Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 5

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

Thank You, Lord, for the sunrise and the sunset.  You have set the sun in place, and it warms us and gives us light.  You paint the sky with color each night, more beautiful than any man can create.  Thank You!!

He made the moon for the seasons;

The sun knows the place of its setting.

Psalm 104:18 nasb

I took this picture deliberately with power lines and strip malls, because nothing man can invent can compare to the depth of beauty that God creates each evening.  His creation stands in stark contrast to man's best efforts.  Thank You again, dear Lord!

They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;

You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.

Psalm 65:8 nasb

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about her Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Every Spiritual Blessing

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home Life

This week, Joseph, poor thing, has had a sore throat and cough.  He is fine other than that, and has done his daily activities as usual.  But he did spend one entire day in his pajamas!

Jacob, Danny, and Thomas are working hard at their schooling.  Jacob's and Danny's Rhetoric class at the local community college is going well, and they are currently working on another speech.  This one is a little trickier, since it is about gender roles and the definition of a family, plus they have to work within the constraints of the essays given in their textbook.  We're bathing this issue in prayer, and the Lord will be faithful.


My Kitchen and Garden

The garden has finally petered out.  I thank the Lord for His bountiful harvest for our family, using just three raised bed garden boxes.  I still have tomatoes in bowls all over my kitchen, and though I'd like to space them out as far as eating them goes, I know they need to be eaten once they turn red or I'll have rotten tomatoes!  We're enjoying them while they last.

Here are the peppers we picked off my pepper plants.

Project Desk

I haven't been crafty lately, but I have accomplished some cleaning projects!  My friend Helen and I called each other (for accountability) on Tuesday and spent the entire afternoon cleaning the first floors of our respective homes.  I started in the dining room, and ended up there the entire three hours!  It is amazing to me that I had to spend that much time in that room, since it is one of the cleanest rooms on the first floor.  But, it contained its clutter.  I will blog about the dining room in my Tackle-It post next Tuesday.

I decided I would just pick up each misplaced or "no-placed" item and process it--hang it up, put it away, throw it out, etc.  I found a game I had bought at a summer garage sale, so I de-cluttered the hallway closet and put it away on the shelf with all the games.

I also found the cover for the hallway light fixture!  Kevin, our handyman extraordinaire, had painted much of our first floor, and the cover never made its way back on to the fixture, probably because we were going to clean it!  So Jacob kindly cleaned it, replaced a burned-out light bulb, and got the cover on.  (Confession--Kevin painted about a year ago...)

I spent some time cleaning in the kitchen; boy, can this room get messy even when I'm not cooking!  Below is the counter area next to the fridge, where we pour our drinks.  Another unabashed plug for his services:    Kevin installed the tin backsplash that you see in the photo.

I found the basket in a garage sale (50 cents!), so I used it here to contain Fernando's vitamins and other bottles which were spreading all over the countertop.


Behind the Lens

I finally figured out how to upload photos from Lightroom 3!!  Here is one of my favorites from my photo shoot with Danny (17) and Thomas (14).

Heart Thoughts

I started a weekly Bible study on Thursday mornings with a dear heart-sister in Georgia.  Our phone ringing at 6:30am is an alarm clock for the boys!  We chose the book of Ephesians, which I have studied in depth before.  I thought it would be a little easier for us to read through and study.  *riiight*  :)

Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing

in the heavenly places in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 nasb

We made it through several verses in chapter 1, and got stuck--in a good way--on the phrase heavenly places in verse 3.  The word places is not in the original Greek, which is the word for heaven.  We had a lively and thought-provoking discussion about why Biblical scholars would translate this word heaven in some places, and heavenly places (or, more accurately, heavenlies) in other places.

I'm still mulling over that word.  It is good to meditate on God's Word!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 4

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

In one of my earlier Thanksgiving posts, I referenced the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness.  I shared the verse about "summer and winter, and springtime, and harvest."  I was reminded of this verse again as I ventured out into the cold breezy afternoon yesterday!  We reached 76 degrees just a few days ago, and yesterday, I was wearing a sweater and actually used a coat.  Which brings me to today's post.

The Lord's mighty hand created this earth and made it to spin.  He also made it to tilt on its axis and rotate around the sun.  This gives us our seasons.  Just as I navigate each season with preparation (getting out summer clothing, for example), and anticipation (awaiting Thanksgiving!), I move through the seasons in life with the same disciplines--submitting to the Lord when trials come, patiently learning Biblical teaching, eagerly looking forward to what the Lord is doing in my life.

Today, I am thankful for the seasons--both the spiritual ones, and the physical ones.  Especially autumn!

Please visit Tamara's blog to find out more about her Month of Thanksgiving,

to be encouraged by others' blessings,

and to participate!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG--Yogurt Muffins

My dear friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls at Heart every week;

please click on her button above to visit her blog

and find out how you can participate!

I've been hooked on muffins for several weeks now.  Meaning, once I found a new recipe, tried it, and liked it, I started finding muffin recipes everywhere!  I shared in earlier posts about how I'm trying to keep my recipe binder down to just one binder--why do I need 25 muffin recipes?--and I'm sticking to my guns.

Several versatile recipes are all I need to change things up a bit.  For example, I began with maple crumb muffins.  Then when I didn't have the sour cream needed for those, I searched and found a recipe using cottage cheese.  Yep, you guessed it--I was low on both of those ingredients, but I had some yogurt in the fridge!  The search began, and I found the recipe below.

When I say versatile, I like muffin recipes to which you can add fruit, for example.  I also like changing the flavor by adding lemon or orange peel, a different flavor yogurt, or extra cinnamon and a dash of freshly grated nutmeg.  With these yogurt muffins, I didn't have lemon yogurt--the recipe was billed as "lemon yogurt muffins"--but I did have banana mango yogurt, so I used that.  I made these a second time, and added blueberries to the batter.  Serious yummies.  I also doubled the batch, and, since I have only one muffin tray, I made mini bread loaves with the second batch in my four-loaf mini bread pan.  We're saving those for Sunday morning breakfast when the household is bustling with church service preparations.

As I've written before, make "muffins for breakfast" even easier by prepping the evening before.  Mix together the dry ingredients, cover, and leave on the counter.  Set the butter in the bowl, cover, and leave on the counter to soften overnight.  Pull out the mixer, measuring cup(s), and other tools.  Set the muffin tins out and line them with papers.  It's amazing how quickly breakfast comes together when I do this!

Here's the recipe.  I usually use freshly ground whole-wheat pastry flour in my recipes, which means that the amount of flour listed is a little more than what the recipe called for.  But just a little!

Yogurt Muffins

1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup cane juice crystals (or sugar)
2 eggs
3/4 cup yogurt
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
dash freshly ground nutmeg
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons (or more) lemon juice

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Line muffin tray with papers.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the yogurt and lemon juice.  Combine the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg; stir into the yogurt mixture until just blended.  Spoon batter into the prepared muffin tin.

Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the top springs back when lightly touched.  Allow the muffins to cool for 10-15 minutes before removing them from the tin.

Place the confectioner's sugar in a small bowl.  Stir in the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon at a time, until the mixture is drizzling consistency.  Drizzle over cooled muffins, and allow the icing to set before serving.  (NOTE:  I dipped my muffin tops into the drizzle, then turned them upright and placed them on the serving platter.)

Again, please visit Lori's wonderful blog to find out about

Friday Farm Girls at Heart!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 3

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

I'm wearing a sweater today!  (That is totally unrelated to this post, but I wanted to share it.)

Today, I'm thankful for sons who love each other.

This is Thomas (14) and Danny (17), my two youngest sons.  They have shared lives and a bedroom, toys and books, schoolwork and play.  They are complete opposites in personality.  Isn't it amazing how God does that with siblings?  Danny even taught Thomas to read--I directed him, he taught.

They love each other.  I thank the Lord for them every day.

Please visit Tamara at her blog to read more blessings, to be encouraged in thankfulness, and to find out how you can participate!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving--Blessing 2

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to me.  I see Your steadfast love and abiding joy through the good times and bad, through the peaks and the valleys, in the huge things and in the minuscule cares of this world.

This year, a few friends picked my tomatoes while our family was on vacation.  After returning home, and picking just a few bowls of tomatoes over the next week, I figured that those families had been blessed with the bulk of my tomato crop.  I thanked the Lord and picked the rest throughout the season.  My pole beans seemed to grow but not produce, either.  I thanked the Lord, and decided that maybe I wouldn't plant them next year.

But here it is, practically November, and I've frozen about six one-quart packages of pole beans!  What a late harvest for this part of the country, and for my little garden!  God provided--and even if the beans had never come in, I have learned enough to thank Him anyway.

Several days ago Thomas and I finally ripped out all my tomato plants after harvesting every tomato we could find.  Besides diced tomatoes, salsa, and tomato sauce, I have now canned two dozen jars of green tomato salsa--new recipe, absolutely spicy and yummy.  And there are still four bowls of reddening tomatoes on my counter.  (Yes, look, Lori , they are turning red!!)  It is a reminder of the Lord's faithfulness (and grace) to me.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is Thy faithfulness!  Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided--

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

verse 2 and chorus from the hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tackle-It--Basement "Bomb Shelter"

Have a project that needs completion? Want to be encouraged in getting organized and checking off items on your to-do list? Visit CelticMom by clicking on her button above to learn more and to participate.

Side note:  I'm still trying to figure out my new photography editing software; so far, I can say decisively that I do not like it.  It should not be so confusing to simply save a photo and upload it to my blog.  The only way I could figure out--at this point--was to publish them to Facebook (of all places), then import them to this blog.  If you see photos below, you'll know I was successful in at least that!  Except that now, these photos--which are not beautiful by any stretch of the imagination, but are meant solely for this blog--are on Facebook for my friends to see!  Sigh.  That may very well be my next project...

For now, I will focus on what I accomplished this past week.

Last week, I had canned some green tomato salsa, jalapeños, and pepperoncinis.  But when I brought the jars to our basement "bomb shelter," as we call it tongue-in-cheek, I saw that there was absolutely no room for them.  Empty jars were set haphazardly on shelves, certain items had two different resting places on the shelves, and my one-time organization had faded to general disorder.

Time for a project!  Our storage shelf system is really just one individual shelf system, and my husband assured me that the shelves were rated to hold several hundred pounds.  I think my food weighs more than that, as each shelf has gradually bowed under the weight.  Fernando bought and cut some pieces of wood to shore up the shelves, and with a little modification--thanks for the help, Danny--this new "system" seemed to work on one shelf.

Danny and I worked together to empty one entire shelf, and he carefully placed the pieces of wood under the shelf.

We then undertook the fun task of organizing all the food I had canned!  I had not realized just how many jars I had canned and collected in just a few years!

I also organized the jars in boxes and box lids to keep similar food together and contained.  I thought it would be a little easier to tell things apart.  Maybe I need to label the boxes...

The shelf is bowed up, but it will settle down with the weight

Well, at least one plain box is labeled!  Apples.  Yum.  Speaking of which, there are even more apples waiting for me to process them!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Month of Thanksgiving -- Blessing 1

This post is part of a giveaway at Tamara's blog.

Please click on her tag below to find out more!

This is my first post in Tamara's Month of Thanksgiving.  First and foremost, I am thankful for the gift of Jesus, whom God sent for me.  The fact that He chose me as His child is awesome.  My heart overflows with thanks to Him.

...giving thanks to the Father,

who has qualified us to share

in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness,

and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:12-14 nasb

Back to life,

Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Shield, Anchor, Tower

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home Life

Well, the week didn't start out well.  But that's my perspective.  You can read about Murphy's Law Monday here.  God is good.  :)

Our school schedule evolved a bit this week, with Fernando allowing Thomas to drop Spanish II.  I have also rearranged Danny's schedule to better organize the time he is spending on each of his subjects.  Since he will have almost enough credits to graduate high school at the end of this semester, I dropped a few requirements and will add a few different ones come January.  It should help ease the load he's carrying.

My Kitchen and Garden

I was able to do some canning earlier this week.  I'm so thankful for food put up!  Whenever I go to the basement bomb shelter (that's what we call it), I thank the Lord for the canned apples, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, and pepperoncinis gracing my shelves.  Even typing that all out just now made me realize how blessed our family is.  Thank You, Lord.

Behind the Lens

The Positive:  I started our family photo shoot (for Christmas pictures and to update the boys' wall frames with current photos) this past week.

The Negative--or, The Negative Right Now.  My photos are all sitting in Lightroom, my new photography editing software.  After two solid hours of work, I edited a total of two photos.  I don't even know if the changes will be saved when I return to working on the photos.  In other words, I have never been more thoroughly confused in my life (except maybe that math class in college).  I'm sure that in six months or so I will love Lightroom.  Right now, however, it is not my friend.  And because of these circumstances, I have no extra photos to share today.


Heart Thoughts

It has been an up-and-down week for me, partly due to constant mishaps and accidents, interruptions and frustrations; and partly due to hormones.  *cross eyes*  I have been on the Emotional Roller Coaster, with almost no time to get off and breathe before I scream down another plummet.  Don't get me wrong, though.  God is an ever-present help and shield, sure and steadfast anchor, and a mighty tower of refuge.  I continually remind myself to keep my eyes turned toward Him, even on that downard plummet.  :)

Scripture in my heart for this last week:

Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

Psalm 33:30 nasb

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul,

a hope both sure and steadfast

and one which enters within the veil...

Hebrews 6:19 nasb

The name of the LORD is a strong tower;

The righteous runs into it and is safe.

Proverbs 18:10 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG--Easy Apples

My dear friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls at Heart every week; please click on her button to the right to visit her blog and find out how you can participate!


I still have some apples left to process, so when I happened to flip through my recipe binder and land on this recipe, I realized it was time to make it.  I found this recipe in a Penzeys Spices magazine, and since I love unusual recipes, I saved it.

It uses just a few ingredients, and is quick to put together.  If I do a little prep the night before--set out measuring cups, bowls, and mixer, and pre-measure dry ingredients--it comes together in a jiffy when I come to the kitchen in the morning.  And almost nothing beats the smell of baking apples, especially in the autumn!

Apple Puff

Makes two, which will be gobbled up.

1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick)
4 eggs
1/4 t pure vanilla extract
1 cup fresh whole-wheat flour (or 3/4 cup white)
3/4 cup milk
1/2 t salt
2 medium baking apples, peeled and thinly sliced
2 T cinnamon sugar (plus more to sprinkle on top)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Place 2 T butter in each of two 9-inch pie plates and put them in the oven to melt the butter.  (When removing them, rotate them so the butter coats the bottom and sides.)

Beat eggs, vanilla, flour, milk, and salt on medium speed for one minute.  Toss the sliced apples with 2 T cinnamon sugar.  Arrange half the apple slices in each pan so they cover the bottom in pretty much a single layer (it's pretty if you arrange them in a circle around the outside, then fill in the center).

Give the egg/flour mixture another quick mix, and pour half of it over the apple slices in each pan.  Sprinkle tops with cinnamon sugar to taste.  Bake until puffed and golden brown, 20-25 minutes.  Serve right away, while still puffy.  Top with warm syrup or butter.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tea Talk--Character Exhibited

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...peppermint tea.  My tea cup is the Pfaltzgraff Ocean Breeze pattern, and matches our everyday dishes.  It is shown below (not with peppermint tea!) with a breakfast of cinnamon apple puff (recipe tomorrow).

I'm feeling...tired but calm, and looking ahead to a day filled with activity.

On my mind...I'm asking the Lord for His grace today.  So many mishaps and little accidents have occurred around here this week that I'm wondering what the Lord has in store for me today!  And I'm praying that He gives grace to help me yield to Him throughout His plan for my day.

I leave you with...a quote I just found, which describes my week.  May the Lord grant me grace to submit to His loving plan for me, be it easy or hard, simple or complicated, smooth or full of pits.

Character is not made in a crisis; it is only exhibited.

Robert Freeman

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tackle It--I break, I broke, I have broken

Have a project that needs completion?

Want to be encouraged in getting organized and checking off items on your to-do list?

Visit CelticMom by clicking on her button above to learn more and to participate!

I wasn't going to post today, since I haven't completed any projects I could really take a photo of.  But after the day I had yesterday, I felt that I needed to post.

Here is a synopsis of my Monday:

• I got locked out of the house when I went into the garage to put some recycling in the bin and the door locked behind me.  I had to open the garage door, go to the front door, and ring the bell until Fernando (who had been working out in the basement) ran up to see what was going on at 6:45am.

• Thomas had a major attitude issue (a.k.a. sin) to deal with

• As I squirted spot remover on a pair of grass-stained jeans, the squirter insert popped out and more than half a cup of smelly liquid spurted all over me and into the washing machine.  I changed my clothes, and had to wash the load two times to get the smell out.

• I decided to can the jalapeños and pepperoncinis that had been sitting in bins, then couldn't find the protective gloves.  I sliced the jalapeños anyway, only to find the gloves after I was done.

• Jacob grabbed a plate from the cabinet, and it slipped and broke.

• Joseph left a lower cabinet door open, and Danny walked into it, cracking the door down its seam. 

• One jar of jalapeños broke in the canning pot, sending spurts of liquid out.

• My parents came for dinner (chili was already made), and I overbaked the cornbread.

• As I reached up to grab something out of the cabinet, I burned a chunk of my hair on the flame from the canning pot.

• Fittingly, at the end of the day, Jacob hollered from his bathroom, "I just broke the soap dish...!"

The ten jars of jalapeños and six jars of pepperoncinis on the counter were testimony that something good really did occur on Monday.  And that's why I decided to blog today.

Yes, it was a "project" that I needed to get done.  But, more than that, I think we all have days like yesterday, filled with frustration and one more thing.  Sometimes my agenda for the week--or for the day--doesn't coincide with the Lord's agenda.  But that doesn't mean He isn't good.  Why do I say God is good only when something good happens?  If it is true that God is good (all the time), then God was good yesterday.  So I declare:  God is good.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--First Pure, Then Peaceable

Thank you, Mary, for hosting Weekly Wrap-Up!

It's time to reflect back on my week, to store up memories in my heart,

and to acknowledge the Lord's ways in my life.

To participate with us, please click on Mary's button above.

Home Life

What a week.  I have felt a calmness that can come only from the Lord.  I'm amazed that I feel this way, simply because our days are busy, in my opinion.  I've crossed off three or four items from my to-do list, only to write down five or six more.  I think, like my friend Shani, that I need to just buckle down and schedule some of these to-do items, so they actually get done.  Some of them require me to actually go out and do something, or get something--such as Joseph's handicapped state i.d. card (free, but we have to go to the driver's license facility with proper paperwork and identification).  The rest require simply my time.  Time?  What's that?!

Jacob and Danny turned in writing assignments again this week.  I think Danny is getting over his fear of talking in class, and talking to the professor!  He even emailed her to get an "okay" on which historical references he could use in his paper, after she told him that his example of Corrie ten Boom was not well-known enough to be cited in the assigned essay.  I must have read The Hiding Place dozens of times growing up, so I was somewhat taken aback that someone hadn't heard of Corrie.

Danny completed a few chemistry experiments.  The sales rep at the hardware store lectured Danny for several minutes about the dangers of working with lye.  Needless to say, I was nervous as he worked through the experiment.  But everything went without a hitch.

Also this week, I cut everyone's hair.  And I took pictures!  I keep telling my boys to stop looking so handsome, but they don't listen.  Jacob is still full of hair in the photo below, but he still looks good!

Future police officer/detective

My Kitchen and Garden

I'm still picking--my vegetables, that is!  We've enjoyed almost two glorious weeks of summer-like weather, and my tomatoes and green beans have gone crazy.  Plus, all the little green peppers on my plants are getting bigger.  Even though they're not supermarket-sized, they will work for salads, chili, soup...

I also have canning on my radar.  In fact, it's blipping away loudly as I prepare this wrap-up of my week!  Today is canning day--apples, spaghetti sauce, jalapeños, pepperoncinis... (I won't get it all done!)



My Project Desk

Sadly, I haven't completed any projects this week.  Up in my bedroom, my desk sits empty, waiting for me to work on something.  But Fernando says homeschool is priority, and I'm trying to rest in that.


Behind the Lens

This week, I took the plunge and created business cards for christine anne photography.  I wanted a photo to be imprinted on the cards, so I had to experiment.  Most of the photos I've taken aren't suited for writing to be imprinted on them.  I ended up outside for several different shots.  After creating six different cards, Fernando and I both decided on one--yes, the same one!  Here is a photo that didn't work well for a business card, but it's pretty enough for my portfolio.

Heart Thoughts

We've been reading through and studying James during our dinner hour (more like dinner hour-and-a-half!).  Fernando has gone into depth with word studies, which is one of my favorite things to do.  Here is a passage we studied this past week, with word definitions added.

James 3:17 nasb

But the wisdom from above is first

• pure -- characterized by spiritual integrity
• then peaceable -- peace-loving, peace-promoting
• gentle -- characterized by a sweet reasonableness
• reasonable -- showing obedience to God's standards
• full of mercy and good fruits -- quick to forgive, having a concern for others
• unwavering,
• without hypocrisy --consistent and unwavering, undivided in commitment and conviction, doesn't make unfair distinctions

What a list.  It shows me that I have so far to go in seeking the Lord's wisdom instead of instantly using my own frail human wisdom.  God's foolishness is wiser than my greatest wisdom, and most times I can't grasp even His foolishness!  I read verses like these with a hunger to continue to seek after His wisdom, and with a humility that acknowledges that without Him, I am nothing.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG--A Versatile Breakfast

My dear friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls at Heart every week; please click on her button to the left to visit her blog and find out how you can participate!

Since I've posted so many pictures of pancakes, I thought I'd share the recipe with you.  If I haven't made preparations the night before, my boys will thoughtfully mix all the dry ingredients together for me in the morning.  They'll get out the griddle, pancake flipper, and everything else I need to get breakfast on the table.  I love my boys.  :)

Night-before prep is easy with this recipe; just mix all the dry ingredients together, and place measuring cups/spoons out so that in the morning you can pull all the wet ingredients together quickly.  Enjoy!

Whole-Wheat Pancakes

2 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup cane juice crystals (or granulated sugar)
1 T + 1 t baking powder
1/2 (or so) cups rolled oats
1/4 cup lecithin granules (optional)
1/4 cup ground flax seed (optional)
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups milk (less or more, depending on how thick you like the batter)
2 T oil (I use olive)

Stir together dry ingredients.  Add wet ingredients to dry; mix well (will probably be a little lumpy).  Pour about 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake onto a lightly oiled griddle or heavy skillet.  Cook until golden brown on bottom, flipping to cook other side when pancake has a bubbly surface and slightly dry edges.  Serve with pure maple syrup, honey, butter, fruit topping, etc.  You can also add about a cup of chopped fruit to the batter.

I have posted so many pictures of pancakes that I'm not going to post one today!  And I know this has nothing to do with pancakes or even breakfast, but here is a garden photo from just a few days ago.  My September harvest is still going strong even in October; praise the Lord!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tea Talk--Joy of My Heart

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...my regular Scottish breakfast tea, robust and enlivening for this morning.  Since I have only a few different tea cups and mugs, and I've already shown then, here is a shot of breakfast on Tuesday.  For some reason, I love taking photos of pancakes--goofy, I know.  Thomas instigated things for this shot, however.  He arranged everything on his plate and hollered, "Hey, Mom!  Go get your camera before I pour the syrup!"  How can a photographer mom resist that??

Blueberry-strawberry pancakes with strawberry topping and syrup

I'm feeling...calm but busy.  We're in a decent routine, and home and homeschool life have settled into a comfortable rhythm.  However, there are still several items on my to-do list, and they're tapping insistently at the back of my brain.  And yet a few more have been added this week.  I need to check a few of them off!

On my mind is...going out to get more cream!  I ran out when I had my cup of tea this morning.  For me, this is a crisis, as I always have my morning tea with cream.  It's the same thing with ketchup for our boys--if we run out, panic sets in.  ;)

I leave you with...a verse from Psalms that I came across this morning.  It lifts me up, and I hope it encourages you, too!

I have inherited Your testimonies forever,

For they are the joy of my heart.

Psalm 119:111 nasb

inherited -- to get as a blessing
testimonies -- admonitions, ordinances, or warnings
joy -- exultation, rejoicing, gaiety, gladness, rejoice greatly

The Lord's commands are a joy, not meant to put me under His thumb, but meant as my inheritance of blessing!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tackle-It--What if the Shirt DOESN'T Fit??

Last week's warm weather prompted me to pull out a few new blouses that I had recently bought at clearance prices for next summer.  When I bought them, I knew I'd have to tailor them a bit.  Again, my caveat:  I AM NOT A SEAMSTRESS!  I have just figured things out on my own.  My figuring may be wrong, but it works.

Isn't the blouse above pretty?  I love the sleeve and its button closure.  Unfortunately, these types of sleeves do not fit around my arms, which just happen to be larger.  I personally think that clothing manufacturers do not realize that when they make a size large blouse, the arm opening in the sleeve should also be large.  (Yes, I wear a large.  I'm broader in the shoulders and, well, too blessed to wear a medium.)

As I searched for and tried on and discarded and searched some more for feminine blouses that I can wear during the warmer seasons, my mind's wheels were turning.  Could I somehow alter the armholes so they would work for my arms?  I unbuttoned one of the blouses' arm buttons, and the fit was comfortable.  Could I somehow make this opening larger?  Hmmm...

I purchased a few blouses, brought them home, and went to work on the first one.  I first removed the button from each of the sleeves.

I placed each side of the closure end to end, and sewed it closed.  That created about a half inch more of room.

Then I had to somehow cover up the fact that I sewed the closure shut.  I knew I'd have to sew one button over the button hole to make it look like it was closed with a button.  Well, how about using three buttons?  I sewed one button over the hole, a second one over the seam, and a third one an equal distance to the right of the second.

The sleeve pulls on my arm just a teeny bit when I reach my out straight out in front of me.  But it is not at all uncomfortable, and the solution was a good first try.  I have sewn only this blue blouse so far, with about three more to finish.  Hopefully I'll get this technique down and have four wonderful bargain blouses for this lovely warm weather so late in October!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne