JOY Dare update ~

Seeing gifts at every turn in every day~

115/40 time appropriate devotional

116/41 warm chamomile tea before bed

Challenge focus for today: January 11, 2012


118/43 a gift below you ~ easy care flooring


119/44 a gift above you ~ heaven the seen & unseen


120/45 a gift beside you ~ my pile of favorite books, waiting to be read.


Have you seen yours? No? Have you taking time to look? They are present each day you draw breath. Held in the space of time for the noticing and waiting for your thankful praise to God for them. For they flow out of HIS hands directly into your life each day. Yours are different from mine, mine is uniquely chosen, like yours. They are HIS love gifts to you, to me. Taking time to pause and notice them nails down the moment in time with a fullness of an abundant life. Offering thanksgiving with the next breath gives that love right back to the LORD.

Won't you join in the praise chorus,

Deborah

Sweetness ~ Past, Present and . . . . .

Somewhere near the end of Summer last year, in the sweltering heat we were given the gift to pick pears from our Farmer neighbor's tree up the street. I had been wishing for some to make preserves out of and to eat fresh. The two old pear trees we found on our property were not in good shape when we bought the place. Only blooming once in the nearly 3 years we've lived here. Which was in a dry year leading to hard dry pears. I dream on with regards to having a fruitful tree of our own to gather from. Maybe this will be the year to plant one or two to satisfy the childhood rememberances I have.

I remember my Granny making pear preserves each year among several other jellys, jams and such. Our taste buds would go dancing in anticipation of the homemade treat each time she put a jar on the table next to her "bread bowl" buttered biscuits. I don't know where she got her pears from, how she cooked them up to perfection or any details about them save one. Tucked away in each jar of preserves was a thin slice of candied lemon. Back then I didn't understand the reasoning behind placing a slice of lemon in each jar. Now I understand it probably was a way of keeping the thickened syrup surrounding the thinly slice pears from turning into a sugary lump. Her jars held the golden disc towards their bottoms mostly. Occasionally one would slip up the side of the jar and give a pretty glow to the goodness resting inside. Granny shared freely the things she labored from out of her garden at each meal she prepared. But she did have one rule when it came to eating those coveted preserves. You couldn't touch the lemon slice till all the preserves were eaten. Boy did that start up a challenge between all the cousins who loved to eat it, self included. I remember we would sit at the table watching the jar being pasted around. Hoping that the last person to put in a spoon would leave the yellow disc behind. Better yet that there would only be enough left in the jar for one more buttered biscuit ~ ours. Giving us full right to the lemon slice candy. My, my, my it was good!

So when I started my first batch of pear preserves this past year. I didn't have a recipe to follow other than the brief verbal directions from our pear benefactor Mr. Rigley. You will never know if you can do something if you never give it a try. The one thing I did know was that even if my jars did not turn out as good as Grannys. They sure could look like hers, so I rambled through the fruit drawer for a lemon. Slicing it thinly to add to the the pears simmering on the stove. I made sure each jar received one slice in it. But instead of placing it near the bottom, I slid them down the sides to show forth like little yellow sunflowers.

See the sunflower sticking up out of my opened jar?

We opened up another jar to eat at breakfast and even though they didn't thicken up like hers. Their taste is wonderful on anything buttered none the less. I still smile each time I see my "little sunflowers." In keeping with tradition I too have imposed the wait till the jar is empty rule for snitching the candied slice. I am sure given the chance at having more pears this coming year I will try again. Practice makes perfect as the saying goes. Until then we are enjoying my trial and error preserves. My eyes never leaving the emptying jar like I did as a child. Though I don't have to watch the jars near as closely, as Lon doesn't care for lemon anything. It doesn't matter ~ the rule still stands, the anticipation remains and the goodness is savored each time I pull a "sunflower" out of the jar and pop it in my mouth. Yummm.

Savoring Autumn's sweetness,

Deborah

Crafty Tuesday's fun ~

When I set out my ideas for the day, they didn't look too large on paper. Boy was I wrong!I even went so far as to post them on my FB page in hopes of the accountability factor.

Good Morning, today is "Terrific Tuesday" and "Crafty Day "for me. Plans are to make yogurt, some Chevre cheese and finally putting together my first batch of Goat Soap in my kitchen pursuits. In the Craft room I will be starting the "Block of the Month" challenge. Creative Writing on Heartland Farm blog will need to be squeeze in somewhere. Whooo~ wonder if I can get it all done? What do you have on the agenda for Terrific Tuesday?

Either I'm getting slower or I must think that there are more hours to my day than reality says there are. Of course there are the little things that can pop up to take your focus from the task at hand. Thankfully today's didn't derail me too bad. They tried though, tried really, really hard. Probably would have too if I hadn't had my best friend by my side to help me through the hurdle's. Thanks baby! With hubby's help we were able to mark off the dairy projects planned. Thanking the Lord for the rain that kept him inside and the desire to "hang out" in the kitchen with me.

With his extra set of hands we were able to get the Yogurt made, have Keifer brewing on the counter, made a batch of Chevre mother culture also perking on top of the fridge and a pot Chevre incubating on the back of the stove. Even though I did get to start my soap :-( the kitchen was just too busy for something that takes undivided attention. Especially since I've never made a batch before. Thinking it might need a day all to itself, considering the learning curve on my part. Good news is I did get my quilt square made for the BOM challenge. Yea!

This is my very first machine stitched block. In years past I've only pieced together a few small pieces by hand. I was amazed how fast it went together. Angles not quite perfect, but I'm pleased with this first attempt. Next one for the month will probably be more forgiving as the sashes are set on odd angles. Definitely will work to my favor . It's not too late to join in on the fun, cause it is just starting. Just click on the button link to the right to get all the details.

Joy Dare ~ 10th of January (counting 1,000 Gifts in 2012)

#109/34~ a gift that's sour -discussion about God's word with one who doesn't see it the same.*

#110/35~ a gift that's sweet - my deceased Mother-n-laws pickle recipe I made this summer @ dinner tonight*

#111/36~ a gift that's just right - having Lon home 24/7*

#112/37 ~ working side by side with him

#113/38 ~ hearing him singing favorite songs of praise.

#114/39 ~ first machine stitched quilt square

It's been a Terrrific day,

Deborah

Marvelous Monday ~

Mention Monday mornings and you can literally see faces fall of those who work outside of their homes. A chorus of moans could be heard around the globe if we had hearing like our canine friends do. There is just something about the start of a work week that puts people in a negative frame of mind. I remember there being the weight of a full work week staring you in the face each Monday when I used to work for someone else. Funny thing is I still have a full work week doing the exact same thing~ laid out before me . I've just changed my surroundings is all, that and doing what I love has changed my perspective in a lot of ways. I always knew I was made for the country and it was made for me. Spending time outdoors is a treat, being surround by animals a plus and having the freedom to play at will is down right thrilling.

Monday now-a-days, is the day that I set my house in order ~ cleaning, picking up, organizing a little, laundry and a few odd jobs that are helping to keep us going forward. I've decide to add Bread baking to this day as well. Trying out the new bread pan today was fun in making some sandwich buns for our lunches. I used a new recipe from the King Arthur website. Coming out of the oven they smelled delish, making me want a sandwich for dinner instead of what I had planned. Can't wait to try one out tomorrow!

Something special happened on A Holy Experience that made this Monday even MORE marvelous for me. You see, Ann's book has become quite successful, gaining fame on the best sellers list, winning an award and being praise on national tv. Ann's passion for Compassion International has her in contact with some very needy folks down in Guatemala. You can read her story of meeting the pastor of the "Dump people," his ministry and dream here. Entitled ~ "Because saying thank you can change the world."Okay, I can't wait for you to get back. The marvelous part is in the fact that because of her willingness to meet a need and the success of the book. She is including everyone who bought a book in on the opportunity of helping this group of people. She states that by January 2013 we should see the fulfillment of the pastor's dream of a ministry building to serve and worship in.

Never would I have thought that by buying a book for my own pleasure and inspiration. Would it lead to a greater use of the money spent for it. To help those who hunger in a greater way than I have ever know. I was humbled to tears this morning as I read of the unfolding of a greater purpose for this book that sits by my chair. God has allowed me to join in a ministry opportunity to an area I may never see. Because of the vision of one focused child of his. WOW! What a marvelous gift to the "Dump people" and to those who reached for the book in an effort to grow closer to the LORD. Grace, grace, God's grace. HIS Marvelous grace.

JOY DARE day 8 & 9

97/22~ following intuition, Princess is thankful

98/23~ rainy Sunday afternoon made for napping.

99/24~ hot cup of tea with fresh orange peel

100/25~ smiling snowmen everywhere I look

101/26~Sanctuary lights shimmering on a cloudy day*

102/27~reflection that lead to realization that counting what appears insignificant to others is the greatest praise I can give the LORD*

103/28~ the soft smoky fog rolling in after the storm*

104/29~ warm bread dough ready for the oven*

105/30~ my bread machine for the kneading*

106/31~ my husband of 35 years*

107/32~ light for the evening

108/33~eyes to see the physical and the spiritual

I am continuing to make progress on the homefront, not as completely as I had hoped. I keep reminding myself to not get distracted by the undone. In an effort to be kind to myself physically. Instead to walk through my day with an ultimate goal of being pleasing to the LORD and with those I share it with.

Walking in grace, dancing in the marvelous,

Deborah