Wintering here at home....

Hello my dears!

So happy to have you drop by on this freezing day in mid February.. 

The winter is flying by for me..

 I hear a lot of people saying January was so long but I didn't find it so.. 

It is a thing that I am thankful for.. 

In my younger days I used to mind the month of January intensely.. 

We lived in a big old farm house that had those long and narrow old windows and I found the house dark on those winter days.. 

Then we moved here and I zipped through the winter and realized that I didn't mind it at all.. 

So many big windows here so I guess I need light!  ❤😊

Anyway... 

Some wintering projects that I have been working on... 

Homemade clay hearts.. 

Here is the recipe... 

2 cups of baking soda

1 cup of corn starch

1 1/2 cups of water 

Stir the ingredients on the stove until the consistency of mashed potatoes.. 

Roll out and cut with cookie cutters.. 

Used a skewer to make a hole in each. 

Terry ended up drilling holes as the holes dried closed.. 

Cook:  175 degrees oven for 2 hours.. 

Or I just placed in unheated oven for overnight.. 

Then I sanded them very carefully as I broke the first one.. 

Then wipe the dust off and painted them with acrylic red paint.. 

Sanded off the edges and then painted over with a brown paint.. 

I put a coat of wax on top but you could use a sealer...

Then hung them on an old alder branch... 

Also, I used one of my Mirilla bags I made last year along with a lavender sachet I made to give to my sister when she was in the hospital.. 

I hope to make a few more some snowy afternoon... 

My friend Judy sent me a pic of a quilt heart garland... 

So I did my own plan and came up with this one.. 

I need to put a little string of fairy lights on them.. 

Decorated the mantel with old brown bottles and brown pottery.. 

Bought a few ivys and weaved a sweet crochet heart garland from my sweet friend through out... 

Just love those twinkle lights during the dark evenings.. 

Don't you?

Remember my felted heart bunting I made a few years ago.. 

Still using it.. ❤

I saw this and thought you might like it.. 

It is not just grandmas doing this these days.. 

So many younger ones are into this, too.. 😌

Taking country drives.. 

Looks pretty cold, eh?  

Looks the same out of my kitchen windows... 

We were so blessed to have our son in law show up one Saturday morning with breakfast and his powersaw to help cut up a big maple tree Terry had to cut down.. 

We were so sad but it had started to rot and we were not wanting it to land on our roof..  

We so appreciated his help... 

Then our oldest son came and helped change truck tires.. 

Thanking the Lord for our family in our getting older days.. 😊

Some food pics... 

Just comfort food... 

Lentil soup, roast beef dinner, spaghetti with Martha's tomato sauce 101

Then bread... 

Like to have homemade bread often... 

Then I always make homemade salad dressings.. 

So much cheaper and so much healthier... 

Made another batch of jam... 

Using frozen cranberries, raspberries and strawberries... 

It tastes so good.. 

I should have wrote down the recipe as I kind of used two recipes.. 

Dahh!

Then making lots of cups of tea or coffee.. 

And the odd cookie here and there... 😀

Found a sweet cat cookie press at the thrift store.. 

Oh... yes, enjoying my thrift store shopping too.. 

Found a gorgeous set of Wedgewood Blue Transferware dishes.. 

A big set and only 15 dollars.. 

Thankful for simple blessings.. 

Well, this is all for another time my friends.. 

Thank you once again for dropping by.. 

I hope you are enjoying this slow down season and getting your rest.. 

I know the world is in more chaos then ever before..

very troubled ..

But when we have our trust in the Lord, he calms the troubled waters of our souls and gives us sweet peace and comfort.. 

We can go on with our days and make our homes a haven for our families.. 

Today is probably one of the most important time in history for parents to concentrate on making our homes a place of peace and calm. 

This world is soon coming to a close and I want to be ready to meet Him.. 

He is coming soon.. 

The Bible says in Luke 21:28

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh... 

I so love this verse...

Nothing to fear.. His is the kingdom.. 

God bless you dear hearts.

Hugs from New Brunswick.. 

 

A heart post.

Hello there dear hearts... 

How are you all doing?  

I hope you are having a good month.. 

February is called the heart month and is actually one of my favourite celebrations.. 

During the winter months it is a little brightness for our grey days.. 

I like planning our valentine supper and making heart crafts.. 

I painted hearts and modge podged and made some fudge.. smile.. 

Did a little decorating with it all.. 

I made the bunting last year, I believe and the cushion but they stay up for February.. 

It is hard to believe how fast this month has swept on by.. 

Our days are getting longer and we have had a couple of storms since I was on here last.. 

Nothing serious like some parts of our world.. 

My heart goes out to those in places that are not used to having our typical winter weather.. 

We have had a very good winter this year and we are thankful..

What have you all been busy doing?  

A lot of you work outside of the home but I know that Winter brings out our nesting urges .. 

Our daughter and daughter-in-law have been busy crocheting up a storm.. Market bags and big baskets.. I love them but crocheting a coffee cozy is about the height of my talents.. 

We all have our forte I guess... 

I really enjoy my plants especially now.. 

Terry has seed catalogues all over the place but I can't get into that much for about another month.. 

I notice on Instagram that the southern girls are planting their seeds and I just can't go there yet.. 

We will no doubt have snow and cold for at least two more months so what is the rush..

I am just enjoying this down season.. 

With the winter as mild as it has been I am not thinking of hurrying Spring along at all.. 

We have had winters when we thought they would never end but this year has been grand.. 

Anyway enough about the Canadian weather.. 

Here are a few  pics of some of my plants.. 

The Star of Bethlehem has a blossom as does the Goldfish plant.. 

And... 

So

As does my Pregnant Onion.. 

Isn't that a funny blossom.. 

It's stem is just so long and the blossom is a cone of small white star like blossoms.. 

Babies have fallen even into other pots.. smile.. 

These plants are here in the family room.. 

Some have such sweet memories for me.. 

The Snake plant above reminds me of my Dad.. 

He always had them and I remember begging for a piece of one shortly after I was married.. smile.. 

The Pregnant Onion was given to me as a tiny wee slip from one of the sweet ladies who worked at our Kings Landing Heritage Village.. They are so kind there.. 

Then the Star of Bethlehem was one of my Mom's favourites and I was so happy to get a slip from my friend for her.. 

The plant on the floor there is from my Aunt Leatha who I am named after.. I don't know what it is called though, do you?  

Anyway.. enough about plants.. 

One chore I have been trying to accomplish is to go through things and try to declutter.. (As I am sure I mention every post)  lol.. 

Lots of linens and lace .. 

But very hard to part with.. smile.. 

And.. 

Lots of old dishes... 

I have parted with several boxes to the goodwill but really need to get rid of a few more.. 

I am trying.. grin.. 

And then... 

There are things of my Mom's that need to be gone through and sorted.. 

Passing on a few trinkets and keeping some too.. 

It is funny the things that jerk at your heart strings when one is touching little items that must have meant something to her.. 

The little box cover above is one.. 

It was in her cedar chest along with several dear treasures but I couldn't part with this old cover.. 

Tattered and torn as it is.. smile.. 

My mother loved cats.. 

I have enjoyed cat crafts since I was little and think she passed it on to me.. 

I will make something with this but not sure what.. 

Just a wee thing to remember her by.. 

Not that I will ever forget her..

She is daily in my mind and heart.. 

And so... life goes on.. 

Then there is the winter cooking...   

A new breakfast sandwich that I love.. 

Just one slice of bread that you cut in two.. 

I even use thin slices.. 

One thin slice of cheese.. (good cheddar) 

And two small eggs or one extra large.. 

Here is the link on how to do it.. 

HERE

Terry's fave pasta.. 

Broccoli, Mushrooms and Lemon Pasta.. 

I posted about this before, I am sure.. 

I have my soups.. 

Terry loves Chili... 

I like it once in a while.. 

So this time as usual I made a huge pot so I could freeze it.. 

Then looked on line and found several new ways of serving it.. 

Cuban Picadillo... 

Yum! 

You just add lots of sliced olives and a handful of golden raisins to your chili and serve over rice.. 

I loved it but Terry had his bowl with cheese.. (wink)  

We have our little trips to check on our old farm from time to time.. 

This day was after a storm.. 

Our dear farmer plows out our lane so we can get in when we visit..

While Terry made a fire to warm it up for a bit and such I sat in the truck and worked on a bit of felting.. 

After awhile we headed on back home.. 

Had a small bowl of mac and cheese on our laps and watched a Little House on the Prairie show.. 

We love them.. Do you? smile.. 

I am reading as always.. smile.. 

And snacking... 

Dried Honey Crisp apples.. 

So good.. 

And then we had Valentines Day.. 

Terry gave me some lovely tulips... 

And I made our special dinner.. 

Used my Marilla glasses as I call them from 

Anne with an E...  

I posted about them before.. 

I saw this drink on Instagram and just had to copy it.. 

Pomegranate juice, lemon slices, blackberries, pomegranate seeds and a star of anise.. 

Delicious and so pretty.. 

I forgot to take a pic of our main course.. Dahhh.. 

Anyway.. 

Dessert...  

Oh yes.. 

And Terry gave me something he says he has been looking for the past fifty years .. 

Yup!

He is funny all right... grin.. 

This is a verse I found a long time ago.. 

Still love it and am sure I have posted it before.. 

Nonetheless... 

It is sweet and most of the time true.. 

Marriage isn't always a bed of roses... 

As any of you who have been on this road for very long know.. 

But each day for the last fifty years with the Lord's help we keep on and live through each season of marriage that we have .. 

Right now we have been emptynesters for a long time.. 

Our grandsons are grown ... 

We still live in this dear old house and every once in awhile we chat about what the next step will be.. 

Everyone is different.. 

A lot of our friends have downsized and are very happy with that. 

As for us we are not ready.. 

Terry would go nuts without something to putter at and I do not want to leave my home.. 

Some day... 

If the Lord tarries and we keep on as we are.. 

Right now there is no rush.. 

I saw this pic on the web somewhere ... 

This is my take on it.. smile.. 

The sweet old couple were out for a stroll  from their senior apartment..

They are walking by the house that they used to live in.. 

He is going right ahead just like Terry would do.. 

.. and she is looking back.. 

Remembering no doubt.. 

The days of babies and toddlers... 

the teenagers and graduations and college..

the empty nest..  

then the weddings and the births..

sweet visits from grandchildren and grown children... 

all the meals and laundry days.. 

the laughter and the tears..

perhaps the losses...  

prayers that were prayed inside those four walls.. 

names lifted up to the Lord..  

then..

the moving on... 

Oh the years fairly flew by and they were lovely!  

And they still are... 

Regardless of what goes on in this world or the tests and trials we go through... 

Life happens but it is how we deal with it that counts.. 

Putting the Lord first and to keep enduring..

Running the race... 

Choosing joy and praying for love in our hearts ... 

Yup... 

Well my sweet friends this is all.. 

It is from my heart on this heart month post.. 

A bit long but you can just scroll on by.. grin.. 

Leave me one of your dear notes though so I know you were here.. 

Ok?  

Here or on the Facebook or Instagram page.. 

Sending you a all a heartfelt hug.. 

God Bless!!