Musings of my life, my Lord, ministry, memories, mischief and more!
....Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15
I've been a wee bit busy this past week knitting, decorating and whimsical nonsense and haven't meant to neglect ya'all. Today I should finish all the *greening* embellishment and then do all the cleaning, with the help of the hubby for sure but here is a little peek at what's been happening at the cottage *workshop* Oh yeah!
I've been *embellishing* in layers okay...so it takes me a while to get in the groove, then I putter for days! and then it stays up way into January.
I've been 'causing sparks to fly off those needles.. and they're wooden!
More projects and gifting to finish in the next couple of weeks. Yikes!
So I really have been busy and I hope you don't feel too bad, 'cause that just won't do! Stay tuned for a CHRISTmas pictoral tour of the cottage soon.
Sunday afternoon sunshine after several wet rainy days
The journey of late has certainly had it's challenges ~ Been playing catch-up a lot with the fall chores and winterizing as we were delayed because of hubbies health issues. Still doctoring for some answers (please, LORD!) on the dizziness issue, appt next Monday the 8th. For all who have prayed so faithfully...THANK YOU from the bottoms of our hearts. We felt every one! We had a little respite from ministry the past few Sundays, but hubbie was back in the pulpit this morning and didn't miss a beat! Preached on Psalm 121..was a wonderful message.
The gardens are put to bed for the winter, the garlic planted and mulched. The new upper kitchen garden is ready for it's big debut next spring. Flower beds cut back, roses still need some mulch..but hope to get to that this week. Ramblin Rose will get her winter cover soon, and hopefully survive the cold, lonely months! Sure would have liked to take her out once more, but Lord willing next year! Woodshed filled and kindling at the ready. New flock of *chooks* (I love that Aussie name for chickens) are 5 months old today..and if I don't see some eggs soon..gonna try squeezin them! Love their distinctive personalities..and the TWO roos get along well... so far! ;o)
The fruits of my knitting labors~the cute vintage
knitting basket was a yard sale score ~ $3.50
(Before my self imposed moratorium on purchases
during our debt reduction) ;o)
Spent a couple days cleaning and reorganizing the pantry...it's holding at a steady 52 degrees but hope to see it down to 40ish soon, so the apples and taters keep over the winter months. Made apple butter and canned tomatoes from the garden, dug the carrots and pulled beets, they await whatever fate I determine, some canned, LOTS eaten fresh and some hopefully lacto-fermented. I am definitely a fall/winter canner, putting the veggies in soups and stews on the cold days inside by the wood stove! Baking bread and creating savory soups are my favorite kind of cooking!
On the quiet resting days as hubbie got over the influenza..knitted quite the pile of dishcloths and watched LOTS of movies..and as he got to feeling better, popped copious amounts of popcorn. Try it this way sometime: Melt a big spoon of coconut oil in your pan/skillet over med/high heat, add goodly amount (cuppish) of popcorn kernels, COVER pan and let it pop away....dumping overflow into big bowl as it starts to lift the lid off the pan. Drizzle some good earthy organic olive over it, salt to taste, stir/toss and YUMMY! (Please refrain from commenting under your breath as to the condition of my well used/seasoned popcorn pan...it adds to the authenticity of the recipe!) ;o)
We remain very commited to our journey to be debt free, are still on schedule..and have paid off a fourth of our debt so far, PTL! He is the faithful One in all our endeavors...as my kindred friend, HomemakerAng, from Maple Valley Offgrid Farm says...God is driving this whole thing! We are praying about an option we have to hasten our payoff goal..we trust He will give us wisdom and discernment. One of the resources I have utilized is reselling some vintage finds at a local antique shop...and selling some thru private channels. I am no longer the owner of the cute vintage *chook* pictured below...but thought you might enjoy seeing it before it leaves for it's new roost.
Vintage *Chicken of the Sea* knife holder
These cozy autumn afternoons are soon going to give way to cozy winter afternoons and a blanket of snow. Until then I will enjoy the blessings of this autumn season and plan and prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. We have much to be thankful for, inspite of the challenges this past year has brought to our life here at Rosehaven Cottage....and to our family and loved ones. Blessings to you! Mumsie
Thought this was a wonderful way to introduce some of my favourite things, and the "Sound of Music" IS one of my favourite movies....and I love this song. So..sing the song and change the words a little and you can find out some of my favourite things (to do) or watch or wear or read. Beautiful roses, birds in my feeders, knitting and sewing, and baking my bread....chicken and roosters all safe in their coop...these are a few of my favourite things. Or try... Cooking on wood stoves....cast iron cookware, growing fresh veggies and old vintage dishes ...... Now wasn't that fun! So now I will just share a little more detail of 2 of my favourite things.
The past couple of days have been mostly quiet...I say mostly because there were some traumatic moments that included our 2 dogs, 1 raccoon (now deceased), a few tears (mine), a shovel and a kind friend and neighbor. I will spare the gory details, suffice it to say that we hope that Rosehaven Cottage and its occupants will recover from what seemed to me a rather ghastly happenstance! DH has been battling a cold and we have just tried to keep him resting and recuperating, as we do get concerned for his health with his compromised immune system. So while we watched Christmas movies... or listened to some favorite CD's.....
I have been busy working on some little Christmas gifts...involving one of the things I love to do..knitting! Specifically cotton dishcloths, and my ever popular Tuff Scrubbies . I thought you might like to see some of my creations from the past few days. The lighting doesn't really show the pretty pastel colors...but you get the idea. Scrubbies: 7 yds netting/6 inch strips/Size 15 needles. I didn't learn to knit till I was, well hitting an age milestone, and a very talented friend got me started (very patiently). My first project was a pair of wool socks! If you start with socks..other things are a cinch. I really like simple and homespun, so socks, scarves, dish cloths, hats are my favourite projects. I always seem to have a couple small projects by my chair and when I sit..I knit.
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This morning we held our Christmas program at our little country church and were blessed by wonderful gifts of music and song, and then this afternoon we gathered with the elders and deacons for our annual Christmas party/potluck and white elephant gift exchange..(I brought a red dishcloth and 2 scrubbies). The ladies fought over the scrubbies..I kid you not! When it comes to what food I will bring to a potluck I know that they will fight over the last piece of.... my homemade french bread. Baking bread is another one of my favourite things to do....especially this super easy and very popular recipe. This morning I made a double batch ..... here is recipe for one loaf.
1 1/2 c warm water
1 T. yeast
4 c. flour (I use Wheatland organic unbleached) I think this is the best flour out there!
1 1/2 t. celtic seasalt
Place warm water in large bowl, sprinkle yeast over water, let sit few minutes, add flour and salt. Stir till forms ball of dough, knead a few minutes. Let rise in oiled bowl till double, roll out into long loaf, cut a few slashes in dough, let rise and bake at 400 degrees for 20 -25 min. This makes wonderful french toast, or for stuffing or croutons..after a few days, if it lasts that long! The picture makes it seem like one loaf is bigger..but its just the camera angle.
Well, I hope this wasn't too boring..I just wanted to share a little of what I love to do and let you see some of it up close and personal and to share a recipe and project. I hope to share and show you more of what goes on here at Rosehaven Cottage, more of my favourite things. May you be blessed as you prepare over these next few days for the celebration of the birth of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Talk to you soon!
