Homemaking Mondays: Tea with Shortbreads

 

Hello! 
As most of you that have been with me for awhile

know that I love tea...and cookies. 

It's nice to have tea

in it's many forms and flavours

tailored to each day.

Then there are the cookies-

this week I baked some shortbreads.

I used the Scottish Shortbread recipe in the 

Joy of Cooking cookbook.

I used my fancy rolling pin to add some detail to the tops 

and the bottoms turned out a lovely golden colour.

Melt in your mouth.

Perfect to enjoy with tea time,

and perfect to share with others.

I have these little blue papers that I like to use

to quickly wrap up treats for others.

Below I tucked up a few cookies to go to the couple 

that bring us eggs every week.

Just a little thank you for their free delivery they do for us.

Do you have little papers or containers 

that you use to be able to quickly 

put together treats for those that stop by?

I enjoy salami and this past week 

at the store they had German salami on sale.

It's delicious on crackers with cheese

or on sandwiches.

I love the "floral" design it has when you slice it.

I had found some Swiss cheese on sale as well so 

thought I'd try it with the salami on grilled sandwiches. 

Well that is now a new favourite lunch of mine.

Do you like grilled sandwiches?

I love collecting some little 

delightful tea things.

One of my favourites that I know 

I've shared before is this little tea spoon.

I just love the delicate stitching that went into it.

Then I acquired this beautiful pansy tea cup and saucer. 

It has a lovely handle and there are

little scalloped edging details on the top of the cup.

I had found this beautiful little sugar bowl at the free store

but didn't use it much as there was no lid.

Now...you know I love the free store. 

I went there this past weekend and voila 

there was this sweet glass lid sitting all by itself.

It fits the sugar bowl perfectly! 

Now I know that sugar bowls don't need lids per se.

I find that it's just nice to keep out some sugar without

getting dust and other "floaties" in it.  

It's snowing outside today 

and is just a bit below freezing.

Shovelling will be on our homeschool

schedule for today.

Thank you for dropping by! 

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

Homemaking Mondays: Embrace the Details

 

Hello! 
This Monday morning has been delightful! 
The sun has come out and blue sky is all around.

The wind has picked up and is blowing the frost off the trees.

This is creating a snow-globe effect to the forest around us.

So the urge to go outside is strong...

but alas the need to be inside doing things is stronger.

School lessons are on, 

there is bread baking in the oven,

and knitting mistakes being fixed. 

Outside time will wait till after lunch.

This week I wanted to share with you a little project I did.

It started with me switching out dryers in the laundry room

as our old one finally bit the dust.

Behind the new washer that we had saved was a board.

It was just the right size and colour for an idea that I'd had.

So I brought it upstairs and cut it to length.

I went out to the shed and found a couple hangers that I had saved.

Then I put up this little shelf in my hutch so that the baskets

finally had their own place in the kitchen to belong.

My son thought of putting the hangers on the top 

so as not to infringe on the cookbook space.

Below you can see what it looked like before I started. 

This is a space that accumulates all sorts of things.

It needed to be cleared up so timing was perfect.

I took some pictures of the frost before it started to blow away.

I was feeding the birds and their bird feeder had some

beautiful frost on it's swirls.

Our old dog is never far from us.

She loves to plop herself down and from time to time

she slightly opens her eyes to check on us.

To inquire as to our reason for making noise. 

Yes, we are a home that makes noise. :)

Precious details in each day.

Sometimes we miss them.

Today I caught the light on coming in 

to help warm the buns while they rose on the stove.

Little dustings of flour still around

cooking stains around the burner...of messes made.

I need to pull out some baking soda and take care of those.

It may seem strange, but these are some of the details 

that I love to embrace.

Each day has something special

each job has a benefit

each little effort we put into our home

and into the lives of those we love,

those details are beautiful!

I hope you have a beautiful day

taking notice of those special details in your day.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

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

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

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

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

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