Counting My Blessings #1

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Yes, I'm posting late today.  But it has been busy around here--a good busy.  We've had normal family times, too, throughout the week.  I can't say quiet times because our home is anything but quiet with five guys here!

Today I thank the Lord for a husband whose name means brave.  He was brave to take those scissors and cut someone's hair--his first time ever!

We were both a little shocked at the almost eight inches he cut off, but we both can now say that we like what he did with my hair.  ;)

photo courtesy of Danny

Back to life,

Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Night of Laughter

Looking back on past blog posts, it seems I use the phrase "my dear friend ___..." quite a bit!  I'll try to refrain from that in this post.

My wonderful friend Lori (how's that?) and her family have been hosting Friday Game Night throughout this autumn, and we've been happy to attend every one of them.  This past week was extra special since her house was packed with people--laughing, smiling, cheerful people ready to play and have fun together.  :)

I started the evening with a headache (actually, it had lasted the entire day), but by evening's end I was headache-free, albeit exhausted and ready to fall into bed (which I did upon returning home!).  I laughed so hard, pretty much all night long.  I must've lost two pounds from all the calories expended.  :D

Anyway, I'm glad I brought my camera with me, since there were so many interesting game faces displayed.  The photos above show those serious chess-player faces, absorbed in the moves and the strategies of the game.  But behind them some hilarity came to light...

I knew when these ladies showed up, that I'd be laughing a lot.  A minute or so after taking the above shot, I found myself sitting in the dining room, an unwitting player in the game of Curses.

Now, don't worry--though it's not a specifically Christian game, we weren't dancing around a cauldron or anything.  I won't explain in detail; I'll just state that you had to act out what was printed on the "curse" cards that other players gave you.  If you forgot to act something out, you "broke" the curse; once you broke three curses, you were out of the game.

photo courtesy Stephen Martin (I think)

Though it's hard to capture the "acting out" part of the game, hopefully the next several photos will help you understand the silliness involved!

 Bryan was required to bite his tongue while talking,

and at the same time play "air guitar."

Bryan could handle it for only so long...he broke in the end (giggle)...

Enjoy (most of) the rest of the evening's photos--I'm posting some special ones on my photography blog.  Check them out there!

Had to post one photo of Lori's Christmas tree.  Lovely!!

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

FFG--French Coconut Pie for Katia

My dear friend Lori hosts Friday Farm Girls at Heart every week;

please click on her button to visit her blog

and to find out how you can participate!

My dear online friend Katia requested this recipe, and I decided to post it today for her.  I have been in baking mode since Thanksgiving week, and I love to create a warm kitchen and to fill the house with wonderful aromas.  It seems there are so many events/reasons to bake during this month.  I love it!

Though I don't have a photo of just this pie, I'll re-post one of all of our Thanksgiving pies.  Yummm...

Back "row":  pumpkin, pumpkin pecan, French apple.

Front "row":  pecan, lemon buttermilk, French coconut.

French Coconut Pie

3 beaten eggs
3/4 cup sugar (I use cane juice crystals)
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tablespoon flour (I use freshly-milled whole-wheat)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cider or white vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar)
1 cup flaked coconut (I throw in a little extra!)
1 9" unbaked pie shell (I make a whole-wheat crust)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except coconut and pie shell.  Beat together until well-mixed and add coconut.  Pour into pie shell and bake for ten minutes.  Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake for 40 minutes or until filling is set (top will be slightly golden).  Serves eight.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Tea Talk--A Child Will be Born

Welcome to my home!

Sit and have a cup of tea with me and share a little time of relaxation and encouragement.

To join, click on Ruth's button above!

I'm having...a cup of  Provence rooibos, a "red bush" tea with fruity flavors.  Yum!  I'm using a winter mug that I think my mom gave me for Christmas.  I've had it for a while and it's nice to have a little bit bigger mug of hot tea on a c-c-cold day.  :)

I'm feeling...okay but I know I have lots to do.  There's something niggling at the back of my mind, and I keep feeling that there's something I forgot to do, someone I forgot to call...  Maybe that's just me, though.  I have a pretty detailed to-do list, which I check often.

On my mind...are the bags of gifts sitting in front of our fireplace, and our bare Christmas tree in the front living room.  Most of my family (extended) gathered here for dinner on Tuesday, then headed out to Target en masse to purchase gifts for two needy families for Christmas.  My dad chose two families from a program (at his church) which helps needy families at Christmastime.  We had fun going all over the store, looking for shoes and coats, then some fun things for the seven children on the list:  boys and girls, ranging in age from 22 months to 16 years old.  Boy, was that interesting trying to figure out what a typical 16-year-old young lady would like!  Now we need to wrap the gifts and get them to my dad so he can bundle them all up and bring them to his church.

We were so excited about participating in this program this year, since the whole family decided to not exchange Christmas gifts this year.  What a peaceful feeling I have, knowing we don't have to figure out what people want, search all over, spend a ton of money, etc.!  We will enjoy this quiet and thoughtful advent of Christ's birth.

I leave you with...Scripture for the advent season.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 nasb

Back to life,
Christine

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captured by Christine Anne

Another Thanksgiving post

Toldja I took lots of photos on Thanksgiving!!  But wait a minute, Danny took some, too!  Here are a few he took.

And here are the rest that I took.  I hope you had a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Thanksgiving Pie R Squared

Time to blog again!  I was so glad to have taken so many photos on Thanksgiving.  :)

After the guys woke up from post-meal naptime, the younger guys started tossing out hints.  Thomas was the first, because he's 14 and a growing young man, and is almost always hungry, and is always up for eating dessert, especially Thanksgiving pie.

Yep, there were six pies total.  My mom made a traditional French apple pie, and a pumpkin pie.  I added a pumpkin pecan, lemon buttermilk (my favorite), French coconut (Danny's favorite), and a traditional pecan pie.  Six pies.  Nine people.  You do the math.  :)

So the pies were divvied up, doled out, and deliciously enjoyed.  Oh, we also had fresh whipped cream and Andy's frozen custard.  We love Andy's.  :)

Enjoy the photos.

 My kid brother, who got me hooked for good on photography.  His camera is better than mine...

 My dad has a sweet tooth.  Is this seconds or thirds??

Lemon buttermilk pie with fresh whipped cream.

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne

Our Day of Thanks -- Post-Mealtime!

As I worked on editing the rest of our Thanksgiving pictures, I found yet one more thing to thank the Lord for--the fact that He allowed me to take so many photos!!  Usually I have five or six, and that's it.  But I get to post a "Thanksgiving, Part II" today!  Yay!

Okay, back to the story.  :)

The meal was prepared, cooked or baked, and set out on the table.  My dad gave thanks to the Lord for not only the food, but family, and health, as well.  Mealtime for our gang is always a talkative time, with laughter all around.  We share family jokes about the rolls and butter (sorry if you're not family!).  Mealtime is special.

There were a lot of leftovers this year!  We always worry about making enough food, but there's always too much.  Why is that, I wonder?  What a blessing, though, to have leftovers to share!  We usually share all the food among ourselves, making sure my bachelor brother has a good portion to take home.

Different people help each year to clean up.  My dad chipped in with rinsing some dishes and loading the dishwasher.

What invariably happens after mealtime?  You guessed it:

Our family warns you that you're fair game if you fall asleep!  We photographers have turned it into an art form, especially when we're on vacation.  Post-mealtime on Thanksgiving works just as well, too!  Happy naptime!

Back to life,
Christine

visit my photography blog!
captured by Christine Anne