November Vingettes

Before we lose November, I wanted to post some highlights of the month that I never had time to get to, and want to capture them before December hits!
The series below is from mid-November...the kids and I went to the beach after that bad Nor'easter and this is what we saw...

Some of our bounty from the beach:

Think this thing below is from old sunken ship or something?

We love to collect beach glass! This is the most we EVER found on DE beaches!

 (This is a quart sized bag)

Another November event in our household...we thought our cat was going to die, but, he didn't and seems to be doing better...

We went to the home of our friends the Howell's and had a blast with them!

Below is a picture of Bri getting ready to go and minister at the Chinese Retreat to the little 3 and 4 year olds.

Then, it was Thanksgiving! Here's our Master Carver!

After giving thanks and eating dinner...

everyone tried out Brad's carpetball table--it was a hit!

Then, there was Foosball competition...

Alot of us tried....

But NOBODY could beat these two!

They won it all!

Then, Black Friday I undecorated for fall...

Chip helped!

And Brad did the outside decorating...

And so we say goodbye to November...it was great while it lasted!

We Gather Together...

My heart is full and running over as Thanksgiving approaches!
God has been very good to me in every way.
He has protected me, and provided my every need--and abundantly more!
Thank you Lord!

I love this Thanksgiving song, and thought I'd post the words to it for you.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day with  your loved ones...
and don't forget WHO should get the thanks! :)


We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
the wicked oppressing now cease from distressing:
sing praise to His Name, He forgets not His own.


Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
so from the beginning the fight we were winning:
Thou, Lord, wast at our side: all glory be Thine!


We all do extol thee, Thou leader triumphant,
and pray that Thou still our Defender wilt be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation:
thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

Saying Goodbye...for Now

Yesterday many of us said goodbye to our sweet friend Becky.

Born Rebecca Lynn Wilson on August 20, 1953, she was only 56 when she passed away.
She endured a 16 month battle with cancer--and bore it with great humility and courage.

Although very emotional, her funeral was such a tribute to her, and to her love for the Lord! So many kind (and true!) things were said about her...her life touched so many. I think she would have been very pleased.

Her testimony for living out her faith was a bright one, inspiring, and encouraging, and it was mentioned over and over again...She was a wonderful Titus 2 woman, teacher, and mentor. And, she lived what she taught.

Someone said at her funeral that when you looked into her face, you looked into the face of Jesus...

what a wonderful thing to have said about you!

Proverbs 17:17

A friend loveth at all times...

"Friends are friends forever, if the Lord is the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never, cause the welcome will not end

Though it's hard to let you go

In the Father's hands I know

That a lifetime's not too long... to live as friends."

"well done good and faithful servant"

We look forward to seeing you again one day in heaven!

Giveaway!

Go check out the great giveaway at A Corner Pillar!

If you enter--let her know that I sent you! :)

Seven-Grain Bread Recipe

A dear friend of my mom's, (and mine!) Marie, found a book at a yard sale More Bread Machine Bounty.

I found this delicious recipe for the bread pictured above, thought I'd post it here in case you want to try it!

Seven-Grain Bread

1 1/2 lb loaf

2/3 c. water

1/3 c. applesauce

1 egg

1 3/4 c. Whole wheat flour

3/4 c. bread flour

 (I actually use Natural Way Mills Gold n' White)

1 TBS wheat gluten

1/2 c. seven-grain cereal

2 TBS honey

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp active dry yeast

Add ingredients to machine according to mfr. directions

I set my machine on dough. Then, when it is finished, I shape the loaf by hand-(I scattered some sesame seeds on this loaf), place it in my Pampered Chef

stone loaf pan & cover w/a clean kitchen towel, and let rise 30 min. on the back of the stove while the oven is heating to 375.

Then, I bake it, uncovered, for 22 min.

Let me know if you try it! :)

“If thou tastest a crust of bread, thou tastest all the stars and all the heavens.”

Robert Browning (1812-1889) English poet

Homemaking Happenings...

Bri and I have been busy w/some Kitchen Kapers over the last few weeks...

Thought I'd share some the things we've been cookin' up...

Soup

We buy our eggs from the Amish...sometimes, you get one with a little feather on it. :)

Bri made these Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

It's applesauce time around here! Yum!

After they are cooked, sugared, and cinnamon has been added...

I use my wonderful Vitamix to blend it smooth.

This is what it looks like in the Vitamix.

All done!

I made this Apple Crisp at the same time.

Facts about Apples:

• 
  
  Apples come in all shades of reds, greens, and yellows.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Two pounds of apples make one 9-inch pie.
  
  
  
• 
  
  2,500 varieties of apples are grown in the United States.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Apples are grown in all 50 states.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Apples are fat, sodium, and cholesterol free.
  
  
  
• 
  
  A medium apple is about 80 calories.
  
• 
  
  Apples are a great source of the fiber pectin. One apple has five grams of fiber.
  
  
  
• 
  
  The pilgrims planted the first United States apple trees in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  
  
  

I made this bread when I made the oven fried chicken below

The potatoes that we mashed were from our garden! :)

As an aside...I just saw this picture of an adorable kitchen online...thought it was cute and am ending with that...

I love that red!

Happy Homemaking!