A Note of Thanksgiving!

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

Psalm 100:4

The last few days have been busy!  (I can tell the holiday season is upon us!)  I don't know what day of our 65 day journey we are up to...not sure where the calendar is!

My house is not perfect, but there is more done than I had hoped possible....sort of. *Smile*  Regardless, my heart is glad for HE is with me!  

I love this time of year for so many reasons!  I always feel so blessed during this season, even in the lean times....we all are so blessed!

The last few days, we have had ups and downs....but all with great joy!  We are making lemonade from some of our lemons...it's interesting and fun....part of the adventure.

I read this morning, there is a whole lot of living between "now" and "then".....between our smiles and our sighs.  We need to embrace each moment.

The turkey (breast, it was suppose to be a whole turkey....one of the surprises of the last few days), is soaking up the *brine*.  I'm getting ready to "start the bread to rise" as Granny would say, if she were still with us.  Then I'll make up the pie crust.

I will miss those who won't be at our table this year...those who have passed on, those who will be too far away.  This season causes me to reflect on how the faces around our dinner table are ever changing....generations passing.....

I miss the family I grew up knowing....but I love my children and grandchildren so much.....I wouldn't trade one moment of now to be able to visit the past.  Honey-hunk and I are the middle generation....we remember parents & grandparents, great uncles & aunts.....and we look into the eyes of our children and grandchildren.  It is an awesome time!

Tomorrow, and everyday, I will be giving THANKS for you, for your friendship!  I will be asking ABBA to bless you and your homes.  May HIS Shalom (Peace...the Prince of Peace) be with you and may HIS angels have charge over you!

It would be awesome if you could drop by for a visit tomorrow....we could have pie & coffee....leftover turkey and cranberry relish.

We would laugh and cry together....then laugh some more!

Welcome, new followers!  I am so happy you are here!

I will try to get caught up on our "journey" posts over the weekend.  I have found some awesome ideas for gifts....inexpensive gifts...but so NICE, I want to share. 

My Bible studies have been amazing the last few days....would like to share from those also.  Is God saying something to your heart?

We rec'd word a former neighbor *next section over* passed away.  She was a precious lady and a good friend to my sweet mother-in-law (Granny Dorothy).  Please say a prayer for the family of Mildred Altom, if you don't mind.  

Mildred was 93.

Her younger sister, Jo, still lives close by.  I will try to go by and visit with Jo next week.

 

Blessings,

Cheryl

Taking A Break....The Simple Woman's Daybook

This is Day 12
(Be sure and read about Linda's giveaway at the bottom of the post!!)

of our 65 Day Journey, however I am taking a break and doing the

Simple Woman's Daybook

It helps keep me "centered".

Outside my window...  ~ It is cool, wet and cloudy.  The leaves are so pretty with their brilliant colors, but much more weather like last night and they will all be gone.

I am thinking...  ~ Why is it so difficult to adjust to the time change?  It doesn’t seem to matter which way it changes, it still takes a few days for me to adjust.

I am thankful for...  ~ Life….mercy & goodness!

I am wearing...  ~ Old, comfortable clothes….barefoot

always, barefoot (some things never  change, people)

I am creating... ~ A place of refuge for my family, where Yeshua regins and peace is the norm.

From the learning rooms... ~ The boys are busy with math & history.  I think we are going to get really serious about learning Hebrew after the holidays.  A friend of mine gave me a link to a site that has some wonderful teachings…FREE!  I am very excited!

I am remembering… ~ Holidays when I was young, the family of my youth.  I miss them, but I realize I am blessed with the large family I always wanted….still, parents, aunts and uncles are missed!

I am praying … ~ For a good friend and for our troops around the globe and peace for Jerusalem! 

I am going...  ~ To try and get a little more organized and try to follow doctor’s orders.  (You can stop laughing now!)

I am wondering... ~ What our weather will be like over the next few days.

I am currently reading...  ~ Mother Warriors by Jenny McCarthy.  It is about the fight to overcome Autism.

I am hoping...  ~ For a mild winter, maybe one or two snows…enough to cut down on the ticks, fleas and mosquitoes …..snap a few pictures….and then warm back up!  It is so much easier with animals, guys!!!

I am looking forward to...~ Some time alone with Honey-hunk!

On my mind...  ~ Our crazy weather….where else can you have an earthquake, tornadoes, and flooding all in less that 12 hours?

Noticing that...   ~ The days (or daylight hours) are already getting noticeably shorter.

From the kitchen...  ~  Meatloaf for tonight, along with baked sweet potatoes, coleslaw, cornbread.  (And mac & cheese for the kids.)

Around the house...  ~ Laundry, always laundry!

One of my favorite things… Watching old movies with honey-hunk and the boys!  This is the best time of year for movie watching and enjoying popcorn.

(We have been watching lots of old John Wayne movies.  Love the ones that Maureen O’Hara co-stars in!!!)

Such fun!

A picture to share… ~

 The deer are so plentiful this year!

Quote of the Week… ~

“It’s the way you ride the trail that counts” ~Roy Rogers

Be sure and visit The SimpleWoman’s Daybook for more daybook entries.

Thirty Days of Thanks!

Monday – I am so thankful for my children and grandchildren.  I always wanted a large family.  God heard my cries and HE blessed me!

Tuesday – I am thankful we are fortunate to live in the country!  When we married, honey-hunk said he would live in a tent in the country before he would live in town.  Well, beside that being his “rather” we did live in “town” a time or two, but we have been blessed to live and raise our family in the country.  We’ve raised all kinds of animals, played in the creek together, gone on spare of the moment picnics, rode ATV’s, slept under the stars, gardened side by side, fished, hunted and sat in the moonlight!  God has been gracious toward us.

Join Shawn for Thirty Days of Thanks!

I’m still having difficulty “commenting”.  So…..

Gina, I’m a POKES fan too!  I am always for OU, until they play the Cowboys!  Gotta love OSU!  The picture you posted of the “woods” was beautiful!

Beth77, you always say the most encouraging things!  Love when you come to visit!

Sixteen Days to Thanksgiving!!!

I chopped up the celery and onion for the dressing this morning while doing the same for the meatloaf.  So, celery and onion are now in the freezer along with part of the bread for the dressing.

One more thing to mark off the “list”!

Welcome new followers!  It is wonderful you are here!!!

My "buddy" Linda at Prairie Flower Farm is joining with Gooseberry Patch for a fabulous giveaway!!!  Be sure and go sign up!  Tell her the Prairie Maid  sent you! ;)  Linda's giveaways are always fun!!!  Plus she has a new recipe posted that looks so yum and easy!!!  Chocolate Cherry Cordial Cupcakes!

(Hide the scales, these look so good!!!)

May God be gracious to you and bless you; may He make His countenance shine upon you forever; that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.

Blessings,

Cheryl

P.S.  ~ The next time I post, I'll have a couple of recipes to share!

Oh Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Brrrrr, my feet are cold! We were greeted this morning with ice in the feed buckets! Which was only made more curious, because the National Weather Map (courtesy of Yahoo) showed our temperature at a whooping 70 degrees! I’m not kidding! My feet told me, it was a lot closer to 32 than 70. Wonder what South Pacific island the weather dude was dreaming about?

We made it through Thanksgiving *correction* we grazed our way through Thanksgiving! On Saturday prior to turkey day, I taught a cooking class at the local college and we made a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Then I cooked Wednesday and Thursday for family members. Come Saturday after Thanksgiving, grown daughter #1 and her family came down, so we did what any red blooded American family would do, we grilled! And it was goooood! Since Thanksgiving we have pizza’d, taco’d. and had hamburgers! But now I am completely out of cranberry salad and I am going to be forced to make some more. I miss it. Dh misses it.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and your dinner was delicious!

DD#1 brought down a “new” cake and the recipe is so simple. If you have a thing for “salty~sweet” stuff, you’ll love it. I’ll post it at the bottom. If you are trying to lose weight before Christmas, you might want to just pretend you didn’t see it.

Today I started on some of the gifts that have to be mailed. Without giving out too much information *no pictures* we got out the sack of pine cones that have been piled in the corner of the kitchen for the last month, for the boys to do a project with. At the time, I was pouring candles, so I had this wild idea ~ and why not?

So I took a pine cone and dipped it in the soy wax, which was still fairly warm. After allowing the wax to drip for a minute or so, I sprinkled gold glitter all over the wet wax. Let me tell you, it came out so nice and it smells so good, I did 16 more! Dh was even impressed! I think these will look great set about in groups of three or four with a little greenery placed around them. And I figure the cost was mere pennies per pine cone!

Here’s this marvelous cake recipe…supper easy too!

Salty Caramel Chocolate Cake

Bake a Chocolate fudge cake according to the package directions. And let cool.

Icing

1 8 oz pkg. of cream cheese - softened
1 stick of butter - softened

Beat together, and add

1 small jar caramel (ice cream) topping

Continue beating and add enough powdered sugar to make it the right consistency to spread.

Then add 1 tsp. coarse ground sea salt.

Beat until well blended and spread on cake.

This makes more than enough icing for one cake, so bake two and share with someone. The sweet, salty taste is awesome.

Larry Has Left the Building

http://theprairiemaid.blogspot.com/2009/04/remember-i-told-you-i-had-to-go-to-bank.html


Larry Has Left the Building!

You may or may not have busted your seems laughing at my adventure with Larry. Anyway, Larry is no longer a part of my life nor is he a “thorn in my flesh.” Good bye, Larry.

After another trip over the fence, Larry the buffalo has been sold. If you happen down Oklahoma Hwy 19, you will never again see the sight of this old woman with a cane trying to chase Larry back across the highway and into what was formerly his pasture. You will no longer see a tall young brunette standing at the top of a hill attempting to flag semis down to keep them from making buffalo stew in the middle of the highway. You will not see 18 wheelers stopped in the middle of the highway with their drivers taking pictures of all the commotion with their cell phones *and laughing about it!*. Life may never be the same without Larry. Thank goodness!

I first posted of our escapade with Larry back in April. If you follow the link it may or may not take you there. (I really need an internet blogging book for dummies.)

http://theprairiemaid.blogspot.com/2009/04/remember-i-told-you-i-had-to-go-to-bank.html

In truth, Larry’s owners are in from Florida tying up lots of loose ends, making preparations to go back. Their daughter in Florida is very ill with cancer. If you think about it, please say a prayer for this family.

Once again, today (Saturday) was beautiful. It was a picture of what autumn is suppose to look like. Perfect. The forecasters are saying next week we will feel winter nipping at our heels, toes, and various other body parts. Time to put up the flip-flops! Drat.

Being the “redneck” I am, I sat Shawn, who is 11, outside to trim his hair today. Baby (the six month old colt) was in the yard and wanted to help. It was interesting, funny and I am thankful there were no truck drivers with cell phones around! Trying to give a haircut in the middle of a zoo is a difficult task. No wonder Noah had long hair.

Today was a good day to be with family, rest, and just enjoy life. Since it was Sabbath for many, we were compliant with much of the world. Becoming Jewish might be easier than becoming Amish and having to do without electricity. Which brings up another point, I am 4 days without eating pork. And yes I continue to cook bacon and sausage for my family…..doing without sausage is a snap, doing without bacon when you are having to smell it while cooking….let’s just say it is a good thing there was nothing to make a BLT with! I might have caved. I want to say, overall I am feeling better. And I hope my resolve will last. If dh insist we butcher “Ham” (or whatever his name is) down in the pen, it is going to be difficult. I see a lot of tuna in my future. But you know what they say…. “tuna goes a long, long way.”

Okay….that was then, and this is now….or at least it is Monday! And the weatherman was right. However, he will not be receiving a prize from me….unless he can talk warm weather to coming back!

Do you realize we only have something like less than forty days until Christmas? Which means we don’t have much year left either. Where did 2009 go? It all seems like one big blur! I would really like to do May and June over, when it was warm and not hot….just NICE.

I have my SSS shopping done, finish, ….except for a couple of little things I will have to add just before sending. When do we send those? I need to look that up. So many dates to remember….when I shake my head, I think it is already starting to rattle.

I do *plan* to post again before Turkey Day….but much to do before then, including teaching at ECU this Saturday. We will be preparing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. So I get to do this X2. Just to say, incase I don’t make it back, May you and your family be blessed this Thanksgiving!

You can read my latest post at www.dailyjesus.info if ya want!

Blessings,
Cheryl