Another Bend in the Road ...

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"As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ."

My Utmost for His Highest, excerpt from December 31

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May God bless you as He has blessed me this year, with a fuller confidence and joy in Him and Him alone, and with firm strength and purpose to keep pressing onward toward the goal, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead (Phil. 3:13-14)! Keep on keeping on, and happy 2014!

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Of Cookies and Victorian Christmases

 

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 I tried a new cookie recipe this year for our holiday baskets. Years ago my mom made a similar recipe from Taste of Home magazine, and I've been wanting to make them again, so I started Googling! I came across several recipes including the Taste of Home version, but in the end the following recipe for Swedish Ribbon Cookies won out, because it called for almond extract rather than vanilla, and I love almond especially in shortbread type cookies like this. You could substitute vanilla if you prefer it - but I definitely think the almond flavor makes these. And they are so pretty for gift baskets! The original recipe can be found {here}.

Cookies:

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

1 egg yolk

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup strained jam (I used raspberry and didn't strain, but with the almond flavoring in the cookies I think apricot would be yummy too!)

Beat butter and sugar together until creamy. Beat in egg yolk and almond extract. Sift together flour and salt and mix with butter mixture until blended. Divide dough into five pieces. Roll each piece into a log about 12" long with a scant 1" diameter. Place logs 2" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. With the side of your little finger, make a narrow, shallow trench down the length of each log, leaving a little space at ends so trench is closed. Bake logs at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place jam in a small ziplock bag. After the initial 10 minutes, pipe a thin strip of jam down the length of each trench. Return to oven and bake until firm to touch and golden brown at edges - another five to ten minutes. Cool on cookie sheet five minutes minimum, then cut into strips at 45 degree angles while still warm. Finish cooling. 

Glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice (I used lime juice for one batch because I had no lemon, and it worked also)

1-2 teaspoons water

Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Add enough water to obtain drizzling consistency. Drizzle over cooled cookies. After glaze has set, wrap cookies in an airtight container between layers of waxed or parchment paper.

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Aaaand to get you in the holiday spirit (for next Christmas, that is :o), you may want to check out this BBC series! They did a television show several years ago called "Victorian Farm" which is now on YouTube, following three people who work and live as Victorian era farmers for a year. Then they did a "Victorian Farm Christmas" special in three episodes, in which the same people experience a Victorian Christmas season in all its splendor! The series is so educational and fascinating and old-fashioned-Christmas-y. My sis and I listened to this while we were doing our Christmas baking. :o) Do let me know what you think of it!

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One last holiday post with a few of my favorite decorative ideas/crafts for this year coming soon -- I hope you have been enjoying a festive and happy season. :o)

Hometown Christmastide!

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I had a delightful day a few weeks ago with my mom and sister -- I had a few errands to run, and our small town was looking so festive that we made a morning of it to peek into a few shops along the way!

This 'merry and bright' shop window was so cute.

And look at the adorable vintage snowman we found inside!

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Streets lined with candy canes ...

and snowflakes ...

not to mention a letter box specifically for Santa Claus!

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Then I happened upon this gentleman in the used book section of the local home-school store. Not only is a good hardback Dickens in any edition getting hard to find nowadays, but this one was Oxford Illustrated with the original illustrations, in super condition -- and for $2, I was pretty much a very happy girl. ;o)

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To top it off, it was freezing cold -- and we were even graced with a few real snowflakes! So lovely!

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The town tree, decked out ...

... and surrounded by the town snow family, proudly representing their establishments. ;)

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A chilly morning on the town would not be the same without a red Starbucks cup.Well, and a peppermint mocha inside it.

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And then:

when I got home I found a package awaiting -- the results of a birthday Barnes and Noble gift-card from co-workers PLUS an online sale -- in all, a marvelous way to end our morning out!! :o)

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And without further ado, I'm off to inspect our homemade cinnamon rolls ... a very merry Christmas to you! :)

This evening ...

... I could not come up with a creative blog title. A dreadful plight for a blogger (bloggist?), I assure you! See, I've never been good with titles ... I remember one year despairing over a piano composition that had, had, had to have a name before I submitted it to competition. Oh, the sleepless nights! Until finally, with the deadline fast approaching, I resigned myself to a title over which I was less than happy, assuring myself for peace of mind that I would rename it afterwards with something Truly Fitting. 

 Only, it's been six years ... and that poor composition probably has a complex by now, because I still haven't the faintest clue how to make a name fit a song. Or a blog post. Hopeless. Hopeless.

SO -- I simply will not give this post a title ... and without further ado, here's a peek into what I've been doing of late!

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Working on a piano duet with my little sis for her FIRST Christmas recital next Saturday (yay!):

 

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Knitting with red and white Peaches and Cream cotton yarn ...

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Crocheting this scarf from MaryJane's Stitching Room (find it {here}). This book is wonderful, and so informative! The scarf is made of 34 crocheted hexagons stitched together. 10 to go!

 

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Tatting! This is the most recent kind of hand-work I've been learning, and I really love this lace-making technique. I only know a few of the most basic steps, but enough to make simple snowflakes! They make such fun Christmas tree ornaments!

 

 

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Project Christmas Puzzle, anyone? The question of the hour is ... will it be finished by the new year! ;o)

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Happy Holidays, and may you always have a title at your fingertips. ;0)

There Are Some Times

There was a time that my Savior came from glory;

As a man, He endured such misery.

There were days that my Savior felt so lonely;

There were some times that my Jesus cried –

There were some times that my Jesus cried.

There are some times that I start to feel discouraged;

There are days that the burdens pain my soul.

But I know that my Savior up in heaven

Knows how I feel, and He loves me so –

Knows how I feel, and He loves me so.

My Savior prayed when His heart bore down with sorrow;

He found strength from Jehovah up above.

I will call to my Father when I’m weary;

He’ll lift me up, and He’ll make me whole –

He’ll lift me up, and He’ll make me whole.

~B. Rainwater

On the Mountain

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We have all experienced times of exaltation on the mountain, when we have seen things from God's perspective and have wanted to stay there. But God will never allow us to stay there. The true test of our spiritual life is in exhibiting the power to descend from the mountain ... We are not made for the mountains, for sunrises, or for the other beautiful attractions in life -- those are simply intended to be moments of inspiration. We are made for the valley and the ordinary things of life, and that is where we have to prove our stamina and strength ... Those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their meaning in our life with God, but we must be aware to prevent our spiritual selfishness from wanting to make them the only time.

After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God -- that is where our faithfulness is revealed.

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My Utmost for His Highest, excerpts from October 1 and 2

The Saturday Evening Post: The Last Month at Home

 I brought home this lovely bunch of flowers from work last week -- a sweet lady patient has twice brought in flower bouquets for the staff since I've been a member of the office team. The first time was on Valentine's Day, then she brought more in last week -- so sweet. :)

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Read-aloud with my sis :) ....

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Dad and sis on a cake-baking adventure! (Vanilla with browned butter frosting) ;0)

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 The raspberries are finally pruned and ready for winter ...

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 and the grass I planted in the chicken pen after re-taking a corner of it {here} (click to read about my adventure with that ;) is coming along quite nicely. :)

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Now, we do not believe in fairies ;) ... but my sister thought it would be fun to make a little "fairy fire" and we had fun putting it together.

Autumn leaves make great "flames"! :D

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Grammar lessons with my sis ...

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... with homemade hot cocoa afterward. :) Perfect way to end the school day!

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I discovered this wonderful piece one morning recently when listening to the classical music station on my way to work. It's gorgeous, hauntingly so. Yes, it's 13 minutes long ... but it's worth every minute of that!! :) This is Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

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Happy November! :)