dumplings and cookies

"We'll all have chicken 'n dumplings when she comes...."

( 4th stanza, She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountains, folk song)

Here in the south where I have always lived, I've noticed that most people have deep opinions, far and wide, about chicken and dumplings. Sometimes it has to do with the region one grew up in or how a grandma always made them. And it has been my experience that you either love chicken and dumplings or you can just leave them for others to enjoy.

Yet it is equally true that if I want to please my husband with a delicious comfort food all I have to do is put on a pot of chicken and dumplings and he is grinning from ear to ear. How can I resist that?

 My husband and I have had very distinct differences in how we've viewed dumplings in the past. He grew up with chicken pastry, a rolled-out flour dough cut into wide strips and placed into the cooking chicken stew. While I grew up with dumplings, little balls of sticky flour dropped down into the lightly boiling pot of chicken stew.  Through the years though I have successfully made a true dumpling lover out of him. 

                                      Simple Dumplings

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup milk

Mix all dry ingredients. Cut in the butter with pastry blender or fingers.

Add the milk. This dough is a bit sticky, you may want to have extra flour for you fingers as you drop the dough into the hot stew. I try to make them no bigger than a teaspoon because the baking powder causes them to expand to nice-sized dumplings.

I was at the cottage the other day to bake these cookies.

Instrumental Christmas music was playing on my iPhone, a Christmas pine-tree scented candle was burning and the cottage's oven baked these cookies to perfection. It was cozy and bright with the twinkly lights I'd placed across the kitchen shelves.

He became flesh and dwelt among us...

From Heav'n above to earth I come to bear good news to every home;

    Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing.

To you, this night is born a Child of Mary, chosen mother mild;

   This tender Child of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all the earth.

'Tis Christ our God, who far on high Had heard your sad and bitter cry;

   Himself will your salvation be, Himself from sin will make you free.

These are the tokens ye shall mark, The swaddling clothes and manger dark;

   There shall ye find the young Child laid, By Whom the heav'ns and earth were made.

                                                                   ~ From Heaven Above to Earth I Come 

                                                                                    Martin Luther, 1531

Written for his five year old son, Hans, this Christmas carol was simply called by Luther, "a Christmas child's song concerning the child Jesus" and was sung in the Luther's home at their Christmas Eve festivities. 

I wrote the words as they were written on the sheet music. The tune sounds very familiar to Martin Luther's great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".

I sit here on this bleak, though not quite winter day, and I listen to the excellent performance of Handel's Messiah performed by the Queens College of Oxford while addressing my Christmas cards. Chicken and dumplings were made in the mid morning hours and are keeping warm in the crockpot for tonight's supper. A candle of balsam pine glows and makes my house smell just like the evergreens of the forest.

advent beginnings

 God's infallible, inerrant Word will not allow us to trade the glory of the incomparable God for the glory of created things. Indeed, regarding Christmas, the Scriptures summon the world to come and behold a wondrous, glorious display of God's immeasurable love for the world. God revealed in His Word the Advent of his beloved Son-the incarnation of God in Christ who had come to dwell among us. This Immanuel, "God with us"(Matthew 1:23, ESV), broke into a sinful world-lost in dark depravity-that he might cast the saving light of redemption. This is the glory of Christmas

Recapturing the Glory of Christmas

                                           R. Albert Mohler,Jr.

This year I have already been gifted an Advent book that was on my list of things I would like for Christmas. 

In years past Advent was celebrated with my children in various ways with various resources, many times using the same ones year after year.  It was one of the highlights and favorite things to do as a family leading up to Christmas Day.

Last year was the first year I realized we were no longer doing anything special for Advent daily or even weekly. Something was missing and I was the one missing it the most.

Therefore, this book is recapturing a place of an Advent devotional in my daily schedule. I can now do this on my own or with my husband. Either way I want the worship and adoration of celebrating my Savior's birth to be lighted from within and from without.

Two years ago I did a few Christmas posts including some of the stanzas of Christmas carols that might not be as familiar. I truly enjoy reading and even singing the words of the carols so much I thought you might like it too. Once again I am recapturing some of these Christmas hymns. Let me know if you know these stanzas.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood,

He will give to all the faithful his own self for heav'nly food.

                                  ~Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, 2nd stanza

                                           Liturgy of St. James Fifth Century

we give thanks

          The housewife who sets before her family on Thanksgiving Day        a  perfectly roasted goose(turkey), is an artist.

Willa Cather, 1927

Thanksgiving Eve and finally I am taking a break off my feet now to rest a spell until the next round of bustling begins in earnest, hopefully most of that being tomorrow morning. I must not give allowance for the preparations to become frenetic, therefore, I must make haste slowly...

I had made my lists days ahead of time and now I trustingly work my list. And I trying to engage my family's help whenever and wherever needed because I do need their help! 

We will have seventeen people coming together to give thanks in my dining room tomorrow afternoon and eat a traditional Thanksgiving meal, eleven adults and six children.

mMMMenuMenu:

Roasted Turkey

Dressing/Gravy

My dressing is not stuffed inside the turkey, but cooked as a separate dish. I do use the drippings from the turkey for the dressing and gravy.

Cranberry Sauce

This is made with fresh cranberries, oranges, coconut sugar and honey.

Roasted root vegetables(carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes,

 turnips and onions)

Macaroni and Cheese

Claire prepares this dish with gluten free noodles.

Green Beans

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad

 Onions and butternut squash roasted in the oven and placed on a bed of green lettuce with the additions of dried cranberries, nuts, feta cheese and a vinaigrette that I must share the recipe here because it is simple to mix up and very delicious:

1/4 cup olive or avocado oil, I add a bit of both

2 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1-2 Tablespoons maple syrup

salt and pepper

Sourdough bread/rolls

For Dessivir:

Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream

Pear/apple crisp with vanilla ice cream

We certainly have much to be thankful Happy Thanksgiving

being my own guest

The weekend was approaching at an alarming rate, but then every weekend arrives faster than a speeding bullet in the grand scheme of daily living it seems. We were having guests coming to stay on Friday night at the Cottage and I especially wanted to stay there myself overnight to see what it was like to wake up in the cottage and to get an overall feel of just being there...in my PJ's...as a guest, so to speak.

The next morning I observed the morning sunlight's marmalade toast appearance as I poured my coffee into one of the cottage's mugs. I settled in the comfy cushioned rocker to read the Word and pray. 

The bed slept well, my husband did stay with me, and the queen mattress was comfortable. The propane gas heated the cottage quickly and warmly. The only thing we must get adjusted is the water pressure in the bathroom. When the hot water was turned on the pressure went down. My son says he has a solution to that issue and he will remedy that when he comes. I love easy solutions to problems. 

The dining room buffet glowing in the afternoon sunlight.

late october fun times

This is a neat birthday story.

 To call our firstborn a beloved son as well as a friend is a privilege we do not take lightly. We are greatly blessed. Witt called his father last week and said that for his 42nd birthday he wanted to come out and cut wood. An entire day with noisy hand-held men machines cutting huge pieces of fallen trees and splitting logs with his father. His wife, Claire, being the wonderful woman and wife that she is graciously gave him that gift. He arrived at our house around 7:45 where I had prepared a full breakfast before the morning's work began in earnest.He stayed through lunch until mid afternoon. I placed a lite candle amidst the apple crisp and vanilla ice cream and we delighted in this gift that he is to us.

I do not know who enjoyed this gift the most, my son or his father. 

Then it was time to celebrate my granddaughter, who shares the same birthdate with her father.  In a style befitting a fourteen year old  that is growing in loveliness daily as even her soul is reaching toward godliness and purity in glorifying the Lord, we dressed in some of our most tea appropriate attire and headed out to an afternoon tea. In years past I have attended many afternoon tea gatherings with friends at this wonderful hotel as well as sharing precious times with my daughters there too.

But this day it was all Breanna. 

I do not know who enjoyed it the most, Breanna or me.

The weekend was upon us before we knew it and Breanna's brother came to stay a few nights. On Sunday afternoon Ivy joined us with big plans for them to play together. At first my husband tells them not to get dirty sliding by down that hill.   But after a quick second thought of remembering what he would have done if given the opportunity when he was their ages...  enough said. They had so much fun laughing and playing together. Both of them were covered in the dry dusty dirt, it reminded you of the character of Pig-Pen in the Peanuts cartoon when your attempted to brush them off!

considering all things

Titus 2:1 exhorts us, believers, to speak those things which become sound doctrine. I personally believe those things are in all things. In this space of blog world that I am given I desire to be as the woman in Titus 2, to love and value the things the LORD loves and values pertaining to everything in life. I seldom mention world events though, of course, we are all affected by them, but today I want to share this podcast  for your consideration and I pray you will take the time to listen to it, especially if you are a believer and an American citizen. I have mentioned this podcast before and I find these ladies are serious in considering how they can teach women how to go to the scriptures, how we must learn to read the Bible wholly and in context, and  to study the Word carefully and prayfully.

This particular podcast is relevant and urgent for these times. Michelle and Amy do an excellent job in regard to solid Biblical understanding on this matter of a choice to vote for who our next leader will be. They are focused and balanced but not dogmatic. When it is all done and said we can all agree that God is Sovereign over all things.

elections-and-the-freedom-to-choose

Good Drop Cottage

Perhaps ladies you would like to know a bit more about the guest house we have been refurbishing. We bought it at an auction not knowing exactly what we would do with it. We still do not though we are now using it to serve us as a Guest House. My husband, son, and I stayed there during Charlotte's wedding since the female part of the wedding party was staying at our house for several days. We've also had the privilege of a few guests staying there and are hoping it to be a welcoming place for more guests in the future.  Before I get into a few photos showing our current progress I must first share why we call it  Good Drop Ridge because the naming of everything has a definite purpose. I have explained the ridge in a previous post, but Good Drop Cottage is a very special place too. During daily Bible reading times we may have our attention and focus drawn to certain verse as was the case with Good Drop Ridge. 

Psalm 65: 10-12 says,

"Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly; Thou settlest the furrows thereof; Thou makest it with showers: Thou blessest the springing thereof.

Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness: and Thy paths drop fatness.

They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice on every side." (KJV)

Its beginnings.

Its middlings.

While I am showing this photo I must insert something very important about the kitchen floor.

If you go back and look at its beginning it had a 1980ish linoleum floor. I finally convinced my husband to remove it in order to have the original hardwood. One thing you must realize is that under linoleum of this time is a hard papery glue substance that is a booger to try to remove. We researched several methods and it was not looking promising...Until we discovered a simple and inexpensive way to remove it that was almost unbelievable.

You take old towels and saturate them with diet cola. Let it set overnight. The next morning you remove the towel and the gooey wipes right up without any scrapping or any fancy machine. It was amazing!

And a few photos of its endings, though we are still not completely finished.

Stayed tuned for the completed tour!

a variety of wrappings

 Autumn begins to be inferred

By millinery of the cloud

Or deeper color in the shawl

That wraps the everlasting hill.

                           ~Emily Dickinson

As I rode an hour's drive yesterday to do some necessaries in town, I beheld the initial "shawl" colors wrapping the trees alongside the road and I was greatly satisfied to see this predictable, yet not diminished, annual display of beautiful color. And even more importantly, I was truly thankful that I could be so totally satisfied in such an amazing pleasure that the Lord has given us at this time of year.

I have been occupied with harvesting a few things like the canning of pears and fermenting of peppers. Today I will go to the garden and snip some green leaves of turnips and kale to bring inside and gently cook, because fresh hardy greens are an autumn delight too in my home.

 I hope to put on my blog if not today at least by the weekend my entire blog reading list. I have enjoyed a recent jumpstart of some new homemaking type blogs and in the process a meeting new lady friends who blog.

On the sewing side, I finished the quilt that I made from my mother's nightgowns. The only part of this quilt that was not hand-sewn was the border, it was sewn on with my Janome machine. I do love any stitching done by needle, thread, thimble and my very own hands. Hand-quilting has a rhythm I especially find soothing. It now has a home on a twin bed I added to Charlotte's old bedroom for when the younger granddaughters  stay for the night.

The white-throated sparrow has returned from  the north to my neck of the woods and to hear its melodious song is pure magic. I sat outside yesterday as the late warm sunshine hued the scenery and I enjoyed it's song in the mighty oak tree.

praise Him all you people

Despite what is going on in our nation and the world His people will continue to worship Him.

"One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts." Psalm 145:4

 I thought you might be lifted up and encouraged by this video made this fall by the Worship Collective at the college Charlotte attends. She is the violinist who you see at the beginning...you glimpse her wedding ring :).

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall
Still be my vision, O ruler of all

the marvel of a grape harvest

I rounded the corner into the kitchen bright and early, but not too early as breakfast had been eaten and a load of clothes was already washing. That bucket of grapes was haunting me and the little fruit flies were beginning their flight, the aroma was too sweet even for them to resist.

It was a grape jelly making day.

I wish you were here to taste its sweet fruitiness on a buttermilk biscuit! 

I am also canning some of the juice from the five pounds of grapes I was given. I discovered how simple it was. 

 Basically, after making the juice from the grapes you heavily strain it. The juice is then heated to 190 degrees and poured into the canning jars to process in a hot water bath for 5 minutes. 

 I used purple Muscadine grapes. No extra sugar needed.