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... 

 

A Mother's Sunday Thoughts..

Hello there everyone.. 

Today is the Lord's day and a beautiful sunny one it is here in Eastern Canada.. 

I thought perhaps I would share a little bit of what is on my heart with you all.. 

We had a lovely worship service this morning at church and the Lord's presence was so real..

I love services like that.. 

I leave strengthened and full of the joy of the Spirit.. 

I feel a sense of comfort knowing that all is under His control.. 

When we wake up tomorrow morning there is no promise of what the day may bring..

We here in North America live blessed lives but we still live and life still happens.. It can bring many forms.. 

We may have joy and sunshine and laughter or perhaps it will bring sorrow and pain and sadness..

I am so glad that I know the Lord and  He is there no matter what my day may bring..  

I don't need to look for him or go to a church or find a preacher ..

I can just call on His name and he is available and present.. 

As we look on the world events we see such turmoil.. 

The weather has gone mad and sin abounds on every side.. 

What used to be out of bounds is now acceptable and normal..

We are living in the last days and the signs are everywhere.. 

The home and the family are in a war to even stand upright.. 

There is so much against it .. 

Pressures of life and careers..

Materialism waves it's hands for a family's attention every day.. 

The media has taken over the family time in most homes.. 

Dinner time is almost unheard of and take out and meals on the go are the ordinary... 

School, sports and events take precedence over a families schedule ..

Where is God's place in all of this?

Have we made a place for the Creator of our lives?

Is He important enough to have a wedge out of our day? 

A sliver, even? 

The importance of church attendance is getting less every day and many families spend their Sundays in an arena or some type of pleasure.. 

This is the norm for most families in the world we are living in.. 

Computer games, sports and pleasure trips are what make the world go around  and parents feel that this is the best thing they can do for their kids.. 

Our oldest son said to me the other day that in raising their children that they only get one kick at the can and they had to do what they could to teach them about a life in Christ.. 

I thought about that and agreed whole heartily.. 

In looking back at the time that Terry and I had to raise our children it seems like it was over in a flash.. 

Today they are grown and have been gone for years and we as their parents had such a short time to teach them what was important.. 

Eternity... 

That is the most important thing there is.. 

And where will they spend it? 

Are we teaching them that the things of this world doesn't hold a candle to beauty and joy that a life in Christ gives.. 

That Jesus is coming soon and he tells us to be ready.. 

In Matthew 24:44

Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.. 

Are we preparing our children's minds and teaching them the precepts of God? 

Proverbs 22:6

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.. 

We all love our children .. 

We want the best things that life has to hold for them.. 

We want love and joy and affection.. 

Freedom and a world of peace and life.. 

We would do anything to keep them safe and well.

But do we love them enough to tell them that Jesus Christ loves them too.. 

That He loved them first.. 

That He created them and made a place for them if they but give their hearts to His care.. 

He has made a way for them that they can be saved and live under his everlasting arm of love.. 

That he reaches for them and wants them for his own.. 

Do we show them that He is the most important thing in our life.. 

That Mama loves the Lord and is planning on spending eternity with Him.. 

That she wants her children there and will do what it takes to make sure they know the Lord, too.. 

As I look back on my life as a young mama I see so many things that I should have done and so wish I could change.. 

But we only had one kick at that can and what is done has been done.. 

Now all I can do is pray.. 

Pray that Christ will be their all in all ..

Pray that they will put Him first in their lives and homes.. 

Pray that they will be ready when the trumpet sounds.. 

Pray that they won't put off salvation and that they will make sure their life is what He would have it to be.. 

Pray that they will teach their children the ways of the Lord and that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun and that the Bible is true.

And I can wrap my arms around them and tell them that as much as I love them that He loves them so much more.. 

That I have put them all in His hand and I trust that all will be well with their souls... 

And I can live my life as an example of Christ.. 

Until eternity that is what I can do.. 

I am so thankful for what the Lord has done and is doing in my children's hearts and lives today.. 

He is faithful.. 

I hope this has touched your hearts .. 

I know that so many of you who read this blog have Christ in your hearts and that you too realize that there is a need in our families to prepare our children for the coming of the Lord.. 

And I want to say that I am so thankful that one day so many years ago a man came to our little humble home and told us the Good News and that my parents gave their hearts to the Lord and brought us up to know Him.. 

God bless..

 Proverbs 30:5-6 - Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield unto them that put their trust in him.