Author Archives: Ellen

March In Mud Hodgepodge

Jo is back this week with Hodgepodge questions. You can join in HERE.

1. Somehow it’s March? Is it coming in like a lion where you live? 

It has come in like a Lion in parts of Western Washington State with heavy rains that have caused mudslides, flooding, and downed trees. Here where we live in Northeastern Washington we are having gentle rains and our snow is melting bringing us into the season we call mud. This next photo of our grandson shows the reality of the mud season. Fun for littles, not so fun for adults. 🙂

Tell us one fun thing on your March calendar. 

Our granddaughter is turning 5 in the month of March which is fun and exciting. My birthday falls in March, too. Our daughter and her hubby will celebrate their 11th anniversary this month. Auntie Lolo’s dear Grandma Wilma turns 98 on Friday and gatherings and celebrations are afoot!

2. In what way(s) do you ‘march to the beat of your own drum’? 

I’m finding this one hard. God has created me in a unique way and my hope is to march to the beat of His drum. It does not pay to kick against the goads!

To “kick against the goads” is nothing less than an exercise in vanity; futile and pointless. The Greeks and Romans used this saying to imply “ruinous resistance.” Paul had to learn the hard way that resistance to Jesus was a losing battle — hopeless. God is sovereign.

3. The Hodgepodge lands on Dr. Suess Day (March 2nd). Do you like eggs? How about ham? Share a favorite quote from one of his books. 

I do like eggs and I do like ham. Make me some Eggs Benedict ma’am, I am!

That’s my quote since Dr. Seuss is not a favorite of mine and we don’t even have one book of his on our bookshelves. His books were never a favorite to read out loud either. I did have to read many out loud when the children in my 2nd grade classroom picked them for me to read in class. I never denied them that pleasure.

4. Have you read Little Women? How about Alice in Wonderland? Did you love them, like them, feel just eh about them? Why is this question in the Hodgepodge today? 

I think I did read Little Women, but I honestly can’t remember for sure and part of my memory is mingled with the movie. I know for sure I have not read Alice in Wonderland.

5. How do you meal plan? How often do you shop for groceries? One homemade meal that was on your menu last week or is on your menu this week?

Oh boy. My meal planning is hit and miss and mostly centers around who is coming over for a meal. I shop for groceries when we are in town. My shopping lately focuses on what I need for a particular meal. Last week we had Taco Salad for a meal when our daughters in law and grands came over for dinner. We had trifle for dessert.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We are counting the days until we celebrate her 5th birthday. The theme she has decided on is Tea Party. Now her mom is busy coming up with all the creative ways to make that theme happen!

Thank you Hodgepodgers for stopping by and leaving a comment. I understand that some of you have issues with commenting on my WordPress blog. I don’t know how to remedy that. Thank you for trying.

Happy March everyone!

Birds in Winter

It felt like a great accomplishment when I put the last piece in this puzzle.

We haven’t seen a lot of birds yet in our back acres and the ones that stop by don’t stop for long.

We’ve put out seed and then we’ll have another inch of snow fall and it covers the seed.

We are having a bit of a warming trend this week with rain so everything will be slushy and dirty.

Goodbye to February. We hope that March brings good news abroad and at home. We started our church service yesterday pausing and praying for all involved in the war in Ukraine.

When All Thy Mercies, O My God ~ Hymn

When All Thy Mercies, O my God.

When all Thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I’m lost
In wonder, love and praise.

O, how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravished heart!
But Thou canst read it there.

Thy providence my life sustained,
And all my wants redressed,
While in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learned
To form themselves in prayer.

Unnumbered comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestowed,
Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flowed.

When in the slippery paths of youth
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils, and death,
It gently cleared my way;
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be feared than they.

When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou
With health renewed my face;
And when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

Thy bounteous hand with worldly bliss
Hath made my cup run o’er;
And, in a kind and faithful friend,
Hath doubled all my store.

Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart
That tastes those gifts with joy.

Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I’ll pursue
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

When nature fails, and day and night
Divide Thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.

Through all eternity to Thee
A joyful song I’ll raise;
For, oh, eternity’s too short
To utter all Thy praise!

Words: Joseph Addison, (1672-1719).

Eggs a la Goldenrod

Eggs a la Goldenrod

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • A pinch of white pepper (you can substitute black pepper if you’d like)
  • 2 tablespoons snipped chives
  • A tablespoon or more of prepared mustard according to taste (We enjoyed the country mustard with horseradish added)
  • 8 hard boiled eggs
  • 4 slices of toasted bread cut into triangles

Method:

  1. Peel the hard boiled eggs and separate the yolk from the white.
  2. Slice the egg whites into bite size portions.
  3. Press the yolks through a sieve and set aside.
  4. Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed saucepan over low heat.
  5. Add the flour and blend well.
  6. Add the salt and the pepper.
  7. After about 4 minutes of cooking over low heat add the 2 cups of milk and turn up the heat to medium.
  8. Stir constantly until the milk begins to thicken.
  9. Whisk in the mustard.
  10. Add the chives and the eggs whites and heat through.
  11. Toast the bread and cut each piece into 4 triangles or whatever shape you’d like.
  12. Place bread on a plate and scoop a good portion of the prepared white sauce mixture over the bread. Garnish with the egg yolk that was pressed through a sieve.

Note:  I think this recipe would work well with some cooked crumbled sausage or bacon added to the white sauce.
This recipe will make at least 4 generous servings.

Winter Drive

The bright sun and blue skies called us out of the house for a winter drive.

We took a short drive north and over the Columbia river to see if we could get a glimpse of Lake Ellen on Tuesday afternoon. When we got to the cut-off to continue on to the lake we decided the road was not one we wanted to travel on because of the ice. It was a nice drive regardless and now we know what it will be like to take the drive come summer.

On the way back we stopped to take a photo of the Garden Valley Church and Cemetery.

After our pause here we continued on to get back to Inchelium-Kettle Falls Road where we turned off to check out the Red Rooster Quilt and Fabric shop. It was a surprise to walk into this well appointed shop at the back of a private property. The 5 dogs that came running out at us were friendlier than they sounded!

On our way out from the Red Rooster…

We crossed the mighty Columbia River again to return home after a stop for a bite to eat in Kettle Falls.

Here we are starting the last weekend of February and sitting by our TV’s concerned about the people of Ukraine.

Our church is keeping in contact with our missionaries in Ukraine. They are asking for prayer to remain faithful and to trust God no matter what is ahead of them. Here are the verses they shared with us…

16 But I call to God,

 and the Lord will save me.
17 Evening and morning and at noon
    I utter my complaint and moan,
    and he hears my voice.
18 He redeems my soul in safety
    from the battle that I wage,
    for many are arrayed against me.
19 God will give ear and humble them,
    he who is enthroned from of old, Selah
because they do not change
    and do not fear God.

Truth for Today #8

Thursday February 24th

On Thursdays my posts will include verses that stood out in my readings from the Bible during the week. One, two, three or maybe more. If you have a verse/verses that you read during the week and would like share, leave it/them in the comments and I will add it/them to the post. Let’s dig deep in God’s Truth this year!

Psalm 95:1-7

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to 
the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence
with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to
him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains
are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord,
our Maker!
For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.

From Vera

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.”

From Karen

Psalm 66:20

Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.
‭‭

February Family Fun

Thank you to Auntie Lolo for most of these photos that capture the love we have of being together!

Auntie Lolo has been in our neck of the woods since Valentine’s day.

Our Grands are not afraid of the ‘elements’, embracing the outdoors in all kinds of weather.

Still enjoying the Igloo that daddy built for them.

Uncle Joshie arrived for the long weekend!

We celebrated Uncles arrival with Swedish Pancakes for breakfast!

Even though he was full already, Uncle Joshie bit into the huge sandwich Addy and JJ made for him from their Deli stand.

Craft time commenced…

Me and my buddy.

Fun times with these cheerio books.

Planning what to plant in the garden. Our daughter-in-law asked each of us to choose something we’d like her to plant in the garden this year. I think Uncle Joshie picked a variety of pepper, JJ wants watermelon.

Our beautiful gardening daughter-in-law and our grands.

The guys soaking up some more time together in the office before Josh flew home on Monday evening.

Good times packed to the gills!

There is no Wednesday Hodgepodge this week because Jo From This Side of the Pond is soaking up some family time, too!

What would you like grown in a garden?

The Skies on Sunday

The skies on Sunday got more interesting as the day progressed. This first shot was on our way to church.

After church our crew came home to our place for a chaotic meal prep for the seven of us. We pulled together Eggs Benedict, hash browns with a trio of berries besides. Delicious.

The decision was made to go out to dinner on Sunday to the Mexican restaurant in Chewelah. These next photos are of the clouds we saw on our way.

 

Hope you all had a good long weekend. Ours was good and busy from morning to night. We are going into several days of very cold weather here. Brrr….

Creamy Pear Bake

Our internet is acting weird right now so I’ll have to postpone posting some great photos from our family weekend. We are having a wonderful time and enjoying so many great photos from Auntie Lolo. In the meantime here’s a recipe to enjoy. Happy President’s Day Weekend here in the USA and Happy Family Day in Canada!

This is a simple recipe with a nice creamy result. If you really enjoy creamy, you can serve it with ice cream or whip cream, too.

Creamy Pear Bake

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups cored and sliced fresh pears ( I did not peel mine but you could if you prefer)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Topping:

  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons melted butter

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  2. Prepare a medium sized baking dish.
  3. Mix sugar, flour and salt.
  4. Gently toss and incorporate this mixture with the pears.
  5. Mix the sour cream and extracts together.
  6. Add this mixture to the pears and gently toss till incorporated.
  7. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
  8. Mix the topping ingredients till crumbly.
  9. Dot the top of the pear mixture with the topping.
  10. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until the topping is browned and mixture is bubbling.