• In the Kitchen

    Cookies… and more.

    December 6, 2011 - By 

    Of all the cookbooks I have — and I have many — surely, among my favourites are by Susan Branch — the different “Heart of the Home” cookbooks I began receiving as gifts after Kathryn was born in 1986.  They were then, and are now, among my treasured books — not only bcz I have enjoyed the recipes so much, but also bcz the books are simply lovely to read… you’ll see. This afternoon, I received her email-newsletter — which I will save —  as I do each newsletter she sends.  They’re far too beautiful not to keep and far…

  • Family - Home Sweet Home - The Home

    It’s a Time to Rejoice

    December 6, 2011 - By 

    Through the years we’ve celebrated “Christmastime” many different ways — some years a little, some years more.  A family tradition here and a family tradition there, but no set (read: unchangeable) tradition.   I think this comes from a mixed reaction to cultural influence/cultural traditions.  It also comes from an ongoing inner debate:  should believers celebrate Christmas?  We’d immediately say: Yes, we should celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but that’s not really the question when people ask: should Christians celebrate “Christmas.”  They’re asking: should Christians celebrate the twisted mix of  truth and tradition, pagan and sacred. …

  • Potpourri - Society

    The Latest Cool Stuff

    December 5, 2011 - By 

    You know when you’re sitting in you Doctor’s office waiting room and you sort of mindlessly thumb through the  magazines on the coffee table and you see things you didn’t even know existed or you see a half torn page and wonder what it was you missed?  Do you  log into Facebook or browse Google  News and see offers or Web ‘gadgets’ you don’t even understand?  Trend watchers, social engineers, movers and shakers all look for them: the latest cool stuff — the next big thing. I remember when I first started blogging… I was keeping a journal of sorts…

  • Devotionals - Family - Gardening

    Fruitful

    November 3, 2011 - By 

    As the fruit and nuts and leaves fall from the trees around our yard, I can’t help but notice the poignant reminder that our lives, too, have seasons — and they change.  As I reflect on this, I am reminded that the most fruitful season may not appear to be the currant one – even though it may appear so with the fruit that is dropping into the baskets at this time. I’m looking ahead to the winter when the trees have no leaves or blossoms or blooms and I’m praying this time will be the most fruitful of all.…

  • Devotionals - Family - Homemaking - Planner - Potpourri

    Mary Thoughts Martha Hands

    October 28, 2011 - By 

    I just came across a little note in my basket… and thought, this is just what I’m needing!  The reminder to have a Mary heart and a Martha mind was the gist of the note.  I’m personalizing it a bit to be: Mary thoughts and Martha hands.   I must be in the Word and in song in order that my heart and mind are stayed on heavenly things.  I must be in the Word and in song that my hands and plans are stayed on heavenly things — working at or accomplishing good things. This is such a needful  reminder…

  • Homemaking - Homeschooling - Motherhood

    the endearing faces

    October 25, 2011 - By 

    I stared blindly at the ceiling as I lay in bed and thought of the evening I’d just spent.  Sleep didn’t seem to come easily. Or soon.  I couldn’t stop thinking of them… their tender, lineless faces, bright smiles, dark hair and the playfulness of youth in their eyes.  And, I couldn’t help but — for a moment —  wish that I were once again in the place they were last night — once again a young mother with seemingly limitless opportunities before me — a young mother with a vast clean slate before me. As I stood there sharing…

  • Devotionals - Homemaking - Homeschooling - Parenting

    What’s Pulling on Your Apron Strings

    October 23, 2011 - By 

    That might sound like a strange title to a message I want to share with you today, but perhaps by the time you finish reading this letter, you’ll have an idea and perhaps realize some things you’ve been wanting to take care of for some time. So, what’s pulling on your apron strings?  You know… the thing or things that nag at you or that seem to be pulling at you from one direction or many.  You may be attempting to work around your home and keep having interruptions or distractions that prevent you from accomplishing what’s really needful.  You…

  • Humour stuff - In the Kitchen - Motherhood - Slices of Life

    Acronyms

    October 20, 2011 - By 

    I was wondering about the origin of the word, Acronym.  And then got to thinking about different acronyms I regularly read.  A few, I couldn’t remember the actual meaning — I see some of them every day, but for the life of me, I cannot remember what they stand for.   In case you are also wondering: if you want to find acronyms and abbreviations you can look here. This, from Dictionary.Reference.com:  Acronym: “1943 coinage from acro-, comb. form of Gk. akros “tip, end” (see acrid) + Eng. -onym “name” (abstracted from homonym; see name). The practice was non-existent before…

  • Gardening - Homemaking - In the Kitchen - Planner - Preparedness Stuff

    Write It All Down Before You Forget

    October 19, 2011 - By 

    If you spend time with me… you know it won’t be very long before you notice me writing something down.  I write lots of notes — I even write notes about notes. Well, tonight in this “write it all down before you forget” blog entry, I actually want to encourage you to add more to your kitchen counter journal  or your kitchen log.  If you don’t have one, may I encourage you do get a notebook — preferably an inexpensive, but thick, “half sheet size” spiral notebook that you can keep in your kitchen to record your daily chores and…

  • Devotionals - More Slices of Life

    a page of a letter

    October 12, 2011 - By 

    I’ve sure been thinking of the serendipity of finding the pages of that letter in the old desk — I shared about yesterday.  In addition to the great wisdom and blessing of the words of these two pages, the fact that they are only part of a longer letter is fascinating to me — fascinating and wonderful.  You know, another wonderful aspect to all this is that it sure blesses me and encourages me further regarding the integrity and depth of grandma’s character — that, and the quality of friends she had. So, here’s a bit more from the letter.…