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~

Cold Remedy

Thanks to my best friend, Laura, who is always looking out for me for this information. I am coughing...AGAIN! For the past two years I have been cold-free and this season I've already had two! So, Laura gave me this recipe that is cooking as I type...

Garlic, Honey & Lemon Tea

3 C. water
3 cloves garlic, cut in half

bring the above just to a boil. Turn off heat and add:

1/2 C honey
1/2 C fresh lemon juice
Strain
sip 1/2 c of warm tea 3 times a day.

Keep it in the frig and heat it up as you need it.

Laura says the taste is not bad either!

Thanks a ton, Laura. I'm anxious to try it.


"I will Strenthen You." Isaiah 41:10
"When called to serve or to suffer, we take inventory of our strength and find it to be less than we thought and less than we need. Do not let your heart fail when you have this promise to fall back on, for it guarantees all that you can possibly need. God has strength omnipotent, and He can communicate that strength to you, and His promise is that He will do so....My own weakness makes me shrink, but God's promise makes me brave. Lord, strengthen me according to Your Word." Charles Spurgeon, Beside Still Waters, Roy Clarke, Editor