Working in the Sun Room..

Hello my dears.. 

Just a little post about the things I am preparing for the Craft Show on Saturday.. 

Terry has been working on our kitchen,.. (thank the Lord) 

Hunting season is over so he has been working away on varnishing and rehanging the doors.. 

The weather here in N. B. has been a bit Winter like, shall we say.. 

Cold and dull outside with a bit of snow..

So I turned up the heater, made a nice hot cup of coffee and got to it.. 

Cutting out circles of fabric...

Lots of tags and even ideas for serving... 

I used the little method of putting tags of kraft paper into milk and sticking them on.. So simple.. 

I wish I had known this method years ago.. 

This chore takes much longer then one would think.. 

Hopefully, it will help sell preserves.. 

Nice for Christmas gifts.. Perhaps??? 

Today was the third day preparing and making more stuff.. 

Today I made some Christmas Jam.. 

It is really good.. 

I will show that to you next time..

We had this soup today.. 

Carrot Cumin Soup

You can find the link to the recipe HERE..

I love the spice cumin and loved this soup.. 

I even toasted a few cumin seeds to sprinkle on top.. 

Then back to work... 

Bottling up the vinegars.. 

Nasturtium, Tarragon and Elderberry..

I included a recipe to use them to make a salad dressing.. 

Elderberry Vinegar Salad Dressing.. 

So good for you, too.. 

Lots of strawberry jam.. 

The one I sell the most of.. 

Apple Jelly.. 

 And then I decided to make some bags to put preserves in to give away for gifts.. 

They are not quite finished yet ... 

So dear friends this is my post for tonight.. 

Mission Point Craft Fair 

130 Mark Drive, 

St. John East.. 

near McAllister Place.. 

Nov. 28 at 9 am.. 

If you are nearby I hope you stop by and say hi... 

There will also be a flea market going on downstairs.. 

And Apple Spiced Cider using my recipe.. smile.. 

Take care, dear hearts and please know how much I appreciate your comments.. 

You girls rock!!

xo

A bit of this and a bit of that...

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth this evening.. 

I think my posts are becoming a bit typical.. 

A bit of this and a bit of that which occupies me during the week.. 

Oh well, perhaps, I will get more inspired one of these days.. smile.. 

Anyway..

The first pic is a beautiful craft that Shonda (our daughter) made with ornaments from her husband's mother.. 

I thought it was lovely and think I might try something similar... 

Gotta love Pinterest.. smile.. 

I am preparing for the Christmas Craft Show next Saturday in St. John.. 

Tagging and pricing preserves and such.. 

We cleaned our freezer and found an extra turkey so roasted it up and froze most of it.. 

I also made stock and a roaster of gravy to freeze.. 

We are having Turkey and Wild Rice Soup at Keepers on Saturday.. 

I am kind of explaining the photos as we go along here.. 

Another cook book that I love from Amazon.. 

We had to go to the city to renew our passports and we ended up doing another little drive down memory lane.. 

A little place in the country near Sussex where we lived for several years..

A picture of the old house we lived in and where we had a few chickens, geese, sheep and even a couple of pigs..

One day I was outside tethering our old ram sheep on the side yard.. I remember I had on a black top and my skirt was black with a blue floral border.. My hair was in a long braid down my back.. 

An old farmer from up the road who was from England was driving down the road on his tractor.. 

He pulled into our driveway and I went over to see what he wanted.. 

He said he only wanted to ask me if I was from Scandinavia !

I couldn't help but laugh and I have never forgotten that.. 

I still think about it now and then and wonder why he would think that.. grin.. 

He didn't know but I was just a hippie wantabe.. 

Or so my husband has always called me.. lol.. 

We were only in our twenties when we moved there.. The two older kids were in school and later Dustin was born a couple of years before we moved here..

Terry commented that the big old maple trees are still there on the front lawn..  

Up the road a farmer is raising elk and another lots of goats.. 

We had so many sweet neighbors and even now when we see them they are still so friendly.. 

About 30 years ago.. 

Where has the time gone?

Also, making some herbal salves to sell at the show, too..

I have decided to have a Mason Jar Table.. 

Practically everything in mason jars...  

And of course, lots of soup days.. 

Stewed Tomato and Bow Tie soup and one that Mom used to make when we were kids.. 

Poor Man's Soup made with potatoes, onions, milk and parsley.. 

Found a recipe for Pumpkin Fruit Cake.. 

and 

Creamed peas and leftover turkey over rice was on the menu last night from Taste of Home.. 

TURKEY A LA KING OVER RICE.. 

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1-3/4 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 celery rib, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped green pepper
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup fat-free milk
• 2 cups cubed cooked turkey breast
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups hot cooked rice

Directions

1. In a large nonstick skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, celery, onion and pepper; cook and stir until tender.
2. In a small bowl, mix flour and broth until smooth; stir into vegetable mixture. Stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Add turkey, peas and salt; heat through. Serve with rice. Yield: 4 servings.

Well, dearies this is all for tonight.. 

We have Keepers on Saturday at 9 am.. 

A "making and doing " day for Christmas.. 

If you would like to attend please just leave me a message.. 

Hope all is well with you all.. 

Take care and God bless... 

Next time I will post the recipe Hot Mixed Veggies in my last post.. 

Thanks for visiting everyone..

Linked to... The Art of Homemaking Mondays..

and

Cooking and Crafting with Julie...

Another week of Ramble and Roll Post..

Canning for a new Generation, Irish Pantry..

Good Evening dearies.. 

How are you all doing? 

We are having a lovely week of warmer temps and it seems to be a great time to get some outside work done.. 

Terry has been at the wood lot cutting wood and putting more in the wood room all week.. 

I hope to get the windows cleaned tomorrow as next week is to be cooler.. 

I think this post will be a ramble and roll sort of one.. 

Again... sorry.. 

I received these two cookbooks and they are lovely.. 

From Amazon.. The Irish Pantry

From Chapters... Canning for a New Generation.. 

I am enjoying going through these cookbooks.. 

On with the story.. 

This is a pic of my treat meal.. 

Everyone is trying to watch what they eat and as a senior I am trying to be healthier..smile.. 

But... 

Once a week I have something I love and this one wins out almost every time.. 

Pasta and Shrimp.. 

What would your treat meal be?? 

Rambling along here.. 

Terry peeled 50 pounds of squash and I cooked it up, mashed and bagged it all for the freezer for the Winter.. 

What is your process for freezing squash?  

Some bake it but I boil it... 

We are saving the seeds for next year... 

Drying and putting away.. 

Here is a delicious soup that we had this week.. 

My sister gave me some recipes in a gift bag and this one was mixed in with them... 

Dr. Smiley Soup.. 

1 cup rice, uncooked (not instant)

3/4 gallon of chicken stock

2 tsp. black pepper.. ( I only used 1/2 tsp.)

1 tsp. celery salt 

1/2 tsp. paprika 

salt to taste..Not a lot of salt is needed..

6 eggs

4 stalks green onion.. 

In a large pot boil rice in chicken stock until soft and beginning to break up..  Add seasoning.. In bowl mix eggs well and pour slowly into boiling soup mixture.  

Simmer for 30 minutes .. 

Just before serving add chopped green onions.. 

Serves 4 - 6...

Tip.. 

This egg drop soup recipe was shared by an Asian friend who relies on this dish to relieve cold and flu symptoms .. 

He believes pepper is the key.. 

There you go ... 

I only made half of the recipe for us and found it very good..

Rolling along here.. 

I am preparing to have a table at the Mission Point Craft Sale and have been pottering along doing up preserves to sell.. 

Here are some more Old Fashioned Pumpkin Preserves with cloves... 

Tuesday night we went to Bible Study.. 

Such awesome teaching of the Word of God.. 

It was so nice one day this week that we went Rose Hip gathering..

We always go to the same place... 

Some things I do with rose hips.. 

1..Make a lovely face oil.. 

YouTube  recipe here..

2..Rose Hip Syrup and Jelly.. 

3..Dry for crafts and potpourris.. 

4..Freeze some for Rose Hip Tea.. 

Don't freeze or store them in a metal container.. 

Rose Hips are very good for you... 

Nutritional Value

As we were near the farm we decided to go and fill our water jugs with the Spring water we love.. 

We arrived there to find we had some sweet company waiting.. 

Our youngest son, Dustin.. 

He and his Dad were happy to see the work that has been done in the fields.. 

Trees cut down and all ploughed up .. 

More pasture land for the cattle.. 

Dustin loves the old farm almost as much as his Dad.. grin.. 

We had a nice visit and then we all headed home for supper.. 

Then last night we made Bone Broth... 

Our oldest son gave us a bunch of bones.. 

They simmered until 2:30 this morning and then Terry turned it off.. The dear man.. 

Today, I just skimmed off the fat and put it through a sieve and ended up with 8 delicious quarts of organic broth ... 

Thanks, Trev.. 

I will use it to make a soup like this one we had for lunch yesterday but I used Chicken broth and wild rice ...

And Bok Choy... 

I think I have rambled and rolled along enough.. 

One final preserve that is finished.. 

I sold and ate all of the ones I made earlier in the Fall so made another batch of Hot Mixed Veggie Pickle yesterday.. 

Love these ... 

I hope you girls who live nearby can attend the Craft Show in St. John at Mission Point Church on Mark Drive on Nov. 28.. 

I will be having a Mason Jar Table.. 

Everything in Mason Jars from preserves, potpourries, aprons, soup herbs, salves, dips and such... 

There will be lots of crafts there and all, too.. 

I will post some pics on the Face Book page later... 

Thank you, dear hearts for your sweet visits.. 

I love your comments and will try to answer any questions and please know that I appreciate each and everyone of you.. 

God bless you and your families.. 

Hugs.. 

These September Daze.....

Hello friends... 

Hope you are enjoying your September... 

Such a lovely month of the year and here in the Eastern provinces of Canada we are being blessed with wonderful warm weather even though we have had near frosts.. 

I need to bring in my geraniums soon to keep through the Winter.. 

They do not require much care and provide such cozy warm color all season.. Then I just take them back out and put them on the deck next Summer.. 

The one nice thing about being home again are the few visits we make up to our old farm back in the Kent Hills of New Brunswick.. 

We are quite busy here at home and could not stay long .. Terry mowed the grass and I puttered about in the kitchen.. 

Brought up a sweet old runner and wood basket from my shop... 

I like it there on the harvest table.. 

The little piece of lace on the handle has a donkey on it.. 

Imagine.. 

I couldn't sell that.. grin.. 

A dear lady gave me a whole box of kale... 

The world's most popular vegetable at this time.. 

So full of nutrients.. 

I froze a bunch.... 

And tried some kale chips... 

They were good although dear hubby was not impressed... 

I will sneak it into Winter soups for sure.. 

After he was finished mowing we went for a little drive.. 

He said he thought it would be nice to see the windmills again.. 

It was a beautiful sunny day at the farm but just a few minutes away up high was a lot of fog.. 

Some of the windmills you could barely see... 

Amazing aren't they?  

Then....

I found out why we really went for a drive.. 

Past the windmills my dear husband owns a wee wood lot.. 

I detest going up there because it is way up a winding high hill with barely a road.. 

By the time we got up there and back down I had been calling on the Lord to please get us out of there in one piece... 

I tell you sometimes I think the man has lost a couple of marbles.. 

Then he proceeds to tell me he thinks that he and Dustin will go up and take down a few maples and bring them to the farm.. 

Trust in the Lord with all your strength will be my verse for that day... smile.. 

On the sunnier side of my daze... I mean days are peaches.. 

Lots of them...

Peeled and sliced and mixed with a bit of sugar and frozen for the Winter.. 

To use on Vanilla Cake and Whipped Cream or on some Ice Cream Sundaes or perhaps a Fruit Salad... 

They will taste of Summer.. smile.. 

I imagine I am boring you stiff with all of my preserving and pickling stories but that is what I do this month and I love it... 

I am not complaining so perhaps I am bragging... grin... 

Please forgive me.. 

Here we have another almost 30 pounds of baby cucumbers made into Garlic Dill, Sandwich Dill and Nine Day Sweet Pickles.. 

The tea towel is covering some that are fermenting.. 

They are very healthy for you, you know.. 

Oh and I was blessed to find some more Queen Anne's Lace and made another batch of jelly as I sold it all at the Park sale.. 

I have made a sweet new friend on Blogger.. 

Her name is Michelle and she lives in England.. 

And you girls know how I love anything UK.. 

Well, she gave me a recipe for their type of beet pickles.. 

Over there they call it beetroot and of course we Canadians call them just beets but it is the same veggie.. 

Anyway, I have made a bottle Michelle... 

Thanks for the recipe... smile.. 

Try to go over and give her a wee visit as I am sure you will love her... 

Just click on her name above...

Now... 

I would like to share a poem that I found on the web that I thought was marvelous as it mentions another thing I love.. 

Mason Jars.. ..

Hope you will like it, too.. 

PICKLED

She gathered walnuts in June
on hot, clear days, when the nuts
were tender enough to pierce with a safety pin.
She soaked them in salt water
and baked them in the sun
until they turned black, wiped them dry,
and filled canning jars with vinegar, brown sugar,
cloves, peppercorns, and cassia buds.
She sealed the jars, carried them down
to the cellar, her knees nearly buckling
beneath the weight of walnuts,
then climbed the stairs back to the kitchen
and made sweet pickled pears
cooked in boiling water, soaked
in vinegar and sugar, cloves and cinnamon.
She pickled nasturtium seeds,
packed them in empty perfume bottles,
drenched them in vinegar —
little capers that impressed her friends
when she sprinkled them on chicken.
She pickled everything —
autumn leaves, peony blossoms,
hair pins, playbills, extra buttons,
letters from her mother —
all of these things preserved,
lined up in clear jars
on warped cellar shelves.
She loved the way the peaches glowed
when she pulled the chain
swinging beneath the light bulb,
loved the neat rows of specimens,
like screws at the hardware store.
On snowy afternoons in late December,
she cut out calendar squares
of days she wanted to save,
dropped them like wishes in a
wide-lipped Mason jar,
drowned them in vinegar,
sealed them in the sweet brine
of remembrance.

by..Cindy Hunter Morgan... 

Thank you, dear hearts for you visit and your comments, of course.. 

Praying that you have the peace of the Lord in your days.. 

xo