Make me smile..

Here are a few pics of some things that made me smile or catch my breath in wonder or just think “hey life is great!” 🙂 I’m goin to try to catch more of those moments in my life on camera this year. Not that anyone else will appreciate the pics like I will…

The way snow sticks to the side of a vehicle when the wind blows! So unique

Stepping outside on a Sunday morning and being greeted with a lovely pink sky as the sun made it’s presence known!

snow..on pinecones…and pine trees…

A little tree bravely growing in the shadow of bigger trees…

I see they are mostly about snow! But that is my life right now! And I do love the beauty of snow! There will come a month when I will say “ok, I’m ready to get my hands in the dirt again…time for snow to leave!”, but I am content to have snow for now. 🙂

Apple Fritters!

The other week I saw a recipe for apple fritters in a cookbook while I was making up a menu schedule. It’s been along time since I’ve made them so thought it would be yummy to make them for brunch. 🙂 However the recipe in the book was more like doughnuts with apples in them which is not what I had in mind. So I went looking for something like I wanted. I modified it a little to suit my “healthy” mind and they were sooo good! The recipe said you could reheat them the next day in the oven but mine never made it to the next day! 🙂
So here is the recipe according to Bev. 🙂

Apple Fritters
1 cup flour
1 cup spelt flour
3 Tablespoons honey
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 Tablespoons melted butter
2 apples, peeled and diced or chopped
powdered sugar

In a mixing bowl combine flours, baking powder,cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl beat the eggs, then add milk, honey, melted butter and vanilla. Gently fold dry and wet ingredients together just until combined. Don’t overmix! Fold in the apples.
Heat oil or lard (several inches deep) over medium or medium-low heat. Drop a little batter into oil, if it sizzles immediately and rises to the top, it’s ready. Drop teaspoons of batter into the oil. (I used a small cookie scoop-worked perfect) Fry for about 2 -2 1/2 minutes total, flipping them if they don’t flip themselves. You don’t want them too brown but not doughy in the middle either! When they are done take them out and let them drain. Dust them with powdered sugar.
Dare you to eat just one! 🙂
They can be reheated in a 350* oven for 8 minutes if they don’t get all eaten right away!

This is a great way to use up apples that aren’t getting eaten! I used some that are in my fruit room that we picked up from my cousins tree this summer! 🙂
Wish I had a pic but apparently I was too busy eating them to take a pic! 🙂

Have a lovely time makin’ special foods while the winds howl and blow snow all around! 🙂

Fly Away With Me

Two years ago today a sweet little boy ended his life here on earth to begin his forever life in Heaven with Jesus!
We will always miss our little Fane…
As we did last year we sent kisses up to him on a balloon…

God’s Got Talent

I suppose you’ve heard about America’s Got Talent? Or Britian’s Got Talent? My kids like to watch it on YouTube occasionally. I don’t really have a problem with…it could teach going after your dream and sticking with it til you get there. I haven’t seen anything objectional on it so far.
But everytime I walk away from it, I wonder, Do these people know that there is more to life than “making it big time”? Why are little kids singing love songs? How many of these people know or believe that there is a God? Has anyone ever told them that God gave them their talent to sing and He has a specific reason for giving it to them?
One day as I was thinking about that I got this idea about doing a “God’s Got Talent” kind of thing. It would recognize people who are using the talents God has given them for His glory and fulfilling His purpose for their lives. They, of course, would not “try out” for a place, because if they are really deserving of this they will not be looking for fame. So as I think of or come across people who I think fit the bill, I may be writing about them. 🙂 And if you have nominations let me know. 🙂
I thought I would write about my mom for the first one on God’s Got Talent.
My mom is very creative and has a talent for teaching. She taught at a Christian Day School before she was married. Then she homeschooled we kids, back when it was not a popular thing. We did “sit in your desk and work in your book” kind of school but we also did lots of other learning! From a very young age we knew the names of the plants in our woods and since my dad was a logger we also knew the different kinds of trees. 🙂 We knew bird names and had chipmunks run over our feet after which we would feed the chubs in the creek. If we wanted to know about something, Mom helped us find out. She also encouraged doing things, like embroidering and crocheting. And also baking and cooking. My brothers knew how to cook the grouse that they shot! 🙂 For most of the years that I have memories of we lived back in the woods and had either a creek or a lake to have lots of learning fun on! I learned to skate before I really remembered that I did. It became a tradition for me to grab one of my brothers and go out to collect ice in the spring when it was going out and then make ice cream with it. Mom tolerated alot of messes and taught us how to clean up after ourselves!
Now that all of her children are grown and gone, she teaches her grandkids. My daughter learned how to sew from Grandma. She helped them make plaster of paris handprints one year.
She also teaches first graders at their church school. She loves it and they love her! Her classroom is not a typical classroom. This year since there are all boys, she has a corner all set up with a barn and tractors and trucks, etc. She also has a little pond with fish in it.
I believe that my Mom is using the talents God has given her to bless others. I know she has often sacrificed what she may have wanted to do so she could teach in the best possible way. She may not make it into America’s Got Talent but she certainly makes it into God’s Got Talent!