Inspiration From the Fair

Home Decorating Inspiration

Notice the tile pattern on the porch floor -

A few weeks ago, two friends and I crossed the river to visit a mutual acquaintance.  We had been graciously invited for lunch and to tour her home.  Teresa's family is incredibly talented in the home decorating line - her husband is a contractor; her son, an award-winning architect and she could easily be an interior decorator (and a landscaper, to boot).  They do home renovation projects like I try out new recipes!!




We spent the day being inspired by Teresa's creativity and joy in creating an environment that's beautiful AND inviting.  I came away with an idea for a shelf in our living room.  Teresa had two large brackets painted and welded into an "L" shape on which she placed irregular slices of walnut to serve as two shelves on the barn siding walls of her enclosed porch. 




She's great at finding things that others have discarded and repurposing them into new creations.  Below you'll see the shutters and brackets she used to make a unique decoration that hangs on the side of their garage.  And in one of the bedrooms is a beautiful old mantelpiece that Teresa salvaged from a burn pile and turned into a headboard for a bed.  She definitely has a gift for thinking outside of the box!

Artificial plants are tucked in tiny baskets inside the top of the brackets -

After our inside tour, Teresa provided a simple but colorful and delicious luncheon of orangeade and iced tea, salad, fruit, cheese cubes and homemade whole wheat bread, which we enjoyed on the porch.  After chatting for awhile, we were given the outside tour of their spacious property and finished back in the sunroom with a blueberry cream cheese dessert.  Certainly a lovely way to spend an afternoon . . .

Our Church Visiting Adventures - Part 2

On Sunday we made one of our visits to a surrounding church to visit our neighbors.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to take in their worship service because of some unforeseen circumstances, but we did make it in time for their Sunday school session.

The pastor greeted us in the parking lot and pointed out the direction to follow for Sunday school.  Upon entering the door, we were immediately greeted by a familiar face - a high school friend's mother.  It really is a small world!  I also discovered that one of the librarian assistants at our little local library attends the church.  After greetings, it was explained that their Sunday school format is less traditional in the summer.  They had been thinking on different ways to speak to the hearts of those who might connect with things in a more visual manner rather than the norm of words and reading that make up so much of a worship service.  Thinking on the idea of stained glass that was once created to tell stories to the illiterate, they decided to create some stained glass images of their own.  Using tissue paper behind black paperboard as their canvas, they first brainstormed symbols and colors that spoke to them of the ordinances of communion and baptism.  Each unique and colorful, they asked us as visitors to share what we saw in their creations and how the images spoke to us.  They were planning to display the boards during a re-affirmation of baptism service that night, as well as future communion observances.

We had a conversation about why some denominations choose not to use stained glass images in the sanctuaries, as well as the traditions of various heritages pertaining to architecture, painted images, etc., within their church buildings.  Though their Presbyterian church is very old (and one would assume would have stained glass because of illiteracy), it was begun by Germans and was given a very plain appearance in architecture and decor. 

The class had planned a field trip later in the S.S. hour to a local church that has stained glass windows for inspiration and ideas.  But before leaving, the pastor offered us a look into their sanctuary.  The three of us ended up having a wonderfully spontaneous and stimulating discussion of several things - traditions and principles behind the ideas of a raised pulpit and clapping during worship, thoughts on baptism, and how to incorporate various visual helps within ordinances and other services as reminders.

The pastor also shared the reason behind the teddy bears that sat in pews throughout the sanctuary.  It being an idea they developed to give members and visitors alike an easy way to witness to others.  The bears were there to take and give to someone in need of encouragement as a tangible sign and reminder of God's love and the church's prayers on their behalf.  There was an area in the narthex designated as the "bear den" in which people could donate a bear or make a donation to the bear ministry.

I so appreciated the rich and mentally stimulating time we spent as this little church, and we hope to get back in the fall to take in a worship service.  (And they're going to begin a book group then that I might have to investigate!)  As usual, it was truly a blessing to connect with others of like faith in our community . . .

Chicken Divine & Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

No, that is not Chicken Divine OR Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.  That, is Steve the Bearded Dragon.  And the photo doesn't do him justice.  He is one of God's magnificent creations, and you really have to see him in person to get the full cool quotient.

Steve belongs to some friends of our's.  Friends with whom we spent a lovely Sunday afternoon last week sharing a meal, talking, playing Four Squares in the basement, asking a hundred and one questions about bearded dragons, making ice cream and touring their home.

As for the meal, we provided a big, Green Tossed Salad and Homemade Applesauce.  And they provided two pans of Chicken Divine, hot French Bread and Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream with all the trimmings.  And I do mean all the trimmings - chocolate syrup, chopped nuts, caramel topping, Valentine sprinkles, Oreo cookie crumbles, candy hearts and waffle bowls.  That dessert made the afternoon over the top.  (And it's no wonder - wait 'til you look at those deliciously rich ingredients!) 

Chicken Divine

4-6 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
16 oz. frozen broccoli, cooked and drained
1 C. mayo
2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 C. shredded mozzarella
2 C. corn flake crumbs
2 tabl. butter, melted

Layer a 13x9" pan with chicken cubes.  Then layer with cooked broccoli.  Mix together mayo and soup.  Spread mixture over chicken and broccoli.  Sprinkle the cheese over top.  Mix corn flake crumbs and butter, then spread over top of the cheese.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, uncovered.

Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream
(Makes 6 qt.)

3 C. milk
2 3/4 C. sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
3 C. half-and-half
2 tabl. vanilla
6 C. whipping cream

Mix well and pour into ice cream maker.

Our Church Visiting Adventures - Part 1

 

Marty and I have begun a little adventure.  We’ve taken to visiting other neighborhood churches – once every 6 weeks or so.  Why?  Because we’ve a desire to discover how our neighbors are worshipping, to see what we can learn from those of like faith, to develop a better connection with others in our community, and, paraphrasing my husband - to get a look at the faces of the other believers with whom we will spend eternity. 

Last Sunday we visited a big, old church on the corner of the square of a tiny town a few minutes from here.  The church looked so beautiful in its Christmas finery – deep, deep windowsills that were decorated with greens and thoughtful figurines; paper angels made by the children of the church hanging from the lights; an unusual crèche of what looked like cornhusk figures flanked by rows of white and red poinsettias; a gorgeous Christmas tree in the corner covered with lights and Chrismons – symbols of Christ.

The theme for the day seemed to be light – sunlight pouring in the gorgeous old stained glass windows, a Sunday school lesson from John 1 on the Light of the world and excerpts from Ephesians on being the children of the Light, the minister’s prayer on the beauty and reality of Christ’s light, and the reminder of the hope of His coming in the lighting of the Advent candles.

The message for the day encompassed a short skit and concluding comments by the pastor.  It was called “The Bethlehem Shepherds” – a dialogue between two shepherds – an old man recounting the story to his grandson of the night 30 years before when angels came to announce the birth of the Savior.  He told his grandson of the wonder he experienced and then began to trace the themes of shepherds and lambs through the Scriptures – of Abram who was called to sacrifice his “lamb;” of David, a shepherd of Bethlehem, who cared for a flock of sheep and later a flock of people; and lastly, the importance of the lambs of the Passover. 

The pastor concluded the message by reminding us of the significance of the rest of the story – that Christmas means nothing without the events of Easter.  By way of illustration he shared a tradition his boyhood church practiced in Pittsburgh.  Each year, the people of the church bought a fresh and beautiful Christmas tree and dressed it for Advent.  After Christmastime, they stripped the tree of its decorations and discarded it – all but two branches of the tree.  Those two braches were fashioned together to form a cross and put away.  During Lent that cross was brought out and displayed as a poignant reminder that Christ’s birth and death were intrinsically linked.  What a precious reminder that our Savior was, indeed, born to die.

We appreciated our time of worship with others of like faith and look forward to our continuing adventure.  In the meantime, there’s no place like home . . .

P.S. – A few “housekeeping” ideas we noticed:

- One of the announcements was a reminder that any Sunday in which there are fresh cut flowers in altar vases you are welcome to take them after services to “gift” others.  Whether to share them with someone who is ill or as a way to encourage and/or witness to someone, you were directed to see the individual that would give you a tin can for that very purpose.

- As first-time visitors we were encouraged to pick up a free book as we left the sanctuary.  We were given a copy of The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren.  Whether this is a through-the-year practice, I don’t know - but what a great idea to get various great books into the hands of others!

Steam-O-Rama 2011 - An Autumn Tradition

Weekend Re-Cap

* Friday evening we enjoyed games & snacks with friends at their home. We visited, taught them how to play "Five Crowns," played several rounds of UNO and enjoyed a counterful of treats:

* Pretzel & Kiss Candy (Eli made and brought a tinful of it.)
* Sour Cream & Onion Dip with Chips & Carrots
* Pumpkin Cookies
* Lemon Tea Cake
* Sesame Snacks
* Crisp Apples with Caramel Dip
* Apple Cider

* Saturday morning E. and I ran some errands while M. and the older boys hunted:
- made a library run and picked up a few Christmas craft & recipe books that they were selling for a dollar
- to the post office to mail some Christmas notes
- stopped at the thrift store and found: a small pile of Christmas coloring books and Fun Pads, a strand of silver beads E. wanted to add to the little Christmas tree in his room, a copy of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" to read aloud, a copy of "The Horse & His Boy" by C. S. Lewis to add to Eli's collection, some ribbon and embellishments for homemade Valentines, and a free box of raspberry & white chocolate scones
- a surprise stop to the pet shop because I know E. likes to browse

* Saturday evening after making a chocolate layer cake, writing up schoolwork for the next week, and finishing up laundry M. took me out for dinner to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of our first date. We decided to go to Friendly's as that was the restaurant we went to after a movie on that first date. We shared an appetizer platter and both got salads - mine was a huge, delicious Asian Salad with mixed greens, grilled chicken, mandarin oranges, carrots, and sesame-ginger dressing. M. asked the waitress if I could take one of the colorful balloons dangling from the ceiling . . . We did some Christmas shopping then and came home to find a spotless house - the boys had done all the dishes from their pizza take-out supper, tidied up the living room and had a candle burning. What a treat to come home to!

* Sunday afternoon after church we drove down amidst snow flurries to visit M.'s parents and surprise his mom with a birthday cake as her birthday is this week. As the dining hall was closed for the weekend, we met them and drove to a local restaurant. If you're ever in the area of Union Bridge, Maryland, stop in at The Buttersburg Inn. We had an excellent meal there - and I enjoyed the lovely Victorian photographs and furniture in the back room. The cook seated us and after hearing Eli say he wanted spaghetti, offered to make it for him even though it wasn't on the menu. E. gladly took him up on his offer! We went back to the conference center then and visited for awhile before we had cake and played "Five Crowns" along with another couple that are also volunteers at the center. It was a lovely afternoon! We drove the hour home listening to Christmas songs and then watched "The Muppets' Christmas Carol" before bed.

A Happy Little Zoo

Yesterday Eli and I spent the day at a friend's farm. I refer to it as a "happy little zoo" because you never know what creatures you'll find there when you visit. The purpose of our visit was for me to teach my friend how to make soap.


Before we started our work, I checked out the honeycomb on the counter which contained a few baby bees from the new hives the family had just started. My friend told me they had enjoyed some fresh honeycomb on their toast the other morning. In the midst of our soapmaking, the lambs had to be fed - two sweet, three-week old babies whose Mama abandoned them to a third baby. Eli ADORED giving one its' bottle. It took absolutlely no time at all because those lambs sucked down their bottles quicker than you could say, "Jack Rabbit!" Another break in our soapmaking came when the post lady came to the door with a box of peeps to add to the crate in the living room which already contained a handful of older chicks. Such peeping and delight from chicks and children all around! Amidst all that, the telephone kept ringing off the hook as the two older girls took calls about the horse-riding lessons they are planning to give on their farm this summer. And, last but not least, a neighbor came to call about those lessons as well as a family member to use their computer for awhile!


We did manage to get our Sweet Orange & Clove Soap made and have a delicious lunch of veggie soup, sandwiches, fruit and Rice Krispies Treats. After tidying up, we looked through soap books and chatted about homeschooling over a cup of mint tea. We shared what we had heard at various seminars from the recent homeschool convention and made lists of books that the other recommended. Then E. and I headed home - eagerly sharing all we had seen and learned that day and proclaiming how much we always enjoy a visit to that happy place!