Vegan and Gluten-Free Mediterranean Soup

Making the choice to eat HEALTHY SOUPS

from a Health Food Grocery Store.

Vegan, Gluten-free Mediterranean Soup of Squash, Spinach, Red Bell Peppers, Chickpeas, Vegetable Broth, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Nutritional Yeast, Garlic, Cumin, Peppermint, Chestnut, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Corn Starch, 

Salt and Pepper

Sign labeled it as MAGNIFICENT.  

I have to disagree.  It was good, but not that good.

Nutritious, yes.

Can I get a WITNESS?

d  

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, 

just as you are doing. "  1 Thessalonians 5:11

1 Thessalonians 5:11 King James Version (KJV)  

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

Joining the party:

http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2019/01/wise-woman-linkup_15.html

Thrill Deal

DOCTOR's APPOINTMENT in the city.  Amazed myself by getting up as early as I did to get ready for the day.  Breakfast at a local restaurant where the bacon was superb.  Not greasy.  Must I give up bacon?  That will be challenging. 

ON THE WAY TO TOPEKA, we stopped at FLORENCE ADAMS in lil St. Marys Kansas.  My heart beats a little faster when I go inside the place.  One of the nicest lil shoppes in this area and they are reasonably priced for their merchandise.  Bought some chocolates full of goodness.

Icing on the medical cake was going to THRIFT STORE where I purchased a Kingsize garnet colored bedspread for additional bedding for a whopping $6.50.  Examined it by opening the spread to check for spots, holes and snags.  In excellent shape.  Believe the store launders every textile and clothing item before putting items out to sell but will launder anyways.  NOTE: I did spread the bedspread out on my bed and LUV the color.  There are wrinkles that hopefully the wash will take out.  If not...will have to iron.

Purchased two books written by L. Frank Baum author of THE WIZARD OZ containing 10 of the novels he wrote.  As long as I have lived in the Land of OZ I have NEVER owned a L. Frank Baum book nor read the stories he wrote.  A fan of the motion picture WIZARD OF OZ starring Judy Garland.  This is the one movie I have watched the most I'm sure of it.  

SPOILS FOR THE DAY were a Kingsize bedspread, a pretty compote dish, a small metal tray, a hand blown glass bottle for Hubby, a framed print under glass of a young boy from Italy, 2 Baum books, an eight o'clock tin bank, an AVON bottle with stopper lid. 

When I was a young married lady I had virtually NO MONEY to spare when I purchased a Clear Glass Avon Diamond Cut Apothecary Decanter Bottle with stopper filled with mouth wash or bubble bath in about 1976 using the bottle for holding vanilla.  I lost this treasure in the 2016 FIRE.  When I saw the AVON bottle like the one I lost I bought it for $2.50.  Once again I will use it for VANILLA in my KITCHEN!  This was a sweetheart of a deal for me.

  EIGHT O'CLOCK COFFEE BANK

After shopping the THRIFT STORE

we went to an antique mall and bought nothing.

By this time we were hungry and ate Bar-B-Que

at HERMANS.

I'll return.  Twas good.

https://www.hermansmeat.com/

Gettin old and needed a nap.

We went HOME and did just that.

Awoke in time to put baked spaghetti in the oven.

HOME IS FOR ME,

d

Snowy January

FLUFFY SNOW fell 

and settled across the landscape. 

We enjoyed seeing this while driving the area.  Seldom does the snow stay so pretty for so long before it begins to melt away.

Love this Winter WONDER-LAND,

d

Shuffling January

Dear Buds, 
This was a busy week-end as large pieces of furniture were moved about our abode on a cold wintery snowy day.  Hubby got up early to shovel the sidewalks.  Expecting two Grandsons to arrive and help move some furniture and boxes.

We celebrate 2019 as we purchased an actual antique Walnut Victorian Slant Front Secretary with bookcase.  THINK the piece is dated from 1870s or 1880s.  Not sure.  Original glass panels in this old piece.  

Meaning renting a truck and getting help to muscle lift the piece, driving a distance to load the piece, drive, unload the piece to the new location which is the PRAIRIE HOME Living room.  The Highboy went to the Sunroom which meant it went up a flight of stairs.  Also a large oversized desk for me to do paperwork on was transported from the cottage to the PRAIRIE HOUSE also going upstairs.

Loading furniture, unloading furniture, shuffling furniture, carrying furniture upstairs, etc.  THIS shuffling took muscle and willpower in January.

Mercy.  Like moving again.  

Ooh to be young again and be able to SHUFFLE.
Watching from the sidelines,
d  

Exercising With A Shower Cap On

Dear Ones, 
Made my way to the Post Office to mail a small box off to kiddos in Oklahoma as one of the Grands left behind some slip on sandals at Gramma's house at Christmas time.  Got 'er done.  Made me blink at the cost of shipping for such a light weight small box that I had brown wrapped.  Tis done and I can get back to closing up shop at putting away HOME Christmas decorations.  They are disappearing a little here and a little there.

Hubby reminded me of the Post Office Priority boxes.  OOPS.  I completely did a SENIOR MOMENT and forgot about these handy dandy boxes.  Shucks.  Oh well.  Better luck next time.

After leaving the Post Office, I made a day of it by going to Wallieworld to buy storage boxes and browsed the clearance aisles.  I needed some new BRAS so I picked up 3.  Undies for the new year.  Off to do some laundry at the Cottage.  Underwear and bluejeans.    

Hubby was able to take down and put away the outdoor Christmas decs this week as I slowly am taking ornaments off of our tree.  
S l o oooo w l y.   Leaving the snowflakes and lights on for one more evening before she completely goes away. 

I went to TOWN to purchase a couple of storage boxes for the 
N E W  SHATTER PROOF Christmas ornaments that were half off for next year's tree.  SO colorful.  These colors make me HAPPY INSIDE.  

PUT A SMILE ON MY FACE.  Will be a bright tree in the future.  We were going to go vintage, but these other colorful ornaments kept showing up in the shopping cart as we took advantage of the half off sales.  Purple, lime green, blue, magenta, teal....just doesn't get any better than that.      

I drove over to the Cottage to unpack the new ornaments from their packages that they were sold in and placed the ornaments in new storage tubs for the keeping.  When I returned HOME to start packing up the Nativity Scene I noticed the Nativity background piece was longer than the wonderful box I had just bought.  Back to the store I have to go.  Can make this trip a sweeter one with a cup of Starbucks in my tight lil fist.    

Another tub.  sigh.  This WINTER I hope to go downstairs and thin out the Christmas decorations that are on shelves.  Hope I can pull this off.  I try to stay on course and get the things done that are waiting for attention.  

Putting together a Studio comes first for Hubby and a office in the Sunroom as well.  THEN I'll see where I am at and forge ahead on downsizing the Christmas decs.

Today I sit with a shower cap on my head because underneath is a headful of hair oiled down with jojoba oil.  Doing a HOMEMADE BEAUTY TREATMENT for hair before I shampoo my locks.  While it is soaking into the hair, I take off the Christmas ornaments from the tree.  MULTI-TASKING has nothing on me.  

Right now the tree still has a variety of sizes and shapes of snowflakes on it without round and dangling ornaments.  It looks lovely just with the snowflakes and twinkling lights.  The Living room will seem naked without the tree by the fireplace.  Time for it to go though.  January is a great month to put away the Christmas Holiday decorations and make headway into the new year with some deep cleaning and Valentines.  Reviewing about the old year and planning the new.      

Gave it some thought about how to make Christmas decorating a simpler and quicker way by hanging wreaths on the interior home doors by using over the door wreath hangers.  I have collected quite a few wreaths and store them in wreath tubs when not in use.  Keeping it easy and simple is my new mantra sorta speaking.  

AS FOR HOUSEKEEPING CHORES...My housekeeping chores are stretched out since I've grown older and not in as good of health as I'm aiming for.  A household chore here and a little there.  I can't seem to do a complete bathroom in one setting anymore.  I cleaned the upstairs toilet and sink plus the tile floor around these.  Will do part two of scrubbing the tub, sweeping floor tile, washing it on another day and polishing the mirror.  Today I scrubbed the Powder room sink.  Toilet will come later.  

Great exercise if I say so myself!
The shower cap did not get in the way of cleaning which was my exercising for the day.  No sweat.

HOME LIFE is for me,
d

Fern Groh's Interview at 103 years Old !

I didn't personally know Fern, but enjoyed her tidbits about her long life.
After reading her obituary I learned she married late in LIFE.
Blessings to you and may you have a wonderful day,
d

Resting In A Chair

Tuckered out.  Takes a bit for me to get to feeling like I can go another round of getting stuff done.  I sit a while, I work awhile.  I sit awhile, I work awhile.  STAY THE COURSE!  It'll happened.

I sat in the rose colored chair by the Parlor window covered with a lace panel.  Sunlight streaming through to naturally light up the small white room.  Earlier I had placed a stack of books by the telephone table.  Leaning nicely against the table legs.  Balanced.  Some form of order is taking place as items are grouped together instead of being in a variety of places.  Order never seemed to be more attractive to me until I got old.  

Standing at attention was an oversized white covered Bible that my Sister-in-law gave to me years ago when she married my brother-in-law.  She was Catholic and I'm not.  She wanted to stay with a Catholic Bible and this one wasn't.  As long as I have had it and I never read the Bible Stories that are in the back of this huge Bible.  So I read one as I sat resting for the next wave of energy to surge through my body.  

Between spurts of energy.  Thought this would have been a great book to have read to my children when they were growing up to share the characters of the Bible with them. 

I was resting in the chair holding the huge BIBLE as the beginning of time was spoke into existence in print.  God spoke and it took place.  I sometimes wish I could do the same thing...speak it and away it's done.  

Housekeeping would be a cinch,
d   

MERRY HEART

Proverbs 17:22

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”

King James Version (KJV)

Bless you today and every day 
as we live our lives pleasing to the LORD,
d

Plans In Motion

WORTH.  
VALUE.
PURPOSE.  
POSITION.
NEW YEAR.
NEW PLANS.
NEW REASONS TO LIVE.
NEW PROJECTS.  

New Calendar book was purchased so I can start planning for 'THE NEW YEAR'.  I still have a ton of old papers and checks to go thru and thinned out.  ONGOING.  Seems more like a HOBBY that I don't want.  This will take a while to complete.

WORK FAST at these unwanted task and soon it will all disappear.  A little here and a little there.   

Making an office area upstairs in what I am now calling the Sunroom.  Lots of windows with no plan to hang curtains.  We have a desk in storage that will take some doing to locate in our PRAIRIE HOUSE.  Rent a truck, drive to storage, load the desk, drive to house, unload desk, carry desk up flight of stairs, return truck.  

Placing the desk in front of some the windows in the Sunroom so I can see out to the backyard while working on papers or while sewing.

The Red velvet Victorian Parlour Sofa that is in what I call the Victorian Guest Bedroom will go in this Sunroom which will allow the Victorian Guest room to have more freed space.  I think I will still have a few Teddy Bears sit on the sofa along with some of my finer porcelain dolls.  I have a couple of matching Parlour chairs that can grace this room as well. 


It is a process to get settled after a house fire.  This is a different kind of move compared to all the moves I have experienced thru the years.  Slower at getting settled.  Dealing with emotional issues that tag along after a trauma.  Keeping busy, but have to REST much.  I thank my Husband and God for allowing me to REST and stay at HOME as a KEEPER OF THE HOME. 

FIRST WEEK OF THE YEAR I am tweaking KITCHEN cabinets and countertops.  Today I washed the inside of a drawer for KITCHEN towels and refolded the towels.  I moved my dish towels over to the other side of the KITCHEN.  I am folding my dish towels a new way.  LAST YEAR I used this style of folding t-shirts along with rolling pajama bottoms and jeans.  Like it and it makes sense to me.  *pat to back*

Also setting up an Art Studio will take the month of January.

This week I'm rewashing bed sheets, drying them and folding so they smell fresh for when used next.  Next Spring/Summer when there is fresh lavender in bloom I will snip some to dry out and place in the Linen closet to repel insects and add fragrance.  

I started folding the bed sheets a certain way then placing the set inside a matching pillow case keeping the whole sets together in the Linen closet.  Queen, double and twin size sheets will be coordinated and stashed neatly in the Linen closet.  Martha Stewart would be ever so pleased.

The start of the new year involves 

tidying our HOME.

I have hopes by the end of January to have an organized Sunroom Office, an uncluttered Victorian Guest room, paperwork gathered in one place to go thru and file in the Office area, a Art Studio set up for Hubby.  

By the end of February, I hope the repairs on the new Living room ceiling are completed and the Living room back in order with a new light fixture hanging where a hole was placed in the center of the ceiling.  It will mean when the workmen come to do the repairs that the area rugs be rolled and covered along with the new furniture.  Shuffled to one side of the room.  After this is completed the Living room will return to normal.  Onto the Dining room.  The woodwork except for the crown molding is already painted, but the ceiling needs two coats.  Leaning toward painting the walls a soft grey.  Soft grey.
Hang some old family platters in the Dining room.

Somewhere in here, the Entryway needs a fresh coat of paint.  Not sure about color yet.  Giving that some thought.  Will probably paint the woodwork in the Powder room later.  Might stencil in there later.

I'm pretty sure that loads of tidying and going through boxes is in the forecast.  The basement needs attention, the Carriage House cleaned, the Garage cleaned out...not very romantic or glamorous.  Needs done.  This year hopefully will be the year for this.  Makes me tired just thinking about it.  sigh.

Okay...Having thought about what needs done and how to work it in on my calendar.    

Lord willing,

d

Dining On The Prairie

Dining On The Prairie was made simple by using paper products and plastic ware 
while dishing out food in the Kitchen to family guest.

Making time with family not all about cooking and baking in Kitchen while company was here, I baked ahead of time two turkeys the week before company was scheduled to come stay for CHRISTmas.  

Carved the turkey then froze the slices.  Thawed a day before the big meal.  Turkey was sprinkled with water then placed in pan covered with foil to warm. Warmed the turkey in the oven the morning of the big meal.  Tasted good.

*Help Yourself Meal*

Family Get Together Menu

from the Kitchen

Relish Tray with Pickles and Olives

Veggie Tray with Green Goddess Dip

Cottage Cheese

Applesauce

Turkey

Mashed Potatoes with Turkey Gravy

Dressing

Bread Rolls and Butter

Green Beans with Green Peas

Buttered Corn

Desserts Galore

Fresh Brewed Iced Tea

Gourmet Coffee with Cream

*Paper products and plasticware were used*

Please forgive me.  Cut corners.  
No actual CHINA was used in this feast.

Family fellowship and food 

seem to go hand in hand,

d

*Santa's Lil Helper*

Joining a PARTY:
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EPIPHANY

e·piph·a·ny

/əˈpifənē/

noun

1. the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12).

   • the festival commemorating the Epiphany on January 6.
   • a manifestation of a divine or supernatural being.

   
   

Epiphany, the Feast of The Three Kings

• Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on 6th January (or January 19th for some Orthodox Church who have Christmas on 7th January) and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus.

Web results

Epiphany (holiday) - Wikipedia   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(holiday)

Epiphany (/ɪˈpɪfəni/ i-PIF-ə-nee), also Theophany, Denha, Little Christmas, or Three Kings' Day, is a Christian feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.

Also called‎:  Three Kings' Day, ...

Observed by‎: ‎Christians

Grand At The Cottage