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!  

A Sunday in March

Good Evening everyone.. 

And what a lovely one it is here in New Brunswick.. 

It is the kind of day that lets you know winter may still be here but Spring is just around the corner.. 

The sun shone all day but there was a bit of a bite in the air with the wind.. 

That is all right though as we know that the worst is over, eh! 

A few days ago we had some rain and the wind was blowing... 

If you have been following the blog for awhile you know that I am a stormy weather type of person.. 

Especially the wind! 

Anyway... 

The rain was hitting the windows and I could hear the wind whirling around the fireplace chimney.. 

The furnace was on and it was all so cozy.. 

I turned on some lamps and lit my fave incense stick.. 

Sandalwood.. 

And put in an old CD that is so lovely.. 

I love Gospel music but I like other kinds, too.. 

Several years ago when I had my wee shop in St. Martins I used to be on the lookout for shop music, perse...

Well, I was in a store in Bangor when I heard this beautiful old style music playing ...  

It reminded me of when I was a kid.. 

I ran up to the clerk and asked where the music was from.. 

She said it was a store CD and they sold it there.. 

Needless to say, I bought one and occasionally played it in the shop or here at home.. 

I still do.. 

Anyway...

The music was playing, the incense was burning and I needed to put a kettle of soup on to simmer.. 

I had some homemade chicken broth, a can of tomatoes, carrots, celery, peppers, onions and a couple of handfuls of wild rice and mixed grains .... 

All I needed was some herbs.. 

Last Fall when I was cleaning up the herb bed I gathered little bundles of mixed herbs and tied them with kitchen twine and put them in individual little freezer bags.. 

They are lovely for a pot of soup.. 

I must remember to do it again this Fall, Lord willing.. 

Parsley, sage, thyme, rosemary and perhaps summer savory.. 

Oh yes and some garlic.. 

Don't forget the garlic.. smile.. 

So with that all going on I pulled out my sewing machine..

Just pottering about, you know.. 

I had bought this pretty tea towel at the dollar store and decided to turn it into a dish rug or whatever you call them.. 

I love them beside the sink.. 

It is thick and gathers the moisture from wet dishes or washed veggies.. 

It can hold a hot pot that has been drained and so on.. 

I did get it finished but forgot to take a pic.. (as usual)  

Sometimes I wonder why you girls read this stuff but you do.. 

So... 

Onward I go.. grin.. 

I have been buying some plants here and there... 

I may of mentioned this last time but here are a few more.. 

Moses in the Bulrushes, Ivy and a Cast Iron plant.. 

Oh and Purple Passion.. 

I love this plant and have not had one since the 70s..   

Shonda thought that was funny for some reason..  grin.. 

For some reason I think plants and books enhance a home.. 

What do you think?   

Here is a book I picked up at the Thrift and am enjoying.. 

Love reading about this beautiful country and love the followers here on the blog from that place...

Here is a new recipe that I tried out on dear Terry... 

Baked stuffed potatoes.. 

Only the stuffing is potatoes mixed with cooked flaked white fish and a bit of cheese on top.. 

Of course, I loved it and he liked it... smile.. 

I will keep trying.. 

Perhaps with something from this book.. 

She is lovely.. 

From England.... 

Her recipes are lovely, too.. 

Another soup from this soup junkie...

Chicken Noodle.. 

He did like this one.. 

And another Australian book..  

I ordered this one from Thrift Books.com.. 

It is a very interesting book.. 

It is just coincidence that I have so many Australian ones though..

I love love books... Do you? 

I read all year through.. Not just the Winter.. 

How about you?  Are you readers?  

Well dear hearts I am almost finished.. 

Our youngest son just called and said it is ten degrees out in Alberta... 

I am missing him quite a bit these days... 

Bless his heart... 

Anyway.... 

We took a wee drive up to the farm this afternoon.. 

Still a bit of snow up there but the brooks are open... 

We will soon be able to go up and spend some time... 

Have to get ready for the summer.. 

I expect to be there this year although it was lovely being home last summer ... 

Time flies and it will soon be June.... 

This is a little needle felting project I am trying to do... 

I don't know if it actually looks like lavender or not.. grin.. 

I am going to try another one till I get it to suit me then I want to make some lavender sachets... 

So I guess I am finished for today.. 

So happy you stopped by.. 

Another beautiful Sabbath is almost over..

We were so blessed this morning in service.. 

God's Presence was so real.. 

So happy to have a daily relationship with Him.. 

He surely enhances our lives.. 

And gives us a hope of an eternal life with Him... 

An old song we sing sometimes says it all.. 

Just to walk with Him means everything to me.. 

Just to know He cares and His hand is leading me. 

Though the world pass me by

Go their way 

Let me be.. 

Just to walk with Him means everything to me.. 

Take care sweet friends and don't forget to leave me a note.. 

Hugs...