Lovely January Days

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this wintery January Sunday.. 

So happy to reconnect with you all once again.. 

The month of January has nearly passed since last we chatted.  

I must say that I have enjoyed the lovely days thus far.. 

Things are difficult and strange in our world today but here within the four walls of our home it is another winter season.. 

We have been blessed with good weather.. 

Snowy and blizzardly a few times and some bitter cold but the furnace is burning and we are puttering around doing this and that... 

Terry loves the banana rolls that I wrote about a couple of posts ago.  

So this morning before church (online as we are on lock down) I put a batch together... 

I just took them out of the oven.. 

He left to go to the wood lot for a bit so he will enjoy them when he gets back home.. 

I was looking around in a closet that I keep just for soaps and such and found a box of candles that I had made last year.. 

I kind of forgot about them unless I saw or read something about homemade candles.. 

I burned one as soon as I made them almost and was not happy with them at all.. 

Then the other day I was reading a candle feature and it said that they have to cure.. Ohhhhh..... 

So lo and behold they were right.. 

I dug one out and lit it and it works perfect.. 

You just have to keep taking your finger and smoothing the wax down so it doesn't flood itself.. 

Smells of Lavender, of course.. smile.. 

I still have a wee bit of winter decor here and about.. 

But not much.. 

Christmas is all put away and trying to rearrange a few things here especially in the kitchen and family room where we live.. 

I love a change now and then.. 

Do  you?  

We took a country drive her one day up to check on the farm.. 

We passed the brook and it was so pretty... 

Then by the time we arrived at the farm the snow was beginning... 

Terry made a fire and I picked up a few things I thought I needed here at home.. 

Some fabrics, jars and a coffee perk that our son gave me.. 

I had not used it and brought it home to try.. 

It makes delicious coffee but I think I will keep it for the wood stove out there.. 

Then this is what it was like by the time we were almost home.. 

It was a big storm.. 

I don't mind the storms and kind of enjoy them if our children are not working and travelling in them.. 

That ruins any cozy storm for me.. grin.. 

But they got to work and back just fine.. 

Thanking God every time they are protected... 

My sweet sister gave me a journal for a gift. 

I put a cover on it and am using it for ideas and projects that I long to accomplish at some point.. smile... 

I never run out of projects and ideas.. 

I just run out of energy and ambition.. 

sigh.... grin... old age.... 

I did get a few little items finished.. 

Some un-paper towels inspired by JES.. on Instagram.. 

Also .... cloth napkins... 

Love using cloth so much better then paper.. 

JES suggested just fraying the edges rather then sewing and it is a great idea.. 

I bought a very heavy sheet at the thrift store so have lots to make for my gift pantry plus a couple of runners and such.. 

In the pic above you can see this felted candle cozy on a candle.. 

This is the bag that I felted for my sister.. 

My good sewing machine is not working so I asked my new granddaughter-in-law if she would sew it together for me.. 

She has an online business making and selling her homemade bags.. 

Here is her link.. 

https://www.instagram.com/mapleandpine.designs/

They are lovely and she does wonderful work.. 

She so graciously agreed to do that and voila... 

Isn't it sweet.. 

Thanks Ash!! 

The plants are doing great.. 

Haven't really slowed down a lot for winter.. smile.. 

Some afternoons I make a pot of this potpourri ready on the stove for the next morning.. 

Just to get me going.. 

Smells like Winter at Home.. 

Kinda gets me moving in the mornings... 

Are you a scent loving person?  

I am... ......... smile.. 

Here are a few cooking things that we ate this month.. 

 Catonese Salad... 

When you only have one small steak left over.. 

I tried something new... 

Turnip Kraut... 

Made it just like Sauerkraut but used grated turnip instead.. 

Our farmer told me about it and so I gave it a try ... 

It is delicious!  

And of course so good for you.. 

I had a couple of turnips that were getting a bit old as we bought a 50 pound bag and it was a great way to use them up.. 

Someone gifted us with a couple of beef tongues.. 

One day last week I boiled it up and we are having delicious sandwiches with it.. 

It looks gross perhaps but it is such a tender bit of beef you would ever have..  

I posted it on Instagram but deleted it as I figured out it is not a pretty pic to post.. grin.. 

This was a bit of fried rice and some our home canned green beans.. 

Terry was complaining a bit about all the jars he keeps taking downstairs.. grin.. 

We shop in our cold room every Monday and as the week passes the bottles empty.. dahh... grin.. 

Counting it all as blessing for sure.. 

With all that went on with our garden we really did get a lot put away... 

Terry is still doing well with good health so thanking God for that too...smile..

And of course our fish chowder.. 

Once a week for sure.. 

And grain bread to soak it all up in... 

💓

Here is one of the books I am reading in January... 

It was just published this month.. 

Laura Franz is one of my all time fave authors.. 

I found it a bit slow getting into it as I read more then one book at a time.. 

There is something about January that calls Louis L'Amour's books to me.. 

Sometimes I will read the same one several times and enjoy it as much every time.. 

What's with that?  

I am not a guy but I love them.. 

When I read books such as Laura's I keep notes on things that jump out to me.. 

Ideas ... 

like food, colours, decor, celebrations.. 

All kinds of things! 

Then when I really need inspired I will read them over and think to myself... 

Oh, I want to make those homemade crackers... 

Or ... oh, I could put together a gift of dill crackers, homemade herb cheese and a jar of pickled carrots in a basket with a homemade napkin... 

Right??? 

LOl..  I know... I am nuts sometimes... 

My husband would say... 

I don't have much to do... lol... 

And so dear hearts on that note I will say bye for now as my Momma always used to say... 

But look.. 

I saw this photo on the web somewhere and I saved it.. 

Doesn't that make your heart rejoice... 

Some glad morning when this life is over...

I'll fly away... 

 

I pray you have this hope.. 

In a world gone bonkers we can look toward heaven.. 

Our redemption drawth nigh.. 

Please make your acquaintance with Jesus soon if you don't know Him.. Just talk to Him.. Build a relationship with Him...  

He is coming back!  

Just like He said... 

Love to you all... 

 

The first of January...

Hello everyone... 

Here I am finally.. 

A beautiful Sunday afternoon and I am giving my new laptop a trial run.. 

Can't say that I am doing very good so far but we shall see.  

I won't bore you with all the details of me getting used to this but I am sure as the post goes on you will see my inexpertise..Not sure that is a word but you no doubt get my drift.. 

I loaded my pics on with my tablet and then turned this one to my dashboard .. 

I cannot find how to copy and paste as there seems to be no right click so the pics are all helter skelter... 

Whatever... 

One of our grandsons will show up and guide me before the next post, I am sure.  

Meanwhile, please be patient with me.. 

As usual just sharing some of our days with you all.. 

I think you must be finding this pretty boring each time.. 

Anyway... 

Above are a few little dried wreaths that I made the other day... 

Terry picked me a huge bunch of these flowers last summer (everlastings, I think they are called)..

the pic is below.. 

they dried very well... but I still need to put some ribbon and such on them. 

These are little prairie dolls I made from clothespins for two wee girls I know..

I found almost the whole set of Little House on the Prairie books for them and I thought they might like the dolls to go with them.. 

Soup days are very common here in the Henry house.. smile.. 

Trying to add more grains.. 

This one has barley, wild rice and something else, I think.. 

Just a tomato and chicken stock base and veggies.. 

I am not a meat lover so can leave that out really easy .. 

Especially when Terry prefers something else... 

Christmas just about depleted my gift pantry except for preserves so am pottering away making a few things.. 

A wee wreath here, a bottle or two of air freshener there or whatever... 

I used a bottle already for a hostess gift... 

Found a few more bottles in my closet the other day so plan to make a few more... 

I was telling Shonda about the idea of using glass vinegar jars for spray bottles.. Whether it is for room fresheners or cleaners.  

They are lovely. 

The spray contraption from the plastic bottles fit right on the nice glass one.. 

The only thing is that she and I bought our glass jars of vinegar in Calais as we couldn't find the right ones here in New Brunswick... 

Shared this on Instagram the other day.. 

makes perfect sense, eh? 

This is the pile of flowers all dried.. 

I just laid them on a shelf in the sunroom and then cut and glued them to small grapevine wreaths.. 

Will show you a pic when they are finished... 

Had a lovely time opening these dear gifts from our son the other day.. 

They were a bit late but not any less appreciated.. 

It was fun to receive them and know he wrapped each one.. 

We like you have the dearest children.. 

No matter how old they get nor how far away they roam they will always be our babies.. 

Miss this one an awful lot at times... 

So many of us here in Maritime Canada have loved ones out west working so I am not alone in this for sure.. 

Just pray daily that God keeps his Hand upon him.... 

We have started having our town days once a week again and we look forward to them.. 

Do you have a town day?  

I think it may be a retired couples who don't live in the city kind of thing.. grin.. 

I do enjoy this one day but unlike my dear mother I am not a shopper and never have been.. 

I prefer thrift and book shops above everything and farmer type market stores.. Love them, too.. 

Anyway.. 

Here are my finds the other day.. 

A dear little jam jar (old china), a tray to put this laptop on for when i use it, several books, cookbooks, Louis L:Amour although I think I have read every one but I am lucky if I can find one that I almost forget (grin), fancy cutting scissors, a valance for the laundry room, a pale yellow lace tablecloth, a potholder, a woven basket for my crochet, a sign that says Always Kiss Me Goodnight for our room... (just to remind him)  grin and a recycle bag or two.. 

In the Salvation Army they have lovely bags of cloth and such that you can buy for your purchases for only 25 cents.. 

The one above is from Old Navy... 

Sometimes after church on Sundays we go to the Big Stop for lunch.. 

We almost always buy the same thing.. 

He gets Liver and Onions and I buy soup or chowder.. 

This is clam chowder... 

It is better at times then others... 

This was a fair day... But the last time it was delicious... 

I dug out my crochet the other day and made a coffee cup cozy... 

It is finished but needs to have a couple of buttons sewed on and I have a plant pot hanger also mostly finished.. 

Love these winter days for pottering about, don't you?

I keep my little chochet projects in this little bag I made.. 

It is an old piece of embroidery tablecloth or such that was pretty well done for but salvaged enough for a drawstring bag... 

I wanted to share once again this recipe for good health... 

It s called Fire Shot and I really think it makes me feel better.. I bought a couple of little shot glasses at the thrift and try to take this on a regular basis.. 

It can't hurt you anyway I guess unless you are like my friend Pam and alergic to something like cinnamon.. 

Anyway dear hearts this is all for today.. 

Not done very well and I know there are misspelling but can't figure that one out yet either.. 

But all is well.. 

This old body has it's days with whatever but am blessed beyond measure... 

Have lost several dear ones the last few weeks and it makes me appreciate all that God has done for me.. 

Don't want to get melancholy but if I went today there are no complaints. 

He has been faithful... 

Thanks for dropping by once again and hopefully this blog will pick up and I will be more faithful to it... 

Loving these January days and the sweetness of home that they bring.. 

Candlelight, soup simmering on the stove, quiet chores and projects and sweet music.... 

Hubby busy in his workshop downstairs and Charlie snoring on the rug.. 

God is good... 

Sending hugs and blessings your way...

Another week in January...

Good Evening my dears.. 

Hope you had a great weekend.. 

Another week has rolled past in January.. 

I think the days seem longer, don't you?  

I am so enjoying this month.. 

The storms have not been horrendous yet and I love the evenings.. 

During the summer my husband does not know enough to come inside.. He is out there until after dark most days working and it makes me feel guilty being inside and not accomplishing much.. 

The winter is different because we have supper and then just relax.. 

I can enjoy myself because there is no guilt.. lol... 

Anyway, during the day I do try to accomplish a few chores and January always means marmalade.. 

Clementine Marmalade.. 

It takes a bit of fussing but it is worth the effort.. 

The recipe is HERE..

Then the other day I did this fun thing.. 

When I had my shop I made up some lights with little homespun rags tied between them.. I found them and decided they would provide some extra light for reading when I go to bed.. 

Love them.. 

Then as always we have soup... 

Home made turkey stock and lots of veggies.. 

The summer savoury isn't added yet.. 

Soooo good!! 

We here in New Brunswick have had some beautiful days.. 

Lovely light white snow along with some lovely sunny days.. 

So pretty.. 

I finally finished my little owl bunting.. 

Just a little touch of homemade for the winter.. 

I know it is kind of simple but with the lights it is a nice change during the evenings.. 

This hangs on the edge of the mantel.. 

Another little owl.. 

I made this a year or two ago.. 

On with the show.. smile.. 

The last while I have been trying to perfect a few basic recipes.. 

This was this weeks project.. 

Scones.. 

Let's say that I am getting there.. 

Just a few more tries... smile.. 

Sunday night supper.. 

We are so enjoying the canned green beans and mustard pickles.. 

Trying to make sure we are using up the food we put up for Winter.. 

And then there is Charlie.. 

Penny was asking about Charlie.. He is doing fine.. 

Thank you for asking, dear.. 

He goes with us where ever we go.. 

He seems to know we are going away before we do.. 

We go get ready and when we come into the Family Room he is prancing around waiting.. grin.. 

He's a good dog.. No, really!!  

Trevor was here with Joel yesterday.. 

They had been to the woodlot and dropped by.. 

Trev does everything he can to make friends with Charlie but no hope.. 

The dear lad just smiles when Charlie growls and chews at him and says he is a good dog!  

I think I would give up but he just keeps trying.. smile.. 

I had just taken a banana bread out of the oven and they had no breakfast or lunch.. 

So.. we fried up some eggs and instead of toast they had banana bread.. smile.. 

Love having the kids drop by.. 

Life is good..

And God is good.. 

All of the time..  

Take care my friends and thanks so much for your visit.. 

Oh here is the link for the banana bread.. 

So fast and so easy.. 

I posted about making the bread Here..

God bless.. xo