Thursday, May 25, 2017

Water Works



"So much bad in the world and so much good
 that can be done in Jesus' Name.
We were born for this time and place"

DR.James Dobson



Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Grandma Jeanne's "Semi" Home-Made Hot Cross Cinnamon Buns


Ingredients:
#############
1 loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
2 tablespoons melted butter
2/3 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/3 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sifted confectioner's sugar
1 tablespoon milk
dash of vanilla
####



PREPARATION
##########
  • Roll dough into a rectangle, about 8x6 inches.
  • Brush with the melted butter.
  • Combine brown sugar, chopped nuts, and cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle over dough.
  • Starting at long edge, roll up, jelly roll fashion;
  • moisten edges and seal.
  • Cut roll into 20 slices.
  •   Place rolls, cut side down, into two 8 inch lightly buttered round cake pans. 
  • Let rise for about 1 1/2 hours. until doubled.
  • Pour the cream over the rolls and 
  • bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
  • Combine confectioners sugar, milk, and vanilla,
  •  adding more sugar or milk if necessary. (I double this part!)
  • Drizzle over rolls while slightly warm
  • Makes 20 yummy cinnamon buns


Saturday, March 4, 2017

"If we fix a goal and work towards it, then we are never just passing time." --Anna Neagle,  Actress
The path I desire for my life is one of integrity and honesty. I want to love myself; look in the mirror every morning and acknowledge the unique person I am. I am working on acknowledging  the kindness and good in me.   I strive to conduct myself with dignity and honor. I am taking charge of my life; nurturing it, giving myself little rewards when I overcome; hoping that the balance within will reveal itself through the smile on my face, and the gleam in my eyes.

With all of this in mind, I hope to pass these same qualities on to my son, and to my Sunday School students at our church.

Monday, October 24, 2016

The Cottage is Dressed for Autumn



It is no secret that I love decorating for Fall.  

It is one of our most vibrantly colorful seasons,

 

so I begin

 

dressing up the Cottage room by room

 

on the First of

 

September. . 




The first room to be adorned is always
The Living Room.
I started with this Hutch, a Gift to my sister and I
for our bedroom years ago from my Aunt June.
I love using Plates, Cloth, and Ribbon to bring in the
vibrant colors of the Fall Season.







 

I'll be sharing some peeks at ways

 in which I have spruced up our home

for the Autumn in the following pages

 

 of this post...









I love to place twinkling white lights outside on the front porch to greet my visitors and guests on these dark evenings.   Mums and yellow marigolds are abundant in pots on the porch, with smatterings of Scarecrow figures and a Pumpkin here and there. 










      I save seeds of chia, alyssum, and flax to scatter when the frost kills
the hotter thriving plants in my pots, so I still have a green,
lush backdrop into which I place
more jewel toned blooms, pumpkins,
wooden signs, and articles of the season.




To the Right of the Hearth is a vignette of fall. 


                               


 

 

 

I place messages on the

 

plaid message board,

such as

 

"Welcome, Friends,"
















A simple vignette with pumpkins,
books, a bird, and teapot





This is one of the first places
 upon which

 the eye rests entering the

Living Room.  I love to make


little vignettes for the shelves.






Outside are all the signs of
the Harvest Season

The  back porch garden has a Scarecrow
So cute!
Scarecrow  Face made entirely of items for the Birds to eat!
Three Tall Scarecrows stand guard out front in the yard



Reader, Have you

 

started decorating yet ?

I would love to hear from you how you have

 

spruced up your home

 

for the Autumn in the

 

 comment pages

 

 of this post...









Sunday, October 2, 2016

Fortune Cookies for Breakfast... or "how we start a random day off school"

 

 


 


A Breakfast for Champions includes the all important Fortune Cookie!

I love how these snippets of fortune stir up appropriate, interesting conversations among the family around the table...     couldn't even plan for these life lessons if I tried!

Friday, September 9, 2016

Autumn at The Blue Willow

Pops of Autumn fill the Cottage today.
Last Year's Birthday Bouquet from My Man




I love to add old photos of my nieces and son from Halloweens gone by...


Pumpkins from the garden... for Pumpkin Bread!

Friday, August 26, 2016

Need a Pick Me Up??




Accentuate the Positive
Latch onto the affirmative
Re-gain Peace of mind

I Have a little index card with the above three points
written on it in my silverware drawer
for when I have "one of THOSE" days.
Sometimes I need to be reminded how to
"Set My Affections on Things Above"
(Colossians 3:2and 3).

Just thought it might bless others,
& wanted to share this!