LIFE IN SKUNK HOLLOW

A Blogging Sabbatical

2011-11-05T13:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

When I once asked my husband why he doesn’t read more, his response was this: “I want to spend time living life instead of reading about others living life.” Though you may find plenty of things to argue with about that statement, you have to admit that there’s also a whole lot of wisdom in it.

After several weeks of consideration, I’ve decided to take a blogging sabbatical. Perhaps I’ll return to it in a few months or maybe not until my chicks fly away from home or maybe never, that’s up to the Lord’s prompting. Anyway, I have felt the need for the last several months to trim away excess demands on my personal time – my desire to read, craft, add to my blog, read other blogs, etc., has been replaced with an increased desire to spend time with my boys. Perhaps my desires are changing as a result of watching my oldest begin trying out his wings, realizing that my time with him grows short. And so, I want to put aside a good thing to spend time on a better thing.

I have so appreciated all of you who have encouraged me in the writing of my blog and for your many kind comments. It is a joy to share life with you all – and if we never meet this side of Heaven, I look forward to looking you up There.

For the love of Him,
Julie

A Blogging Break

2011-10-21T11:20:00.000-04:00

Taking a blogging break for awhile – am busy with remodeling the living room, taking trips to the cabin, and, most importantly, just plain hanging out with my too-fast-growing boys!

Seasonal Pumpkin Bread

2011-10-13T07:21:00.002-04:00

One of the best pumpkin bread recipes I've tasted - moist and spicy.

Seasonal Pumpkin Bread

3 1/2 C. flour
1 tabl. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
4 large eggs, beaten
1 C. sugar
1 C. brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks margarine, melted
1 - 16 oz. can pumpkin

Grease two 9X5" loaf pans. Put oven racks in lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices in a large bowl; set aside. In another bowl, whisk eggs and sugars. Whisk in margarine and then pumpkin. Beat wet ingredients into dry ingredients until smooth; divide into two pans. Bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean, 40-50 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and remove to rack to cool completely.

Harvest Time

2011-10-12T07:03:00.002-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

More Inspiration

2011-10-11T06:58:00.002-04:00

I sat there entranced as I watched Miss Alice. I had noticed that in her presence often I would have big thoughts, ideas that went so far beyond my usual ones that they astonished me. It was not so much what Miss Alice said that sparked the thoughts, rather what she was.

-- Catherine Marshall, excerpt from Christy

The Red Caboose

2011-10-10T07:05:00.005-04:00

My mom and I spent the day together shopping on Friday. For lunch we stopped at the quirky and quaint Red Caboose Restaurant. Located in the heart of Amish farmland, the restaurant is a dining car with a view on one side of the Strasburg Railroad and the surrounding countryside. The other side of the car gives a view of a small gift shop where you can watch toy trains running through a lay-out. We enjoyed our sandwiches, went through the gift shop and then took a peek at the motel lobby - besides being a restaurant, the Red Caboose has several dozen train cars lined up outside in which you can spend the night! With a view tower to climb, a playground, and a barnyard of animals, the Red Caboose is the perfect place for train-loving kids. I wish I would have known about the place when my boys were little - they would have loved it. In fact, the Red Caboose has been around for quite a long time. Marty's grandmother told me that friends of her's spent their honeymoon at the Red Caboose!

More Goatie Photos

2011-10-05T08:03:00.002-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

The Moon

2011-10-04T12:40:00.003-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

Inspiration As I Clean

2011-10-03T18:01:00.003-04:00

I was as surprised at the room before me as Miss Henderson had been by something about me. There was warmth and color and shine here: firelight gleaming on polished brass and the gray satin of pewter; firelight reflected on the well-scrubbed and waxed puncheon floor; the turkey reds and cobalt blues of what looked to be hand-loomed materials set off by old pine and cherry furniture. A bank of windows all across the back of the room let the outdoors in, with the winter landscape and the towering peaks like a gigantic mural.

-- Catherine Marshall, an excerpt from Christy

Steam-O-Rama 2011 - An Autumn Tradition

2011-10-01T08:27:00.003-04:00

In the Finger Lakes

2011-09-30T12:57:00.005-04:00

We spent the last day of our anniversary trip in New York State. We drove up through Bath, New York - stopping at a little market in a park. The produce stands were so pretty dressed in their autumn colors and bounties.

We then stopped at the New York State Fish Hatchery and took a fascinating little self-guided tour of this 100+ year-old operation. We viewed the hatch house and tanks FULL of various kinds of trout and had fun throwing fish food in to watch them go crazy!

We spent the rest of the day driving up along Keuka Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, as well as through miles and miles of gorgeous vineyards. We rolled our windows down to inhale in great gulps the incredible scent of ripe grapes that perfumed the air. What a sweet memory -

On Our Anniversary Trip

2011-09-27T18:22:00.010-04:00

Sunday afternoon was gorgeous, just begging for a walk - we took a long one on a section of State Gameland. (See the turkeys?)

On Monday we took a long drive over mountains and through valleys. We came across the little town of Millheim and found the IngleBean Coffee Shop at lunchtime for tea and salad. It's a neat little place and is part of the Triple Creek Lodge housed right upstairs.

And today we took another long drive on this rainy day - the leaves are really beginning to change in Pennsylvania's northern mountains.

We came over a hill and thought this was someone's idea of Halloween decorations. But when we stopped to investigate, we realized that these vultures were real - one perched on every post of that fence!

A Passion for the Impossible Book Review

2011-09-22T08:14:00.001-04:00

A Passion for the Impossible - The Life of Lilias Trotter by Miriam Huffman Rockness is the biography of a woman who knew God in an intimate way. Lilias Trotter was a missionary to the Muslim people of Algeria in North Africa in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. God gave her a wonderful artistic gift which could have made her famous in the art world. Instead, Lilias decided to use her gift to minister in the depths of the African desert. If you want to be encouraged and spurred on to greater work for God, read about the life of this little-known woman who loved Him and His people with all her heart.

Autumn In A Dish

2011-09-20T17:38:00.001-04:00

Try this easy-peasy pie crust in your next apple pie . . .

Apple Pickin' Time

2011-09-19T14:23:00.003-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

Harvesting the Gourds

2011-09-17T08:18:00.006-04:00

E. and I spent a chunk of yesterday afternoon harvesting the gourds. We didn't have as big a yield as we did other years - probably because I planted a whole bunch of older seeds to see what was good and what wasn't, and a lot weren't! All the rain we had rotted a bunch as well. But we did get a few Cinderella pumpkins, a dozen or so Jack Be Littles and our biggest yield - green birdhouse gourds which came from a fresh packet of seeds that a friend gave me for St. Patrick's Day. Eli did all the decorating on the front and back porches -

Cracker Pudding

2011-09-16T11:01:00.003-04:00

About this time every year I get a hankerin' for Cracker Pudding. When I woke up this morning to a chilly day, I knew it was time to cook a little. This simple recipe doesn't make much (I'm the only one who eats it), but it can easily be doubled. You can also throw in some coconut.

Cracker Pudding

2 C. milk
1 C. of cracker crumbs (which is approx. 20 Saltines or 1/2 a sleeve)
1/2 C. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tabl. cornstarch
1 tsp. vanilla

Heat milk until warm. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar, egg and cornstarch (and coconut, if desired). Stir into warm milk and cook over medium heat until thick. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Allow to cool a bit then serve. Refrigerate unused portion.

Romans 8

2011-09-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Thank You, Lord . . .

* that there is now no condemnation for me (vs. 1)
* that I need not walk in the flesh (vs. 1,2, & 5)
* for sending Your own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh (vs. 3)
* that Your righteousness is fulfilled in me because of Your Son’s sacrifice (vs. 4)
* that to be spiritually minded is life and peace (vs. 6, 11, & 13)
* that the Spirit of God dwells in me (vs. 9)
* that I might call You, “Abba, Father” (vs. 15)
* that Your Spirit bears witness with my spirit that I am Your’s (vs. 16)
* that I am Your heir and one day will be glorified (vs. 17)
* that creation and I will one day be delivered from bondage (vs. 18-23)
* that the suffering we experience on earth is nothing compared to the glories of Heaven (vs. 18)
* for the Spirit’s help and intercession (vs. 26)
* that those intercessions are according to Your will (vs. 27)
* for Romans 8:28 and 29 – I have tasted those truths and found them good
* that You are for me (vs. 31)
* that You did not spare Your own Son but offered Him up freely for us all (vs. 32)
* that You give not only Your Son but all things (vs. 32)
* that Christ, too, is interceding for me (vs. 34)
* that nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ (vs. 35)
* that “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (vs. 36)
* that neither death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (vs. 38-39)

That’s rich, Lord, rich.

Watching . . .

2011-09-14T15:57:00.000-04:00

(Thanks to you, Wendy!)

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

This is Marco - he was one of our "hosts" on Sunday afternoon at our church's "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" event. Here's how the event works: Several weeks before the dinner, each family fills out a form as to whether you wish to be a guest or host, along with information regarding number in family, number of people you can host, directions to your home, food allergies, etc. You turn them in and one person is designated to match up guests and hosts. The week before the event, each family is given an envelope that contains the following info: if you're a host, you'll find out how many are coming (but not specifically who is coming); if you're a guest, you find out where you're going and the number of people who'll be there (but not who else will be there besides the host). The host is responsible for the main dish and vegetable - the guests are assigned with the salad/bread or the dessert. It's all kept a secret until after church when you show up at the host family's door. It's fun trying to guess who you'll be having dinner with! There were 14 of us at our host family's house (15 including Marco who flew around the room after dinner showing off). We enjoyed the ham, baked potatoes, and green beans that our host served, along with the tossed salad and rolls I provided. The other family of 3 that joined us brought a delicious pineapple upside down cake and peanut butter pie. We chatted over dinner and spent the rest of the afternoon on the back porch visiting and watching the combined 8 children play kickball.

A Book Review of "Living Sacrifice"

2011-09-12T16:17:00.002-04:00

Living Sacrifice by Dr. Helen Roseveare is a small book with a big message –learning to yield one’s whole being to God. Dr. Roseveare was a medical missionary in the country of Zaire from 1953-1973. In this book, she shares stories of how God taught her the greatest commandment: to learn to love Him with all her heart, soul, mind and strength. The book is a candid look into the life of a missionary that has challenged me to examine what it truly means to be a living sacrifice to the Lord.

Collage by Eli

2011-09-10T08:51:00.005-04:00

Eli created this collage after being inspired by a poster and several pamphlets about horses that we brought back for him from Ag Progress Days. He hung it proudly in his Inspiration Closet.

Drying Out From Tropical Storm Lee

2011-09-09T07:51:00.000-04:00

In two weeks' time, we've experienced an earthquake, a hurricane and now a flood.

Tropical Storm Lee poured down this week with more devastation and damage to this area than I've seen in my lifetime. The little creek running through our farm became a raging river with logs flowing down it. Our now-treacherous farm lane could be dubbed "Toad's Wild Ride." And the bridge you must cross to get to the farm was one big barricade that kept me from getting home for several hours on Wednesday.

The power of water is truly an amazing and terrifying thing. And my awe of the power of the God who made that water certainly has increased in the last few days.

Pumpkin Growing in the Sun

2011-09-08T13:38:00.002-04:00

(Photo by Eli)

A Visit to Ellicott City

2011-09-06T07:20:00.001-04:00

Two Fridays ago, after a delicious breakfast of Carmelized Banana French Toast (!) at the Yorktowne Hotel, my sister whisked me away for the day to a lovely little town in Maryland - historic Ellicott City - as her birthday present to me. It's a quaint place built on seven hills on the outskirts of Baltimore and is a delight to the eyes and tastebuds as it's full of lovely shops and delicious eateries.

We spent the morning browsing all the shops including one with the reputation of being the first duplex home in America. Each side of the house-turned-gift-shop had four floors connected with menacingly steep steps and a fireplace in every room.

Sweet Elizabeth Jane's was one of my favorite shops . . .

And Vintage Girls was fun, too . . .

We ended our visit with lunch at Johnny's Bistro where I had a Grilled Vegetable Panini and the two of us shared this decandent cake called "Over the Moon." Though the photo isn't the best, can you see the piece of chocolate on topped carved into the shape a crescent moon?! A perfect ending to a perfect day - thanks again, Sis!!

Our Asian Pears Are In

2011-09-03T09:10:00.000-04:00

An Indoor Picnic

2011-09-02T07:38:00.000-04:00

I wanted to have an end-of-the-season picnic last weekend - but Hurricane Irene had different ideas. So, we had an indoor gathering instead but with lots of picnic food. An old friend and her family came over. She and I were baptized on the same day in Wantz's Pond when we teenagers. And I taught her now-teenagers when they were in my 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School class.

We enjoyed our "picnic," spent a lot of time laughing over family tales, compared notes on raising young adults, and enjoyed listening to the kids playing Apples to Apples in the living room. Despite Irene, the house was cozy and bright with fellowship and fun.

Our Picnic Menu:

* Grilled Burgers & Dogs with all the fixings
* The Garden's Last Corn-on-the-Cob
* Baked Beans
* Aunt Helen's Macaroni Salad
* Cheddar Multi-Grain Chips
* Watermelon Chunks
* Chocolate Picnic Cake with Whipped Cream and Hot Coffee

(The mums were a gift from my friend - an extra sweet treat as I love to have mums in the house this time of year. They always remind me of our autumn wedding day as we decorated the church and reception hall with them.)

Little League World Series

2011-09-01T07:21:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago M. and I had the opportunity to spend an evening at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. What a neat experience! We sat on the hill eating kettle-cooked popcorn and watching Montana (Midwest) and South Dakota (Northwest) play off. Besides the various regions of the United States, little leagues from other countries played as well. We enjoyed watching a bit of the game between Japan and Aruba.

There's no admission fee or parking costs and the refreshment prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is very family friendly and besides having to go through metal detectors, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience! It was fun to watch the tradition of children sliding down one of the large hills in the park on cardboard boxes, stand behind the ESPN studio to "be on TV," and see and hear many different peoples of the world.

This yearly event in August lasts more than a week - if you're ever near Williamsport at that time of year, stop in for a game or just to experience the atmosphere. I'm not a big baseball fan, but I loved it!

Frosted Banana Bars

2011-08-31T07:24:00.002-04:00

Eli made this recipe a few weeks ago from his VBS cookbook. They turned out delicious, and he was very tickled at his success in the kitchen!

Frosted Banana Bars

1/2 C. butter, softened
2 C. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 C. mashed bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
2 C. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of salt

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour into a greased jelly roll pan (or for a cake instead of bars, into a 9x13 pan). Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes (or slightly longer for a cake). Cool and frost. The original recipe called for Cream Cheese Frosting, but we made a white Decorating Frosting. Just about any frosting would probably be good on this recipe!

Shades of Blue Book Review

2011-08-30T07:12:00.004-04:00

A friend and neighbor was deeply touched when she read this book and wanted to share it with me to get my reaction. Shades of Blue draws you in within the first few pages. It is the story of two people (and those they love) whose lives are rocked with the pain and consequences of abortion. It is a book that shows the healing and peace that can be found through God's forgiveness, and the lengths to which the main character goes to make things right is inspiring and convicting. The author handles this difficult topic with compassion, grace and honesty. It is definitely "life-changing" fiction. (You'll need a box of Kleenex for this one.)

Vanilla Tea & Lemon Scones

2011-08-29T07:30:00.001-04:00

Last week was busier than usual - some weeks just seem to turn out that way. With catching up from our mountain get-away, the official start of a new school year, a mentor meeting, and an end-of-the-summer picnic with old friends, my calendar was hopping. And then throw in a spontaneous afternoon chat with a neighbor (during a spontaneous earthquake!), a surprise visit from a favorite aunt, and an unexpected morning of yard saling with my husband, we had quite the week!

But smack dab in the middle was a quiet place provided by a friend. For several hours on Wednesday afternoon, she lavished classical music, good conversation and tea and scones on me. A lovely combination that ministered to my heart and gave me refreshment and renewed energy to pour out to others. Isn't that just how it's supposed to be? Taking care of one another so that we can take care of one another . . .

(Thanks again, Candy, for a sweet afternoon. And BTW, I bought a bottle of that Natural Bliss Sweet Cream Creamer that I'm enjoying every morning in my tea!)

Birthday Collages

2011-08-24T06:09:00.001-04:00

It's been fun making birthday collages lately for friends. Just tape cut-outs in an artful manner to a piece of cardstock, write a message on the back and pop in the mail! I like to keep an eye out for old copies of MaryJane's Farm and Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazines for lovely images. Victoria magazine has beautiful photos, too - but I can't bear to cut mine up and instead save them for seasonal inspiration!

Worshipping With Hands & Feet

2011-08-22T07:35:00.001-04:00

Miss Romaine is a long-time volunteer at the nursing home we visit from time to time. She’s probably the same age as some of the residents, but she doesn’t act like it. Every Sunday morning Miss Romaine gathers the residents who want to go to the church service and makes sure that they get there by pushing their wheelchairs to the chapel herself or directing others to do so. But her service doesn’t end there. She stations herself near the back of the chapel and is constantly alert to the needs of those around her, with one ear on the service and the other ear and both eyes on the residents. At any moment she may quietly pop up and get a Kleenex for someone or adjust a wheelchair or fix a blanket.

As I watched her once again during the service yesterday morning, I wondered if she’s ever able to truly focus on the service and be ministered to, if she’s able to worship free from distraction. And then the Spirit quietly and distinctly spoke to my heart: “She is worshipping.”

Though worshipping Him does minister to my own heart, I forget sometimes that the focus of worship isn’t about what I get out of it, but ultimately what I give Him. Miss Romaine knows all about that. Every Sunday morning, she worships her Savior with her hands and feet.

A Book on Amy Carmichael

2011-08-20T15:51:00.002-04:00

Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur by Frank L. Houghton is a gem of a book. Written in 1979, it is the timeless story of one of the most dearly loved and well-known missionaries, Amy Carmichael, who spent more than 50 years loving and serving the children of India. One of the best things about the book is that it contains so many excerpts from Miss Carmichael’s own journals which allow an intimate look at the personal relationship she had with her Heavenly Father. Inspiring and convicting, this book makes one want the kind of relationship Amy Carmichael had with her God. Filled with the stories of how various children came to her, of prayers that were answered in amazing ways, of the preparation of her lifework, as well as the difficulties and heartaches of intense ministry in the heart of a foreign land, every page is filled with Miss Carmichael’s passion – that of her love for Jesus Christ. After reading such a book, one may be tempted to say that Amy Carmichael was an amazing woman. But what would be more accurate (and I’m sure would please her more), would be to say that Amy Carmichael served by an amazing God.

(For more reading on Amy Carmichael, another excellent resource is A Chance to Die – The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael by Elisabeth Elliot.)

World's End State Park

2011-08-19T06:06:00.000-04:00

Scenes From Ag Progress Days 2011

2011-08-18T09:55:00.008-04:00

Along Pine Creek's Rail Trail

2011-08-16T06:32:00.000-04:00

County Fairs & Lumberjacks

2011-08-15T09:37:00.012-04:00

I love county fairs - the domestic arts exhibits being my favorite. They provide so much creative inspiration that when I go home from the fair I want to start canning, baking and crafting immediately! We enjoyed two fairs this weekend - the Tioga County Fair on Friday night and the Clinton County on Saturday.

One of my favorite parts at Tioga was the oxen demonstration a man gave using his team of oxen named Brookes & Dunn. He explained the fascinating history of oxen, some interesting facts about them and how they are trained.

We spent most of Saturday watching a Lumberjack (and Lumberjill!) Competition at Clinton. The events including log rolling, crosscut, springboard and axe throwing. If you ever get the opportunity to attend a Woodsmen's Competition in Pennsylvania or New York, take advantage of it - it's fascinating.

And the fair food was great, too!

A Living Sacrifice

2011-08-12T07:03:00.001-04:00

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual (reasonable, logical) act of worship.” – Romans 12:1

What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?

Sacrifices were:

• commanded by God
• to be given with a willing heart
• consumed by God, for God
• a sweet aroma to Him
• broken into parts, small pieces as it were, each piece offered up according to instruction
• used for the cleansing of the people
• a constant reminder that He was (and is) God, holy and worthy of sacrifice
• something that required much time, energy and preparation

In essence, all these things can be applied to my life. Though I am not physically offered up as a sacrifice, I am to be offered up in all other ways as a sacrifice. It is commanded by God; I am to give my life with a willing, humble heart; my life is consumed by and for God; it is a sweet aroma to Him; I am offered up piece by piece, little by little, decision by decision; it is for spiritual cleansing; reminds me continually of God; and requires much time, energy and preparation every moment of every day.

After the sacrifice He has made, how can I give any less?

“God’s call to lay down our lives on the altar of sacrifice means that we give Him all that we are – our rights, our reputation, our desires, our future plans; everything that concerns us – first, for a lifetime, and then, day by day, moment by moment, decision by decision.” – Nancy Leigh DeMoss, Surrender

Listen, Look & Know His Love

2011-08-11T07:33:00.000-04:00

Listen to Him, my children. He speaks to you, He teaches you in a thousand ways every day. Through the love of those who love you and live to help you, He touches you, and He speaks to you. In the sunrise and the sunset, and in moonlight, through the loveliness of the things that He has made, through the thousand joys that He plans for every one of you, through the sorrows that come, too, in all these things, through all these things, He Who loved you unto death is speaking to you. Listen; do not be deaf and blind to Him, and as you keep quiet and listen, you will know deep down in your heart that you are loved. As the air is round about you, so is His love round about you now. It is enough. Trust that love to guide your lives. It will never, never fail.

-- Amy Carmichael, from a letter to her "children," excerpted from Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur, Frank L. Houghton

A Surprise B-day Outing

2011-08-10T07:34:00.000-04:00

Last Wednesday M. surprised me by taking the day off so we could spend it together celebrating my 40th birthday. I quickly consented! We started with breakfast at a little table outside of Achenbach's Bakery - a cup of hot English Teatime tea with our shared choosings of peanut butter long johns and muffins - chocolate peanut butter and peach.

I never tire of driving the back roads and through the little towns of Lancaster County. We saw so many lovely scenes of farms and flowers and animals. Some of our stops along the way were thrift shops where I found a bundle of homemade gift tags for various holidays, a large glass jar to fill with oats for my kitchen counter, and several packets of stationery for writing to pen pals.

We found an Amish bulk foods and produce store where we bought some of these gorgeous Red Haven peaches to can the next day. (The boys enjoy broiled peaches sprinkled with cinnamon in the wintertime.) The peaches gave off the most enticing smell - it wasn't long before we pulled into the back of a tractor dealer next to a cornfield, put up the hatch and sat in the back out of the drizzle to eat some!

We also stopped in at one of my favorite places in Honey Brook- King's Herb Nook. Their little shop is stuffed full of soaps, all kinds of herbal products, books and odds and ends of bulk foods. We spent several minutes trying to figure out which looseleaf tea we wanted to try and ended up with a bag of Raspberry-Flavored Green Tea - beautiful as well as delicious. I loved their idea of planting tomatoes and herbs in large olive oil cans.

In the middle of nowhere, we came across a little shoe store. My favorite part was the large collage of shopping lists that people had dropped over the years - what fun to read them, especially the ones written by Amish families which included items such as suspenders, bonnets, and long lists of children's names and what their shoe sizes were!

Our day also included a stop in an Amish book store where I bought a thin, plain book called "Tips for (Amish) Teachers" for $2.98. I love reading it - and I've found some ideas to implement with the boys as well as for possible Sunday school or VBS ideas! We also stopped at an Amish hardware store, a delicious little pizza shop for lunch, and a camping/stove store in the middle of nowhere that had a huge reproduction cooking stove that was modernized.

Our last stop was a little stand outside of someone's home where we bought Marty's Aunt a gorgeous bouquet of birthday flowers - her birthday being on the very same day as mine - along with some zinnias for me. Then to "gild the lily," we picked up the boys and had supper together at a favorite restaurant with a sprinkled birthday cake later at home. Some birthday calls and a visit from a friend ended a perfect day. How incredibly rich I am with dear ones who bless me . . .

Our "New" Canoe

2011-08-09T07:23:00.003-04:00

Last week Marty got a great bargain on a used canoe. The night we brought it home, Caleb wanted to take me for a spin around the pond. When he saw I had the camera, Caleb protested having his photo taken by covering up his face. M. found it amusing and decided to join in on the fun -

Inspiration

2011-08-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

From Frank L. Houghton's book on Amy Carmichael, missionary to India:

"To pour out love all the time, to catch the directing word of the Lord, however softly spoken" - this is what she desired to do, and all her Family would say in chorus, "This is exactly what she did."

Corn Clean-Up Crew

2011-08-06T08:32:00.000-04:00

After we froze corn, the chickens jumped in and helped clean up. And a very good job they did of it -

Breakfast on the Porch

2011-08-05T06:25:00.001-04:00

A dried cherry scone with blackberry jelly and a hot cup of looseleaf English Breakfast Tea. Breakfast doesn't get much better than this . . .

Barns

2011-08-04T06:23:00.002-04:00

I took my camera along one morning last week on my daily walk and started snapping photos. When I got home and looked at what I'd taken, a theme emerged . . .

Italian Zucchini Casserole

2011-08-02T07:12:00.001-04:00

This is not only delicious but a great way to use up yet another zucchini!

Italian Zucchini Casserole

1 medium zucchini, sliced (approx. 6 cups)
2 tabl. olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, sliced
28 oz. can of petite diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 C. Parmesan cheese
3/4 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

In a skillet, cook zucchini in 1 tabl. of oil until tender; drain and set aside. In the same skillet, saute the onion in the remaining 1 tabl. of oil for 1 minute. Add tomatoes and seasonings; simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Remove from heat; gently stir in zucchini. Place in an ungreased 13x9" baking dish and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cover and bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with mozzarella. Return to oven for 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted.

The Glories of Gratitude

2011-08-01T07:24:00.001-04:00

Gratitude is the inspiration of heaven's most melodious anthems.
Its fruit is
joy in the time of mourning,
courage in the day of despondency,
security in the hour of loneliness,
peace in the midst of battle,
and satisfaction in spiritual or physical famine.

-- Dorothy Kelley Patterson

Izzy & Pumpkin

2011-07-30T08:22:00.000-04:00

I took these shots the other morning when I checked on the goats before my walk. The synchronization of their poses delighted me.

Your Pumpkin will soon be bigger than you, Mama!

Birthday Outing Continued: The Gardens at Conestoga House

2011-07-29T06:27:00.001-04:00

After our tour of Rock Ford and a great lunch at a local Chinese buffet, we headed for what turned out to be the absolute highlight of the day - The Gardens at Conestoga House. I find it even difficult to put into words the utter beauty of these gardens - they are by far the most beautiful I have ever seen. The Conestoga House has been owned by the prominent Steinman family of Lancaster since the '20s. The formal gardens on the estate were developed in the '30s and used for their extensive and generous entertaining. When Mr. Steinman died, it was part of his will to open the gardens to the public which took place in 1982. Since then, every Wednesday from June through September, the public is invited to view these private gardens at no cost. The topiaries, beds, wreaths, window boxes, terraces and the like are breath-taking with flowers. My mom and I literally walked around with our mouths open the entire time in amazement. You can sit in the restored lime kiln; have a picnic lunch by the pool (first-come, first-served, thirty-minute-limit basis for tables); marvel over orange, lime, and fig trees and vanilla and coffee bushes; and hunt for the whimsical topiaries scattered throughout.

My photos don't do the estate justice - I MUST take my personal photographer there some time. He'll be walking around with his mouth open, too.

Birthday Outing: Rock Ford Plantation

2011-07-28T13:25:00.009-04:00

Mom and I spent the day together yesterday on my yearly birthday outing (we do outings instead of gifts - love it!). Anyway, after several thrift store stops, we toured The Rock Ford Plantation in Lancaster. This historic 18th century home was owned by Edward Hand, a medical doctor and Adjutant General to George Washington in the American Revolution. The house is an excellent example of late-Georgian architecture as it sat virtually untouched for almost 200 years. We enjoyed the tour given to us by the director. I especially liked the basement kitchen where smells of the smoky hearth and dried apples still lingered from the open hearth cooking class held a few days ago. We loved sitting on the gorgeous wrap-around porch watching a deer munching apples from the orchard beyond. It was a lovely day to step back in time for awhile and think on tea parties in the parlor with the President, servants roaming the kitchen garden for herbs, and gorgeous ladies dressed in their elegant gowns. More on our outing tomorrow . . .

Planning A Barbecue

2011-07-27T06:54:00.003-04:00

Yesterday morning when I was making some notes for an upcoming barbecue with friends, I came across this advice and these menus in The Family Book of Home Entertaining (1960) by Florence Brobeck:

A barbecue meal should be cooking on the grill or rotisserie, and be almost ready to serve when the guests arrive. The fragrance of the broiling food should be supplemented with thirst-quenching beverages ready on a buffet service counter or cart, and summer appetizers, such as radishes, a bowl of cherries and other small fruits. When the cook is ready to serve his steaks, chops or other foods, the guests sit down and a hot, wonderfully cooked luncheon or supper is theirs right from the grill.

Barbecue Menus for Luncheons or Suppers:

No. 1. Broiled breasts or halves of chicken; potatoes baked in foil and served with a mixture of sour cream, crisp bacon bits, and chives in place of butter; small hot cheese rolls in foil; iced watermelon, and iced or hot coffee.

No. 2. Broiled ham; sweet potatoes baked in foil; mixed, cooked vegetables chilled and combined with cold mayonnaise in crisp lettuce leaves; thin, warm cornbread. For dessert, parfaits of strawberry and vanilla ice cream alternated with crushed fresh berries, iced coffee or tea.

No. 3. Herbed chicken pan-broiled on the grill; stuffed acorn squash seasoned with onion, butter, salt and pepper baked in foil; stuffed tomato salads with curry dressing; clover-leaf rolls. For dessert, sliced peaches with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, iced tea or coffee.

My mouth is now watering . . .

Flower Arranging: A Hankie Vase

2011-07-26T07:09:00.000-04:00

Easy. Just cover a small vase with a hankie and wrap a rubber band around the neck. Fluff up the hankie to conceal the band and fill the vase with flowers- in this case, mint in bloom and an unknown but pretty, pink wildflower.

The inspiration: The Five-Minute Centerpiece by Jane Newdick

Busy with Domesticity

2011-07-25T18:55:00.007-04:00

I've been . . .

* freezing corn
* cutting up honeylopes, cantalopes, and watermelons
* making Italian Zucchini Casserole, Zucchini Sticks, and Sauteed Zucchini

* dicing peppers for the freezer
* baking Banana Bread
* organizing the freezers

* freezing cantalope
* re-stocking the pantry
* frying onions and peppers for Grilled Sausage Sandwiches

* baking Sock-It-To-Me Cake
* clipping coupons and finding bargains
* making waffles and ice cream sandwiches in 100 degree weather

* frosting Banana Bars
* picking tomatoes
* trying new recipes

. . . and loving every minute of it.

(Forgive the poor quality of the photos - my photographer is out on a week-long photo shoot.)

Vintage Recipe: Oniony Green Beans

2011-07-21T07:36:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately I forgot to write down what vintage resource this recipe comes from - but no matter, the important thing is how good they are!

Oniony Green Beans

Melt 1 tabl. margarine. Add 1 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion and cook until brown over medium heat. Add 1 lb. of frozen green beans, 1 tsp. salt and 1/2 C. water and cook, covered, until tender.

Vintage Recipe: Ham & Scalloped Potato Bake

2011-07-20T08:07:00.002-04:00

This recipe comes from the Original Crockpot Cookbook from 1977. Tomorrow I'll share the sidedish recipe that I served with it.

Ham & Scalloped Potato Bake

6-8 slices of ham
8-10 potatoes, peeled and sliced thin
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 C. cheddar cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Layer half of the ham, potatoes and onion on the bottom of your crockpot or slow cooker. Sprinkle with cheese, then add remaining ham, potatoes and onions. Cover with soup. For a crockpot, cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4. For a slow cooker, cook on level 3 for 4 hours.

Vacation Bible School: Taste & See

2011-07-19T06:29:00.000-04:00

Last week was Vacation Bible School - an exhausting but fun time! The two ladies that "head up" our VBS always do an amazing job - they come up with a homemade program every year with a specific theme. The one writes the scripts for the puppet shows and skits while the other comes up with activities and projects to match the theme. The ladies creatively matched several stories from the Bible with baking/cooking concepts. The 30 kids also made food for 100 for the church picnic at the end of the week. Each night they made casseroles, salads, and desserts to freeze or store for Sunday. It was an insane amount of preparation and work, but I really looked forward to going out to help each night. I'm just glad that VBS isn't two weeks long!

The kids also made cocoa mix, trail mix, and cookies throughout the week to put in care baskets for the elderly, sick and shut-ins.

Some of their other projects included decorating mugs of kitchen utensils which they used each night in cooking, painting some ceramics and putting together mini cookbooks to take home.

The Blessing of Blooms

2011-07-16T07:24:00.001-04:00

A friend brought me these flowers last week when she came to pick blueberries. She grows several rows of such flowers in her garden each year with the express purpose of sharing them with others. Glad to be a happy recipient of her generosity . . .

Cleaning Bucket Care Kits

2011-07-15T07:46:00.000-04:00

Last week one evening we had the privilege of spending several hours with 80 other believers packing 500 cleaning bucket care kits for people in natural disasters around the world. We formed several assembly lines and packed the buckets filled to the top with various cleaning items, trash bags, clothesline and pins, dust masks, bug spray, and gloves. What a blessing to stand around the stacks of buckets, place our hands on them and pray for those who would one day receive the kits. It is, indeed, a privilege to serve.

Blueberry Coffeecake

2011-07-14T06:45:00.003-04:00

This is a new recipe I tried the other day and served for dessert after supper. But I like it even better for breakfast the next day, warmed up and served with a hot cup of English Breakfast Tea. Oh, my.

Blueberry Coffeecake

1/4 C. sugar
2 tabl. cornstarch
1/3 C. water
1 tsp. lemon juice
2 1/2 C. fresh or frozen blueberries
1 - 18 1/4 oz. pkg. of yellow cake mix
1 1/2 C. quick oats, divided
8 tabl. butter, divided
2 eggs
1/4 C. brown sugar

In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch. Gradually whisk in water and lemon juice until smooth. Turn on high heat, stir in blueberries and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat and set aside. Combine cake mix and 1 cup of oats. Cut in 6 tabl. butter until crumbly. Set aside 1 cup of crumb mixture for topping. Stir eggs into main mixture. Spread mixture in a greased 13x9" pan with a butter knife. Spread blueberry mixture to within 1/4" of edges. Combine brown sugar, remaining oats and reserved crumbs. Cut in remaining butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Swim & Swam

2011-07-13T07:45:00.000-04:00

Eli was thrilled recently to receive a "retired" fish tank from his great aunt. He quickly lined it with stones, set up some underwater vignettes, popped in a plastic aquarium plant and was off to the pet shop for fish. He picked out two Shub Goldfish and at my suggestion named them Swim and Swam. They are lovely-looking fish and very relaxing to watch. In fact, I glanced in Eli's room the other day to find him and Caleb laying on their bellies on his bed just silently watching the fish. Our favorite pastime as of late is feeding time every other day. It's quite comical to watch the fish darting around after their food and sucking it up just like miniature vacuum cleaners. Ah . . . simple pleasures.

Vintage Recipe: Cheese and Franks Bean Bake

2011-07-12T06:45:00.002-04:00

This is an old recipe I adapted from a newsletter put out by the Kraft Company back in the '70s. Caleb and I enjoyed this for lunch one day, and I passed some of it along to my grandparents to warm up. The recipe makes a good bit, so you could cut it in half if you wanted. This is a perfect recipe for a potluck - throw it in your crockpot and go.

Cheese and Franks Bean Bake

1/4 C. chopped peppers (the original recipe called for green peppers but I substituted banana peppers from the garden)
1/4 C. chopped onion
2 tabl. margarine
2 - 27.5 oz. baked beans
7 or so hot dogs, cut into small circles
1/2 C. BBQ sauce
American cheese slices

Preheat oven to 350. Saute peppers and onions in margarine. Stir in beans, dogs and sauce. Pour into a casserole dish and bake for 25 minutes. Top with cheese slices and bake a few minutes more until melted.

More Summer Photos by E.

2011-07-11T06:06:00.000-04:00

Friday Night Fun

2011-07-09T08:01:00.000-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

A Tussie-Mussie Arrangement

2011-07-08T07:03:00.000-04:00

Easy to make: Cut from the edge of a paper doily into the center and remove a small circle. Overlap edges to make a cone shape and secure with paper clips. Tuck the doily into a small glass of water. Gather flowers and cut stems pretty short - push them through the doily down into the glass. Waa-laa . . .

The inspiration: The Five-Minute Centerpiece by Jane Newdick

Pineapples & Blueberries

2011-07-07T12:59:00.001-04:00

I don't know what it is about the combination of fresh pineapple and berries, but I can't get enough of it . . .

Waiting For Another Wagon

2011-07-06T06:33:00.000-04:00

Banana Bread

2011-07-05T07:10:00.001-04:00

I've been making a bunch of quick breads lately - Zucchini, Blueberry Orange, and now Banana - to keep on hand in the frig for easy, summer breakfasts. I lost my Banana Bread recipe and had to go hunting - found one on the internet and adapted it a bit. It fits the bill . . .

Banana Bread (makes 1 large loaf)

3 bananas, smashed
1/3 C. melted butter
3/4 C. sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 C. flour

Preheat oven to 350. Mix fruit and butter together. Stir in sugar, egg and vanilla. Sprinkle the mixture with the soda and salt. Add flour. Pour in buttered 4x8" pan. Bake for 1 hour.

Sunday Visitin' & Drivin'

2011-07-04T13:29:00.008-04:00

I love Sundays - they're often filled with visiting and driving. Yesterday we delivered fresh berries and a newspaper to M.'s grandmother. Then for a two-hour drive along back country roads . . .

An hour's visit at M.'s aunt and uncle's over peppermint tea and lemon snaps. Then another stop - to our friends' farm where we took care of their animals for the holiday weekend (and took photos of their sweet place to boot!).

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-04T12:31:00.000-04:00

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

-- Galatians 5:1

Sense of Beauty

2011-07-02T07:32:00.000-04:00

Sense of beauty is the gift of God, for which those who have received it in good measure, can never be thankful enough.

-- Gertrude Jekyll

Summer Photos From the Farm

2011-07-01T06:22:00.000-04:00

(Photos by Eli)

Hydrangea Photo Shoot

2011-06-30T07:43:00.000-04:00

The inspiration from Jane Newdick's The Five-Minute Centerpiece:

Raspberries

2011-06-29T06:46:00.000-04:00

We've grown black raspberries for years but have lately been trying some new varieties - the red ones taste like gummy candy and the golden ones, apricots!

(Photos by Eli)

Vintage Recipe: Peanut Butter Pancakes

2011-06-28T06:34:00.004-04:00

On Sunday morning I tried a recipe from my recent find of vintage recipes - Peanut Butter Pancakes. It comes from a little cut-out booklet called The Collector's Cookbook from August, 1964. Apparently Woman's Day magazine would include these little booklets in their magazines each month for homemakers which focused on different themes. This one focused on recipes for peanut butter.

Anyway, 3 out of 4 boys liked the pancakes - they especially liked them when a handful of mini chocolate chips were thrown in for good measure.

Peanut Butter Pancakes

Combine 1 C. of pancake mix (I used Bisquick), 1 C. milk, 1 egg and 3 tabl. peanut butter. Beat until smooth. Bake on heated, lightly greased skillet or griddle.

Sunday Drivin'

2011-06-27T12:37:00.003-04:00

Barn murals and Amish wheat shocks . . .

A Stash of Vintage Recipes

2011-06-25T07:17:00.000-04:00

One of my favorite yard-sale finds this summer so far has been this stash of vintage recipes. An elderly man was selling gallon bags stuffed full of recipes - he told me to take two for $1. Upon rooting through them at home, I realized that the little recipe books, clipped recipes and handwritten notecards were probably his late wife's collection. Going through them makes me feel as if I'm looking through the contents of a 1950's housewife's kitchen drawer of recipes. So far, I've found a carbon, typed copy of Lillian's pickle recipe; a food advertisement from a 1939 issue of Good Housekeeping; a faded, scrawled copy of a chocolate chip recipe with "happy eating" written at the bottom; a booklet from 1954 called Casual Cooking with recipes to make on your Reynolds Wrap Sportsmans Grill; a soft ginger cookie recipe clipped from a newspaper the year I graduated from highschool; and a 1964 booklet entitled Cooking with Coffee. As I go I'm keeping a list of recipes to try: Maritime Macaroni, Cheese 'N Frank Bean Bake, Peanut Butter Pancakes and Hot Cheese-Onion Bread. I can't wait to see what else I discover!

Herbs in the Windowboxes

2011-06-24T06:18:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much success growing herbs in my flowerbeds - they only get the morning sun there and, in most cases, that's not enough. I've grown chives, mint, lemon balm and oregano but that's about it. A few months ago I read an article from my herb magazine stash about growing herbs in windowboxes. My windowboxes definitely get more sun than the beds, so instead of my usual geraniums I popped a variety of herbs in. They are doing so well! Besides the sing-song line-up of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme (lemon thyme) that is, I've got basil, French tarragon, stevia and lavendar. Eli enjoys chewing on a tarragon leaf from time to time (to release the licorice flavor), Ben is going to try putting some stevia in with his meadow tea, and I've tried fresh basil on our pizza. But my favorite thing to do with the herbs is simply stand on the porch, brush my hands over them and inhale their marvelous fragrances.

A Post to Read and Rejoice

2011-06-22T05:01:00.004-04:00

Sarah Clarkson does it again. She beautifully articulates with her writing a truth I've known in my heart but could not express with words. Pop over to Thoroughly Alive and read Beauty Never Lies.

The Annual Garden Luncheon

2011-06-21T07:32:00.000-04:00

Below are the photos from this year's annual garden luncheon that my pastry chef/gardener friend gives each summer. It's such a relaxing afternoon - filled with great food, conversation and company - amidst a lovely garden and quaint cottage.

This year's menu included:

* Sweetened Pineapple Mint Iced Tea
* Fruit Parfaits with Vanilla Yogurt Over Fresh Cherries, Blueberries & Strawberries
* Blueberry and Dried Cherry Scones with Butter & Lemon Curd
* Chicken Salad
* Lemon Poppyseed Zucchini Bread
* Fresh Greens with Grape Tomatoes, Strawberries & Olive Garden's House Dressing
* A Dessert Tray of Homemade Brownies with Mini Chocolate Chips, Lemon Tarts & Strawberry Jam Cupcakes with Strawberry Frosting
* A Plate of Lavendar Cookies

A Flow-Through Tea Bag

2011-06-20T07:11:00.000-04:00

I sometimes think of myself as a flow-through teabag, soaking in the warmth of sons and daughters and allowing that relationship to produce a stimulating brew that gives love and lift to family life. Looking from my vantage point, watching young people climb reminds me that I am - whether I want to be or not - an example. What a privilege! As older women pass from the scene, I become the leader of the line, the embodiment of what God wants for my daughters, my daughters-in-love, nieces, and granddaughters. What am I saying to them? God has clearly issued my orders:

Older women likewise are to reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good . . . encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be dishonored (Titus 2:3-5).

-- Jeanne Hendricks, Afternoon - For Women at the Heart of Life

A Day at the Amusement Park

2011-06-16T14:13:00.008-04:00

Breakfast With A Bear

2011-06-15T09:03:00.007-04:00

M. got up before me this morning and walked out to the cabin's kitchen to look for wildlife out the windows. By the tone of his voice when he called for me to come, I knew he was looking at something big. I flew out of bed, wild-eyed and wild-haired, to see what he saw. It was the biggest black bear I've ever seen in the wild. He was standing against a telephone pole down the road rubbing his back against it. By the time I ran for the camera, he had lumbered down the road and crossed the rail trail into the woods. We watched for a bit through the trees as he did some more scratching on a guide wire then disappeared. What a sight.

Marty had me take a photo of him reaching his arm up to the place on the pole where the bear came to standing up. The bear was at least 7 feet tall.

After all the excitement, we made tea and coffee and sat down to breakfast. And what a breakfast. The big one is called a Peanut Butter Bombe and the little one a Peanut Butter Dittie. We bought them yesterday at a little bakery we frequent when in the area. Rosencrans' Bakery in Montoursville reminds me of Sweet Stuff Bakery in Jan Karon's Mitford books. Just opening the door is a treat as you are greeted by a wave of cinnamony-smelling goodness. With homemade bread, English tea biscuits, giant cookies, fruity danishes and the like, it's a very good thing that I don't live near the bakery. I'd be as round as that bear.

Sunday Drive in the Mountains

2011-06-14T08:29:00.004-04:00

Sunday afternoon we went for a drive along the ridge of one of the mountain tops. We were rewarded with these views from Mt. Lebo Vista:

A Day at the Cabin

2011-06-13T06:00:00.000-04:00

M. and I had the best time on Saturday.

We went to a book sale where you bought two bags for $3 and stuffed them as full as you wanted with books. We did.

We yard-saled and stopped at quaint shops. And played miniature golf and listened to a lecture in the van on the evolution of the English language. (I know, I know. The lecture sounds dull but it wasn't.)

Then we bought barbecued chicken from the veterans, found a park and had an impromptu picnic. On the ground. By a babbling brook. With sharp cheese and hard pretzels and iced tea. Then we drove down the road to a tiny candy shop and bought 3 chocolate-covered Oreos to share for dessert.

I told you. The best time.

Quiche, Muffins & Tarts

2011-06-11T16:25:00.008-04:00

A week or so ago Candy and I did one of our once-in-a-blue-moon cooking days. We spend the morning cooking and baking girlie goodies that our family wouldn't necessarily appreciate. Then it's time to dress the table, take lots of photos and partake of the feast while we catch up on each other's lives.

Here's the latest menu:

* Orange Juice Punch
* Zucchini Quiche
* Spicy Pear Muffins
* Garden Salad with Parmesan Cheese & Croutons
* Lemon Fruit Tarts

And because the quiche was especially colorful and delicious, here's the recipe:

Zucchini Quiche

Beat 4 eggs slightly in a large bowl. Add 3 C. grated zucchini, 1 C. Bisquick, ½ C. chopped onions, ½ C. Parmesan cheese, 2 tabl. parsley flakes, ½ tsp. salt, ½ tsp. pepper, dash of oregano, dash of garlic powder, ½ C. oil, and 1 C. grated cheddar cheese. Stir well and pour into a buttered, deep 9” pie pan. Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 or until firm and golden brown. (Don't overbake - it's actually best a tiny underdone.)

A Summer Feast

2011-06-09T05:02:00.003-04:00

Their house help, a.k.a. his nonlegally adopted daughter, was frying chicken, making potato salad with scallions, bacon, and sour cream, cooking fresh cranberries with shavings of ginger root and orange peel, simmering a pot of creamed corn, deviling eggs with homemade mayonaisse, and rolling out biscuits on the countertop. A pitcher of sweet tea stood at the ready, covered with one end of a tea towel; his grandmother's heavy glass pitcher, filled with unsweetened tea, was covered by the other end. A three-layer coconut cake, set square in the center of the kitchen island, reigned over the room next to a vase of early, apple-green hydrangea blossoms.

-- Jan Karon, In This Mountain

Walking the Trails

2011-06-08T05:15:00.000-04:00

We recently started a little project - to walk all the trails at one of our local parks. On any given Sunday afternoon, we pull out the trail map and pick one of the 9 trails scattered over 1,500 acres to explore. Last week we discovered a creek that we didn't know the park had. A pleasant surprise . . .

A Visit to Family Heirloom Weavers

2011-06-07T05:14:00.000-04:00

Last week Caleb, Eli and I enjoyed a unique experience - a field trip to Family Heirloom Weavers. This little business tucked in the countryside does big business all over America. They have woven carpets, drapes, fabric and other items for nine president's homes, many historical sites, as well as a variety of historically-based movies. Our tour of the factory was given by the owner - Mr. Kline - who obviously loves what he does. It was amazing to watch him go from loom to loom - touching the fabric, adjusting a part, re-attaching a thread - a master at his craft.

Sunday Afternoon

2011-06-05T05:02:00.000-04:00

A cookout, croquet and ice cream under the shady oak tree.

A good way to spend a Sunday afternoon with friends.

Learning About Nature

2011-06-04T10:49:00.002-04:00

Many adults know very little about the world of nature. Many are not highly skilled in crafts. Anyone, however, can develop a curiosity about what he or she sees on walks and trips, a willingness to learn something about it, an enjoyment in talking about it, and a moderate ability to use nature's storehouse of materials and supplies in making simple craft projects.

The making in this book is only part of the adult-child process of learning together. It is a result rather than a reason. The finished product may be pretty, or useful, or amusing, or experimental, or just-for-fun. The most important result is not the object made, but the enjoyment of finding out and talking about the materials being used - together.

For example, turning pinecones into bird feeders, or Christmas wreaths, or a Thanksgiving turkey is only a part of the real project. If it is combined with the fun of finding, collecting and identifying those cones, seeing the blue sky through the pine tree, watching a squirrel on a branch, walking on the springy pine needles under the tree, smelling them, identifying the tree by the number of needles in each little "bundle" - these are what give the real meaning to the craft project.

-- Virginia W. Musselman, Learning About Nature Through Crafts

(Photo taken outside the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine in Ashville, Pennsylvania)

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

2011-06-03T06:46:00.003-04:00

Cook several chicken breasts on low in a slow cooker all day. Remove chicken and broth from slow cooker - shred chicken and put back in cooker. Sprinkle on seasoned salt and desired amount of barbecue sauce. Heat until warm throughout. Place chicken on large onion rolls with slices of cheese, tomatoes, onions and lettuce.

An easy and delicious summer meal -

Lemonade on the Lane

2011-06-02T05:10:00.001-04:00

One afternoon last week, Eli decided to set up a lemonade stand. Seeing that it was located along our long farm lane, his only customers were family. He didn't mind - he was happy with the $3 he made.

Including the 50 cents he received by proxy from his great-grandmother who found out about his endeavor. Her message included encouragement for him to drink her cup. He was happy to comply.

Book Bliss

2011-06-01T05:05:00.000-04:00

There are few things I like more than a morning at a used book sale . . .

He Exceeds Our Hopes

2011-05-31T05:00:00.000-04:00

And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath showed me also thy seed.

-- Genesis 48:11

How often God, in his merciful providences, outdoes our expectations, and thus greatly magnifies his favours. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes.

-- Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry's Commentary

Amen and amen.

Beauty on the Way to Piano Lessons

2011-05-30T05:20:00.001-04:00

Picnic in the Park

2011-05-28T06:30:00.001-04:00

One evening this week the boys had other plans for supper, so M. suggested a picnic in the park for us. And since I love picnics, I eagerly agreed. We picked up salads and fresh fruit from the grocery store salad bar and enjoyed them in a shady, quiet portion of the park.

Did I say that I love picnics?

How Does The Garden Grow?

2011-05-27T05:06:00.000-04:00

Black locust tree seedlings on the porch to re-plant the forest . . .

Tomatoes in the greenhouse . . .

Beans

and melons in the vegetable garden . . .

Strawberries,

blueberries,

and pears in the fruit garden . . .

Thanksgiving For Our Husbands

2011-05-26T06:00:00.003-04:00

God does not make mistakes; He always does what is best for us. Self-pity must be shoved back where it belongs - into the face of Satan, "the accuser of the brethren," who will always say to us: "See, your God doesn't really love you, or He wouldn't hurt you like that!"

Each of us who has a husband should hold a personal daily thanksgiving service for him. If and when our heavenly Father is pleased to remove that human support and companionship, He Himself will fill the void. "Even to your old age, I shall be the same, and even to your graying years I shall bear you! I have done it, and I shall carry you; and I shall bear you, and I shall deliver you." (Isaiah 46:4) That is the word of our Maker.

-- Afternoon - For Women at the Heart of Life by Jeanne W. Hendricks

(Photo by Eli - Morning Dew candle on moss-covered steps at the cabin)

In the Buttercups

2011-05-25T06:00:00.000-04:00