Fighting Colds | Multitude Monday
We’ve been fighting colds around here this week but there’s still lots to be thankful for. Two weeks worth, actually.
501. Finishing an intriguing audio book: The Violets of March.
502. Being able to help a friend out by babysitting. I was thankful to return the favor when she’s babysat so many times for me!
503. Corn maze fun!
504. Insightful conversation and discussion of the book of James in our small group through church.
505. Catching up with Lib and Isabel.
506. A shopping trip with my mom and Sophia. New clothes for Sophia bought by my mom. Hitting a huge sale at Gymboree.
507. Helping my mom get what she needed at Ikea.
508. Josh accomplishing more work on our basement: the project of the winter!
509. A sermon reminder to store up treasure in heaven, not just earth. Also, reminded that wealth can make us blind to the needs of others. This thought was reinforced by this post at A Holy Experience and this quote: “That is the insidious danger of wealth . . . makes you blind. Blind to the hungry Christ and the thirsty Christ and the suffering Christ in humanity. Affluence can anesthetize you to God and belongings can blind you to Christ and isn’t this why it’s hard for the rich to enter heaven – blind and visionless to Christ?“
510. My sister being willing to babysit so we could have an enjoyable meal at a restaurant in honor of Josh’s grandmother’s 80th birthday. Sadly, though, I got food poisoning from the meal. 
511. Sophia’s love of books and wanting to crawl into my lap, book in hand for me to read.
512. My final photography sessions of the year: a mini session and a senior session.
513. Sandbox playtime.
514. Dentists and good insurance to keep our teeth clean.
515. Yerba Mate “lattes” to sooth my sore throat.
516. Meatballs in the freezer for another meal.
517. Feeding ducks with the kids and a trip to the park.
518. Naps to fight colds.
519. A hilarious “new to me” show I’ve been enjoying on Hulu called Doc. Martin. It’s nice to have something “on call” for when I want to knit.
520. Grace for patience through Sophia’s screaming and crying several evenings in a row this week (I think due to her oncoming cold).
521. Freshly made granola.
522. Clean floors and sheets on the bed.
523. Homemade Tomato soup with grilled cheese on a Friday night after a long week.
524. Kids playing in leaf piles.
525. That Jesus resisted temptation perfectly when I don’t. Not only is He an example for me to resist temptation, but also did so perfectly in my place. He lived His live for me, doing what I couldn’t and can’t do. So thankful to be freshly reminded of this through my study using this book.
This Moment
Joining Soule Mama for a {This Moment} post: A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Trick or Treat
Hope everyone enjoyed their treats . . .
We sure did!
Fall Feast | Multitude Monday
When a friend and I first read this post, we were inspired. And so began our seasonal supper club.
This weekend it was our turn to host. We rearranged our whole house, swapping the dinning room with the living room.
Josh made his favorite drink, Mississippi Buck, for the occasion. Complete with candied ginger.
I made two ducks with an orange glaze. I was so nervous about them, but they turned out great, thanks to directions by Nigella.
It ended up being a cold and snowy (yes snow in October!) night. Perfect for filling a warm house with friends, lit candles, tasty food, and good conversation and laughs. It also makes it to the top of my thankfulness list this week . . .
494. Friends who love food and conversation as much as we do.
495. Tasting delicious new recipes: puréed cauliflower (so flavorful), sweet potato gratin (garnished with sage, parmesan and bacon), and crème brûlée (with a perfectly crunch sugared topping).
496. A play date with my friend Diana and her two littles earlier in the week.
497. A restful week with no evenings out at all last week. A rarity for us! I felt like I truly got to experience Margin in my life and liked it!
498. The boys being able to spend the night at my mom’s and make fun memories baking, reading, and watching movies.
499. Time with just Josh and Sophia on Sunday. A little trip to Panera.
500. For another awesome Sunday sermon and being reminded that the cross is there for hypocrites like me.
Multitude Monday #20
479. Sophia’s kisses and love pats.
480. Owen’s name for me: “My sweetheart Mommy.”
481. Duncan’s politeness.
482. Fresh gingerbread.
483. The first draft of an article finished for Ungrind.
484. Creamed Kale.
485. Three full nights of sleep! Probably the most I’ve slept through the night in one week since Sophia’s birth.
486. Finding a dress online and on sale for a wedding this weekend. Comfortable, classy, easy to dress up or down. And I measured an XS! I think for the first time ever . . .
487. Great babysitters. Shout out to Kenzie and Emily!
488. That the boys are enjoying co-op more and more.
489. A night out with a friend at the Cheesecake Factory and the long over due purchase of new jeans that actually fit me.
490. Celebrating a friend’s marriage over the weekend.
491. Being able to turn on the heat with the flip of a switch when cold.
492. A family outing to Wegmans.
492. A two-hour nap on Sunday.
493. A powerfully convicting sermon yesterday. The Holy Spirit’s work in my heart regarding bitterness and unforgiveness.
Leaf Wreath
We first made a leaf wreath last year when the boys did a local nature program. I loved it so much I decided to do it with them again this year.
First we went on a walk, collecting all the pretty fall leaves we could find. When we got home we sorted them, practiced our counting with them, and talked about what kinds of leaves we had discovered. (The maple leaf was most exciting, due to its connection with maple syrup.)
Then, I too two paper plates and cut the middle out of them, leaving a border on which to clue our leaves.
Next, I heated up the hot glue gun. At the nature program they used Elmer’s Glue and that didn’t work so well. We had to wait for the glue to dry. Secondly, the leaves didn’t stay on and I had to keep regluing. Hot glue worked way better.
After all the leaves have been glued on, we simply used a hole punch to punch a hole in the top of the paper plate now turned leaf wreath. Took some yarn and made a loop and hung on our windows.
Now I have two pretty wreaths hanging on my kitchen windows!
Honey Whole Wheat Bread
I’d been looking for a good wheat bread recipe when Josh’s grandmother gave me this one that has quickly become a favorite. The boys love it toasted and topped with peanut butter and a drizzle of honey. I do whatever I can to fill them up because in about an hour, they’re hungry again . . .
2 Tbsp. honey
1/2 cup warm water
1 1/2 pkgs active dry yeast
1 3/4 cup bread flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp. salt
Mix honey and 1/2 cup water. Stir yeast and let stand until foamy. In large bowl, mix flours, salt, and yeast mixture. Slowly stir in 1 and 1/4 cups water. Flour hands and knead briefly. Grease bread pan and put in dough. Let rise about 45 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees fro 45 minutes or until done. Remove from pan and cool on rack.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
I wish I’d snapped a picture of these cookies last week. I hadn’t planned at that point to do a little autumn foodies series though.
These cookies were quite tasty and were a nice change from the normal chocolate chip cookies I make. I got the recipe from All Recipes via The Sassy Domestic. It seemed to be enjoyed by all, since they didn’t last very long . . .
Ingredients
- 1 cup canned pumpkin
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions
- Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well.
- Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts.
- Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.
Gingerbread
I’d been hankering for Gingerbread.
I’d wanted to make Nigella’s Guinness Gingerbread but I couldn’t figure out how to substitute Lyle’s golden syrup. Lyle’s seems to be something you can only get in the UK. I found various recipes to concoct a homemade version of Lyle’s, but didn’t really feel up to the trouble. Maybe Wegman’s has it or or can get it for me.
So, I pulled out my trusty Joy of Cooking and found this recipe:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt in a heavy pan and let cool:
1/2 cup butter
Add and beat well:
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
Sift together:
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon each cinnamon and ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
Combine:
1/2 cup light molasses
1/2 honey
1 cup hot water
(1 tablespoon grated orange rind, optional) I didn’t do this because I had none on hand.
Add the sifted and liquid ingredients alternately to the butter mixture until blended. Bake in a greased 9 x 9 x 2 inch pan for about 1 hour.
Top with whipped cream!
Autumn Treasures | Multitude Monday
Autumn feels like it’s arrived in full force around here. After weeks of weary rain, the golden sun and the cool breezes are quite welcome. Leaves crunch under foot and carpet the grass with color. Last week I posted one of my favorite autumn images, taken a year or so ago at the park. This week I’m also posting a fave, taken on lovely October evening at my mom’s house. Autumn is one of my favorite seasons to pull out the camera.
I plan on taking this week to share some of my favorite fall recipes. I hope to post one a day. I’m also going to be sharing a very fun fall project to do with the kids. Not only is it fun, it’s a project you’ll not mind hanging to grace your house too! (Because, you know, not all projects involving the kids ends up cute!)
This week’s thankfulness:
464. New shoes for Sophia. And new socks for all the kids, since it’s time to start wearing them again.
465. Fresh pastured poultry stocked up in the freezer.
466. That a friend was able to bring my poultry to me from Lancaster, so I wouldn’t have to make the drive.
467. Thanks to Josh for cutting all the chickens up for me, so I could do the arranging/bagging, etc.
468. That the boys are competitive, even if it ends in tears and having to talk a lot about being happy when other people win.
469. An invitation design project complete.
470. That the boys are enjoying learning their letter sounds and practicing their handwriting.
471. For nature walks gathering leaves and creating the project I’ll share with you later this week.
472. A last-minute pizza/movie get together with good friends!
473. Coffee at Starbucks. Being encouraged as a mother and being able to discuss homeschooling stuff with someone a few steps ahead of me.
474. Jack o’lantern faces.
475. Freshly bathed kids.
476. The first co-op class I led went well (I’m co-teaching). I think. We discussed Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart.
477. Spending Sunday afternoon at my mom’s while Josh was able to help split and stack firewood for her.
478. For being sanctified with Truth, Faith, God’s Word and prayer, and Blood.
