Monday 30 January 2023

Homemaking Mondays: View Through My Window

 


Hello! 
There are so many wonderful views 
from our windows. 
I found this cute window pane picture frame
and wanted to add some fun 
pictures to it.  
One big picture would be fun
but I thought these little pictures would add
some great colour and memories.
Three of the pictures my friend took,
one is from my daughter and the others are mine.
I love pictures because they capture not only 
beautiful things, but also memories.
Someone had to stand somewhere and click the picture.
Firstly they would see it for themselves.
The picture is just to share that with others.
I love this frame because the pictures 
can be changed out from time to time.
I just have the frame leaning against the wall 
on one of my little tables in the living room.
One day it may be put up on a wall.
If you had such a frame or have one
what kind of pictures would/do you add?


At the free store I found this pretty little serving basket.
It's a silver plated one with lovely details.
It's also made in Canada and I thought that was a sweet detail.
I gave it a quick wash, but I need to polish it up.


It is really cute and would make for a fun little tea party.
Whether for one or many, it's nice to have 
pretty things to enjoy with your tea times. 
Now I need to make some pretty cookies to go on it. 
I baked some banana muffins but they are just delicious and not pretty.


As for pretty and a fresh spring feel.
I bought some lovely mini daffodils this past week.
They don't last long but their colour is so cheerful
the smile it brings is worth it.  
I put it on my kitchen counter with some of my other plants
so that I can enjoy it throughout the day.
As with some of you I also spend a lot of time in my kitchen. 


This week I've already started a new pair of socks.
Knitting I find is relaxing when there is no time limits.
I suppose that is with most projects. 
I think that time pressures seem to stem the flow of creativity.
Although in the kitchen when you need supper fast...
creativity seems to abound. ha!

I hope you have a wonderful week
enjoying caring for your homes.

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer

Monday 23 January 2023

Homemaking Mondays: What Have We Actually Accomplished

 


Hello! 
I hope you are having a cheerful day.
I would like to just share a bit of the little things
that have been happening this week. 
As with all of us
sometimes things just go along
in somewhat of a routine pattern and we find
that time goes by and we wonder 
what have we actually accomplished.
A few years ago I started to write in my planner 
what I wanted to accomplish but also
what I did actually get done that day.
Sometimes our to do lists get set aside for other
more pressing needs.
I used to get upset about not getting my lists done
but now I still see that I am still
filling my time with needful things.
Yes, even a nap every now and then is a needful thing.

This past week I was blessed to buy some more 
beeswax candles.
They are my favourite but I limit 
how many I buy due to the cost of them. 
I buy mine from a local greenhouse/garden centre.
They have a flower store there and also carry 
lots of wonderful gifts. 
They have this lovely line of soaps from Alberta
and it's nice to get one from time to time.

I was at the local yarn shop this week to purchase 
supplies for a crocheting class.
I of course found some lovely sock yarn that I got for me
and then they had these adorable sheets of stickers.
Not sure if the stickers will end up on a card
or on some other fun project.

Time spent outside with the boys this week
found us on the ski trails at our local community centre.
We've not been on them much yet but they are
groomed and easier to navigate then the skidoo trails.
Cross country skiing has quickly become one of my favourite
ways to navigate the forest trails.
It is like a full body workout but I like it because I can 
go further faster then walking.

Ham and split pea soup 
with onions and carrots that we dehydrated 
this past fall was on the menu today.
I love being able to shop the pantry
and come up with all sorts of meal ideas.
I have to say that I really love the flavour 
that the dehydrated carrots preserve.
I don't think I shall ever can carrots again. 
That may sound rash, but you do need to eat what you can.
It took a long time to eat through the carrots
I had canned before.

Well I've really gone on and on today.
Sorry not much for pictures. 
I hope you are enjoying your week.
Enjoying your homemaking efforts 
whether great or small.

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer

Monday 16 January 2023

Homemaking Mondays: Chewy Pretzels and Meatballs

 


Hello! 
I have something delicious to share with you
on this lovely winter's day. 
This past week I decided I'd like to make some
soft pretzels.
I used a recipe I found at Modern Honey.
They were easy to make and their soft, chewy texture
and delicious butter/salty flavour 
made for a perfect snack.
The boys and I also had some for lunch.


This week I also decided to make some 
homemade meatballs. 
I've not done this in awhile and I really should more often.
They are easy and help the meat stretch further.
I know lots of people have lots of different 
ways to make meatballs.
I'm one of those cooks that just adds some of this and that
and then mixes it all together. ha! 
I add salt, pepper, diced onions, minced garlic,
parsley, soda crackers, and my favourite tarragon. 
I think that last herb adds just the perfect flavour to these.
I bake mine on a cookie sheet but I've also used a casserole dish.
They are delicious eaten with a sauce or just on their own. 


I wanted to try knitting a shoulder cowl...but I used the wrong
kind of yarn.  It wasn't big enough so it made 
just a regular sized cowl.  
I love the yarn and how the colours blend in this.
Another warm and cozy item in the entry way to use.
Our winter weather has settled out for the moment 
and it's been lovely to be outside.
The fog and the frost has added layers of white 
to the outside world.
Truly a winter wonderland.


This past weekend my boys and I took a Food Safe course
at our local community centre.  
It's a great course to take that helps to encourage good
practices in either your own home kitchen
or experience for a commercial one.

Seeing as we spend a good amount of time in our kitchens
it's always nice to encourage cleanliness and safety as well.

Thanks for dropping by to visit! 
I hope you have a beautiful week keeping your homes! 


Love and Prayers,
Jennifer



Monday 9 January 2023

Homemaking Mondays: A Fresh Perspective

 


Hello! 
It's been so lovely here this past week.
The sun has been shining a bit more and the 
snow seems to just glisten and glow.
The sun doesn't get up very high in the sky...actually
where it is in the sky in the picture above is
about as high as it gets before coming back down.

I went for a lovely walk with my daughter on the lake yesterday 
and then up past 
a small glacier to where a creek passes across the trail. 
It's not far but a good ways to stretch our legs. 
Our dog loves to come with us and her 
enthusiasm is encouraging.

In the winter I at times have a hard time getting 
out of the house.
Then when I do, I don't want to go back in. 
Below our house is tucked back into the trees.
Nestled in the shade.


One thing I've been thinking of this past week is perspective.
Sometimes things are all in how you look at it.
I've been thinking of homemaking and how many 
I've been coming across don't see the value in it anymore.
Home is more like a hotel then a haven.
Just a place you stay but don't live in.
Those thoughts always seem to bring me back to this 
one passage of the Bible in Titus.

Titus 2: 3-5 KJB
" The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour 
as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, 
teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands,
to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, 
keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, 
that the word of God be not blasphemed."
  


Some things in life take teaching.
Some things don't come naturally to us all.
Encouraging and teaching other women in the joy 
and blessings of homemaking 
can change the course of life at times.
It can create a joy in spending our time 
at home making it a place of blessings.
Good food, comfortable surroundings, cleanliness.
We want out homes to be inviting, a place that people want to 
spend time...not just our families.


Not all of this comes easy.
Sometimes creating this atmosphere is hard.
Sometimes it takes elbow grease and tears,
but....it's worth it! 
Some would like to focus on the negative...
to not have to deal with the unpleasant aspects.
Life has both...and we must learn to embrace 
both the blessings and the work.

I find this happens best with a good perspective.
Why am I going through all this trouble?
To care for those I love.

Can these tasks be pleasant? 
Of course! 
We must each find our own rhythm
of how we go about our homemaking.
No two homes are alike.
If things get a bit mundane,
try changing up things.
Try new recipes, or change up your decor.
Sometimes all the change you need is found in your home.
Just move things around for a fresh look.
Try a new fragrance in your cleaning products.
I love to use different essential oils.
Sometimes changing how you go about your routine
can help make things more interesting. 
Being flexible is important.


If you are struggling with homemaking,
I encourage you to find another woman...an older woman
who may have a different perspective.
Listen to them and their homemaking lives and perhaps 
that will be refreshing for you
and an encouragement to love your homemaking.
Sometimes the teaching and wisdom of older women 
can make all the difference in your life.

Thanks for dropping by!
I pray your homemaking day is blessed. 

Love and Prayers,
Jennifer



Monday 2 January 2023

Full of Possibilities

 

Hello! 

A new year like a new day 

is full of possibilities. 

Of new adventures and challenges to be met.

I thank the Lord that He is with me through them all.

I know people are planning and dreaming 

of what the new year will bring. 

Have you talked to the Lord about it? 

Are those things in accordance to His will?

Something to think about as we look at our new year.


I have a big stash of yarn 
that is full of possibilities for creating.
Something warm and beautiful.
I've already started to cast on for a possible
knitted shoulder shrug/cozy.
I have sewing aspirations bouncing around in my head to.
I'm in need of a fresh apron.

Then I wanted to share this fun fire that my son and I had.
It was a bit warmer then usual out and so we
headed outside to the forest to enjoy a campfire 
and roast some hot dogs.
We were not out there long...but the moments
spent were worth every bit of effort 
to pry ourselves from the cozy warm house
to enjoy nature and each other's company.
The grouse in the trees above 
showered snow down on us as we 
enjoyed the fire.


So as I think of the new year....
I hope that whatever my hands find to do
that I will do it as unto the Lord
and with a joy that only He can give
for even the most menial of tasks.
Not everything in life we do is grand or full of adventure.
Each and every day is a gift
spend it wisely.

Thank you for dropping by!
Love and Prayers,
Jennifer