A Year of Hope and Favor

I am   so completely   enamored with this season....  I  love to  just  tweak  my   home decor a little bit each day..
I am toying with   inviting my best  gal pals for an Autumnal brunch soon.. to be held in the  sunroom.

So I  have been  tweaking  my apple table...
Of course I would be serving  Apple Spiced tea in my  gorgeous  Franciscan  Apple  tea cups.

ON the menu~ 

  ~ a delight we were served at the Swiss Woods B&B recently!

Apple, Cranberry & Oatmeal Breakfast Appetizer

When cooler temperatures arrive, a warm breakfast appetizer hits the spot. Apples baked with oats and cranberries creates a yummy favorite for guests in Hot Springs.With mist rising off the lake, a roaring fire in the dining room fireplace, and the scent of baking apples: a great way to start the day! 

INGREDIENTS

5 large apples (Granny Smith or Braeburn), peeled, cored & sliced

1 cup regular oatmeal (not quick oats)

2 cups apple cider

1 cup cream, milk, or soy milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a medium saucepan, bring cider and cream to a low boil. Add apples, cinnamon and vanilla. Stir. Add oatmeal and cranberries, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the foil and decrease oven temperature to 375 degrees, and continue baking for 30 more minutes. Serve in small bowls, topped with a dollop of whipped cream and a few dried cranberries. Enjoy! 

Now continuing with the apple theme...

 I want to share the devotional I have worked up for   the garden club next week. I just feel the Lord  speaking to me about this because today is a very  High Holy day  in His calendar! 

Rosh Hashanah.. the beginning of the  new year,

to be celebrated with  joy and awe!

First, I would pass around this simple platter:

  and then ask those who are  inclined to participate to feel free to  take  an apple and dip  it in the   honey  and enjoy the  sweetness...as I share this devotional which I have  worked on today  very diligently, so as not to offend anyone, but give the historic  significance   of this season.

   

I am a real traditionalist ,a student of   Judeo-Chrisitan heritage  as it relates to the world and  my faith.  So  I wanted to  take a moment to  share that we are  midst of  a very  significant season…actually the  10 Days of Awe   beginning with  Rosh Hashanah which marked the beginning of the  new year and  runs until Yom Kippur. According to tradition,, The apple represents the Shekhinah the Glory of God During Rosh HaShanah Shekhinah is watching us and evaluating our behavior during the past year and determines  our   judgment or our blessings.. eating apples dipped in honey represents our hope that the Shekhinah will judge us kindly and look upon us with sweetness and favor.  Looking at the ancient calendar  we see this is  the new year 5775  which  in Hebrew   which means  We hope God  sees us with favor.

Actually, the  5 at the beginning and the end in hebrew  both  mean "favor" ...  a very hopeful  significance!

Blessed are you, , king of the universe who creates the fruit of the tree. May it be Your will, that you renew for us a good and sweet year of favor .  Amen and Amen

A Return to Loveliness

Tea Time Tuesday 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Teacup Tuesday 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Find more HMM here!

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning::::

This marvelous morn  it is baked eggs with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese with English muffin

Looking around the house::::

My first order of the day is to complete my  final day's homework  from week one in Children of the Day  Bible study~

I am determined to stay  up to  the minute and not get one day behind  because I  have  graciously been asked to facilitate a discussion small group...
Pray that I  can glorify God through His Word and  allow His Spirit lead me.

On today's to do list::::

laundry, marketing,   Bible Study, getting ready for some face time with our treasured girls!  Visit my mom.

Currently reading::::

A Gathering Place by Thomas Kincade and Katherine Spencer, and God's Word to the United States, a study of the book of Obadiah by Dr. James Tarter.

On the TV today::::

I have recently discovered  a whole plethera  of  great old films on Youtube  which I   love to   watch as  I am able.  Tonight , perhaps it will be  the 1937 version of The Awful truth with cary Grant and Irene Dunne... My kind of film!!!!!

The weather outside is::::

Glorious.... we slept with the bedroom window open last night... no A/C! Right now it is  mid 60's and  sunny!... I'm loving it....it's fall!!!

On the menu this week::::

I wish I was organized enough to do this, but alas, again, dinner is catch as catch can!

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::

read,  power nap,  catch a bit of porch time

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::

Low-fat Potato Soup

Ingredients

3 bacon slices 

1 cup chopped onion 

3 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices 

Cooking spray

1/2 cup water

2 (14.5-ounce) cans fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 cups 1% low-fat milk 

4 ounces shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese (about 1 cup), divided 

1/2 cup light sour cream 

4 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation

1. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings in pan; crumble bacon. Add onion to drippings in pan; sauté 3 minutes or until tender.

2. Place potato slices and onion in a 5-quart electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray. Combine 1/2 cup water and next 3 ingredients (through pepper); stir into mixture in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours or until potatoes are tender.

3. Mash mixture with a potato masher; stir in milk and 3/4 cup cheese. Increase heat to HIGH. Cover and cook on HIGH for 20 minutes or until mixture is thoroughly heated. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with sour cream and remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Sprinkle with bacon and chives. 

One of my simple pleasures::::

Listening to pandora with my first cup of coffee...

Favorite photo from the camera::::

Visiting with Blog friends (blog you want to share, blog post that caught your eye)::::

May I introduce Beth L. over at Conversations  from My House, a true kindred spirit.

Praying for::::

Our family, our community, our church, the nation, and the world

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment:::: 
I am led by the spirit to  keep this one up  for a while... 

I chose Obadiah because the United States is  a Modern day Edom.... unless  we, as a nation,  repent and return to God we will be just like  ancient Edom!  A lot to process here....

Obadiah

Obadiah’s Vision

1 The vision of Obadiah.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom—

We have heard a message from the Lord:

An envoy was sent to the nations to say,

“Rise, let us go against her for battle”

2 “See, I will make you small among the nations;

you will be utterly despised.

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rocks[a]

and make your home on the heights,

you who say to yourself,

‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

4 Though you soar like the eagle

and make your nest among the stars,

from there I will bring you down,”

declares the Lord.

5 “If thieves came to you,

if robbers in the night—

oh, what a disaster awaits you!—

would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

If grape pickers came to you,

would they not leave a few grapes?

6 But how Esau will be ransacked,

his hidden treasures pillaged!

7 All your allies will force you to the border;

your friends will deceive and overpower you;

those who eat your bread will set a trap for you,[b]

but you will not detect it.

8 “In that day,” declares the Lord,

“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,

those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?

9 Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified,

and everyone in Esau’s mountains

will be cut down in the slaughter.

10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, (Israel)

you will be covered with shame;

you will be destroyed forever.

11 On the day you stood aloof

while strangers carried off his wealth

and foreigners entered his gates

and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them.

12 You should not gloat over your brother

in the day of his misfortune,

nor rejoice over the people of Judah

in the day of their destruction,

nor boast so much

in the day of their trouble.

13 You should not march through the gates of my people

in the day of their disaster,

nor gloat over them in their calamity

in the day of their disaster,

nor seize their wealth

in the day of their disaster.

14 You should not wait at the crossroads

to cut down their fugitives,

nor hand over their survivors

in the day of their trouble.

15 “The day of the Lord is near

for all nations.

As you have done, it will be done to you;

your deeds will return upon your own head.

16 Just as you drank on my holy hill,

so all the nations will drink continually;

they will drink and drink

and be as if they had never been.

17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance;

it will be holy,

and Jacob will possess his inheritance.

18 Jacob will be a fire

and Joseph a flame;

Esau will be stubble,

and they will set him on fire and destroy him.

There will be no survivors

from Esau.”

The Lord has spoken.

19 People from the Negev will occupy

the mountains of Esau,

and people from the foothills will possess

the land of the Philistines.

They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria,

and Benjamin will possess Gilead.

20 This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan

will possess the land as far as Zarephath;

the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

will possess the towns of the Negev.

21 Deliverers will go up on[c] Mount Zion

to govern the mountains of Esau.

And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

  The Mountains of Esau are likened unto our corrupt government.... oh how  imperative it is that  everyone get out and vote in a new  godly  government... many senate seats are up  for the vote....  please encourage everyone you know to vote well!!!!!

Jehovah Jireh, He who Provides

When I ran across this   wonderful article online this morning  it really resonated with me....   especially  how  great, creative and  masterful is our God.  He   gave us not only beauty, variety,   but also everything we need to stave off disease and obesity and He wanted it  to  delight our senses as well... Next time you plan your  menu think rainbow colors! What an awesome,  magnificent  God and Father.And then,  I ran across this marvelous combination.....   yum...  brunch!!!!

source for both

A Reflection of my Soul

CLick the above icon to   return to Rooted in Thyme....

Interestingly enough this morning as I was doing my Beth Moore  study of Children of the Day, we were asked    to  tell something about  ourselves,  what  sets us apart from many people  we know.. I only had to look around me to know   the answer to that one.. I  dwell in the past..you might say....   not that God made  a mistake  by placing me in this century... but my heart beats to the melody of a music not of this age.  When God allowed us to  live in this English Tudor home,   it was the perfect backdrop for my  temperament.  For I am  of  an Olde World  mindset..

Give me a rousing madrigal   played with lute and lyre.... or a medieval  tune, or  chant

or  a celtic ballad any day of the week.

 As I  study   the    parlor,  I   see  resounding echoes of   such   soulful tunes.

Lots of   forged metals into  glorious  gothic arches...here highlighted by autumn's glory  and   fairy lights

or    metallic  lanterns    arrayed among masses of autumn leaves  

It isnt unusual to find a castle nestled here and there..
or  a fleur-de lys  adorning    a tabletop!

I consider me love and I the  lord and lady of our home!  hehehehehe

The  mantel echoes   the   aforementioned  patterns

and revels in autumn yet again with the  glow of fairy lights!

Even if I cant afford  the mullioned  windows of  a mighty fortress.

I find relief in the   multi-paned beveled glass of my  corner cupboard that  speaks to me just the same!

 One of the themes  that  my  chose to  showcase this season was  my love   for genealogy  so I designated the  breakfront chest  with  some of my collections

My scrapbook  outlines  four of my family lines   from both sides of my lineage
 the  box contains  old prints,   letters, and  other  mementos  passed down to me...

I love    this portrait of my great great grandfather Higgins.... so right to be honoring  he and his  lovely wife Silvia  as we  continue planning our Irish trip  in the nearing future!

So  I do think  it fair to  admit that I am a traditionalist,   enamored by  the times gone by,  a romantic spirit at heart   who thrills  at a  British  coastline or a  flock of sheep... hahahah....  who  dreams  of a time of chivalry,  or longs for the  peace of a lonely moor....  I am  definitely  a contemplative soul...  who finds  true joy  resting   in  the  simplicity,  but grandeur, of the  great  King of the Universe.... and his  magnificent Word!

Dreamin 'o' me Homeland

 Today my mind is   consumed with the  marvelous  trip we are planning to Ireland  in a few months.. this morning  I actually  enjoyed  a meeting with  several of our friends who are going on this trip with us, and just to be together and  chat about  our expectations  was  so  exciting.  I  didnt realize just how many great friends are going on this trip with us...One o f my favored places we will see is  Waterford.

Mainly because  one of  my family line hails from that  area...  the O'Higgins's!

  So no wonder when  I  picked out my  favorite  Waterford crystal it  was named for  this  gorgeous  Lismore castle.

But  when  we stop by  there I dont intend to    purchase more crystal...  because   we will also be stopping in  

Belleek....   and  I certainly would love to add to my very limited collection  which includes this  delicate  sugar and creamer

and the pitcher  seen above which was passed on to me by  a very dear cousin  before  she left this life.
To  truly commemorate our trip,  this   Bunratty Teapot 

would   be   perfection as we will be  enjoying  a medieval banquet at Bunratty.




Aw, the  glorious dreams and expectations of   a long awaited and longed for  experience of returning to  the homeland..the anticipation  makes the  trip that much more exciting!

A Return to Loveliness

Martha’s Favorites 

Tea Time Tuesday 

 Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Teacup Tuesday 

Friends Sharing Tea 

Share Your Cup Thursday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Find more HMM here!

Breakfast time....what is on the plate this morning::::

My dearest brings me my morning break fast everyday.... the first brew of our freshly ground arabica coffee and a gorgeous bowl of greek mixed with blueberry yogurt, topped off with fresh blueberries, sliced strawberries and sprinkled with oat and honey granola! I am one very fortunate lady!

Looking around the house::::

After we had our morning walk, Lynn went out to mow the grass while I have been catching up on chores, correspondence, and blogging.. life is so good!

On today's to do list::::

just a tad of laundry, marketing, correspondence catch-up, Bible Study, getting ready for some face time with our treasured girls! Did I say, life is so good!

Currently reading::::

A Gathering Place by Thomas Kincade and Katherine Spencer, and God's Word to the United States, a study of the book of Obadiah by Dr. James Tarter.

On the TV today::::

NO time for tv except an except of Ina Garten whom I love to catch as catch can!

The weather outside is::::

Glorious.... we slept with the bedroom window open last night... no A/C! Right now it is a seasonal 73 degrees and overcast... now that is my kind of day!

On the menu this week::::

I wish I was organized enough to do this, but alas, again, dinner is catch as catch can!

If I have a few minutes to myself, I will::::

read, blog, do my nails

New recipe I tried, or want to try this week::::

Eggplant pasta from today's Barefoot Contessa show..... it looked amazing!

One of my simple pleasures::::

my all time favorite pleasures as always is facetime with our girls!

I love how Amanda sets up in the living room on the tv so we can enjoy Birdie in all her activities... She changes so much from week to week!

Favorite photo from the camera::::

How sweet it is when the guys in our senior group band together to cook and serve up breakfast each September... They are actually great chefs!!!! We have the best senior ministry at our church!!!! It makes getting older fun!!!

Visiting with Blog friends (blog you want to share, blog post that caught your eye)::::

THis has been such a difficult week... just very little computer time! 

Praying for::::

Our family, our community, our church, the nation, and the world

Bible Verse, Devotional that is resonating with me at the moment:::: 

I chose Obadiah because the United States is  a Modern day Edom.... unless  we, as a nation,  repent and return to God we will be just like  ancient Edom!  A lot to process here....

Obadiah

Obadiah’s Vision

1 The vision of Obadiah.

This is what the Sovereign Lord says about Edom—

We have heard a message from the Lord:

An envoy was sent to the nations to say,

“Rise, let us go against her for battle”

2 “See, I will make you small among the nations;

you will be utterly despised.

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,

you who live in the clefts of the rocks[a]

and make your home on the heights,

you who say to yourself,

‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’

4 Though you soar like the eagle

and make your nest among the stars,

from there I will bring you down,”

declares the Lord.

5 “If thieves came to you,

if robbers in the night—

oh, what a disaster awaits you!—

would they not steal only as much as they wanted?

If grape pickers came to you,

would they not leave a few grapes?

6 But how Esau will be ransacked,

his hidden treasures pillaged!

7 All your allies will force you to the border;

your friends will deceive and overpower you;

those who eat your bread will set a trap for you,[b]

but you will not detect it.

8 “In that day,” declares the Lord,

“will I not destroy the wise men of Edom,

those of understanding in the mountains of Esau?

9 Your warriors, Teman, will be terrified,

and everyone in Esau’s mountains

will be cut down in the slaughter.

10 Because of the violence against your brother Jacob, (Israel)

you will be covered with shame;

you will be destroyed forever.

11 On the day you stood aloof

while strangers carried off his wealth

and foreigners entered his gates

and cast lots for Jerusalem,

you were like one of them.

12 You should not gloat over your brother

in the day of his misfortune,

nor rejoice over the people of Judah

in the day of their destruction,

nor boast so much

in the day of their trouble.

13 You should not march through the gates of my people

in the day of their disaster,

nor gloat over them in their calamity

in the day of their disaster,

nor seize their wealth

in the day of their disaster.

14 You should not wait at the crossroads

to cut down their fugitives,

nor hand over their survivors

in the day of their trouble.

15 “The day of the Lord is near

for all nations.

As you have done, it will be done to you;

your deeds will return upon your own head.

16 Just as you drank on my holy hill,

so all the nations will drink continually;

they will drink and drink

and be as if they had never been.

17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance;

it will be holy,

and Jacob will possess his inheritance.

18 Jacob will be a fire

and Joseph a flame;

Esau will be stubble,

and they will set him on fire and destroy him.

There will be no survivors

from Esau.”

The Lord has spoken.

19 People from the Negev will occupy

the mountains of Esau,

and people from the foothills will possess

the land of the Philistines.

They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria,

and Benjamin will possess Gilead.

20 This company of Israelite exiles who are in Canaan

will possess the land as far as Zarephath;

the exiles from Jerusalem who are in Sepharad

will possess the towns of the Negev.

21 Deliverers will go up on[c] Mount Zion

to govern the mountains of Esau.

And the kingdom will be the Lord’s.

  The Mountains of Esau are likened unto our corrupt government.... oh how  imperative it is that  everyone get out and vote in a new  godly  government... many senate seats are up  for the vote....  please encourage everyone you know to vote well!!!!!