A Winter Memoir

                                                                                                                                                

 
















via


The dusk had gathered like a curtain closing in the day. 
I realised my youngest was still outdoors somewhere in the clear,crisp edge of evening.
Thinking I should check on her I went to the door and called her name and asked  " Are you still out here somewhere?"
"Who me?" her voice echoing off the barn came back. "Yes,under the mulberry tree."
I closed the door and smiled. I couldn't call her in just yet, homework and piano practice would wait.

After all childhood is brief, and dreams must be dreamed when you're young, before they are buried by life, and it's constant demands,of purpose and duty and good, honest work.
I drift back to the innocent days of childhood.Oh how winter evenings would lure me out to experience their mesmerizing power. I remember the feeling of exhilaration as I coasted down the long hill in our field, and finally rolling off at the bottom I'd stare up at the star filled  heavens and wonder about life and meaning but not really caring too much... because my world felt  safe and happy here on this tiny piece of  earth.

There was a song waiting to be discovered deep inside of me....but for the moment it wasn't important because here on a snow covered hill staring up at a thousand twinkling stars, my life was significant and promising, and that was really all that mattered.
There was a delicious supper waiting for me inside,and siblings and parents who cared about me.

 Life was simple and unblemished as it should be.

                   And things looked ever so clear ...
            on a dark and frosty, starlit winter's night.

                   my younger sister and I.( I think I was  4)suddenly I feel very old:)

   Home is a starting place for dreams and love.


313-finally a decent cover of snow,314-reciting scripture we've memorised,315-skating together,316-floor shopping with hubby,317-fireplace fixed again,318-smoke alarm that woke daughter who woke us,319-baking,320-homemade soup,321-understanding sisters,322-patience beyond myself sometimes,323-trying to listen more,324-enjoying Love and Respect study together,325-prayer power,326-hugs ,327-hubby laughing insanely at Duck Dynasty,328-acceptance in the fact that we are very different,329-gratitude in that fact!330-winter clearance sales,331-Target and Starbucks coming soon,332-fruit that I canned in the summertime,333-seasons of life,334-health for so many of us,335-dreams,336-love in my heart ,337-tucking in kids at night,338-learning from my children,339-reading to them,340-antidote of that fresh winter air.

The Gift Of A Bargain Movie

Sometimes sitting down as a family and watching a movie together can feel like a gift, and sometimes that movie can be the gift.
Recently we watched the movie THE ULTIMATE GIFT.
It is a profound and stirring movie.It has all of what I consider important elements of a great movie,
  wise wit and humor, cute actors,good music and beautiful scenery,( it does have a couple frightening scenes for young children,my two youngest chose not to watch these.) but most importantly it delivers something to take away with you, to hide in your heart and learn from....

My children are at the age where it can be increasingly difficult to find a movie we all enjoy, that is appropriate, and worth our time.
I don't believe  things just happen, so I know God's hand was in even such a simple thing as leading me into the store that I usually don't go in and searching through a bargain bin and finding this movie.

I just love when something as entertaining; but thought provoking, as a movie  can hit home and hopefully say things to my children that can influence their teenage perception of life and beyond.
That is certainly what I took from this movie,
and as my children grow and find themselves in a world driven and obsessed by greed and self... I hope that the seeds that have been planted in their hearts in various ways;  some by the mere power  of a movie they watched at home on a windy, Saturday evening , will somehow shape and mold them into being instruments of gratitude and  grace far beyond themselves.

             

"The school will teach children how to read, but the environment of the home must teach them WHAT to read. The school can teach them how to think, but the home must teach them WHAT to believe." ~ Charles A. Wells

                                                                      ( also true for movies I think.)

  
side note...' I  can't believe this movie has been out since 2006, and I don't think I have ever heard of it!!! - actually I can believe it..., movies aren't really something I stay on top of. :)
now I would like to read the book as it has been my experience that the books tend to be better, I have a hard time believing that in this case, but I will find out!


                Do you have a favorite movie?? and why?

Snippets Of Pretty

The remaining rays of the late, afternoon sun through a window.

Frozen stems of hollyhock are silhouetted to paint a striking view.

                                 I try to soak it in...

  while I ponder the power of words....too often I've spoken in haste,which is why I know this VERSE so well....

Some 

things 

are better

held back....

     

    pretty; holding flowers and photos I treasure..

 pretty can be cracked and broken, more useful that way.....

         and pretty can reflect....so smile!

         pretty exudes warmth.....which is always in style.

                   pretty is,as pretty does ....( Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables)

    the array of pots rather amazed her at first,but John was so   fond of jelly, and the little jars would look so pretty
                     on the top shelf. Louisa May Alcott


       Since we cannot change reality,let us change the eyes 
                    which see reality.- Nikos Kazantzakis 

 
               
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ca/

     

The Art Of Bread Making

I have always enjoyed baking. There is pure joy and satisfaction in mixing up simple ingredients and producing profound results.
No single ingredient is particularly wonderful all on it's own, but combined and baked together they can become a taste sensation!( Isn't this sort of like people? Many of us become better indviduals when others  bolster and encourage us to be all we can be!)

If perhaps you have never tried baking bread from scratch I thought I'd 'show ' you today...
in a large bowl, put;
4 cups water,(I use 2 cups boiling, and 2 cups cold)

 add 4 tblsp. oil (or shortening)
3 tblsp. sugar
3 tsp.salt
Stir.
in a smaller bowl, put 4 to 6 cups of flour, and add 2 generous tablespoons yeast.( I use Fleishmanns instant yeast,this is the kind to mix with flour,not water)
Now add the flour and yeast mixture to water (which should still be warm)
Keep adding flour.(you may add wh. wheat flour here, ground flax or wheat germ etc.)The dough should be soft, not sticky, once you have enough flour.

 Dump out the dough onto a floured surface and knead.....

this is the fun part...:)
 a therapy of sorts...


I wonder if there would be
 world peace if everyone 
baked bread?

after all this...
place in bowl, cover and find a warm spot to let it rise.(i use my stove top if the oven is going)

           in an hour or two, it should look like this....

 here the dough goes back to the counter, and you cut four loves from it...

 place in greased pans and prick with fork...(to remove air bubbles)
(kids love this..)

here they are...
 tucked into their pans, ready to go back to the stove top to rise again!
(I cover them to keep warmth in,I use a plastic bag and then a tea towel)

                                      once the loaves have risen slightly higher than the pan , they are ready to bake.
Temperature really depends on your oven..350 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 some minutes is a guideline.


now bake...oops no picture!

after you have removed them from the oven,butter the tops slightly and cool.







I've heard it said...if you're looking to sell your house. the smell of freshly baked bread will do it! 
(I wonder if it could also make them  want to keep it??)

          there you have it! Four delicious loaves, waiting to be sliced and 
                      enjoyed with butter, honey or cheese. 



In honor of my mother ( who taught me bread making) I want to include this verse.... I remember her reciting it on occasion.

                         Be gentle when you touch bread
                     Let it not lie uncared for--unwanted
                        So often bread is taken for granted
                     There is so much beauty in bread  

                       Beauty of sun and soil                 
                   beauty of honest toil.
                                Winds and rain have caressed it,
                   Christ often blessed it
                         Be gentle when you touch bread.

                                                                         (author unknown)