Monday, September 30, 2024

From My Journal

TODAY IS: September 29, 2024

AROUND MEWe have a fun little trip planned for today.  We are going to an Amish community about 45 minutes from us in PA to get some apple cider and our year's supply of Pure Maple Syrup.  Then it's home to make some bread for the freezer.

I AM PONDERING: this quote by J. C. Ryle..."Christian, receive your trials, crosses, and conflicts patiently; bear them quietly; look upward, forward, onward, and far behind them.  Fight your daily fight under a steadfast conviction that it is only for a little while, and that rest is not far off." 

AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS:  



This sweet mug for autumn!

 BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY READING:

  Refreshment for the Soul is a collection of Richard Sibbes thoughts on different topics and is compiled as a devotional.  So, it will be an ongoing reading throughout this year.

The Soul's Conflict by Richard Sibbes

A Place for Weakness by Michael S. Horton

I AM THANKFUL FOR:  Strongheart.  He can do most anything that needs attention around the house.  Last week he installed a tub surround in our bathroom.  Walking in there now feels like a totally different place!

.FROM THE KITCHEN:  



You may remember that we had our third bloom of our Shitake mushrooms last week.
Instead of freezing all of them like I did with the second bloom, 
I decided to use some to make some cream of mushroom soup.
Oh my!
If you have never done that, you really should.
As Strongheart said, "It's definitely better than Campbell's".
😀

SOMETHING I AM THANKFUL FOR:   We will be enjoying the company of our son and daughter-in-law from Maine starting on Saturday evening!  It will be a short visit because they will leave early on Thursday morning to make the trip back to Maine, but we are so thankful for any time that we get to spend with them...and that they are willing to make that long drive (14 hours).  He's doing it because we will celebrate my birthday while they are here. 

TO DO LIST FOR TODAY:  Making the trip to Springs PA for apple cider and syrup and making some bread for the freezer, in preparation for our family's visit.

"So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 91:12

23 comments:

  1. I like your Fall mug, and that soup mug too! Bob doesn't like mushrooms, but I bet I would love the soup.
    I love that your Maine kids are coming. Something wonderful to look forward too and a testimony of how they love their mom!
    I'm leaving soon for my annual mammogram. I always go with my sister and we get lunch afterward; it makes this a little more fun!

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    1. I'm not sure what happened to my reply because I am pretty sure I left one. The mushroom soup was so rich and creamy. Glad you and your sister have this annual tradition. It makes it easier to do!

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  2. I love your coffee cup and your mug of soup! I hope you have the recipe that you used! :) Thanks to you my kitchen gets a little use! LOL!!
    Our birthdays are both in October! Mine is Wednesday Oct 2nd. I hope you have a wonderful visit with your family! Happy birthday sweet friend!!

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    1. Monica dear, you made me chuckle about your kitchen getting used because of my recipes. I will post the recipe soon for the mushroom soup.

      Happy Birthday! I hope you have a lovely day on Wednesday. Mine is Sunday (6). Thank you for the birthday wishes. 💖

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  3. It sounds like you have a wonderful day planned! I love Pure Maple Syrup and use it often. We go through a lot of maple syrup at our house. I love to use it in my baking in place of sugar. I also have a wonderful chili recipe that uses maple syrup and pumpkin. If you'd like I'd be happy to send it to you. And how exciting to have your son and his wife planning to visit this weekend. Definitely something fun to look forward to! Your mushroom soup looks delicious by the way. Oh, and I love your mug!

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    1. We did have a fun morning, Julia. The area where we shopped has a large Amish/Mennonite population. The little store we shopped at this time was a Mennonite store with bulk foods but she also carries fabric, yarn, and kitchen items, as well as cards and puzzles. The lady is so sweet. We use a lot of maple syrup too... for the same reason you do. That chili recipe sounds delicious. I would appreciate the recipe, if you don't mind. Your recipes are so good. Thanks for stopping by. I always enjoy your comments.

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  4. That mug is so cute. How fun to have your family come visit for your birthday! An early happy birthday to you!

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    1. Thank you for the birthday wishes, Barbara. We are looking forward to family time.

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  5. I know you are excited for your family to come visit. And they will be there on your birthday, as well! The mug is so cute. Enjoy your trip to get the apple cider and honey! Your area must really showing off some colors by now. The cream of mushroom soup looks so good! I know Strongheart really appreciates it. Have a great week preparing for your family!

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    1. Thank you, my friend. We had the best time today when we to get the cider and maple syrup. And I guess you know where we had lunch. 😉. I thought of you and our time together in the same restaurant.

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  6. Love your Fall Mug. I must be the only person who isn't crazy about pure maple syrup. Always seems watery to me. :)
    Have a great time with visiting family. Happy Birthday a little early!!

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    1. Thank you, Karen. We definitely love our maple syrup. The majority of other syrups have corn syrup in them and we try to stay away from that. I cook with very little sugar and use maple syrup or honey for the sweetener. But you are correct... maple syrup is not as thick. Thank you for the birthday wishes.

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  7. Thank you, Bill. We visited our son at his home in Maine in June and was delighted when he told us that he was coming to visit us in the fall. We have a day trip planned to take them on a scenic train ride in the county that our son grew up in. It will be fun. I love mugs. I have a bunny one for spring, and this one for autumn. I have another one on the way for winter.... just need one for summer now. Well, actually I don't need any of them, but I do enjoy them. Tea always tastes better in a pretty mug. 😉

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  8. How I wish we had an Amish community within driving distance. I'd enjoy going there. I think you Autumn mug is so pretty. Tea will taste even better when you use it.
    Have a wonderful visit with your son and his family.

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    1. Life in the area we visit is a slower pace of life and we really enjoy it. Tea do

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  9. We made a trip to Upper NY State about 4 years ago in our motorhome (have since sold it). We loved shopping with the Mennonites! And Wegman's grocery store! Fabulous place!
    Enjoy the family visit!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. They are lovely people to do business with. Praying for you, my friend.

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  10. I also wish I had Amish Country that close!

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    1. Hello Danielle. We are having more and more Amish families moving into our area just a few miles down the road from us, but not enough of population yet to have a bulk food store. They make wonderful neighbors.

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  11. yay for seeing family, yay for a year's worth of maple syrup! and I love your mug :)

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  12. I hope you had a wonderful visit with your family. How nice! And what fun going to Lancaster. It is one of our most favorite places to visit. I am curious how much maple syrup you have to buy in order to have a year's supply?? Do you have a favorite place you like to shop?? I hope you had a nice trip!

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    1. Hello Jennifer! Our family from Maine will be arriving this Saturday evening and leaving next Thursday morning. We are so looking forward to having time with them again. When I say that we go to an Amish/Mennonite community not far from us, I am speaking of a small community by the name of Springs PA. We buy a gallon of maple syrup and that takes us from one autumn to the next. There are a couple of Mennonite bulk food stores that we shop at...Springs Store in Springs PA and Shady Grove in Grantsville MD. They are just a few miles apart. There's also a Mennonite owned restaurant in Grantsville MD that we enjoy eating at...The Casselman Inn.

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