Our October Days...

Hello everyone.... 

So glad to have you visit here today... 

Just an autumn post for you on this lovely October day... 

The days this fall have come and gone with such wonderful weather and blessings from the Lord.. 

I think we only had two frosts which were not devastating as we had several extra weeks for things to keep on growing.. 

We are all well and finally seem almost normal especially where everyone near and dear to me have come through it all with God's help and strength.. 

After all this time Covid has hit New Brunswick big time and it is a scary thing.. 

Especially, when it is your own.. 

But as always God has been faithful and present during the storms of life... 

This is a thankful month and we are... 

Hope you all are as well.. 

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts..

You are in ours... 

Anyway..

Fall has been happening around our house... 

We are just so happy about that!

After a summer of sickness and then a September of unrest we are ready to get back up and keep on keeping on.. 😊 

Terry is back and at it... 

The wood is in and the chimney cleaned and such.. 

The garden is almost at rest and some outdoor painting was taken care of.. 

And me... 

Well, I have been puttering on and feeling so much more like doing it the last few weeks.. 

God is good!  

I know I keep saying such but have such a thankful heart to Him.. 

When you go through the storm and come out the other end it is a wonderful blessing, eh! 

  

Now... 

I have been drying some apples, herbs, a basket of peppers and such.. 

Going for drives and picking flowers that I didn't get to before.. 

Tansy was one of those ones.. 

I love making tansy salve and moth sachets.. 

Although, we were late getting it we came across a patch and it is now dry and ready to go..

 

The leaves have been slowly turning but just now passed their peak and today the wind is whipping around this window in here .. I expect they will be flying around everywhere.. 

I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.. 

We were under covid restrictions and so could not visit but that was ok... 

We have to do what is best for everyone.. 

So... 

It was just the two of us... smile.. 

It certainly was not our daughter's gorgeous table but a little effort was put forth.. 😉

Wild flowers were gathered for a bouquet and a ham was purchased.. 

We decided a potato scallop was in order and I brought a couple of brown transferware dishes from the farm.. 

And old lace napkins... (of course!) smile.. 

Then I tried to make an apple pie.. 

It was not my day.. 

I could hardly get enough crust to make a pie so settled for small deep dish ones.. smile.. 

When I get tired I may as well just give up and say forget it!

But I am too stubborn.. 

The gist of the story is that Terry liked them better and thought I should make them more often... lol..

Anyway, we did get a chance to chat with all of our dear kids and that was that for another year.. 

We have been buying some of the most lovely apples!

What a gorgeous crop this fall.. 

Made this Apple Butter from Kings Landing Historical Settlement..  

In my crockpot.... 

The recipe is here below.. 

As you see there are no instructions and I forgot to not put the cover on and let's just say it took a day or two to thicken up.. 

It is an absolutely lovely apple butter.. (to the left)Salsa on right.

But not for toast... 

Delicious on ham or chicken or a apple and cheddar sandwich on crusty bread.. 

But not toast!  lol...

It has vinegar.... smile.   

I may try to make my usual but have not got to that yet.. 

Still have apples after doing up 70 pounds.. (yikes)

They keep for ages though... smile.. 

Made some laundry soap... 

Here is the recipe I used... 

1.5 cups of washing soda

1.5 cups borax

2 T. salt

1 bar of grated laundry soap

essential oils of choice and amount... 

I love lavender!

Maybe a bit of rose in memory of my Mom... smile.. 

Mix it all up in a big tub or bowl... 

Then store it in something to keep it dry. 

Use a Tablespoon per load or more if soiled badly... 

I don't use this every wash but especially when I do tea towels and such.. 

I put mine in a coffee can and pasted some old wallpaper border around just to make it a bit nicer.. 

I found this bit of info the other day and love the idea so am adding it to the above.. 

Using my own essential oil choices though...

My friend adds Tide so I will be adding a cup or so too..

 

Now... 

I am so slow getting back to you dear girls that my posts are way too long but anyway..

 

Here is a drive from a few weeks ago.. 

Our very first heavy frost and we had to go to Sussex... 

The fog and frost were simply beautiful!  

Just had to share them with you... 

Then a few other fallish drives with the splendor of autumn.. 

A couple of farm pics, too... 

Some are in Albert County and some in Kings or Westmorland!

We are so blessed to live in New Brunswick.. 

Would not want to be anywhere else!  

(says this old lady!!) 💖

One day we came home and had a Maritimer's Supper!

Fish in a sauce and baked potatoes and peas and homemade pickles... mmmm.. 

Sometimes I still make cookies and freeze a couple in individual bags for our drives with our Butternut Ridge coffee.. 

The best coffee around.. I may be prejudiced!  smile.. 

Although all is well and even with restrictions and virus and such life goes on... 

There is happiness and there is still sorrow... 

There are times in your life when you are younger that there is not a lot of people you know passing on..  

But the older one gets it seems to happen a lot more.. 

Terry and I have been blessed with dear friends and family.. 

Sometimes, we have made relationships with some that are special.. 

You know what I mean.. 

We mostly all have best friends and friends that you love dearly even if you have not seen or chatted with them for eons.. 

The minute you lay eyes on them it is exactly like it was yesterday or forty years ago.. 

(This may be a wee bit longer post but like I always say.. 

Just scroll on by.. )

Many years ago when Terry and  I were in our young twenties, we moved from the city to a small farming area..

We had moved to St. John when we were married and were there about 8 years... 

In our seventh year we had found the Lord again after going our own way for several years... 

In giving our lives back to him , we wanted to be closer to our church and get away from the city.. 

So we moved to Sussex.. 

To be honest I regretted the move for awhile.. 

It was different then what we were used to and it was not what I had expected.. Whatever I expected.. smile. 

But.. 

One day after the kids were in school I decided I would try selling a household product to my neighbors.. 

Knocking on a door up the road from me a dear sweet lady answered the door and invited me in... 

It was such a lovely surprise... 

I knew right away that we were kindred spirits... 

The stew was cooking on a wood stove, bread was rising on the counter... A wee boy was playing with pots on the floor.. 

There was a pile of magazines and books on the table and she had the ironing board out making a craft.. 

I think she was waxing fall leaves... smile..

and cats!! I love cats!

 

It was a visit that changed my circumstances of living there.. 

The tea was put on and there was bread and cheese and real butter.. 

It is a precious memory to me of how our friendship began about 45 years ago... 

She was a bit older then me but it never mattered in the least... 

She taught me just so much about home and making and doing..

I loved her dearly! 

 

Then, a couple of weeks ago she left this world.. 

I was so sad.. 

A few days before that I had lost another dear friend from my youth and it seemed like a lot!!

God gets you through these times though..

He really does! 

I wanted to remember in my own special way.. 

So one night I made a nice supper for us.. 

One of Deanna's recipes that she had given me.. 

It is really good... 

I hope you enjoy it.. 

They were special friends and I was blessed to know Deanna and Elva... 

May God bless their families... 

I haven't done a lot of fall decorating this year.. 

Just busy trying to catch up with the preserving and winter preps... 

Getting back into a bit of felting, too.. 

My friend Dawn and I were talking about growing older and Christmas... 

She thought we should do a little bit every day and then we won't be overwhelmed.. 

I agree.. 

But you know me.. 

I need inspiration... 

I thought this might help get me in the mood..

I read this in a book years ago and took a pic of this page.. 

I believe the writer was Rosamund Pilcher but not sure... 

Glad I saved it.. 

I expect I will read it a few times before December 25... 

With all that is going on I hope to keep it sweet and simple and fresh but lovely... 

How about you.. 

Can you get your mind wrapped around it all yet?  

I will ask you again next time.. smile..  

Well dear girls, I am about done.. 

Such a long long post but it was nice to connect with you all.. This is a little church down the road from us.. 

Aren't the sheep darling? 

So glad to know the Good Shepherd.... 

I post on Instagram quite a bit more then here and sometimes think I should just try and do it 100 percent then do this and that either one very well.. 

But here I am again for now.. 

Meet me over there anytime you like.. 

MY INSTAGRAM LINK   

Just click on here .. 

It is private but I will accept your request to join my account... 

Thank you loveys for stopping by and I do love to hear from you.. I read every comment although I am pitiful about getting back to you sometimes... 

I do read and appreciate each one.. 

And bless you new followers.. 

Hope to get to know you.. 

If you leave an anonymous comment could you leave your initials or first name then I will remember you were here before.. K?  

Hugs from the Blessed Hearth... 

 

Farm Journal 2020 Number 4

Hello my friends.. 

How are you all doing?  

I wonder if you are having a heat wave as we are here in Maritime Canada!  

Oh my!  

After a couple or so weeks of this we find it quite a challenge!  

One good thing is that we will be happy for the season change.. 

Generally, I just dread the end of Summer here in New Brunswick but perhaps this year I won't... smile.. 

 Our nights are cool though so that is a help.. 

Anyway.. 

Enough of Canadian weather..

 That is what we chat about the most.. smile.. 

Welcome to another farm post.. 

We head up there quite early in the mornings lately to beat the heat! grin.. 

The cows are waiting for us and even stand up as we drive by.. 

Aren't they lovely!  

They are not ours for anyone new to the blog.. 

A nice farmer leases our pastures perse.... 

We love having them out there.. 

I am getting side tracked here.. 

On with the story.. 

When we were out one day I was so happy to be able to potter about the house.. 

Usually, I have had to be outside in the gardens but now it is mostly Terry's doing out there and mine inside except to do my herbs.. 

I worked in my pantry and changed some things about and did some cleaning.. 

The first pic on the post today was from a previous year..

I decided to change the curtain.. 

The one you see there on the bottom cupboard is a lovely piece of fabric I bought when we went on the 70 mile yard sale in P. E. I..a couple of years ago..  

I had some left and decided to use the bottom of the piece left over for the window instead of the lace.. 

It is not as pretty but it makes it easier to look out and see Terry working and the gardens and cows and such.. smile.. 

I put the my measuring cup collection on the sill. 

I was at a garage sale the other day and in a box I bought was the a tiny wee measure.. 

It is the smallest one on the sill .. 

This was the view when I finished putting it up.. smile.. 

And this is what he was picking.. 

Lots of green beans and our first cucumber ... 

When I set the table for dinner that day I used my new plates.. 

I know.. 

Like I needed more old dishes.. grin.. 

These though are special to me.. 

When we moved here about 35 years ago we met the nicest neighbors.. 

They were older then us but so kind... 

We went to a garage sale their children had of some of their household goods and I wanted something that belonged to her.. 

I saw a box of these lovely old dishes and her son told me they were her good ones.. 

It had to be a special occasion for her to use them.. smile.. 

I think they are sweet in this old kitchen at the farm .. 

Don't you?  

And the old crochet underneath were a treasure too.. 

I have been looking for some for awhile and knew I would come across some one day.. smile.. 

They just go ....  

I can't help myself.. grin.. 

We have been eating Hodge Podge.. 

I do not know if this is just a Maritime Dish or if everyone everywhere makes it.. 

I do know we all have a different recipe for it here in New Brunswick.. 

My mother-in-law used carrots, peas, green beans and new potatoes with cream in her recipe but I grew up with just new green beans and potatoes in cream... 

I do the cooking here.. grin..

We cooks seem to like the best the recipe we grew up with.. 

Right??  

Here are a few pics from the living room... 

homemade cushions from our old cottage and shop.. 

A craft I unearthed in one of the packing boxes.. 

I couldn't part with it when we were selling out.. 

It is an old book and a mouse I made from muslin and painted.. 

The book is ancient.. 

And an old tattered quilt I repurposed as throws on the sofas... 

and another old pillow that I couldn't part with.. smile.. 

Anyway.. 

At the end of that first day he had 2 buckets of green beans and one of peas.. 

So love this time of year.. 

Do you enjoy putting up the harvest?  

I hope I can do it for many more years.. 

My mom is 86 and she is doing up Chow Chow and such.. 

On with the show.. 

Here is a bit of making and doing I like to share with you all.. 

 A new centrepiece for the table here at home.. 

A dear girl that I follow on Instagram creates the most beautiful table settings.. 

She has a gorgeous centrepiece .. 

It is long wire box with vases ... 

I love it and tried to find one on Amazon.

She provides such inspiration!! 

I could not find one exactly like her's but the ones I did find were very expensive.. 

I thought I would do without but figured I might be able to make one.. 

Ta da... 

I found boxes with drawers at the dollar store and a they had sets of milk bottles ...
Removed the drawers and painted and sanded and sealed and here we are.. 

I still intend to connect the two together but Terry needs to cut me out a piece of wood.. 

But this will do for now.. 

Lisa fills her's with the most glorious flowers.. 

Her IG account is called Frenchhandcraft... 

I just want to give her credit for the idea.. smile.. 

I filled it with Queen Anne's Lace as I was making jelly.. 

I like making wild flower jellies for my gift pantry and decorating the jars when I can.. 

an old lace curtain provided the covers this time. smile.. 

The rose petals I have been drying have not all been purposed yet.. 

But potpourris and powder are on the go... 

Here is the recipe I shared several years ago..  

Rose Powder Recipe

In a container with a lid add the following:

1 cup of baking powder 

1 cup of arrowroot 

Whisk together well and then add some rose petals.. 

Place your cover back on and then each day give it a shake.. 

You can double or triple this recipe if you like (gift pantry idea)

In a couple of weeks sieve out the rose petals and add several drops of rose essential oil (this is expensive so you can replace with rosemary or use a even a fragrance from Michael's) 

Rub each drop in until well distributed.. 

Put your lid back on and keep covered .. 

A lovely idea for your gift pantry if you place it in an antique shaker or an old china dish with a puff or whatever.. 

The pic above is of some powder I made when I had my wee shop in St. Martins.. 

I used wide mouthed mason jar and pasted rose papers from the dollar store on the lid..

I will probably do something different with this batch.. 

Will share it with you later.. 

I am really trying to get my gift pantry built up for Christmas... 

I know.. 

It really will get here before we know it.. 

And.. 

I want this Christmas to be really special.. 

I hope I will keep focused on preparing for it and not leave it all to the end.. 

The world is so topsy turvey that I think we as homemakers need to do all we can to make special efforts to celebrate whenever we can.. 

And Christmas.. 

Well.... Christmas is special.. Right? 

This kitchen here at home has been a busy place since the harvest has begun... 

Pickling  ....

Bread and Butters with red onions for a change.. 

And canning and more canning.. 

A new green bean pickle recipe to me.. 

You put them in tomato or clamato juice and such... 

They are a bit hot and I can't wait to try them.. 

I canned them for 10 minutes as the recipe said but you have to wait a couple of weeks.. 

I have canned yellow beans, green beans, peas, tomatoes, mixed green and yellow beans and pickles thus far.. 

This was my kitchen counter this morning when  I came out... 

they have to go to the cold room tomorrow... 

I am not a prophetess but most people expect groceries and everything else to really rise in price.. 

When we go for drives we find it amazing at the number of gardens growing everywhere.. 

The stores have run out of freezers, canning jars and all sorts of preserving stuff ... 

Pickling salt and cider vinegar are even hard to find.. 

We always do this anyway but this year we have doubled up on it all.

Or trying to.. 

Are you doing more this year? 

I am closing after another long post but here are a couple of pics of a beautiful country drive...   

I have added more on Instagram.. 

If you follow my account you may have noticed that someone has hacked or cloned my account.. 

They are messaging the followers and then trying to get them to buy a face book lottery... 

Whatever!!!

I have been trying my best to get it fixed but I am not sure what to do except to report it... 

Oh to be a tecky girl but I am an old gal.. grin.. 

I changed my pass word and profile and all.. 

So here is hoping..

I finally got to visit my sweet sister.. 

We exchanged parcels and she gave me this book.. 

Such a wonderful read.. 

I love love this author...  

And notebook.. 

And chocolate and so on.. 

I love notebooks and this nice orange one is for my harvest record and such.. 

Thank you dear sister... 

I have posted this clip before but worth the repeat.. eh!

Thank you dear hearts for dropping by and reading these long journals.. 

Or not.. grin.. 

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families and trust the Lord with your daily routines.. 

He will bless the work of your hands.. 

I look forward so to hearing from you here and on face book and Instagram.. 

Just make sure it is me.. lol... 

God bless....