FFG -- Gourmet Granola

My amazing friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls @ Heart every week;

please click on her button to visit her blog

and to find out how you can participate!

A bowl of homemade granola

I'm slowly recovering from my back injury, and I'm happier this week!  I'm able to move around a bit more freely, and because of needing to stand frequently, I have found myself in my kitchen more often.  My practical farm-girl heart says, "If I need to stand, I may as well stand in the kitchen and do something!"

One morning, I enlisted the boys' help to make granola.  I posted a photo of this once a long time ago, but this time, I have photos and the recipe!!  :)

cinnamon, coconut chips, pepitas

Christine's Granola

This is a double recipe; the amounts are easier!  I usually triple the recipe to have extra throughout the week.  I list alternate ingredients (and notes) in parentheses, just in case you don't use what I use.  :)

1 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
1/2 cup coconut oil (or other oil)
1/2 cup honey
1 t vanilla
24 oz. rolled oats (sorry I don't know how many cups this is; I use a scale)
1 T cinnamon
1/2 t sea salt

Optional Ingredients (I use the above for plain granola, and add the below for "gourmet" granola; you can add as many or as few as you like!)
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds; I use raw Mexican)
1 cup coconut chips (from my bulk co-op, they are sweetened coconut shavings and totally yummy)
1 cup chopped nuts (I use a combination of raw walnuts, pecans, and slivered almonds)
1 cup raisins or other dried fruit (a friend just gave me dried cherries!!)

Combine sucanat, coconut oil, and honey in a saucepan.  Cook over low heat until sucanat is dissolved (it will be shorter if you use brown sugar).  Stir in vanilla.  Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients--I usually add the dried fruit after baking--in a large bowl and mix to combine.

Pour the liquid mixture into the oatmeal mixture, stirring until completely combined.  Spread into a baking pan, and bake at 375 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.  Remove to stovetop or potholders and stir in raisins.  Stir the mixture as it cools (it will become one single clump if you don't!).  Store in an airtight container; I use canning jars.

Stir to lift oats from the bottom of the bowl--this will help thoroughly combine the ingredients

See?  Warm granola + cold milk = large clump :)

Glass jar storage

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--This is My Comfort

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.

This Weekly Wrap-Up is going to be short and sweet.  Well, short, at least.  I need to get to a couch to give my back a break.  It is really aching now, but oh, how I've missed blogging this week!  The Lord had other plans for my life, however, and I am content in that.  Without further ado...


Home Life

The Lord allowed my back to "go out" on Wednesday morning, to the point I was in utter agony by that evening, and immobile until some time on Friday.  When I could focus, I spent time in Psalm 119.  God's Word is a balm.

My view from the couch as my guys made Wednesday dinner.  :)

Jacob and Danny finished college classes and finals by Tuesday.  Everyone is happy.  :)

Danny is happy.

Jacob is happy, too.

My Kitchen and Garden

I baked whole-wheat peanut butter cookies on Tuesday, right before injuring my back.  God's timing is impeccable.  :)  (They turned out yummy, by the way.)

My Project Desk

...sits empty for the time being.


Behind the Lens

My first piece of official mail for my business!

The hilarious thing is that this particular piece of mail was from the county clerk's office, who returned my assumed business name application.  Apparently, they do NOT accept temporary checks.  Now that I have my "real" checks, I have to re-submit the application.  *rolls eyes*


Heart Thoughts

My heart has focused on the Lord this week.  That focus always gets keener when I'm experiencing trial, for which my back pain definitely qualifies.  As I lay in bed Thursday morning, wondering if I'd ever be able to get up to take a shower, I carefully read Psalm 119.  Here are a few verses that stuck out to me, and that I leave you with (all from the NASB).

My soul weeps because of grief;

Strengthen me according to Your word.

verse 28

This is my comfort in my affliction,

That Your word has revived me.

verse 50

It is good for me that I was afflicted,

That I may learn Your statues.

verse 71

I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous,

And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

O may Your lovingkindness comfort me,

According to Your word to Your servant.

May Your compassion come to me that I may live,

For Your law is my delight.

verses 75-77

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU -- Contented Celebration

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.

Saturday, 11:24am--starting this post.  (I want to see how long it takes me to get this posted!)


Home Life

As I listen to Jacob's less-frequent cough, I thank the Lord for health.  No one else has caught his cold, which is a good thing since next week is finals week for Jacob and Danny.  Will I ever be especially glad when Danny walks through the door after completing his Rhetoric final.  He agonized his way through the class, and obsessed about every essay paper assigned.  But he's pulling an A so far, and as long as he gets his outline prepared for the final exam, he should be fine.  (The students are allowed to bring an outline for the in-class essay final.)

Jacob is an excellent student, and rarely asks for my help--except for commenting and making suggestions on his papers, proofreading them, and typing them for him (he can't stand typing!).  He offered me Trader Joe's dark chocolate peanut butter cups to type his final Psychology essay.  That was a no-brainer "yes" for me!!

Joseph likes to read through his brothers' papers, too!

Christmas decorations are all up, or at least the ones I'm willing to put up!  If you step into my home, you'll be greeted by a cheery Christmas-y foyer, and you'll see the tree--with my grandmother's manger set nestled at its base--in our front living room.  If you step beyond the hallway, however, the rest of the house is as it appears each and every day.  I just don't have storage space for lots of decorations, and I'm also way too practical to have lots of decorations!

It has been a peaceful season, since we aren't shopping for gifts this year.  We, along with our extended family (a small crowd at 11 people), decided to celebrate Christmas differently this year.  There is no hustle and bustle, and so far our outside activities have been minimal.  It's very nice.  :)


My Kitchen

I've been enjoying cooking a bit more, because it warms the kitchen and I can fend off feeling cold for a little bit.  (I'm almost always cold all winter long.)  I have a Nutri-Mill recipe for whole-wheat peanut butter cookies in my plans for the next few days.  That might be the only cookie recipe I prepare this month!  We'll see how it goes.

We've been blessed with some fresh vegetables and fruits, and a few other food items, over the last few weeks.  We have used them to create and enhance some delicious meals, and we are still in the mode of giving thanks for what the Lord has provided.  God is good.  He has blessed us beyond measure, and we need to remember Him in this abundance.

Enchiladas for dinner

I turned my portion into Enchilada Salad!

Though my vegetable garden is "closed," I still have a few little purple onions in the fridge, and I slice them up for salads and things.  Though they are little, they are strong!  Plus we continue to enjoy the various salsas, jalapeños, tomatoes, and apple products that I've canned this year.

My Project Desk

I actually altered a blouse this week!  I have hooks/eyes to sew on between the front buttons, but I have taken in the sides.  I found this blouse at a resale shop some friends took me to a few months ago, and it was brand-new with the tags still on!  It is a very tailored, very well-made blouse, and I hope to wear it for a long time.  Photos soon...


Behind the Lens

I have been busy getting my ducks in a row with Christine Anne Photography.  I now have a business checking account, and have filed my business name with the county.  Once I hear back from them, I have to publish a notice in the local newspaper for three weeks, then make sure the newspaper files (I can't remember what document) with the county.  Then I'm official!  It seems like a long process for this little business.

I try to take pictures of something every day, but life happens, and my business is not my life.  It really is a hobby, and a passion, and I don't want to lose the heart of my love of capturing people and things on film.  I do have some upcoming business opportunities, about which I'm excited and nervous all rolled into one!  I'll tell you about it soon.  For now, enjoy this photo of a cinnamon-oat muffin to which I added blueberries.

Heart Thoughts

Since we're wrapped up in the Christmas season (hey, that's a nice pun!), I thank the Lord for His peace and His perspective during this time when our culture has mega-commercialized the greatest event in history and in our faith.  But we are to enjoy this season of reflection, waiting, and celebration, no matter our circumstances.  We are to be content in the current situation in which we have been placed.  For truly the Lord has led us here--or has allowed us to walk here--and we need to remember to celebrate with joy and contentment.

...for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

I know how to get along with humble means,

and I also know how to live in prosperity;

in any and every circumstance I have learned

the secret of being filled and going hungry,

both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11b-13 nasb

I frequently quote "I can do all things..." when I am faced with a challenge, but it is interesting that in context, it is linked to contentedness.  Contentedness is the secret to the knowledge that I can indeed do all things through Him who strengthens me.

End Note:  It's only 12:26pm!!  I thought I'd be working on this post over a couple of days--thank You, Lord!!  :D

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Our Day of Thanks -- Post-Mealtime!

As I worked on editing the rest of our Thanksgiving pictures, I found yet one more thing to thank the Lord for--the fact that He allowed me to take so many photos!!  Usually I have five or six, and that's it.  But I get to post a "Thanksgiving, Part II" today!  Yay!

Okay, back to the story.  :)

The meal was prepared, cooked or baked, and set out on the table.  My dad gave thanks to the Lord for not only the food, but family, and health, as well.  Mealtime for our gang is always a talkative time, with laughter all around.  We share family jokes about the rolls and butter (sorry if you're not family!).  Mealtime is special.

There were a lot of leftovers this year!  We always worry about making enough food, but there's always too much.  Why is that, I wonder?  What a blessing, though, to have leftovers to share!  We usually share all the food among ourselves, making sure my bachelor brother has a good portion to take home.

Different people help each year to clean up.  My dad chipped in with rinsing some dishes and loading the dishwasher.

What invariably happens after mealtime?  You guessed it:

Our family warns you that you're fair game if you fall asleep!  We photographers have turned it into an art form, especially when we're on vacation.  Post-mealtime on Thanksgiving works just as well, too!  Happy naptime!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG -- Our Day of Thanks Part I

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

please click on her button to visit her blog

and find out how you can participate!

I'm so glad Lori asked us to share our Thanksgivings today!  I'm not so happy that I don't have the time to edit all the photos I took!  That's okay, though, 'cause I get to share Thanksgiving over several posts--yay!

Every year, we spend a day or two in food preparation, then on Thanksgiving Day, pack it all up in the back of our Suburban and make the short 20-minute drive to my parents' home.

My mom already had a few Christmas decorations set out!  She is so much better at it than I am.  Besides the tree, I put one or two things out, and hope it looks good.  :)

The aroma of turkey roasting in the oven fills the house as we all eagerly tromp on inside to greet Grandpa and Grandma.  Everyone shares hugs, and Thomas takes the initiative of giving me one, too--he's so silly but he doesn't realize I appreciate it!

Of course, Thanksgiving wouldn't be complete without some football on TV.  My parents have a finished basement, which is nice since the guys turn on the TV down there, and the kitchen/family room area remains conducive for conversation and laughter.

Mom wanted me to take a picture of the turkey as it cooked.  It already looked yummy, but had a little longer to go.

Mom makes everything from scratch--and so do I.  I got her to show off her homemade applesauce, one of the guys' favorites.

Of course, having my camera meant I had to find some good photos!  I took advantage of the side light from the lamp to snag this image of Danny.  Nice!

Mom toasted me as we both worked to get all of the dishes ready.  There was a LOT of food.

Jacob spent the waiting-for-dinner time reading a book I had recommended.  He finished it by the day's end, of course.  Typical Jacob.

The turkey was done!

The table was filling up.

Time for the meal!  I forgot my tripod, so I'm (typically) not in the photo this year.  And I got just part of Jacob!

Of course dinner was filled with delicious food and lots of conversation and laughter.  My dad sure knows how to have fun!

And that's the end of Part I.  Now it's time to go do laundry, and to prepare for a trip to Wisconsin tomorrow!  (We're all excited about driving three hours to get a Christmas tree; how's that for weird?!)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  "See" you soon!!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

WWU--Heartily as to the Lord

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

My young men are staying busy with school.  Danny, forced to work within the constraints of his textbook, is still agonizing over his argumentative essay due next week.  He at least has a general idea of what to write about; he needs to get it into outline form and find some quotes from his textbook.  Then he'll really be on his way.  Everyone else is working hard, getting things done, and life is settled.

I think back to early September, when I was so overwhelmed with starting homeschool and assisting with college classes...  Praise the Lord for steady routine!  I still have a long-and-growing-longer to-do list, but with the Lord's strength, I am getting things done!


My Kitchen and Garden

I canned the last of the jalapeños, which Becki gave to me.  Thank you, Becki!  I had to use half-pint jars, since that was all I had left, and I canned 21 jars.  My spicy-lovers are happy!

My Projects

Hmm, no craft projects to report this week.  Just cleaning, organizing, keeping things de-cluttered.  I will post soon about cleaning my dining room.  It's nice to have a clean, tidy room that welcomes you when you peek in!


Behind the Lens

The Lord has brought several photography projects my way.  I had three photo sessions in an eight-day span last week!  I'm currently editing photos from my borrowed daughter's senior portrait session.  She was so sweet--she sat where I asked her to, tilted her head, smiled, laughed.  We had a great time together!  I will post photos of her soon on my photography blog. Below is one of my favorite photos from a session I did last week with two sisters.  This photo is of the little one.  Precious!

I also just purchased a 50mm f1.4 portrait lens, and the bokeh is amazing (sorry for the technical language!).  Bokeh is basically the blurriness of the background, so the focus is drawn to the sharp point of what the photographer wants the viewer to focus on.  The below picture demonstrates this concept.  Yep, I dream about this stuff!

Heart Thoughts

I connected to the Friday Farm Girls @ Heart meme at Lori's blog yesterday about the Lord's awesome power, and I'm still stuck on those thoughts.  It's a good thing to be stuck on!  The thoughts ran toward this--that my life is to glorify Him.  I am not to think, "I'm going to do something outstanding for God," as if I'm going to do the accomplishing.  I am simply to trust and obey, and to be outstanding in the realm in which He has placed me.

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 nasb

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men,

knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.

It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

Colossians 3:23-24 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

FFG--Out Standing, Outstanding

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!

Preface:  I started a "phone Bible study" with my heart-sister in Georgia last week, but yesterday, I overslept!  And her toilet was leaking, so she was a little distracted.  At 1:00 the realization hit that I never called her for our 6:30am (central time) Bible study hour.  Big oops, but we both laughed over our circumstances, and had an impromptu 15-minute study instead of our usual hour.

That said--and keep trusting me that this really is a Farm Girls post--here is the passage we studied:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,

so that you will know what is the hope of His calling,

what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might

which He brought about in Christ,

when He raised Him from the dead

and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion,

and every name that is named,

not only in this age but also in the one to come.

And He put all things in subjection under His feet,

and gave Him as head over all things to the church,

which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:18-23

Keep reading!  It's a Bible study but it touches my Farm Girl heart!  Really!

Dee and I stopped on the phrases surpassing greatness of His power and strength of His might.  We guessed--correctly--that the word power was the Greek dounamis, from which we get our English dynamite.  From the phrase strength of His might, we discovered that the word strength is also translated as dominion, and the word might is simply His strength.  Slightly confusing, but I think the Lord (through Paul) is emphasizing the incredible power, might, and strength that He possesses.  Look at what the Lord did, through His power:

• He raised Christ from the dead
• He seated Christ at His right hand
• He seated Him far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, every name named
• He seated Him in this age and in the one to come
• He put all things in subjection to Christ
• He made Him head over all things
• He called the church the body of Christ
• He calls the church His fullness

That's pretty powerful!  After we talked about how the Lord should be preeminent in our lives, and that our life is not about us, but all about Him, and His being glorified, Dee commented about a book that she is reading by Blackaby (Chosen to be God's Prophet, about Samuel I think).  She paraphrased that our desire is to do something great/incredible for God, when He wants simply our trust and obedience.  He will cause efforts to succeed, or fail.

When Dee mentioned our desire to do something outstanding for God, I remembered something humorous my dad said:  "I know this farmer out standing in his field."  Or was it, "...outstanding in his field?"  *wink*

Obviously, I would love to accomplish something outstanding for the Lord!  But the Lord wants me to be out standing in my home, outstanding in my home:  loving my husband, nurturing my children, and yes, doing the dishes.  He will work what He desires in my life.  I am to trust and obey.

So, if you ring my doorbell today, you will probably find me out standing in my kitchen.  :)

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