A Sweet Weekend....

Hello Everyone... Happy Victoria Day Weekend.... isn't the weather just lovely??  What a wonderful weekend to put some flowers in... I have not had time to do that yet... but there are a couple of dear ones that come up every year anyway... Hopefully, this coming week I will get a chance to do some pots up and such...

At the cottage we have two beautiful magnolia trees... The blossoms are almost gone now but they smelled so lovely,...  Then of course the lovely pansies...

They are such a faithful flower.... they always come up every year and are so sweet... Just like our walk with God should be... faithful and sweet...

I am so sorry this post is so short but we have to go back down to the cottage today... I hope to get to the convention that we are having in St. John tonight.  It is hard to believe that my grandsons are old enough to go to Youth Convention.. It seems like just yesterday that we were taking their parents....

Time goes by and the Day is soon approaching....

Blessings until we chat again....

Friday and Fudge.....

Good Morning.... Isn't God good?  A whole week has passed and it is Friday again...already... As the Keepers of the Home in our little group know... I promote Friday as date night... well, my date is still at the cottage...

I was at our oldest son's home last nite and stayed with our grandsons as their parents went to hear some gospel singing....What wonderful boys!!    I have to go for an appointment this morning and then will go back down to get him... He is working hard on getting the shop ready... Bless his heart....

Therefore, this is just a note to keep in touch with you all..  I didn't think I would have time but I misread the clock by an hour so here I am.....lol .. I guess I should wear my glasses more often...lol..

Where this is Friday and all I thought you might like to make a treat for the weekend... My friend gave me this recipe a year or so ago and it is my favorite by far.... it is a fudge recipe...

When we use to do the craft shows at various places there was usually a fudge boothe... it was lovely but kind of expensive... everyone usually bought some though..... Well, this looks just like it but tastes so much better because of course it is homemade...

The Bestest Fudge

Into a double boiler bottom bring some hot water to a boil ... then into the top put

1 package of butterscotch chippits
1 package of white chocolate chippits
Just melt these together ..
Then add 1 can of condensed milk and stir well.
Quickly add a pinch of salt and 1 tsp, of vanilla...
Pour into a buttered tin or whatever you make your fudge in...

Then quickly cover the top with HerseysSkor Bits  ... press down into the fudge making a nice top layer... It is probably about a half cup of these...  then just cover with wrap and put in the fridge....

This is so oooo goood.... I love sweets.... can you tell??  lol.... It looks just like the professional stuff, eh? 

You can exchange the type of chippits... like 1 chocolate and 1 peanut butter.... or 1 cholate mint and 1 white chocolate..... whatever..

Then you can also exchange the Skor bits for any kind of nuts you like... Be creative..

This sells well at fund raisers also...

Well, as they say ... that's all for now folks... I have to run.... literallly.. or I will be late...lol..

Have a wonderful weekend with your families... Do something special and make memories... 

It is a long weekend too ... 

May God richly bless you all.....

Hugs... Faye... 

A Sunday afternoon drive....

Good Sunday afternoon everyone... the weekend is almost over.. already!  I find the weekends go along very quickly.  It is not the same as when Terry had to go to work every Monday morning but nontheless time surely flies lately..  We went to church this morning and it was a wonderful service!  As a young lad said it is a time of renewal after a busy week and how right he is... God is good! 

I don't usually post on Sundays but as we will be at the cottage most of the week I thought perhaps I would for a change...

I just put my husband's favorite rice pudding in the oven and made myself a nice hot cup of tea... we had stir fry for lunch so I usually make a little extra rice for our treat for supper as we don't eat much after our lunch on Sundays and then go out with friends after service this evening.... Anyway...

I thought I would take you on a little field trip with me today... you know your little Sunday afternoon drive...LOL..

We went to the cottage one day last week and I took some pics so we will use our imaginations and pretend you are with me..ok?

On the way down I saw these beautiful farm fields full of dandilions...it looks as if they had planted two fields on purpose with a different crop in between.. eh?  Imagine how many jars of dandilion jelly there are up there..LOL..

Then as my husband pulled over to the side of the road to check the trailer I thought I would take another lovely pic of dandilions!!  I thought I saw something moving among the rhubarb up in an old  homestead place... Some family used to live there and probably had a wee farm to help support their family.. but time has gone and so has the old farm place... But the rhubarb still grows....

Now I see that a new family has moved in lock, stock and barrell as they used to say..A dear mother fox and her babies have a den right there under the rhubarb...

I had to zoom in a lot but you can see the baby fox playing king of the mountain... lol

Then in the field beside it was the mom... keeping watch... she knew we were interested in her and her  family..

I really had to zoom but if you look close she is right there in the middle of the pic.. I have only seen two fox dens in all my 50 odd years.. I feel very blessed to see such a beautiful sight .. I love families.. even the wild kind...lol...

Well, to continue with our little trip... we arrived at the cottage... and the weather was simply beautiful..

As you can see... here in N.B. the leaves are just coming out.. This is the old elm tree that has kept watch on the Bay of Fundy and our old cottage for many a long year... then there is the Bay..

In all of it's glory... I love the water... and the smell of the salt air.. I think it actually calls to me sometimes... lol... I guess it must be in my blood...

Well, anyway there is a lot of work to opening up a summer place.. turning on the water, cleaning, unpacking and doing yard work...not to mention trying to set up a shop... but yes, it is worth it after awhile.  especially on those really hot days that we have here at home... it is always cool down there. 

There is also a certain smell as you open up the door to this old place.. the smell of the ages I think.. \

Gotta get my fabreze going... lol...

You go right into the kitchen and one of my favorite spots...

This old cupboard is full of dishes.... I kind of collect these brown transfer ones...

This is half of the shelf full...

And this is the other half.... lol... Well, like I said there is a lot to do but someone found time to take a little break from all the unloading and what all.....

LOL... it's a good thing he doesn't very often look at my blog, eh?  But I am so thankful for this man... a  loyal and true husband all these years, a great provider for his family, a great dad and grandpa...

and most important of all ... he loves the LORD..

   I guess on this lovely Sunday afternoon as I count my blessings I would have to say that he is one of the best ones that God has given me.... and I  appreciate every day that we have together...

I know this has been a very long post but you will have a few days to read it all....lol

Have a wonderful week and lets appreciate all the blessings that we as keepers of our homes has been given.....

God bless.....

an early morning herb walk...

Good Morning... it is a simply beautiful day here in New Brunswick.  There is something about the early morning sun that just calls you outside... eh?  Coffee and sitting on the deck just seem to go together... So while I was out this morning I thought I would check on my herbs..which I love as you know...

I noticed that herbs are mentioned a lot in the Bible.. from aloe to wormwood, actually.. Anyway, back to my meandering this fine day..  the sun also brings out my creative spirit .. as does the rain and wind..LOL..

Therefore... I decided to pick some lovage and make my vinegar.. just a bottle or two to use for now... Lovage is lovely all summer so I can actually make more later for the shop...

I thought perhaps you girls would like to know how to make herbal vinegars... you do not need lovage.. that is just my favorite.. but I picked some rosemary on the way in and decided to make a bottle of that also.

First of all..find some bottles that you can use.. I pick them up at yard sales, the dollar stores or just use mason jars.. Sterilize your bottles with boiling water and let them set for a few minutes while you wash your herbs.. Shake out the water and blot with paper towel... I know that there are recipes but I just pick a few good size pieces and stuff them in the bottles..

If the neck of the bottle is narrow then use a wooden spoon handle to make sure the herbs are down far enough to be covered... as you use the vinegar make sure to remove any exposed herbs..

Then fill the bottles with vinegar.. I used just ordinary white vinegar... using a funnel..

Then I just cork the bottles and put away on my pantry shelf for a few days... lovage does not take long..and you can smell the flavor in it... after a week or two.. just strain it and put back in your bottles and use.. you can even add a bit of fresh for appearances sake..

Now, if you can't just go out and snip some herbs then you can pick some up at the grocers.. they all carry fresh herbs now or even from your garden centre.  Use some of them and let them keep growing or plant outside in a pot or evcn among your flowers... There is so much you can do with this vinegar such as add to your oils for salad dressings, add to mustards, use it for marinades for chicken or add to fish as you poach it.. lovely flavors... just google for herbal recipes...or email me and I will post some..

My sweet husband bought me a few lobsters for Mothers Day and there was one left so I made us a fish chowder with a leftover one and of course I added some lovage to the top for garnish.. it flavors it so much..

I had to tell you what happened as I was coming in from the herb bed.. I bent down to pick some forget-me-nots for my window sill...

I did not realize our dog--Sammi--was also doing his early morning gardening....there is a part of a row of carrots in our veggie garden that did not get picked last fall...

So.. here comes Sammi  with a very healthey breakfast...LOl...

Well, girls I hope I haven't bored you to tears with my early morning stroll...

Really, I  would like to hear from you as to whether you have made any of these vinegars or not..my email address is on the sidebar.. I also love your pics...

Or even if you can start putting some fresh herbs in your everyday cooking.. they are so good and healthy for your families....

Have a blessed day..

Hugs...Faye.

Felt Coasters and more......

Good Monday Morning to all... I hope this post finds everyone rested and ready for another week that God has granted us.  We had a very busy weekend... Friday nite Terry and I spent our date night at an auction benefit for a dear brother from our church... and then on Saturday morning as I had previously posted.. we had a Keepers of the Home meeting... What a blessed time we had... I thought that  I would post some pics so you all would see what we do...

We had our meeting in our fellowship hall in our church in Sussex.,

I try to get there a bit early to set up... Lins is usually the first keeper there to give me a hand... bless her heart...

We all cook breakfast together.. all the girls giving a hand.. even our company had to cook scrambled eggs and hashed browns... lol... thank you girls...

Everyone just has some breakfast fellowship.. catching up and sharing their lives..

We were so happy to have a few visitors....our daughter came  as a part of my Mothers Day gift... I appreciated that so much.. thank you dear... We also had some first time girls who we hope will become a part of our group... and also a couple of moms...we enjoyed having them..

Then we had a short lesson on motherhood...as Mothers Day was on Sunday... thanking God for blessing us with our dear children ..

 My sweet cousin Valerie came and taught the girls a craft lesson on felt and blanket stitch..

We really appreciated Val doing this for us... she is so creative and loved sharing with the girls..

All of the them love learning something new...  most of them are converted to the prim style....well, at least country... lol...

They were making four felt coasters...

and enjoying themselves as they progressed... some of our new girls are very talented and give us a lot of help...thank you...

The blanket stitch is a bit hard to learn at first but with some one on one... eh, Steph?  lol

These are Char's... not quite done in this pic but they probably are by now.. Thank you, Charlene for sending me the pics you took at the meeting...

Anyway, you can see we had a blessed time... these meetings are to encourage the girls in home basics but mostly to put the LORD  in the centre of their homes and to guide their families toward and eternal reward.....

Have a wonderful week and God Bless...

Faye...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.....

GOOD EVENING MY FRIENDS... JUST WANTED TO WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.. WE HAVE A KEEPERS MEETING ON SATURDAY MORNING SO I AM BUSY PREPARING FOR THAT,,, SO... I MAY NOT GET A CHANCE TO POST... TERRY IS DOING A WORK THING SO I HAVE A BIT OF TIME TONIGHT...A BIT EARLY BUT...
ALL DAY TODAY I WORKED ON LITTLE MAKEDOS FOR OUR GATHERING... HOPE THEY LIKE THEM.. I WILL SHOW YOU NEXT WEEK.. ..

THIS IS A PICTURE OF MY MOM.... SHE WAS ONLY 16....I AM SORRY IT IS A BIT CROOKED.... I WONDER WHO CUT IT OUT THAT WAY...LOL..MY MOM WAS ONLY 17 WHEN SHE MARRIED MY DAD...

THESE WERE THEIR TWO LITTLE GIRLS... MY SISTER AND MYSELF... I AM THE OLDEST BY A YEAR AND A HALF.... I CAN REMEMBER HAVING THAT PICTURE TAKEN... IN FRONT OF AN OLD APPLE TREE IN MY GRAMP'S ORCHARD.. I REMEMBER LOOKING DOWN AT MY ROYAL BLUE AND WHITE DRESS... THEN TRYING TO KEEP MY LITTLE SISTER FROM CRYING... SHE ALWAYS CRIED WHEN SOMEONE TOOK HER PICTURE... POOR WEE GIRL...

THIS IS A PICTURE OF OUR LITTLE FAMILY HAVING  A PICNIC...IT IS NOT VERY GOOD QUALITY PIC BUT YOU GET THE FEELING OF WHAT IT USED TO BE LIKE BACK IN THE FIFTIES...

MY PARENTS FOUND THE LORD WHEN I WAS ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD... AND HOW IT CHANGED OUR LIVES... JESUS MAKES SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN A FAMILY...

MY MOM WAS A YOUNG MOM AND WE WERE KIND OF POOR... BUT WE HAD SO MANY GOOD TIMES... WE HAD A LOT OF COMPANY.. A LOT OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY...AND  GOD AND CHURCH WAS THE CENTRE OF OUR LIVES....

MY MOM AND DAD GAVE US A GREAT HERITAGE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN... AND I AM THANKFUL.

 

THANKS MOM...

FAYE..XOXO

Dandelion Jelly .....

Good Morning all... well, I guess it is almost noon.  Don't pay any attention to the time this is posted because for some reason my internal computer is putting the wrong time on by a couple of hours... anyway... I just thought you might like to see what I made this morning..

Dandelion Jelly... It is lovely... this is the first time I have made it.... 

It tastes like honey... and of course, we all know dandilions are full of goodness...

So after taking the tops off and getting a black thumb nail I had enough flowers ready...

Then, I noticed my thumb hurt... a lot... then up my arm... I guess I had overdone the thumb motion thing...My hand swelled up and Terry stands there just looking at me... as if to say -- now what?

I told him to just put me out to the pasture...lol...

It is a lot better this morning... heat and gel and a good nights sleep...

And yes, the jelly is worth the bother and I would do it again..

It's the creative thing.. I can't help it...lol..

The little bouquet of flowers on top is from my husband... what a dear man -- most of the time...lol..

I told him I needed a couple for the picture and next thing I knew he comes in and passes them to me... sweet, eh?  even after 40 years..

I guess you appreciate it all the more when there are no more little grubby hands holding the precious little bouquets up to you.... yes, I miss my children... being still home, I mean....

Well, I must go for now... I am working on this month's Keepers of the Home meeting for this Sat. morning in our fellowship hall at church... If anyone would like to come please email me.. the address is on the side bar.....

Breakfast and making a prim craft ... and who knows what else..

Remember... He is sweeter than dandilion honey...

Till next time, my dears..

OUR DAILY BREAD...

GOOD MORNING....ANOTHER MONDAY.. IT JUST SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WEEKS OF SPRING ARE GOING BY SO FAST..I WANT IT TO TAKE IT'S TIME  BUT TIME LISTENS TO NO MAN AS MY MOM ALWAYS SAYS...

I THOUGHT THIS MORNING I WOULD SHARE A RECIPE WITH YOU THAT I THINK IS ESSENTIAL FOR A MOM TO HAVE.  IN THIS BUSY WORLD THAT YOU GIRLS LIVE IN  I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BLESS YOUR FAMILIES.  IT IS NUTRITIONAL BECAUSE IT  IS SO BASIC.... IT TASTES DELICIOUS BUT BEST OF ALL IT ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES.... YES, IT IS OUR DAILY BREAD... YESTERDAY AT CHURCH I WAS CHATTING WITH A COUPLE OF THE KEEPERS OF THE HOME AND WE WERE DISCUSSING THIS BREAD THAT I HAD POSTED ON MY PRIMITIVE LACE BLOG... I REALLY DID NOT SAY THAT MUCH ABOUT IT..JUST THE YOUTUBE ADDRESS... AS I TOLD YOU IN THE LAST POST.. WE WERE HAVING COMPANY FOR DINNER ON SATURDAY...I MADE THIS BREAD AND THEY LOVED IT... HE SAID IT TASTED LIKE HIS MOM USED TO MAKE AND COULD HE HAVE ANOTHER PIECE...LOL... SURE..
                HERE IT IS...

I MAKE THIS IN A DUTCH OVEN WITH A COVER BUT YOU CAN USE A BOWL AND PLASTIC WRAP... ANYWAY..

PUT IN 3 CUPS OF ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

OR 1/2 WHITE AND 1/2 WHOLEWHEAT

1 1/4 TSP. SALT

1/8 TSP. INSTANT YEAST

NOW TAKE ONE HAND AND STIR WELL TO BLEND

ADD 1 1/2 CUPS WARM WATER

TAKE THE SAME HAND AND BEGIN IN THE CENTRE AND STIR UNTIL ALL BLENDED

OK... NOW JUST COVER IT AND SIT IT ON YOUR COUNTER OR IN THE OVEN OUT OF THE WAY AND FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY..WHENEVER IT IS CONVENIENT FOR YOU.. I HAVE LEFT IT FOR 20 HOURS AND IT IS LOVELY...

NOW 12 HOURS OR HOWEVER LONG LATER ... THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE..

TAKE IT OUT AND PUT ON A FLOURED SPACE SOMEWHERE..

NOW JUST PAT IT GENTLY WITH YOUR HANDS..,.

AND FOLD OVER ..BOTH SIDES AND EACH END..  SPRINKLE THE TOP WITH FLOUR. 

THEN JUST FLOUR A TEATOWEL AND PLACE THE LOAF ON IT . FOLD UP THE TOWEL AND LET IT REST WHILE YOU GET THE OVEN HEATED AND READY.

 HEAT THE OVEN TO 500 DEGREES F...ALONG WITH YOUR POT..

  .    I USE A CAST IRON DUTCH OVEN AS RECOMMENDED ON THE YOUTUBE  VIDEO BUT ONE OF THE KEEPERS JUST USES HER STAINLESS STEEL POT AND I KNOW THAT A CHEF JUST PUTS IT IN A TIN OR COOKIE SHEET BUT LOWERS THE HEAT TO 450 DEGREES.

LEAVE IT IN THERE FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

CAREFULLY TAKE IT OUT AND PLACE IN YOUR BREAD AND BAKE FOR 30 MINUTES COVERED AND THEN TAKE OFF THE COVER AND BAKE ANOTHER 10 -15 MINUTES...

AND THERE YOU ARE... A BEAUIFUL LOAF OF CRUSTY HOMEMADE GOODNESS.

YOUR FAMILY WILL LOVE IT AND YOU WILL HAVE A WONDERFUL FEELING OF SATISFACTION AT MAKING SOMETHING SO GOOD FOR SUCH A SMALL SACRIFRICE OF TIME...

THE YOUTUBE IS NYTIMES NO KNEAD BREAD.. JUST LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE IF YOU WANT TO SEE HOW EASY IT REALLY IS.. A 4 YEAR OLD CAN MAKE IT ACCORDING TO THEM.. WHEN OUR FAMILY WERE HERE FOR DINNER LATELY I HAD MADE THE BREAD.. OUR DAUGHTER AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW COULD NOT BELIEVE I MADE IT... THEY THOUGHT I BOUGHT IT AT A BAKERY...

I LOVE COMPLIMENTS FROM THEM...LOL

WELL, GIRLS HAVE A BLESSED WEEK AND REMEBER TO READ YOUR DAILY BREAD ALSO..

HUGS AND BLESSING FROM ME TO YOU..

FAYE. 

A Keeper of the Home has her going home celebration ...

Good Morning my  dears... just  a very short post today... We have company coming for dinner this evening so I am busy cleaning and cooking.. I have been busy this past week with crafting so I have some catching up to do in the home keeping department...
I just want to leave a wee post to honour a keeper of the home who has gone home to be with her Lord..

Priscilla McGruder

A wonderful saint of God..a prayer warrior and worship leader... a famous songwriter and singer...but most of all a wife and a mom..

She has impacted the lives of thousands and among them is me...

She wrote a song called From Heaven\s Point of View and it has meant so much in my life...

When I don't understand what and why things are happening around me..
I can remember her singing this...

Please pray for her dear family...

It surely makes us appreciate what we have today for who knows what tomorrow may bring..

But like Priscilla my life is in His hands and I can trust......Him...

Love you all...

Enjoy your weekend with your precious families...

Faye