Time to wake up ... 
               it's a brand new day.

stay tuned ... deciding on maybe a new name, new thoughts ... 

             on a brand new day!

 
                                                                                                                      

More then a beautiful day in the neighborhood ... sitting by the kitchen windows, sipping a hot cup of brew, watching the colored leaves swirling in the wind in the quiet hours of the morn.  This time of year always amazes me ... the vibrance is incredible.   The handiwork of God, breathtaking.   Yours for the taking.

May all be well with you.

Crochet Galore

Murphy's Law

So much for a comeback ... I dusted a cobweb here and one there and lo and behold my computer got hacked.  Getting back into the groove both here and on line again.

Getting ready for this week's walk into the holiest season of the year.  Be back in a while.

                                                                                                         Blessings in abundance ...                                                        
                                                                                                            

Where has the time gone ...

Its been a long time ... may be time to dust off the cobwebs.

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.

Happy Saturday Morn

Well, I'm up and about for more then several hours now, rising very early with all kinds of plans in my head for cleaning, washing, cooking and so far I've managed a load of laundry and have produced a cup of coffee and settled here a while ago surfing around looking for pillow patterns.  I may have to break down and order a book as I saw a lovely crocheted pillow sham.

We were fortunate that the predicted ugly storm weather bypassed us giving us instead sunshine along with the cold.  That we can handle.  The sinus ... well that's another story and the reason for the hold-up on the morning activities.  Usually by this time I have most of everything done, off now to tackle one more thing.

Best to your day...

Yay ... pictures ... shopping ...nay!

Well, I have to go through another avenue to get a picture here, but that's ok.

Having finished my greengate blanket (I need to get a better picture then what I had taken so I will save that for another time) I've started on working on a pillow ... a rose pillow.   A 16 inch form will be used, a nice size I think.   This is one of many pillows that I will need ... so I'm on the lookout for pillows.  If you see one that is interesting/different I would appreciate a link.

Hope your Thanksgiving was a good one.   The holidays are now in motion.  I ate far too much.  I keep saying tomorrow begins the diet, I really need to have that happen!

I have to say that I am disappointed in many stores this year.  I cannot believe that the sales started on Thanksgiving Day.  We've totally lost our family time.  Not a good thing.  I miss the days when a holiday was truly a holiday.

Blessings and joy to your day ...

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving on the horizon.  Tonight roasted hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans ... filling the homested with a wonderful aroma.  The holiday season is kicked off.  When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of the scents and sounds of the day.  There is nothing better then the comforting warmth of the smell of the turkey roasting, with the background sounds of March of The Wooden Soldiers.  It always brings a smile to my face, tenderness to my heart.  I look at my little grandpumpkin and I remember, my own two once his size, the gathering in our dining room, the hours spent at the table.  Time continues to march on and in many ways the day has changed, but in many ways it is still the same.  I still look forward to the scents and sounds and the new memories that are being made.  I am thankful.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, 

a day and more of 

blessings and 

joy.

Still no pictures.

Ok, I'm on a roll.  Second post in a few days.  I am disappointed that I cannot seem to load pictures into the posts, hoping that this corrects itself soon.  I did finished my greengate blanket and am now starting to work on a pillow ... a round rose in white.  But I CAN'T SHOW YOU.  Ok, ok, some patience.  But hopefully this corrects itself quickly.  My DIL put up a Christmas tree ... white and red lights.  Absolutely awesome. I find I can just sit there and look at it.  But you won't be able to see it ... pooh!  Tomorrow night we are making ornaments with the grandpumpkin for the tree.  Don't know how much he will get done as he's 2 plus a few months, but I think the mom and the grandmom will have have a blast!

Thank you for the sweet comments and visits.  Glad to be back.

As a working gal again, almost time to call it a night.

 Sweet dreams and blessings.