Saturday, April 30, 2011

Salad days

The last couple of weeks have seen salads almost daily...delicious and light.





But it seems to have gotten frosty overnight, so I think the next few days will see a few soups.

Friday, April 29, 2011

A happy day

A quiet and restful Easter break.



The annual Easter hunt.



An indoor Easter egg hunt due to the rain.






Hope all had a Happy Easter.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Breaking up to grow up



"Break up the fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes and rains righteousness on you"
Hosea 10.12

There could not be a more appropriate time than this to break up the ground of our hearts. To weed and dig, looking deep. Not just for a day but until... until... until that day of rain.
It is a daily walk of reflection and turning over.
This is the hard part.

The seeking... the praying... confessing and re confessing truth is the replanting
In Him is Hope.
In Him is Everything.
The New Seed grows strong because its not natural.
Was not spared but was sowed... for all time.

Any farmer knows you don't just seed among the thorns, or your fragile beauties will be chocked out.
First comes the breaking then comes the sowing
Then comes the harvest.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Apple and almond cake

The anticipated slice...



Cooling time...





This is a flourless soft delicious cake... based on one found in Patrick Holford's cookbook, tweaked here and there! Every mouthful pure joy for an apple crazy person like me - I can't remember a day without apples.



Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Easter Tree

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us



Truth walked our soil.

He was and is the door... the way.

If anyone be in Him, he is a new creation. Zoe life beats in that chest.



We wondered where to hang the words of life.
Then we found this thorny branch.
Now it stands in our midst for this Easter.
By His grace may the words have a permanent place within.



For it pleased the Father that in Him and ... by Him to reconcile all things to Himself.



In Him is Life.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Friday nights are for

messy eating!!! So delicious!!




And it begins with this




quickly cooked with some beans and onion.




Make a lovely quacamole with chilli and finely chopped red onion,




add some shredded lettuce and cheese and a drizzle of enchilada or chilli sauce




all layered into your heated taco shells, and you have excellent vegetarian taco's.



Finally a dollop of sour cream or yoghurt. This is a flavour bomb!!! So good!!!

Friday, April 15, 2011

The endless tasks

When there is too much to do...
and everyone is demanding time which is quickly passing through the hour-glass

let the important ones be important.

And then turn your attention to the things...

and then don't pile on guilt for what is not done...



"He has half the deed done who has made a beginning."

Horace






Ironing piles do go down and bedrooms do get tidy, after the hands have been held and the foreheads have been kissed.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Hot cross buns




I love love love these babies.

I could eat all four in one sitting... but I restrained myself and only ate two.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Weekend are for (sisterhood)



creating an environment for powerful unity and alliance
"the Lord gave the word and great was the company of those who proclaimed it"

moving from a whisper to telling your story
"overcame... by the blood and the word of our testimony"

to knowing that change comes through calm resolve
"it is of faith that it might be according to grace"

realising that the glory of God is a human being fully awake
"arise and shine"



because the earth groans...

because this is true religion...

there are orphans to rescue, sisters to come alongside and nations to believe in.

"We are our sister's keeper"
Bobbi Houston

thecoloursisterhood.com

Friday, April 8, 2011

Embracing moments of solitude




'Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life'
Henri Nouwen

'In solitude we are freed from our bondage to people and our inner compulsions and we are freed to love God and know compassion for others... the less we are mesmerised by human voices, the more we are able to hear the divine Voice. The less we are bound by others expectations, the more we are open to God's expectations'
Richard Foster

'Solitude is a school few care to learn in, tho' none instructs us better.'
William Penn

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

A necessary measure



When all does not go according to plan.

When the heart is heavy.

When mother's lap is a necessary comfort,

a little tea and words of life quiet the soul.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Reading

Sitting in my reading chair glued to a book, irresistible!
"Books are lighthouses erected in the great sea of time"
E P Whipple 1819-1886

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Oats for Breakfast

This is one of our favourite weekday breakfasts. I make a big raw batch on weekends and use as I need. I take just under 1/2 a cup per person and place in a container, pour milk until just covered and leave to soak in the fridge overnight. Loveliest oats and no cooking!



Overnight oats

4 cups oats
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
3/4 - 1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup dried cranberries / dates / raisins

Mix and store in a airtight container.

I like to add extra milk, yoghurt and berries or apple. If I'm busy I don't add extra fruit... maybe cinnamon or nothing at all.



A filling and delicious breakfast with minimum effort.