The Autumn's Past Ramble and Roll...

Hello there!

How are you?  

So happy you dropped by the Blessed Hearth today.. 

It is Sunday evening here in Eastern Canada and last night our clocks went back an hour.. 

So... 

I would say the Autumn is over!  

Although we have had a glorious Indian Summer!

But...

When the time goes back to me it is onward and upward to Christmas!  

I don't usually get too involved until after Remembrance Day but this year I must admit to starting earlier.. 

I am hoping to have some special Christmas company and so I want to get things organized at least in my head!

Hoping it gets further then that!  smile.. 

But we will ramble on here a bit and show you a few things we have been doing the last couple of weeks.. 

The table centrepiece has changed..

Terry made me this old box many years ago and I just found it down in the workshop when I was  trying to find fall decor.. 

He picked these hyrangeas because I planned on making a wreath but yesterday I plunked them in here instead.. 

Just until the Christmas one is decided on!  grin

I was so excited to make some beeswax candles... 

Last winter I took a Hibernate course and one of the projects were these candles.. 

I am so slow but finally got around to doing them and I love them.. 

Of course, I made a mistake but it is fixable! 

When she said to use a certain size wick then don't make do just because one already has some.. 

I burned the first one and  after several hours it began to smother itself out.. 

The wick was not the right size but I melted the wax and replaced the wick and it burns lovely!  

Lesson learned!  grin.. 

As you dear followers of the blog know I am a definite 

soup junkee...

This is the season for sure although I eat soup all year long.. smile.. 

This is Cabbage and Leek in a beef broth and so tasty!  

I put this on Instagram and mentioned a little tip I do.. 

Buy fresh Bay leaves from your Supermarket and then dry them yourselves and they are fresher... 

Better for crafts too as they are more flexible.. 

Like in making a dried fruit, bay leaf and cinnamon stick garland.. 

I have that on my to do list to hang in my pantry.. 

Do you make them?  

A nice gift too.. 

Ok.. 

Rolling Onward... smile 

Every Fall I collect rose hips... 

\

Just so much you can do with them and they are so healthy for you. 

We went picking them the other day.. 

I picked them in a bowl and Terry decided this was the easier way!  

I wanted them both ways anyhow.. smile.. 

I especially like to use them in a face oil that I put on before I go to bed.. 

Very easy to make.. 

Dry your hips just a bit 

I have this old fashioned flower dryer that I use.. 

When they are pretty dry then put them in a mortar and pestle and smush them up a bit.. 

Put them in a jar and cover them to the top with Almond Oil.. 

About half and half... 

After a few weeks just strain them through a cheesecloth or coffee filter and put in a lovely decorative jar.. 

Then you just wash your face and apply ... 

They are full of Vitamin C and make a lovely syrup or jelly...

I wanted a bunch to make my wreath I was talking about.. 

Hydrangea and Rose Hips but we will see.. 

I hope to make a Wild Yarrow and Rose Hip Soap for Christmas gifts.. 

He said he would help me very soon.. 

I find soap making is a two person job in this house.. 

Two temps and such make me nervous...

And I found a recipe on Vimeo for Rose Hip Pickles.. 

You only make one jar so I guess I can handle that.. 

I washed up and packed all the preserving stuff and he took it back to the basement.. 

Sooooo glad it is done!  

I love doing it but after awhile it is like Whaaaat!  

More veggies!  lol... 

This was my final preserving project..

Pumpkin Chutney... 

Oh my it is delicious!  

I will be using it for gifts but it is so good with cold meat and cheese... 

Also I made a pumpkin jam... 

You can make a pie with it..
Imagine!  

Here is the link.. 

Here..

You can use up your pumkins you used to decorate with.. 

I love working with paper crafts as you know... smile..  

Made this journal using magazine pics from "Somerset Magazine".... 

Almost done dear hearts.. 

just a bit more rambling along.. 

Roasted Veggies..

Put several cloves of our garlic in there to roast with them.. 

Love having our garlic harvest.. 

Just so fresh!  

We had a huge rain and wind storm here this week.. 

Wow!  

You know how I love the wind and rain... 

Must be my Scottish bloodline!  grin.. 

Anyway.. 

It was lovely until the hydro went off!  

I really dislike it when that happens but at least it was not for long and it was not freezing cold out.. 

Very mild actually! 

Our farm was out of hydro for over 2 days... 

I really need to get my act together for the coming months.. 

I have a feeling that it may go out more often then before.. 

I usually have a standard plan but don't think it will cut the mustard anymore with the way the weather is.. 

We do have a generator but ohhhhh.. 

I do not like it.. 

Anyway... 

A supper meal.. 

I know I post this meal often but it is just so good.. 

Rice with mushrooms, onions, garlic and celery.. 

Chicken Breasts.. 

Oh and use cream of mushroom soup in the rice.. 

Sear the chicken pieces first, too.. 

Not a real recipe but not hard to do.. 

When I make it there are not any leftovers as he likes it.. grin.. 

Him and Dustin used to say the sentence... 

She ruined the chicken again..... grin.. 

Just because I like trying new recipes.. 

Sheesh... 

This one is acceptable though.. grin.. 

Well.. 

Almost finished.. 

Gathered up all the Fall stuff and packed it away again.. 

And on to newer things... 

A couple of new Make and Do books!  

Love them.. 

The best ones I have bought in ages!  

Starting tomorrow I am spending at least an hour or so a day making something!  

Stay tuned.... lol... 

Meanwhile.. 

Another Sabbath is over.. 

God has been faithful as always the past season and I know He will be in the future.. 

The lights are on earlier here at home now.. 

Home... 

Such a lovely word.... 

But as Terry and I were talking in the car the other day after our country's election... 

We don't know what is down the road for our country... 

The love of God and sacred are beginning to be among the missing elements of Canada.. 

But the thing is ... 

This world is not our Home.. 

We are just a passing through.. 

Some sweet morning we will be going Home.. 

To be with the One who loves us..

That is what we are looking forward to.. 

But for now we love the precious gifts that Jesus has given us with our Homes and sweet Families... 

Thanks so much for stopping by.. 

I love your notes and hope to hear from you... 

Take care of yourselves and your dear ones... 

Till next time.. 

I will keep you in my prayers...   

God bless!  

Another Ramble and Roll...

Hello everyone.. 

Thank you for dropping by.. 

This is going to be just a quick little catch up post.. 

I hope you are enjoying your new normal routine.. 

Everyone is back to school or university and such.. 

The vacations are about over for awhile.. 

It is always good to get back in the routine of things even when you are retired and there are really no normals anymore.. 

If everyone else is normal then we try to fit in.. grin..

I found my last post was a bit higgly piggly ! 

 I do know how to say this but not spell it.. 

But you know what I am trying to say.. smile.. 

 A bit of a ramble and roll I guess you would say and not structured very well, either.. 

But it is as it is.. 

I heard a saying the other day.. 

Wherever you go there you are.. 

Well, I guess it is the same with the posts from this blog.. 

Whenever there is a post there is a post.. 

Not necessarily a good one but one.. grin.. 

We will carry on... 

I made this delicious mac and cheese today for lunch.. 

I couldn't find the link to the recipe but if you want it I will take a pic of the recipe.. 

My mother and step father visited our church with us this morning and then they came over for lunch.. 

I so love feeding my mother.. 

She enjoys it so much and always makes whatever effort I make worth the bother .. if you know what I mean.. 

We also had Jambalaya and Potato Salad and Garlic Bread, pickles and Maple Syrup Pie.. 

And the best cup of tea as Mom said.. 

My son in law brought it to me from London, England so I gave her a few bags to take home with her.. 

I knew I needed pics for the post today but forgot to take one of the pie which Mom and Gerald both loved.. 

Terry took this pic of me.. 

I am not sure if I am praying or whispering a prayer not to say something smart to him.. grin.. 

Anyway we really enjoyed having them.. 

My mother is getting older of course and I can see changes so am blessed to once again have them for dinner.. 

Almost every morning if I awake early enough I will spot this family out my kitchen window.. 

I took this earlier on but they are still visiting.. 

It will soon be hunting season and I hope they remain intact.. 

Another batch of 2 ingredient dough..  

This was a lovely snack with homemade salsa... 

Still doing pickles.. 

Almost finished with them all, though.. 

My friend canned beets and I believe that is on my agenda for this week.. 

We still have lots of pickled beets so this would be a lovely addition to our winter meals.. 

Heat them up and add a bit of lemon juice and butter perhaps.. 

Just rambling and rolling!  grin. 

I wanted to share a housecleaning hack I learned this week.. 

You girls may already know it or it might be too much bother for the younger ones as they are young and able but for anyone my age and physical condition then this is a godsend... 

You put 1/3 Ultra Dawn 3x into a spray bottle.. 

It has to be 3x Dawn *blue and then fill the rest of the jar with vinegar.. 

Spray your tub or shower area all over with the concoction that you shake first.. 

Put the plug in and fill your tube with a bit of water.. 

Buy yourself a new broom and just go at it.. 

It is amazing how clean your tub area gets..

And you don't have to get on your knees as the long handle does it all..  

When you are all done scrubbing then change your water and rinse.. 

Tada!  

A glorious clean tub... 

I tried to find the exact link that I found but it was among the missing.. 

So... 

The credit belongs to someone but not sure who.. 

I used the above pic off of google but it was not the same link.. 

Anyway.. 

There you have it .. 

A great way to clean your tub!  

One night last week a friend (Allie) and I went to a painting class.. 

This was our aim to paint.. 

The sweet girl who was the instructor Tania painted the above ....

photo by Melody.. 

Allie and I did our best but we both admit it was not star quality.. grin.. 

A lovely time though... 

I used to teach Tania in Sunday school  and she laughed that she was now my teacher.. smile.. 

We came across this on one of our little drives.. 

An Albert County special...

The tansy and wild chamomile will soon be gone.. 

Fall is lurking.. 

Again this year I am dreading Winter.. 

I really dislike feeling this way and have to do a mind change soon.. 

smile.. 

Since I didn't have much to share with you this week I am sharing a couple corners of our home here .. 

Winding down here.. 

I saw this neat idea last year is a magazine.. 

I think I may do this on a table for fall... 

What say you?  

And .... 

Sweet hubby today at lunch teasing my Mom.. 

Tomorrow he will be getting eye surgery for his first cataract and it will be his birthday!  

A big one!  grin.. 

Quite the present!  

Praying he will make out as well as I did.. 

I love seeing so well now.. 

The family are going to be celebrating in a couple of weeks when everyone is off work... 

So thankful to the Lord for him.. 

My parting thought for the day.. 

Words found on a Hebridean altar... 

they are words from my heart... 

And may they be from your's too.. 

Thanks again for stopping by and your sweet notes.. 

I love them.. 

God bless... 

Midweek Ramble..

Hello my dears... 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth today.. 

What a perfectly lovely day!! 

Sunny and warm.. 

We can smell the Spring in the air and snow is dripping off of the roof and no icicles.. Yeah!!  

I don't like to complain about the weather because we do live in Canada and it is as it is.. But I am ready for the snow to go.. 

On Monday there was a wonderful wind blowing so I filled the line with bedding... Such a heavenly smell even when we walk into the bedroom.. You can just smell fresh laundry.. 

Should bottle that! smile.. 

I was complaining  speaking to Terry about feeling so so tired lately..

 Like.. 

I know it is just the change of season and it happens to me every year but I still complain about it..

My friend Pam also has the same complaint..smile

I mentioned to him that perhaps it was the air in here making me that way.. 

He said very quickly that it certainly was not that way in the bedroom!!

  One would think I have the window wide open every night..

 wink wink.... 

I know that this too will pass or I hope it will and I will feel a bit of energy.. 

Do you feel tired this time of year? 

Well.. On with the story.. 

We did have a lovely day..

First thing this morning I went into the pantry and made a pan of raisin scones.. 

So happy that I did make myself learn to make these this past Winter.. 

I buttered up two and a bit of homemade blueberry jam, grabbed my jacket and Terry gathered the water bottles and we headed for the farm.. 

Just too nice of a day not to drive up there.. 

Days like this the farm calls our name.. 

I still can't go there for the day until the snow melts more and Terry heats the house for a few days.. 

These old bones do not like dampness so he just goes and does some work and runs the wood stove.. 

He is to paint the kitchen this time.. 

He promised!!  lol.. 

But soon.. 

We have so much to do there this Spring.. 

Anyway.. 

One day and one job at a time.. 

Terry and Charlie went in with the water bottles and I sat in the car with the window down and did a bit of embroidery.. 

I could hear the brook running and birds were singing.. 

This is an old cushion cover I bought at an auction, I think.. 

It is lovely.. 

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ENGLAND... 

I would say it is three quarters finished.. 

Such an old song.. 

I think by Vera Lynn during WW2... 

Here is a Youtube of the song.. HERE.. 

Here they come back.. 

We love the Spring water and Terry thinks it is worth the work even when the lane is full of snow ... smile.. 

Rambling all over the place once again.. smile.. 

This is some potatoes we had one day.. 

An old fashioned lunch.. 

Mom always makes these...

She would have a pan of them ready for my sister's and my lunch on school days when we were kids..

Fried Potatoes are what we call them.. 

 We slice a a few raw potatoes into a tablespoon or so of bacon fat, butter, olive oil or even coconut oil (or so I have read) salt and pepper and a few sprinkled herbs.. 

I usually have a bit of bacon fat saved but a bit of butter and olive oil are good also.. 

I did read where some are using coconut oil.. 

Whatever turns your crank..

Mom never adds herbs but you know me.. 

Parsley, thyme or summer savory are lovely.. 

Thyme here if I remember right.. 

Terry loves the crispy parts.. 

We do not have these often but every once in awhile we get a hankering for them. smile.. 

You know what I mean, eh? 

I am making a lot of salves lately.. 

Tansy Salves for my friend, Crystal and Gardeners Salves and such.. 

If you would like to buy a bottle just inbox or email me... \

I do not mail any but if you live nearby and I can deliver it then that is fine.. 

They are made with herbs, olive, almond or coconut oils,  etc. Vitamin E, beeswax and essential oils ... 

There is a lovely Rose Petal one with Coconut oil for your face... 

Also doing a few other things. 

When we arrived back home I put one of our farm chickens in a roasting bag with veggies for supper.. 

So delicious!!  

Terry loved it as did I.. 

Here is the link for the recipe..

ROAST CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES..

I couldn't find the roasting bags at the stores around here at all but when we were in Bangor I found them there.. 

Probably they can be bought on Amazon or whatever.. 

This is a pic I put on Instagram of Charlie.. 

Such a dear dog..

He so loves hanging his head out of the window.. smile.. 

Anyway, this is a little bit of a ramble for you.. 

So happy you dropped by and leave me your little notes.. 

I so enjoy them.. 

I do try to answer you on FaceBook most times.. 

Thanks for sharing the posts.. xo

God bless your sweet hearts.. 

xo

Saturday Night Ramble and Roll...

Happy Saturday night everyone.. 

Hope you are all having a great weekend.. 

It is a cold day here but we have had some weather the last few days.  

Snow then rain then deep freezing.. 

Oh well, it is winter here in Canada... 

And the month of January has passed and February is upon us.. 

Have been loving the days of January.. 

Some of the joys of being retired is sleeping a bit late in the mornings.. 

Especially, on windy blowy days where it is just so cozy to stay snuggled up in the warm blankets.. 

Making porridge with a drizzle of maple syrup for breakfast.. 

Doing the morning routine which we are used to.. 

One of the things I usually do is to strike a match to some incense or a candle if it is a dull cloudy day, especially.. smile.. 

A new box of White Sage that smells lovely.. 

Then on with the chores for the day... 

There is always laundry, tidying up and such to do.. 

Making soup for lunch almost always.. 

Asian Noodle Soup.. 

Some of my own sprouts on top.. 

So good.. 

Little chores..

Cleaning up a little thrift store find.. 

A wee silver basket filled with 4 fruit napkin rings.. 

Cute, eh? 

Love cloth napkins and napkin rings.. 

Putting labels on homemade marmalade.. 

Taking little drives..

This one to Sussex..

Trying out new recipes for supper.. 

Stuffed Apples from the Country Living UK magazine.. 

The apples are stuffed with a pork mixture.. 

Tasty... 

A lovely old church in it's Winter White.. 

One of our go to meals.. 

Maritimer's Fish Chowder.. 

Bought some wonderful cook books at the Thrift stores.. 

Love reading them and finding a recipe or two to try.. 

Dinner Chez Moi is by a girl Laura Calder from our province of New Brunswick..  

Do you remember me saying that Terry had spray painted some pots copper colour for me to plant my herbs in?? 

Well.. 

I planted them all.. 5 of them and for some reason every pot broke. 

Weird, eh?  

Anyway, I bought 5 new pots and replanted them.. 

They look lovely.. 

The light was not good for me to take a pic.. 

Next time.. smile.. 

Enjoy the snowy days.. 

So long as it is not too fierce and our children are not travelling.. 

Makes me want to make soup.. lol.. 

I guess I would be making it anyway.. 

Tomato Vegetable.. 

Using up veggies that was canned last summer.. 

We had pizza one day with this great 2 ingredient crust recipe.. 

RECIPE HERE...

We loved this and Terry told me to make it again soon.. 

You can just make your own self rising flour. 

To make your own, combine 1 cup of all-purposeflour with 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. ..

Perhaps we will have a Quesadilla for breakfast.. 

A drizzle of hot sauce and a bit of sour cream... 

Rambling along here.. 

Making some tea towels and such.. 

 during an afternoon.. 

I have also been cleaning and sorting and getting rid of stuff.. 

Doing the pantry and cupboards, drawers and book shelves.. 

Next week I hope to attack a few closets.. smile.. 

One fun chore I did was to make some Celery Pickles.. 

They are delicious!! 

The recipe came from the cook book 

Cafe Kitchen... 

Most evenings I will have a glass of Clamato Juice with a Celery Pickle.. 

So easy to make and such a treat... 

Well, dear hearts I guess this is it for tonight.. 

Just a little ramble and roll for you once again.. 

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day!

Read last night in Isaiah to call the Sabbath a delight.. 

And truly it is .. 

We are so blessed to live in a country where we can gather together on a Sunday and worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.. 

You sweet friends have a great week and we will chat again soon.. 

Thank you for the new followers of the blog here and on Face Book and for all of your dear comments.. 

God bless you this night...