A Friday Evening in February...

Good Evening my dears... 

How are you all doing?  

I am happy to welcome you to the Blessed Hearth on this Friday evening in February.. 

Already here and partly gone!  

But I am finally back after a month of absence.. 

I am sorry about that... 

It is freezing rain this afternoon as I sit here in our Sun Room... 

The plants are keeping me company as the wind whirls the ice pellets against the windows!  The old apple trees are bracing against the wind while a few apples still cling to their stems... 

I wonder where the birds are!  smile.. 

We do not have a lot of snow here in southern New Brunswick but we are in the midst of a freezing rain storm.. 

It is to change to snow later tonight and the winds are to rise... 

Awww... us Canadians!  

How we love our weather chat!  grin... \

And how have you all been.. 

January has gone and left us with longer days!  

So love that! 

What have you been busy doing? 

We were very busy in January and that is one reason that I was so slow to get back to you but here I am.. 

Will share some of our doings as usual... 

One thing about a post once a month is that it is a long!|

Not too boring I hope! grin.. 

I have been enjoying my Winter magazine and trying out new recipes in it.. 

This was a delicious Orzo Salad and very simply made.. 

Making suppers and enjoying our long evenings.. 

One of our very fave suppers is the Cabbage Roll Casserole although I just make it on top of the stove in a large frying pan.. 

I also tried a new recipe for the Yeast Rolls in the first pic.. 

The link is Here...

I just followed the recipe and not the video.. 

These were the easiest and best recipe for a no knead yeast roll recipe that I have found.. 

And so quickly made!

It just makes eight and you put them in a muffin tin... 

Lovely! 

Now.... 

The best thing that happened in January... 

Was that our dear son came home for ten days from out west.. 

He was home only one day and we were snow bound but it was fun!  

He and his Dad enjoyed their time together so much.. 

Doing snow removal and such.. 

We had family dinners and we all went to my Mom's ... 

She was so excited to see him!  

And his brother and sister of course... 

We had a lovely time but about Thursday I started dreading his leaving!  

So longed to see him!  It had been over a year but God was faithful and brought him home and back safe and sound... 

We miss him a lot but have placed it all in the Lord's hands as He does all things well.... 

Anyway... 

On with the post.. 

Will just share a few winter doings ... 

Enjoying my herbal teas... 

Trying to get my immune system stronger.. 

I am so happy that I grew and dried lots of herbs for this.. 

Do you dry any herbs for tea or do you buy some.. 

We have a wonderful health food store in Sussex.. 

 WINTERWOOD...

They have Nettles, Horsetails and such if you would like 

to do this.. 

Just add 1/4 of cup of dried herbs to a quart mason jar of boiling water.. 

Steep for 15 minutes then strain and sup away all day.. 

Very good for you.. smile.. 

We have been to the farm often to make sure all is well ..

If we can't drive in then Terry will haul a sled in to get jugs of water.. 

We are hooked on our Spring water.. grin.. 

Then as always (even in Winter) we take our long drives along the country roads.. 

Lots of horses in our part of the country and all so well cared for by the looks of things.. 

This one is one I put on Instagram.. 

I think I took it on Wednesday.. 

We have more snow now... 

Not a lot for us but more then that... 

Love these beautiful old churches that dot the countryside here.. 

Way back on rural roads you will find many old white churches.. 

Just lovely.. 

Now the small churches are all gathering together in one large one.. 

Getting there and back is much easier then it used to be when they were built... eh!  

We go to a small lovely church and we enjoy it... 

For so many years we attended a larger church and I didn't think I would be happy in a small one but it is wonderful!  

So love the family of God... 

I am back to growing my jars of sprouts.. 

Alfalfa... 

my fave.. 

Love this bread plate that I picked up at a thrift store.. 

I seem to only eat one slice of bread now but it is still delicious.. 

Just bread, some mayo or aioli sauce and sprouts and s/p... 

Love it for breakfast with a boiled egg.. 

Am trying to get some of my silver collection cleaned up.. 

These are a lovely set of King spoons that I found at a thrift store.. 

My mother had a King George spoon that she used as a child at home ... When she married my Gram gave it to her.. 

I always loved it for some reason and so was just thrilled when I came across not only one but six of these.  

Three different kings with two each.. 

Been also working at essential oil things.. 

I read to put your empty bottles and caps in a jar and when you have enough then cover with Epsom Salts .... 

Then it sit for a time then strain out the jars and use in your bath... 

Thought I would give it a try.. 

Hoping to get some soap made this month... 

You must remember my cheapo Country Living UK calendar... 

Lol! 

I feel that to buy one and have it sent to Canada is too costly so I just take out some lovely pics from my magazine and stick to some heavy kraft paper I have... 

It is not the same but I am attached to them.. grin.. 

Here is a book I received for my birthday or Christmas... 

Can't quite remember but it is simply wonderful.. 

Chapters had it on sale for only 12 dollars!  

Have been slipping my plants and begging them from my friends.. lol... 

I love plants.. 

The little white dishes there are another thrift store find .. 

I wanted them for my homemade salad dressings.. 

Only fifty cents each.. 

Terry and I are enjoying our 50 year marriage celebration.. 

We are celebrating in different ways each month.. 

He gave me a bouquet of tulips in January and said he would be giving me a fresh bouqet each month this whole year!  

Lovely eh!

Planning our February celebration now.. 

Will share with you next time.. 

Well dear hearts this is all for tonight.. 

It has grown dark as I sit here at this old computer... 

It took me ages to find the yeast roll recipe.. 

It was in my notebook out in the kitchen but when I move this old computer turns off!  LOL!  So .... 

I finally found it! 

Then I download pics from my phone to my tablet to here.. 

I know!  

Complicated! 

But I love using this old thing...It knows me!  haha

Anyway... 

Here we are at the end of the post and I know it has not been very exciting or informative.. 

I hope to do better next time.. 

My friend is teaching me rug hooking and I have picked up a new craft called slow stitching which I so love.. 

Google it!  

Here is a heart I made.. 

Another friend invited me to a craft group day and it was lovely.. 

I worked on this while the other ladies all did their own thing too.. 

It was fun!  

I have two more to finish before Valentine's Day.. 

Thank you all for stopping by... 

I loved having you and please be patient with me.. 

I hopefully will be back sooner.. 

I have been considering doing just wee posts on here like Instagram but not sure you all would prefer that or just these seldom long posts.. 

Perhaps you could let me know in the comment section here or on the Face Book page.. 

Thanks.. 

I close with this pic of yours truly and my darling babies.. 

They are just so precious to us!  

All grown up but they will always be my babies.. 

Time flies!  

I am so proud of them all and thankful for them.. 

But do you know that their walk with God is the most important of everything to us.. 

Hope to hear from you all.. 

Here is something little I saved and read every once in awhile.. 

Hope you enjoy it... 

I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn’t come in an envelope. It’s ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It’s the invitation to actually live life, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. turning down this invitation comes in lots of flavors. It looks like numbing yourself or distracting yourself or seeing something really beautiful as just normal. It can also look like refusing to forgive or not being grateful or getting wrapped around the axle with fear or envy. I think every day God sends us an invitation to live and sometimes we forget to show up or get head-faked into thinking we haven’t really been invited. but you see, we have been invited – every day, all over again.
—  Love Does // Bob Goff

                  GOD BLESS!

January days...

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth today.. 

For the last while every Monday morning I post pics from the web to help start our week on a note of inspiration.. smile.. 

Today I am just doing a regular post.. 

When I started the blog I said that it would just be about the happenings in our daily lives.. 

Nothing marvellous... Just the ordinary... 

Boring a lot of the times but hopefully it will sometimes touch you in some way... 

So here we go with what we have been doing.. 

A few afternoons last week I sat at the kitchen table and did a bit of crafting.. 

I burnt my new Patchouli candle that our son sent me from out west and played my new CD ... 

I love Gospel music but sometimes I enjoy a bit of something else.. 

Norah Jones was introduced to me by my sweet friend and I really enjoy the two CDs I have of her.. I ordered it from Amazon and I think the name is... Feels like Home.. 

The wind was howling outside and I could see the trees swaying outside the window.. 

It was nice and cozy inside, though..  

This is not finished yet but hopefully this week it will get done.. 

It is an owl bunting.. 

Picture button eyes, embroidered nose and it all sewed together and hung on a rope.. smile.. 

I did get my new 2018 calendar seen to... 

Remember how I love the British Country Living calendars but feel like I don't want to pay so much for one.  So, I just cut out the pics from their magazines and make one of my own.. 

I posted about making it HERE..

Someday they are going to hear about my thrift and send me one.. grin.. 

As you know I love herbs and still grow them through the Winter.. 

I just love seeing them growing on the kitchen window sill and snip a piece of them here and there to use.. 

I have 5 herbs but didn't have matching pots.. 

I use a lot of copper here in the kitchen.. I found these hard plastic pots at the dollar store and Terry is going to spray them with copper paint this week, I hope.. 

Then I will replant them all... 

What are some things you do for projects through the Winter months? 

And of course I read... 

Everyday.. 

All different types of literature.. 

These came from Amazon along with my CD.. 

I hope to do a couple of the projects in the Homesteading book and Forsaking All Others is a second book in a series .. 

I loved the first one and found it so interesting.. I could not find the second at the store so ordered it on line.. 

And the other is A Lantern in Her Hand and is an old book but a lovely one.. 

What are you all reading?  

I love cookbooks, too and find them almost as fascinating as anything else.. 

We took a drive out to the farm on the rainy day as we thought we could get down the lane... 

The snow was almost gone and we got right up to the door.. 

I dug around in the cookbooks and brought home one on Wood Stove cooking.. 

We don't have a wood stove here but still great recipes.. 

We do have a wood furnace, though.. 

That night it just poured rain so when we got up Saturday morning we decided to go for a drive and see a bit of the flooding..

We bought our coffee first, of course.. smile..

This is the Petitcodiac River. 

Crazy, eh?  

It has flooded all over New Brunswick and then last night there was a flash freeze.. 

Normally, we would call this a January thaw as there is not a speck of snow left and it was so mild for a day but the damage it caused is a shame.. 

We are on high ground here and not near any body of water so we were fine.. 

Praying for all those people who had to leave their homes... 

Every winter I grow sprouts as you probably remember.. 

I think I post the same stuff every year.. 

Sorry... 

But the sandwich is new.. grin.. 

Naan bread for sandwiches.. 

This one has Arugula,  Onion Sprouts, a slice of ham, shaved cucumbers and Aioli 

I love the Naan bread in the sandwich size.. 

Do you like Aioli?  

We love it and use it often on sandwiches.. 

Even Terry likes this ... 

Here is the recipe.. 

Aioli 

2 garlic cloves, pressed 

1/4 tsp. kosher salt.

1/2 cup of mayonnaise

2 T. olive oil or Canola

1 T. fresh lemon juice

freshly ground pepper

Mash garlic and salt in a small bowl until a paste forms. Whisk in mayo, oil, lemon juice and pepper.. 

Cover and chill.. 

 alemon juice. Season with salt and peppe

I also brought this little copper lamp from the farm and put it on my kitchen hutch.. 

I find lamp light so cozy these long evenings so I am digging a few out and placing them here and there.. 

As I was taking a pic of my books I noticed this sitting on the table.. 

It is hard to tell what it is from the pic but there is a little story here that I will tell you.. (excuse my sentimental mind) smile.. 

Anyway... 

About three years ago on Mother's Day our youngest son came to visit us.. 

He gave me a card and asked his Dad where the hammer was.. 

Then he went outside for a bit while I was cooking his favourite fried rice.. 

Later when he hugged me good bye he said I would find my Mother's Day gift later.. 

I just smiled and wondered what he meant.. 

Later on I went into our room and I heard a wind chime jangle.. 

Looking outside of our bedroom window I saw a hook with a wind chime hanging from it..  

He had hung it there for me to listen to when I am in bed.. 

How sweet is that, eh? 

I am a bit weird in that I do not like music chimes like everyone else but the clunky sound kind of ones.. 

It was perfect and every time I would go to our room and hear it I would smile .. 

Sometimes if I can't sleep I will ask the Lord if he would please send a little wind from his storehouse and then when I hear a little jangle I know He heard me...

No joke.. grin.. 

I know I am weird... 

Anyway..  

This is it's third winter ... 

I mentioned to Terry the other day that I thought it might be broke or the wind took it.. 

That afternoon it was storming and I heard him go outside.. 

Then when he came in I heard a little bit of a jingle.. 

The dear man had gone out and brought what was left of it in.. 

Remember that it is the little things!! Right?  

Anyway, we have unwound it and hopefully can add a few bits and get it working again.. 

With Dustin away now it makes it a bit more precious.. 

Yes, I am one of those sentimental old fools.. grin.. 

Today we went to church and enjoyed the presence of the Lord in worship.. 

God is so faithful! 

Thank you so much for dropping by.. 

Loved having you and look forward to hearing from you either here or on Face Book.. 

God bless you all.. 

Daily living and a couple of questions..

Hello there dear hearts.. 

How are you doing? 

Today is ending up with a lovely sun shining although we started out with a cold grey one.. 

Our Spring seems to be progressing rather slowly but there has not been any snow so that is fine.

Here are a few pics of everyday doings.. 

Starting more sprouts growing.. 

Ran out.. again.. 

I need to start a bottle half way through the one I am working on.. smile.. 

A trio of sweet bowls I picked up at the thrift stores yesterday.. 

I have a thing for bowls and these ones are small and come in so handy... 

Tonight for supper we had an old standby..

Pasta with minced beef and tomato sauce..

Then of course another loaf of bread had to be made.. 

We were trying to figure out how many loaves of bread that we buy per month and I think perhaps we might buy 2..

Only 1 ... or 2... 

A loaf lasts here for 3 days unless we have company as I try not to eat it.. 

I do eat lots of salad, though.. 

Here is a new recipe for salad dressing for you.. 

SPICY TOMATO VINAIGRETTE ..

In a pint size mason jar combine the following.. 

1 cup of tomato juice

1/3 cup of fresh lemon juice

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1/2 tsp. celery salt

1/2 cup of olive or canola oil

sea salt and freshly ground pepper 

a few shakes of hot pepper sauce

1 tsp. sugar 

Place the cover on your jar and shake really well.. 

Keep in the fridge.. 

A really nice change and it keeps well for a couple of weeks.. 

You can add hot sauce to taste.. 

We had some company for dinner after church on Sunday.. 

The little guys were thrilled that Grandpa found an antler in the garden... 

Such sweet lads.. 

Above you may note my messy book shelves.. 

It was a good thing I took the picture as I decided they were a definite priority to clean.. 

Still not great but so much better.. 

What is a house without books?.. 

The more the better in my opinion.. 

As I was browsing through the bookshelves at a thrift store yesterday I overheard a lady telling another one that they were not making any more books and that the publishers were all closing down.. 

GASP...

That is not even funny..  

Could you imagine a world without books.. 

Just computer type things? 

 I don't even want to think about it myself.. 

Do you like to read real books the best?

I know that there are times that an ereader would come in handy but when I want to relax with a book I need to feel it in my hands and smell the paper and ink.. 

And I don't want to adjust if you know what I mean.. 

I have been in love with books my whole life.. 

Every room in this house has a stash somewhere in it.. 

On a bookshelf or closet space or in a suitcase under the bed or piled on the window seat or stashed in an old ottoman.. 

Mercy... 

They are part of my decor.. smile.. 

When Terry and I first married we had a couch with a skirt on it.. 

Remember those? 

Well.. 

He had not met a bookworm before.. 

The poor man could not relate to it at all.. 

He thought it was a perfect waste of time and when you are  married with a couple of kids as far as he was concerned reading came at the bottom of the list.. 

I practically wore out the skirt of the couch from sweeping my books underneath it when I would hear him at the door.. grin..

But... 

The years passed by and he came to realize that me reading was almost the same as breathing and he came to grips with it.. smile..

Now... 

Forty some years later he takes me to the books stores and buys me books and magazines..

Even suggests that we stop by the library.. 

Such a dear man.. smile... 

One of the most best feelings I have is when I have a stack of books waiting for me.. 

Are you like that?

Well, I have gone on long enough for this time.. 

As you can see I take book reading seriously.. 

How about you sweet ladies? 

Do you read and what is your favorite type of book? 

I love the Word of God and it blesses me daily.. 

I also love to read and learn... 

One of the blessings of my life I would say.. 

Thanks for your visit and can't wait to hear your comments on the book questions.. 

God bless...

LINKED TO...FLAUNT IT FRIDAY