"...out here in the stillness, I find my house of worship
with column trees and canopy of stars,
Here in my cathedral." ~Chris Rice from the song, My Cathedral
Our youngest daughter, Grace is to thank for finding this beautiful movie from when she was very little and has always loved it through her teen years watching it and now in her mid twenties...What a sweet feeling for our adult children to have such lovely memories of these precious movies about the real meaning of Christmas. Oh my heart!
We watch this youtube version on our big screen through our Channel Master and if you have a smart tv, I'm assuming you can watch in that way.
Here is another we watched last night...This is such an inspiration and what we should be all about at Christmas and ALL year long...
We can be students of others! This is a very good example of what we all should be. Let's be Jesus to others.
The movie is a very, very good, one of those Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame type movies we know and love so well.
(The trailer is good but a bit focused on the datie side of things and the music does not represent the movie.) The real focus was on the 'Christmas Angel'. What a heartwarming movie...
Will we be that Christmas Angel?
Photo by Robert Stock
Oh, the thought of having God all alone to myself and knowing that God has me all alone to Himself!
-Andrew Murray
There is a very sweet movie also playing on Movies! channel. It's called Big City (1948)
This is such a sweet movie, it has Margaret O'Brien, Danny Thomas, George Murphy and other greats!
Excerpt from Wikipedia: "An abandoned infant is discovered in New York by a cantor, David Feldman, and a minister, Rev. Phillip Andrews, who
consult police officer Pat O'Donnell about what to do. Taking in the
baby girl and naming her Midge, the three unmarried men seek legal
custody in the courtroom of Judge Martin O. Abercrombie, who is
agreeable on one condition—the first man to marry will become sole legal
guardian of the girl."
I still love toys....I saw this little fella at Walmart and he looked at me with those big brown eyes and he went home with me!
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Little Peanut, he is so funny, he loves to cuddle under blankets...
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Liesl, our sweetheart, she was waiting at our bedroom door, her head cocked so cute. She heard her Popo tying his shoes and was eagerly awaiting!
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Life is crazy and sometimes the holidays are tough. We recently had a broken engagement when our sweet, oldest daughter, Janie realized the two were not spiritually aligned, she was having a time of it but things are looking up this week so thank the good Lord for that. Prayers are always coveted for our family. Jem and I picked this cute little shirt up for her at Walmart, it was just hanging by it's lonesome, we thought it would be a good reminder for our daughter, Janie at this time.
Many have loved ones who have died and it is shocking and it seems so cruel, I understand the hollow feeling and I know grief but God is with us as you know. We are part of the Companionship of Brokeness I do believe. You are so in my thoughts and prayers dear ones.
Such a nice time of year for most, but a sobering and sad time for many. We're puttering around getting things ready...Taking notices of the beautiful autumn light that filters through...
I can't tell you how many mornings or afternoons I see the most beautiful glow and am tempted to retrieve my phone but no. I would have to leave the feel of things and it's not worth it to me...The electronic age can steal life from us if we let it.
I'm making Thanksgiving dishes in the kitchen, our youngest, Grace is cleaning out the pantry for wandering pilgrims who end up in there hunting for something.
Here's what we are listening to (so fun) just cute Christmas music that reminds me of when I was a little girl:
So whatcha cookin' for Thanksgiving? I already baked my sweet potato casseroles.
Don't you wanna know what kind I bake? I have a special one that my Italian grandma always-always made! Now you must know my Grandma was from Naples, Italy. Her family landed in Boston and came down to New Orleans to the south. I have New Orleans in my blood.
Here is my traditional recipe, it's the old one from the can of sweet potatoes. (I forgot the brand) But never fear...Alas! I saved the recipe and I make this dish every Thanksgiving! (Black & White Photos by Robert Stock)
PRALINE YAMS
You will need to triple recipe for a 13 x 9 pan.
29 oz. can cut yams
1/3 cup coconut
1/3 cups pecans chopped (I used walnuts)
1/3 cups brown sugar
3 T. Flour
3 T Butter or margarine
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place drained yams in ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole or baking dish. (Save juice). Combine remaining ingredients put on yams. Add a little juice to keep from drying. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes until bubbly.
I made 2 pans, one traditional and one healthier; wheat free, very low sugar. I doubled each and put them in foil pans for easy cleanup. They are resting in my deep freeze, going night-night until the morning of Thanksgiving.
MY HEALTHIER VERSION
I used unsweetened organic coconut. I use almond or brown rice flour. Instead of brown sugar I use a tablespoon of maple extract and I used Whole Earth raw sugar and stevia baking blend. with a little water. You could also use plain stevia. I use 1/2 tsp. of the blend x 12. (something like that). I try to keep things under 3 grams of sugar per serving for myself . Instead of using the juice I use water to moisten.
So. The pilgrims who want the sugary stuff will have theirs and those of us who want to limit sugar will have the other pan. Voila. Done. Tried and true.
I know it's not fresh yams, I know, I know but I don't care. It's a busy time of year and when you have pilgrims and a couple of little indians showing up we homemakers gotta do what we gotta do. K.I.S.S. Keep it simple sweetie. I always have tried to keep it simple on much of this so I don't drive myself crazy.
Grace picked up a tofurky brand vegan stuffed turkey roll for a few of us. Jem will handle the "other". (frown) That is no longer in my job description.
Did you know Fred Rogers was also a veggie guy? He was a Christian, a Republican and a minister as well. So I will add Mr. Rogers to my Tender Conscience Hall of Fame.
Here's some of my fur children pics for you.
Today: Peanut the dauchsy
He is such a little trip! His expressions are hilarious. Rescued from the road last Thanksgiving by my son in love.
Muffie, our sweet lil Schitzu, taken last week. He's getting older and can't see very well. The little guy gave us a scare the other week when we got home and he was nowhere to be found. We found him on the back of our property laying in the grass just a-wagging his tail! We've since built a little boarded yard area for him out the doggy door like we had for our little Guiseppe. Way back when Huckabee was running for President my daughter, Joycie found the matted little guy in the middle of the street, his collar rusted shut. Doesn't he have such a sweet little face?
He follows me around the house here, he's a little heartbeat at my feet. ...So sweet.
One of our kitties...This little guy is a real cuddle bunny, his name is Howdy, he's very shy. His mommy was a rescue kitty we rescued under a freeway overpass one dark night.
He loves to come and sit on the arm of my chair in the early morning when I'm praying and I pet his sweet little head..He loves it. ...Howdy, my cuddle bunny.
Here, One Recent Morning...
I hope you all are doing well. Many have cruel losses this year, I personally have a dear friendin middle age whose husband just died after falling from a ladder, being in a coma for weeks and months of rehab.
And some of us are perhaps remembering losses from last year and years before that too. I have many loved ones on my mind trust me. Oh how I miss them...Only God knows how I miss them. This time of year reminds me of when I would talk to my daddy on the phone...He telling me how his mother made bechamel sauce for turnips...Yes, Daddy, I'm getting a green thumb like you. I have turnip greens growing in my garden, you would be so proud, Daddy.
The state of the country is in need of prayer, God is moved by our faith and we can use spiritual warfare, don't give up. Please allow me to share two youtube sources that help us keep up with things from a Christian perspective, both post often, usually daily:
I just heard this sung at an old, old, old historical church I once attended that is televised. I thought I had finally found a church that suited me, my parents were married there, my daughter Zuzu and son in love, Tommy were too. An old Wesleyan Cathedral whose walls shout Christ and His Holy Spirit....But it was taken over by liberal thinking, the Holy Ghost led pastor and most of the staff left almost like a coup. (horrible) It happened around four years ago. It's a loss in my life. But oh listening to this song....Oh did it hit some heartstrings...
Have a wonderful evening, though many of us have things in our lives that have caused such pain, we can still march on with the Lord. He's there for us all during these times. We can be that quiet force in our families. The painful times build wisdom and help us help others.
I love homemaking, I love my husband and family, I love Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.
If you've followed my blog for any length of time you will know it's just my thoughts and my heart written here as I share life, whether it be an art project, an old black and white movie or a sermon. It's a time of prayer.
(A shot from here in the forest above)
Be watchful, be in prayer....Be at Peace in the Lord. There is a Peace that passes all understanding.
We must keep our homes places of praise and peace as we keep our little governments so to speak a good place to live. We homemakers can be that quiet force of grace, mercy and love in our homes. I so thank God that my husband is also a force to be reckoned with when it comes to these things. What a blessing that my husband shares sermons with our family, and our family sends sermons back and forth to each other. My husband is not only a businessman but a minister in his own right, ordained when a pastor of ours recognized my husband's natural works, just living the Life. He's shared on the streets of the city, drug rehabs, he's ministered in prisons sharing as well there, as our entire family visiting there in those places.
One of my fondest most precious memories was a Christmas party we were invited to in a prison. Two of the inmates put my husband and I down as their family. We brought our little girls and those prisoners were like little children that day in the chapel. They reminded me so much of what you see in the Boys Town movie with Mickey Rooney. The prisoners were able to have their families with their children their too, what a privilege that was to be invited to that precious Christmas party. I often wonder where they all are, and what the state of things is in their families at this time. Just some thoughts...Just thankful memories and thankful for a husband who is a pastor in his own right. So thankful our girls grew up seeing all of humanity and the beauty in it no matter what and where and what mistakes people had made, no matter what kind of money people had. It's a beautiful thing. Walking with God is a beautiful thing.
We can walk with Him and talk with Him...We can all be ministers in our own right, whether it be at the store or wherever. They will know us by our love. There's nothing like flashing a big toothy grin at folks and just showing that love and peace to others in these trying times.
Photo by Robert Stock
Good night and may God be with you, ~Amelia in the Forest
This clip from one of my favorite movies, Mrs. Miniver came to mind yesterday, and I think it is very appropriate for this time. It's a spiritual battle and I believe this clip portrays how many of us feel.
It's a time to stick together and pray fervently andvote, there are so many important issues that are at stake here, Israel, the Right to Life, our freedom and liberties just so many things... Here in America it's very simple. Good versus evil. Throughout history we have had famous Generals who led us to Victory in war, we valued and thanked God for their leadership warts and all. We thank God for President Trump.
There are evil people who think nothing of lying and are very, very deceptive. They will stop at nothing. Anyone who thinks nothing of killing an unborn baby cannot be trusted or believed. There are some heavy things going on in the background. Please vote, get your friends and family to vote. Vote for Life. Vote for Liberty. Vote for Israel. ...And for God's sake don't believe the liberal media.
For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places.
Let's vote like our lives depend on it...It does. Faith without works is dead.
HERE is a GREAT sermon in print from the Presidential Election Season 2016 by a pastor from a very large suburban church. He nails it perfectly.
I
hope you all are doing well and living the Life. I hope we are keeping
our homes that Peaceful place, serving God the Father. So goes the
homes so goes the country. I think so much starts right at our dinner
tables.
Let's teach our children what is at stake here in age appropriate ways
without getting our little children into fear or anxiety. Let's teach our youth to be those Christian soldiers in word and deed. It's no time for passivity. All the while let's keep a sweet spirit in our homes, there is so much
darkness out there...We certainly don't want to bring that darkness in.
Be careful not to get gradually swayed by the currents. Let us keep that plumb line straight up.
With much love in Christ the Father and many, many prayers. ~Amelia
So many outfits can be made from accessories! Here's some things that jazz up a solid colored outfit:
A Fall Outfit
My fall scarf I made. I love the little forest fox creatures on it, it's a very lightweight lawn cotton fabric, perfect for fall, and since I made it myself, it's wide and long...It hangs just so with some body.
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The little forest foxes remind us of our little Dachsund, Peanut. Or rather Peanut reminds us of a little Forest creature... Peanut was rescued from the country roads in the severe cold last Thanksgiving by my son in law, can you imagine my surprise when I opened the door and saw this little pilgrim in my daughter's arms!
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For me, solid black is a great backdrop that makes me feel confident and put together. I know it's fall when I break the black turtlenecks out!
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My double breasted black coat is from Walmart online, it's the Faded Glory brand and I've had this coat since '14.
My favorite fall necklace from one of my favorite books and movies, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' My daughter gave this to me.
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A favorite pin, a sweet Nightingale sitting sweetly on my coat collar. An Etsy find. I think it was under $7.
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A pair of zippered vegan ankle boots. From Walmart, a great value at around 20.00 last year online, they are the Time n Tru brand. Great little boots. The sole and heel are a rubber, they do well on a rainy day.
Around Here:
We can spruce things up with fresh paint and a good clean out using mostly what we have if we narrow down to a theme of sorts and use whatever makes us happy.
Sprucing up my Laundry Room
I've Been Working on my Laundry Room to make it pretty. Jem painted the walls a very soothing light pale yellow reminiscent of the breakfast area and even my nursery of my old home when I was tiny child in our sweet 30s home. We used white trim on the shelves. I have some cute vintage Christmas plaques that my daughters gave me last year and I had fun putting them in the laundry room last year. I'm carrying through with the Christmas theme as you will see. I will have Christmas in my laundry room year round! Why not?
What's "Up'?
Grace gave me this adorable little plaque for Mother's Day a couple of years ago.
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Look at these beautiful canvases I picked up at Walmart! They
are hanging above my utility sink, they definitely have elements of
Christmas in them. Who wouldn't love these canvas prints? At $7.88 a
piece? What a bargain! There are even brush marks on them, very nice
canvas prints.
The plaques Zuzu gave me last year, so vintage.
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Joycie gave me this neat metal Christmas doggy last year, she found at an antique store.
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Our daughter, Joycie gave me this one, it has a pale yellow background too.
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This is a very old cardboard sign from the old passenger trains from years ago, this was something my dad had, I'm thinking it's from back when he was in military school or traveling to college back then. This is one side... I have this near our door from the laundry room to outside.
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Ha, I kind of like the opposite side! .
Gregory Peck agrees.
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In The Forest
Yesterday Morning
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Liesl and Gracie were very interested in the top of the fig tree... What is it? This is Liesl looking up. Do you see a creature up in the tree?
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Oh me oh my! It's a Possum!
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He was cute, he had long black eyelashes, what a sweet little forest creature! I think he must have been enjoying our figs, and that's okay they are way at the top, we will share. Every Italian family has a couple of fig trees.
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Hope Everyone is Doing Well...
I hope everyone's okay this most wonderful fall season. In our rural neighborhood it's quite a gathering of Trump signs everywhere! We have an unusual area, you really don't know who is here exactly. We have a Dr. of Geology nearby, we have a retired U.S. General even here. Quite a few law enforcement folks are here including swat team. A very ecletic mix. The main highways are smattered with huge Trump signs in every direction. Jem and I went to vote and it was wonderful, so many people voting early like never before. America at it's finest.
Lately...
Autumn evenings are relaxing...Jem and I watched a James Taylor concert the other night and had fun relaxing, it was like really being there at the concert!...Making runs to the kitchen for treats of pumpkin muffins or popcorn fits the bill nicely...Here's an off the cuff photo, this is what my photographer daughter calls "ghetto photography", reflections in windows, televisions...wherever. One of my runs to the kitchen...snapped a shot. Kind of a fun effect.
Recipe:
I made my pumpkin muffins with almond flour and pyure stevia mix sweetener, maple extract works instead of the syrup. The fragrance was soooooo nice!
I hope you are enjoying the fall, using time wisely. Time is our currency as the old Chris Rice song goes. Even though we are empty nesters in a way except for our youngest adult daughter who is a very busy gal, I try to keep myself busy. I divide my time up during the day a bit like classes in school. I have exercise time, create time, cook time, gardening time, reading and resting time. It works! We have to make our own fun and not depend on others to make us happy.
How do I love God?... By doing beautifully the work I have been given
to do, by doing simply that which God has entrusted to me, in whatever
form it may take.
Our oldest daughter with our state Attorney General. More posts on our oldest daughter at Pearl Harbor Anniversary HERE andHERE. *big smile*
I grew up in a city councilman's home and I've always been taught to speak the truth, to speak it with courage and dignity. Several of our daughters are also on that road as well. Our youngest is an artist so she is not quite as involved but those quiet waters do run deep and she will speak for truth when things are brought up in her workplace. My husband and I stand together, he is vocal as well. It's straight up and down, many issues should not be conservative or liberal, they are Juris Naturalist. It's good versus evil and we will vote Prolife. Many issues on our liberties are at stake at this time.
My Message:
Lately I've noticed a quietness in many. I've found this odd since our nation is on fire so to speak...Especially when we have the tools to put the fire out. We have God and we have God's Word. We have our prayer rooms. We have typing fingers. We are responsible.
There seems to be a common fallacy among some not to say anything, (Edit 10.14.20: Or write anything) as if it causes trouble and some think it will not change minds. I kindly, humbly but strongly disagree. Do not buy that. We can be kind and we can speak truth. ...And we can inform and yes! We can change minds.
I will speak out, I will especially speak out when our unborn are being murdered as I'm sure you all know. It is we who can spread the word of what can be done to stop this holocaust. If we truly believe that abortion is murder then you better believe this gal will speak out.
I for one have been educated by a blogger who spoke their conviction with kindness and heartfelt concern over a subject, sometimes God has been dealing with our heart already. Why this hush hush? If we truly believe the house is on fire then I would say we need to warn! If we truly believe that unborn babies are being ripped limb from limb with no anesthesia I would say...Yes! We need to warn! I recently ran into a young woman who didn't even know one of the candidates involved in the race was a female. So yes, we need to speak up.
We will pray, we will act upon that prayer. Faith without works is dead and God did not give us a spirit of fear..
Here is an appropriate poem from the Holocaust many of you may be familiar with:
First They Came
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
A photo of special sweet security dogs getting ready to board at the airport on the way to the National Republican Convention our oldest daughter traveled to four years ago.
Here's a shot of one of the cute fellas with the passengers on the plane. Now how was that for safety? I never tire of seeing this photo! ...So great.
Around Our Home with Our Pets and Such. It may not be on the way to any national convention but I think it's ...A Pretty Special Place!
I've been a busy bee around the homestead here...Gardening in my fall vegetable garden and going through boxes setting up my laundry room.
My fur angels keep me busy and full of joy!
Liesl...Such a loving sweet doggy...A colossal sweetheart!
She loves her ball!
A Recent evening....
A sweet day looking out the window, all the doggies having a glorious time! Dogs know to get their Vitamin D, enjoying the sun! Animals have much to teach us humans. : )
My garden. I have turnip greens, collards, blue hubbard squash (so fun) they are huuuge! Butternut squash, white patty squash, chard, cabbage etc. Jem installed an irrigation system and I water the tops every morning.
Last night I made a nice dish that Jem really enjoyed.
Photo by Robert Stock
I will call this:
My One Dish Wonder!
(Get your cuppa coffee gal, here goes)
You sautee one large or two small onions, a few cloves of garlic and a package of Italian vegan sausage Tofurkey (found in produce) shredded until browned in oil.
I use olive or avocado oil.
Remove the Tofurkey bits and place in bowl for later.
Then you add a half cup of brown rice flour to onion and garlic and make a roux, lightly browned.
Return browned Tofurkey.
I added a couple of boxes of vegetable broth or the equivalent of water and bouillon cubes and added 4 cups of sliced red potatoes. After the potatoes were soft I squashed them up a bit, not completely and added a package of frozen spinach. (Any green will do). A tsp. of basil and Italian seasoning along with salt and peppa. ; )
I served this over brown rice and it was delicious! A one dish wonder! Delicious!
This dish is served in a bowl much like a brown gravy potato soup!
It is an extraordinary and beautiful thing that God, in creation...works with the beauty of matter; the reality of things; the discoveries of the senses, all five of them; so that we , in turn, may hear the grass growing; see a face springing to life in love and laughter.... The offerings of creation...our glimpses of truth.
~Madeleine L'Engle
The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.
~Harper Lee
Listen...be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.
Proverbs 23:19
Search your heart several times a day, and if you find something that is disturbing your peace, remember to take the proper steps to restore the calm.
~Francis de Sales
Have a sweet evening, let's keep our homes that place of Peace in a world that is not peaceful. We can insulate our homes in God's love. They will know we are Christians by our love. And I do believe our children will too...
Take care, press on. Unborn lives matter. Vote for Life, this election is so very critical on so many things, our very liberties and freedoms are at stake.
Hello, Thank you for stopping by. I'm a middle-aged veteran home educator, happily married over 46 years, mother of four sweet adult daughters, grandmother of 5 precious little children, three boys and two girls. We live in the forest. I design, sew, write, enjoy art, cook, and take care of our many fur angels. ...I'm also a hopeless romantic who wishes it were the 40s again. Follower of Christ, I cherish my personal relationship with the Lord. A pro-life advocate and ethical vegetarian; think: John Wesley, William Booth, Fred Rogers and Frances of Assisi. I laugh hard and pray hard too! Live, Laugh, Love...And pray hard...That's me.
The Christmas Box (1995) Maureen O'Hara, Richard Thomas, Annette O'Toole
Photo by Robert Stock
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Here is my traditional recipe, it's the old one from the can of sweet potatoes. (I forgot the brand) But never fear...Alas! I saved the recipe and I make this dish every Thanksgiving! 
The state of the country is in need of prayer, God is moved by our faith and we can use spiritual warfare, don't give up. Please allow me to share two youtube sources that help us keep up with things from a Christian perspective, both post often, usually daily:
The Eric Metaxas Radio Show 
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I hope you are enjoying the fall, using time wisely. Time is our currency as the old Chris Rice song goes. Even though we are empty nesters in a way except for our youngest adult daughter who is a very busy gal, I try to keep myself busy. I divide my time up during the day a bit like classes in school. I have exercise time, create time, cook time, gardening time, reading and resting time. It works! We have to make our own fun and not depend on others to make us happy.
A photo of special sweet security dogs getting ready to board at the airport on the way to the National Republican Convention our oldest daughter traveled to four years ago.
Here's a shot of one of the cute fellas with the passengers on the plane. Now how was that for safety? I never tire of seeing this photo! ...So great.
