From the January archives, part 2

 

 As readers no doubt recall, I left off with 2016 in my posting from the January archives.  We'll pick up with this one from January 2017: Winter in a jar.  This was a fun project that involved epsom salts, snowflakes and a vintage photo.  I wasn't satisfied with my results, but this decorating idea could be tweaked endlessly.

From the same year, this little study of Psalm 143 might encourage you greatly as it did me.

From 2018, Best Squash Soup is a true favorite just perfect for chilly weather.

Courage was my word for 2019, and I think this is a pretty timely post for where we find ourselves today.

From January 2020 I'm sharing A pretty winter decoration some of you still in the throes of winter (like me) might like to adapt.

 

From 2021 I shared an encouraging read for moms and grandmas in troubled times.  It resonated with many of you then but I think it's worth sharing again today for those who missed it.

Also from 2021, One Day at a Time shares an uplifting poem perfect for the new year.

A really nice dishcloth pattern is also from 2021.  If you missed this and like to crochet dishcloths, you might wish to check it out.

In 2022 I shared about making a Christmas cookie recipe book.  A fun look at the one I made.

 

From 2023, Strengthening your prayer life might be a blessing.  I'm enjoying some of these posts again myself!

Graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

 And that's it for now!  I think 2024 and 2025 are fresh enough in people's minds that I needn't share posts from those years.  Enjoy your browse through these January posts from years gone by!

From the January archives

 I guess that I have never done an archive post for January.  I can't find it, if so.  So it's high time that I put one together!  It's also an easy sort of post to buy me a little time while formulating my New Year goals.   Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea (isn't this snowflake coffee pot beautiful?)  and enjoy the read.

I'll start by sharing Cranberry Orange Muffins, from January 2007.  As I mentioned in the post, this muffin recipe includes cornmeal and I really like the texture.

From 2008, When the Path is Steep is a devotional thought that might encourage anyone facing what looks like a hard season.

January 2009 had so many posts to help with spiritual growth.  I will share just two: Reading Through the Bible in a Year or more, and Enriching one's life by use of a Prayer Journal.  I think I need to update that Bible reading post (or write a new one) since I've discovered other great ways of reading through the Bible in the interim.  If you are interested in the others -- there are more posts about my prayer journal and quiet time -- just go to the archives for January 2009.

In 2011 I did a number of embroidered designs, mostly pillow cases and dish towels.  You can read about them here: Bluebird and Sparrow designs.  And Hearty fare for a cold night features Rosemary Chicken with White Beans.  

Vintage Style Pillowcases, from 2012, is a pattern I have made often.  So customizable!

A post about three cross-stitched Christmas ornaments might give you some ideas for the coming year's Christmas crafting.  From 2015.  Further crafting from that same January included a flannel baby blanket which has become my go-to baby gift.  New moms love the convenient size of these blankets to place over baby in the car, or to use as a handy nursing cover.

From 2016, I share some ideas for Winter Centerpieces.

This post could become quite unwieldy, as I have nine more years of archives to look through.  So I will end with this and plan to do a second archive post later in the month.

Midway through March

 Just taking a couple of minutes to put up a brief post to acknowledge this marvelous month of March!

I never did write a post about March goals, so here are some of my goals for March:

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Get back to working through the "Make Room Challenge" from Make Room for What You Love
* Get together with my friend Jennifer and her children 
* Possibly have some of our younger friends over for a meal and fellowship
* Post in this blog as often as possible 
* Post in my Christmas blog as often as possible
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Continue reading through the One-Year Chronological Bible
*  Continue with the book Fix Your Focus for my Sunday Scripture series
* Continue studying and preparing for my ladies' Sunday School class -- to start in a few weeks
* Continue through the wonderful Daily Grace Co. study of Habakkuk, Even If (this is intended to be a 3-week study; it has taken me months since I only work on it on Saturdays)
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan menus and begin food preparation for a ministry opportunity next week
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Get back to memorizing the book of James
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Continue with the habit of getting outdoors for the morning light
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week

HEALTHY HABITS FOR MARCH:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting/limit carbs/get morning light

It's been a few years since I put up a March archives post, so here are some older March posts for your perusal: 

Maple memories, from 2018, is all about sweet maple sugaring memories.

Chocolate Chai Tea Loaf is from 2019 and features a really yummy tea bread recipe.

In March 2020 I posted Encouragement for your day and these times -- still relevant.

A delightful getaway tells about a 2021 winter sojourn at a Maine Airbnb. 

In 2022, I wrote about Handy homemade helpers I use around the house.

For 2023, I chose a book review on the Gooseberry Patch book Grandma's Favorites.

And lastly, for 2024 I decided to share A surprising vintage find, the story of how I finished a vintage project into wall decor for our little camp.

Hope you enjoy these links.  Happy March, everyone!

September archives from 2018 --

 

 Just wanting to put together a quick post for today.  It occurred to me that the last time I wrote archive posts -- featuring posts from the archives for specific months -- was in 2017.  So I decided to quickly pull together one from past Septembers -- 2018 and forward.  Here goes:

First day of fall, from 2018, features a poem from a vintage magazine page.

A few more late-summer scenes  is from 2019, but it shows pretty much how things are looking around here on my walking route right now.

Making some apple coasters was a fun craft tutorial from 2019.

From 2020, A company meal at our little camp was a fun re-read for me and such a great reminder of all that God did in giving us that cottage.  It continues to be a blessing as a getaway place for us and as a frequent location for hospitality! 

 From 2021, a Sunday Scripture post that just might feel very timely right about now ...

And from 2022 this post about my hubby's very special birthday celebration is short -- but as sweet as he is.

That's a span of five years of archive posts ... hope one of them is a fun or interesting read for someone!

Friday five plus one: from the December archives

 

 So here are six more posts from the December archives.  We start with a wonderful crockpot recipe from 2012 for Round Steak Italiano -- just great comfort food for this chilly month, and easy too.

From 2013, A small Christmas miracle might just encourage someone as it did me when it happened.   A great reminder that God cares about little things, and He is always in the details.

My vintage shadow box, from 2014, shows off a project made from vintage bits and pieces a few years earlier.  It might inspire others to make something similar!

I will probably always love to make cut-out cookies at Christmastime, no matter how old I may grow.  Yes, it's a little work, but it's a tradition I don't want to lose completely.  In 2015 I shared some of my Favorite cut-out cookie recipes.  Check it out!  It's not too late for this year!

And speaking of cookies, The year a third-grader saved our Christmas tradition includes a sweet memory and a few related devotional thoughts.  Written in 2016, but lived years earlier.

And from 2017, A pretty outdoor decorating idea would be lovely all winter long!

Hope you've enjoyed this simple post from the December archives!

Saturday six

 

 That would be six posts from the December archives here at my kitchen table.  I apparently never had done an archive post for December before, which makes sense as I'm often posting daily in December.  So I'm planning right now to do three different archive posts this month, with six archived posts from past Decembers for things my readers may have missed.

From December 2006, a Mulled Cider Mix that makes a fun and fantastic addition to a neighbor gifts, or a  little tuck-in for gift baskets.  I have made more of these than I can count over the years and had just been thinking that I will make some this year.  

If you've had trouble finding whole spices like nutmegs (which this recipe does not call for, but which I use to grate on top of Eggnog Logs) or allspice berries (which this recipe does call for), let me suggest that if you live in New England you will want to check out Market Basket.  They carry such things in the regular baking aisle, packaged in little ziplock bags, in the Badia brand, for under $1.  

The tray of kitchen gifts below includes two of these mulled cider mixes.

 I didn't post every day in  December 2007, likely because we had taken a vacation to Florida in the month preceding and ended up with house guests right after that.  But I did post this recipe for Ginger-Glazed Sweet Potatoes, which might be a great side for Christmas dinner.

From 2008, Treasures of Darkness shares some devotional thoughts that might encourage you if your Christmas season is feeling a little darker than usual.

In December 2009, I was severely limited by eldercare responsibilities so only posted here a few times.  But this post: A different Monday reminds me that God is so good to provide a few hours or even a day of respite when we need it, often when all the odds seem stacked against such a thing.

In December 2010 I mostly posted about daily happenings as often as I could, but this Handcrafted birthday banner shows a project I made two of for gifts that year.

And lastly, for December 2011, I chose to feature the recipe for Sacher Torte Cookies, one of our family's very favorites.  They are the chocolate topped cookies in the foreground of the photo below.

 
Hope you've enjoyed this Saturday six!

From the October archives (2023 edition)

Lately my heart has been aching a bit that I can't manage to find more blogging time.  Last year, I posted every day in October.  And oh, how I miss doing that this time around!  I was looking at some of my October posts from last year, looking for a post to feature, and really enjoyed rereading some of them, even as my heart hurt to not be doing this, this year.

So in the interest of pulling together a quick post, I decided it had been long enough (about 5 years) since I posted favorites from the archives.  It's time to do that again using archived posts from 2018 to 2022.  So here goes!

From 2018, you may get a chuckle from this post: The Best Breakfast Potatoes (and a bushel of laughs).  It still makes me laugh out loud whenever I read it.

Also from 2018, Emma's Apple Cake was a winner that I'd love to bake again.

From October 2019, A Few Photos from the Great North Woods gives you a look at our favorite place on earth.

Easy Comfort Food for a Fall Evening might give you an idea for a quick supper.

In October 2019, if you go back to the archive you can also read about a ladies' retreat and our week-long getaway to the Great North Woods, not to mention a couple of good cookie recipes.

For October 2020 I chose a little Bible study on deliverance.  Maybe even more timely today.

Apple Crisp Pie Bars is a recipe I came up with by adjusting and combining two other recipes.  They went over well then and I may bake them again this year.

Fall Follies is a potpourri post with a lot of fun going on, from frogs to outdoor concerts to jumping in leaf piles.

 For October 2021,  Answering a question or several might be an interesting read, especially if you are new here. 

And how about a Friday five, Fall Foliage edition, where you'll find some gorgeous fall leaves from all around our state!

And for October 2022,  A frugal fall supper features a zucchini garden chowder you might enjoy.

Gingerbread Whoopie Pies with a maple filling ... I'd forgotten about these, but my hubby made them and they were scrumptious.

Fall Meet-up with Friends was one of several last October.  Yummy food!

Lastly, Starting a new scrapbook journal might provide some inspiration if you enjoy journaling.

Well now,  I feel better!  It did me a world of good to put together a post just for fun.  Hope readers enjoy it as much as I did!

From the November archives, part 3

Okay, here is the last and relatively brief post of links from the November archives.

In the mood for some comfort food that's hearty and yet a bit unusual?  Try this delicious autumn supper  which would be good all winter long.  It's a flavorful chicken stew which I served with pumpkin biscuits.  Both recipes are included.

And then finally, this post: Preparing to prepare for Christmas describes some steps I took to get ready for Christmas preparations like crafting and baking in 2015.  Although your own details and preparations will likely be different, I think you'll find some inspiration in this post.

And so ends my browse through the November archives.  Tomorrow will be December, and I'm hoping to post daily in my Christmas blog -- and possibly do "December Daily" posts here as well.  We will see!

From the November archives, part 2

Taken in Nevada, October 2010

As promised, I'm back with a second post from the November archives.  Two recipes and a more thoughtful post concerning time. 

Fiesta Sweet Potato Soup is a big favorite at our house.  Black beans, spicy sausage, tomatoes with chilies -- it's a great combination of flavors.  It's a very warming soup just perfect for winter evenings.

Best Gluten Free Pizza Crust  may not be everyone's idea of the very best, but we like it a lot.  A good gluten free pizza crust isn't easy to find.  We often make a veggie pizza with pesto sauce and it's great with this crust.  It's an adaptation of a gluten free focaccia bread recipe.

Lastly,  this post is a good reminder for me in this busy season.  I hope it encourages you, too.  A moment to catch my breath is an account of how God gave me just that, in a very unlikely place.  For tomorrow's Hodgepodge, one of the questions Joyce has posed concerns "me time."  This post sort of fits with my answer to that.

One more post from the November archives on Thursday.  Then, can you believe it, we're headed into December!  Yikes.