A Valentine-Making Kit

I recently put together a Valentine-making kit for a friend and had SO much for doing it! I started a few months ago by hunting for Valentine stickers, buttons, rick-rack, lace and other garnishes whenever I was in a thrift shop. I also found beautiful fabric with vintage Valentines printed on it at a local fabric store to put in the box. Sequins and heart die-cuts were added to vintage heart-shaped Jello molds, too. The box itself came from my husband who brought it home from work after Christmas - cookies had been in it and he figured that I could use it for something. Tied with a bow, it looks almost to pretty to open . . .

Perhaps you'll be inspired to create a similar box for a friend. I'm not sure who will enjoy it more - the giver or the givee!

Decorations for Valentine's Day

Still Life on Eli's Dresser

Church Birthday Dinner

We had our Church Birthday Dinner this past Sunday right after services. What fun it was to celebrate everyone's birthday in this unique way! Twelve people chose a table to decorate - Eli and I picked February. (He's already decided that he wants to do his very own table next year and is trying to decide which month to sign up for!) On the Tuesday night before the dinner, we decorated our table with a theme for that month. The church family had previously signed up in their birthday month so die-cuts were readied and placed at each table in the correct months. On Sunday afternoon we then enjoyed our meal together at our individual birthday tables - it was fun getting to know others that you might not normally sit with!

The ladies signed up ahead of time to bring items for the traditional birthday dinner meal. We had meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, coleslaw, salads and fruit as well as a large birthday cake for everyone to share. The young woman in charge of the event pulled slips out of a basket with the various months on to determine the order that the tables would go to the buffet.

I really enjoyed this time of fellowship as I got to know some brothers and sisters better and learned some things about others that I never knew before. E. and I took photos of some of the tables:

February -



March -


June -


July -


August -



September -


October -


November -

Broccoli, Bacon & Cheddar Chowder

Made this recipe for the first time last week and will make it again this week - only I'll double it this time!

Broccoli, Bacon & Cheddar Chowder

4 slices bacon, cooked & chopped
2 tabl. margarine
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tabl. flour
2 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
3 C. milk
2 C. chicken broth
4 C. potatoes, peeled and diced
2 C. cheddar cheese, shredded
1 tabl. flour
20 oz. broccoli, cooked & cut into small pieces

Prepare bacon and broccoli and set aside. Melt margarine in a large pot and cook onion for a few minutes until soft. Add flour and cook, stirring until "foamy." Whisk in salt, pepper, milk and chicken broth and cook until smooth and creamy (about 3 minutes). Add potatoes and cook until tender. In a bowl, combine cheese with tabl. of flour. Stir cheese into pot, a handful at a time, whisking until smooth. Add broccoli and bacon. Stir and heat through.

Tea Towel Wrapping "Paper"

Every winter two friends and I have lunch together. The friends are my former "bosses" - the two ladies that I was a secretary for at the Girl Scout council before I had my babies. We usually get together during Christmastime, but as that didn't work out this year, we had a January luncheon instead. This time we met at the new home of one of the ladies - she and her husband now live in a retirement community. She gave us a jaw-dropping tour of the facility - I felt like I was in an elegant resort. I have to say that I was drooling over the library where they frequently give teas by the fireplace. . .

Anyway, we like to exchange small gifts with one another and I wanted to show you an idea that I borrowed from another friend who gave me a book wrapped in a tea towel this Christmas. For my two friends, I wrapped a box of pretty notecards in a colorful towel, slipped a Starbucks gift card in recycled gift card containers and tied everything with a pretty bow. I love that the "wrapping paper" is a gift in and of itself!

German Animal Masks & A Tea Menu

My sister and I found these masks last week at a thrift shop when we were out on her birthday outing. We figured that the masks might have been owned by a librarian or teacher - they're all laminated and have the names of each animal written on the back. They were made in Germany in 1989. We snatched up their bag quickly and pawed through them first thing back in the car. J. took out the lion, tiger and baboon masks - to put in a large frame with an African theme. The rest came home with me for Eli. He sat in front of the bathroom mirror and tried each one on - not being able to decide if he liked the wild boar or guinea pig the best. That being said, he spent much time this week in the owl mask - making uncanny sounds and gestures like an owl (freaking me out a little).


Besides the thrift shop, J. and I also hit our favorite Goodwill store where we spent a ridiculous amount of time in the dressing room giggling. Lunch was at a local bakery/tea room. And because I love words, tea food, menus and the combination thereof, I must list the menu:

* Creamy Herbed Tomato Soup with Cornbread Biscotti (oh, my)
* Toasted Ham, Cheese & Apple Croissant with Pear & Orange Slices
* Triple Berry Streusel Bar & Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcake
* A Pot of Hot Vanilla Black Tea
* Take Home Treat of Orange-Glazed Scones

Playing Store

The MLK holiday meant that I had two extra boys in the house for the day. My nephews joined our routine and somewhere along the line they, along with Eli, invented a grocery store in the living room. Paper cherries, grapes, eggs and milk bottles quickly multiplied until deemed enough to open shop.


Throughout the rest of the week, the game has increased – sales flyers, coupons and credit cards have been added. After getting off the school bus each afternoon, the boys eagerly join Eli who’s already got the TV tray counter set up and the “produce” arranged. Once again, I shop for paper ice cream, frozen pizza and candy hearts. More businesses have been added – a pizza shop, fireworks store, movie theater and donut shop.


I’m tired of shopping. But I keep doing it. The Spirit encourages my heart that these “shopping trips” have the scent of eternity about them. They are the things that make memories, the things that will last in minds that will soon grow “too old” for paper produce.

Heart-Shaped Animals

After coming across the book, "My Heart Is Like A Zoo" by Michael Hall in which the illustrations are animals made out of hearts, Eli and I were inspired to create some of our own. We decided that these Valentines will go to some of Eli's younger cousins. Definitely a pleasant way to spend a snowy evening . . .

Potato Cheese Soup

One of our favorites - I usually double this recipe.

Potato Cheese Soup

1 small onion
4 C. potatoes, peeled and diced
3 C. chicken broth
2 C. milk
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 C. cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, cook onion and potatoes in chicken broth until tender. In batches, puree potato mixture in a blender to desired consistency. Return to pan and add milk and seasonings. Add cheese and heat only until cheese is melted.

Goat Calendar

Eli was inspired one afternoon last week to make up a calendar on the computer using some of the many photos he's taken of our goats. Nellie's sweet face in March is my favorite (or is it Izzy in June?). I can't decide.

Portrait of a Foolish Woman

I have recently started reading back through the archives of past programs from the radio show Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I just finished reading through and studying the 10-part series called Portrait of a Foolish Woman. The lesson text is Proverbs 7 where a father admonishes his son to guard his heart with the story of a foolish woman enticing a foolish man. I have read this proverb many times before but never related myself to this foolish woman. But after a reflective study of this text, I found myself more like this woman than I care to admit.

As I read through the script from the program and studied the Scripture text, I found myself jotting a lot of notes and questions in the margin of this proverb. I have thought much about these things (and repented much) and hope to read through the questions I wrote down periodically as an accountability check on my heart. Might I encourage you to read through the series on the foolish woman? Grab your Bibles and examine your heart to discover any of the following ways in which you are walking the way of the foolish woman:

* Am I staying away from places and situations where the natural thing would be to do something wrong?

* When I am away from home, is it to benefit and bless and serve my family? Or am I out because I am discontent?

* Is my heart rebellious and defiant or yielding and submissive?

* Are my motives pure or am I drawing undue attention to myself?

* Am I focusing all my love, affection and devotion into my husband or channeling it elsewhere?

* Am I throwing myself – in my attitude, eyes, speech or physically – on other men?

* Am I speaking as kindly, graciously, gratefully and tenderly to my own husband and more so than I am to other men?

* Am I being discreet in my conversations?

* Am I failing to think of the long-term impact of my words, actions and choices?

* Do I have a conscious, constant sense that God is here in every conversation and situation?

* Am I faithful to my husband in the midst of hard times, to do him good and not evil?

* Do I talk too much, failing to remember that “In the multitude of words sin is not absent.” (Proverbs 10:19)?

* Am I speaking with wisdom and kindness?

* Am I speaking as kindly to those in my home as I do to those at church, to other women, to other men?

* Am I speaking the right words at the right time in the right spirit?

* Have I cast down the men around me with my words, my spirit?

* Do I intimidate them or discourage them?

* Do I cast down my husband by comparing him to others, critical comments, or trying to make him something he’s not?

* Am I tearing down the lives of the men around me?

* Do I demonstrate any of the characteristics of this foolish woman in my life, in my attitudes, in my relationships?

May God work in each of our hearts and lives to become the wise women of God that give life and health and joy to those around us.

Short-Cut Cinnamon Rolls

The boys were happy to come in to engulf these cinnamon rolls after several hours of pushing snow off their hockey rink (AKA the pond) the other afternoon. The house smelled so warm and delicious while these were baking . . .

Short-Cut Cinnamon Rolls

12 frozen dinner rolls, slightly thawed (about an hour in a warm place)
1/4 C. melted butter
1/2 C. white or brown sugar (I used Splenda.)
2 tsp. cinnamon

Combine sugar and cinnamon. Form each roll into a 6"-8" rope and roll into a coil, tucking the tail underneath. Place each coil in the melted butter and then roll in sugar mixture. Spray large cookie sheet lightly with cooking spray. Space buns evenly over the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 45 minutes). Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Ice Wreath

We made this ice wreath the day before it snowed - I was anticipating its' loveliness against a backdrop of snow and wasn't disappointed.

To make: Fill half an ice cube tray with water and a few drops of coordinating food coloring in each compartment; freeze until solid. Fill a cake pan 2/3 full with water. Set a small plastic cup or container in the cake pan for a hole for your ribbon. Put enough water in the cup so that it doesn't float. Freeze for about 45-50 minutes - there will be a thin layer of ice on top. Push the frozen ice cubes through the ice - it's just thick enough to hold the cubes in place instead of floating around. Freeze entire wreath until solid. Remove cup by running a little water in it. Release the wreath from pan by running a bit of warm water on the bottom of the cake pan. Hang with a ribbon.

Homemade Iced Tea

I used to buy iced tea mix but have lately taken to mixing up homemade tea. For a gallon container of tea, bring a gallon of cold water to the almost-boiling point and then turn off. Add 6 decaf tea bags (or regular) and allow to soak for 20 minutes. Squeeze and remove the bags. Add sweetener (I use 2 tabl. of Sun Crystals) while still warm so it dissolves. Allow to sit and cool then pour in a gallon-sized pitcher and refrigerate.

Winter Decorations

Woke up to several inches of snow. Now the outside decorations match the inside . . .

Greenhouse-In-A-Box

The boys surprised me with a greenhouse for Christmas! The four of them got it assembled last week. It's a little hard to tell from the photo but it's 10' x 20' - plenty of room for my visions of early tomatoes, sunny herbs that won't grow in my shaded beds, Easter flowers well before Easter, and an extended season of salad fixings.


Eli spent one afternoon in it sunbathing. He got a beach towel out of the attic, spread it on the ground and read a book for several hours. His brothers joined him periodically to check out the conditions.

Horses in the Snow

Eli called the neighbors the other morning to ask if he could cross the fence and take some photos of their horses. He wanted to get some shots of them while the snow was flying. . .

Ham & Pea Soup

I recently made this soup with ham I bought on sale at Christmastime. I usually buy a ham or two or three around Christmas and Easter - you can get some great prices around the holidays. M. cuts it for me - some into slices to fry on the griddle or grill, some thinly for sandwiches, and some into pieces to cut up for soup.

Ham & Pea Soup

2 - 10.5 oz. cans of cream of mushroom soup
1 - 10.5 oz. can of cream of celery soup
4 C. milk
1 C. ham cubes (this is what the original recipe called for but I always put in lots more)
1 bag of frozen peas

Combine and stir all ingredients but the peas and cook over a low, slow heat until heated through. Dump the peas in, turn up the heat a bit and cook until peas are done as desired. Serve with a loaf of homemade bread for an easy winter's supper.

A Dog "Owner" for Two Hours

On Saturday morning Eli and Caleb were out at the chicken coop when a little beagle appeared out of nowhere. Thanks to his tag, we found out the name and number of his owner. Apparently, Danny was on his first rabbit hunting trip and decided that he didn't care for such doings. He wandered off through the fields and over the hill for more interesting adventures! His owner asked if we minded watching him until he was done hunting. Mind? Of course not. Eli was thrilled and walked that beagle all over the farm for two hours. He loved being a dog owner, if only for a few hours one morning.

A Day in Philadelphia - Part 2

A Day in Philadelphia - Part 1

My sister and I swapped kids last week - I kept her wiggling, giggly baby for the day and she took my Eli to Philadelphia. He enjoyed his day in the city and got some great photos:

A visit to The Franklin Institute . . .



Lunch at a Cuban restaurant (where he had chicken tenders, no less! - though his uncle did persuade him to try some guacamole) . . .



And to see the eagle and light show at Macy's - a holiday tradition left over from when we went to then-John Wannamaker's as little girls each Christmas . . .