Well we did wake up to a beautiful snow-covered lawn. Not much, but just enough. The roads were just wet, though.
My sister-in-law and I were busy again today packing and cleaning at my in-laws place. There is just so much that needs to be pitched. It is so frustrating for me. Their new place is so much smaller, but their Depression mentality is overwhelming. I just have no idea how they are going to handle so much in their new place. It is just not healthy for them. My mom-in-law is not handling the stress well. She should not be doing all that she is doing. If she would only let us just do it and relax. I am concerned for her. It makes me want to make sure that I don't leave that kind of mess for my kids.
Keeping so many things is a sickness, I think. If you are not enjoying them, what good are they when they are packed away in boxes. Let someone else enjoy it, if you are not. Live simply.
"From Calvary's cross wave upon wave of grace reaches me, deals with my sin, washes me clean, renews my heart and strengthens my will, draws out my affection, kindles a flame in my soul...consecrates my every thought, word, work and teaches me thy immeasurable love." Valley of Vision, Privileges
Showing posts with label first snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label first snow. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
First Snow
Today was a picture-perfect Autumn Day--cold, blustery--sometimes it rained, then sleet, then the sun would come out. This afternoon, though, the snow came. Just briefly, then the sun came out--that's Western PA in the fall. The forcast is for enough snow to cover the grass during the night, we'll see what happens.
Daniel got to hang out with his grandma this afternoon. What a delight! It's great to watch him learning to walk. So fun!
Winter has become more difficult for me as I get a bit older. My body craves the sunshine and around here in the winter, sun is hard to come by. I have found that taking Cod Liver Oil has helped. With vitamins A & D, I find that I don't get as depressed and I usually don't get colds. However, I can't say that about this fall with the colds.
I'm beginning to slip into 'hibernation mode'. I just want to stay at home and bake cookies and quilt. It won't be long now till most everyone around here is settled in for the winter. We rarely see any of our neighbors during the winter except during snow removal times. Those almost are almost happy occasions to see that everyone is doing well. Spring will come and everyone crawls out and we visit. The rhythm of life around here.
With the first snow, I thought I would 'celebrate' with the season's first making of Apple Crisp. My Grandma Blair first told me about this and it's the only recipe I have from her. I was surprised to find a recipe that was about the same in our church cookbook. Dad told me that Grandma was quite a great cook and baker in her day. I wonder if her recipes were all in her head. My dad told me she used to bake the family's bread and have all the loaves sitting out on the table when he came home from school. The house smelled great I'm sure. Anyway, back to Apple Crisp. I had some Stayman apples that were HUGE and it only took three to fill a 8 in. square pan. Here's the recipe:
Apple Crisp
1 stick soft butter
-3/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. flour
Cinnamon
Grease 8 inch square baking dish. Peal and slice your favorite baking-type apple in to the baking dish. (I've used Cortland and Macintosh a lot. Most any variety will do. Some of the more sturdy types that don't lose their shape when they are cooked quite as quickly, just need to bake a bit longer). Fill about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with your family's favorite amount of cinnamon. In medium sized mixing bowl, add sugar and flour; cut in butter. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples. Add more cinnamon to the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour. Softer apples will only need about 20-25 minutes. Should be bubbly. May be enjoyed with Cool-whip or ice cream. Great for cold winter nights or as a general prescription for a bad day.
From my Respectable Sins reading: "So the question is, Are we to give God thanks when the circumstances do not turn out as we had hoped? The answer is yes, but for a different reason, In 1 Thess. 5:18, Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."...[Romans 8:28] tells us that for those who love God, all things work together for good...The 'good' however, is defined in verse 29 as being conformed to the image of God's Son. In other words, Paul is telling us that God intends all our circumstances, both good and bad (but in the context Paul has in mind; especially the bad ones), to be intruments of sanctification, of growing us more and more into the likeness of Jesus." from Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges. How important it is to learn that God is in control of each circumstance in our life and each one is for our good--being made into His likeness....even things that can be called a 'dark providence'. It seems to me that 'bad' things only seem bad to us. God is using them and he calls them 'good'. We'll see how I'm doing with this the day after the election. Or when God wants to grow me during a time of dark providence.
Growing in Christ together~
Daniel got to hang out with his grandma this afternoon. What a delight! It's great to watch him learning to walk. So fun!
Winter has become more difficult for me as I get a bit older. My body craves the sunshine and around here in the winter, sun is hard to come by. I have found that taking Cod Liver Oil has helped. With vitamins A & D, I find that I don't get as depressed and I usually don't get colds. However, I can't say that about this fall with the colds.
I'm beginning to slip into 'hibernation mode'. I just want to stay at home and bake cookies and quilt. It won't be long now till most everyone around here is settled in for the winter. We rarely see any of our neighbors during the winter except during snow removal times. Those almost are almost happy occasions to see that everyone is doing well. Spring will come and everyone crawls out and we visit. The rhythm of life around here.
With the first snow, I thought I would 'celebrate' with the season's first making of Apple Crisp. My Grandma Blair first told me about this and it's the only recipe I have from her. I was surprised to find a recipe that was about the same in our church cookbook. Dad told me that Grandma was quite a great cook and baker in her day. I wonder if her recipes were all in her head. My dad told me she used to bake the family's bread and have all the loaves sitting out on the table when he came home from school. The house smelled great I'm sure. Anyway, back to Apple Crisp. I had some Stayman apples that were HUGE and it only took three to fill a 8 in. square pan. Here's the recipe:
Apple Crisp
1 stick soft butter
-3/4 C. sugar
1/2 C. flour
Cinnamon
Grease 8 inch square baking dish. Peal and slice your favorite baking-type apple in to the baking dish. (I've used Cortland and Macintosh a lot. Most any variety will do. Some of the more sturdy types that don't lose their shape when they are cooked quite as quickly, just need to bake a bit longer). Fill about 3/4 full. Sprinkle with your family's favorite amount of cinnamon. In medium sized mixing bowl, add sugar and flour; cut in butter. Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples. Add more cinnamon to the top.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 1/2 hour. Softer apples will only need about 20-25 minutes. Should be bubbly. May be enjoyed with Cool-whip or ice cream. Great for cold winter nights or as a general prescription for a bad day.
From my Respectable Sins reading: "So the question is, Are we to give God thanks when the circumstances do not turn out as we had hoped? The answer is yes, but for a different reason, In 1 Thess. 5:18, Paul writes, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."...[Romans 8:28] tells us that for those who love God, all things work together for good...The 'good' however, is defined in verse 29 as being conformed to the image of God's Son. In other words, Paul is telling us that God intends all our circumstances, both good and bad (but in the context Paul has in mind; especially the bad ones), to be intruments of sanctification, of growing us more and more into the likeness of Jesus." from Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges. How important it is to learn that God is in control of each circumstance in our life and each one is for our good--being made into His likeness....even things that can be called a 'dark providence'. It seems to me that 'bad' things only seem bad to us. God is using them and he calls them 'good'. We'll see how I'm doing with this the day after the election. Or when God wants to grow me during a time of dark providence.
Growing in Christ together~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)