Making and Doing in May....

Good Afternoon! 

Another lovely but very cold day here in Maritime Canada!

So happy you could drop by for a few minutes.. 

This is just a little make and do post.. 

The month of May has been quite cool but everything is growing and turning green.. 

I actually prefer the cooler sweater weather but I don't think I am in the majority.. ❤

As you all know I am a flower lover and the Spring has my favourites..

We have violets and forget me not in our flower beds.. 

I gathered some to tuck away in a few old books.  

They will press nicely and will be great for making book marks, decoupage and such.. 

I just place them on some painting tablet paper and place them between the pages of the books.. 

A few I like to put between the pages of my Bible or journals.. 

But these are to use for crafts.. 

Then I love wee bouquets here and there in the house..

On the mantel, end tables or a shelf...  

Even chive blossoms are so sweet!  

And useful, of course.. 

Later, I will gather some for butter and vinegar or just to tear a couple up and add to salads.. 

Another wee bouquet are the Lily of the Valley.. 

My Gram Weir's favourite.. 

My Kitchen window sill is a special place to put these little bouquets.  

I get to enjoy them as I do dishes. 

 

I do dishes by hand now for some weird reason.. 

I found that I really enjoy doing them this way and so I do. 😊

We had Shonda up for a visit this past week and I once again made the Dill and Onion Bread..

The next morning I made a tomato sandwich and had a bit of my homemade Rhubarb Kimchi... 

This is such a delicious pickle.. or relish or whatever.. 

Very easy to make and just makes your taste buds tingle! 😏

You just chop up some rhubarb and grate a carrot and orange zest. 

Some garlic and ginger and such and let it ferment for three days.. 

Then store in your fridge.. 

Here is the recipe... 

3 cups of chopped rhubarb.. 

3 green onions diced

1/4 chopped onion

1 medium carrot grated

3 cloves of garlic 

1 Tablespoon grated ginger root 

1/4 cup Korean chili powder or chili flakes to taste

4 teaspoons of sea salt 

1 orange and zest. 

Place rhubarb, green onions, onion, orange zest and carrot in a large bowl

Put a peeled orange, ginger and garlic in a chopper or such and puree. 

Add to vegetable mixture..

Mix everything and massage with your hands. 

Set for a couple of hours to create moisture.

Press firmly in a glass jar and make sure there is enough liquid to submerge the mixture.  Add water if necessary.. 

Cover with some cheescloth and sit on counter for about 3 days. 

Taste each day. 

Fasten lid and keep in fridge.. 

Mine does not last long enough to soften.. 

I do hope to make several jars to have for winter.. 

You can google the many uses of it. 

My favourite is to use it as a pickle would be used.. 

Let me know if you make it and how you enjoyed it.. 

No.. Terry won't even try it.. lol... 

We were shopping and bought some cauliflower on a great sale .. 

My last batch of pickles were gone so gladly made another.

We are both pickle lovers but I tend to favour savoury rather than sweet.. 

May means Rhubarb... 

I try to get several batches of rhubarb jam but I keep giving it away.. 

It is my Mom's recipe and is here on the blog. 

Making rhubarb muffins, cake, puddings and Terry's fave is Rhubarb sauce.. 

And then there has been fiddleheads.. 

Trevor, our oldest son always makes sure we get our supply of them.. 

We love them boiled then just butter and Terry likes vinegar. 

And Fiddlehead Soup, of course. 

Terry picked me a bunch of dandelions and it has been infused with oil to make salves and lotion bars... 

And the dear man took me for a country drive looking for violets.. 

We found a big batch of blue ones... 

They are dried and will be used for burn salve.. 

Oh... 

We have a bunch of lovely new neighbours... ❤❤❤

This just makes me so happy.. 

And the clothes on the lines and the eggs for sale.. 

I don't need to go to Pa. anymore. smile.. 

I hope they love it here... 

My Parlour Maple bloomed in May.. 

Thanks to my dear friend for giving it to me.. 

I so love my plants as you all know!

I have a little plant story to tell you.. 

My friends from Hillsborough will recognize this plant.. 

I mentioned it on last post I think.. 

They gave this 150 year old plant to me a few years ago and I love her.. 

Anyway.. 

I was outside the other day on our deck.. 

We were setting our swing up and I noticed a bright colour in the sunroom window which is at the far end of the deck...

I went to see what it was....

Lo and behold my Cactus was in full bloom but I didn't notice from inside the house.. 

She had been needing a bit more sun and her blooms were hidden behind her huge pot... 

So I went inside and there she was...

I had to turn her pot right around to bring her beautiful blooms into the room.. 

Isn't that sweet?

I know... I know.. 

I am turning into an old grandma.. 

Oh... I guess I am one.. 

It is the simple things that sweeten our hearts and days.. 

Right?? 

I am almost finished....😊

I thought I would share this with you dear hearts.. 

Every morning I get up earlier than Terry.. 

When he retired many years ago I told him there was something we had to agree to before we started down our new path... 

He was listening so I told him.. 

"Terry ... you have to stay in bed for at least an hour after I get up.. 

I need my time!"

He agreed...

So... 

The very next morning I am out here in my chair doing my thing.. 

You know.. praying, making lists, looking up inspiration or such.. 

I hear this voice coming from the other side of the house... 

Faye..... Can I get up yet??

 

Ha! ha! 

 It still makes me laugh and he still honours that plan.. 

I should explain that it was not very hard for him to agree to .. 

He loves his extra sleep.. ❤

But.. that isn't what I wanted to mention..

It was this verse I noticed especially the other day... 

Written by King David to the Lord.. 

A promise he wrote to God... 

That the Lord would hear his voice... every morning... 

That he would direct his words ... his prayer unto Him.. 

The God of the universe.. 

Every morning God would hear David's voice in prayer 

and David would look up... 

That so touched my heart.. 

To think that I can say to the same God... 

My voice shall thou hear in the morning, O LORD;

In the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will 

look up... 

I am just so thankful that I know and love the same one true God that David prayed to... 

Every morning...

I can direct my words of worship and praise.. 

And words of thanks ... 

My needs and fears.. 

Just whatever is on my heart 

and God hears my voice... 

And I will look up...

In this day that we live in.. 

  a world that is so chaotic and without hope..

When it is easier to hang our heads in despair..

I can direct my words to Him and lift up my head..

And He will hear me..  

How wonderful is that, eh!! 

Love God's Word..  

Well lovies this is all for today... 

Probably too much.. 
I may have lost you awhile ago.. smile.. 

Thank you for visiting and thank you so much for your sweet comments.

I pray you are doing well and enjoyed the month of May.. 

And that you are looking forward to June and what it will bring.. 

Sending hugs to you all!

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families.  

God bless... 

from Faye.. xoxo

A Mother's Day Ramble and Roll.....

Hello dearies!

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mommas!

The pic above is of my wonderful Mom when she was only 16.

So dear to my heart and I miss her everyday..  

❤❤❤❤❤❤

Hope you all are having a blessed day. 

Mine has been lovely! 

Church, family, calls, gifts, cards and dinner..

So precious!

Love my family so much.. 

Thank you, Lord! 

When we got home I thought I would do a wee post.. 

So here I am.. 

Ramble and Roll.. 😙

There is not a whole lot of new but this is just an offering!  ❤  

Here is a pic of a new geranium that I was gifted!

 

Isn't she beautiful! 

I was thankful to receive it from my friend who lost her husband recently..  

He was an extraordinary gardener and loved geraniums.

She was so kind to give me one.. 

Thank you... xo

I thought I may as well showoff😆 a couple of my plants!

This is my Pregnant Onion!

I so love this plant. 

Several years ago I was visiting our Kings Landing Historical Village.

A lot of the houses had this plant on their window sills.. 

I remarked on them and the lady of the house gifted me with a baby.. 

See all the babies in the pot?

She has been very productive this winter and her blossom is the biggest ever!

She has little pea like things that grow under the onion skin.. 

They fall off and spring up ..

Isn't that something?? 

And this is one of my joys!

One hundred and fifty year old Cactus that a couple of dear sisters gave to me.. 

It had been growing in their bay window in their uncle's old farmhouse for that long.. They divided it and gave a piece to me along with the beautiful pottery pot.. 

It has beautiful huge dark pink blossoms!

I have plants everywhere here!  ❤

I think they help make a house a home!

I know... just my opinion!  

To me they do shall we say... 

And... 

Rolling on....

Just some food we have ate lately.

I keep forgetting to take pics or they are not picture worthy most of the time... 

We eat soup very often.. 

Usually, on a tray... pathetic, I know!

 

Chicken Stew and Tomato Rice... 

Lunch meals usually... 

Oh and I do put a lot of butter on my bread when I eat tomato soup .. 

I dip the bread in.. 

A habit from my childhood.. 

Confessing is good for ye... lol... 

A fave breakfast of mine.. 

Most of the time I don't eat breakfast but when I do I am usually hungry.. 

This must have been one of those days.. 

Homemade toasted bread with mashed avocado seasoned with lemon juice, grated onion and salt and pepper.. 

So yummy! 

No... Terry doesn't like it.. 😏

Homemade Mayo.. 

so so good.. 

It is very easy to make with a stick blender and only takes about five minutes.. 

So much better for you, too.. 

Lovely on pasta salad, egg salad or tomato sandwiches... 

I found this recipe on the web... 

I call them Hoagie Rolls.. 

So simple to make and takes only a couple of hours.. 

Sliced one here with homemade mayo, tomato and usually  a drizzle of pesto ..

I didn't have pesto this day as it was frozen.. 

I make a batch and put it in wee mason jars and freeze them... 

Corn Cob pickles.. 

I have never been able to find baby corn here except in a can.. 

When a jar of dill pickles are gone I just heat the brine and the corn and put them in the fridge for a couple of days.. 

Not as good as the ones I bought from the Amish in Pa. but still good.. 

Rolling on... 

We have been trying to spend time at the farm ... 

Getting a bit done to get it summer ready... 

We were up the other day and had lunch there... 

Chicken soup from our homegrown chickens.. 

Hoagie Rolls and pickles.. 

And home canned peaches.. 

I guess I forgot the pic... 

Then last week...

Just a bit of a Hamburger and Rice casserole which is a fave of ours.. 

Pickles and bread.. 

Not much that day as we had a lot to do.. 

To be honest... 

Some days I am a bit lame so it takes a while to accomplish much.. 

Just putter away... 

Here is a rough recipe for the casserole  ...

One pound of hamburger 

2 chopped onions

1 cup of celery, chopped

1 can of mushrooms not drained or use fresh.. 

a half cup of long grain rice... I cook mine separate.

1 can of cream of mushroom soup 

1 can of cream of celery soup 

1 cup of water

2 Tablespoons of soya sauce 

Then season to suit.. 

You can add garlic, parsley, salt and pepper.. 

Also you can use whatever cream soup you have and add more liquid if you need.. 

I cooked this in a pot on top of the stove as the rice was cooked and I was in a hurry.. 

You can cook it in the oven for probably a half to an hour.. 

Sorry this is not very exact.. 

Here let's keep a rambling.. 

Terry and I went to the opening of wonderful new shop in Sussex... 

Meadow House & Co... 

It is mainly antiques but so much more.. 

Vintage clothes, boots and purses.. 

Lots of candles, soaps and such.. 

And the most beautiful tulips.. 

This is what I bought....

A gorgeous antique dish in my colour of green... 

Wrapped so lovely!  

I judge the package wrapping!

Aren't I terrible... lol.. 

Love wonderful bags and such... 

It is part of the experience.. 

The owners are so friendly and just a fun time.. 

This is where it landed for now.. 

The exact green of my kitchen wainscoting..

It is on Main Street in Sussex.. 

You can't miss it... 

Then to end up.. 

This was a day in May here in New Brunswick... 

A really really bad snow storm.. 

They call it ... farmer's fertilizer!

Well, we need every bit of precipitation that we can get.. 

Praying that we do not suffer with drought this summer although they are forecasting it...

Thank you my friends for dropping by.. 

I love having you and really appreciate you all.  

 

I read this the other day and thought of my pastor's wife.  

I sent this to her.. 

She has such a heart for home... 

Then I thought I would share it with you all.. 

 I always worry about my messy house and pray daily that the Lord will bless the work of my hands and organize my plans for the day.. 

He is still working on that one.. smile.. 

But I do so love company when I am prepared.. lol.. 

Home is what I love ..

Where I want to be.. 

I know there are so many of you who are just the same.. 

The main thing though is when Christ is at the centre of it all.. 

So love the Lord.. 

God bless you my dears.. 

Look forward to hearing from you.. 

These Spring Days...

Hello there dear hearts!

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this beautiful Sunday afternoon!

We are so happy anticipating a warm spring like week starting today..  

We went to town this past week and had snow showers and hail!

So typical of our wonderful Springs.. 

When I was a child growing up near the Petitcodiac River these wee storms were called "smelt storms" and everyone headed to the river after supper... Bon fires lined both sides and the fish were running.. 

Fun times... a long time ago.. 😏

Hope you are all enjoying your Spring days... 

I see lots of blossoms and gardens from our neighbours to the south but we will catch up in time.. 

Once it warms up it does not take long.. 

Anyway... 

We have been busy with life just like everyone else.. 

So blessed with health and strength and mobility.. 

God has been good to us.. 

Doing some making and doing as always.. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies.. 

I finally got this bunting finished.. 

Not sure if I will leave it there.. I may actually hang it outside...         

Spent a few hours making these potholders. 

They are like the ones that they use at our Kings Landing Historical Village.. 

I have one that I had made years ago but it is getting tattered.. 

I felted some wool and then just sewed two sides of wool.. 

One side was a couple of different fabrics kind of patchwork and then a plain backing.. All wool though... 

They work so well.. 

I think I only have two left... Hope to make a few more as they make great little gifts... 

And another batch of Lost Kitchen's saltine crackers.. 

A fave of mine..

 

I kept forgetting to take pics of things I have been busy at.. 

Doing some cleaning for Spring and decluttering.. 

We had Easter... 

a very quiet one this year.. 

One child was away on a trip

Another child was working 

And the youngest lives in the West... 

So... 

It was just us... 

It happens sometimes.. 

But we did have an Easter meal.. 

Cooked a Ham... apple cider and a bit of maple syrup

Potato Scallop

Home Canned Green Beans

Dilled Baby Corn

 Pickles 

Dill and Onion Bread 

Carrot Cake..

Found this small crock pot at a thrift store.. 

Perfect size for a loaf of dill bread... 

Only one dessert.. 

And hot tea ... 

So thankful for this wonderful celebration of Christ.

For the supreme sacrifice he made and the wonderful gift of salvation.. 

Thank you Jesus... 

Love Him so much...

A couple of pics from this month of the snow that we had.. 

Last week we went to St. John and visited my sister and went out to dinner to celebrate our son in law's birthday.. 

It was so lovely!

Italian by Night.. 

I love eating at an Italian place.. 

My favourite.... 

Then a few weeks ago we had our oldest grandson and his sweet wife for supper..

Homemade Pickles.. 

Dills and Hot Pickles.. 

One of Jared's faves..

Spaghetti with Broccoli, Mushrooms and Lemon.. 

and parm of course...

and homemade bread.. 

forgot the pic.. 

And for dessert.. 

Apple Cottage Pudding and Brown Sugar Sauce..

Aren't they sweet.. 

They own and run a Bed and Breakfast in St. Martins, N. B.

They will be very busy soon.. 

Love our family... 

this has been sort of a modge podge of a post but just a little catch up with you.. 

I pray you are all doing well and keeping calm in these storms of life we all seem to be going through.. 

The world is in chaos but there is peace when you rest your heart in the Lord's care.. 

Leaning on Him and putting our trust in the One who loves and knows what is going on in our lives.. 

He is in control and He is coming back soon.. 

Thank you so much for dropping by and I look forward to hearing from you all and what you have been busy doing.. 

God bless you all 

Hugs from New Brunswick, Canada