Welcome Fall…

…looking forward to what you have in store for us. In the meantime here are some favorites from the end of summer and the very beginning of Fall.

If you missed the recipe for my Pear and Almond Tart on MGCC click away and get it now. You can make this with canned pears.

Our hydrangeas are waning nicely with their colors fading in a pretty way.

Colors are changing on our plants and the leaves are changing and falling.

Our neighbor Pat died this summer and a couple weekends ago there was an estate sale in her home. I ended up buying her drop leaf tea trolley to remember her by. I waited till the last day of the sale when everything was half off to make my purchases. We found a spot for it and we have plans to make a few changes to it. It cost me $20.

Early fall shots of our home from the back of our property. We do welcome Fall/Autumn at this old house.

Thankful for Autumn and all it brings like new colors to enjoy, comfort food, cooler weather, cozy fires, and new adventures.

Thank you Lord for who you are and your love and care over us.

Joining: Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else, Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home and Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne at Living to tell the Story.

Looking Back…

…before Fall is fully upon us and counting my blessings.

We’ve had some lovely weather lately and when we travel to see our son and daughter in law in Eastern Washington we get some beautiful views of the Columbia River Gorge.

We will travel east again sometime in mid October to help with some projects. We are thankful we can travel and help where needed.

When all the kids are going to be together I make this treat that is enjoyed by all. If you haven’t made this simple Rice Krispie treat you should try it. I posted it again on MGCC this month and you can find the recipe by clicking here.

Anytime of year it’s fun to have an indoor picnic like the one above. Besides the pita crackers we always slice a nice baguette in thin rounds to enjoy the charcuterie and added cheeses, fruits and pickled vegetables. This is an enjoyable meal to have in a hotel room when you are traveling and tired of eating out, too.

We were at our state fair last week and we enjoyed this barbecued pulled pork sandwich. I posted about the fair yesterday. This weekend Dear will be smoking a pork shoulder roast to make our own sandwiches at home. My cousin and my college friend who married my cousin will be with us this weekend before they venture north and across the water to Vancouver Island. We will enjoy catching up and eating together, too.

Last week I also went on a shopping trip with our daughter Katie. After shopping at Nordstrom in Bellsquare we ended up at Crossroads in Bellevue where there is a food court that has a Russian stall. We shared some beet borscht (not the kind that we grew up with) and bought a variety of piroshky. Yum. We shopped some more after eating and it was a successful shopping day.

Counting my blessings:

Being able to travel and help our kids and seeing beauty along the way.
Treating my kids to their favorites and hearing their appreciation.
Simple picnic pleasures with Dear. I love food!
Our trip to the fair and guests arriving soon.
Successful shopping trips with our daughter. Happy she still wants to shop with me.

I’m linking up to three Friday memes that I can relate to.

Foodie Friday and Everything Else at Rattlebridge Farm

Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne at Living to tell the Story

Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home

Pop in Five or More…

These two…always the best when they were together. Together for 70 years before our mom died. My Pop has been fragmented ever since our mom died on their 70th wedding anniversary, September 13, 2013. They could communicate well in Russian with each other. None of us kids are fluent so he’s lost that aspect of his daily life. We’ve all tried to support him in his sorrow. He would love to be reunited with mom and His Savior. But…until then we try to keep him looking up and staying in the light. Can you imagine sharing life together with someone for 70 years and then trying to live on your own?

Pop lives with our oldest sister’s family now. God bless her and her family for being there daily for our Pop. He has a special buddy in our dear niece Miss on the right in the photo above. Our sister Lana tries to visit regularly while she is in Southern California. I love the photo above of the 3 musketeers.

My Pop loves eating breakfast out but nowhere fancy please! He likes Denny’s or a similar spot where he can get his 2 eggs sunnyside up, with hashbrowns, sausage links and a cup of coffee. Oh yes…white toast only!

For lunch if you are going to take him out he enjoys a hamburger at the Habit. If you order or bring in a pizza he does not want thin crust healthy nonsense. Bring on the dough and all the good toppings, please.

Our best purchase ever was this recliner that he tells me every time he sees me in person that he loves. Thank you Lyena for my chair.

His latest sweet great granddaughter Eleanor. He thinks she’s the best.

No birthday cake just bring him a cherry pie!

His last sibling that is alive today. Aunt Anna and Pop live a few miles from each other. She lives in a senior care home. They talk most every day for about 30 seconds top. That’s another thing about Pop all you need is about 30 seconds a week to stay connected. He does not talk long on the phone!

These are some of Pop’s grandchildren with their spouses. He has many others and a very cool thing I’ll share about my Pop is that he gets down on his knees every night and prays out loud for each of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

My niece captured this image of our Pop on his knees praying. Although my Pop and Mom had a language challenge in communicating with us children and grandchildren they showed us all love in different ways. My mother expressed her love through her cooking and preparing meals for us. Our Pop expressed his love in working hard all his life to provide our basic needs. Both my Mom and Pop prayed for each of us every day. These days if our Pop feels his bank account has more money than he needs he gives us some extra cash. My parents always lived with the bare necessities. Another thing my Pop would want you to know is that he is a sinner like the rest of us and that he has been saved by grace. He’s not perfect but he loves God and is grateful for all that God has done for him.

My Pop turned 93 in May of this year. We thank God for Him and how God has blessed him and kept him all these years.

Although my post is not a clear 5, I’m linking up to Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home and for Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Five or More from August…

Early in August the Mennonite Girls Can Cook had our book launch celebration at The Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford, B.C. The turnout was beyond our expectations. We all read from our stories or devotionals in the new book which was the scary part for me but I made it through without shaking too much. Our new book is called Bread for the Journey.

Mid August we took a trip across the Cascade mountain range to Dan and Jamie’s to help build a new pump house. The old smaller one had to be demolished which included getting rid of some significant wasp and hornet/yellow jacket hives. They are nasty and aggressive. My part in this project was to keep the dog occupied and bring out cold beverages. I also was able to escape for country drives, a farmer’s market, antique/thrift shopping, and Jamie and I participated in a Bubble Run in Spokane while the guys continued their project.

While we were in eastern Washington Josh and Laura were in the Los Angeles area and my pop was thrilled to get a visit from them. My pop turned 93 in May and he lives with my oldest sister’s family.

We finished our attic project, adding floor space, carpeting the floor and organizing our bins.

This past Sunday our family was together to celebrate our friend Dave’s life on this earth and to support the Dickinson family in their grief. Beth, Dave’s wife and our dear friend just sent me this photo of her with our son Dan.

dan-beth

Thanks for sharing this photo Beth!

There also were some recipe triumphs and failures during the month of August. The ones that worked have been or will be featured on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook Blog soon. The ones that flopped will just be forgotten.

The bottom right photo is an indoor picnic not a recipe and it never fails us. It’s nice to put a tray together with Charcuterie (cold cooked meats) cheeses, fruit, pickled veggies, roasted veggies, with crackers and a baguette.

So I’m thankful for:

My friends in Canada and our new book.

Our journeys to help our kids and to enjoy new scenery created by God for us.

My dear old pop and our kids honoring him.

That we can still work hard and improve things at this old house.

For the lives of dear friends who are resting in Jesus.

The bonus of good food along the way.

I’m going over the top and joining in with

Amy for Five on Friday

Susanne for Friday’s Fave Five and

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday and Everything Else

We have had some steady rain showers now that September is here. It’s nice to get a good watering done without a hose. We are low key here with one celebration planned for Sunday dinner with a cousin from California that I babysat many many years ago. I hope everyone has a good Labor Day Weekend.

A New Journey…

On Monday the 18th of July nine of the Mennonite Girls and their husbands gathered at Marg and John’s home for dinner because Charlotte and her husband Tony were in British Columbia for a family reunion. It was providential that the author copies of our soon to be released book arrived on Lovella’s doorstep a few days before our scheduled dinner. The only couple missing from our dinner party was Betty and John from Steinbach.

Marg and Judy got together ahead of our dinner and planned what we would be eating. They decided to ask us to bring dishes that are featured in our new book. The table setting was focused on the theme of our new book with small loaves of bread and jam that Judy made for each of us, stalks of wheat and kernels of wheat on the table.

Marg and Judy got together ahead of our dinner and planned what we would be eating. They decided to ask us to bring dishes that are featured in our new book. Marg’s John barbecued a beautiful cut of beef for all of us.

When we were done with dinner we opened the box of books together so we could all see it for the first time.

Bread for the Journey is a book of devotionals and stories of how our families journeyed (escaped) out of Russia. There are several recipes included, too. The above photo is not my photo and I’m not sure which of the girls took it. Thanks to whoever did (Anneliese?)

It was fun to get our hands on it and peek inside.

We strolled out to the wheat field to take some more photos. We thought the wheat was a good photo op for our book called Bread for the Journey.

We gathered around the fire to enjoy our desserts.

Our new book is set to be released August 2nd. On August 3rd we are having a book signing at the new Mennonite Heritage Museum in Abbotsford.

You feed your loved ones. But how do you nourish your soul?

Strengthen your relationship with God. Savor everyday moments. Deepen your faith. In this heartfelt book of meditations for women, the bestselling authors of the Mennonite Girls Can Cook series serve as friends and companions on your spiritual journey. The 90 daily devotionals provide morsels for inspiration and reflection, all drawn from God’s unending promises in Scripture. Interspersed throughout the devotional are favorite recipes, inviting us to extend our tables and share God’s blessing with others.

My Five thankfuls for Five on Friday with Amy and Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne are…

A wonderful gathering of friend’s brought together because of similar life journeys, a delicious meal to share together, a new book to be released with our author royalties again going to help widows and orphans, that Charlotte and Tony could be at our celebration all the way from Manitoba, that our book arrived just in time for the dinner that was planned in honor of Charlotte and Tony being in British Columbia so that we could all see it for the first time together. Lovella sent a book to Betty in Steinbach to open the same time we opened up the box. God is good.

Click over to Mennonite Girls Can Cook to see some more details on our book launch in Abbotsford.

Organizing Five!

Time for Five on Friday and Friday’s Fave Five and I spent so many hours organizing spaces around this old house that I missed organizing my Friday post last night! Thank you to Amy and to Susanne who have organized these memes for all of us to enjoy.

Our eastern Washington kids are coming to visit the last weekend of this month. My daughter who just moved out of our basement with her hubby came over this week to help me organize her stuff that had overtaken this guest room. Now it is ready for Dan and Jamie’s visit. Although Katie and Andrew have moved out they have to leave a lot of their stuff here because it just won’t fit in their little 570 square foot space.

Besides clearing out guest room #1 we moved some furniture around and changed up Guest Room #2 and organized the basement. One of the additions in the basement is this drape (tablecloth) that covers the closet in the basement that is full to the brim with our daughter and son-in-law’s stuff. The dresser in the photo next to the bookcases is being filled with books we are ready to let go. Organization continues there.

Don’t be afraid as you look at my dish space in the basement. I have my mom’s 50th wedding anniversary dish set (service for 24), Christmas dishes, Thanksgiving dishes, pink Depression glass, lots of blue and white dishes, cake plates, etc. etc. I re-organized this space and even got rid of a few plates. But…then while I was in Canada on Tuesday I bought the fruit bowl (below) with 8 little matching bowls, oops. The boxes under the table belong to our kids. Our poor basement dwellers lived with this dish wall for a whole year bless them…

I’m such a sucker for Johnson Brothers dishes.

While I’ve been organizing inside this old house Dear has been organizing his shop and our garage space. We’ve also completed projects organizing outside spaces. This next photo is our latest organized outdoor space. I can see this planter from my kitchen window.

So I am thankful for spaces to organize, the strength to organize them, the satisfaction of ordered spaces, having help in the process, and looking forward to sharing these organized spaces with others.

What are you thankful for? Are you on an organizing binge?

High Five

On our drive from Yosemite to Cody, Wyoming we passed through the Absaroka range. The Absaroka Range across the Montana-Wyoming border, and 75 miles at its widest, forms the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along Paradise Valley (Montana), and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. These rugged cliffs are home to the largest bighorn sheep herds in the United States. High on these cliffs the sheep are protected from their predators.

I’m thankful to God for the following five where and with whom I feel protected.

I’m thankful for my home where I am protected from the elements.

I’m thankful for my husband with whom I feel safe and protected.

I’m thankful for our local police, our state police, our border patrol who work hard to protect us from harm and who help us in crisis.

I’m thankful for our military who protect our freedom and our country.

I’m most thankful to Jesus and what He accomplished on the cross, for being my Savior who protects me from isolation and separation from God.

What or who makes you feel protected?

Linking up with Amy at Love Made My Home and with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story for Five on Friday and Friday’s Fave Five.

The truck attack in Nice, France is just horrible. I feel so sad for all the people who were struck down in the midst of happy celebrations. Praying for the families that are forever changed by this. Make peace with the one true God and hug your loved ones.

Meanwhile…

…back at ~~the ranch~~ this old house. For Friday’s Fave Five and Five on Friday I’m sharing the following collages and photos of what’s been happening around home.

Steve and Lana, Bob and Jan, Andrew and Katie, Matteo and Sandy. Friends and family gathered for our Fourth of July celebration. I took photos of the couples but missed getting Paul and Monica together but I do have one of Paul and Dear.

Dear smoked a couple of Pork Butts and we enjoyed pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, beans, corn on the cob, and salad. We had hot artichoke dip and onion dip for appetizers.

Our neighbor Sandy brought cupcakes and my sister Lana brought trifle for dessert.

Even though all of the couples did not know each other everyone enjoyed conversation and getting to know someone new. It was good to find out more about our neighbors.

Lots of purple blooming about the yard. One of our hydrangeas is an intense purple and the other is a cross between purple and blue.

Not everything is purple. Our Fuschia continues to charm us.

Our apples and pears are going to be ready sooner this year than last.

Our latest yard project is digging out the grass area in front that is encroaching on the drive and making the yard area more defined. We are adding a crushed base so the drive doesn’t get muddy from the rains. When we win the lotto we’ll have a cement driveway poured.

I’m thankful for family, friends, freedom, flowers, fruit trees and still being able to do some hard work. Don’t know if we’ll be able to move without moaning tomorrow but we are happy with our work progress.

Thank you Amy and Susanne for hosting these weekly Friday memes.

UPDATE: Our hearts and minds are with the families of the police officers killed in Dallas last night. Here are a few thoughts from a pastor in Dallas…

A Few Thoughts Regarding The July 7th, 2016 Dallas Shootings

Five on Friday

We’ve been working on making more distinct borders on a couple of our planters. This planter is on the backside of our deck and between our home and garage/shop.

This planter is in the front of our home and is ready for the weed cloth and bark that you see in the planter above. It was so much easier to mow with this nice border today.

We are just home from our last minute getaway to Yellowstone National Park. We stayed one night in the Old Faithful Inn. The structure is the largest log hotel in the world; possibly even the largest log building in the world. The lobby was a comfortable setting to people watch and enjoy a drink.

Now at home we are getting ready for our annual fourth of July celebration with a few of my red white and blue decorations going up.

Our Canadian neighbors are enjoying Canada Day and on Monday we will celebrate with family, friends, food and fireworks for the fourth! Five words starting with the letter F!

I am thankful to God for the results of our hard work, for our last minute getaway, for the safety we had on the road, for the beauty of God’s creation that we were afforded on our trip, for our country where can worship our God in safety (so far).

Happy Canada Day to our dear neighbors to the North!

Linking up to Five on Friday with Amy at Love Made My Home and Friday’s Fave Five with Susanne at Living to Tell the Story.

Epic Five on Friday

The Copa America Centenario USA 2016 is an International Soccer Tournament that is the oldest international continental football competition. 32 matches played throughout the USA June 3-26th with 16 teams from the Americas in 10 cities. Seattle is one of the 10 cities. This is the first time that the tournament is being hosted outside of South America.

Our son Josh, daughter in love Laura and ellen b. purchased tickets for the U.S.A. v. Ecuador quarterfinal game hosted by Seattle. I pulled out my USA gear to take to the game.

Here we are before the game started. Sunshine in Seattle!

Our own Clint Dempsey from the Seattle Sounders scored the first goal and was the Man of the Match.

All smiles at the end of the game after our 2-1 victory! On to the semi-finals where we will play Argentina or Venezuela depending on who comes out victorious when these two teams play each other on Saturday. If I had to guess I’d say we will be playing Argentina with the amazing Lionel Messi but there are always upsets in tournaments.

It was a beautiful night in Seattle and on the way back to our car we spotted a ferry rolling in on the Puget Sound. I only had my phone camera with me and it doesn’t capture how beautiful the night was. It was a historical night and a fun night for the 3 of us.

I’ve said this before and I realize many of you are not sport fans and especially not soccer fans but soccer is my favorite sport and thank you for indulging me as I share this part of my life occasionally.

I’m joining Amy’s Five on Friday and Susanne’s Friday’s Fave Five, thank you Amy and Susanne!

Here in the USA and in Canada we celebrate Father’s Day this Sunday. Our Western Washington kids are treating their dad with a brunch in Seattle on Sunday. I’ll be calling my dear old Pop who lives in California to wish him a happy father’s day. Do you have plans?

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage

Category Archives: Five on Friday