A Friday Evening in February...

Good Evening my dears... 

How are you all doing?  

I am happy to welcome you to the Blessed Hearth on this Friday evening in February.. 

Already here and partly gone!  

But I am finally back after a month of absence.. 

I am sorry about that... 

It is freezing rain this afternoon as I sit here in our Sun Room... 

The plants are keeping me company as the wind whirls the ice pellets against the windows!  The old apple trees are bracing against the wind while a few apples still cling to their stems... 

I wonder where the birds are!  smile.. 

We do not have a lot of snow here in southern New Brunswick but we are in the midst of a freezing rain storm.. 

It is to change to snow later tonight and the winds are to rise... 

Awww... us Canadians!  

How we love our weather chat!  grin... \

And how have you all been.. 

January has gone and left us with longer days!  

So love that! 

What have you been busy doing? 

We were very busy in January and that is one reason that I was so slow to get back to you but here I am.. 

Will share some of our doings as usual... 

One thing about a post once a month is that it is a long!|

Not too boring I hope! grin.. 

I have been enjoying my Winter magazine and trying out new recipes in it.. 

This was a delicious Orzo Salad and very simply made.. 

Making suppers and enjoying our long evenings.. 

One of our very fave suppers is the Cabbage Roll Casserole although I just make it on top of the stove in a large frying pan.. 

I also tried a new recipe for the Yeast Rolls in the first pic.. 

The link is Here...

I just followed the recipe and not the video.. 

These were the easiest and best recipe for a no knead yeast roll recipe that I have found.. 

And so quickly made!

It just makes eight and you put them in a muffin tin... 

Lovely! 

Now.... 

The best thing that happened in January... 

Was that our dear son came home for ten days from out west.. 

He was home only one day and we were snow bound but it was fun!  

He and his Dad enjoyed their time together so much.. 

Doing snow removal and such.. 

We had family dinners and we all went to my Mom's ... 

She was so excited to see him!  

And his brother and sister of course... 

We had a lovely time but about Thursday I started dreading his leaving!  

So longed to see him!  It had been over a year but God was faithful and brought him home and back safe and sound... 

We miss him a lot but have placed it all in the Lord's hands as He does all things well.... 

Anyway... 

On with the post.. 

Will just share a few winter doings ... 

Enjoying my herbal teas... 

Trying to get my immune system stronger.. 

I am so happy that I grew and dried lots of herbs for this.. 

Do you dry any herbs for tea or do you buy some.. 

We have a wonderful health food store in Sussex.. 

 WINTERWOOD...

They have Nettles, Horsetails and such if you would like 

to do this.. 

Just add 1/4 of cup of dried herbs to a quart mason jar of boiling water.. 

Steep for 15 minutes then strain and sup away all day.. 

Very good for you.. smile.. 

We have been to the farm often to make sure all is well ..

If we can't drive in then Terry will haul a sled in to get jugs of water.. 

We are hooked on our Spring water.. grin.. 

Then as always (even in Winter) we take our long drives along the country roads.. 

Lots of horses in our part of the country and all so well cared for by the looks of things.. 

This one is one I put on Instagram.. 

I think I took it on Wednesday.. 

We have more snow now... 

Not a lot for us but more then that... 

Love these beautiful old churches that dot the countryside here.. 

Way back on rural roads you will find many old white churches.. 

Just lovely.. 

Now the small churches are all gathering together in one large one.. 

Getting there and back is much easier then it used to be when they were built... eh!  

We go to a small lovely church and we enjoy it... 

For so many years we attended a larger church and I didn't think I would be happy in a small one but it is wonderful!  

So love the family of God... 

I am back to growing my jars of sprouts.. 

Alfalfa... 

my fave.. 

Love this bread plate that I picked up at a thrift store.. 

I seem to only eat one slice of bread now but it is still delicious.. 

Just bread, some mayo or aioli sauce and sprouts and s/p... 

Love it for breakfast with a boiled egg.. 

Am trying to get some of my silver collection cleaned up.. 

These are a lovely set of King spoons that I found at a thrift store.. 

My mother had a King George spoon that she used as a child at home ... When she married my Gram gave it to her.. 

I always loved it for some reason and so was just thrilled when I came across not only one but six of these.  

Three different kings with two each.. 

Been also working at essential oil things.. 

I read to put your empty bottles and caps in a jar and when you have enough then cover with Epsom Salts .... 

Then it sit for a time then strain out the jars and use in your bath... 

Thought I would give it a try.. 

Hoping to get some soap made this month... 

You must remember my cheapo Country Living UK calendar... 

Lol! 

I feel that to buy one and have it sent to Canada is too costly so I just take out some lovely pics from my magazine and stick to some heavy kraft paper I have... 

It is not the same but I am attached to them.. grin.. 

Here is a book I received for my birthday or Christmas... 

Can't quite remember but it is simply wonderful.. 

Chapters had it on sale for only 12 dollars!  

Have been slipping my plants and begging them from my friends.. lol... 

I love plants.. 

The little white dishes there are another thrift store find .. 

I wanted them for my homemade salad dressings.. 

Only fifty cents each.. 

Terry and I are enjoying our 50 year marriage celebration.. 

We are celebrating in different ways each month.. 

He gave me a bouquet of tulips in January and said he would be giving me a fresh bouqet each month this whole year!  

Lovely eh!

Planning our February celebration now.. 

Will share with you next time.. 

Well dear hearts this is all for tonight.. 

It has grown dark as I sit here at this old computer... 

It took me ages to find the yeast roll recipe.. 

It was in my notebook out in the kitchen but when I move this old computer turns off!  LOL!  So .... 

I finally found it! 

Then I download pics from my phone to my tablet to here.. 

I know!  

Complicated! 

But I love using this old thing...It knows me!  haha

Anyway... 

Here we are at the end of the post and I know it has not been very exciting or informative.. 

I hope to do better next time.. 

My friend is teaching me rug hooking and I have picked up a new craft called slow stitching which I so love.. 

Google it!  

Here is a heart I made.. 

Another friend invited me to a craft group day and it was lovely.. 

I worked on this while the other ladies all did their own thing too.. 

It was fun!  

I have two more to finish before Valentine's Day.. 

Thank you all for stopping by... 

I loved having you and please be patient with me.. 

I hopefully will be back sooner.. 

I have been considering doing just wee posts on here like Instagram but not sure you all would prefer that or just these seldom long posts.. 

Perhaps you could let me know in the comment section here or on the Face Book page.. 

Thanks.. 

I close with this pic of yours truly and my darling babies.. 

They are just so precious to us!  

All grown up but they will always be my babies.. 

Time flies!  

I am so proud of them all and thankful for them.. 

But do you know that their walk with God is the most important of everything to us.. 

Hope to hear from you all.. 

Here is something little I saved and read every once in awhile.. 

Hope you enjoy it... 

I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn’t come in an envelope. It’s ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It’s the invitation to actually live life, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. turning down this invitation comes in lots of flavors. It looks like numbing yourself or distracting yourself or seeing something really beautiful as just normal. It can also look like refusing to forgive or not being grateful or getting wrapped around the axle with fear or envy. I think every day God sends us an invitation to live and sometimes we forget to show up or get head-faked into thinking we haven’t really been invited. but you see, we have been invited – every day, all over again.
—  Love Does // Bob Goff

                  GOD BLESS!

A new years ramble...

Well hello there dear hearts.. 

Happy New Year to you all.. 

It has been awhile since I have put on a regular post but here I am..

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season!  

But here we are in another new year and wondering where the last one went to.. 

Time just seems to fly the older we get.. 

The last year had a few trials but really there is not a thing to complain about.. 

An old chorus we sing sometimes says it just the way it is.. 

There is a roof up above me

Got a fine place to sleep.. 

Food on my table..

 Shoes on my feet.. 

You gave me your love, Lord and a fine family... 

Thank you, Lord for your blessings on me.. 

So thankful for all the past year brought our way and looking forward to a new year and all the surprises that await us.. 

Knowing who holds our hand really gives us peace in a world that seems to have lost it's way, eh? 

I have proved it over and over that God is faithful and just trusting Him for the year 2018... 

Now on with what has been happening here the last few weeks.. 

Today I started putting away the Christmas decor.. 

Decided to leave out the snowmen things for another month, though.. 

Made a lovely Lentil Soup for lunch.. 

The recipe is here in one of my old posts.. 

Click HERE

Christmas is such a busy season.. 

Lots of activities and such..  

This year I joined my friends in a gift exchange.. 

This is one of the things I included in the basket I gave.. 

Little snowmen made from salt shakers.. 

Enjoyed the time we had together ... 

Eating lunch and gabbing with friends made for a lovely afternoon.. 

I did find a purchase at the Thrift shop..

Yes, I did decide not to buy anything but books at thrift shops this fall but couldn't turn this one down.. 

All this for only five dollars..

I found out with the help of my friend Bev that these are Peruvian pottery.. 

Called Corn Bowls..

So in the next bit I want to try them out.. 

Do any of you have any suggestions for recipes using the dishes.. 

Maybe you have a Peruvian recipe that you could share with me..

I plan to do a bit of research and see what I can find. 

While I was making the snow girls for my friends I made a few extra for Shonda, Tammy and my Mom.. 

I love using all the little bits of jewellery and such that I had collected in my craft supplies.. 

Terry said I sounded like a hen scratching as I pushed the pieces around on the kitchen table.. 

He was very relieved when I finished them and finally cleaned the table off ..

I don't know why I don't craft somewhere else but just love working at the kitchen table.. smile.. 

Had this for my birthday dinner.. 

My Mom and Step-Father were here for supper and I made something I love.. German Meatballs..

Recipe Here

We also had a Scottish dish called Clapshot.. 

RECIPE HERE

They brought the cake.. 

So sweet as it was a cold day for them to get out but Mom just wanted me to have my gift... So dear!!... 

Your kid is always your kid even if they are now a senior.. grin..

I also enjoyed a Christmas House Tour and a tea with some friends and a trip to an old Railway Station house dressed for the season.. Then the Christmas concert and Christmas Eve service was lovely..

Lots of stuff going on.. 

We had to wait a whole week to celebrate with our family here as our daughter and her family were away.. 

Our oldest son had to work and our youngest was away also.. 

We did get to have a Christmas dinner at Shonda's after they returned home.. 

But on New Year's Eve look who showed up and spent the night.. 

Our five lovely grandsons.. 

Made Grandpa's and Gram's Year.. 

Old and New.. smile.. 

Next day their parents came early and we had a Turkey Ham dinner..  

We all opened our gifts and then played the Yankee Swap game.. 

Shonda and Dave had it all prepared and even brought all the wrapped gifts!

A few jokey ones gave us a few laughs.. 

Thank you sweeties.. 

There just is nothing like family.. 

I am so grateful for ours.. 

Each one is different but so precious to this momma.. 

We found this Christmas tugging at our hearts more as our youngest son wasn't with us.. 

It was the very first Christmas he was not here on Christmas day... 

But.. 

He is happy and doing well and I know he is in God's hands.. 

We received a nice big box of gifts from him and they were so lovely.. He has a talent for picking presents that click if you know what I mean.. 

Parents love their children and miss them when they are away.. 

That is just how it is.. 

You raise them and love them and then you let them fly.. 

But they are always in our heart... Always.... 

Anyway, all is well here in the Henry house.. 

Tomorrow a very large storm is to hit the Maritimes.. 

They are calling it a beast of a storm.. 

We will see... 

Our children will call and want to know if I have done my storm list.. 

Make a big soup and salad.. 

Have a couple thermoses full of coffee and tea.. 

Fill the washer and tubs with water for flushing .. 

Fill a few jugs with water for drinking.. 

So tomorrow morning I have a turkey carcass that will make a good soup before the storm hits.. 

I hope the hydro doesn't go off but they are forecasting big winds.. 

What do you do to prepare for a storm?  

I know this is one long post my friends and if you don't read it all I understand.. smile.. 

Hope you are enjoying your days.... 

This year I want to keep my family close and keep God first in my life.. 

How about you?  

Looking forward to hearing from you as always and God bless.. 

Hugs.. 

Just being a Mom..

Happy Sunday everyone.. 

Hope your day is blessed..

Friday we had a farm day.. 

Early in the morning Terry and I headed out..

The day was a bit chilly but it did not take the old wood stove long to get the front part of the house warmed up enough for me to putter away.. 

We were expecting Dustin and his family for supper so I wanted to bake some bread.. 

It is generally the first thing I do when we get there and then it sits by the stove to rise.. 

We had cooked a turkey that week so I made a Turkey and Rice soup for our lunch.. 

Terry is starting to enjoy soup most days... 

The poor guy may as well since I can't help myself from making it.. 

Most every day.. 

I am a soup junkee after all..smile..

Anyway... 

He went out to work on the fire wood and I decided to pickle a huge cauliflower that we had picked up at the market.. .. 

I will share the recipe with you all later this week since they turned out so well... 

Supper time was coming so I peeled veggies and baked the bread.. 

I made two rolls so they could take one home with them..

 I set the table for the six of us and as all was ready I sat in the rocking chair and read..

We were expecting them around 6 o'clock or so.. 

Terry came in about 5:30 and laid down out in the porch.

Six o'clock came and then six thirty..

When it was almost seven I kind of woke Terry up and we thought perhaps their car had broke down or something.. 

We do not have a phone there and cell phones do not work.. 

Terry said we would wait until 7:15 and then perhaps we would eat and then head home.. 

They still had not arrived so he ate his supper.. 

By that time my mind was in over drive so I could not eat.. 

It was now 7:30..

Really, it made them about an hour and a half late..

We started packing it up so we could go and call them.. 

He went out to load up his stuff and I just dumped all the veggies on top of the meat in it's roaster.. 

 I had heated up the left over soup so I poured it into a jar.. 

They don't all like potatoes so I had cooked some rice in turkey broth.

I asked Terry what I should do with all of this food like the rice and he said just to put the rice in the stove.. 

Voila... 

Into the stove.. 

I looked out the window and there they were. 

Thank you, Jesus.. 

Even though the table was stripped and most of the food was now all in one pot except for the salad which I had thrown into a freezer bag.. 

OK.. 

In runs one little lad... 

Grandma.. I'm hungry ... 

Then another little chap.. 

Grandma... What's for supper? 

Then a couple of dogs and Dustin and Veronique..  

I tried to explain to them that Supper would take a few minutes.. smile.. 

They thought my face was kind of pale..  

I explained that of course I was worried as we had  expected them no later then 6:30..

He looks up at the clock and said it was 6:30... 

Daaaaaaahhhhh...

Terry had forgot to turn the clock back.. 

Lord help us.. 

Anyway, we did not have a nice fancy meal but all in all it still tasted alright although the rice was gone.. 

Aren't you glad you're not our kid?  grin.. 

In my defense... 

Dustin is like his mother and is seldom ever late... 

And it was not my fault that the clock was not turned back.. 

Right?  grin..

Oh well.. 

All's well that ends well.. 

They came bearing gifts, too.. 

A lovely early birthday gift for me and dessert, too.. 

They loved the salad as it had real bacon and the croutons were a slices of bread fried up in the bacon fat.. 

A nice company treat.. 

The wee boys told me they knew where hamburger came from .. 

MacDonalds... 

So cute.. 

Well, I must get ready for church tonight so may God bless you all.. 

I hope you don't think less of me for my worrisome ways.. 

Hugs..