a dear girl on Instagram... 

1824 Walkers Farm House ... 

She had a pic of some woolens hanging and I thought one was an apron but it was actually a petticoat... 

Nevertheless, it inspired me to make a wool type apron.. 

I found an old pillowcase down there with this old lace edging on it and it just fit the bottom of the apron... 

I enjoyed making this although I am no seamstress! 

I think I need to do this post in sections as there is quite a lot of stuff... 

sorry about my messy kitchen. 

I have a new bread recipe for you all.. 

You girls who have been around for a long time have probably at some point made the no-knead bread.. 

Well, I have tried making sourdough.. 

I love the look of it and all but it is something that you have to be consistent with and that just is not my middle name.. 

More like helter skelter.. grin.. 

Anyway... 

I noticed at the Bulk Barn that they have a sourdough mix... 

Hmmmm.. 

Thought I would give it a try but made it according to the no knead bread recipe and the artisan bread way of cooking it.. 

It is simply lovely.. 

Here are some pics..

This was todays! 

I also made Chili but dear Terry is probably getting into it all by himself as I have been here quite awhile.. grin.. 

So... 

I just use 4 cups of the sourdough bread flour and make the no knead recipe.. 

Then after it raises I put the cast iron in the oven at 450 degrees F and heat the cast iron with the oven heating up and another additional 10 minutes.. 

The bread has been punched down and laid on a teatowel with flour ... Patted flat and rolled at each end and over again like you do the NYTimes no knead bread.. 

Sprinkle a little flour on top and when the cast iron is ready then throw it in.. 

Bake for 30 minutes with the cover on and 5-10 minutes with the cover off... 

Terry loves it.. 

The funny thing is that he thinks the no knead bread is not light enough and the NYTimes bread is too crusty but this one is perfect.. 

So.. 

"c'est la vie"  ... 

It also makes a huge loaf.. 

Lasted us 4 or 5 days and stayed fluffy.. smile.. 

As we are on the baking bit ... 

Here some other pics.. 

saturday morning bake off.. 

Using up bananas.. 

Froze most of it.. 

And made some 2 ingredient dough bagels and apple turnovers.. 

You can just google the recipe or it is on one of my posts.. 

if you can find it.. sorry.. 

This was one of our meals... 

We roasted one of our turkeys and it made us many meals.. 

This is Turkey Shepherds Pie.. 

I made a few litres of stock, few pints of gravy, turkey for sandwiches, soups, turkey and rice casserole, turkey shepherd's pie and a few turkey dinners.. 

A big turkey goes a long way with just two people... 

So easy though to just pull some out and it is already to go.. 

This casserole has stuffing in it along with the gravy, veggies and potatoes.. 

Onto another bit.. 

Found this sweet book at the Thrift the other day.. 

My friend from Arkansas had just told me she had read this and the next day or two I found it.. 

I already have one ..... somewhere.. 

Do you remember this book?  

I love kid's books for some reason.. 

The old authors.. 

Do you?  

I am still felting hearts.. 

This was for someone special... 

I did several daisy ones and put lavender inside... 

I need to sew these up ...

I did a few more but no pics.. 

I am trying to get better at felting flowers and I had made a basket full of hearts from old sweaters so decided they would make a good addition to my gift pantry.. 

On to something else.. 

Oh oh... 

I guess this is a Ramble and Roll.. 

I was wondering what I would title this post.. lol.. 

Some of these pics have already been on Instagram so sorry to you dear hearts who follow that.. 

This is a lovely gift from some dear sisters who live in Hillsborough.. 

A piece of their old cactus that has been in their farmhouse for many many years.. 

They even put it in that lovely old pottery.. 

And gave me the old child's chair, too.. 

So love it.. 

Also a Christmas Cactus and they are both doing well.. 

Love my plants.. 

My White Geranium is blooming.. 

Imagine.. 

In the winter... 

I think plants help to make a house feel like home.. 

I know I am so so old fashioned.. smile.. 

Do you love them too?  

Okay... 

Rambling along here.. 

Here are some pics of drives and such that we took.. 

Checking up on our old farm a couple of weeks ago.. 

The weather has been so mild here that we are thinking we might get a head start on spending some time there this Spring.. 

So much we want to do... 

As always, eh!  

Some of our neighbours here.. 

This gentleman was so kind to stop and let me take my pic.. smile.. 

Country byways... 

This is a couple of the city of St. John... 

Where Terry and I started out 50 years ago this month.. 

We are still celebrating our big anniversary year.. 

Will show you pics when we do this special month's celebrating.. 

This is Terry in a mall there.. 

There were hundreds and hundreds of ducks.. 

In the mall parking lot..

It was amazing... 

We made several trips to St. John the last couple of weeks as my sweet sister is in the hospital there.. 

She is doing much better but please say a word for her.. 

There are only the two of us in our family and she is younger.. 

Only a year and half so we grew up very closely.. 

Years come and go and lives take their course but when all is said and done then our families are what is dear to our hearts... smile.. 

With that being said.. 

The world is in a panic mode at the moment... 

Scary things are taking place and we really don't know the whole story... 

It could be worse then the media presents or it could be better.. 

I will be honest and tell you when it first started raising it's ugly head my heart was pierced with anxiety... 

I don't worry about myself.. 

Like you mothers and wives we think of our husband and children and their children.. 

What will develop with it all.. 

We have a son in Alberta who does not have a wife and loved ones living with him.. He lives alone.. 

He has dear friends who are like family but I would like him closer.. 

So... 

I had to take it to the Lord in prayer.. 

I do not want to walk this road being fearful and fretting.. 

I spent an evening.. 

Listening to old gospel songs that put hope and peace in my soul.. 

I studied on His promises in His Word.. 

I called on His Name... 

Told Him how I was feeling and repenting of my fear... 

And as always... 

The Peacemaker touched my heart and spirit and let me know all is well.. 

No matter what happens.. 

He is in the midst of this right with us.. 

Nothing will come to pass that He hasn't allowed.. 

But best of all I was assured of His love and the sweet peace that only He can gives calmed my fears.. 

The song..

 All my hope is in Jesus is just so true.. 

So thankful I know Him by Name and he knows me.. 

Well sweet ladies that is my piece on all of that.. smile.. 

But with that .. 

We are responsible to be sensible and try to be wise.. 

Take precautions and do what we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones... 

We went to the store yesterday thinking to buy some hand sanitizer for when we are shopping and such.. 

None ...

 Every store we went in was out and not expecting any.. 

But all is not lost.. smile.. 

We made some in our Keepers meeting a couple of years ago.. 

So I just bought the stuff required after getting the recipe from sweet Lindsay... 

And there are recipes you can google.. 

Here they are.. 

Lindsay's Hand Sanitizer.. 

1/2 cup pure aloe gel

1 1/2 tsp. witch hazel 

15 drops of tea tree essential oil 

5 drops of lavender essential oil 

Add 1/3 cup of H20 to thin it down..

and she mentioned adding some drops of thieves essential oil .. 

Stir together and put in a squeeze bottle.. 

Or.. 

Spray or Gel Hand Sanitizer recipe..

Well there you go my dears.. 

Another ramble and roll for you.. 

Hope it blesses someone.. 

Love hearing from you all .. 

Here or on Face book page.. 

And welcome to all you new followers.. 

Love having you..

Have a great week and tomorrow is the Lord's Day.. 

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families.. 

God is faithful...

Wednesday night in June...

Good Evening sweet friends.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this Wednesday night in June.. 

I find it so hard to believe that we are actually almost past Spring and into Summer.. 

I was scanning the headlines before writing this and saw a girl had posted a video of her little veranda greenhouse in P. E. I. today with snow gently falling.. 

It has been record low temps here in Eastern Canada and farmers have lost thousands of seedlings due to frost and lots of blueberry plants have been killed too!

.. 

We have not put much in yet except for our Celeriac and I think it can take a bit of cold.. 

Won't know till next trip to the farm.. 

Otherwise all is well here.. 

Have some new valances on the kitchen window above for Summer... 

Have been enjoying my new kitchen cleaner we made at Keepers.. 

I added some lemon peels and let it set for a week or so and really love the scent and the job it does.. 

Rosemary-Lemon All-Purpose Cleaning Spray

• 2 sprigs rosemary
• Peels of 2 lemons
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups white vinegar

In a one quart jar, combine rosemary, lemon peels, water and vinegar. Allow to rest 10-14 days in a cool location to allow oils to infuse.  Strain lemon peels and rosemary and transfer liquid to a spray bottle for use. If desired, lemon peels and rosemary may be placed directly inside the spray bottle. The scent will intensify over time before breaking down and the bottle will look great sitting on the shelf.

Today I finished up a batch of Apple Blossom Jelly..

Terry had picked me the blossoms and this time I added a cup and a half of apple juice and I think it turned out lovely.. 

I was just getting done when in walked my sweet husband with a bag of these.. 

He said this would be the last time I could get more so I better make another batch of Dandelion Jelly.. 

It sells so well as it is so tasty.. 

So this afternoon I got them ready to make the tea and will make the jelly tomorrow.. 

Dear old Charles kept me company.. 

He seems to like to sit at my feet.. grin.. 

We have been busy doing spring jobs like I mentioned last time so nothing much new around here... 

I did promise you the bread recipe last time I posted .. 

So.. Here it is.. 

The name of the cookbook I found at the Thrift is.. 

Old Time Favorite Recipes.. 

The complete menu cookbook.. 

Sorry, I forgot to take a pic... 

It is sort of like a magazine.. 

Anyway.. 

Applesauce Raisin Batter Bread.. 

3 cups of flour, divided 

2 T. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt 

2 tsp. apple pie spice.. (I just used 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg and 1/3 tsp. allspice.) 

1/4 ounce of active dry yeast (I used 2 tsp. instant yeast)

1 1/4 cups of unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup of honey 

2 T. butter

1 egg 

1/2 cup of raisins

In a large mixing bowl combine half of the flour, brown sugar, salt and spices and yeast.. 

Heat applesauce, honey and butter until very warm 130 degrees F. 

Add to flour mixture with egg beating very well on low speed.. 

Stir in remaining flour and raisins.. 

Spread batter into a sprayed 9 x 5 bread pan.. 

Cover loosely with waxed paper and rise until double in bulk.. 

Carefully remove paper.. 

Bake at 350 degrees F. for 40 minutes.. 

Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan.. 

You can drizzle a confection milk mixture but I didn't think we needed that. smile.. 

Enjoy.. 

Now here is another recipe for the Spring Rhubarb we are having.. 

My sweet cousin Ann called me the other night and shared this with me.. 

I wish she hadn't!  grin.. 

It is so so good.. 

This only takes 2 minutes to make and Terry loved it.. 

Ann said she made it the first night and Peter ate it all so the next time she doubled the size hoping to get a piece.. lol... 

It was just about the same here except I had been warned and put a  small bowl aside for me first.. grin.. 

Here is the recipe.. 

Rhubarb Pudding by Ann... 

In a bowl stir 1 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of white sugar, 2 tsp. baking powder, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup of milk.. 

Mix up and pour into a greased 8x8 pan.. 

Cover with 2 cups of chopped rhubarb. 

Sprinkle 1 cup of brown sugar over and drizzle 1 1/2 cups of boiling water.. 

Bake at 375 degrees F. for 45 minutes or until golden brown.. 

This cake bakes with the rhubarb and the brown sugar and water makes a lovely sauce.. 

Ann says you can add ice cream or whipped cream or as in Peter's case both... lol... 

She is just joking!!  

We just ate it as is and was lovely.. 

Enough left for another time... 

I hid it... grin.. 

Anyway dear hearts this is all for today.. 

Rain is on it's way again and the wind is very brisk tonight.. 

I have had my tea and will go to bed and read a Rosamunde Pilcher short story from the Blue Bedroom.. 

While I was cleaning my room today I came across a set of Bible Study books I picked up at the Thrift store so am looking forward to doing them in the evenings.. 

It is after 8 pm and I can hear dear husband outside scraping at the paint.. He has been working away at painting our house.. 

It needed it so bad and this summer our old farmhouse will need a coat.. 

Work is never done but so thankful to the Lord that we are still able to carry on and do what we can.. 

He is faithful!  

Missing my boy tonight... 

Pray for me and I will pray for you.. 

God bless... 

The day after the storm...

Good Evening my dears... 

A lovely sunny day here today after yesterday's storm.. 

We had snow and then rain so it was pretty icy out there this morning... 

I did not venture out but Terry and Dustin went to watch one of our grandsons play basketball... His birthday is on Monday and he will be 14.. Where has the time gone? 

I wish I could have joined them but my throat is still a mess.. ugh... 

Oh well.... I am sure he enjoyed having his uncle and Grandpa there.. 

I went to let Sammi out the back door and there was such a racket in the apple trees out back.. I looked and the trees were full of grosbeaks..

They were snacking on the apples.. I think.. 

Or trying out the icicles... grin.. 

I ran to get my camera and headed for the sun room so I could get a better pic and tripped over the footstool in my rush and of course they heard the racket and took off... 

Yes... I am a klutz..grin..

As I waited for them to come back I checked out my plants in there..

                                                                         

The ivy and geraniums are doing great.. 

Plants have a way of lifting my spirits..

Do they have that effect on you?  

I was very pleasantly surprised to find that there were a couple of new babies.. Yeah!!

Three new Aloe Vera  plants... 

I guess the birds aren't coming back..

I don't have a lot of patience, I guess... 

Another day.... 

The sun is starting to go down on this last Saturday 

in January, 2012

Terry should be home soon and  I need to start getting supper ready.. 

I did make an apple pie today.. smile.. 

My dear Mother made me four batches of pie crust to freeze.. 

She loves making it and I detest doing it.. grin.. 

Anyway, sweet ladies the lamps are on and the fish and lemons are in their packets.. 

Do you ever make them?

Another lovely day drawing to a close... 

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day... 

I guess I won't get to church.. I would not like to pass this virus along to anyone ... Especially, to any of the elders..

The wonderful thing about God, though. is that He will be right here with me at home, too.. 

When I bow my head or get down on my knees He is right there.. 

He is available.. And waiting for me to call on Him.. 

I love His presence..

I heard a sermon one time that talked of how Jesus is standing in the shadows.. Just waiting for us  to whisper His Name.. 

But so many times instead of reaching out to Him we reach for a book or a TV remote or perhaps our laptops.. 

He just waits there so patiently for our hearts to reach 

out to Him..

Sometimes, I imagine Him standing in the corner of our bedroom by the window..  Just waiting for me to call on Him..

Or when I am alone and needing Him I can just feel Him there..

smile..

He is such a faithful God.. Right? 

Thanks for dropping by and being a part of my life this way.. 

And God bless you for all the dear encouraging emails and comments that I have received this past week.. You are all so dear to my heart..

Love and Prayers

Standing somewhere in the shadows you will find Him.. 

And you will know Him by the nail prints in His hands..  

Thank you, Jesus....

Good Morning...

Just a very short post today as I wanted to tell you all about an anniversary that I am having today!!

Thirteen years ago today I was awakened by a crying nurse in the Moncton hospital... She was saying...

"Wake up, Mrs. Henry.... you DON'T have Cancer!!

I will never forget those words!!!

Nor will I ever forget the FAITHFULNESS  of my God...

He is STILL our HEALER!!!

Every January 8  for the last 13 years I have counted Blessing...

I just wanted to share this with you today...

Jesus is a prayer answering God....

And I am THANKFUL.....

Have a great weekend and May God bless and keep you...

Love to you all...

Faye....