Last Hodgepodge of January

How did this happen?  It's the last day of January!  Thankfully, it's also Wednesday and time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Something fun to cheer us all up as we grapple with the fact that the year is now 1/12 over!  Snowshoe on over, get the questions, and then answer them on your own blog.  Then go on back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight...which 'end' phrase might best be applied to your life lately? Explain.  

No end in sight applies to several situations in my life right now: estate responsibilities, pastoral search, closet reorganizations, winter itself. 

An ice-covered brook with high water under the ice

2. What was a must have accessory when you were growing up? Did you own one? If so tell us what you remember about it.

A must-have winter accessory at one point -- maybe 5th or 6th grade -- was a stocking cap.   Mine was red; it may have had a white stripe or two, and the pompom was rabbit fur.

This isn't a stocking cap, but it's red and has a bunny fur pompom, I'd say.  Fur earmuffs too!

3. Something that made you smile yesterday?

Watching a video of my 9-year-old grandson diving at swim lessons.

4. January 30th is National Croissant Day. Do you like croissants? Sweet or savory? We're having chicken salad for lunch...would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, bread, or a roll of some sort?

I do like croissants, very much (and prefer them savory), but oh, the calories.  I would probably prefer to have my chicken salad in a wrap, with some baby spinach leaves and a bit of cranberry sauce.  But if you insist, I'll have a croissant.

Speaking of chicken salad, the very best way to prepare chicken for that (in my view) is in a slow cooker.  You put chicken breasts (bone-in are probably best, but boneless work find too) or a whole chicken in the slow cooker and sprinkle with seasonings of choice.  Montreal Chicken is usually my choice, but poultry seasoning works well too, as does lemon pepper or Greek seasoning.  You don't need to add any water, but you can add a tiny bit if you'd like.  Cover and cook on High for 4 hours. Let cool for a half hour or so and remove meat from bones (if there are bones) and cut into bite-size pieces.  I like to freeze this cooked chicken in quart-size freezer bags to use as meal starters on busy days, but we are talking chicken salad right now.   

For that, just put the desired amount of your diced chicken in a bowl and add mayonnaise to your taste and whatever else you like in your chicken salad.  I usually use salt, pepper, onion powder, and poultry seasoning.  Occasionally I will add some sweet pickle relish or some finely chopped celery.

My paternal great-grandmother with her chickens

A side benefit to cooking chicken this way is that several cups of nicely seasoned chicken broth are produced simultaneously.  You just strain it into a clean container (I use a recycled quart-size yogurt container) and put it in fridge or (for longer storage) freezer.  Next time you need chicken broth, it's there!


5. Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.

Surprisingly relaxed in spite of stress, busyness, and weather events: thank You, Lord.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I'd hoped to have an Etsy shop up and running by the end of January (mostly for vintage paper items and some hankies, etc.) but that didn't happen.  I have, however, done lots of research and homework and will set a new goal for this to take place in February.

Things like this.  1930s, wouldn't you guess?

Another Hodgepodge and another month in the books!  Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Best Squash Soup

Photo from the Cabot Cheese site

We love squash soup and I have tried a number of recipes for it.  You can see the ones we've enjoyed the most here: Curried Squash Soup and
Hearty Butternut Squash Soup.  Both of these are absolutely wonderful, and the Curried Squash Soup is exceptionally quick and easy.

Now, I think, we've found the very best squash soup!  Shortly after Thanksgiving I was chatting with a lady stocking the dairy case in our local Hannaford supermarket.  In discussing how our holidays had been, I mentioned we had eaten turkey subs and leftover squash soup for Thanksgiving dinner, and she asked if I had tried the recipe for squash soup in the November/December Hannaford Fresh magazine.  I hadn't, so I looked it up when I got home.  The soup in question was in an advertisement for Cabot Cheese at the back of the magazine.

You can find the recipe here: Cheddar Butternut Squash Soup.  The only thing I do differently is to use 4 boxes (12-ounce) of the frozen pureed squash rather than using the fresh squash as the recipe specifies.  It makes this soup much quicker and easier. 

I really didn't know how I would feel about the combined flavors of butternut squash and cheddar cheese, but I gave the recipe a try and found that we loved it.  It's really a small amount of cheddar (4 ounces) in relation to all of the squash, so the flavor is not overwhelming at all. 

My husband would love it if I served this soup once a week, and sometimes I do.  Every other week is probably more like it, though.  We have wraps with it, or sometimes pizza or focaccia bread.  It is absolutely delicious.  If your family enjoys squash soup, I highly recommend you give this one a try.

January 24 Hodgepodge

Another Wednesday!  Where does the time go?  Regardless, Wednesday means it's time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions; answer them on your own blog.  Then head back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? Share a recent compliment you've given or received.

I don't find it difficult to accept a compliment, because I do understand that anything I'm likely to be complimented for is only by the grace of God.  Depending on the nature of the compliment I can usually say "thank you" with a smile, or simply say, "praise the Lord" or other words that deflect the praise to Him.

A recent compliment I've received: we had guests over for supper Monday evening and they said the meal was awesome.  It was simple: chicken pot pie, buttercup squash, and cranberry sauce, but was planned and prepared with them and their young children in mind.  An easy way to respond: "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

2. Ten little things you are loving right now.

* little white lights on a dreary day
* a warm cozy house
* seeing ice form on twigs, leaves and evergreen needles -- so pretty
* butternut squash soup
* simple winter decorating
* finding time to do a little work on a cross stitch UFO almost every evening
* seeing the daylight extend a little bit each afternoon
* browsing through a 1953 New Hampshire Profiles magazine and enjoying the vintage ads
* the occasional nap
* days when I can't go out due to snow or ice

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Do you see yourself that way? I read here  a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook? If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?

I think in general I'm a positive person and I think most people who know me would describe me that way, although of course I have negative moments like anyone else.  I regularly do most of the actions on that list.  I can only see two that I don't do as well with.  I'm not always as kind as I could be.  And occasionally I do find myself making comparisons.  No doubt making changes in those two areas would be helpful.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day?

Good question.  We like a lot of different soups.  Of the three listed, I would pick homemade chicken soup, I guess.

The photo above, though, is the Best-of-the-Best White Chili I recently took to a get-together.  It's pretty comforting on a cold winter day, too.

And if you like soup or crave it on a cold day, do click on the "soups" link in the label cloud at right.  There are loads of good soup recipes here.

5. The best part of my day is....

That's a hard choice.  I think I really have two best parts to my days.  First of all, my quiet time in God's Word and in prayer is the important part, the part the sets the tone for the day and gets me off to the best possible start.  And then of course there is the time of day when my hubby gets home from work (he is usually gone 12-13 hours) and we get to reconnect over a meal and catch up with one another.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 
I'm just starting to realize how tiring the past few days have been.  Lots of cleaning (at both home and church), cooking, and ministry left me far more drained than I had thought.  Two naps (I was writing this on Tuesday) didn't begin to touch the tiredness.  A good night's rest Tuesday night and a somewhat low-key day on Wednesday should help.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

January 17 Hodgepodge

 Wednesday again, so it's time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions; answer them on your own blog.  Then head back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. What keeps you blogging?

Let's see.  I started this blog in 2005, mostly as a place to jot my thoughts and memories so I wouldn't forget them.   I started my Christmas blog in 2007, again as a place to put my memories, share crafts, recipes, and decorating ideas, and just share my love of Christmas with others.  I honestly just plain enjoy blogging. I still have more that I want to share, and would actually blog much more often if I had more time to do so.  I so enjoy connecting with readers and other bloggers, and it fascinates me to know that there are people in many other parts of the world who read my blogs.

I consider blogging a part of one of the purposes that God has for me -- that of encouraging and reaching out to other women.  That would keep me going, if nothing else did.

2. Some people like to travel in the winter months. Do you enjoy the beach in winter? 

I enjoy the beach more in the off season, actually.   Less people, plenty of room to walk ...

According to Southern Living the best U.S. beach towns to visit this winter are-

St Simons Island (Georgia), Hilton Head (South Carolina), Bald Head Island (North Carolina), Seaside (Florida), Bay St. Louis (Mississippi), Cape San Blas (Florida), South Padre Island (Texas), Folly Beach (South Carolina), Chincoteague (Virginia), Duck Key (Florida), Nags Head (North Carolina), and Fairhope (Alabama)

Have you been to any of the towns listed (in any season)? Which on the list appeals to you most this winter? 

I have visited Seaside, Florida and Fairhope, Alabama.  As to which town on the list appeals the most this winter, I would say Fairhope because Mr. T has family there.  But realistically,  the only beach town we are likely to get to this winter is probably in Maine.  (See above photo.)

Seaside

3. What's a song you're embarrassed to know all the lyrics to? Are you really embarrassed or do just think you should be?

 I don't think there are any songs I'm embarrassed to know all the lyrics to. Probably as a young teen I knew the words to many pop songs, but no more.  I do know all the lyrics to many hymns, but obviously am not embarrassed by that.

It's actually a huge encouragement to be able to sing all of the verses to precious hymns without looking at a hymnbook.  I often sing while vacuuming, for instance.

Delightful hymn graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

4. When you were a kid what's something you thought would be fantastic as an adult, but now that you're an adult you realize it's not all that fantastic?

Hmmm ...maybe certain flavors.  I know there were some flavors, like anise for one, that I didn't care for and my parents told me I would probably like them as an adult.  I still don't.

I really can't think of much, if anything, that I couldn't wait to grow up to do, only to find out it wasn't all I thought it would be.

5. Share a quote you hope will inspire you in 2018.

I saw the quote below, from Sally Clarkson, on Instagram and really liked it.   It has definitely been true for me.  The more I trust God, the more I do literally see His fingerprints all over my life.  It's a very exciting and encouraging way to look at life.  I hope that in 2018 my own life experiences, seen in this light, will inspire me to share my faith with others -- to help them understand that this is possible, and actually what God would want,  for everyone.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I've got a lot on my mind as we head into a new year, and much that I had hoped to accomplish in January.  Just a couple of weeks left, but strangely, I'm feeling pretty relaxed about it.

Beautiful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  It's a snowy one up here.

Goals for 2018

 (The lovely graphic is a free desktop wallpaper from Baptist Bible Hour.)

It has taken me awhile to formulate goals for 2018, but I think at long last I have my thoughts in some sort of order.  I've looked back at previous years' goals and I've gotten ideas from people like Sally Clarkson and from Aunt Ruthie's chat about the new year at Sugar Pie Farmhouse.  Most of the goals they were zeroing in on looked a lot like mine, and they broke the categories down a little differently, but it was good to get the refreshment of their advice.

GOALS FOR 2018

Personal growth (I included both spiritual and intellectual growth, as well as character development, in this category): Work on character qualities of unselfishness, kindness, compassion, perseverance, and self-control.  Work at eliminating the time-wasting habit of procrastination.  Read, study, memorize and meditate on God's Word daily.  Continue working on my "What do I know about my God?" Scripture notebook.  Read at least 12 books.  Nurture creativity.

Health (includes physical, mental, and emotional health):  Exercise at least five times per week.  Get enough water, sleep, fresh air, and sunshine.  Cook and eat with health in mind.  Do something creative or craft-related every day.  Journal and write as often as possible.  Continually cultivate the habit of gratitude.  Continually seek to be joyful and to keep my eyes open daily for the little things that make each day special.  Find moments of relaxation with my husband as often as possible.

Marriage/family life (includes homemaking): Plan periodic getaways.  Take the best possible care of my husband and help him in every way possible.  Take advantage of every moment together.  Take time for dates.  Plan fun activities with nearby grandchildren.  Minister to my husband with the gift of a peaceful, orderly home by decluttering the entire house and implementing homemaking routines.  Plan trip to visit faraway family.

Money matters:  Spend less on groceries on a weekly basis.  Prayerfully get an Etsy shop up and running.  Pray about making items to sell at craft fairs or on Etsy.  Consider doing some writing for paying publication.  Prayerfully fulfill my trust responsibilities, seeking God's continual guidance in them.

Relationships outside the home:  Be more of an encouragement to my daughters, friends, and the ladies in my Sunday School class.  Stay in better touch with faraway friends and family.  Make myself available to help and encourage those who are nearby.  Continue blogging as a means of encouraging other ladies.  Work harder at cultivating extended family relationships.

Ministry:  Deepen my prayer life, praying regularly for those with deep needs, praying more faithfully for our pastoral search.  Continue working on and teaching the study A Woman who Reflects the Heart of Jesus.  Continue cleaning the church with my hubby once or twice per month.  Minister to others with hospitality as the opportunities arise.

Have you set goals for 2018 yet?  I don't make New Year's resolutions, but I do find it very helpful to consider and set goals for a new year.  You can find further inspiration on this Pinterest board of mine: A new year, a fresh start.  Happy New Year, and happy goal setting!

2018 word for the year: Settled

This absolutely gorgeous graphic is by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

Finally I'm finding a few moments to blog about the word I've chosen for 2018.  It's a little different.

Let me say first that there is nothing magical about choosing a word for the year.  If you've never done this and don't feel led in that direction, don't stress about it.  Choosing a word for the year doesn't make a person more or less spiritual than another, and not choosing a word doesn't mean we're some sort of second-class Christian.   As Barbara H. wrote over at Stray Thoughts, "But can I say, if you feel stressed about choosing a word for the year or guilty because you don’t have one, don’t worry about it. Seek God about it, and if you sense His leading toward one area of concentration, then go for it, but if not, just seek Him in His Word and seek His will every day."  Barbara gives this wise counsel in the post: Homemade Christmas cards and other stray thoughts.  If you go over to read it you will also have the blessing of seeing some of Barbara's lovely handmade cards.

I've felt led to choose a word for the year for the past five years.  Every year I'm really not sure if I'll have a word or not.  My words in the past have been purpose, balance, renewal, faithfulness, and stewardship.  This year I have chosen the word "settled".

Many times throughout the past few months I've caught myself saying something like this: "I will just be so thankful when everything is settled!"  There are a number of unsettled situations in our lives right now, and I'll truly be thankful when they are settled.  But in recent weeks I've started to think of "settled" in somewhat of a different light.

In Colossians 1:23 Paul writes about "continuing in the faith grounded and settled" and he encourages his readers not to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel.  Warren Wiersbe wrote concerning this phrase: "Paul used an architectural image in this verse -- a house, firmly set on the foundation.  The town of Colosse was located in a region known for earthquakes, and the word translated moved away can mean 'earthquake stricken'.  Paul was saying, 'If you are truly saved, and built on the solid foundation, Jesus Christ, then you will continue in the faith and nothing will move you'."

So even though things feel unsettled in my life, I can continue in my faith grounded and settled.  My faith is not in the uncertain things of life but a faithful, all-knowing, all-powerful God.

The verse that has really sparked my thinking concerning this word is 1 Peter 5:10 -- "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

M.R. Vincent tells us that the Greek word that is translated "settle" here in 1 Peter 5:10 is themelioo, meaning "to lay a foundation or provide with a foundation, to place on a firm, secure foundation. The radical notion of themelióō is to ground securely. Figuratively, it refers to providing a firm basis for belief or practice, establish, strengthen, settle (place so as to stay, establish or secure permanently), cause to be firm and unwavering".

William MacDonald writes in Believer's Bible Commentary, "God wants every believer to be firmly planted in a secure place in His Son and in His Word." 

Harry Lacey, quoted in the commentary mentioned above, says: "The inevitable suffering of the Christian life always yields the same blessed result in the character of believers: it will refine the faith, adjust the character, establish, strengthen and settle the people of God."

One of the commentators quoted on this passage at Precept Austin writes,
"Peter says that the God of all grace Himself promises to place suffering, storm tossed saints on a firm foundation ... themelióō refers to the secure foundation on which something rests, in this verse referring to the solid spiritual foundation on which God will establish Christians.

"The picture conveyed by themelióō is that of a house which is so firmly fixed on a foundation that it is not moved by winds or floods or figuratively by the stormy waves of suffering or the loud howling roar of our adversary, the devil."

Yes, that is what Peter says -- that the God of all grace will place storm-tossed believers on a solid spiritual foundation.  No matter how unsettled things in our world or our personal lives may be, God would have us to be settled, firm and unwavering, on that solid spiritual foundation that cannot be shaken.

His Word tells us so ... and His Word is "forever settled in heaven" (Psalm 119:89)!

Reflecting on 2017

I'm really slow with reflecting on 2017, setting goals for 2018, and choosing a possible word for the year.  No real excuse, although I must say we had a rough couple of days last week with our furnace smoking inexplicably.  On Friday Mr. T finally found and took care of the problem, but there was lots of smoke in the house (not to mention lots of cold air coming in from open doors and windows) and also a lot of time wasted on my part trying to take care of this finicky heat source so that it would not smoke.

The smoke made my eyes and throat burn and I ended up with a humdinger of a cold. The beginning of this week was rough, with the need of a 2-hour nap each day in order to be able to function at all.   I actually did this reflecting on 2017 last week, but am just getting around to post it.

Every year I like to evaluate the year just past and there are various questions I have used to do so.  This year, as last, I liked the idea of just ten questions to reflect upon the year, and last week I finally found time to do so.  This year, as last, these questions from Holley Gerth were just what I needed. 

So here are the questions and my answers:

🌟What went well this year?
My quiet times and devotional life;  blogging; preparing and teaching my Sunday School lessons.  I also saw God give guidance, grace, and strength for dealing with estate issues and for trying to encourage my husband and our church family as we continue without a pastor and he is on the search committee.

🌟What did not go well?
My physical life, especially the factors of eating right, exercise, and drinking enough water (although I will say I got far more exercise in 2017 than the previous year).  I didn't do all that well with my homemaking responsibilities, mostly because of caring for two houses.  And I had an almost complete dearth of creative time.

🌟What do I want to do the same next year?
All of the things that went well are things I want to continue with and perhaps even improve upon.

🌟What do I want to do differently?
 I want to eat more healthfully, walk more often, drink more water, get more sleep, and I want to get a much better handle on my homemaking responsibilities.  I want to do something creative every day, no matter how small.
🌟When did I feel most in my “sweet spot”?
Preparing for and teaching my Sunday School lessons; blogging; learning and being refreshed at retreats; taking time for simple getaways with my hubby.

🌟When did I feel the most exhausted and drained?
Almost all the time, actually.  Especially when working on estate paperwork.

🌟What did I say “yes” to that I wish I had said “no” to?
I really can't think of anything in that category.  There were plenty of things I would rather not have been  doing, but they weren't things I could have said No to.
 
🌟What did I say “no” to that I wish I had said “yes” to?
Time for crafting and other creative pursuits.  Drinking enough water and making other healthy choices.

🌟What helped me stay close to God this year?
Making sure I had my quiet time, even on the busiest days, even if I had to split it up into several segments.  Continued use of prayer journal and consistent prayer life.  Good time in God's Word every day.  The opportunity to be blessed by time at retreats for women and couples.

🌟What did He teach me that I want to live out next year?
That I can trust Him for every detail of a very complicated and busy life.

Maybe these questions are just what you need, too, to get a handle on 2018?   It's not too late!