Queen Anne's Lace Jelly and a Sleep Over....

Good Evening Friends... What a lovely evening that the Lord has given us again here in the Maritimes.. We certainly can not complain about the  summer we are having.  I know it has been a bit hot but when you consider the cold one we had last year it makes us appreciate the wonderful sunshine...
This evening is windy which you all know that I love!!  Terry and I went for our little drive over west as usual.  I found a Tim Hortons cup and we filled it with raspberries.  They were almost finished!!  But I did get enough to do a couple of bottles of raspberry vinegar.. Terry is so great in helping me pick all this stuff.. God has blessed me with a wonderful husband who seems to appreciate my creative urges.... LOL.. Thank you, Lord...

I took a sweet pic of him helping me a week or so ago..

He is actually helping me gather some Queen Anne's Lace... It is a beautiful flower that makes a wonderful jelly...

I could not find it for awhile.. Everywhere we were driving I kept scanning the roadside but all there seemed to be was the wild carrot... The lace is a much bigger flower and the bud is kind of curly..

Finally, we were in Moncton and I let out this kind of quiet screech...LOL.... He is used to me doing that now after all these years.... So, there it was growing right in the city of Moncton... I had to put it in a jug of water and try to get it back down here to the cottage still alive... God was good and we actually did that..  I made the jelly which tastes a bit like Apple Jelly and is really nice on toast or whatever.... I copied some pics and put them on the top of the bottles....

The recipe is quite easy to do once you figure out that you should make it like you do the other jellies you make and not the recipe on the web... The first batch taught me that after I had to redo it...

This is a busy time now with all the delicious veggies which are ready in our gardens or markets...

I kind of dread the pickling cukes which will be ready in a week or so... I make so many cases of dills and then of course there is all the rest... I do love doing it once I get going...

 

The keepers of the home are coming to the cottage on Friday nite for an overniter as we call it... They actually voted for me to cook for them instead of eating out at a country inn.... Don't figure...LOL...

So they will all be here by seven or so for dinner and then we will see who stays up until 5 am...LOL..

They really are just little girls who are now grown up... with so many responsiblities!  They have their heartaches and their joys... They love the Lord and want their families to be blessed by Him.. They have been so faithful this past year in attendance and help with anything we have tried to do.. I really love these girls and appreciate what they are doing for Jesus and for their families... We want them to come and just have a night where they can sit around and be blessed with sweet fellowship and maybe some fudge...LOL..

Terry will head home with Sammi for the night ...LOL... He and Dustin have some chores to do together so he  will be fine....

Well... God Bless and Keep you..

Praying for you and your families...

Faye...

Looking forward to Friday nite girls!!!

ROSES.....

GOOD MORNING ...I THOUGHT PERHAPS I SHOULD MAKE A SMALL POST TODAY AS I HAVE NOT MADE VERY MANY.. I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE THE LONG LAZY DAYS OF SUMMER HAVE BEEN....LOL.. I HAVE NOT YET EXPERIENCED MANY OF THEM....NOT THIS SUMMER ANYWAY.. 
OH WELL, I WILL CATCH UP ONE OF THESE DAYS!!

MY DEAR HUSBAND HAS PLANTED A BUNCH OF ROSES AT HOME.  WHEN WE WERE UP LAST TIME I TOOK A FEW PICS OF THEM AND THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE THEM..

HERE ARE SOME LOVELY PINK ONES....

AS YOU CAN SEE THE BUSHES ARE LOADED THIS YEAR!  WE HAVE A BUSH OF THESE AT THE COTTAGE HERE IN ST. MARTINS.. WHEN LITTLE ONES CAME UP HE WOULD TAKE THEM HOME AND PLANT THEM.. NOW HE HAS PLANTED MANY OF THEM ON THE EDGE OF THE FRONT LAWN. 

WE ALSO HAVE THESE ONES OF COURSE... A LADY WAS IN THE SHOP YESTERDAY AND WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE'S A REASON WHY THERE WERE SO MANY OF THIS ONE GROWING HERE IN ST. MARTINS... I GUESS IT WAS THAT MANY YEARS AGO SOMEONE LOVED THEM AND PLANTED THEM HERE....THEY SMELL SO FRAGRANT!!!

TERRY PLANTED THE RED ROSES AT LEAST 5 YEARS AGO AND THEY STILL COME UP EVERY SPRING.  THEY LOOK LIKE A ROSE YOU WOULD BUY AT THE FLORIST.  I LOVE THEM!  THEY HELPED ME MAKE SOME BEAUTIFUL RED ROSE JELLY WHICH IS ALMOST GONE...

lAST BUT NOT LEAST ARE THE GORGEOUS WHITE ONES...

I HAVE USED THESE ROSES FOR A FEW CREATIVE USES.... THE JELLY WHICH IS SIMPLY DELICIOUS.... \

I ALSO ADDED THE PETALS TO CORNSTARCH AND MADE A BEAUTIFUL SMELLING POWDER WHICH I THEN PLACED IN OLD CHINA SHAKERS TO SELL IN THE SHOP. 

I DRIED A BUNCH FOR POTPOURRI

JUST PICK THEM AND PUT IN YOUR DEHYDRATOR ... THEY MAKE A WONDERFUL POTPOURRI FOR YOUR GIFT PANTRY,..

AS I MENTIONED LAST POST OUR GRANDSONS STAYED WITH US FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THIS WEEK... I LOVE THEM DEARLY AND I THINK THEY ARE SUCH GOOD BOYS,.. I ASKED THEM TO DO GRANDMA A FAVOR AND SORT OF CAPTURED THEM WITH MY CAMERA SO YOU COULD SEE HOW WONDERFUL THEY ARE...LOL...

PICKING ROSES FOR GRAM TO MAKE SOME MORE JELLY.....

LET'S JUST SAY THE BIGGER BOYS BAG WAS NOT QUITE AS FULL AS THEIR BROTHER'S ..LOL.. BUT PRETTY GOOD GRANDSONS TO DO THAT FOR THEIR GRAM....

WELL, GIRLS HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING YOUR SUMMER... IT IS BEAUTIFUL HERE IN THE MARITIMES EVEN IF A BIT HOTTER THAN I LIKE SOME DAYS...EH...

GOD IS SO GOOD TO US AND WE LIVE IN SUCH A BLESSED COUNTRY..

THE ROSES ARE JUST A SAMPLE OF HIS CREATIVITY..... AWESOME!!

PEACE.....

FAYE.

Popsicles and Cleaning.....

Good Morning my dears... Another new week that the Lord has given us... I love Mondays and always have... I know I am strange but as I have said before it is like a new slate with endless creative possibilities!   

First of all because it is summer I thought I would give you a recipe or two for popsicles..

I have my grandsons with me for a few days so I thought they might like these and perhaps yours would also.... 

I know this is pretty basic and you probably already do these and more but just in case....  

Try putting  some applesauce into some molds if you have them or in dixie cups with  sticks... If they are too thick you can add a tablespoon or two of applejuice...maybe a hint of cinnamon...

or

Blend 1 cup of strawberries with 2 c plain yoqurt and a tsp. of vanilla.  Then pour into your molds and freeeze. If you don't have the yoqurt you can dissolve 1 package jello with 2 cups of boiling water.. stir well .. add strawberries and 1/3 cup of sugar...blend and place into molds... 

or

use 6 ounces orange juice concentrate , 2 c plain yoqurt and 2 tsp. vanilla

place in blender and then put into your molds... these are my favorites.. They taste like creamsicles!!

Also you can just put in fruit juices and freeze...

Anyway it is pretty hot  for St. Martins although is a lot cooler here than  it is at home.  I know cold weather is coming so Ineed to appreciate what we have now...

I was wondering if you ever use vinegar to clean your homes with.  This is Monday and I know I have some heavy duty cleaning to do.. The shop is up and running so now I can use the mornings to get the cottage in order..

Here is a site I came upon which  show the uses of vinegar for your home... It is an amazing green cleaner!!  Vinegar and it's uses

Look it up and try some of them... I hope to..lol...

Well, girls this has not been very long but I have two boys here who are up early because they are at Gram's house and would no doubt like to havc some breakfast so I will have to get back to you another day..

Enjoy these nice hot days with your kids.. Be creative and find things to do together to make some good memories... ok?

God bless and keep you...

Hugs ..

Faye...

A Prim Heart Garland and Gardener's Salve Recipe...

Hello my dears... Another beautiful evening here beside the Bay of Fundy.   I was just speaking with our oldest son who is working in the city and he asked me what I was doing.  I told him I had just come in from potting some plants. He was saying it was very foggy in there so I guess we  must be living right out here...lol... I know we get our share of fog but not tonight.....
You girls have been very patient with me  as I have not been posting but hopefully I am back to normal!!  Okay, as close as I can get to it...lol...
The shop is up and running... Thank you, Lord!!  Each day I need to keep adding and changing but that is just part of the business.  My friend, Lynn says that I don't really work as anyone who enjoys doing what they do as much as I do cannot class it as work... Funny, eh?  She should feel these old bones some nights and perhaps she would change her mind.. Although, God has certainly blessed me with my work and any talent I have comes from Him.... and I am thankful!

But back to the rest of the story... I thought I would show you the little kitchen window in the shop.. The keepers made these at one of our craft sessions and I decided to use it this way.. I believe it is Linsay's idea as she sent me a pic of hers so I copied her.. Thanks Lins....

They are hearts made out of old wool coats and such and then embroidered with the words hope, faith, joy, love and peace I think... We had great fun making them..

The window really isn't quite fixed right here but I do love my little House of Henry stitchery that Christine made for me..

The stars on the bottom can be used as a valance also...

I know some of you girls are home for the summer so I have a little idea here for you to do.. You can make this and add it to your gift pantry... It is not that complicated and your kids would probably want to help you with it...

I call it my Gardener's Salve and I sell it in the shop.  The recipe is so easy and there are probably lots of gardeners on your Christmas list or for a gift for someone...

By the way, the girls in Keepers are reminded to fill their gift pantry with the seasons.. Such as right now they could make jams ... there are so many berries ready right now.. I made 40 bottles of cooked strawberry last week...

As the time goes on I will try to give you some ideas for you to do this summer.. You will feel much better if you do some creative projects especially with your kids and you will be saving money also..

Okay here is the recipe...

Gardener's Salve

2 cups olive oil

2 T. chopped comfrey

2 T. chopped calendula

2 T. lavender flowers

2 T. roses

1/2 C. beeswax

I also added a stem of lavender leaves

lavender essential oil  --a few drops or as much as you like...

Now you put this all in your slow cooker and give it a little stir..

I know.... I can just hear you ... Where will I get the herbs?  Most of them are available from your garden centers and herbs only cost a buck apiece right now... Lots of people you know probably have one of these growing in their gardens and it just takes a few leaves...

Anyway,   I just put this on low and left it for 5 hours while I was working..

This is just an old slow cooker that I use to do this kind of stuff in but it will not hurt your good one if that is all you have..

Ok now 3 - 5 hours later or whenever you get to it....

 in a separate little pot add some water to simmer and in a tin or glass bowl just melt your beeswax.. Just use old beeswax candles if that is all you have.  You can get them at the dollar store sometimes...

Meanwhile, strain your oil mixture into a sieve with some cheesecloth or cotton in it..  Squeeze tight and get all the oil.. Add your lavender oil....

Then just combine the two and pour into little mason jars or such....

This is 2 batches as you can see.  Try not to be as messy as I am..lol...

Let it cool and then cap them...

Then I just put some brown paper and a pic from a magazine and a tag explaining that this is great for scratches, bruises and wee scrapes...

For you girls who live close by I have lots of comfrey and lavender...

Also, there are pics of the shop on Primitive Lace if you are so inclined...lol..

I will be adding more as the days go by...

I hope you enjoyed this little lesson and are having a great summer..

You will find the summers come and go so quickly as you get older.  When you are young you  don't always realize how precious these days with your little ones are.. Really, you will turn around twice and when you look there are your grandchildren coming through the door instead of your own wee ones.... Your grandchildren are lovely but they are not yours... That only comes once.... So enjoy it while you can... ok?

Love ya...

Faye... xoxo

Tea at Janes 1800s home...

Hello my friends... I am posting a continued story in a way.  On Primitive Lace I showed the gardens of the home that I was invited to last week.. I had mentioned it in my last posting here on this blog.  Janelle and I had a wonderful time!!  Jane is a lovely English lady who has lived here in St. Martins for fourteen years.   She had so kindly invited us and I am so glad I took the time to go..
  First of all we went on a garden tour which is posted over on the other blog.  You will have to go over and check it out. Primitive Lace  But I saved the best for last.  lol.. No, I really don't know which was the best as I enjoyed both parts so much.
Jane lives in a wonderful old home that dates back to the early 1800s.   One of the oldest homes here in this area, I believe.  First of all, she runs a book store in her porch and back part of her garage.  They are everywhere and that always makes me feel right at home.  A home without books must be a pretty dull place in my opinion.  I love them stacked in all the nooks and crannies of my home. 

You walk into this marvelous kitchen with pine ceiling and floors.  The cupboards are so different.   There is also an antique dining set with lovely old fashioned chairs.  Coffee is perking and it smells heavenly in this darling home...

Next was the great room with so much to look at.  I could not even began to take pics of all the interesting corners of this place.   But believe me I tried!  lol.

I fell in love with her Copeland China.  Isn't it like something from Kings Landing?  That is my favorite spot in the world for a daytrip!  It inspires not only me but the keepers too, eh girls?

See what I mean.   Corner after corner.  Such a large room!

The whole time dear Jane is telling us all the wonderful history of the house.  She is also keeping me in stitches as I simply love her English sense of humor...

Back to back fireplaces with the wood being stored under the stairwell and accessible to both rooms from opposite sides.  Amazing!

Then just one more pic.  You go up this kind of winding sort of stairwell to the next floor.  I was glad I made it...lol..

And here is another huge family office kind of room right in the middle of bedrooms and bathrooms!

Look at that massive ceiling!  I think every ceiling was wood.. They just don't make them like that anymore,   Do they?

Who needs all the modern stuff anyway?  I know you girls love your beautiful up to date homes.  They are lovely but when you have a 1800s heart this house steals it away..

Jane then so kindly served us delicious homemade cherry cake and coffee  in the Great Room.. She also served us a fruit that I had never seen or ate before.  I forget the name but it smelled like roses and had rough skin on it.  Do you know which one it is?

I want to thank Jane for her hospitality.  She had her daughter and family home visiting and she still took  the time to have us.

True hospitality.. Thank you, dear.

Until next time...

God bless and keep you.

Faye.