Baking on a Cold Day

As soon as the temps got above freezing, I opened the door and let the dogs out.  Although the temperature then kept dipping, again,  below freezing, I kept the dogs out until I finished baking.

The banana bread turned out perfect---of course, when you follow the recipe, it is hard to mess it up.  The chocolate chip cookies turned out a bit chewy, since I used 7-grain cereal instead of oatmeal, but they are still A-OK.

As I started laying out the ingredients for the scones, I thought I would alter it and cut back on flour and increased the 7-grain cereal.  I ended up with a cross between a scone and a granola bar.  Not an ideal snack at all, however, the dates and walnuts, made it tasty, and the brown sugar crumbled lightly across its top added a nice sweet taste.

All is good.  At least we have breakfast food and snack food.  God is good.

No more leftovers!!! No more pie!!!

It has been three days since our Thanksgiving Day.   I have had leftovers for every meal the last two days, so including the Thanksgiving dinner, that adds up to  three days of a turkey and ham meal.  Today I had pie for breakfast.  Normally that would have been a treat, but I have had my fill and look forward to baking scones and making some soup with some of the leftover turkey.   Back to the simple foods. 

Huimin, Tim, Serena and Timmy made us a gingerbread house.  It was constructed of felt and foam and turned out to be a beautiful little house!   It is a great centerpiece and hopefully we will be able to store it for the coming years.

Today I look forward to getting my energy up and cleaning up outside after the wind and Sammy.   Sammy (Black Lab/Boxer) just can't resist the temptation to take everything apart!  We put some pillows out for each dog and she tore each one apart.  With that strong wind that came up, the foam from the pillows was blown everywhere.  The fence is also filled with tumbleweeds that blew in.

All is good.  The Lord has sheltered the children, in His Hand, on the drive home from the holidays.  It is time to get back to routines.  God has been good to us.

Thanksgiving!

I haven't seen Jack Frost paint a window for quite some time, seeing as all windows now are double pane.  Isn't it beautiful the way God has created nature to make our surroundings pleasing to the eye? 


We are having an early Thanksgiving so that we can celebrate with my son and his family while they are here. 

Each of the children have mountains in their lives, and I think, why can't they just have a simple, happy, contented life???  But, despite all,  the Lord has been there for them.  Sometimes it doesn't seem like it, as the paths He gives us are not always the easiest--but, His way leads us home.

Everywhere there are such disputes about what church to join and what denomination, if any, to join.  Everyone wants to be right about God.   But, it is not us, that should be shining out there.  We give our testimony, but our testament points to the living God, our Lord, the redeemer of our soul, not to us.

John 3:25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!”

27 John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

This wonderful God, who has given us all things, has blessed us so very much with His Spirit and His Love.  May we in our thankfulness, give so to others.  God bless you on this Thanksgiving Day.  May His Spirit be with you.