Here in Western Pennsylvania, we value sunshine quite highly. During the month of February, the sun has rarely been seen. (And it is not just winter when the sun is often hard to come by around here.) The snowfall has reached record-breaking levels and that brings with it the seemingly endless gray days. This is when I wish I had a digital camera to show the snow piles! It may be June before my tulips bloom because the snow is piled so high! However, the past two days have been a boost to the mind and spirit. The temperatures actually got above freezing, too! Seeing that the sky is still blue and that the sun is still up there has brought smiles to everyone around. What a blessing it has been. I think God knew we had had enough.
It won't be long until Spring. The days are already getting longer. I'm getting anxious to get my hands in some dirt!
ALMIGHTY GOD,
I am loved with everlasting love,
clothed in eternal righteousness,
my peace flowing like a river,
my comforts many and large,
my joy and triumph unutterable,
my soul lively with a knowledge of salvation,
my sense of justification unclouded.
I have scarce anything to pray for;
Jesus smiles upon my soul as a ray of heaven
and my supplications are swallowed up in praise.
--an excerpt from Assurance from the book Valley of Vision, A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Getting Caught Up.
Happy New Year to all!
As we crawled into the car for church this morning, the thermometer read -9 degrees! By the time we arrived at church about 25 minutes later it was 4 degrees. Of course, it is January in Western Pennsylvania. The trip to church was a pretty one, with the trees all frosted from the clear night air. There are plenty of icicles on many homes that seem to be growing and growing. It is supposed to warm up to above freezing this week--it will feel like a heat wave! The weather guys are saying that there may be a storm hit next weekend so we will see what we get.
With the temps being so low last night, it meant that our kitchen got pretty cold. It was 53 degrees when I came downstairs this morning. When we arrived home from church we put on a pot of chicken soup that I started yesterday and fired up our "Rayo" oil lamp. The Rayo gives off great light and plenty of heat. As of now, it is up to a toasty 64 degrees in the kitchen.
The chicken soup went well with toasted cheese sandwiches on home-made bread. Together they warm the soul. All that is needed is a fireplace or wood burner...someday, I hope.
The vegetable catalogs are arriving. These colorful beauties are a feast for the eyes. This time of year I am tempted to try all sorts of new varieties of vegies in the garden. The pictures make everything tempting to try. I haven't started my list yet, but I'm thinking about all sorts of fun garden goodies. Lord willing, I will be on both feet this year and able to get my hands dirty this summer.
We have been blessed with a new granddaughter, Ada Christiana. She was born on December 9th. We were able to visit her and her mom and dad in Chicago for a week and a half. It was wonderful to spend time with the kids in their new place and help mommy get some rest.
The grandsons were able to have Christmas in Atlanta with the other grandparents this year. They are due to return this week with their mom so we can celebrate a second Christmas with them soon.
"Forgive me if I have tried to add anything to the one foundation, if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge,
experience, deed, and not seen them as filthy rags, if I have attempted to complete what is perfect in Christ;
May my cry be always, Only Jesus! Only Jesus!
--from "The Life Look" from Valley of Visions
“It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men.”-Samuel Adams
As we crawled into the car for church this morning, the thermometer read -9 degrees! By the time we arrived at church about 25 minutes later it was 4 degrees. Of course, it is January in Western Pennsylvania. The trip to church was a pretty one, with the trees all frosted from the clear night air. There are plenty of icicles on many homes that seem to be growing and growing. It is supposed to warm up to above freezing this week--it will feel like a heat wave! The weather guys are saying that there may be a storm hit next weekend so we will see what we get.
With the temps being so low last night, it meant that our kitchen got pretty cold. It was 53 degrees when I came downstairs this morning. When we arrived home from church we put on a pot of chicken soup that I started yesterday and fired up our "Rayo" oil lamp. The Rayo gives off great light and plenty of heat. As of now, it is up to a toasty 64 degrees in the kitchen.
The chicken soup went well with toasted cheese sandwiches on home-made bread. Together they warm the soul. All that is needed is a fireplace or wood burner...someday, I hope.
The vegetable catalogs are arriving. These colorful beauties are a feast for the eyes. This time of year I am tempted to try all sorts of new varieties of vegies in the garden. The pictures make everything tempting to try. I haven't started my list yet, but I'm thinking about all sorts of fun garden goodies. Lord willing, I will be on both feet this year and able to get my hands dirty this summer.
We have been blessed with a new granddaughter, Ada Christiana. She was born on December 9th. We were able to visit her and her mom and dad in Chicago for a week and a half. It was wonderful to spend time with the kids in their new place and help mommy get some rest.
The grandsons were able to have Christmas in Atlanta with the other grandparents this year. They are due to return this week with their mom so we can celebrate a second Christmas with them soon.
"Forgive me if I have tried to add anything to the one foundation, if I have unconsciously relied upon my knowledge,
experience, deed, and not seen them as filthy rags, if I have attempted to complete what is perfect in Christ;
May my cry be always, Only Jesus! Only Jesus!
--from "The Life Look" from Valley of Visions
“It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men.”-Samuel Adams
Friday, December 12, 2008
Molasses Cookies
There has been a light snow falling most of the day here. It's my favorite kind of snow--the kind that doesn't stick to the road. Not that I'm out driving anyway, but I don't have to shovel it either...yet. It just seems to float. The flakes are big and fat-the kind you can catch on your tongue. Just beautiful.
The snow picked up a bit as I was taking out Molasses Cookies from the oven. With Christmas music playing, a nice snow and the scent of spice in the kitchen, it was special. It was almost like living in a Christmas card.
The Molasses Cookie recipe is from All-recipes.com and if you want to read the reviews and see more just click on the title above and it will take you right to the page. (Mine don't quite look as fat as in the picture, but they sure taste good!)
Here's the recipe with my own additions:
Crackle Top Molasses Cookies
2/3 C. butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 egg
1/4 C. molasses
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 heaping tsp. of cinnamon
1 heaping tsp. of ginger
1/2 heaping tsp. of ground cloves
A mixture of clear sanding sugar and regular white sugar (or just plain sugar)--for rolling cookies
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl mix butter and 1 C. sugar. Add egg, beat well. Stir in molasses, 2 C. flour, baking soda, and spices. If necessary, add more flour to make a firm dough.
3. Shape dough into 1/2 inch balls. Roll in sugar mixture. Place 3 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 mins. or until tops crack. Remove from baking sheet and cool on waxed paper.
This is a stiff dough. It will be a workout if you mix by hand. Use your heavy duty mixer, if you have one. Don't try your hand electric mixer...I almost killed mine.
Be sure to try them warm.
The snow picked up a bit as I was taking out Molasses Cookies from the oven. With Christmas music playing, a nice snow and the scent of spice in the kitchen, it was special. It was almost like living in a Christmas card.
The Molasses Cookie recipe is from All-recipes.com and if you want to read the reviews and see more just click on the title above and it will take you right to the page. (Mine don't quite look as fat as in the picture, but they sure taste good!)
Here's the recipe with my own additions:
Crackle Top Molasses Cookies
2/3 C. butter, softened
1 C. white sugar
1 egg
1/4 C. molasses
2 C. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 heaping tsp. of cinnamon
1 heaping tsp. of ginger
1/2 heaping tsp. of ground cloves
A mixture of clear sanding sugar and regular white sugar (or just plain sugar)--for rolling cookies
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a large bowl mix butter and 1 C. sugar. Add egg, beat well. Stir in molasses, 2 C. flour, baking soda, and spices. If necessary, add more flour to make a firm dough.
3. Shape dough into 1/2 inch balls. Roll in sugar mixture. Place 3 in. apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 mins. or until tops crack. Remove from baking sheet and cool on waxed paper.
This is a stiff dough. It will be a workout if you mix by hand. Use your heavy duty mixer, if you have one. Don't try your hand electric mixer...I almost killed mine.
Be sure to try them warm.
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