Apple Butter

A friend brought me apples, found a couple of recipes that I want to try. The first one is

Apple Butter made in the instant pot.

The recipe made 8 jars.

 Apple Butter

5 lbs apples cored and sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tbsp cinnamon 

pinch of salt

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup water

Combine all the ingredients in the pressure cooker and mix well.

 Secure the lid and set timer for 1 hour on high.

After 1 hour let the steam escape and  remove the lid.

Blend the apples until smooth with and immersion blender and pour into jars (will keep for about 3 weeks in refrigerator) or 

process in hot water bath for 10 minutes.

Sampled after it was finished, very good! 

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious."

"A bruised apple is not all bad. It still has tremendous potential."

 ~Cheryl~

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Garden Meal

A simple supper!

Fresh tomato sandwich, my first little melon, and sauerkraut...

A friend helped me make sauerkraut.

Flavor is so different from the canned sauerkraut from the store. I have always liked sauerkraut, first time having it fresh and I love it! 

Have a couple more heads that I will be making into sauerkraut.

Trying to eat more fermented foods .Have also made fermented pickles and green beans with dill.

 

~Cheryl~

 

 

 

Summertime

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24 

~ Cheryl~

Joy of Gardening

 Hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul.

I have enjoyed gardening even as a little girl,  I remember hoeing up any little spot I could find and planting some of my mom's seeds. 

A garden truly does feed not only the body but, also the soul.  

 Working in the garden (even weeding) is so relaxing, it melts away the cares of the day!

Soon will be enjoying the fruits of all the work...

I even enjoy the stray plants that pop up in a garden...

This sunflower plant will definitely be shading some of my plants, but I just didn't have the heart to pull it out :0)

Now I just have to figure out how to control the oats that are sprouting nicely in the straw that I used to mulch some of the garden this year.  

There is always something to figure out in a garden!!

A list of what is planted in my garden...

Lettuce (two kinds) cabbage (early & late) kale, spinach, broccoli, onions, beans (green & purple) peas, peppers, tomatoes (four varieties)  basil, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn, zinnias, and a sunflower...

Cultivate the garden of your heart by seeking God.

Proverbs 4:23

~Cheryl~

A Sweet Companion

A dear friend gifted me with a golden retrieve.

The Lord has provided for my every need these past months, even in ways I never would have dreamed of.  I am so happy to have a dog again. She is so friendly, but I also know she will be a protector if needed.  She is so lovable and such a comfort. 

I have been so blessed!

Meet Dixie

And my God shall supply all your

needs according to His riches in glory

by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

~Cheryl~

Spring

 Spring has finally come to stay.

  Enjoying the new life of spring.

My first Virginia Blue Bells, a friend shared a couple of plants last year.

The tulips didn't do as well this year, the 28 inches of snow we got after they were up, broke some of them off. So enjoying what did blossom!

The flowers of spring are so refreshing after a long winter!

My favorite blooms and smell of spring is the lilacs!

The chicks are growing, waiting to see how many hens I have.

Have some interesting color combinations...hoping for different colored eggs!

For, lo, the winter is past...
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of the singing of birds is come...
Song of Solomon 2:11a, 12a

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest,
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night
shall not cease.
Genesis 8:22

Thankful the Lord is in control of the seasons and each day of my life. 

~Cheryl~

Tea Cup Exchange

This was my first time for joining in on the Tea Cup Exchange that Stephanie from 

The Enchanting Rose coordinates. She does such a wonderful job. Thank you so much for all of your hard work in making this so special for each of us!

It was so much fun!

My package came from Debbie over at  She Graces Her Home. Everything in her package was so me, it was as if Debbie had known me for years. Her package came just at the right time on a day I was struggling some, what a blessing her package and precious note was to me.

There was so many fun baking supplies that I have already been using.  Enjoyed the salted caramel chocolate bar and hot chocolate.  Saving my tea for when friends come over to enjoy!

Have been looking through the little recipe book trying to decide what to make to take to the ladies that I visit at the assisted living home.  

 The tea cup has my two favorite colors pink and green...it is so lovely!

I love the Praise Series CD, makes such good listening to when driving and the little dish Debbie sent that says "pray everyday". It's a reminder to walk close to the Lord daily!

My special gifts came in this lovely box! 

I felt so loved and spoiled by  Debbie and have made a very special friend, if only we lived closer, would love to have Debbie over for tea and a special treat!

Thank you so much Debbie for all of your sweet gifts, I thank the Lord for putting us together. 

Joyfully,

Cheryl

Meet My Little Peeps

Over the years I have ordered day old chicks from the local feed store or coop.

This year I had been looking on different web pages of places that sell chicks and discovered it is quite expensive to only order a few chicks...shipping costs are high on small orders.

In trying to decide what to do (need new laying hens) I met a friends neighbor who has banty chickens, they were so pretty!  My friend offered me the use of her incubator and her neighbor gave me banty eggs along with another friend who 

gave me some regular hen eggs. So thankful for old and new friends!

This was my first time ever incubating eggs...I have never had the type of hens that go brood either... it was so exciting to watch them hatch out. 

Ended up with eleven banties and five of the larger chicks.

 It is so fun listening to them peeping!

Now hoping I have some hens in the bunch!!

A fun sign of SPRING... in our not so spring like weather! 

This past weekend we received 28.5 inches of snow and blowing.  

Starting tomorrow and next week the forecast is 50 and upper 60...YAH

 

Joyfully

~Cheryl~

 

Fruit Salad & Mom's China

Made a delicious fruit salad for Easter dinner that I had seen at  "Home is Where the Boat Is" 

 I will be using the dressing on fresh fruits this summer...it has just the right amount of sweetness and a hint of vanilla

You can find Mary's recipe here

 

 The Easter table was set with my mom's china, a sweet remembrance

of her. I have always loved this china, This was a set that was sold when you bought groceries back in the 70's.

Today my beloved and I would have celebrated our 43rd anniversary, So many precious memories!

My sweet daughter gave me roses today, she said dad would want you to have flowers. Both our kids have been such a blessing during this time, taking such good care of me while processing their own grief in losing their dad.  God is so good!

~ Cheryl ~

 

Resurrection Sunday

The Holy City

 Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then me thought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o'er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!

My late beloved has sang this song at church on Easter.

"As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
 and at the last He will take His stand on earth."
Job 19:25

Easter Blessings

~Cheryl~

Tulips

We have had a couple of days of spring weather this week.  I am anxiously waiting for my tulips and other flowers to be in bloom.

Starting to see the tulips peaking out of the ground.

While I am waiting for the tulips to bloom outside,

creating a little spring inside.

 ~Cheryl~

Devotional

I have been reading a devotional for widows called,

Hope for an Aching Heart

by

Margaret Nyman

This devotional has been so helpful in the grieving proscess after losing a loved one.  She is so open about the things that she went through after losing her husband 6 weeks after his diagnoses of cancer.

The Lord has blessed me so with this devotional.

Easter cupcakes

My church  has a worship service each Sunday afternoon at an assisted living home in town.  I have been going each week and visiting ladies that come to the services.  It has been such a blessing to me.  I go to be blessing to these ladies and each time I come away thanking the Lord for the way He has blessed me with just what I need each time from these precious elderly ladies.

  I am slowly adjusting to my new role as a widow, God is leading me day by day.

God Leads Us Along

In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet
God leads His dear children along
Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet
God leads His dear children along

 

Some through the waters, some through the flood
Some through the fire, but all through the blood
Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song
In the night season and all the day long

 

Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright
God leads His dear children along
Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night
God leads His dear children along

 

Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose
God leads His dear children along
Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes
God leads His dear children along

 

Away from the mire, and away from the clay
God leads His dear children along
Away up in glory, eternity’s day
God leads His dear children along

~Cheryl~

Safe In The Arms of Jesus

On December 4, 2017 God called my precious husband home.

I am so thankful for the 42 years God allowed us to be together.  

Bob was such a caring, loving, Godly man. I was truly blessed!

It is an adjustment and I miss him dearly, but I know God is in control and He will see our family through this time.

God allowed us to have this past summer and fall together as Bob was put on disability as soon as he was diagnosed with cancer.  I am so thankful for those days together.  

Things seemed to be going pretty good, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving (Bob's favorite holiday) that Sunday Bob started getting headaches again.  On Monday they did and MRI and found that the cancer on the brain was growing and spreading fast.  By the following Monday he was gone.

I will not pretend that it isn't hard, but my hope is in the Lord. My dear husband is singing and praising his Savior.  I look forward to the day I will join him in heaven, until then I will carry on and serve my Lord!

Blessings,

Cheryl