Hearts for Home

Today I am joining in with Gae from Cherished Hearts at Home . She has a weekly post called Hearts for Home which is open for others to link up with and share some thoughts on home-centred ways. She encourages us to think of 4-6 things to commit to each week to make homelife special and to bless us as keepers at home.

Last week I wanted to start and end each day with my thoughts turned towards God.  It is still a work in progress but progress is the key word here.  This is something I definately want to keep working on.  As well, I also did something special for hubby each day.  This was interesting.  Once I set my mind in the morning to find something special to do for him I seemed to have a whole different attitude for the whole day.  At times it was very challenging but the changes I've seen in a week have been amazing.  I did get some baking done and caught up on the basics of housework so I think I'm ready to turn my thoughts towards my priorities for this week.

1.  I definately want to keep working on turning my thoughts toward God first thing in the morning and every evening at the end of the day.

2.  I also want to keep doing something special for hubby each day this week.  I am looking forward to seeing what surprise each day will bring (for me as well as him).

3.  School work with daughter.  It has been challenging juggling her school, work and social schedule so I want to make sure that school work doesn't slip this week.

4.  Make some homemade chicken noodle soup.  We all have the sniffles and there's nothing like homemade chicken noodle soup to help with that.

5.  Sit down with my son and find out what his long term plans are.  He has been working as well as starting up his own business and he is at the point where he wants to quit his job to devote more time to his business.  I also need to make sure I keep him and this venture of his in my prayers as well this week.

                                      ~Home, the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer,

sweeter spot than all the rest~

                                                                                    (Maricar Macalincag)

A Winter Day

We are on our seventh day of snow and it is really beginning to accumulate and it is cold.  The sun decided to peek out for a little bit so while hubby decided to continue work on the family room (we're hoping to be able to move the furniture in before Christmas) I decided to head outside and take a few pictures of our winter wonderland.

It was cold which made me want to stay inside for the rest of the day and do some baking. 

I made some Cinnamon Coffee Cake for our brunch.  I haven't made it in a very long time and it was so yummy fresh from the oven.

My daughter also did some baking.  She made her favorite, Chocolate Chip Cookie Squares.

When we were done with the baking I decided to pull the Christmas decorations out of storage.  I'm anxious to get decorating now.  We do have a tradition that the kids and I take an afternoon and do the decorating.  It is kind of like a Christmas decorating party.  I wasn't sure if they would still want to do that with their busy schedules but when I asked if they would like to help me decorate they gave me that look.  The one that says, "Why are you asking a silly question?"  LOL  Anyways, I guess that means we will be decorating next Sunday afternoon.  That is the only time all of us have time together but I hope to get some Christmas baking done before then so we can enjoy a bit when we decorate.  I can't wait.

Well, hauling the totes out from storage and then carrying them down a full flights of stairs is a bit of a chore so when I was finished I sat down with a nice warm cup of hot chocolate with a bit of whipping cream, and of course, I put it in a Christmas mug.

A perfect end to a peaceful day.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

For today... Saturday, November 20, 2010


Outside my window... It is dark, no stars or moon and it is lightly snowing (which it has been doing for the last five days)


I am thinking...  I wonder if it is going to start warming up soon, I should pull out the Christmas decorations and start working on the inside of the house since I can't do the outside right now, how I am going to do some baking with my daughter tomorrow.


I am thankful for... A warm house and vehicles that run in the cold weather.


From the learning rooms... We've had a bit of break but back to the books this week - English film study on October Sky and some Biology.


From the kitchen... For tomorrow's lunch, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, buns, cauliflower, corn, salad and Chocolate Pudding Cake for dessert.  As well, my daughter and I will be baking some chocolate chip cookie sqaures and some chocolate cupcakes for an upcoming bake sale.


I am wearing... Fuzzy pajamas, socks and my housecoat.  I am winding down for the night.


I am creating... Some Christmas flower arrangements.


I am going... To go have a cup of steamed milk before I call it a night.


I am reading... A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.


I am praying for... A friend of my daughters who is really struggling right now.


Pondering these words... "Love is the world's most powerful motivator.  So if we love our home, love there and love managing it, building it, watching over it, and keeping it, then love will conquer all.  No task will be too difiicult and no job will be too menial (or meaningless!) but love will enable us and empower us to tackle it, master it, and excel at it."  (Elizabeth George)


I am STILL hoping... Our basement family room will be finished before Christmas.  Hubby is laying the flooring right now so it is quite possible!!


I am hearing... Saw cutting (from hubby working in the basement), humm of my computer.


Around the house... I got caught up on some housework and laundry today.  Tomorrow some baking and maybe a start on Christmas decorating.


One of my favorite things... Right now anything that does not involve cold or snow.


A few plans for the rest of the week...  Dr. apnt and school on Monday, Shopping on Tuesday, Housework and Christmas baking on Wednesday, School on Thursday, Housework and Christmas projects on Friday and School on Saturday.  (Right now we are doing school around my daughter's work schedule)


Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

This was taken a few years ago when my kids were younger and still played outside.

Thank you Peggy for the The Simple Woman's Daybook {follow links to read more}.

Christmas Flower Arrangement

With the recent snow fall it is time for me to seriously start thinking Christmas so I thought I would start with a flower arrangement project.  I wanted some silver vases and these are what I found.

Unfortunately, they weren't flower vases but candle holders instead.  However, when I turned them over...

I found they would work as vases.  I checked the pattern and felt it would work so all I had to do was remove the little sticky pads from the bottom.  They peeled right off no problem.

I wanted a simple arrangement that was fairly neutral so I picked out some twigs, cones and a few white poinsettias.

And before I knew it I was done.

And I now have two new Christmas arrangements.

I am  joining in at "My Romantic Home" for Show and Tell Friday  A great place to visit with so many beautiful things to see.  Definately take some time to check it out if you can.

I will also be joining at at "Between Naps on the Porch" for Metamorphosis Monday

Tablescape Thursday

This will be my second tablescape and I thought I would do something for our family breakfast.  Since we now have snow outside I thought I would do a fall theme with a touch of winter.

I started off with a simple white tablecloth.  I love the cutout design along the edge.

Then I added a large candle and some fall leaves.

Then comes the touch of winter.

I found these cute little glasses at the thrift store.  I added coarse salt and a tealight. 

I think it looks a little bit like snow.

I added a couple of flowers between the candles.

Then came the tablesetting.  Nothing fancy.  Just some dishes I've had seen we were first married.

And my favorite teapot for breakfast.

I love syrups so these will hold three varieties of syrup - maple, cherry and saskatoon.

I added a little tealight at each place setting.

And it's coming all together.

It's a good thing my family is patient.   But the food does arrive :)

I hope you enjoyed my breakfast tablescape.  I'm participating in Tablescape Thursdays at Between Naps on the Porch.  Go check it out to see some amazing and beautiful tablescapes.

Return of Winter

Winter has returned with a vengeance.  We've been having such a beautiful fall that we were lulled into the false sense of hope that it would just continue on.  Unfortunately, we awoke to the jarring reality of winter.

Who needs a gym membership when you get to shovel out the driveway by hand.

The only one who was really happy with the snow and cold was our dog.

It was a perfect day to make some soup.

I do have to admit that with the snow it is much easier to think about Christmas.  I made some Christmas gift tags out of some leftover scrapbooking paper and stickers.  These are a few of my favorite ones.

This past weekend was my dad's birthday.  We had a wonderful day on Sunday celebrating and visiting.  It will be three years in January since his heart attack and we almost lost him then and many more times in the past three years.  I am so thankful for this time we are able to share.

"The family is a haven in a heartless world."

-attributed to Christopher Lasch