I love Mondays...

Down Memory Lane...

Greetings to you all.. 

Another week has rolled around and already we are almost in the middle of it ... 

Time seems to be flying and Christmas will soon be here, eh? 

I found this wonderful recipe for Pickled Pears in last month's issue of the UK Country Living.. 

As you know this is my favourite magazine and a wonderful book store hold it for me each month.. 

Do you buy it?.. 

I so love UK ones... 

Even the adverts are lovely and homey.. 

Anyway.. 

Stirlings had a great buy on pears last week and I doubled the recipe to make these.. 

They are made with fennel and coriander seeds.. 

Aren't they beautiful and so good.. 

You serve them with hard cheese and meat... 

If you are interested in the recipe just leave a comment and I will post it next time.. 

On with the story... smile.. 

We went to St. John on Sunday and made a little trip down Memory Lane, I guess you could say.. 

Terry and I have been married 45 years and although it was a long time ago in our minds it only seems like yesterday.. smile.. 

We were just a couple of kids.. 

I was 17 and he was 20.. Imagine !

He was working in St. John when we were married and so we moved to the city and over on the West Side.. 

I love that side of the city.. 

One used to have to cross the Reversing Falls bridge to get there but now they have a new bridge.. 

We were situated near the St. John River.. 

We had bought a wee second hand trailer and moved it down from  home into a little trailer park... 

So just for fun we drove around the park .. 

I think ours would have been about 4 trailers down on the left.. 

I think anyway.. 

I remember that first little home so well.. 

A wee living room and kitchen.. 

The most wonderful stove that I have ever owned.. 

It was propane which I still love to this day and it was yellow.. 

With a griddle on top in the centre... 

I have regretted losing that stove for 45 years.. lol.. 

Two wee bedrooms and a bath... 

We would open our windows and the wind would blow so lovely off of the river and the rain sounded so great on that metal roof.. 

You girls know me and my stormy weather love affair.. smile.. 

Shonda was born while we lived there and I would wash her little diapers in a my new spin dry washer and hang them out on the line.. 

I would look first up to the house above or one that was there and check to see if the lady had done her laundry.. 

Her husband or someone in the home must have been a chef as there would be white chef's coats and hats blowing in the breezes..

If they were then I would do our laundry.. smile

For a treat we would go and buy fish and chips at least once a week at the DeLuxe.. 

They tasted so good but in hindsight we should have stayed away from there... 

You know what I mean..   

Then we would go to the Mall.. 

It was one of the first malls in the province.. 

Imagine living that long that you remember when there were just stores.. grin... 

There was a Kmart there then, though.. 

Now, of course, it is Walmart.. 

Another sign of the times.. 

The Reversing Falls are famous.. 

And there is the new bridge there in the distance ... 

St. John is known as the Port City.. 

The cruise ships come here into the harbour and take bus tours out to St. Martins all summer and fall.. 

A few of my Mom's brothers worked in the port and the pulp mill is also here on the West Side.. 

I even learned to like the smell..

I have such wonderful memories of that wee home.. 

Our first grocery order,  the little china cupboard built in the kitchen beside my first wee pantry, the first meal that I cooked Terry....a potato scallop, sausages and canned peas.. 

And his favourite... A chocolate cake.. 

The only thing was that the oven didn't register the right temp and the scallop was not cooked and the cake fell.. lol.. 

The dear man ate it and said it was delicious.. 

  

We only lived there for a year before we bought a new trailer and moved to the North End...

So many years ago... 

So many changes in our lives but also in our world.. 

When we lived there we did not serve the Lord and it was several years before we acknowledged our need of God in our daily lives and came back to Him.. 

It was then that we experienced the best change of all.. 

A life with purpose and joy and the hope that serving Jesus brings..

Memories of many years ago but still fresh and lovely in our hearts.. 

Sometimes when I can't sleep I remember when we were back there in our little bedroom.. 

The curtains are blowing in the breeze and the rain is falling and I am hugging Terry and our whole life is ahead of us... 

Our baby is sleeping in the carriage beside our bed.. 

smile.. 

Time marches on though ... 

We headed back..

Home Sweet Home... 

So thankful for all the blessings of God that we have in our lives today.. 

A very busy and full life.. 

Dear sweet children and grandsons and a husband who is so dear.. 

He drives me nuts lots of days but basically one of the dearest men on earth.. 

God is good.. 

Please forgive me my trip down memory lane, dearies...

I seem to be a bit emotional today.. 

We lost a precious aunt this past week and one of my dearest friends and a cousin the week before.. 

I think it has made me a bit sentimental... 

God bless.. 

The blog is back....

Hello my dears.. 

So glad to be able to post here tonight.. 

Early this morning my dear sister called me to say that something was wrong with The Blessed Hearth... 

She said some popup kept her from seeing anything of the blog.. 

Great !!

You who have been following the blog know that I am not a computer wizard by anyone's imagination.. 

I started blogging about 5 years ago when we bought our first computer.. 

A dear lady who was my hero most of my life. (Sara) told me to learn everything I could about it when I mentioned to her that we had bought one.. 

I decided then to try and do just that.. smile.. 

So.. 

I had found a few blogs that I loved and took the plunge for one of my own.. 

It was scary many times but through trial and error I managed to get a blog started... 

It was called Primitive Lace and really was just a learning phase for me.. 

When I started the Keepers of the Home group I decided I would try a blog about Home.. 

In time, I stopped the first one and centred my time on The Blessed Hearth.. 

It has been a blessing and I have met so many dear people... 

I never really know who reads this or even just looks at the pics but am so thrilled when someone like my sweet cousin told me today that she never misses a post or my sister and you all leaving sweet comments either here or on my FB page... 

Anyway... 

After she called I took a look and my heart sank.. 

I took about an hour and tried to fix it and thought for sure it was over... smile.. 

We went to the farm for the day and when we came home I tried for about 2 hours to find what was wrong.. 

I could not get rid of the pop up.. 

Believe me, I am praying and asking the Lord for help and as always He was faithful and I happened to find a forum that said to delete java links.. 

I did.. all of them and checked and it was fixed.. 

Thank you, dear Lord.. 

So.. 

Here we are.. 

Just a little everyday post of things we are doing..

Home things.. 

Shonda did a lot of painting, the dear girl.. 

Cupboard doors are all painted in the Linen colour.. 

She and her Dad were busy for hours... 

Then she glazed them all.. 

As usual, I cooked.. grin.. 

Soup season is back again and of course this soup junkie is back on board.. 

Vegetable Soup.. 

Eat as much as you like.. Hardly any calories.. 

Flavoured with pesto... 

We are doing our counter top, too so I won't be able to show you the finished job for awhile.. 

It is hunting season here, you know.. grin.. 

All in due time... 

Then another drive to the farm ... 

Isn't this beautiful.. 

A house in Albert County, of course.. 

I cleaned and decluttered the cupboards and took some of the excess to the farm house.. 

Just a few old dishes and such.. 

Terry started the floor in the pantry and I made some no knead bread..

Caesar Salad...

And stew...

It was a fun day but I did wonder how I would get this blog fixed.. 

So glad it worked.. 

I will have to return the blog list and such again later.. 

Somehow the Spam Pop up was coming through one of the links ... 

Disgusting, eh? 

Anyway, dear hearts thanks for your visits and comments.. 

I really appreciate you all.. 

God bless... 

Keepers of the Home for October..

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth this evening.. 

Posting a few pics of our Keepers of the Home meeting that we had on Saturday... 

It was a beautiful day with the sun shinning and not too cool.. 

We gathered together and had breakfast.. 

A couple of girls brought fresh home made muffins which went very well with our eggs and bacon.. 

Thank you, dear ladies..

We had a short lesson on the constancy of our Lord..

So thankful that during all the changes in the world 

and in our lives that Jesus remains the same.. 

Malachi 3: 6

For I am the Lord, I do not change.. 

Write this scripture in your daily journal  or on piece of paper and place it on your fridge.. 

Just a reminder when you are in an upheaval in your life that He is forever the same.. 

I love the verse in Psalms 91:14

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, " I will protect him, for he acknowledges my Name.. 

Everyday, we are reminded that we live in a changing world but we can depend on Him.. 

Refilling our coffee cups we started on our rug making.. 

Thank you, dear Paulet for showing us how it is done and being so helpful and patient.. 

I loved this craft and for once found it quite easy once I changed fabrics for a lighter weight.. 

There are many YouTube lessons to be found if you are interested in doing one..

Next month, Lord willing we are having an all day meeting.. 

It will be all about Christmas and making and doing.. 

Keep tuned.. smile.. 

Thank you, dear hearts for dropping by and welcome to all the new followers this week.. 

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families.. 

God bless.. 

Fall Farm Day...

Good Evening everyone.. 

Just a little picture post of a day at the farm.. 

We so enjoyed the lovely views on the way.. 

The colors this Fall are awesome !!

The cows were in the pasture with such a lovely background... 

Terry had a few things to do so I made us a quick lunch.. 

One of our favourites.. 

Spaghetti with Broccoli, Lemon and Mushrooms..

I am sure I have shared the recipe before... 

Then I covered some jars of jam and such for a trio of sweet sisters who own the Apple Blossom Cafe in Hillsborough... 

We were not too far from their place while at the farm so we went the back way there and and that is where I saw the old house in the last post.. 

They sell my wares, there.. Bless their hearts.. 

And they make the best coffee.. smile.. 

Anyway, dear hearts, thanks for your visit.. 

We have had quite a week.. 

Lost two very dear people in our lives.. 

My cousin and Terry's cousin's wife who was one of my dearest friends.. 

I will miss her so much.. 

Then Shonda (the sweet girl) was here and my cupboards are all painted but we still need to shine them up and hang them along with other chores ..

It will be a bit yet before I can show you all..

But I will, Lord willing.. 

Take care my friends and God bless.. xo

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

Hello everyone.. 

Hope you are having a great weekend..

I wanted to share a few photos I took this week on a little drive in good old Albert County.. 

I will share more photos of the fall foliage next time but tonight I just wanted to show you this old house.. 

Isn't it precious? 

The photos somehow look like paintings, eh? 

I just think it is so perfect and beautiful, don't you?  

 I expect that it was probably built during the last century and it is quite ancient, I think.. 

But you know one day many years ago it was surely loved and cared for.. 

I can just imagine... 

The bedrooms were probably filled with children and the pantry shelves were stocked with jars of jams and preserves and pickles.. 

I can see loaves of home made bread standing ready for supper with a batch of donuts cooling on the shelf.. 

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day so I am sure there were plenty of preparations for Sunday.. Shirts and dresses would be ironed and little girls hair would be  rolled up into rags for Sunday curls.. 

Some food would be getting ready for Sunday dinner.. 

Yes, I can just imagine.. 

Then there might have been baskets of pears and bags of apples gathered  in the old porch ready to be done up into apple sauce and pickled pears on Monday..

Likely, there were cows in the barn and chickens in the chicken house..

And I am sure there would be a separate pen for a few sheep..  

And of course, a couple of work horses would be standing in their stalls munching on some oats after a long day of pulling wagons full of wood.. 

The old cold cellar would probably be filled with bins of potatoes and carrots stored in sand along with turnips and squash.. 

Then crocks of saurkraut and pickled beans  ready for Winter... 

Hams would be hung from the rafters along with smoked bacon and such.. 

The hay would be made and stored in the barn along with grains, corn and lots of straw for bedding for the animals.. 

The old dog probably laid on the front veranda and greeted everyone who stopped by and a tabby cat would be nearby.. 

Mama probably wore an apron and her hands would be doing so many tasks for her precious family.. 

There would be Fall house cleaning time and the windows would be shining  and the rugs would be all cleaned and relaid.. 

The wood would be in the cellar and the fires would be lit.. 

Lanterns would sparkle throughout the house.. 

And on this Saturday night the dining room table would be laden with harvested veggies and perhaps a fresh pork roast flavored with sage or rosemary from Mama's herb bed.. 

Oh yes.. and the spiced crab apples and mustard pickles would lend such lovely color and flavor to the meal... 

The Bible would be taken down after supper and the Word would be read and head would bow to the Lord of Lords for the blessings of the day.. 

And just before bedtime Papa would take the dog out while standing on the stoop and smelling the wood smoke and the stars would be so beautiful in the Fall sky... 

There will probably be frost this night.. 

Just imagine... 

Beauty is certainly in the eye of the beholder, eh? 

The Lord has painted this dear old place in such loveliness .. 

I think it is simply gorgeous... 

And you know it is sort of  the same with us.. 

In our old rough state with the scars of sin and life's trials we were pretty dilapidated looking and cast down.. 

But one day we saw Jesus in all of his glorious wonder.. 

And He made something beautiful of out of our lives ..

He cleansed our hearts and now He sees us in beauty that He beholds... 

So thankful for his mercies this night... 

And that he sees me as worthy and not as I am.. 

God bless..