Laying Low...

just for a bit...


we'll be back in a few days

May the Lord bless you this new year
and show you His grace


Praying for You...

As we pass by this season of celebrations...


I pray the Lord will shine His grace on each one of you...


turning your thoughts onto the Lord Jesus Christ...
*******
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon His shoulder:
and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

*******


No Snow Here ~ But...


what we have, may I share...?

what we do have, is lots of rain...

lots of greens...


beautiful greens...and cooler weather...
yes, we do have cooler weather...
as cool as the tropics can get at this time of year

when on walks with my dogs...
I bring back sprigs, twigs, leaves, flowers, dead branches...
and a few pliable vines

and put together whatever comes together easy enough


not only is God's nature beautiful...
it also comes free


I love to take my time and twirl the vines around the items from the walk...very relaxing

then, hang them wherever they will look nice...
reminding me often when looking at them...
how gracious my Father in heaven is


wherever you are, whether in snow, rain, or sun...
may the Lord show grace to you today




Cow Pea Soup...

Quick and easy soups that have both nutrition and taste
on a busy day cannot be beat...
The cow peas can be cooked (just until tender)
a day ahead...
and the rest of the ingredients thrown in and cooked in about 15 minutes

This recipe will serve 6 to 8 people

Ingredients
2 cups cow peas (or any legumes on hand) - soaked overnight
2 cups chopped pumpkin
2 cups cut up cauliflower
6 cups of vegetable broth
2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 medium onion - chopped
3 garlic cloves - minced
1 sprig thyme
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)

Directions
Cook soaked cow peas in 4 cups of water on simmer till almost tender (about 35 to 45 minutes)
Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for another 15 minutes, checking on the liquid quantity - add more broth or water if needed.
That's it. No other work needed.
You can also do this in a crock pot.



Have a wonderful day, or night   Cooking Dinner 


Kitchen Completion - Almost...

Just need to add the dishes and such...


I rather like my stove...
it's petite
it's got a glass top to lift up which was unexpected...
it will help keep the drafts through the window away...
so I won't have to keep closing the slats...
we have no glass in our windows, just screens.
my refrigerator is petite, too...
we don't need anything big...
bigger wouldn't fit in this tiny cottage anyway


and, finally got things figured out on the side table...
 I think...
knowing me...things will probably get moved around still


and, the curtain for the toilet room...
is up


I fringed the bottom instead of hemming the curtain...
a sewer's cheat


 saved the monies using what fabrics I had stashed away


The ugly tension rod is temporary...
my sweetie will make me a bamboo rod instead
 to hang the curtain...
and there you get a peek inside


May your day or night be graced in the Lord...

The Process of a Cottage Home...

It's definitely a process...

deciding where things should go...
or where best it looks...
and trying at the same time to make it all practical.
I like practical...
if something doesn't work or serve a purpose, it goes.
Being a homebody woman...
I like it all to look nice, too.
Fiddling with the things you see in the photos, the side table definitely needs a table cloth to finish it better...
and a couple of old books under the lamp to bring it up a little taller.


I wish you all a good day, or night   
***** 

Cottage Life...

A few old books...
a homemade twig wreath


just some of the sweet things that make a cottage cozy

May your day or night be cozy in the grace of God.


Easy-PEASY, Grain-Free Flatbread...

I dropped gluten products from my diet several years ago...
however...
I've been glutened enough times, somehow, someway  Hmm 2 
to elect going even further... 
All factory-milled anything OUT...
whether it be gluten-free grains, legumes, etc...
It's an experiment...
Home-milled flours from legumes are what I'll use...
until I can get a handle on this.
Some legume flours just don't taste so pretty to me...
but...
I found yellow split peas make a great tasting flour when
home-milled.
So, when I get hungry for bread...
or want an easy pizza dough...
here is what I make...



 All you need are:
1 large iron grill pan
Tbsp of olive oil + a pat of butter (for pan)
1 cup water
3/4 cup yellow split pea flour
1/4 cup tapioca/cassava flour
2 Tbsp cornmeal
2 Tbsp yogurt (optional)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp chopped rosemary (optional)

Directions:
Put the iron pan into the oven and turn on to the highest setting
and let it heat up while putting the ingredients together.
Whisk together the flours, salt, yogurt, rosemary and water
Bring out the pan (with a padded glove, please!)
and put in the oil and butter, letting the butter melt.
Spread the batter into the pan and return to oven.
Turn your timer on to 10 minutes.
Take out the pan after the 10 minutes and with your largest spatula
(you can use good gripping tongs);
turn over the flatbread.
Put it back in the oven and bake it for another 10 minutes.
Turn off oven and let the bread sit for about 5 minutes.
Take out, cool slightly.
And eat.

Whisk the ingredients till lumps are gone

Bake the batter for 10 minutes

Turn over...carefully!...bake another 10 minutes

Let the flatbread sit in oven for about 5 minutes
(oven turned off)

Cool, eat, enjoy.
For a great pizza, bake the dough first... 
then add whatever you like on it with a little pizza sauce...
and put it back in the oven for about 5 minutes

Have an easy-peasy day, or night   Flippy 

Sew Busy ~ with Cottage Curtains...

One of the best ways for me to save monies...


is to make my own curtains for the home

what makes diy curtains even better...
is getting to choose one's fabrics and colors to suit one's taste 
(I like using 100% cotton)


I've seen nice curtains in stores...
but, gotta tell you..
most aren't what I'm looking for

if it's the right color, it's the wrong size...
if it's the right size, it's the wrong style...
you get what I mean?


although no sewing expert by any means...
I do like to sew, so...
why not do it myself and have fun with it?

my first curtain for the cottage, shown above..
is for the toilet room

I'm one of those blessed wives who has a grand husband..
who likes that I make the home just a bit feminine
he says...
"I like feeling that a woman lives here."

You'll get to see it hung up in the near future

Do have "sew" pleasant a day or night 

See the Sea Snails...

Sea snails are rather lovely in their colors...

I would have loved to take them home...
put them into a pretty jar to look at any time...
but, then I'd rather see them clinging with life
to a fallen log...
so, they stayed just where God put them...
by the seashore in their cubby holes

Sweet dreams to you tonight, or a lovely day   Fishy 


Cottage Cleaning & Herbal Gardening...

A few of my herbs are in the process of growing in pots for the potager garden at the cottage
~ ~ ~
in the meantime...
the cottage is being cleaned and prepared for the transfer of items from our current home
~ ~ ~
a few items have been hung on the walls so they don't linger on the floors...
~ ~ ~
while all this is happening...

I'd like to wish you a good day, or night