2013

Quilting Secrets Blog Hop

Hello,

Tomorrow, December 31, a new blog hop begins.

Quilting Secrets Blog Hop

This blog hop runs from Dec. 31 - Jan. 6th

GO to http://mrspicklesgarden.blogspot.co.uk/  and check it out.

I think it will be a good way to start out 2013, may learn something new and get inspired to create your next beautiful quilt, etc.

Have a great day!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

When it is needed...

Hello,
I hope this finds you having a wonderful weekend.

As I wait for my load of laundry to finish, I thought I'd share a recipe with you.   I made these cookies earlier today and took them to my parents house, as my side of the family had Christmas together, today.
  

I used the recipe out of one of my vintage cookbooks.   The recipe was for Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies, but I halved the batter before adding the chocolate chips and made one half with chocolate chips and one half with raisins.  I also eliminated some ingredients that I didn't have, but these cookies turned out yummy.  

This recipe is for both flavors of cookie, if you decide to go with one flavor, just double the amount of chocolate chips or raisins.

Chocolate Chip and/or Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup sifted flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate)
1/2 raisins (I used golden raisins)

Heat oven to 375° F.  Grease baking sheets.  Cream the shortening; add sugars gradually and cream well.  Beat in egg until fluffy; stir in water and vanilla.  Sift together flour, soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture.  Add oats and mix well. Divide batter in half, putting one half in a separate bowl.   Add chocolate chips to one half and mix well.  Add raisins to other half and mix well.   Drop by a teaspoon onto a greased baking sheet.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Yields up to 3 1/2 dozen, depending on the size of batter per spoon.

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Do you believe God saves things for you, and then gives them to you when you need them?

I do.

About a month ago, I sang a special at church.   I was going to sing "God on the Mountain", but for some reason, I had trouble singing the song when I practiced, so I sang a different one.

I'm to sing a special tomorrow morning.  This time, I'm singing "God on the Mountain".  I had no trouble singing it, when I practiced.  I think this is one of the things God saved for me until it was needed.

Before our shut-down at work, over the Christmas holiday, we were informed that when we return after New Year's Day, there will be a layoff of 31 people.

You can imagine how this news affected people.  

I believe this song is God's way of reaffirming that He is going to take care of things.  That's one of things I love about the Lord, He is a participating God, ever present in my life.

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I give thanks to Him in song.  ~ Psalm 28:7 NIV

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

2012 Recap...

Hello,

I've been thinking today, I need to take down my Christmas decorations. I haven't done it yet, but have been thinking about it.

David, surprised me with a little bit of "Spring" this afternoon.  He brought home this mini-rose (the rose, is one of my favorite flowers).


I hope I can keep it alive until it can be planted.  The last one he bought me, thrives in my front flower bed and I'm hoping this one will too.



As we count down to 2013, I thought I'd recap and share a little of what I have been up to this year with you, as we wind it up.

 I will be planning in the next few days what my projects will be in 2013.   I know I have one love quilt, I need to get done in January.  So, that will be my first project of the year.

I guess that's it for now.

Until next time...

Have a wonderful day!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Good Morning!

Good Morning!

Look at what I woke up too this morning.  David took these pictures for me, the sun was rising and you can see the glow in some of the pictures.

He took this measurement in the front yard, 8 inches.   He then measured the snow on top of his car and got a measurement of 7 1/2 inches.

It has been a while since we have had this much snow.

When I was younger I loved to play in the snow, but now I prefer to enjoy its beauty from inside, where I'm toasty and warm.   :0)

That's all I have for now.

Have a wonderful day!

Sonia

Basking in the joy...

Hello,
It's been awhile since I last wrote.  Hope this finds you happy and basking in the joy of a merry Christmas with your friends and family.

We had a white Christmas here in Arkansas.   My family and I enjoyed time with David's side of the family, but then the weather moved in.  I called my mom and we rescheduled our Christmas together for another day (probably later this week).  Here are some pics I took of the snow as it moved in.


This afternoon around 2:00 p.m.








around 4:30 p.m.







and then again around 7:00 p.m.




It is still snowing so, I'm curious as to how many inches of snow will be laying on the ground when I wake up in the morning.

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Here are a couple of things I have done lately.   

A candle mat.

A pin cushion.

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Well, I'll sign off for now.  Think I'll fix me a cup of hot cocoa.  Doesn't that sound yummy?

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

For You...

Christmas concert and sweet bread recipe

Hello,

I trust this finds you doing well.

Once again I became bored with my blog background and changed it.  

Today, I enjoyed a Christmas concert by the Paris School Bands.   I tried to get pictures, but the lighting wasn't good and my camera just isn't up to snuff.  Here is one picture I got of the high school band as they were setting up.   

I am so proud of both of my children.  My son, who is now 21 is a good musician and my daughter amazes me each time she plays the drums.   Today, I enjoyed hearing her play the drums, sleigh bells and sand blocks.  She is truly blessed with rhythm.  

I know it is the Christmas season, but it sure doesn't feel like it outside.  Today we were in the upper 50s to low 60s.  Go figure.   Grant it, I was chilled most of the day.  I got cold this morning and just never truly warmed back up.

Yesterday morning, I made a sweet bread from scratch.   I had a recipe, but didn't have all the ingredients, so I tweaked it to meet my needs and renamed it.  :)

Here's the recipe.

Sweet Wheat Bread

1. 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2. 2/3 cups sugar
3. 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
4. 1/2 cup dried cranberries
5. 1 tsp. baking powder
6. 1 tsp. baking soda
7. 1 cup milk
8. 1 egg

Mix the first 6 ingredients together, set aside.  Add egg to milk and whisk together.  Pour and mix the milk mixture with the dry ingredients.  Mix well.   Put in a greased or non-stick sprayed pan.  Let stand for 20 minutes and heat oven to 350°F.  Bake for 30-35 minutes or until it tests done with a toothpick.

This bread is good served with coffee of your choice.  It is also good spread with butter or topped with fresh whipped cream.

Well, I guess that's all I have for this evening.

Here's wishing you a Marvelous Monday!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Silent Saturday

Enjoy!

Hello,

several blogs back I had suggested that winter had hit... WRONG... yesterday morning we had a tiny glimpse of winter precipitation.  It was gone by 10 a.m. but if you ask me, it is NOW winter.  :0)

Today, was another chilly day.

My hubby is cooking homemade pizza.... it smells so yummy!

Earlier this evening I got this picture of Audre with Elvis.  I do believe that fat cat needs to seriously go on a diet.  :0)

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Christmas is special to me, because it is a celebration of the birth of my Savior, Jesus Christ, in my house.   I heard this song this evening by Francesca Battistelli and thought I'd share it with you.   Enjoy!

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That's all I have for this evening.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

God bless and keep you,
Sonia

Finally... Are you ready?

Hello,

I think I have finally figured out the look I want for my blog during the next couple of weeks and maybe a month or two.  :0)

Only 16 days until Christmas.

Are you ready?

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I have a hardy soup recipe to share with you this evening.  I made this soup the other day and it was delicious.  I didn't use a recipe, just threw it together, remembering some of the recipe from the past and then changing it up a bit.

Potato Soup

3 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks

7 potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks

1/2 onion, chopped

1/2 poblano pepper chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 15 oz. cans chicken broth
2 Tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 3/4 milk with 1/8 cup flour (for thickener)
6 pieces bacon, fried and chopped or crumbled

rinse vegetables, peel and cut/chop.  Heat olive oil of in large dutch oven, when oil is hot add all the vegetables and saute until the onion begin to get translucent.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add the broth and cook until the potatoes and carrots are tender.  Add the buttermilk and the thickener, stir well and cook until soup has thickened up.   While the soup is cooking, fry your bacon and chop/crumble, add the bacon to the soup in the last 5 minutes of cooking (or can add after soup is dipped into bowls).   This goes well with cornbread or crackers.

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If you have been with me for very long you know I like a frugal find.  :0)

Here is a frugal find, I found this week.  I got all of these items for $5 and some change.   Everything, except for the snowmen ornaments was 1/2 price, including a book that is not pictured. 

2 inspirational angels

6 snowmen ornaments

4 coaster and trivet set (poinsettias and cardinals)

1 fiction book

The angels will fit in with my decor, the snowmen ornaments will be used as gift embellishments, the coasters and trivet have already been in use and the book is started.  :0)

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That's all I have for now.

Until we meet again,

God bless and keep you!

Sonia