It Is Sunday

Romans 15:13

English Standard Version (ESV)

 ¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Wishing you a bountiful and blessed new year.

Gorgeous Grazing Girls

   Today was barn clean out day and that means extra grazing fun for the herd. Our pretty does spent several hours romping and munching in the warm southern sun today before heading in to a nice clean home.
  

Back to the Prairie: Woodland Wonder

   Winter days forced me to spend my days indoors far from the wild prairie I so loved. More often than not I could be found gazing out a window daydreaming of being wild and free in the great big fields that made up the farm.
   There is a big picture window in the front room of the farm house; beneath it a large stereo console. My little socked prairie feet carried me to the edge; on tip toes I peek over the top. There a magical woodland wonder waits for me.
   My favorite of holiday decorations, a little woodland scene, sits atop a gold plated mirror. Little deer, fawns with their families, play gracefully amidst snow flocked evergreens of various tiny sizes. Angelic carolers all in a row sing heavenly just off to one side. Snow and light glowing from outside the window create playful shadows over the magical scene. I gaze in wonder at the beauty of it all.
   When the season ends and the decorations are all put away, the little scene will go away; tucked in its boxes and carried down to the basement. Then I will sadly say goodby to the pretty woodland wonder...until next year.

The Jar on the Dining Room Table

   During the holidays, my family would leave the prairie- traveling south to visit grandparents from my father's side of the family. So different it was; no snow, now prairie winds, no farm chores to do. The rural south was quite a change from the white Christmas of my home.
   There was always a jar on my grandparents' dining room table; something I had never seen before. Sticky and sweet filled with chunks and slivers- marmalade was their morning treat. Now we never had marmalade on the prairie farm and I was fascinated by it.
   It has been years since the marmalade jar sat on their dining room table. This year my children and I decided to make some to recapture the memory of my 'southern holidays'.

ORANGE MARMALADE

for 3 pint jars you will need:

4 large oranges

3/4 cup water

4 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon baking soda

5 cups sugar

 Wash oranges; peel outer zest from orange being careful not to get the white pith. Section the oranges and chop the segments roughly reserving juices.

Cut the zest into slivers; place in heavy bottom pan with the water, lemon juice and baking soda. Cook, stirring occasionally. Once it comes to a boil, simmer ten minutes. 

Add chopped orange segments, with juices, and cook twenty minutes. Pour mixture into a measuring cup..you need 3 cups. If you have too much, simply pour some off. If too little, add orange juice to make up the difference.

Return to the pan and add sugar. Bring to a boil over medium high heat; boil 20 minutes, stirring consistently. Test the marmalade: drop a spoonful on a plate..it should be thick and not spread too quickly.

If the marmalade is not ready, continue cooking, checking every ten minutes.

Spoon into pint jars and can using water bath method ten minutes.

Beautifully Handmade

   Once upon a Christmas tree there was a delicate filet angel- beautifully handmade. Fine white crochet thread intricately worked with skilled hands form the long skirt, frilled bodice and lacy wings of a heavenly vision.

   Silken floss is carefully stitched displaying delicate lashes; her mouth open wide to sing hymns of praise. Golden thread encircles her halo that sits just above her rows of loopy curls; all painstakingly made one stitch at a time.

   Today as I worked to put away all the 'this-&-thats' of the recent gatherings, the ten inch lacy angel peeked at me from her perch atop my amour. Her vision reminded me of tall trees decorated with soft white lights and golden shining balls; of snowy tree skirts and brightly wrapped gifts. She reminded me that of all the things given and received, the most precious are the ones we have that are beautifully handmade.

Time to Breathe

 

   The story was read

After we climbed out of bed.

Stockings and gifts

Good food in each dish;

What more could we wish?

Now the fire is lit

And each hand holds a gift.

We traveled and returned

News from afar we have learned.

Now a break we have earned?

By the fire we snuggle

After gatherings we juggle.

Sipping warm cocoa with me

We all request a time to breathe.

Have a peaceful and restful day after!

For Unto Us....

Luke 2

 ¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
 ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
 ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
 ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
 ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
 ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
 ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
 ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
 ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
 ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
 ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
 ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
 ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
 ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
 ²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
 ²²And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
 ²³(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
 ²⁴And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
 ²⁵And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
 ²⁶And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
 ²⁷And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
 ²⁸Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
 ²⁹Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
 ³⁰For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
 ³¹Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
 ³²A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
 ³³And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him.
 ³⁴And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
 ³⁵(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
 ³⁶And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
 ³⁷And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
 ³⁸And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
 ³⁹And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
 ⁴⁰And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
 ⁴¹Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
 ⁴²And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
 ⁴³And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
 ⁴⁴But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
 ⁴⁵And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
 ⁴⁶And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
 ⁴⁷And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
 ⁴⁸And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
 ⁴⁹And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
 ⁵⁰And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
 ⁵¹And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
 ⁵²And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Grandmother's Prairie Christmas Pie

Ah, holiday baking again today..but with a different 'head chef' in the kitchen. This time we stirred up my grandmother's Christmas pie. 

Creamy, crunchy chocolate filling chilled in a crumbly graham crust is topped with fresh whipped cream yielding a tempting and tasty treat just right for ending a delicious meal. 

GRANDMA'S PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS PIE

In a heavy bottom sauce pan melt:

32 marshmallows

1/2 cup milk

pinch of salt

Stir in:

1 cup whipped cream

1 square unsweetened chocolate, grated

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pour into a nine inch graham crust and chill until set. Top with whipped cream and garnish with graham crumbs, pecan pieces or chocolate shavings.

Have a blessed and joyous Christmas Eve!