A box of thanks

It may be small....




But it contains big thanks!




Everything that Sweet Cheeks makes with his hands is a treasure to me and this little box of thanks is no different. I always keep it out as a reminder to be thankful everyday.

It's filled with little strips of paper and the idea is to simply write down what we are thankful for, especially as we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving.



Then last week, his class made a special craft to celebrate Thanksgiving. Are you ready to see the cutest salt and pepper shakers?




It's Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim of course! It does appear that Mrs. Pilgrim's hat is a little lopsided but that's because she was in a hurry when she got dressed. :)

For his part, Mr. Pilgrim's hat tilts to the back to reveal the top of the pepper shaker so they both serve a purpose, they don't just look good!

She and her dear husband will be on our table tomorrow to join in the festivities. I just hope they don't get sick when we turn them upside down during the meal. That could be trouble!

Sending lots of warm wishes to you and yours on this eve of Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy a special day and plenty of good home cooking with your loved ones. May your box of thanks overflow on this Thanksgiving and always.

Many sweet blessings!

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a message in the sky!

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4

Last Saturday morning, I went for a walk in my neighborhood. The weather was beautiful, sunny and warm.

I was deep in thoughts which slowed down my pace a bit. I was thinking about a certain situation that lately has been heavy on my heart. Then I looked up and saw a plane that was writing a message in the sky. The message read: TRUST GOD.

At first, I thought "how neat!" and then I thought "how thoughtful of You God to answer me in this way, knowing that I can't possibly miss this message". Talk about the right answer at the right time!

Instead of little me trying to figure things out on my own, how much better to let God handle it? I sure don't have all the answers but He does.

Then the next day, on Sunday afternoon, as we were out with some friends, another message popped up in the sky. This time I did have my camera...


TRUST JESUS. Is it just me or is He trying to tell me something?!

I'd say it's something that probably not just myself but many of us need to remind ourselves of. And I'm sure getting the message loud and clear. Sometimes that's just what I need to get the point. Make it plain and simple and put it right there in my face where I can't miss it.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

Hoping you're having a great week and may each of you be full of God's peace, love and strength. Those are indeed some very sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Shortcut chocolate bars

Let me start by admitting that I keep several of these bars tightly wrapped in my freezer at all times. These and a few brownies. After a quick pop in the microwave, they're as good as new. Or pretty close anyway.

What I like best is that they're so easy to make and yet they're super delicious. My kind of treat!

Here's what you'll need:

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 17-ounce rolls refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

Preheat your oven to 350 F. In a saucepan, combine the chocolate chips, condensed milk and butter. Cook and stir over low heat until the chocolate is melted. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the nuts (I don't use them but you may choose to) and the vanilla.

Cover a 15" x 10" (or any pan similar in size) with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. You don't have to use foil, but I always do because it makes clean-up a cinch and anything to make clean-up quicker is a good thing! Then, press 1 1/3 rolls of the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan.


Next, spread the melted chocolate mixture evenly on the cookie dough and resist the urge to dip a finger in it. Some of you have self-control, I'm sure. :)



Dot the remaining cookie dough on top of the chocolate mixture. It doesn't have to be precise, so now is a great time to call in little helpers you may have around.



Bake for 25 minutes or so but be carefeful not to overbake. When the top is lightly browned, it's done.



I find these bars even better the next day because they're extremely moist the first day so it's a great recipe for when you need something you can bake a day or two ahead of time.

Now, let it cool for a while and then cut into bars. The size of the bars will be up to you!



Wishing you God's blessings too numerous to count and may they all be as sweet as chocolate!

{hugs}

Hello pumpkin!

Growing up, I used to enjoying watching my mom carve pumpkins right before Halloween. She used to do a great job at it too.

Now as an adult, I don't care for Halloween (at least not the spooky side of it) but I still enjoy beautifully decorated pumpkins, gourds and other seasonal fruits. Here are a few that I gathered from Country Living for inspiration. Not sure which ones I will try, they are all so interesting!



I really like this one below, I think it's so pretty! The sweater too...



What about this lovely lantern design?


Here's a view from the top of another favorite of mine. Is it a pumpkin or a flower? Looks like it's both!



Check out the wallpaper - another case of designs that blend in.



My mom used to decorate with candles. Maybe that's why I think this one is so special. :)



How high can you go?! The colors, the shapes, the sizes, doesn't this pretty tower have it all?



Have you or will you decorate this fall? I'd love to hear how you use pumpkins, gourds or other fruits in your decorations.

May your day be joyful and full of sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Enjoying teatime

One of my favorite moments of the day is when I get to enjoy a nice cup of tea. I drink all kinds, but mostly I prefer green teas and white teas.

Lately, I have been enjoying this one from Harney and Sons. It's a green tea called "Citron (lemon) Green".


If I'm at home, I like to put on some wonderful music, such as piano or harp. Often, I listen to Jim Gibson's music, and this cd is one I really enjoy.




A soothing cup of tea along with lovely music somehow instantly takes any care I have to a far away place. Isn't teatime wonderful? I sure think it is!

In fact, I like teatime by myself, just as much as I like teatime with a group of friends...



But my very favorite way to enjoy teatime is to share it with a very special loved one.

May you enjoy tea and special friends to warm your heart today and always!

:)

By the lake with a boy and his dog

The lake in our backyard is one of Sweet Cheeks' favorite spots. The fishing is good some of the time and even when it's not, well it's always a great place to relax, enjoy the breeze and the peaceful surroundings. Even with neighbors all around, it's surprisingly always very quiet.


Whether or not a friend or hubby joins him while he's fishing, our Sweet Cheeks is rarely alone for very long. In fact, he's usually joined by a small 4-legged companion named Lizzy.



Yes, our family dog loves to tag along to enjoy the fresh air and the company of her boy...


Aaah, to be as carefree as a boy fishing and his dog keeping him company!

Wishing you a relaxing day and week ahead. May we all remember to slow down and enjoy the scenery. :)

{hugs}

Beautiful autumn

Here comes autumn, and what a beautiful season it is! The colors, the shapes, the textures, all give it a glow no other season can boast. It is a season that is warm and comforting just like a dear old friend. Plus, how fun is it to enjoy all the beautiful decorations of this season?!

Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart

Even though the temperatures get a bit colder, it is to me a season full of warmth. The kind of warmth that comes from family and friends gathering together over a fireplace or cheering the home team at a football game or simply the delicious smell of pumpin bread baking in the oven... how can any season compare?

And speaking of warmth, I must thank all of you who have left me such sweet and comforting words over the summer following my mom's passing. I don't know any of you personally and yet, I truly felt embraced by the support and kindness flowing through your comments. Thank you so much for warming my heart the way each of you did and for all of your prayers.

Now, I'm back to my little blog after taking the summer off and I'm happy to welcome you back. :)

Warm hugs and sweet blessings!

Summer break

A week ago, I received the sad news that my mom passed away unexpectedly. We lived in two different countries for the past 17 years and although I did not get to see her very often, she was very much close to my heart and in my prayers always. We loved each other deeply and the distance between us had never changed that.

The sadness of losing her will last for a while but I know that the Lord came to get her because He had chosen it to be her time and as His ways are not our ways, I will not try to understnd why it is so. Losing her made me reflect on my own motherhood and the little bit of time that I have with my own child. Sweet Cheeks is 7 and I want to treasure as much of our time together with him and with my husband making family memories for me to cherish when our son grows up and moves away.

In order to spend as much quality time enjoying my family and the special activities that summer has to offer, I have decided to take the summer off from my blog and maybe longer depending how I feel come autumn.

I hope each of you has a great summer, with many fond memories to look back on. In the meantime, here's a short but beautiful poem written anonymously that I would like to leave you with today.


May there always be work
For your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two,
May the sun always shine
Warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain,
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart
With gladness to cheer you.

Enjoy your summer, your loved ones and your many sweet blessings!

{hugs}

Sugar or lemon?

Ah, sugar and lemon you say?




Those are two things often served with tea, of course. But if I asked you which one would you rather be, would you need to think about it for a while?

These six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19.

I'd like to share with you an excerpt from Tea time with God which I really enjoyed on the topic of sugar and lemon (or how sweet and/or sour our words can be).



Afternoon tea is traditionally a time for reflecting on the day and chatting with friends. Perhaps because it comes at a low-energy time of day, we may be more careless in our conversation and include not-so-kind opinions about others.



At the very time sugar and cream are being slipped into the tea, verbal raspberries, lemons and sour grapes may slip into the conversation.

Consider sharing this little poem with your tea-mates at the beginning of your time together.

I Know Something Good About You

Wouldn't this world be better
If folks whom we meet would say
"I know something good about you"
And treat you just that way?

Wouldn't it be splendid,
If each handshake, good and true,
Carried with it this assurance:
"I know something good about you?"

Wouldn't life be happier,
If the good that's in us all,
Were the only thing about us
That people would recall?

Wouldn't our days be sweeter,
If we praised the good we see;
For there is a lot of goodness,
In the worst of you and me?

Wouldn't it be fine to practice,
This way of thinking too;
You know something good about me,
I know something good about you?

- Author unknown

How perfect of a poem for teatime or anytime, don't you think? I hope you enjoyed it.

So, again I ask you: sugar or lemon - which one would you rather be? There's plenty of room so come and jump in the sugar bowl with me! ;)

Many sweet blessings!

Savoring time

Lately, I have been busy as a bee! Busy with life, wondering how come time goes by so much faster than when I was a young girl. Is it just me or does it seem like days and weeks (even years!) simply seem to fly by nowadays?

Since there isn't a time machine out on the market that can help me slow down the minutes of my days, I will just need to slow down and savor them as I know they will be memories soon.

Over the past few months, we've been enjoying Little League baseball games, one of Sweet Cheeks' favorite sports. This keeps us busy with weeknight practices and Saturday games and we love every minute of it!


In the midst of everyday life, homework review, school activities, various sports functions, dinner, laundry, errands, and so on, I do find it relaxing to sit down for a few minutes to enjoy a cup of one of my favorite teas. Have you ever tried this one?



And if I'm blessed enough to enjoy my tea along with some friendly conversation, then you guessed it, there's always a little something sweet to go along with it!



Or if I don't have anything baked, a little chocolate is always wonderful. Which one would you go for? I'm a dark chocolate fan myself.



But trust me, my life isn't all tea and sweets and a neat little tearoom to enjoy it in. With an active boy and a husband who lives and breathes sports too, it's hard not to trip up over balls sometimes!

When you have a 7-year old boy, you need to do things a 7-year old boy enjoys doing and sharing a lovely teatime isn't on his list these days! No, a lot of times I find myself playing catch in the backyard, cheering over every little and big fish that he catches (and releases), and sharing some of the humor that makes a little boy laugh the kind of laugh you just want to bottle up! In fact, that's what we have in this book:



If you haven't read it you must, especially if you have a little one in your life... or a dog with flatulence issues! It is such a cute story about this great dog Walter. I was at Barnes and Noble laughing so hard I just had to buy it!

But, in the midst of the busyiness of life, family and home, I hope I never forget that the only reason I am this blessed to have a family that keeps me busy from morning until night and to have a home that takes forever to clean is absolutely by the great grace of God. To Him, I owe everything. And I need to spend more time reading His word, hiding it in my heart.



Lord, please help me to slow down and savor each moment of my life, today, tomorrow and always. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May your days be filled with lots of joy and laughter, with the love of your family and friends and with satisfaction in all your accomplishments, big and small.

{Hugs}

A Krispy Kreme hug, anyone?

Yes, this dessert is just like a sweet Krispy Kreme hug! It's the perfect way to end a mothers' day brunch or any other meal for that matter.

I first made it a couple of years ago and it was such a hit that everyone asked me for seconds... and the recipe! But be warned, it's extremely sweet. With the main ingredient being the original glazed Krispy Kreme donut, what else could be expected?!



I saw Paula Deen make this recipe one day and I just had to make it. A viewer of hers sent it to her and boy, am I glad he did!

It's a super-easy bread pudding, oops, I mean donut pudding. From someone who absolutely doesn't like bread pudding, take it from me: this isn't your mama's bread pudding! If you'd like to try it, you can find the recipe by clicking here. Note that the glaze calls for rum and although I substitute regular milk, I'm sure it's delicious either way.

And as we approach mothers' day, I'd like to wish all of you moms, moms-to-be, and hope-to-be moms, a wonderful mothers' day. I just learned that there's a brand new mom right in my own backyard, quite literally! Here, take a look:



Aren't they so sweet? When I see her with her babies, I'm reminded that although not all moms are humans, we share some common characteristics. A mom is a mom regardless of whether she has hair, fur, feathers, or fins!

Thank you for stopping by today and many sweet blessings to you and yours! :)

Here comes the sun...

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8

The book of Psalms is filled with such treasures at every page. Every time I read from it, even if it's just for a minute or two, it's as if I find a gift waiting there for me.

It also helps me to find God's gifts all around me for the rest of the day. In fact, here's what God put in the sky early one recent morning for me to enjoy. It almost looked like the moon but I was in fact looking East.


When I look at things like the sun or the moon, I can't help but be in complete awe of God. So many of the things He created simply take my breath away, and it's hard to imagine that what's in store after this is actually going to be even more amazing! :)

The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its Light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it.

Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Revelation 21:22-27

Lemon dreams

I must have had lemon dreams last night as I woke up this morning with lemon on my mind. Of all things... lemon!

Photo courtesy of Country Living Magazine

Yes, I woke up and thought of so many wonderful ways that a lemon can turn any dessert into something light and fabulous. Sure, lemon chicken sounds pretty good. But I have a soft spot for desserts and that's the path I'll be taking you on today. Ready?

It all began with visions of a lemon meringue pie...



But then these cute-as-can-be lemon creme cupcakes came along and reminded me of why cupcakes can turn any ordinary into a party.



Speaking of a party, doesn't this cake look delicious?



But maybe you're one of those strange people who couldn't care less for cake. Do you think a lemon bread pudding topped with whipped cream might be just the right thing for you?



Oooh, aaah, that bread pudding looks like such a great dessert! It's unpretentious and doesn't have to look pretty. But if pretty is what you're looking for, can I tempt you with these lovely tea cookies?



Or these adorable tassies?



And for a yummy partner to a morning glass of orange juice, I think we should seriously consider these lemon poppy seed muffins.



I probably would make them in a regular muffin pan but mini muffins look so cute, dont' they?!

Now if it wasn't for a lack of time, inclination or proper occasion (all right, it's mostly the lack of talent I'll admit!), I might attempt this Martha Stewart lemon experiment...



But I'm seriously scared to! I'm sure it's absolutely delicious but it's so out of my league it's not even funny. And would you believe that all of the other scrumptious desserts I've shared with you today can be found in one simple place? Can you guess where?

Ta-da! They're all on Betty Crocker's website which you can go to by clicking here. Yes, they're all Betty's recipes and you know what that means? It means they're right up my alley!

Now, I'd love to have you share with me which of these treats is calling your name. Make yourself comfy and I'll pour us some ice cold lemonade. I just made it too! ;)



Would you care for a lemon ball to go with your lemonade?



Or a lemon bar?




I say try them both, life is short!

Well, thank you so much for visiting me today and for letting me share my lemon dreams with you. I hope you won't be surprised if you start craving lemon desserts too!

{Hugs} to each of you and sweet blessings to you and yours!

A college boy named Nick

Last week, a girlfriend of mine shared this story with me and I thought I'd share it with you today. I think its message is one that we probably all need to be reminded of once in a while.


His name is Nick. He has wild hair, wears jeans and a t-shirt with holes in it. As a college student, this is his wardrobe.

He his a very bright student, brilliant some might say, and became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church.


They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it.

One day, Nick decides to go there. He walks in wearing his usual wardrobe, and with his usual wild hair. The service has already started so Nick starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything.

Nick gets closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight and the tension in the air is thick. About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Nick.

Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and has on a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward the boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's about to do.

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent, and all eyes are focused on the deacon. You can barely hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even continue preaching the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Nick and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you may not remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!

Hello birdie!

In recent years, I've come to love birds. Years ago, their early-morning chirping would annoy me but I've since learned to appreciate it. I admire them for always waking up in a good mood and ready for a song. In a way, I love that birds always seem joyful and carefree.



I love that they sing regardless of their circumstances and look out for each other. Whenever I throw some bread by the lake behind our house, the first bird that notices it will fly near the bread but before he eats any of it, he will call his feathered friends over as if to say "hurry, there's a free meal over here guys!".



I don't have an actual bird feeder since I am, after all, *the* bird feeder! But I do have a few bird houses indoors in my tearoom for the pretend birds that fly in. :)

This little bird house below was actually the inspiration behind my tearoom. The colors, flowers, coziness. It came from this little $12 bird house, perfect for any single female birdie...



I also like this one with vaulted ceilings.



But for a family of three, don't you think this one is perfect?



"A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song".

- Maya Angelou, American poet



Thanks so much for visiting me. Wishing you many joyful songs to fill your heart today and always!