Merriment.....

Dearest Readers,

Thank you for stopping by Honey Hill Farm.  As you can see there is much merriment here on this little homestead.  Garlands are being strung, trees decorated with antique ornaments and of course, the stockings will be hung by the chimney with care. Even this dear blog has been dressed in holiday frippery!

Would you like a Holiday Tour of Honey Hill?  If so, would you be so kind as to leave me a comment.  I also would love to share some of our favorite recipes and craft ideas.

This is such a blessed season, full of the Holy Spirit.  Let us share our hearts, homes and happiness as we celebrate Christmastide.

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Blessings to you......this Thanksgiving Day

Dearest Friends,

I hope this day finds you surrounded by family and friends....  May your tables be laden with the bounty of the earth.....  And my your heart be filled with thankful prayers for all that God has so graciously given.....

Yours so very kindredly,

Shan

Day by Day....gentle living

Dearest Readers,

Today was just beautiful as temperatures hovered in the 60's.  I threw open the front and back doors as well as a window upstairs.  Laundry churned quietly while I tidied up our dear old home. 

I took time to look through my cookbooks and finalized my list for Thanksgiving.  I am going to can some delightful Cranberry Apple Relish.  I made this recipe last year (Ball Blue Book) and it was so good that once is not enough!  I plan to make enough relish to last throughout the year.  I also will make some smaller jars (1/2 pints) for my Darling Girl.  We stand alone in our love for anything "cranberry".  Our motto...."That's okay, it just leaves more for us!" is spoken loudly as the men in this house turn their noses up at the tasty red fruit.

We will actually have two Thanksgivings, one with extended family and one just for our little family.  Our Darling Girl will work Thanksgiving in order to have Christmas Day off, so we will have a second dinner on Friday.  I found a darling napkin ring craft that I need to make.  I will post pictures and the link as soon as I finish. 

The latter part of the day was spent folding laundry and cooking dinner.  We have fires in both stoves now, as a cold front is supposed to bring our temperatures down into the 30's by tomorrow. 

Well, Dear Friends thank you for stopping by here at Honey Hill Farm....we are always glad for your company!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

A Flurry of Fun....

Dearest Readers,

It has been a lovely SNOW day here at Honey Hill Farm!  We had a few inches overnight and awoke to a beautiful Colorado morning.  Snow, blue skies and majestic mountains covered in white.  Ahhhh.....

I had to run a few errands while Dearest was at school taking his woodworking class.  Now, don't fret Dear Reader, the roads were just fine...they were actually dry as it warmed up nicely by mid-morning. 

I was back in time to sit down with Dearest and have lunch.  We made Sun-dried Tomato Chicken Wraps and chatted about his lessons.  We have decided to attend the Woodworking Show being held this weekend.  I cannot tell you how many craft shows this dear husband of mine has patiently attended...now it's my turn to let him enjoy his passion while I walk by his side.

Our youngest Darling is home for the weekend so that we can participate in a much anticipated event here in our little town.... the annual Civic Auction.  All in all we will have 20 family members, so this year we had to reserve two tables.  Our children have been attending since they were quite young and enjoy supporting this worthwhile charity event.  One year I came home with a Model T go-cart...yes, a go-cart.  Dearest never leaves my side when they start the auction....he is afraid, very afraid!

I am continuing to sew on the scrub tops and also have been working on a Christmas present for our Darling Girl.  Of course, she reads my blog so I will have to post a picture after she has opened her gift on Christmas Day.  I'll give you a hint...it is something Victorian....who would have guessed that?

I think, Dear Reader that I am ready to settle in for the evening.  Dearest has stoked the fires and I have Gingerbread Spice Tea calling out to me.  Maybe we will put in a DVD and put our feet up.

Yours kindredly,

Shan

P.S.

Miss Lila, thank you for taking the time to set up a blog just to leave me a comment.  I am humbled and honored to be your friend!

Miss Gloria, the lace on my pantry shelves is crocheted (from JoAnn's) and I glued it on with hot glue.  You can pull it off, pull off the strip of glue, wash the lace and put it back up.  It doesn't ruin the paint (semi-gloss) at all. 

Blessed in My Nest.....

Dearest Readers,

Oh my, but the wind has howled this afternoon.  We live along the foothills here in Colorado and we specialize in WIND! Last night the gusts reached 60mph here on Honey Hill Farm.  I am thankful that our old house is a sturdy one and that everything is battened down.  (Last year we had gusts as high as 80mph...now that IS windy!!) A blustery day to be sure but I believe that it will bring a cold front and some long-awaited snow...

Dearest and I moved at a slow pace today, just tending to the little things.  I tidied up the parlour and dining room, put laundry away and just puttered.  Dearest had a delightful call from an old friend and he went into town to meet him for a visit.

I have been busy in the sewing room making scrub tops for our Darling Girl.  She works in Pediatric Oncology (childhood cancer) at our local Children's Hospital and likes to wear scrubs that entertain the children.  There are so many adorable prints these days that we have had a grand time.  She is such a blessing to these children and has such a dear heart for them, it has been a pleasure to help in some small way.

We are headed out to a local eatery for an impromptu supper celebration in just a little while! Our Darling Boy  just received word that he was accepted into the Master's program at the local University(where our youngest Darling is a freshmen).....now the two brothers will be together again....look out world!

I am truly blessed in my nest!  I hope your blessings are many dear friends....

Yours kindredly,

Shan

From My Pantry....Maple-Roasted Bacon

Dearest Readers,

It has been a cloudy, cold day here at Honey Hill Farm.  We have managed to stay warm and cozy here inside our dear old home.  Of course, a trip to the library in town was in order so that I could have lots of wonderful Victorian decorating books to snuggle up with this evening while Dearest was out playing hockey. 

For our supper I decided to serve Maple-Roasted Bacon with Flaxseed Waffles (from Sunflower Farms Market).  Yum!  The recipe is from the lovely Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa:

Maple-Roasted Bacon

Serves 4 to 6 people

3/4 pound thick-cut smoked bacon (16 slices)

1 to 2 tablespoons good maple syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack.  Back for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon begins to brown.  Remove the pan carefully from the oven; there will be hot grease in the pan! Brush the bacon slices with maple syrup and bake for another 3 to 5 minutes, until the bacon is a warm golden brown. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm.

I thought this was the best bacon I have ever tasted...and it was so easy to make.  I think that homemade waffles would be quite a bit better, but I wanted to use what I had on hand.  All in all, this was a warm and satisfying meal for a cold evening.  Hopefully, Dearest will skate faster and score lots of goals this evening!

I hope you have a wonderful evening!

Yours kindredly,

Shan

Thankful for your Prayers....

Dearest Readers,

Thank you for your kind prayers during this most difficult time for my dear family.  We have been blessedly overwhelmed with the love and concern from all of those who surround us. 

I have slowly been returning to my gentle life, trying to restore the rhythm and pace of daily living.  I find that I am able to give more of myself to those in need when my own family is well taken care of. 

Family and friends continue our vigil with my cousin Dana and her family, offering comfort and a helping hand.  The grief is just about unbearable, but prayer and love give light and hope. 

I feel able to return to blogging now and will share bits and pieces of my day with you as we enter this season of holiday and celebration.

Your friendship has been such a blessing, I am not sure I can thank you enough.

Yours so truly,

Shan