Lovely January Days

Hello everyone.. 

Welcome to the Blessed Hearth on this wintery January Sunday.. 

So happy to reconnect with you all once again.. 

The month of January has nearly passed since last we chatted.  

I must say that I have enjoyed the lovely days thus far.. 

Things are difficult and strange in our world today but here within the four walls of our home it is another winter season.. 

We have been blessed with good weather.. 

Snowy and blizzardly a few times and some bitter cold but the furnace is burning and we are puttering around doing this and that... 

Terry loves the banana rolls that I wrote about a couple of posts ago.  

So this morning before church (online as we are on lock down) I put a batch together... 

I just took them out of the oven.. 

He left to go to the wood lot for a bit so he will enjoy them when he gets back home.. 

I was looking around in a closet that I keep just for soaps and such and found a box of candles that I had made last year.. 

I kind of forgot about them unless I saw or read something about homemade candles.. 

I burned one as soon as I made them almost and was not happy with them at all.. 

Then the other day I was reading a candle feature and it said that they have to cure.. Ohhhhh..... 

So lo and behold they were right.. 

I dug one out and lit it and it works perfect.. 

You just have to keep taking your finger and smoothing the wax down so it doesn't flood itself.. 

Smells of Lavender, of course.. smile.. 

I still have a wee bit of winter decor here and about.. 

But not much.. 

Christmas is all put away and trying to rearrange a few things here especially in the kitchen and family room where we live.. 

I love a change now and then.. 

Do  you?  

We took a country drive her one day up to check on the farm.. 

We passed the brook and it was so pretty... 

Then by the time we arrived at the farm the snow was beginning... 

Terry made a fire and I picked up a few things I thought I needed here at home.. 

Some fabrics, jars and a coffee perk that our son gave me.. 

I had not used it and brought it home to try.. 

It makes delicious coffee but I think I will keep it for the wood stove out there.. 

Then this is what it was like by the time we were almost home.. 

It was a big storm.. 

I don't mind the storms and kind of enjoy them if our children are not working and travelling in them.. 

That ruins any cozy storm for me.. grin.. 

But they got to work and back just fine.. 

Thanking God every time they are protected... 

My sweet sister gave me a journal for a gift. 

I put a cover on it and am using it for ideas and projects that I long to accomplish at some point.. smile... 

I never run out of projects and ideas.. 

I just run out of energy and ambition.. 

sigh.... grin... old age.... 

I did get a few little items finished.. 

Some un-paper towels inspired by JES.. on Instagram.. 

Also .... cloth napkins... 

Love using cloth so much better then paper.. 

JES suggested just fraying the edges rather then sewing and it is a great idea.. 

I bought a very heavy sheet at the thrift store so have lots to make for my gift pantry plus a couple of runners and such.. 

In the pic above you can see this felted candle cozy on a candle.. 

This is the bag that I felted for my sister.. 

My good sewing machine is not working so I asked my new granddaughter-in-law if she would sew it together for me.. 

She has an online business making and selling her homemade bags.. 

Here is her link.. 

https://www.instagram.com/mapleandpine.designs/

They are lovely and she does wonderful work.. 

She so graciously agreed to do that and voila... 

Isn't it sweet.. 

Thanks Ash!! 

The plants are doing great.. 

Haven't really slowed down a lot for winter.. smile.. 

Some afternoons I make a pot of this potpourri ready on the stove for the next morning.. 

Just to get me going.. 

Smells like Winter at Home.. 

Kinda gets me moving in the mornings... 

Are you a scent loving person?  

I am... ......... smile.. 

Here are a few cooking things that we ate this month.. 

 Catonese Salad... 

When you only have one small steak left over.. 

I tried something new... 

Turnip Kraut... 

Made it just like Sauerkraut but used grated turnip instead.. 

Our farmer told me about it and so I gave it a try ... 

It is delicious!  

And of course so good for you.. 

I had a couple of turnips that were getting a bit old as we bought a 50 pound bag and it was a great way to use them up.. 

Someone gifted us with a couple of beef tongues.. 

One day last week I boiled it up and we are having delicious sandwiches with it.. 

It looks gross perhaps but it is such a tender bit of beef you would ever have..  

I posted it on Instagram but deleted it as I figured out it is not a pretty pic to post.. grin.. 

This was a bit of fried rice and some our home canned green beans.. 

Terry was complaining a bit about all the jars he keeps taking downstairs.. grin.. 

We shop in our cold room every Monday and as the week passes the bottles empty.. dahh... grin.. 

Counting it all as blessing for sure.. 

With all that went on with our garden we really did get a lot put away... 

Terry is still doing well with good health so thanking God for that too...smile..

And of course our fish chowder.. 

Once a week for sure.. 

And grain bread to soak it all up in... 

💓

Here is one of the books I am reading in January... 

It was just published this month.. 

Laura Franz is one of my all time fave authors.. 

I found it a bit slow getting into it as I read more then one book at a time.. 

There is something about January that calls Louis L'Amour's books to me.. 

Sometimes I will read the same one several times and enjoy it as much every time.. 

What's with that?  

I am not a guy but I love them.. 

When I read books such as Laura's I keep notes on things that jump out to me.. 

Ideas ... 

like food, colours, decor, celebrations.. 

All kinds of things! 

Then when I really need inspired I will read them over and think to myself... 

Oh, I want to make those homemade crackers... 

Or ... oh, I could put together a gift of dill crackers, homemade herb cheese and a jar of pickled carrots in a basket with a homemade napkin... 

Right??? 

LOl..  I know... I am nuts sometimes... 

My husband would say... 

I don't have much to do... lol... 

And so dear hearts on that note I will say bye for now as my Momma always used to say... 

But look.. 

I saw this photo on the web somewhere and I saved it.. 

Doesn't that make your heart rejoice... 

Some glad morning when this life is over...

I'll fly away... 

 

I pray you have this hope.. 

In a world gone bonkers we can look toward heaven.. 

Our redemption drawth nigh.. 

Please make your acquaintance with Jesus soon if you don't know Him.. Just talk to Him.. Build a relationship with Him...  

He is coming back!  

Just like He said... 

Love to you all... 

 

Staying Cozy On These Winter Days...

Hello my friends... 

Thank you for dropping by on this winter's day... 

Here we are almost through January! 

 The days are getting longer and Spring is in view.. 

How are you making out in your part of the world? 

Everywhere life seems to be in a chaotic state, eh? 

But life here at home is lovely.. 

Retired life certainly has it's highlights even though there are downsides to everything... smile.. 

We can stay home and stay safe...  

Neither one of us are ever bored... 

So much to putter at and do.. 

We are having a wonderful winter as far as weather goes thus far.. 

Not too many storms and quite mild for us.. 

A lot of grey days of course... 

But... 

A nice pan of something in the oven offers a cozy feel on a dark afternoon!  

This recipe was given me way back in 1971 by my sweet neighbor and friend, Lorraine.. 

My mother made it quite famous!  smile.. 

She served it on many occasions and my cousin even sold them in her bakery... 

Down through the years the name was 

changed to Betty's Date Squares..smile..  

They really are the best I have tasted.. 

Just hope you can understand my recipe... 

We do not eat a lot of sweets but it is so comfy to have a nice cup of tea after supper and a small sweet treat, occasionally.. 

As you know you who have followed the blog that one of our faves is this Zucchini Pie! 

I have posted this a couple of times before but with our frozen zucchini from the fall it is a wonderful way to use it up.. 

Here is the recipe... 

Zucchini Pie

2/3 cup of brown sugar

1/4 cup of butter

1 tsp. of vanilla

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves

1 cup of grated zucchini  

1/2 cup of nuts or raisins

Just cream the sugar, butter and vanilla.. Then add egg and mix well.. 

Sift in the flour, soda and spices and mix for a minute or so.. 

Add the zucchini and stir well.. 

Pour into a greased 9 inch pie pan..

Bake in a 350 degrees F. oven for 25 minutes.

Turn out onto a rack and cool.. 

Meanwhile stir up an icing for the top.. 

1 1/2 cups of icing sugar

3 T. butter

1/4 tsp. cloves

3-5 tsp. coffee cream or can milk.. (whole milk will do)

Whisk together and spread on

The icing really makes the pie here... 

Another way I am using up frozen zuke is in spaghetti sauces and soups..

How do you use up your frozen zucchini? 

 

We also go for a few winter country drives... 

Albert County is certainly still one our go to places for drives.. 

I love taking a thermos full of hot tea and perhaps a sandwich or such .. 

And just enjoy our lunch while we drive along.. 

Now with our area being more restricted it is important not to have to stop anywhere so taking a wee lunch helps us that way, too..

Staying home has it's appeal for sure, though...  

Organizing and decluttering is taking place...

I am very slow at it as I try to sort through fifty years of life together.. 

We have collected way too much stuff.. 

But some of it is precious to me and is staying.. grin.. 

I am trying to get some written pieces of information pinned onto the really special items that I think my children may want to know..

Like this wee skirt on my old treadle sewing machine in our living room...  

A wee wool skirt that belonged to my mother and was worn by her to her father's funeral when she was only five years old.. 

She told me her neighbour Mrs Brown made it for her.. smile.. 

Sprinkled with lavender .... 

And then of course, I am crafting or creating something... 

This was this week's wee project... 

Using my mother's china cups to make tie backs for my curtains.. 

This only took five china cups and a roll of satin ribbon.. 

I will remember my Mom each time I see them.. 

She so loved her cup of tea... 

I used to laugh when she would tell me she visited somewhere and they didn't even offer her a cup of tea... smile.. 

I used to tell her that they don't do that much anymore, Mom.. 

But she would be sure that was the first thing she would offer you when you visited... 

This is a pillow I made her for one of her birthdays.. 

I think she was five in that picture and she always loved her cats... 

I know that I am saying a bit about my mother but it will take a while for me to get used to her being gone from my life... 

But never from my heart.... 

On with the post... 

This is a project that I have been working on this month.. 

 You girls will probably think is a bit whatever... 

It is a modge podge craft.. 

I saw the neatest bags on Pinterest.. 

They were bags made out of old canvas paintings!

And are very expensive..

But there was something about them that I loved.. 

I thought that as I make my calendars from beautiful painting like- pages from my British Country Living magazines that perhaps I could do some gift bags.. 

So... 

With some bags from the grocers and such, lovely pages torn from my many British Country Living magazines and a bottle of modge podge I have created some unique (shall we say) gift bags. 

I did buy a few narrow leather belts that I plan to use for handles but haven't got that done yet... 

Kind of fun to do.. 

I love paper crafting...

Do you?  

Then on some days I am trying to make a few changes..  

Changing pics or using some old ones that I had stored from my shop... 

This old sheep picture is very old... 

But you know my love for sheep and I love it here in the kitchen... 

And a bouquet of tulips always brighten up the winter kitchen, eh? 

As does Winter cooking... 

Soups, stews, meatballs and casseroles are so comforting on a cold winter's day... 

Meatballs baking in the oven along with a turnip casserole create a wonderful scent and makes us look forward to suppertime.. 

Pickles and green beans that were put up in the fall gives us something to discuss.. 

What will we plant this year and what will we preserve... smile.. 

Leftover cooked ham put into a soup with orzo, spinach and carrots and such.. And Terry has to have his garlic bread.. smile.. 

Hamburger and Barley is lovely too... 

Sometimes I will put a batch of muffins in the oven.. 

This recipe is made with yogurt.. 

I am doing a Winter Cooking Project this year.. 

I would like to get about six casserole recipes that are easy and delicious... 

One that would make up quickly if you had someone drop by or wanted to deliver to a friend or neighbour.. 

Something different and new then what I have been making.. 

So far I only have two that I am happy with

but winter is not over yet.. smile..  

Do you have a casserole go-to recipe?

A friend on Instagram shares a pic of her kitchen window.. 

It has fairy lights as they call them in England and she is blessed with a sweet cat.. 

Well, I don't have a cat.. I just wish I did but my sweet friend, Dawn gifted me with these curtain lights..  

Terry took down the curtains and used safety pins to pin them on the other side.. 

Aren't they magical?  

I just love them.. 

Another pic I saw had the white milk pitchers and old lamp and inspired me to do my version.. smile.. 

Terry had to gather them at the farm and pull them in a sled up the lane to the truck as the it had not been ploughed!  

He had them all wrapped in paper so they wouldn't break..

Such a dear man... (well, most of the time)  grin..  

He also had gallons of spring water for us to drink here.. 

Our water is fine but nothing as tasty as the spring water from there.. 

Well dear hearts I am finally finished for another while.. 

What are you girls busy at on these wintery days? 

 

I know a lot of you are still working outside of your homes during this critical time.  And perhaps still raising families and looking after schooling and so much more.. 

There is a lot on your plates... 

And we don't know what the future holds but we do know who holds our hands.. 

We know that no matter that He is in control and all will be well if we put our trust in Him.. 

I know you have challenging days and you must wonder what is going on... 

I know I do...

I find such comfort in the Word..   

And trusting in His promises... 

Thank you again for dropping by and leaving your sweet comments here and on the Face Book page...

And for all the caring thoughts you sent me on my last post about my dear momma.. 

I so appreciate it.. 

God bless you all... 

I am trying to do a more regular little Instagram blog thing if you have time.. 

 It is called blessed hearth...

Hugs...