In The Refiner's Fire

Last week of November - and no photo today.  I have to download more photos from my phone and just have not gotten to it yet.  Maybe I can post two next week! Here's what we're eating this week: Sunday, November 25, 2018, My Mother's 82nd Birthday      Breakfast: Toast, Blackberry Smoothies      Lunch: Waffles, Bacon      Snack: Popcorn      Dinner: Taco Soup, Tortilla Chips, Sliced Apples      Dessert: Cupcakes for My Mother's Birthday Monday, November 26, 2018:      Breakfast: Eggs, Toast      Lunch: Leftover Soup      Snack: No-Bake Energy Bites      Dinner: Noodles with Tomato Sauce, Garlic Bread Tuesday, November 27, 2018:      Breakfast: Oatmeal with Pecans and Craisins      Lunch: Leftover Noodles and Sauce      Sn...

Our Thanksgiving table this year - it was just the four of us this year.  Ham, corn, yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, and sparkling cider.  We had apple pie for dessert. I guess the year is officially winding down now - the U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving is over, Advent starts next weekend, and Christmas is just around the corner.  I am grateful that we have had a quiet weekend - John has had a terrible head cold and all of us were just ready for a bit of a real and true break.  We spent all of "Black Friday" watching movies in our pajamas (except for a Jazzercise class for me!).  Then we slept in on Saturday morning too.  Ahhh… bliss!   I think we are officially ready for the last bit of 2018. Here are some of the frugal things we did this past week: * Baked apple pie, jam thumbprint cookies, chili, chicken noodle soup, as well as Thanksgiving dinner at home this week. * Took advantage of a non-Black Friday sale to purchase some...

Some of our summer 2018 produce - much of this is still in the freezer and will be enjoyed this winter.  I am so grateful!   On this U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving,  I am thankful for each of you, my readers, and the opportunity to share a little bit of my life with you here in cyberspace.    I hope that no matter where you live, you have a wonderful weekend and take a minute to reflect on the many blessings you have.   Our year of 2018 has not been an easy one - it many ways it has been one of the most difficult we have ever had.  We still have so much to be thankful for - our family, our home, our careers, transportation, plenty to eat and wear, and a whole host of other things!  I hope you, too, have many things to be thankful for.   Blessings, Lea   Now Thank We All Our God by Martin Rinkhart, translated by Catherine Winkworth Music by Johann Cruger   Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands ...

 A super dark photo of our daughter's candy from Halloween - her brother received just as much! WOW! I am still trying to figure out how we have gotten to November already! Never mind that it is about half over already.  We have recently had temperatures that feel more like January than November and snow right along with it.  Typically we don't have snow until the end of November.  Oh well, it makes the Christmas lights look pretty and I am enjoying the clean, white look of everything. We have tried to stay cozy the last few weeks, as it has been so cold.  Pulling out the hats, mitten and boots and enjoying the Halloween holiday.  We have Thanksgiving coming up here in the US next week and I am looking forward to one last blast of all things Autumn (my favorite season!) before Advent is upon us.   I did have to put the Jack-o-Lantern's in the compost bin today; they had frozen earlier and were definitely on their last legs. This year has be...

More beautiful bread dough!  I've been baking a lot of bread this fall. We are already heading into winter here in the Upper Midwest - it has been about 20F (approx. -7C) for the last few days and we have a bit of snow. Not much snow; just enough to make things white and slippery on the roads.  I was not ready for winter yet, but it is here and I will deal. We have had a difficult few weeks - so many icky things and more money going out than we really would like.  I am weary and ready for a mental break from everything.  I am hoping that the holidays will provide that this year! We have very full freezer and cupboards after all the summer and fall produce. I have two large baskets of winter squash sitting in the pantry and I still have green tomatoes ripening, though only a few now. We are eating well!  I am very grateful.  The children have plans for Christmas treats - candy, cookies and snack mixes, as well as dry hot cocoa mix using ...