A Handmade Holiday Recipe .....

Hello my dears..Hoping everything is well in your world.  I expect you are all busy getting ready for the Season.  I have been puttering away making a few gifts, putting up a few decos, and of course making lists.  I do not seem to be getting ahead of the game but that is my usual normal. 
The past week or so I have been down for the count so to say.. Just when there is so much to do I contact something.... Thank you, Lord I THINK I am on the road to recovery..
As I can only sit I have worked on a few Handmade Holiday...

A couple of primitive table runners and a prim journal....

I had fun painting up a few tags for gifts.  I am NOT a painter but when you glue the flakes on it is not so noticeable.  LOL..

I also did up a few Soup Herb Bags...

I thought I would give you the recipe...

SOUP HERB BAGS

2 parts dried lovage

1 part dried parsley

1 part dried thyme

1 part summer savory

2 bay leaves

3 whole cloves

I used teaspoons for the measurement...

Place heaping teaspoons onto a 4 inch cheesecloth.

Tie tightly with a white string.

Store in a closed container...

In winter drop a bag into a potful of soup during the last hour.

You can make them up and place in a mason jar.

Then just decorate the jar.  I used a piece of lunch bag for a cover and then decorated a tag and tied it on...

Wouldn't they be lovely in a basket with some soup makings and perhaps a wood spoon and napkins?

I was blessed to have had some of my own herbs that I grew this summer and dried but they are always available at the Bulk stores.

Thanks so much for visiting.  I am sorry that I have not posted much the last bit but perhaps things will improve....please, Lord...

God bless...

Faye

Queen Anne's Lace tree ornaments...

Good Morning everyone..Hope all is well in your part of the world.  I guess you could say it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...lol... We have some snow down but it is calling for rain so I guess it won't last long.  Although, I am sure there is more where that came from..lol.. 

This past weekend I worked on a little experiment to make some Christmas tree ornaments.  I probably should wait and show them later when I actually place them in the tree.  Oh well...

They are made out of Queen Anne's Lace that are dried and still standing on the roadsides.

Perhaps if I show you a pic it will help.  lol..

As you can see they are  kind of dried and brownish...

I thought that they looked like little bird's nests.. So by adding a small amount of moss and and egg or two....

Or here I just added some cheesecloth that I had teadye and pulled apart...

Then spray on a bit of Elmers glue and sprinkle with a few mica flakes or sparkles...

And you end up with some unique tree ornaments.  Keep their stem about a foot long and they will slide into the boughs of your tree.

So, as you can see I only did about a dozen.. You can add one or two eggs or whatever you like.  Dried flowers, old buttons, or broaches.. Just be creative.  

When I put them in the tree I will post a pic to show you.

I am sure there are people who would not waste their time with this but then there are some of you out there just like me...lol.. Oh oh.. that could be scary:)

Next year, Lord willing I think I will try to pick them earlier when they are fuller and hope they will dry in the house.  These ones, of course dried naturally outside.  As it was just an experiment I only tried a few but I would like to  do them again.  They should be nice on the tree but you couldn't tie them to a parcel as they are too fragile.   Do you add cedar, pinecones or any dried to your Christmas wrappings?  If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

I wanted to give you a peek outside of the sewing room window where you can certainly see God's handiwork ...

He sure is the Master of creativity, eh? 

THank you for stopping by and leave a comment if you have time.

Have a wonderful week getting ready for the Season.

This is Peace week so I just wanted to say that it is such a blessing to know the only Real Peace that we will ever will find in this world. 

Jesus...

Peace to you all... 

  

The Handmade Holiday...

Greetings to everyone ... A very rainy day and evening here which means I will probably have a lovely good sleep tonight..Perhaps  I should buy a CD with rain and wind...LOL..

Anyway, we have been busy all day doing some catch up chores... Christmas is coming and there are lots of to do things in my list book... Poor Terry.. he is beginning to need a list, too....Now, if I were only as organized as my list book we would be accomplishing a lot...Oh well....

Speaking of lists and Christmas I have signed up for a  wee handmade challenge over at Plain and Joyful Living..I always like to make a few gifts for Christmas but this has inspired me to do more.. Not only is it about making homemade but about buying locally and recycling... Jot on over and link to lots of blogs and see what others are making..

So with that in mind I thought I would post a couple of things that I have been working on....

Here is a primitive  doll that I finished and is waiting to be wrapped up for a gift for someone..

Here are a box of candles that I redipped  to smell like cloves.. Pairing them with some candles holders that I bought at the thrift store and repainted and distressed will make gifts for someone on my list...

Also, I have been preserving and putting some aside for gifts..

Some pear chutney...

Well, girls I will post more things that I am working on at another time...

What are you working on? 

Thanks for stopping by.. Perhaps you will join the handmade challenge.. If you do please let me know and what you are making...

Have a lovely week ...

Love to you all..

Faye..

 

A Day's Blessings...

Good Evening... Such a beautiful weekend we are having.. The sun is out and it is lovely and warm... Thank you, Lord...
Today our youngest son came to go wheeling with his Dad... 

Arn't they cute?  Dustin is our youngest son and he and his Dad are going for the day...

Well, there they go ... As Terry said they are going to brave the elements..LOL

So what am I going to do with the rest of my day...

Let's see...

Well, I think I will do up a bunch of apples.. 

It's Roasted Apple and Vanilla Applesauce..

I found the recipe in a book that I have been reading...

Doesn't it look delicious after roasting for 2 hours in the oven?...

You have to strain it and put it through a food mill..

It turned out wonderful... I forgot to take a pic of the finished product..

It looks like applesauce..lol... Then when you strain the juice off you can make a cider syrup... Lovely for cake or icecream..

I froze  most of it all....

What else am I to do??

I need to work in my sewing room.. I am still not quite finished sorting patterns and such.. I love old vintage tins for storing this stuff...

There's lots of  work to do on some crafts for gifts and decorating.. A few things in my work basket...

And how about making some homemade chicken soup and fresh bread for the oh so cold boys when they arrive home...

Let's just say they loved their dessert.. A favorite of both of them...

Now I think I will read some more of this new book that the applesauce recipe came out of ....

Wren Bay written by Clarice Fox-Hughes over at Storybook Woods...

I am finding it very interesting.. Wren's husband Devlin has gone to war and she as a new city wife is taking on the large farm that is Devlin's legacy..

She has determined to learn homemaking skills and to make this lovely old place her own...A home for Devlin to come back to...  

With creativity and the cooking skills she possesses along with the beautiful old farm house she has been blessed with she sets to work.. 

She learns gardening and farming skills with her creative flair and   

since she had been homeschooled she in turn blesses a daughter of a local  family with her teaching abilities...  

Dear little Lily... 

I love the creative efforts that Wren puts forth.. 

She makes cushions and meals and lavender rinse..

A true keeper of the home..

 I am truly enjoying this book...

If you would like you can visit Clarice's  blog and review the first chapter...

And as for me I will keep on reading and enjoying..

  

Well, my dears have a wonderful weekend... 

Tomorrow is the Lord's Day...

Until the next time...

Faye..

REMEMBRANCE DAY....

SO THANKFUL.......

A THIS AND THAT POSTING....

Happy Rainy Monday ... My,  we have had sooooo much rain!!  It has been raining for days here in New Brunswick  and still no sun in the forecast until Wednesday..Oh, well it could be much worse....
Just giving you a little posting tonight...

I read something the other day about the lost art of having mealtimes around the table....  

I know with just Terry and I having meals now without our children we sometimes don't.... I do love setting a table, though... Through the winter season it is nice to have a cozy supper with the fire burning and candles scenting the air with the table set with this old set of dishes or some other one..

I do think it is important for families to have meals sitting around their kitchen or dining room tables at least once a day...

It is such a blessing to touch base with each other and talk about your day... Also, it is a good opportunity to teach your children some little life lessons...

Such as...

Teaching them that saying Grace is a small way to show your thankfulness to the Lord..

You can teach them good manners..Good manners never go out of style...

Teach conversation skills by example....

Also, the setting of the table itself is a skill that they can use... 

And how to be kind  to each other...

Anyway, just thought I would touch on that.... I am sure there are many more things we could add...

I actually started this post last night but decided to finish it this morening... Guess what?  It is still RAINING!!

I was just speaking with my Mom on the phone.. I am so blessed because I still have her and I can call her everyday... Anyway, she was saying how she really doesn't mind all this rain... I guess that is where I get it... I really don't mind it either... But of course my basement is dry and my heart goes out to those who are suffering because of water in their basement....

To change the subject.....lol...

We had a Keepers of the Home meeting on Saturday and had a good turnout...

Thanks to all the girls who came.....

We started the morning with coffee, tea, homemade apple muffins and toast with homemade pumpkin butter...  We also tried a Chai Tea recipe....

Then we had a lesson on Discouragment....

God is so faithful ....

We also had a litttle decorating lesson on how we can decorate a shelf,  table or windowsill with birdnests...

The girls seem to like this little tip...

In the pic they are starting the craft for the day...

A Cheesecloth Swag stamped with Stars...

It was such an easy craft that a Linsay and Mel decided to make a few for the Fellowship Hall..

.. Then we learned how to make Hamburger Helper from scratch thus no preservatives and all fresh...

You can make these litttle kits ahead and on a busy night you just add hamburger and a can of tomatoes or such and you have a neal that the children and Dad will love...

Thank you to

Chickens in the Road Blogsite

 for these wonderful and healthy recipes...

As Moms I do think it is important to try and lessen the amounts of preservatives we are putting into our children.. As someone said to me the other day that rather than open a can of  soup that I would probably make it from scratch...lol.. That is true because to me it is just so much better tasting and so much better for you and yours and really does not take very long...

This recipe for Hamburger Helper is something to use when you are busy but it  is still healthy....

Isn't that great???

Well, girls I need to go and try and accomplish somethings today...

I asked my daughter last night what she would like for me to make her for Christmas...lol...

Anyway, she would like a Primitive Doll..... And that is something as you know I love to make .. So I am heading to my sewing room....

Pick out some fabrics and buttons....

Have a wonderful week and let me know what you are planning to make someone for Christmas...

Oh, I almsot forgot.....lol....

You girls wanted me to post the Pumpkin Butter recipe...

Here it is....

PUMPKIN BUTTER

6 CUPS OF PUMPKIN PUREE.

You can cut your pumpkins in half... take out the seeds, etc.. and place them cut side down on a cookie tray.. Roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the fork will puncture through easily.. Then scoop out and put in your blender.... Or you can just peel and boil on top of the stove and mash and puree if you have a blender...

PUT YOUR 6 cups PUREE INTO YOUR CROCK POT..

ADD...

1 1/2 CUPS OF WATER

2 CUPS OF BROWN SUGAR

6 TSP. PUMPKIN PIE SPICE

1 TABLESPOON OF VANILLA

1 SMALL CINNAMON STICK  (if you like cinnamon) optional

BLEND WELL AND TURN YOUR CROCK POT ON LOW FOR 5 OR 6 HOURS UNTIL IT THICKENS.... STIR ONCE IN A WHILE..

I PUT THIS INTO MASON JARS AND FROZE IT  AS IT WILL NOT KEEP WELL.. 

IT DOES KEEP IN FRIDGE FOR 1 MONTH....

A GREAT GIFT FOR YOUR GIFT PANTRY .

PLACE IN A BASKET WITH A HOMEMADE BREAD OR MUFFINS AND A CIDER MIX...

OK... GIRLS .. I WILL BE LIFTING YOU ALL UP IN PRAYER...

GOD BLESS..

FAYE...

A stuffed pumpkin recipe for Supper...

Good Morning... It is so lovely but cold here today.. They are forecasting warmer but rainy days for the weekend.. That is great in my opinion as long as it is not cold.. I think perhaps I had better get used to it as there is a whole season ahead of us.. A lot of nice things about the cold season, though..
Of course, there is Christmas and all that it brings...
I love the coziness of winter... Warm fires, homemade soups, crafting and having company over for supper....
I guess if my children did not need to travel on bad roads to get to work  I would  probably enjoy the winter much more... But I do thank the Lord for their wonderful jobs that provide homes for their families... Anyway....
I thought I would post a PUMPKIN recipe that I tried out last weekend.. We had stayed home to give out treats and meet our neighbors...lol... on Sunday nite.. So I had time to give it a try.
. 
After church on Sunday morning we had gone out to dinner with some friends and I had mentioned wanting a new pumpkin recipe... June called me in the afternoon with this one and it is DELICIOUS... Thank you, June...
Perhaps you will make it and let me know how you like it...

STUFFED PUMPKINS

1 medium to large pumpkin...or a few small ones 

Wash and clean your pumpkin and at a slant cut out the top...

Then clean out the inside and save your seeds... They are great toasted with olive oil and garlic  salt or coated with cinnamon sugar...

OR clean and dry them well and package for next year to grow some more... (that is what Terry does with most of them)

Heat your oven to 375 degrees...

In a frying pan brown up 2 pounds of ground beef...

Add a chopped up onion and of course I added a couple cloves of chopped garlic...

salt and pepper

When it is browned then add 1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/3 cup of soya sauce.. the recipe called for 1/2 cup but I think it is too much so use your judgement

1 can drained mushrooms

2 cups of cooked rice

2 T. brown sugar.. (I did not add this)

Cook and stir up well ...

Pack the mixture into your pumpkin or pumpkins... whichever..on a cookie tray or baking dish.. 

It was just Terry and I so I used 2 smallish ones... They were a little scarred on the outside but that did not matter as you only eat the inside and they were well washed...

Also, there was a lot left of the mixture so I packaged it.  Our youngest son is single and on his own so I knew he would love it just as it was without the pumpkin...

It tastes a lot like Chinese casserole without the bean sprouts...

Anyway...

If you are doing it for your family just use a bigger one but make sure it will fit into your oven...

Put the top back on and bake for 1 -1 1/2 hours or till pumpkin is tender... 

When you scoop out your meal spoon some pumpkin flesh in with the rice... 

I loved this... It tasted grand.... 

Serve with:

Crusty Bread and a  lovely Green Salad

and your own House Dressing , of course...lol...

Our favorite dressing is over on Primitive Lace at the bottom of the blog...

ENJOY...

I am trying to make some crafts for gifts or to sell or whatever.. I am actually making dolls.. (my favorite thing to create)

But I will probably post about that on the other blog when I get them finished...

I also want to remind you of the Keepers of the Home meeting on Saturday in Sussex, N.B.  

If you are interested and live nearby please email

The email address is up on the sidebar...

We would love to have you...

May God bless you all and keep you in His care...

Have a great week and thank you so much for stopping by...

Hugs.

Faye