An Old Fashioned Kitchen Day at Keepers of the Home..

Good Afternoon everyone.. 

Another Lord's Day has rolled around and I am glad in it.. 

Yesterday we had a Keepers of the Home meeting.. 

We decided to change it a bit and held it from 10 until 2 .. 

All week long I puttered away trying to get things together.. 

As we were centering our attention on the kitchen we did kitchen stuff.. smile.. 

There was some delicious coffee made when we arrived (thank you, Pastor) and one of the Keepers made a couple of lovely batches of muffins.. 

As this was happening there was a little lesson on the Kitchen and how it is the heart of the home.. 

The place where memories are made that are so important to our families.. 

We used our five senses to see how we could improve our own spaces.. 

What makes a kitchen cozy and warm.?. 

The lovely scents and tastes of home made bread and coffee brewing are great but there is not always time for that so we can also use simmering potpourri or a plug in to make it all smell great..

We all agreed that we love to see our kitchens clean and organized and I confessed to everyone that this is where I need help.. 

Divine help, that is .. grin.. 

We discussed ways that we can make sure that Christ is at the centre of this busy room.. 

Playing Christian music that we can hear and doing devotions at the kitchen table were a few... 

Making sure that the TV does not reign supreme is also important.. 

The kitchen is also used as a place of entertainment whether it be just a neighbor over for coffee or a meal for friends.. 

We want it to be a friendly place where especially our family feels the loving touch that we can give and where our children see their Mom and Dad displaying affection which touches our children's lives for ever.. 

We talked about how quickly time passes and the sweet days of children doing lessons at the table or a project being done soon passes.. 

Then it is just the two of us and the opportunity we had to make an impression on those young lives is over.. 

Therefore, we need as Keepers of the Home to make an effort to create those times in the kitchen influencing our children to put God first in their lives so that when they are building a home they will also endeavor to put Jesus front and centre... 

Many children come home to empty houses because Mama needs to work and that is not her fault.. But.. Whenever there is a chance or opportunity to make it special then take time to make the effort.. 

After that we learned how to make artisan bread as seen HERE  on YouTube... 

Also Michael Smith's Heritage bread HERE..

When they arrived it was baking away in the oven and certainly smelled great.. 

Next, we all sat around with fresh coffee and peeled a whole roaster full of apples and made Roasted Vanilla Apple Sauce .. 

While it roasted away in the oven we enjoyed our lunch..

The girls brought homemade soups, salads, rolls and desserts.. 

Delicious.. 

And the fellowship was so sweet.. 

After lunch I showed them a way to make your kitchen a bit more festive by using Christmas tea towels to make a curtain.. 

As seen HERE ON MY PINTEREST BOARD..

It still wasn't over as we then made a recipe box, menu box, kid's poster box or what have you out of a cereal box.. 

Using paper lunch bags and an Elmer's glue stick.. 

A magazine pic or a bit of scrap booking papers.. 

So easy.. 

Oh yes and some distress ink.. smile.. 

The girls did some very neat work.. eh?  

We had lots of door prizes, too, because dear Janet brought so many.. 

Thank you, Jan..

We put the applesauce into mason jars for the ladies to take home to try... 

I hope they liked it.. 

All in all it was a thumbs up day.. 

We were so happy to have several guests and pray they will come back again.. 

There was homework passed out and if you would like I will email it to you.. 

Please just email me at keepersofthehome@hotmail.com and I will forward it to  you... 

Thanks so much for dropping by today.. 

I need to go get ready for church tonight but I look forward to reading your lovely comments.. 

Take care and may God bless your kitchens and give you a new incentive to turn it into a room where God is centre and joy is complete... 

Hugs from New Brunswick.. 

WE REMEMBER...

Weekend Thrifting, company and such..

Hello my dears.. 

Hope all is well with you and yours.. 

Another week is here and November is passing.. 

I had a chance to do a bit of thrifting over the weekend.. 

Found a few little things.. 

A lovely wood box for holding some fresh pears which we bought at the market along with a couple of old tin molds.. 

Some toile place mats and napkins, a Bunnykins cup, and another primitive box that I hung for pens and scissors and such.. 

And an old throw ... 

I don't know why I bought that.. grin.. 

We had some lovely company, too.. 

A couple of grandsons who love to tease Grandpa and then my Mom and Step-Father were here for supper along with some friends.. 

We played a game of Rook which the ladies won.. grin.. 

I am not a game player but every once in awhile I give in and try to be a good sport.. smile.. 

I made an apple bread which was a new recipe but although they thought it was good I think they were just being nice.. 

It tasted OK but it was kind of heavy .. 

Do you have a good Apple Bread recipe.. 

I would love to have a tried and true recipe if you know what I mean... 

Terry went out and picked a 5 gallon pail full of high bush cranberries and we cleaned and froze them to make juice through the winter.. 

I also froze a bag full of the berries on their stems to decorate with at Christmas.. 

I  find that if I put them in my decor they dry up nice and dry and keep well over the holidays.. 

I was happy to get a new footstool.. 

We were in to Home Sense and there it was.. 

I love anything with the Union Jack even if it is the wrong color.. smile.. 

It is very comfy... 

I had to add a new page to my homemade calender.. 

I made it HERE..l

I love using my Country Living UK magazines for the pictures .. 

So wish the real ones didn't cost so much... smile.. 

The kids were here and I made their favorite meal.. 

Fried Rice, Egg Rolls and Sauteed Peas.. 

Plum Sauce.. 

Pretty simple fare but honestly that is the request every time they come.. 

I am afraid I will make them sick of it.. 

They even take the leftovers home.. 

smile.. 

Well, lovies, I must get to bed.. 

The time change has me getting up earlier.. 

Does it affect any of you ladies? 

We are having a Keepers of the Home meeting this Saturday morning in Salisbury.. 

If any of you live nearby and are interested in joining us then please just email me..

We would love to have you.. 

AN OLD FASHIONED KITCHEN DAY.. 

We are starting at ten and going over lunch for a change..

Learning some kitchen basics and such.. 

Thanks so much for praying for Chelsea.. 

She is doing well and waiting for results.. 

God is so good.. 

Take care and God bless.. 

I look forward to hearing from you.. 

These October Days...

Good Evening my dears.. 

How are you all doing? 

Here we are the last day of October.. 

Much cooler here in New Brunswick then it has been.. 

There was a couple of huge frosts this week but tonight there is a wind warning and rain for tomorrow.. 

Funny... \

I was craving a good rainstorm.. grin.. 

Are you girls keeping busy these days?  

The other morning we headed out early for the old farm.. 

What a beautiful day it was, too.. 

Terry had rented a bush cutter and I grabbed a bag of apples to fill my day.. smile.. 

Then some lovely company showed up.. 

He helped Terry all day as us girls made dinner and chatted .. 

And laughed .. 

This dear girl is a hoot and it was a blessed day for sure.. 

The Honey Crisps Apples are in and are now dried and put away for some tasty snacks.. 

They are so good.. 

Drying more from our old apple trees to make some of the apple wreaths for Christmas gifts.. 

So easy to do.. 

I shared it with you before but all you do is thread a wire through and then tie a bow.. 

Also, for winter potpourri HERE and basket liners .. 

The Maple Apple Jam is all finished, too.. 

The recipe is HERE..

I cut the sugar back by a cup and the syrup by half a cup.. 

Still very sweet but delicious on toast or ice cream.. 

I did a little experiment this week.. 

Tried a homemade stew from meat that we had not ate before and to be honest we will not try again.. 

I know there are folks who eat goat and love it but it is not to our liking .. 

Have you ever tried it? 

Oh well... 

I love trying new foods but that just did not turn out.. grin.. 

We took a drive up to the windmills on Monday, too.. 

They sure are awesome.. 

Thank you so much for taking time to drop by and visiting.. 

Loved having you all.. 

Just before I leave though I would like to send out a prayer request.. 

Our son's best friend has a dear daughter who turns 16 tomorrow.. 

This week they took her to the IWK Hospital in Halifax as the doctors believe that she has Lymphoma.. 

Such a dreadful thing but we know that God is able.. 

He is our Healer and we know personally that cancer is not a hindrance to our God.. 

A lot of you know that in 1998 I was healed of breast cancer.. 

We know that He still heals... 

Even today.. 

Please remember Chelsea in your prayers.. 

Thank you dear girls.. 

You are the best.. 

Hugs.. 

Just a little bit of decor...

Hello there everyone.. 

Another lovely Monday has arrived .. 

Hope you all had a great weekend.. 

Fall is here and the nesting instincts have clicked on.. grin.. 

We all love our homes clean but also attractive.. 

But we do have different tastes, though

... 

I have loved primitive but find my home evolving on a little different road lately.. smile.. 

I shall probably always be country but I find I like things a little more farmhouse style lately.. 

You can check my Farmhouse Board on Pinterest HERE..

Oh well.. 

So long as you love what you live with.. 

So many times we try to do what is current rather then what we ourselves love, eh?

Styles come and go but at my great age I am trying to get rid of excess and keep only the things that bring me joy in my home..

Getting rid of excess is a much greater chore then one can imagine.. 

I am desperately trying not to bring any more in but just take it out.. 

I plan on going through each drawer and cupboard and being merciless... grin.. 

Pray for me, please!! 

If I could just rid of a few of my sentimental bones.. 

We went out to lunch last night with some friends and the remark was made that one of us didn't have a sentimental bone in their body.. 

Let's just say they were not talking about me.. 

I think it is something to be admired at this phase in my life but a day at a time is all I can promise anyone.. smile.. 

Do you girls have a problem with getting rid of stuff? 

Do you decorate the way you love 

or are you trendy? 

Perhaps what is trendy is the style you love.. 

I must say that I do love so much about Primitive and Country.. 

So warm and loving, really.. 

When I did the craft shows and had open house here I remember being frustrated so often because I could not keep something out that did not jive with what I was trying to sell. 

Thank the Lord, that does not pertain anymore and I can do just the style that attracts me...

Well, that is all for tonight my dears.. 

We had some lovely company over the weekend... 

So enjoyed them all.

Thank you so much for visiting and I love your sweet comments.. 

May the Lord bless and keep you until we chat again.. 

Hugs... 

Another home comfort.. Cleaning and Organizing..

Hello everyone.. 

Just a short posting tonight.. 

We are still being blessed with lovely days although a bit cooler here in New Brunswick.. 

I kind of feel like I am beginning to see the end  middle of the tunnel here at home.. 

When we return home from the cottage it takes me a bit to get situated and then we go back to the cottage and bring home more junk  necessary stuff and I need to find more space for it all.. 

We do this about 3 times and since we have already passed that number and most of it is away then I think I am getting somewhere.. 

This week I actually cleaned all of my cupboards.. 

Hence the pics above.. 

Drawers and such.. 

Have you ever seen such a pile of platters.. 

I need to get rid of half of them.. 

As there are only the two of us here of most of the meals I did get rid of a lot of cloth napkins and placemats.. 

 We only need 2 of these things..

I think everything looks better.. 

Terry put the pantry floor down and I got that all cleaned and reorganized for the second time since we returned home..

My living room is almost back to normal as I kept putting stuff in there and the dear man put away all of his tools for the floor and appliance hook up.. sigh... 

Yes, I am beginning to feel normal, I think ... grin.. 

Next week, Lord willing, I will attack the bedrooms.. 

I need to weed out our closets and drawers and such.. 

My darling Mom is giving me a wee round table that 

belonged to my Gram .. 

I want to put it in my Sun room so maybe on Saturday we will get that done.. 

What a busy time of year, though, eh? 

Love being busy when I can see that it is accomplishing something.. 

To be honest, the last month or so just felt like we were going in circles.. 

We would feel normal and bring home a pantry and fridge full of stuff.. 

Or just get situated and bring home all the leftover pickles, clothes and tools.. 

Get the picture.. 

So .. 

Perhaps my blog posts will soon be back to normal.. 

Thanks so much for putting up with me the last few months.. 

I am starting to feel creative once again .. 

Thank you, dear Lord.. 

Made a Chicken Noodle Soup for lunch today and mixed up a steamed bread recipe my cousin gave me.. 

I will let you know how it turns out.. 

My friend gave me the pepper plant.. 

Man they are small but mighty.. 

I am not sure what to do with them.. smile.

Chicken Noodle Soup...

For the soup I just cooked a big chicken breast in veggie broth (left over from cooked carrots), added some carrots, celery, leeks and a bay leaf.. 

Some herbs... summer savory, a garlic clove, red pepper flakes and parsley.. 

I let it simmer for about an hour then took out the chicken breast and shredded it.. 

I added some egg noodles and a spoon full of powdered chicken broth and let it simmer until the noodles were tender.. 

Very tasty and good for you, too.. 

Thank you for dropping by.. 

I received several lovely emails from some of you and so enjoyed meeting you this way.. 

I am sorry you haven't been able to comment due to me turning off the anonymous  option.. 

I may try again, soon so keep checking.. 

We are having company tomorrow night for supper so I will post about that next time perhaps.. 

God bless you sweet friends..