A Saturday Night Posting...

Hello dearies.. 

A Saturday night posting here on the Blessed Hearth.. 

I am so glad you have stopped by tonight.. 

  

As I sit here in the sun room and type these words to you, I can hear my husband in the family room chatting with our youngest son out in Alberta.. 

My heart is full.  

I expect yours is too... 

What is it about a mother?  

When everything is lovely and our kids are great then we are lovely too.. 

But when the world is turned upside down you want those chicks near to you..  

You know they are grown with lives of their own and able to make decisions and fend for themselves but you feel better when they are near.. 

You put them in the hands of the Father but yet our heart yearns to hug them close...

Isn't it wonderful that we have a Father above who feels the same.. 

He gathers us under his wings and we will find refuge... 

He is a faithful God and during these terrible times we can put our faith and trust in Him.. 

Not that we don't have moments of anxiety but we can take a time out with Him and get back our peace..

I didn't mean to get to that already in the post but there it is.. smile.. 

How are you all doing? 

We are in isolation along with most of the world.. 

Doing our thing.. 

Just the two of us.. 

We were so happy to have our oldest son visit this morning.. 

Outside in the windy day with lots of space between us.. 

But so happy to see him.. 

To see his sweet smile... 

Thanking the Lord for the special moments.. 

The rest of the time though it is just Terry and I.. 

It is not hard to keep ourselves occupied though.. 

I will share a few of our doings with you as I always have..   

This post is not in order of the days but anyway.. 

We visited the farm and trying to get it ready for the summer months... 

An early foggy morning there when we arrived.. 

Terry put the fire on while I read in the truck for a bit while it warmed up.. 

The house is not heated all winter and the water is turned off.. 

We do not always get to be here as early as this year.. 

There is snow but mostly mild and windy days.. 

That means the snow won't last long.. 

The kitchen and porch do not take long to warm up.. 

Water is turned back on and a big kettle boils on the old wood stove.. 

My chore this day is to clean the kitchen and pantry ... 

Here are some pics of the pantry... 

Everything is cleaned but there are always some new decorating to do... 

I seem to always have little things I want done.. 

Hopefully we will get an old old sink put in this spring... 

It will go there where the pots are hanging above.. 

The shelving will be taken out and put on another wall.. 

I guess I only took one side of the room but will take more later... 

The old cupboard with the pine cones hanging are on that side..

Our oldest son brought the cones to me one day last summer when he was walking out in the woods.. 

I thought I would hang them below Tasha Tudor's pantry pic.. smile.. 

Then of course we always have lunch there..  

This is the turkey I talked about last post.. 

Sliced and frozen with a tub of gravy.. 

An easy meal to get ready.. 

We bought a big bag of turnip last fall.. 

They were starting to soften up so Terry peeled and we cooked and mashed them.. 

The first time I have frozen turnip.. 

Remember my wonderful old stove.. 

I actually found the knob that was missing.. grin.. 

Many years ago we had a hobby farm in Sussex.. 

We had 3 sheep and chickens, turkeys, geese and even a bunny.. 

I so loved those sheep .. 

After we bought this farm we really didn't go there much for the summers as we had our cottage by the sea.. 

Then about three years ago we decided to try out the farm and see how we liked doing the hippie -want- to- be thing.. 

I am sure I have written posts about that but anyway.. 

I have wanted and yearned for three sheep and a donkey.. 

I love love donkeys.. 

Well, he doesn't think we need them.. 

We come home again in the fall and where would we put three sheep and a donkey.. Pray tell.. sigh.. 

Well.. 

I was at a yard sale and there on the table were these 3 wee sheep and a donkey.. 

I thought they were trying to tell me something.. 

I bought them and took them to the farm.. 

They are a constant reminder to Terry that I have not given up!  grin.. 

Oh my.. 

This is turning into another one of those long posts.. 

Oh well.. 

You have no place to go.. grin.. 

Since I am on a story telling binge... 

May I share one more with you.. 

I had a lot of plants at the farm last summer.. 

Then in the fall I bring them all home again.. 

As you know .. I love my plants.. 

Well.. 

We were home quite awhile and I noticed that my Strawberry Begonia was missing.. 

I had a small one that I had planted but could not find my big one.. 

We went to the farm a couple of times but I looked around and couldn't see it.. 

It was odd!  

Anyway.. 

We arrived at the farm for the first time to stay for the day.. 

I am doing my thing.. 

I needed something in the living room which was very cold.. 

We keep the french door closed in there for the first several times as it takes awhile to get the place warm and dried out.. 

Well.. on with the story Faye... 

I happened to look on top of the hutch which had a ladder leaning against it and thought I saw a plant pot.. 

Yup.. 

Lo and behold... 

There it was!!! 

And... 

Alive and well!  

No water and freezing all winter.. 

Isn't that amazing!  

The dear thing came right home with me.. 

It is on the kitchen windowsill and soaking in the sun.. 

I think it has grown a few inches.. 

I know.. 

I am half baked!  

Here on the home front.. 

My fave view as you all know.. 

Bleak and Cloudy but the promise of Spring is everywhere.. 

Spring is coming to New Brunswick.. 

Well, it is actually here but not really!  grin.. 

We are so behind some of you.. 

A friend from Arkansas sending me daffodil pics today.. 

Sad... just sad... lol!  

Made a couple of  rolls of bread the other day.. 

One of sourdough... 

Lori was asking about the brand of sourdough flour.. 

I bought it at a Bulk Barn and there are no brands perse there.. 

Just a bin of flour that you scoop out.. 

Sorry about that.. 

Then a loaf of whole wheat no knead bread with sesame seeds.. 

I forgot to take a pic of it baked but it was delicious... 

And a big bowl of chicken soup with dumplings.. 

No.. a dumpling..

That is all I get.. grin..

On these lovely warm blowy days I do laundry and hang it out..  

Our waterbed sprung a leak in it.. 

The first time.. 

Oh well.. 

All fixed and back to normal.. 

Made for a bit of laundry in one night though.. grin..

And it was on Terry's side.. grin..  

Another meal.. 

Put this one on Instagram.. sorry girls if you have already seen it!  

One of my little projects.. 

Slow stitching.. 

Tis my first try so not so great.. 

Love doing this craft though.. 

Then just before all this world crisis actually took place.. 

We spent a wonderful few hours with our daughter.. 

She was decorating her church for a Cherish Conference for girls.. 

It is a lovely time and the girls look forward to it all year..

This year the theme was to be Sparkle..  

Here are a few of the trimmings.. 

Shonda and her friends were almost finished ... 

So awesome!  

So much work and talent.. 

but lots of fun, too, I am sure.. 

I had my pic taken with Shonda on the left and a dear friend she grew up with.. Wanda on the right.. 

I had a grand time.. 

The next morning Shonda messaged me that the government would not allow that many in a conference so it was cancelled!!  

Oh my!  

Understandable for sure but so much work.. 

I hope they can use it all next year.. eh!  

Just one more thing.. 

Made some cookies.. 

I know.. 

We all make cookies but at this time when everything is haywire; 

it seems one just needs a cookie...

Right???  

A lovely hot cup of tea and one cookie served on an old fashioned plate.. 

Makes the world a better place.. grin.. 

I found this recipe in an old old book.. 

I told Terry it was the best chocolate chip cookie I have ever ate!  

Not sure if the cookie was that great or the fact that I had not had one for months made the difference.. grin.. 

If you make them then please let me know if you think the same!  

Well, dear hearts.. 

This is all for tonight.. 

A very long post once again and I don't blame you if you just scroll down the pics and say hello..  

But it was still wonderful to be able to chat with you again.. 

Isn't life grand?  

Really, though?  

Won't we appreciate normal when it comes back?  

When we can hug our big kids and shake someone's hand and go through that door at church and tell the pastor's kids how beautiful they are... 

Won't it? 

Not having our hearts quake when someone coughs a mile away from you?  grin.. 

Did you see that video clip of the cat?  

Oh my word... 

It is so funny!  

Anyway.. 

Here is an amazing clip art someone came up with.. 

Now how awesome is that!  

Says it all.. 

I take Christ.. 

Don't you?  

No matter what we go through, He will be there with us.. 

God bless you dear things and I will be praying for you and yours  and you pray for me and mine.. 

OK?  

Thank you for being here.. 

Saturday in March Ramble and Roll.....

Hello everyone... 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this Saturday evening.. 

A very blustery and cool one here at home..

I am so happy you stopped by.. 

It takes me awhile to get back but I eventually make it.. smile.. 

We have been busy doing this and that but there is always some more of this and that to do!  grin.. 

I thought this evening that I would invite you into my kitchen perse!  smile.. 

Have a sit down and we can chat... 

It has been few weeks since I have been here so there is a bit of catching up to do...

I expect you all have been busy looking forward to Spring and such...

We have been doing some cleaning up here at home.. 

Down in the basement in our workshops is the main focus... 

So much stuff .. 

We had the craft business for over 20 years and have not disposed of all of those supplies ... 

Finding some treasures, though.. grin.. 

 

Just so many bits and pieces... 

Love finding bits of old lace and linens.. 

They come right upstairs with me!  smile.. 

And it seems I want to just make something with them.. 

I did make this wool type apron the other day.. 

I follow a dear girl on Instagram... 

1824 Walkers Farm House ... 

She had a pic of some woolens hanging and I thought one was an apron but it was actually a petticoat... 

Nevertheless, it inspired me to make a wool type apron.. 

I found an old pillowcase down there with this old lace edging on it and it just fit the bottom of the apron... 

I enjoyed making this although I am no seamstress! 

I think I need to do this post in sections as there is quite a lot of stuff... 

sorry about my messy kitchen. 

I have a new bread recipe for you all.. 

You girls who have been around for a long time have probably at some point made the no-knead bread.. 

Well, I have tried making sourdough.. 

I love the look of it and all but it is something that you have to be consistent with and that just is not my middle name.. 

More like helter skelter.. grin.. 

Anyway... 

I noticed at the Bulk Barn that they have a sourdough mix... 

Hmmmm.. 

Thought I would give it a try but made it according to the no knead bread recipe and the artisan bread way of cooking it.. 

It is simply lovely.. 

Here are some pics..

This was todays! 

I also made Chili but dear Terry is probably getting into it all by himself as I have been here quite awhile.. grin.. 

So... 

I just use 4 cups of the sourdough bread flour and make the no knead recipe.. 

Then after it raises I put the cast iron in the oven at 450 degrees F and heat the cast iron with the oven heating up and another additional 10 minutes.. 

The bread has been punched down and laid on a teatowel with flour ... Patted flat and rolled at each end and over again like you do the NYTimes no knead bread.. 

Sprinkle a little flour on top and when the cast iron is ready then throw it in.. 

Bake for 30 minutes with the cover on and 5-10 minutes with the cover off... 

Terry loves it.. 

The funny thing is that he thinks the no knead bread is not light enough and the NYTimes bread is too crusty but this one is perfect.. 

So.. 

"c'est la vie"  ... 

It also makes a huge loaf.. 

Lasted us 4 or 5 days and stayed fluffy.. smile.. 

As we are on the baking bit ... 

Here some other pics.. 

saturday morning bake off.. 

Using up bananas.. 

Froze most of it.. 

And made some 2 ingredient dough bagels and apple turnovers.. 

You can just google the recipe or it is on one of my posts.. 

if you can find it.. sorry.. 

This was one of our meals... 

We roasted one of our turkeys and it made us many meals.. 

This is Turkey Shepherds Pie.. 

I made a few litres of stock, few pints of gravy, turkey for sandwiches, soups, turkey and rice casserole, turkey shepherd's pie and a few turkey dinners.. 

A big turkey goes a long way with just two people... 

So easy though to just pull some out and it is already to go.. 

This casserole has stuffing in it along with the gravy, veggies and potatoes.. 

Onto another bit.. 

Found this sweet book at the Thrift the other day.. 

My friend from Arkansas had just told me she had read this and the next day or two I found it.. 

I already have one ..... somewhere.. 

Do you remember this book?  

I love kid's books for some reason.. 

The old authors.. 

Do you?  

I am still felting hearts.. 

This was for someone special... 

I did several daisy ones and put lavender inside... 

I need to sew these up ...

I did a few more but no pics.. 

I am trying to get better at felting flowers and I had made a basket full of hearts from old sweaters so decided they would make a good addition to my gift pantry.. 

On to something else.. 

Oh oh... 

I guess this is a Ramble and Roll.. 

I was wondering what I would title this post.. lol.. 

Some of these pics have already been on Instagram so sorry to you dear hearts who follow that.. 

This is a lovely gift from some dear sisters who live in Hillsborough.. 

A piece of their old cactus that has been in their farmhouse for many many years.. 

They even put it in that lovely old pottery.. 

And gave me the old child's chair, too.. 

So love it.. 

Also a Christmas Cactus and they are both doing well.. 

Love my plants.. 

My White Geranium is blooming.. 

Imagine.. 

In the winter... 

I think plants help to make a house feel like home.. 

I know I am so so old fashioned.. smile.. 

Do you love them too?  

Okay... 

Rambling along here.. 

Here are some pics of drives and such that we took.. 

Checking up on our old farm a couple of weeks ago.. 

The weather has been so mild here that we are thinking we might get a head start on spending some time there this Spring.. 

So much we want to do... 

As always, eh!  

Some of our neighbours here.. 

This gentleman was so kind to stop and let me take my pic.. smile.. 

Country byways... 

This is a couple of the city of St. John... 

Where Terry and I started out 50 years ago this month.. 

We are still celebrating our big anniversary year.. 

Will show you pics when we do this special month's celebrating.. 

This is Terry in a mall there.. 

There were hundreds and hundreds of ducks.. 

In the mall parking lot..

It was amazing... 

We made several trips to St. John the last couple of weeks as my sweet sister is in the hospital there.. 

She is doing much better but please say a word for her.. 

There are only the two of us in our family and she is younger.. 

Only a year and half so we grew up very closely.. 

Years come and go and lives take their course but when all is said and done then our families are what is dear to our hearts... smile.. 

With that being said.. 

The world is in a panic mode at the moment... 

Scary things are taking place and we really don't know the whole story... 

It could be worse then the media presents or it could be better.. 

I will be honest and tell you when it first started raising it's ugly head my heart was pierced with anxiety... 

I don't worry about myself.. 

Like you mothers and wives we think of our husband and children and their children.. 

What will develop with it all.. 

We have a son in Alberta who does not have a wife and loved ones living with him.. He lives alone.. 

He has dear friends who are like family but I would like him closer.. 

So... 

I had to take it to the Lord in prayer.. 

I do not want to walk this road being fearful and fretting.. 

I spent an evening.. 

Listening to old gospel songs that put hope and peace in my soul.. 

I studied on His promises in His Word.. 

I called on His Name... 

Told Him how I was feeling and repenting of my fear... 

And as always... 

The Peacemaker touched my heart and spirit and let me know all is well.. 

No matter what happens.. 

He is in the midst of this right with us.. 

Nothing will come to pass that He hasn't allowed.. 

But best of all I was assured of His love and the sweet peace that only He can gives calmed my fears.. 

The song..

 All my hope is in Jesus is just so true.. 

So thankful I know Him by Name and he knows me.. 

Well sweet ladies that is my piece on all of that.. smile.. 

But with that .. 

We are responsible to be sensible and try to be wise.. 

Take precautions and do what we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones... 

We went to the store yesterday thinking to buy some hand sanitizer for when we are shopping and such.. 

None ...

 Every store we went in was out and not expecting any.. 

But all is not lost.. smile.. 

We made some in our Keepers meeting a couple of years ago.. 

So I just bought the stuff required after getting the recipe from sweet Lindsay... 

And there are recipes you can google.. 

Here they are.. 

Lindsay's Hand Sanitizer.. 

1/2 cup pure aloe gel

1 1/2 tsp. witch hazel 

15 drops of tea tree essential oil 

5 drops of lavender essential oil 

Add 1/3 cup of H20 to thin it down..

and she mentioned adding some drops of thieves essential oil .. 

Stir together and put in a squeeze bottle.. 

Or.. 

Spray or Gel Hand Sanitizer recipe..

Well there you go my dears.. 

Another ramble and roll for you.. 

Hope it blesses someone.. 

Love hearing from you all .. 

Here or on Face book page.. 

And welcome to all you new followers.. 

Love having you..

Have a great week and tomorrow is the Lord's Day.. 

Take care of yourselves and your sweet families.. 

God is faithful...