Dandelion Jelly .....

Good Morning all... well, I guess it is almost noon.  Don't pay any attention to the time this is posted because for some reason my internal computer is putting the wrong time on by a couple of hours... anyway... I just thought you might like to see what I made this morning..

Dandelion Jelly... It is lovely... this is the first time I have made it.... 

It tastes like honey... and of course, we all know dandilions are full of goodness...

So after taking the tops off and getting a black thumb nail I had enough flowers ready...

Then, I noticed my thumb hurt... a lot... then up my arm... I guess I had overdone the thumb motion thing...My hand swelled up and Terry stands there just looking at me... as if to say -- now what?

I told him to just put me out to the pasture...lol...

It is a lot better this morning... heat and gel and a good nights sleep...

And yes, the jelly is worth the bother and I would do it again..

It's the creative thing.. I can't help it...lol..

The little bouquet of flowers on top is from my husband... what a dear man -- most of the time...lol..

I told him I needed a couple for the picture and next thing I knew he comes in and passes them to me... sweet, eh?  even after 40 years..

I guess you appreciate it all the more when there are no more little grubby hands holding the precious little bouquets up to you.... yes, I miss my children... being still home, I mean....

Well, I must go for now... I am working on this month's Keepers of the Home meeting for this Sat. morning in our fellowship hall at church... If anyone would like to come please email me.. the address is on the side bar.....

Breakfast and making a prim craft ... and who knows what else..

Remember... He is sweeter than dandilion honey...

Till next time, my dears..

OUR DAILY BREAD...

GOOD MORNING....ANOTHER MONDAY.. IT JUST SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WEEKS OF SPRING ARE GOING BY SO FAST..I WANT IT TO TAKE IT'S TIME  BUT TIME LISTENS TO NO MAN AS MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS...

I THOUGHT THIS MORNING I WOULD SHARE A RECIPE WITH YOU THAT I THINK IS ESSENTIAL FOR A MOM TO HAVE.  IN THIS BUSY WORLD THAT YOU GIRLS LIVE IN  I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BLESS YOUR FAMILIES.  IT IS NUTRITIONAL BECAUSE IT  IS SO BASIC.... IT TASTES DELICIOUS BUT BEST OF ALL IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES.... YES, IT IS OUR DAILY BREAD... YESTERDAY AT CHURCH I WAS CHATTING WITH A COUPLE OF THE KEEPERS OF THE HOME AND WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS BREAD THAT I HAD POSTED ON MY PRIMITIVE LACE BLOG... I REALLY DID NOT SAY THAT MUCH ABOUT IT..JUST THE YOUTUBE ADDRESS... AS I TOLD YOU IN THE LAST POST.. WE WERE HAVING COMPANY FOR DINNER ON SATURDAY...I MADE THIS BREAD AND THEY LOVED IT... HE SAID IT TASTED LIKE HIS MOM USED TO MAKE AND COULD HE HAVE ANOTHER PIECE...LOL... SURE..
                HERE IT IS...

I MAKE THIS IN A DUTCH OVEN WITH A COVER BUT YOU CAN USE A BOWL AND PLASTIC WRAP... ANYWAY..

PUT IN 3 CUPS OF ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

OR 1/2 WHITE AND 1/2 WHOLEWHEAT

1 1/4 TSP. SALT

1/8 TSP. INSTANT YEAST

NOW TAKE ONE HAND AND STIR WELL TO BLEND

ADD 1 1/2 CUPS WARM WATER

TAKE THE SAME HAND AND BEGIN IN THE CENTRE AND STIR UNTIL ALL BLENDED

OK... NOW JUST COVER IT AND SIT IT ON YOUR COUNTER OR IN THE OVEN OUT OF THE WAY AND FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY..WHENEVER IT IS CONVENIENT FOR YOU.. I HAVE LEFT IT FOR 20 HOURS AND IT IS LOVELY...

NOW 12 HOURS OR HOWEVER LONG LATER ... THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE..

TAKE IT OUT AND PUT ON A FLOURED SPACE SOMEWHERE..

NOW JUST PAT IT GENTLY WITH YOUR HANDS..,.

AND FOLD OVER ..BOTH SIDES AND EACH END..  SPRINKLE THE TOP WITH FLOUR. 

THEN JUST FLOUR A TEATOWEL AND PLACE THE LOAF ON IT . FOLD UP THE TOWEL AND LET IT REST WHILE YOU GET THE OVEN HEATED AND READY.

 HEAT THE OVEN TO 500 DEGREES F...ALONG WITH YOUR POT..

  .    I USE A CAST IRON DUTCH OVEN AS RECOMMENDED ON THE YOUTUBE  VIDEO BUT ONE OF THE KEEPERS JUST USES HER STAINLESS STEEL POT AND I KNOW THAT A CHEF JUST PUTS IT IN A TIN OR COOKIE SHEET BUT LOWERS THE HEAT TO 450 DEGREES.

LEAVE IT IN THERE FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

CAREFULLY TAKE IT OUT AND PLACE IN YOUR BREAD AND BAKE FOR 30 MINUTES COVERED AND THEN TAKE OFF THE COVER AND BAKE ANOTHER 10 -15 MINUTES...

AND THERE YOU ARE... A BEAUIFUL LOAF OF CRUSTY HOMEMADE GOODNESS.

YOUR FAMILY WILL LOVE IT AND YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL FEELING OF SATISFACTION AT MAKING SOMETHING SO GOOD FOR SUCH A SMALL SACRIFRICE OF TIME...

THE YOUTUBE IS NYTIMES NO KNEAD BREAD.. JUST LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW EASY IT REALLY IS.. A 4 YEAR OLD CAN MAKE IT ACCORDING TO THEM.. WHEN OUR FAMILY WERE HERE FOR DINNER LATELY I HAD MADE THE BREAD.. OUR DAUGHTER AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW COULD NOT BELIEVE I MADE IT... THEY THOUGHT I BOUGHT IT AT A BAKERY...

I LOVE COMPLIMENTS FROM THEM...LOL

WELL, GIRLS HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AND REMEBER TO READ YOUR DAILY BREAD ALSO..

HUGS AND BLESSING FROM ME TO YOU..

FAYE. 

A Keeper of the Home has her going home celebration ...

Good Morning my  dears... just  a very short post today... We have company coming for dinner this evening so I am busy cleaning and cooking.. I have been busy this past week with crafting so I have some catching up to do in the home keeping department...
I just want to leave a wee post to honour a keeper of the home who has gone home to be with her Lord..

Priscilla McGruder

A wonderful saint of God..a prayer warrior and worship leader... a famous songwriter and singer...but most of all a wife and a mom..

She has impacted the lives of thousands and among them is me...

She wrote a song called From Heaven\s Point of View and it has meant so much in my life...

When I don't understand what and why things are happening around me..
I can remember her singing this...

Please pray for her dear family...

It surely makes us appreciate what we have today for who knows what tomorrow may bring..

But like Priscilla my life is in His hands and I can trust......Him...

Love you all...

Enjoy your weekend with your precious families...

Faye

A quick post....

Good Morning... I am waiting for my husband to do some tax stuff and he wants silence...so... I thought perhaps I would post a bit for this morning..   Blogworld says to post every day when you are trying to get a blog up and running... Well, that is impossible for me to do but when there is an opportunity I will try to take it.. ok?  Here is another one of those pics I took from around this house.....

This is at the head of the bed in one of our spare rooms... we have 3 spare rooms now because our dear children have all grown and left for their own homes...their own lives... their own families...

God has been good...to provide us with so many more in our family..

I was not one of those ladies who were glad to see their last child go out the door to their own world...

Anyway... this was Shonda's room.. our one and only daughter..

I of course redid all the rooms after awhile... my husband has bought me several children's coats at auctions and I love them,.. the star pillow I just made as I showed on Primitive Lace last posting...

Just a wee way to fix up a wall gathereing without too much effort...

This photo shows it a bit more...just a board and angel that we did ...but really all that you would need is the pegboard... with a few things hanging from it... the walls are actually a mustard but look much lighter in the pic for some reason.....

Well, girls that is all I could come up with in just a few minutes so perhaps something a little better next time.....lol...

Tax time is so stressful, eh?  I am just glad my taxes are done..

Have a lovely day ..

Remember there is power in prayer...

Hugs.. Faye..

HERBS AND SUCH....

Hello my dears...I know I am very late getting to my posting today.. I had got up early this morning so that I could drop you all a little line before we went away.  I decided to telephone my daughter and before I knew it an hour or so had passed and opening the french door was my sweetie..all dressed and ready to go..... Need I say more?  Oh well, better late than never or so they say...lol.. 

I wasn't sure what I wanted to share with you today... but as we drove up our drive from another day on the farm... I noticed my raised herb bed over to the side of our yard.... And believe it or not there were several plants growing... I know that it is Spring but it is a bit chilly today...  Also, it has arrived in such a rush that it is hard for me to believe they were growing so high.  This is Lovage....and I love it...my favorite after Basil..

I use this herb a lot.  It actually grows to 6 ft,. tall...Imagine!!  It tastes a lot like celery...with a mix of anise..

I love this fresh in soups, salads, stews, tomato dishes, stuffing  and with meats.. Do not use a lot as it is very strong.  I also dry it in a brown paper bag hung upside down.  When it is crisp I shove it into a mason jar and use it all winter.  My favorite thing to do is  ( some early warm morning when the dew is still on the ground).. I run over to the herb bed and pick a couple of the larger stalks.. Bring them in and cut them long enought to fit a large glass.  Then I fill it up with tomato or V8 juice a speck of salt and pepper and sip it through the straw for my breakfast.  We really like doing that....  It makes me feel sophisicated..lol.

Also, I fill up literally bottles of vinegar and put in handfuls of lovage... a couple of weeks later I strain it and put in a couple more fresh leaves... a wonderful gift to give someone and tastes lovely on french fries.. 

So make sure to go to your garden centre a buy or beg from someone a bit of lovage to occupy your garden.  Save a large spot or a big pot for your patio as it does grow big.

Now,  this one was growing also... Sorrel

Isn't it lovely??  This is wonderful in salads or sandwiches... Just a leaf or two as it is peppery.  One day I made pesto with it... I love using anything that I can ...so... I looked up some recipes for sorrell and this was the one I thought I would try.... several hours later and much olive oil and pinenuts and parmesan I had sorrell pesto.,.. Yukkkkk... Don't try it.. But it is lovely in soups just like spinach.. It comes back every year just like the lovage does.

And of course, we have the chives... so useful....

I love my chives..from Spring right through till Fall...I use them a lot right now as they taste so good,.. I think the main thing I do with them is in my salads and dressings..

Chive Salad Dressing

1/4 cup lemon juice

3/4  cup oil

1 tsp. lemon zest

pinch salt and pepper

1/4 cup chopped chives

place in a small mason jar and shake and serve.

pour over salad pickings

Also , I save every blossom and make chive vinegar with them.... It turns into a lovely pink color and makes a lovely salad dressing or use however you use vinegar.. in pasta and such....

I actually pick a handful of stems and put them in an old mason jar with a bit of water and leave on my kitchen sill to use..

Like in scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, our salads or sprinkled over my soup. 

If you look in the last post you can see them on the sill along with thyme and rosemary..

If you don't have chives they can be found at the supermarket  gardem centre or maybe a friend is breaking hers up.  They come up every year.  Herbs are good for you and your families.

I was just thinking today about The Blessed Hearth and what I would post every day or so.. I decided it would just be about my life and any thing that I come across that I think might help or interest you girls.... and of course about our God.... eh?  He is so awesome..... I think He must have loved Herbs.. to make so many..  God Bless you all...I hope you are having a wonderful week...

Faye...

It's Monday!!!

Good Morning to you all...Just a very short post this morning just to let you know that I am still here..   I have posted a wee pic of my kitchen window sill this morning.  I love to get up early  on Mondays ..  I know... I think I am a little strange sometimes, too.  But after a wonderful weekend at Ladies Retreat and church yesterday the week looks full of possibilities!  So much to do and hopefully with the Lord's help I might get a couple things crossed off of my list.....lol...  A nice hot cup of coffee, my list book, a verse or two from the Word, some prayer and my Monday has began....

I know there are so many of you girls up early, getting your children ready and out the door to work.. But when you get a bit older (believe me girls...it doesn't take long) your life is different..  I am still very busy and my lists do not seem to be any smaller ..just different...

How I would love to be getting my children ready for school... oh, well... Life is lovely...

So, look forward to your busy week and what God has in store for you.. Go to work, feed your families, do their laundry and don't forget to check The Blessed Hearth... lol.. please leave a comment and do your homework from the last posting.  I will try with some inspiration from the Lord  to provide you with something to bless your home.  A shortcut, a recipe or a tip  that will hopefully help you all.

May God bless you this week..Remember Spring is here....

Hugs...Faye...

A little tweaking...

Greetings my dears..Another little post tonight to try to interest you in this little endeavor...  I was wondering what I could chat about.  Then I  was talking to one of my dear friends and she sort of inspired me towards a bit of deco stuff .  She loves primitive decorating as much as I do.  I know that there are many different approaches to decorating.  I personally love countrry and primitive.  Therefore, I am afraid that is probably what you will see here most of the time..
So..... here is a few pics I took tonight after supper....... just for fun!   Our youngest son gave me a wonderful camera for Christmas a year or so ago.   Just tonight I learned how to put borders on my photos!!  LOL.. Yes, I am a slow learner...  Well.... here goes...

This is a little gathering of rosemary, some eggs, a nest that our son brought to his mom many years ago and a treasured pair of little prim red shoes...... Darling, eh?

Then this an ole Rags doll that I made a couple of weeks ago.. I had her up on Primtive Lace but I am showing off my picture taking skills..Lol... See how an old doll can just put the right touch on a spot... I think so anyway .   but I love dolls and love to make them....

This is a little nightstand gathering... I found these bears in my workshop the other day.. I wanted them to look old....sooooooo... I used scissors, coffee dye, black x stitches and kind of burnt them again in the oven......the poor things... they look much older in reality... oh, and I took a lot of stuffing out of them... then of course my clove candle and an old Bible.  Every night stand needs one.. at least a verse or two before you lay your head down to rest.... we should spare Him at least a few minutes of our time each day... after all He gave us the past 24 hours of our day,  eh??

And last but not least is the woolen heart garland that we made in Keepers meeting in February.  They are on the hall mirror hanging off an old branch in our front hall or foyer.... whatever .... We had so much fun making those.   I hope I display some of these gifts of the Spirit...

Well, I have several more but maybe next time or maybe I will put them on Primitive Lace..

We leave for Ladies Retreat in Fredericton tomorrow.... expecting a blessed weekend...

Your homework, girls----do a little tweaking this weekend and arrange a few little gatherings in your homes.  Make it a special place for your dear ones... Email your pics so I can see what you are up to..

Hugs from me to you...

Auction Finds, a cleaning tip and Bojangles Rice...

Hello my dears..
 Just a wee post today... or tonight I guess I should say.  If you read Primitive Lace you will see what we have been up to today.. just in case you are interested.....
I guess you girls are all very busy this week ...Ladies Retreat is coming up and I know some of you are planning on going...
Yesterday, I had to do some cleaning and came across a neat tip for you girls who have  little ones who always like to help Mom...  I read it somewhere but  anyway... you just put an old sock on your child's hand or hands with a large elastic.  Then spray on some furniture polish or such and let them dust to their heart's content...lol... at least it will keep them busy for a bit...

I thought I would show you a couple of things I bought at the auction...

A lovely old depression glass bowl.  It is quite big and would be lovely with some potato salad or such..

Then this old trunk with strawberries painted on it.  They are nice but it will look better with a coating of antiquing on it.. It isn't huge but it does have to sit on the floor...

I made this rice yesterday and thought you might like the recipe..  It is called dirty rice and is a cajun type one.  When we were on our trip ...we ate at a place called Bojangles.  I had the rice and loved it..  When I got home I googled it and came up with this recipe.  It is not exact but very close and soooo good.

Here it is...

DIRTY RICE

Put 4 cups of chiken broth in a pot and bring it to a boil.  Then add 2 cups of long grain rice.

Cook on medium for 15 minutes.

While it is cooking put 1 pound of sauage in a large frypan and brown..

Then add 1 c. chopped onion

1/3 c. chopped celery

1/2 c. chopped red pepper

2 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

chopped parsley

1 tsp. thyme

Add cooked rice and stir well .  Add salt and pepper and more seasoning (like cayenne pepper) to your taste...  Voila  ...

Lunch....

I drained the fat from the sauage and rinsed in a cool water and drained before adding the veggies..

Well, that is all for tonight.  I hope someone out there is enjoying this..I know it takes a while to get going so I wil keep trying, eh...I certainly want to thank my faithful followers thus far... as I have said...I really appreciate you girls...

Take care and have a good week.  Remember to put God in the centre of your homes....

A Boiled Dinner and Cast Iron Frypans....

Good Evening ...It is a bit late to post today but I thought I should anyway.. We had a fun day today.  It is so great to be sort of retired...lol....something for you keepers to look forward to, eh?
Anyhow...we decided to go to our old farm for a work day.  So I  packed up some stuff for our dinner.  We have staples up there so I didn't have to take a whole lot.    I also packed up  my sewing machine and fabrics  so I could work while I was there.
When we got there, Terry went in to start the fire.  And guess what?  The wind was blowing so hard and it was raining...you know how I love that!!   The  dog and I sat there and looked at the hills and enjoyed it all for a bit.  Then I started feeling guilty so in we went.  I put some water on to heat and started our Boiled Dinner.  Terry's Mom used to make it all the time and he loves it... I had a leftover Ham bone with some meat still on it so I let it boil for awhile and then added the veggies.  You just cook it all till tender..Easy..

Then while that was cooking I started sewing.  Prim stars and pears and one doll.  Poor Terry was digging up the back porch floor.  It was a mess but what a find underneath--lovely old boards!!   

After a bit  he came in with an old cast iron fry pan he found out there.   I  had to season it and  I thought

you might find it a handy thing  to know.   I took a few pics to show you how..

You might already have one or maybe you can get one at thrift store or yard sale.  

First of all wash it very well in sudsy water.  You only wash it like that once in awhile.( After it is seasoned you just wipe it out with a paper towel,)  Now  you take some shortening or olive oil .. 

Wipe it all over the inside of the frypan with a papertowel.   Then put it in a medium  hot oven for a couple of hours.  If you have to season the outside because of rust then be sure to place it on a foil lined cookie sheet as it might be a bit messy,  When it comes out it looks like new.  See...

Now, all you have to do is peel a few potatoes and slice them.  Place them in your hot cast iron pan with some oil, salt and pepper.  Make sure you have a nice crust on them before you turn them over,  Cook until tender.  Your family will love you!!    

Well, I hope you enjoyed this. . Now,  if only you had been there to enjoy some tea and one of my Mom's date squares... 

Maybe next time my dears...

Remember we serve an Awesome God...

The Lord's Day..

Good Afternoon girls... This is Sunday afternoon.... we went to church this morning and it was a wonderful service.  As always - the Lord met us there.  It is such a blessing to actually feel the Spirit of the Lord.  Not that we have to go to church to feel the Lord as He is as close as the mention of His Name,,,

Now as  I putter away getting this blog  going I thought I should put a small posting to try and get it built up.

On the way home today my dear husband stopped and picked some more mayflowers to give to a dear elder Pastor's wife  tonight at church...Just a small way to show her how much we appreciate everything they have done down through the years..I don't know that it is the older a person gets that they love anything that reminds them of when they were young or if a person is born that way.
  I have always loved flowers--especially the early Spring ones...mayflowers, violets, forget-me-nots, lily of the valley and of course the ladies slipper.  God is such an artist...  I don't think any hothouse rose can come close to the beauty and aroma that you get from these lovely wild flowers...

Anyway, dears I pray that you have had a wonderful day today... I hope you took your children to church.  It is one of the most important things you will do for your child as he or she grows to adulthood... It will count down through the ages.
.

God Bless you and your dear ones...

Love and Prayers
Faye...