Fondest Memories

During the holidays we remember our treasures with fullness of heart and we give thanks for the infinite wonder of love and the sweet blessings of friendship.

Crochet Galore

Sights and Sounds of Heavenly Grace

There are times that we are blessed with moments of heavenly grace and times that we actually slow down enough to experience that heavenly grace.  After a night and day of snow it looks like we may have a white Christmas this year.  It was a really pretty snow with the resounding hush by the time we arrived home last night ... and just beyond the back yard at the edge of the orchard stood two deer.  The sights, the sound ... untouched by human hands, but made by hands of greatness and the ultimate of love.

What is it about the hush?  Its snuggly and cuddly and comforting.  It sounds like what being tucked in feels.  Isn't it funny how the lack of sound can be so clearly heard?  Its one of my favorite things ... the hush.  And I look forward to it every winter.  It came profoundly this year.

The wonder of the season ... filled with sights and sounds of heavenly grace.  I don't need to wish you heavenly grace, its there for the taking.  God bless.

The Blessings of Christmas

I love the crisp air, the ice shimmering on the tree branches, the songs of good cheer and Christmas greetings and fortunately there are a few radio stations who have been playing non stop since Thanksgiving.  I was most disappointed when I went grocery shopping over the weekend and no Christmas songs being played.  I find myself more and more in conversations with those of my era talking of how it was and how we miss those days.   One lovely memory that I quite often reflect on is a simple one.  Nothing profound, nothing super outstanding, but a memory that touches my heart deeply.  

I remember one December afternoon after school (high school ... many years ago ... ok, we're talking about 45 plus years ago) and my girlfriend and I walked downtown to do some Christmas shopping.  Did you catch that - we walked!  How far?  I would say a few miles.  We did that then, didn't think much of it.  Pounding the pavement, most generally, that's how we got around.   The main thoroughfare, of course appropriately named Broadway,  was where the department stores were; the main shopping district ... Sears and Robuck, Fishmans, Woolworths - the original five and dime,  lots of small shops, two movie theaters, restaurants.  The street was decorated with lighted garland strung across the street at each lamp post or pole, a wreath on each side,  for the entire length of the street.   A few years ago the city started decorating again but not to the degree of earlier days.  It was so festive, so beautiful, so Christmas.

A few doors before Sears and Robuck was Texas Weiners.  I don't think there's a person for miles around that didn't know Texas Weiners.  They had the most amazing hot dogs and chilli sauce.  As soon as you hit downtown the aroma of that sauce was in the air.  You could not go shopping without stopping for a weiner ... the scent filling the cold air just sucked one right in.  It was all part of the holiday, it was part of our Christmas.  One thing I do not remember is what purchases we made, there must have been something because gift shopping was what we were doing, but that's not what I remember.

I remember the crisp, chill of the air, the twilight and then the darkness coming making the Christmas lights so bright and bold and cheery.  I remember the bell of the Santa at the corner and people stopping to chat with him.  I remember hearing over and over again the words "Merry Christmas" ... in the stores, on the street.  The hustle, the bustle, the chatter among the shoppers.  I remember being able to walk the streets, just the two of us and there was no fear.

We walked back up Broadway almost as far as we had come down to where my father worked.  It had begun snowing as we started back.  It was almost magical, the waterglobe like snow, the lights, the sounds of  the season.  It was like a scene out of a movie.  It was a long time ago, a time that was quieter, a time where two highschool girls without a care in the world but to notice the beauty of the season and not knowing then that some day those moments would so reflect the blessings of Christmas.

I wish you the blessings of the season,

 the blessings that only Christmas can bring.

One

A friend of mine was in visiting from the west and we met for coffee and dessert the night before last.  Oh my gosh!!!  She is a few years younger then me and looks many years younger.  She has been following a plant based food diet (vegan) for over a year now and medications are gone, cholesterol is good and as she said she "feels light as a feather" and let me tell you, she looks light as a feather.  Her husband's blood pressure, which was very high, is at a great level and without meds.

I guess you know where I am going with this, and maybe foolishly before the holidays, but feeling good and the possibility of reducing the number of medications has once again invited me to do more then take a look but to make the good old college try for me and my husband.  He not being a fan of brown rice (whole grains are very important) got me to dig out a recipe I found a while back for a perfect cooked rice.  Guess what, he liked it!  Usually I found brown rice either undercooked or mushy.  This is a keeper recipe and so very easy.

Rinse 1 cup of brown rice in cold water for 30 seconds.
Bring 8 cup of water to a boil.
Add rice and cook 30 minutes.
Drain rice, return to hot pot, cover and let sit 20 minutes.
Perfecto!  Can't get any easier then that.

There was this wonderful recipe of beans and brown rice but I didn't have all the ingredients so I just added
black beans, corn, salsa, onions, chilli powder ... broth would have been nice but I didn't have vegetable broth ... its now on my grocery list.  Its quite tasty and I'm sure will be even more when I have all the right ingredients.  This is my supper tonight.

The book I'm reading is calling for a 28 day challenge and I know that I will have to make an exception for Christmas but here's to day one.  Stay tuned and wish me luck!

Best to your weekend...

Advent Begins

Come Jesus

   And be born in our hearts.