This week's Christmasy doings

 

I've been writing a "Christmasy progress" post once a week, posting on Saturday.   So let's catch up a little, shall we?

🌲 Saturday, December 14 -- We met up with friends at King Arthur Cafe, Bakery, and Store in Norwich, VT.  It was so much fun!

I had specific gifts in mind that I wanted to shop for here, but most were not available.  Out of stock.  I found a few other things that would work, however, and I did get some specific cookie cutters I had hoped to find.  I've prepared a more detailed post for my Christmas blog concerning our visit to this amazing place.

When we left King Arthur, we visited a gigantic thrift store on the New Hampshire side.  It was a little overwhelming, actually, but I got a beautiful heavy glass Christmas plate picturing a snowy village for only 1.75.  And a nice hardcover kids' book (which I plan to use as a Christmas gift) for $1.

Following this we went to our friends' favorite Mexican restaurant, located across the street from the thrift store.  A yummy meal.  I picked the enchilada trio meal and my hubby chose the taco trio.

🌲 Sunday, December 15 -- was our church's musical Christmas service with choir chimes, strings, and vocals.  A delightful service!  We were so blessed to have many visitors from the community!  In the afternoon, our musicians took the show on the road to a church up in the Great North Woods of New Hampshire.  Mr. T and I had thought we would attend, but common sense dictated that we not take the 4-hour round trip.  We stayed home and decorated our Christmas tree instead!

🌲 Monday, December 16 -- Let's see.   I caught up on laundry and did some December blog posts and some planning for the week.  Also sent out some orders from my Etsy shop and a few Christmas cards.  Mr. T was at his volunteer job, so no baking got done.  I thought I would make some fudge, but didn't get to it.

🌲 Tuesday, December 17 -- I baked a cranberry coffeecake for a friend and made my traditional apricot fruitcakes for another friend. 

🌲 Wednesday, December 18 --  I made Christmas granola for kitchen gifts and for my friend who's having loads of family visit over the holidays.  Thinking I'm going to have to do another batch of this. 

🌲 Thursday, December 19 -- Mr. T went out to buy a few more baking ingredients.  He baked a double batch of Chocolate Orange Cookies and a single batch of a new-to-us recipe I've been wanting to try: Gingerbread Chocolate Thumbprints.  He also made a batch of Heavenly Delight fudge -- that double decker chocolate peanut butter fudge that is such a favorite with our family and friends.  I wrote some Christmas cards and he took them to the post office.  Our mail delivery here at our home has become slow and unreliable.

🌲 Friday, December 20 -- We picked up a few more components for gifts while grocery shopping, as well as more baking ingredients.  Mr. T made a full batch of Whipped Shortbread before we left for the store, and I made another batch of Christmas granola when we returned.

The plan had been to have our friend Jennifer and her boys over in the afternoon, but she cancelled due to illness.   So Mr. T tried another new recipe -- Coffee Maple Spritz -- and also a batch of Peanut Blossom cookies.   I worked on Christmas cards and gift wrapping, and took advantage of another Shutterfly freebie to make a gift.  I also prepared ahead for tomorrow's breakfast with some of the grandkids and did some brainstorming about crafts and candy to make with them.  We went out to get a necessary ingredient and did a bit of Christmas shopping along the way.

🌲 Saturday, December 21 -- today will be our annual Christmas tradition with four of our local grands.  They show no signs of outgrowing it, although it has been tried and tweaked over the years and now has to take work schedules for the older three into account.  I'll write more about that next week.

And those are the Christmasy doings from here, for now!

Friday five

 

 Just a simple post today, trying to just post something every day this month as a gift to my readers and a time of thankfulness and appreciation on my part.  A Friday five suggested itself.

"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually; that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name."   (Hebrews 13:15)

1.  So thankful for our church, our pastor, and church family.  We had a most wonderful service on Sunday, so much special Christmas music!  And lots of visitors for this special worship service.  This coming Sunday our young people are doing a Christmas musical play.

2.  Thankful for the opportunity to spend time with friends this past Saturday.  An unexpected joy in this busy season.

3.  Thankful that so many of our friends and extended family still send Christmas cards through the mail.

4.  Thankful that we had a mild December evening on Tuesday when we could spend a night at our little camp in the woods.

5.  Thankful for good walking weather.  We've been able to get out every day this week!

And there is my simple Friday five!

Delights of December

 

 I first posted this series back in December 2006, before I had ever thought of beginning a Christmas blog.  I wanted to post something special for my readers each day of December, so I created a little series I called Delights of December.  I shared many, many recipes and crafts -- well, 31 days worth -- that had been special to our family at Christmas through the years.

Since I didn't have a lot of readers in the beginning, I reposted the series in 2011.  

Don't worry, I'm not reposting it again, but many of my readers are more recent than 2011, so these ideas and recipes will be new to many of you.  I'd like to encourage you to click the "Delights of December" label in the label cloud over here in the sidebar at right.  Hope you enjoy!

December 18 Hodgepodge

 

Again this week,  I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ... 

1. What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year?

Sort out all of our paperwork.  This is a gigantic task and I want to start the day after Christmas.  We are terrible with filing papers it's necessary to keep.  We have file folders in a number of locations in our house (as well as file cabinets in the garage) and I would love to sort the whole mess out.  A week seems too short for the task, but January is already filling up and I'd be so thankful to get this done in December if at all possible.

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year?

Oh, there were many.  Just one was having a great time in Mount Airy, NC with four of our grandchildren and their parents.  There was a lot of smiling going on that day as we visited the town that inspired Andy Griffith's Mayberry.  We would love to return when we have more time to explore.

3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety? 

I love my homemade festive cheese log on a cracker.   This is such a favorite in our home!  I made two of these for a party earlier in December and had one left over, so it went right into the freezer for us to enjoy later.

 I also like extra sharp cheddar on a cracker.  Cabot's Seriously Sharp is a good one.

As for a favorite cracker, not sure.  Some are so unhealthy -- Ritz, for an example.  Filled with stuff we shouldn't be eating, yet I have continued to buy them.  I recently bought these imported-from-Italy crackers at a favorite discount store, and they were quite good:

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? 

No plans as of yet.  I am typically NOT awake at midnight on any day of the year, unless our neighbors decide to have fireworks.

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? 

Family, friends, and fiftieth [anniversary].   We were blessed to have some extra special times with family this year, and to reconnect with some dear friends.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 Only one week left until Christmas ... that's a bit daunting.  I'm trying to savor every moment of the season, and indeed it does seem less busy than usual, so I am very, very thankful for that.

And there is the Hodgepodge for this week! 

 

Maple Cranberry Sauce

 

By now probably most of us are looking ahead to what Christmas dinner will look and taste like.   If your meal plans will include turkey, chicken, or pork, may I suggest a delightful (and easy) maple cranberry sauce?

This year I volunteered to make the whole berry cranberry sauce for Thanksgiving.  I knew my daughter had made a version free of refined sugar in recent years, and I asked her about it.  She directed me to this one: The Best Cranberry Sauce, from Two Peas and Their Pod.  And oh my!  It really is the best.  

It's made with pure maple syrup, the juice and zest of a large orange, a bit of water and a touch of cinnamon (1/4 t.)  When my daughter made this sauce for a church dinner earlier in November, she had forgotten to add the cinnamon and I thought it was delicious without it.  So when I made it for Thanksgiving, I was doubling the recipe and I decided to add just a whisper of cinnamon -- 1/8 tsp. for the double batch.  It was plenty, and I actually prefer it without any cinnamon at all.

Screenshot from TwoPeasandTheirPod

 
This sauce is so delicious that many people say they could eat it by the spoonful, all by itself.  I definitely suggest that you make a double batch.

I should add that it's not really a favorite with the kids in my life.  They say it's not sweet enough and prefer the jellied cranberry sauce that comes from a can.  (And if that describes your kids, then be sure to buy the Woodstock jellied cranberry sauce, which to my knowledge is the only brand that doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup.)

This is fast and easy to make.  The most difficult part is grating the orange zest -- and that's not hard.  I hope your family will enjoy this recipe if you try it!

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

On this December Monday,  I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

The Weather:::

 It's 25º and cloudy, with fine snow flurries in the air, at 8:20 am. Snow was not in the forecast, but it appears to be sticking to the ground ... which may impact my plans to walk later on.

As I look outside my window:::

Snow-covered ground, leafless trees, an icy driveway.   Snow flurries in a cloudy sky.  

Right now I am:::

 Working on a blog post. 

 
Thinking and pondering:::

 About many things, including a few gifts I still need to figure out. 

As I am reading Glad and Golden Hours, I of course started at the beginning, so I am late when it comes to Advent preparations.  More about that later, but one thing I am pondering is that, if the Lord tarries, next year I will do better.  In addition to wise spiritual counsel, Lanier Ivester offers much practical wisdom, and here is some of what spoke to me:

"November is the time I like to start thinking about which Advent devotional I'd like to use that year.  [Me, too.]  It is also when I begin to make space in my calendar for a few simple household tasks which will facilitate easy hospitality in the weeks to come, like cleaning out the back hall coat closet and taking stock of my candle supply.  I always organize and scrub the larder shelves before Thanksgiving in advance of all the extra ingredients ..." She adds that she clears the freezer of freezer-burned vegetables and ham bones and the like, "to clear the way for cookies and cakes, casseroles, bags of pecans, and pans of cinnamon rolls."

Now I have done some of this.  But we did not remove the frozen turkeys we've had in the freezer much longer than we should have, and I did not "organize and scrub the larder shelves", all of which would have simplified my life greatly as we began the holiday baking and even now as we are fully into it.

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, 2 books a mint, and a pen

Listening to::: 

Literally, silence. 

On the Breakfast plate::: 

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch will be a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed ham,  and provolone.

On the dinner plate::: 

Planning to cook a pork roast in the crock pot.

On the menu for this week::: 

 A few meals on my menu plan:

Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts

Chicken divan

Taco pie, green beans

 

On my reading pile:::

  Glad and Golden Hours, by Lanier Ivester -- an early Christmas gift from my daughter that I am loving.  I am also doing my more-or-less annual reread of Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon.

 

On my to do list today:::

 

 Spend time cross stitching

Write some Christmas cards

Bake a coffeecake and make some granola for a friend who's having loads of family for Christmas
Maybe bake some cookies
Switch out some of our regular artwork for Christmas pictures
Wrap some gifts

Work on some Etsy listings

Crochet a square for my temperature blanket

Add a completed row to temperature blanket 

 

The Cranberry Coffeecake I'm planning to bake

Plans for this week:::

Etsy listings, especially Christmas things (only if my desktop computer cooperates)

Ironing
Take a bag to the thrift store

Blogging

Start a pillow quilt

Christmas cards
Baking and candy making
Wrapping gifts

What I am creating:::

 

⛄  Winter cross-stitch projects

⛄  Need to start a pillow quilt

⛄  A granny square temperature blanket

 This photo was from back in April, about 3 months into the project, but it gives you an idea:

 

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

 

Another quote from Glad & Golden Hours.  Lanier Ivester urges that we "prepare not only our hearts, but our homes, offering clean rooms and a stocked larder alongside a newly swept conscience and gleaming motives."  She writes: 

 

"This is no time to compare our 'best' with someone else's, or to start making frantic lists; this is the time to pause and reflect upon  how we might actually welcome Jesus into our lives and our celebrations, and how we can welcome others in His name ... Above all, how are we going to protect that 'better part' (Luke 10:42) of an attentive, listening heart in the midst of our planning and preparations?"

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

 

And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday  for this week!

 

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image similar to the illustration above, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

This third week's verses are focused on Joy.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 17.

Today's Scripture is Nehemiah 8:10.

S=  "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy unto our LORD.  Neither be grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  (Nehemiah 8:10)

O= After the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt under the direction of Nehemiah, Ezra stood in the street "upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose", and read from the book of the law.  Verse 8 notes that Ezra and other men "read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading". 

The people wept when they heard the words of the law (v.9) but Nehemiah and Ezra instructed them not to weep but to celebrate, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Warrem Wiersbe explains in With the Word, "When Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 444 B.C., Ezra was already there, instructing the people in God's law.  When the work of rebuilding was completed, Ezra held a great 'Bible conference' during the Feast of Taberrnacles.  The emphasis in chapter 8 is on 'the Book'.  They honored God's Word by standing when it was opened (v.5), listening when it was read, and seeking to understand it when it was explained.  They rejoiced at understanding the Word and at obeying the Word."

Believer's Bible Commentary also has some helpful thoughts: "The people's tears showed that the message was taken seriously (v.9).  They were right in taking the Word of God seriously, but they did not need to be overwhelmed by grief.  The feast was not for weeping but for rejoicing.  Only one occasion for mourning and fasting was to be found among Israel's feasts, and that was the Day of Atonement.  The rest of the feasts were to be kept with joy and celebration.  The fruit of the Spirit was to be visible: love, in sharing with the less fortunate; joy, in eating and drinking before the Lord; peace, in calming their fears and putting their hearts at rest.  Their sadness was turned to joy, and the joy of the LORD was their strength."

A= Certainly I am to take my sin seriously, as seen in December 16's reading from 1 John, and I am to be serious about my Christian life and my walk with God.  But the Christian life is intended to be a joy-filled life.

There have been many times in my life when I felt I could not do what was being asked of me.  Literally, I had no strength of my own.  I prayed in those times for God's joy to be my strength; sometimes I prayed it through tears.  God answered gloriously and I did find that His joy was my strength.  

P= "Lord, I am so thankful that Your joy can be my strength.  I praise You for the many times in my life when you have proved that to be true.  

"I know that every day is to be 'holy unto the Lord' -- for it is to be sanctified to Your service.  Help me to live my life in such a way that this is so.  May each and every day of my life count for Your glory!  I know that this can only be done in Your strength, and I thank You for all that You have done, all that You are doing, and all that You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is our very simple study for today!  I hope it has been a blessing to someone.

Christmasy doings

 

Here's a little update from the past week.

🎄 Saturday -- I made a cheese log and arranged a large cookie tray to take to a party with my husband's former work crew.  Even though he has been retired a few years, we are welcomed to this party and it's always such a fun time.  Beautiful decor!  Wish I had taken pictures, but I didn't.  For the tables, pretty plastic tablecloths with a pine cone print were topped with red plaid flannel runners and cream colored vases filled with red berries.  Lovely.  This was held in a rustic pine-paneled garage.  A stairway leads to the upstairs, and on each of the four lower steps was a sweet potted Christmas tree.  I always gain so much decorating inspiration from this party.  Food inspiration as well!

🎄 Sunday -- We began singing Christmas carols in church instead of our regular hymns.  Sunday afternoon, we went to a lovely Christmas concert by Lakes Region Symphony Orchestra.  Granddaughter Julia and several of our friends play with this orchestra, so it was exceptionally fun to see in addition to being just a stellar Christmas concert.  Worth every penny of admission.

🎄 Monday -- a change in Mr. T's plans for the day sent us to our state capital on an errand for the church.  I went along so we could accomplish a few things and we picked up quite a few gifts on my list.  

Kind of bittersweet in some ways as we passed a large mall, now nearly empty.  (Back in the day, a trip to that city mall with our kids was always a memory maker at Christmas time.  Although we didn't buy much there, we loved seeing the beautiful Christmas decorations.) 

When we got home from our errands, we ate a late lunch and then went out to do some local errands here in our town.  When we got back from there,  Mr. T made a batch of chocolate peanut butter fudge.

🎄 Tuesday -- I made two pans of lasagna to freeze and then will gift them to a friend who's having a houseful of family at Christmas.  We had had a lot of snow, so Mr. T spent lots of time shoveling at home, church, and our camp.  I had to order some more yarn for my temperature blanket, since the stores I looked at on Monday didn't have the right color.  While I was at it, I ordered a few Christmas gifts as well.

🎄 Wednesday -- Mr. T baked two double batches of some of our special cookies that are in high demand -- Sacher Torte Cookies, and Eggnog Logs.  Both are labor intensive, with the Sacher Tortes including a jam filling and chocolate topping, and the Eggnog Logs requiring icing, adding lines with a fork, and grating on fresh nutmeg.  He was amazed to get so much accomplished, especially since he also shoveled off our metal roof at the camp.  I made a batch of Special Holiday Fudge -- a chocolate one with almond and orange flavors, raisins and pecans.

🎄 Thursday -- Mr. T was out of town at his volunteer job all day. I did some cleaning and dusting tasks that have been on the back burner for a long time, and also made some simple Christmas coasters to include with my gift for the church ladies' gift exchange.  I did some laundry also and did a bit more Christmas decorating in the living room and front hallway.

🎄 Friday -- We went grocery shopping and picked up a few more items and components for food gifts. Made a thrift store run and I found several pairs of brand new Christmas socks (total of 2.50) and a gorgeous pair of dressy black jeans -- my favorite brand and a perfect fit -- for only $4.  I also picked up some free Leisure Arts Spirit of Christmas books in like-new condition.

Mr. T baked Christmas tree spritz, lemon shortbread thumbprints, and another batch of Secret Spice Cookies and I made some cocoa dusted almonds for gifts and wrapped my gifts for the Ladies of Grace gift exchange in the evening.  While I was gone, he put up the Christmas tree -- but no lights or decorations yet.

🎄 Saturday -- This morning we hope to possibly get the lights on the tree.  I hope to make some gingerbread coffee creamer for our own use, and I need to package an Etsy order.  This afternoon, we'll be meeting our friends Syd and Cyndy at the King Arthur Baking Co.  flagship location in Vermont.  The plan is to have supper at their favorite Mexican restaurant.  I'll blog about today's happenings next week.

Hope you all are enjoying some Christmasy doing as well!

The Jar of Jelly -- a Christmas poem I have loved for years

 

  
The Jar of Jelly 

 To others' eyes, it may not look like much;
Wrapped up in festive ribbons and some seals
To make it look more Christmasy and gay.
But you for whom it's meant will find, I know,
All that is packed within the little jar,
You will translate the label properly
And see just what the contents really are.
"Wild grape -- " you'll say, and suddenly
You'll not be walking dusty city halls,
But down an autumn-gilded little lane
Between the jewelled vines of old stone walls.
Instead of dingy bricks beyond a court
You'll see a spruce-green hillside, sharp and clear,
Sweet fern and bayberry will scent the breeze,
The whirr of partridge wings delight your ear.
It is not much to send, this one small jar,
But you will see that in it, pure and true,
Shimmers the essence of the place we love,
Preserved especially by me, for you. 

-- Barbara Overton Christie 

 I've posted this before -- in 2006! -- but I am posting it again for the enjoyment of my newer readers.  I have loved this poem for many years.

  My mother had several issues of Farm Journal's Christmas Book, and I loved to peruse them every year. This poem was included on a page with recipes for gift jams and jellies. 

 I was fortunate enough to be given some old issues of the Farm Journal Christmas Book in later years, and the issue containing this poem happened to be one of them. I have enjoyed so much having these books for my very own. 

This poem in particular shows how even a very small gift can come straight from the heart -- and that it can be much more than just a jar of jelly.

Festive Appetizer Spread -- a versatile recipe

 

Some time ago I winnowed out the hundreds of scribbled down or clipped out recipes I had stashed here and there in my kitchen and cookbooks.  I found places to file them, sorted some to sell on Etsy, and ended up with a large envelope of them that I didn't quite know what to do with.  I couldn't seem to make up my mind whether to keep them or throw them away.  That's the envelope, above.

While planning for Christmas in July on my Christmas blog, I decided to pull out a recipe from this envelope, planning that I would pick the first one I came to that sounded the least bit Christmasy!  Living dangerously.   And I did end up with one that sounded really good: Cranberry Cream Pie. 

I decided then and there that I'd be doing the same thing during December Daily, on both blogs.  So recently I plucked another recipe from the envelope, and out came Festive Appetizer Spread.  This looks so good!

 Essentially, this is a homemade whole cranberry sauce made with fresh cranberries, apricot preserves, and almonds.  

After cooling, the sauce is then spooned atop a block of cream cheese and served with crackers.  

 
The sauce is so versatile because it may also be served as an accompaniment to pork or poultry.  One could get a lot of mileage out of this recipe over the holiday season, using it as part of a festive appetizer buffet or as an accompaniment to a pork roast, chicken, or turkey.  

I'm definitely going to be trying this recipe.  How about you?

December 11 Hodgepodge

 

Again this week,  I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ...

1. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

Make two pillow quilts that I am trying to finish for December birthdays.   Below is a folded pillow quilt from a previous year, for a previous recipient.  As I look at this I realize that this photo was taken in the extra bedroom of a favorite cabin up north.  Apparently I had taken my sewing machine along to work on this (and maybe other) projects during our getaway.  Obviously, I was using my time a lot better then than now.

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

Oh, I have several:  time management, healthy eating, the way everything takes longer as we age.  If I'm honest I'll admit my biggest challenge is time management.

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

I am a cookie baker any time of year. I love, love, love baking Christmas cookies in particular, but my hubby loves it too and he is the one who does most of the Christmas cookie baking, though I do some.

A cookie tray Mr. T put together for a party

A small plate of favorites to share

 
If my year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter, I guess maybe it would be a car shape -- yes, they are out there, though I really don't care to own one -- because we have done so much traveling by car this year, both for road trips and for our volunteer jobs.

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

I do not like milk. Never have.  We don't even buy milk any more.  It goes bad so quickly.  When I need it for a recipe, I dilute half & half cream (which we always have on hand) with water to substitute for milk.  Last thing I made that called for milk was a creamy sauce.

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

I hadn't really thought about this until recently, but this one:

 from the Christmas carol It Came Upon a Midnight Clear by Edmund Sears.  If you can't read it, this is the third stanza and says:

"All ye beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow; Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing: O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing."

The gorgeous artwork is by Jennifer Trafton and is from this book: Glad and Golden Hours, by Lanier Ivester.   Its subtitle is "A Companion for Christmas and Advent".

I just received a copy as an early Christmas gift.  Highly recommended!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We got more snow overnight.  But there is rain and warm temps in the forecast, which is to be followed by extreme cold.   Makes me just a little nervous about a repeat of some scary flooding near our camp in December 2022.  You can read about that here.

And that's the Wednesday Hodgepodge for this week!

 

Sweet little vintage Christmas card

 

 This little card is a recent find that will be going in my Etsy shop.  The scene reminds me so much of the valley where I grew up.  Mountains all around, a big red barn, friendly folks -- well, I just love it.  The message inside the card is also refreshing and different:

Christmas again!

And may you have the real joys 

that make the season mean so much;

-- warm remembrance, friendly greetings, 

and hearty good cheer.

Isn't that beautiful?  And so much of it is just what I wish for my friends at Christmas.  How about you?

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

On this December Monday,  I'm taking a few minutes to join Sandra for this link party over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. 

The Weather:::

 It's 34º and cloudy, with snow predicted to start around 5 pm.

As I look outside my window:::

There's plenty of snow on the ground and a bit on some of the trees.  The eaves are dripping slightly.  Right now it looks as if we'll have a white Christmas, but there is a lot of rain predicted.

Right now I am:::

 Working on a blog post. 

 

  
Thinking and pondering:::

 About many things.  Some as simple as what to prepare for supper.  Others much more complex, as to how best to encourage a dear friend who is experiencing significant health issues.

On my bedside table::: 

 A lamp, 2 books a mint, and two pens

Listening to::: 

Literally, silence.  The occasional drip from the eaves and, a few minutes ago, the sound of my  husband shoveling the porch roof.

On the Breakfast plate::: 

I do intermittent fasting so don't have breakfast. Lunch will be a salad of leaf lettuce, cubed ham, and cubed Swiss cheese or provolone.

On the dinner plate::: 

Not sure yet.  Something with chicken.

On the menu for this week::: 

 A few meals on my menu plan:

Hamburgers, roasted Brussels sprouts

Chicken divan

Taco pie, green beans

 

On my reading pile:::

 Glad and Golden Hours, by Lanier Ivester -- an early Christmas gift from my daughter that I am loving.  I am also doing my more-or-less annual reread of Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon.

 

On my to do list today:::

 

 Spend time cross stitching

Write some Christmas cards

Possibly go grocery shopping 

Do some errands

Do some planning for later in the week
Work on a couple of blog posts

Work on some Etsy listings

Crochet a square for my temperature blanket

Add a completed row to temperature blanket

Plans for this week:::

Etsy listings, especially Christmas things

Ironing
Take a bag to the thrift store

Blogging

Start a pillow quilt

Christmas cards
Baking and candy making
Attend a Christmas party for our Ladies of Grace group

What I am creating:::

 

⛄  Winter cross-stitch project

⛄  Need to start a pillow quilt

⛄  A granny square temperature blanket

Bible verse, Devotional, Quote:::

 

I've been slowly working my way through Spiritual Mothering, by Susan Hunt.  One thing I recently underlined was two foundational principles for women of faith.  These are principles that most of us would agree with, but I was encouraged to see them in print:

 

* God is the reference point for all of life.

* God's glory is the over-arching goal for all of life.

On my prayer list:::

 

Friends & family
Church family
Missionaries
Our country

 

And there's the Happy Homemaker Monday  for this week!

 

Sunday Scripture

 

 In 2013, I did an Advent study with Good Morning Girls.  The study, Keeping Our Hearts Focused on Jesus, is still available as a free download; it's not too late to head on over there and get it.  Scroll down and click on the book-like image featuring an illustration of candy canes, and the pdf should open right up.  More than just a Bible study, this is an ebook that includes recipes, Advent activities, and more.  I think it will be a blessing to you.

I've mentioned before that I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the studies from GMG use a very similar one.  I find this method a real blessing whether I am studying shorter passages or longer ones, so I hope you'll give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or passage,  or praise for what it means to you.

Each week of this Advent study focuses on a theme: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.  This second week's verses are focused on Love.  If you downloaded the study and are following along with it, this is the one from December 9.

Today's Scripture is 1 John 4:7-8.

S= "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."  (1 John 7:-7-8)

O= This letter is written by the apostle John and may be thought of as a "family letter" from the Father to His "little children" (as John addresses them) who are in the world.  

C.I. Scofield says, "John's Gospel leads us across the threshold of the Father's house; His first epistle makes us at home there."  A lovely thought!  

The section containing verses 7 and 8 of chapter 4 is titled by Scofield in the Scofield Study Bible as "Little children assured and warned."

God is love, and all real love comes from Him.  Since we are born of God, and know God, we are to love one another.  If we do not manifest this love toward one another, we really don't know God as well as we should.

A= This passage is definitely speaking to me today.  Many times my reactions are so much less than loving.  Many times I feel as if I can love people, but I don't really like them very much.  I know that I have to truly love others if I am to show the world an accurate picture of my Savior.

P= "Lord, You know how hard this is for me.  I feel as if I do love my church family very much and have a genuine love and concern for each one who attends.  Yet you know I have often had a real struggle over the years with various situations.  I'm very thankful right now that I can't even remember what most of them were.  I pray that You would help me to love as You would have me to love.  I praise You that You are love and that true, real love comes only from You.  Give me a true love for others, I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is another super-simple Bible study post for the Christmas season.  I hope it's a blessing to someone!