An Afternoon's Rumination

On our recent trip to Newport, Kentucky we were blessed to get to stay in a gorgeous home  a block from The Levee on the  Ohio River. 

So gorgeous  in evening... like  a starry night!

 The magnificent skyline of Cincinnati was  our backdrop...

  the  area  was  so very charming.... homes similar  to this.

 each one  quaint,  well dressed, and  family friendly!
I   was  completely entranced with the decor of our  short term abode.

I love this  mantel  decor.  In the first place I  have already checked out  getting a deer  head for my living room... it is on my  Christmas  wish list on Amazon!  The   decorative  bone and antlers  make such a statement, as well!
   The papered wall  highlighting the  fireplace was   a very special touch!

Is this ceramic quail  just the most darling  accent piece atop a stack of old books.

The  simplicity of this  table setting  was  most appropriate for any season.

But, of course,  this accent wall  as you entered the parlor,   just took everyone's breath away!

So as the sun sets on my twilight  reflections     of the last week...

 mulling over the   delights of   family and  memories of  happy moments together

A  lovely cup of steeping  Earl Gray  is  such a cheery  topping   to an afternoon's muse!

Cheerio!
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::::

my dearest brought me my morning coffee and fruited yogurt this morning bright and early so we could both get off to our busy days... he had his dental appt. I had a lovely brunch with my prayer Sista's!

Looking around the house::::

Russets,   and earthy  tones!

On today's to do list::::

Prayer  time/brunch with  my favorite gal pals....  marketing,
  and  good great time  spent blogging.  I am so behind!!!!!

Homeschooling....well,   I am doing quite a bit of learning myself...  on  publishing various types of  advertizements for  a new ministry  in which our group is involved!

Crafting::

If I had time I'd be knitting,  but  alas,   no time!
But I would love to share the  other blog that has been taking a bit of time... to promote  the ministry  our  group is leading,.
Christians United to Pray
Please  visit there and  follow  us...  we are  really trying very hard to get this  initiative off the ground.... the more followers  the more  interest  we  will receive...  This is the most important work of my life.... aside from raising my family!

Cooking....

Cooking???
Do I have to today?  

maybe a chef salad!

Currently reading::::

Children of the Day by Beth Moore...I am  facilitaing a small group..
Shemitah, by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn,  author of the Harbinger
This is a must read  for  all who are concerned about where our nation is heading.

On the TV today::::

I enjoy youtube videos (ie)
-- Catherine Cookson

-- Downton Abbey from yesterday

The weather outside is::::

beautiful autumn days....  the  temps are  mild,  the  skies are sunny....  I love them

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

spend more time on this blog

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

Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes

Ingredients for donut holes

• 1 ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. sea salt
• 1 ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (or butter), melted
• ½ cup honey
• 1 egg
• ¾ cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• ½ cup milk

Ingredients for coating

• 1/4 cup coconut oil (or butter), melted
• 2/3 cup sucanat (or brown sugar)
• 1 ½ Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice

Method

1. Grease a mini muffin pan with coconut oil or butter. Combine all dry ingredients in one bowl and all wet ingredients in another.

2. Pour dry ingredients into wet ingredients and mix well. Drop by rounded tablespoons or with a melon baller into the muffin pan. Bake on 350F for 12-15 minutes. (I had to bake this version for longer than the allergen-free version below.)

3. While the donut holes are baking, combine sucanat and pumpkin pie spice. Pour melted coconut oil in another dish. I leave mine on the stovetop, so the coconut oil doesn’t harden. Once you take the donut holes out of the oven, dip them in the oil, then roll them in the sucanat/spice mixture.

Makes 48 donut holes!

- See more at: http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2011/11/natural-holiday-allergen-free-pumpkin.html#sthash.L7l3Qhg4.dpuf

One of my simple pleasures::::

I do enjoy  when I catch it watching  Fixer Upper on HGTV.....  I just love that show,  but  cant  catch it often!

Favorite photo from the camera::::

My dearest dancing with our  one year old granddaughter at the  wedding reception!

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

I really enjoy the blog  The Humbled Homemaker:) 
I just shared this blog with my daughter this week.

Praying for::::

Family, friends, church,  choir practice in prep for the holidays, 
my poor mother in  a nursing facility, our nation  (ebola, the elections),   Israel, the World 

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

“If men would pray as they ought to pray, the marvels of the past would be more than reproduced. The Gospel would advance with a facility and power it has never known. Doors would be thrown open to the Gospel, and the Word of God would have a conquering force rarely if ever known before.” E. M. Bounds:

Let's Follow A Bowl Full of Lemons!

What an awesome   idea...  Hope I get inspired to  jump right into this  challenge!

Add caption

I just did this  last week...  cant wait to see what tomorrow brings!

  Wow, I wish my cabinets looked like this!!

Let's follow  A Bowl full of Lemons...to see what comes next!

Welcome October

                                           

October has always been one of my busiest  months..

 When I was teaching,  it seemed that was   the month I finally juggled all the balls into the air,   and  I spent the rest of the year keeping them all  going in a  mad-hatter  circle about me...retirement hasn't changed that much...  my calendar is so full of  things to do,,,, Bible studies  church committee work,  luncheons,  extra choir practices for holiday  programs,  club activities,    prayer vigils,  because  everything  needs to be completely  saturated with  life sustaining prayer.

But life is  great..  and  each new day offers new challenges and  opportunities...   and then  in the world around us we see  nature   winding down in a blaze of  glory....  something I think   we should  take time to do  as we are able....

Autumn has  such  a  glorious allure...

                                     

                                         the  colors are  radiant 

                 

                 I love this quote from this month's Victoria Bliss...

                 "Autumn burned brightly,a running flame                                 through the mountains,a torch flung to the trees.."

                                                 Faith Baldwin

                                

               Looks like it's time to plan a picnic in the mountains!!!

                              

                              or maybe one in our own backyard!!

                           

Home  and Garden 

 Outdoor Wednesday

Cottage Style Party