Author Archives: Ellen

Montana and Wyoming

We have moved further east on our ‘Land That We Love Tour‘. We took a back road out of Helena to get back to the I-90 interstate east to Wyoming.

This little church was in Montana.

Fall colors were pretty off the interstate as we approached our Wyoming destination.

We arrived in Sheridan for the night and right away Dear was in trouble.

Better put your hands up, Dear!

On our travels on Wednesday we listened to some more sermons in 1 Peter and some good music and also enjoyed periods of silence except for the tires on the pavement. We are pondering the attributes of God and these verses.

Isaiah 55:8-9

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Montana Land That We Love Tour

Our day one destination for ‘Land That We Love Tour’ was Helena, Montana. Helena is the state capital of the state of Montana. We stopped at the Capitol building and were able to walk about inside and out.

On a gentle slope surrounded by 10 acres of spacious lawns and other state buildings, Montana’s Capitol looks north over the beautiful Prickly Pear Valley. The building is constructed of sandstone and granite. A statue depicting Liberty sits atop the copper dome. A walk through the Capitol will allow you to view many beautiful paintings, including Charles M. Russell’s magnificent historical depiction of “Lewis and Clark Meeting Indians at Ross’ Hole” on September 5, 1805. The main section of the Capitol was completed in 1902. The two wings were completed in 1912.

Dedicated on July 4 1905, the Thomas Meagher Statue stands tall at the front of the Montana State Capitol Building, the largest and most distinctive sculpture on the grounds of the capitol campus.

More on Thomas Meagher’s interesting life can be read here.

The state Capitol building was opened for use on the Fourth of July, 1902. The story of the Capitol building really begins at the top, with the “Goddess of Liberty,” as she has been known for 100 years. It’s the statue that stands on the copper dome outside.

After our visit to the Capitol we had a meal in town and then found The Cathedral of St. Helena. I’ll share more from the inside of the beautiful Capitol building and St. Helena Cathedral later.

We traveled through Washington, Idaho and into Montana on Tuesday September 21st.

During much of our 5+ hour drive Tuesday we listened to sermons on 1 Peter by John MacArthur (Grace to You). We didn’t get past verse 2 after 3 sermons. That is what you call expository teaching. Tomorrow Wednesday we’ll be listening to these verses exposited.

1 Peter 1:1-5

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

Today is Wednesday September 22nd and the first official day of Autumn/Fall. We will be traveling further on today.

Happy Fall Y’all.

Land That We Love Tour

P1050070

Our bags are packed. Our vehicle is loaded. Our house keepers are watching over our home. We are eastbound from the State of Washington. We’ll travel south in Washington, east to Idaho and make our first overnight stop in Helena, Montana. Hoping to add postcards along our journey. Time will tell how much time I have to blog and visit other bloggers. We’re naming our trip, “Land That We Love Tour”.

Granola Chews

Granola Chews

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups white flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup softened butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar packed
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups granola
  • 2 cups dry oatmeal
  • 1 cup walnuts chopped

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Combine flour, soda and salt and set aside.
  3. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla till creamy.
  4. Add one egg at a time to the creamed mixture beating after each egg.
  5. Gradually beat in flour mixture.
  6. Stir in granola, oatmeal and walnuts.
  7. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown, watch after 10 minutes.

I like to use a dough scoop because the dough is easy to drop onto the baking sheet and the cookies are uniform.

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ~ Hymn

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, silent as light,
Nor striving, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy Justice like mountains soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of mercy and love.

To all life Thou givest, both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, true life of all;
Thy blossom and flourish only are we,
To wither and perish—but nought changeth Thee.

To-day and To-morrow with Thee still are Now;
Nor trouble, nor sorrow, nor care, Lord, hast Thou;
Nor passion doth fever, nor age can decay,
The same God for ever as on yesterday.

Great Father of Glory, Father of Light,
Thine angels adore Thee, veiling their sight;
But of all Thy good graces this grace, Lord, impart—
Take the veil from our faces, the veil from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see,
’Tis only the splendour of light hideth Thee;
And now let Thy glory to our gaze unroll
Through Christ in the story, and Christ in the soul.

Words: Walter C. Smith, 1867.

Apples of My Eye

Spent several hours with these two last Wednesday. We picked these apples right off one of their trees for a snack. They keep me moving. Love them so much.

Yesterday I was able to mow and get the riding lawn mower all cleaned up and settled in the shop. Junk Drunk was calm and fun with lots of interesting things to see. I bought a small item for a stocking stuffer for one of our kids and a sign for a friend that called out to me because of a conversation we just had this week. There was a stand where fresh little donuts were being made up to order so I had to support that business, too. It was fun to bump into a few ladies from church at the sale, too.

Happy weekend to all of you. It is raining here. Our land will enjoy that.

Before and After ~ Master Bedroom

The day we moved in, September 2018. Happy to see the house was vacuumed.

Progress and it stayed close to this until last week when Dear got inspired to paint. We’ve had the paint since 2018 but the bedrooms and guest bath had not been painted. All the other living spaces have been painted.

I didn’t get a great shot while Dear was painting but once the ceiling got some fresh paint on it the rest of the walls looked really yellowed to us.

And now in 2021 this is the new look in our bedroom. Next on the list in this room is changing out the closet doors for pull out style as opposed to sliders.

We are happy with the new look.

Dear finished painting one of our guest bedrooms this week, too. I’ll do a before and after as soon as I get all the bedding back on the bed. I’m a fortunate gal to have a hard working guy who is a painting pro, too.

Today I’ll be mowing our acreage for the last time this year, I think it will be the last mow. The weather has changed and grass growth is slowing. I’d like to get it done early so I can go to Junk Drunk before the rains come our way.

Here’s the description of the event:

Our Vintage & Shopping Market “Junk Drunk” will be held in Colville, Washington at the N.E. Washington Fairgrounds Ag-Trade Center and Dairy Barn. Join us and our wonderful group of vendors with all their wares and amazing treasures! You are sure to find some great “Junk”! Our Vendors will be selling Vintage items, Jewelry, Home Decor, Home Goods, Salvage, Art, Handmade items, Bath items & More!

Hope your Friday is a funday!

Who You Calling Old Hodgepodge

Alton to Cotswolds 224

We had to have the “we were here” photo taken! This door is in Stow on the Wold in the greater Cotswold area of England. This door is at the back of the Parish Church of St. Edward built within the 11th and 15th century.

Jo From This Side of the Pond has some ‘old’ questions for us this week. Click over to join in.

1. How would you define ‘old’? At what age is someone old? 

I define old as ten years older than me. The older I get the older ‘old’ becomes. I only feel old when I look in the mirror or try to stand up off the couch. 🙂

2. A place you’ve been that’s old? Tell us something about your visit there. 

Jolly Old England. Oh how I hope to be able to enjoy that land at least once more in my lifetime. There is something old around every corner…really old. Ancient doors and hall ways. Old majestic cathedrals. Cobblestones and thatched roofs. The oldest pub or Inn in all of England. Many pubs and Inns claim that fame. Old church yards and graveyards and churches.

Stow on the Wold 022

c.947AD

3. Something you miss about the ‘good old days’? When were they anyway? 

I’ll pick the ‘good ole days’ before computers and cell phones. The days where you had to catch up with a letter or have a long catch up conversation after church or on the phone. When you got information by reading the newspaper. The days when you actually got news during the news hour and not just opinions and made up stuff.

4. In what way are you a ‘chip off the old block’? Or if you’d rather, in what way is your child a ‘chip off the old block’? 

I have some chips off both blocks. Our dear mom would get inspirations to do things and have to scramble to gather up the materials and get er done. I do the same. Our dear old pop had to be on time or early to events and made sure to leave the house in plenty of time to get there. My Dear always makes the comment to me when I say ‘time to go’; “okay Moisi”.

photo credit: Jeremy Leffel

5. Old fashioned, Old Testament, old timer, same old same old, old glory, good old boy, old wives tale…choose an ‘old’ phrase that relates to something in your life or the wider world currently and explain. 

“Don’t guilt trip me.” It’s the way of some leaders and media and general population right now. It’s divisive and I don’t like it. When my head hits the pillow each night I want to have a clear conscience. It’s most important for me to have a clear conscience before God. That’s the best way for me not to suffer from someone trying to impose a guilt trip upon me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of England let’s not forget about the delightful world of Beatrix Potter.

gloucester cathedral 029-001We knew about this shop in Gloucester and were determined to visit it while we were in Gloucester 41 years after I started my collection. We were there in 2014.

gloucester cathedral 030There are lots of shops relating to Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit in England.

2016-07-27 Beatrix potter6

Happy middle of September everyone. Next week…Glorious Fall begins!

Apple Raspberry Bars

These bars have a nice shortbread like base with an almond flavor. I saw this recipe in my grocery store flyer and cut down on the sugar and spices from the original recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 cup almond meal
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2/3 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
  • 2 large apples, cored, peeled, and sliced very thin
  • 6 ounces raspberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
  3. In large bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal, salt, baking powder and 1/3 cup of the sugar.
  4. In small bowl, whisk melted butter, egg, lemon zest, and almond extract until smooth.
  5. Pour this mixture over the flour mixture and work with hands to make a soft dough.
  6. Pat 2/3 of the dough in pan, pricking it all over with a fork.
  7. Bake until browned, 15-20 minutes.
  8. In large bowl, toss fruit with spices and 1/3 cup sugar.
  9. Drop the sugared fruit evenly over the bottom crust that has just browned.
  10. Crumble remaining dough on top of the fruit.
  11. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar.
  12. Bake until top is golden brown, 30-35 minutes.
  13. Cut into bars.
  14. Store any leftovers in airtight container.

Yield: 9-12 bars

A Fun Memory Popped Up…

This memory popped up on my Facebook page and I wanted to document it here on what could have been our parents’ 78th wedding anniversary.

In September of 2012 when talking with my parents they talked about the fact that they were married in April of 1979 just after Josh was born because they didn’t have an official wedding license from their marriage in Iran in 1943. They confused the judge but he re-married them with my Aunt Anna and Uncle Jim as witnesses and then they had to go get blood tests…LOL! I had forgotten or wasn’t aware of this or maybe because I was a very busy first time mom totally spaced it out. They celebrated 69 years of marriage in 2012! Our mom died on their 70th wedding anniversary on September 13, 2013. She was determined to make it to their 70th wedding anniversary and then peacefully entered her heavenly home. Our Pop followed her 5 years later in June of 2018.

Hope y’all have a very good week.

Knott’s Berry Farm in the 50’s.