2 MINUTE SOUP

I've been under attack this past week, with a tickle in my throat and general hoarseness.
Pretty much losing my voice.
OH NO!!!!
Enter the 2 minute soup.

aka: Eggdrop Soup

2 cups chicken stock(I prefer Kitchen Basics)
1 large egg, beaten well
drizzle of sesame seed oil(found in the oriental section of the grocers)

Bring the stock to a boil. Slowly drizzle the beaten egg into the stock, stirring vigorously with a fork. Stir for perhaps 30 seconds. Shut stove off. Pour soup into bowl. Drizzle with very small amount of sesame oil. S&P to taste.

It's good for what ails ya!
I'm feelin' better already!

1000 GIFT LIST

George MacDonald wrote,

"No gift unrecognized as coming from God is at its own best...when in all gifts we find Him, then in Him we shall find all things."

I have been inspired by Ann, at Holy Experience, to list 1000 gifts that have been given to me by God.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, which is now upon us, I humbly begin.
The question is:
Can I see His gifts in the every day, mundane things that I set my hand to?
The things I take for granted every day?

The hot cup of coffee.
The rising of the sun.
The birds chirping at their feeders.
The soft pawing of one of the cats, begging for attention.
The reading of His precious Word.
The wind rustling through the few leaves still clinging to the poplars.
The washing of dishes.

"And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!'...and Jesus said to them, 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' They said to Him, 'Yes, Lord.' Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'Be it done unto you according to your faith.'
And their eyes were opened." Matthew 9:27-30

God, open my eyes, that I may truly see and be thankful.
Let it be done unto me, according to my faith.

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow. James 1:17

TODAYS PRAYER

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
when there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis

What is YOUR prayer this day?

HOMECOMING 07'

Avery (in the pink), and her bestest friend Kearstin.
Tho we homeschool, Avery gets invited to lots of the local public school functions.
This is her 2nd homecoming dance, and her "date" both times has been Kearstin.

I think they have far more fun going stag, then being stuck with someone of the opposite sex all evening.
They had a blast and made memories that will last forever.
Aren't they just 'bout the cutest things you ever did see???

IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS

Details of the old, down-filled sofa I found this summer at a consignment shop.
The original sofa is a bright, yet creamy, yellow. Lovely, perhaps, in a more formal setting, but in Cyn's little living room, it was just too much. I bought it with the idea that I would have a slipcover made for it, and I knew just the gal who could do it. Joy hooked me up with her sister-in-law who does upholstery and such as a side job, and when her schedule allowed, we brought it to her shop.
10 days later...
WHOA!
Just what I wanted.

Feminine and shabby, but not over-the-top.
I had wanted something very neutral and very washable.

I found linen to be exactly the look I wanted.
Soft, yet rumpled.
But...was linen washable?
Even tho the instructions on the fabric said to dry clean only, I knew from experience that linen COULD be machine washed. The sales lady suggested I buy a 1 foot piece, and go home to wash it, measuring after it was washed and dried to see how much shrinkage there actually was.
About an inch per foot, which was perfect.
So, 30 yards later (we also had a small swivel rocker slip-covered), and a major trip to the laundromat, we were good to go.

These 2 armless chairs with coordinating footstool, were bought from Joy this summer.
The sofa is so neutral that it is a perfect match.
This has been a long time coming.
Before I found the screaming vanilla sofa this summer, we had a hunter green, art deco, mohair sofa and matching chair. I really didn't mind it, but my kids said it felt like you were sitting on a brillo pad.
Goodwill was more than happy to take it off our hands, and more importantly, my kids were deleriously happy to see it go!
And now, we are all happy.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

CHRISTMAS??????

Yup.
The catalogs have begun arriving.
The pleas for help from various charities are stuffed in my mailbox.
And Macy's, Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and even Home Depot have their trees, blow-up Santas, nativity scenes, and wreaths decorating their respective aisles.

Now, I gotta run.
There's a nip in the air, and I'm beginning to get that old Christmas feeling!
Time to check out my various vintage hot spots for something fresh and unusual for my mantle, front porch, and tree!

Don't worry, Bing and his infamous "White Christmas" won't be playing here anytime soon.
I wait until at least the middle of November before I get the Christmas music playing!

GARDEN'S LAST HURRAH

This is such a sad time in the garden.
No one feels much like getting out there and weeding, and most of the perennials have fizzled out, leaving just a few remnants hanging on.

We are expecting much cooler temps this week, so this is pretty much it for color.
It was so much fun to get this bed started this spring. It has really given me lots of eye candy, especially the snapdragons!

The grasses have gone to seed, which the birdies just love!
I keep mine all winter, and cut down first thing in the spring.

The "blue-plate special" bird feeder, created by my dear friend, Lucy.

Morning Glories in all their glory.
They are so incredibly beautiful. I can't figure out why mine take so long to get this big.
I see them in July on others mailboxes, blooming like there was no tomorrow.
Mine are just now getting there.

Seize the day.
Cause here in the midwest, it could be snowing next week!!!!

TORCH

For the past, I don't know, maybe 7 years, we have been going up to Torch Lake for a mini-vacation with some old friends of ours. We missed last year, for various reasons, but this year we were right back in the swing of things.
We had to do it.
For sanity's sake.
We rent cottages right on the lake, and have our own agenda, of sorts. Places we always go, shops we always stop at, and restaurant/bars we always eat at. Kids, especially, like knowing we are going to do the same things as last year.
Isn't that funny?
They love the security of knowing what comes next.
Above is Avery, our youngest, sitting at the end of the pier.

Torch Lake at twilight.

Ave and Beth, hamming it up at the Dockside.

This was too funny.
You really could not open the door to the Dockside without giving it a heave-ho.

We have been far too busy this fall.
We are in the first stages of getting used to having a 6 year old around 24/7, and it has been an upheaval in our usual routines. We will get used to it, eventually, but meanwhile, posting might be hit or miss. I am trying to visit all my blogging friends at least weekly, so know that you are in my thoughts if it has been a while.

Love,
Cyn