Foggy With a Chance of Sunshine

We have had quite a stretch of foggy days with several days of rain, too.

“Faith is like radar that sees through the fog—the reality of things at a distance that the human eye cannot see.” – Corrie Ten Boom.

And then a glorious couple hours of this…

The sun broke through the fog and we could see blue sky for just a few hours on Friday and now we are back to fog and rain. That couple of hours reminds us that the sky is still blue and the sun is still there and the fog will lift again.

How are the skies where you are?

Comfort, Comfort Ye My People

Comfort, comfort ye My people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ’neath their sorrow’s load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them;
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.

For the herald’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
O that warning cry obey!
Now prepare for God a way!
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.

Yea, her sins our God will pardon,
Blotting out each dark misdeed;
All that well deserved His anger
He will no more see nor heed.
She has suffered many a day,
Now her griefs have passed away,
God will change her pining sadness
Into ever springing gladness.

Make ye straight what long was crooked,
Make the rougher places plain:
Let your hearts be true and humble,
As befits His holy reign,
For the glory of the Lord
Now o’er the earth is shed abroad,
And all flesh shall see the token
That His Word is never broken.

Pelemeni ~ Russian Dumplings

Pelemeni (Russian Version of Ravioli/Dumplings)

Filling:

1/2 pound ground chicken
1/2 pound ground veal, or lamb, or beef
1 medium onion grated
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Dough:

2 cups sifted flour
Pinch of Salt
1 egg
1/3 cup water

Filling:

Combine the two meats with onion.
Add seasonings, mix well and set aside.

Prepare Dough:

In a small mixing bowl, sift the flour and a pinch of salt.
Lightly beat the egg with the water.
Make a nest in the flour.
Add the egg with water into the nest.
Work the flour into the egg and mix.
Knead to a rather dry dough.
Use more flour if needed.
Roll dough very thin.
If you don’t have a mold cut the dough into 2″ circles.
Put a small ball of filling (about 1/2 tsp) onto each circle and fold over and pinch edges making a half-moon shape.
Now bring each corner of the moon shape together and pinch together.
At this stage you can freeze them, or you can go on to the next step.
Bring your favorite broth to a boil.
Add the Pelemeny to the boiling broth.
When they are done they will surface like doughnuts.
You can serve them with the broth like a soup or you can have them plain with some sour cream.
This recipe should feed 4-6 people.

Tip: If you are going to freeze them place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet and freeze partially before putting them in a freezer bag so they don’t stick together.

Making Pelemeni with my family which you can call Russian dumplings.

These are filled with a combination of ground chicken, lamb or beef.

This family cooking day happened several years ago while Dear and I were living in Camarillo for a few years because of his work. We gathered at my sister Vera’s home in Huntington Beach. This was probably sometime in 2008 or 2009.

It is fun to do this kind of cooking when my family can gather together. Nowadays I make a special trip to Kiev Market in Spokane and buy them packaged and frozen and ready to enjoy.

We enjoy them in a non-traditional way in a soup broth with chopped spinach in the broth along with the dumplings and served with chopped hard boiled eggs and a dollop of sour cream.

Brambly Hedge

I started a new puzzle last week and what a delight this one was. When a puzzle company like Cobble Hill includes a puzzle poster in the box it makes me grateful. It is much easier finding where a piece goes by looking at a poster instead of the top of the box.

The box lid always has portions of the art work covered up.

I finished the puzzle last weekend.

This was the Spring Story. They also have a Summer, Fall and Winter story. Are you familiar with Brambly Hedge books and China? The Fall teacup and saucer is the only one I have. It was a Goodwill purchase several years ago.

Royal Doulton Autumn, England, Jill Barklem 1983. Jill Barklem was a British writer and illustrator of children’s books. Her most famous work is the Brambly Hedge series, published from 1980.

Not sure what inspired me but I got some much needed tasks done in our office this week. I’m patting myself on the back for the organization that I completed this week. I shredded two large trash bags full of paperwork/receipts/etc. that we didn’t need lying around cluttering our world. Sorting through my desk I was able to again throw away things we don’t need and put things where they more logically belong. In the process our grab and go box is all set, too.

Do you have a grab and go box?

Happy Friday everyone!

Truth for Today #85

Thursday January 25th

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

The verses that you share are appreciated and so encouraging, I’m thankful for them and for each of you!

Isaiah 61:10:

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

From Vera:

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

From Maristella:

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19.

From Karen:

Matthew 16:28
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Tips For You Hodgepodge

If it’s Wednesday it must be Hodgepodge. Click over to Jo’s blog, From This Side of the Pond to join in.

1. Do you have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you’d like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don’t have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024?

I did not pick a WOTY for the year but I did pick a phrase.

Love Jesus More in Twenty Twenty Four

2. January 23rd is National Pie Day…will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What’s your favorite?

We don’t celebrate except for in November before Thanksgiving our church has a pie and praise night. We enjoy pie but don’t have it often. My favorite pies were the fresh Strawberry or fresh Peach pies from Marie Callender’s. Growing up in Southern California it was a special treat to have boysenberry pie from Knott’s Berry Farm.

I just remembered Chicken Pot Pie and the all the great savory pies in Great Britain, yum!

The photo at the top of this post is of a Pear Custard Pie. Click here for the recipe.

3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a ‘suggested amount’? Have you ever left an extravagant tip?

We do tip and we try not to skimp. When service is over the top exceptional we tip even better. We have left large tips for some of our favorite waiters/waitresses but extravagant is in the eye of the beholder. Before we moved away from the Seattle area, Seattle instituted a set tip and service fee in their prices. That change was confusing and we stopped tipping in Seattle. These days we avoid driving into Seattle to dine.

Since we are talking about restaurants and trends I’m not a fan of using my phone or a table top device to order food. I like the personal touch of the waitstaff coming to the table to take our order. I haven’t mastered the whole take a photo of the thingie that looks like a weird puzzle piece (QR Code) so you can connect with your phone. (yes, I’m old)

4. Share with us one household ‘tip’ that works for you.

We got a tip from a dishwasher salesman that it is good to run the tap till the water is good and hot and then start your dishwasher cycle.

5. Influencers on social media are people who’ve built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that ‘influence’? If there’s one you particularly enjoy tell us who they are and why you enjoy them.

The type of influencers we follow online are well known and knowledgeable teachers of the Bible who have proven they believe and teach the inerrancy of the Bible for all areas of life. We regard them as the best influencers out there.

Grace to You, John MacArthur, Ligonier, R.C. Sproul, Master’s Seminary, Tim Challies, Sinclair Ferguson, Keith and Kristyn Getty, just to name a few.

We have purchased books, commentaries and music influenced by these folks. Keith and Kristyn Getty’s music is exceptional.

There are many ‘false teachers’ that we avoid like the plague.

The other type of following we do are the ‘how to people’, like ‘how to replace the hot water thermostat’, or ‘how to smoke a brisket’, or ‘how to clean your oven racks’.

On the lighter side of things this granny is fun to watch…

https://www.youtube.com/@memesrecipessc Meme is a hoot to watch and I love her closing line! She is a cooking in the kitchen influencer.

I also like the jewelry this young gal is creating for sale; Nicole Joy Jewelry Design

https://www.instagram.com/nicolejoyjewelrydesign/?hl=en

https://06e86a-2.myshopify.com/

6. Insert your own random thought here.

These two get to enjoy the snow with joy and then their mom adds more fun with these frozen colored water balloons to decorate their snow castle.

It’s still winter out there!

Update on our Water Heater, the parts arrived early and we should have hot water before this post is published on Wednesday. PTL! And yes, we do have hot water thanks to Greg!

Happy Hodgepodge, I’m looking forward to reading your tips.

Woody Came to Visit

Our birdfeeders attracted this Northern Flicker and he tried his best to twist his body to get some seed.

We had more snow over the weekend and now we are having rain. On Saturday we realized our hot water tank was not heating our water anymore so parts have been ordered to fix that problem. Until the parts come and the non working parts are swapped out we are in camping mode. Thankfully we have a quiet week ahead.

Hope all is well in your corner of the world.

O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?

O Lord, how shall I meet You, how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet You, my hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord most holy, a lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly all that may please You best.

Love caused Your incarnation, love brought You down to me;
Your thirst for my salvation procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling, that led you to embrace
In love all loves excelling our lost and fallen race.

A glorious crown You gave me, a treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me as earthly riches fly.
My heart shall bloom forever for You with praises new,
And from Your name shall never withhold the honor due.

Words: Paul Gerhardt, 1653. Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1863.

Alternate Translation 1851:

O how shall I receive Thee,
How meet Thee on Thy way;
Blest hope of every nation,
My soul’s delight and stay?
O Jesus, Jesus, give me,
By Thine illuming light,
To know whate’er is pleasing
And welcome in Thy sight.

Thy Zion palms is strewing
With branches fresh and fair;
And every soul awaking,
Her anthem shall prepare;
Perpetual thanks and praises
Forth from our hearts shall spring;
And to Thy name the service
Of all our powers we bring.

O ye who sorrow, sinking
Beneath your grief and pain,
Rejoice in His appearing,
Who shall your souls sustain;
He comes, He comes with gladness!
How great is His good-will!
He comes, all grief and anguish
Shall at His Word be still.

Ye who with guilty terror
Are trembling, fear no more;
With love and grace the Savior
Shall you to hope restore:
He comes, who contrite sinners
Will with the children place,
The children of His Father,
The heirs of life and grace.

He comes, the Lord, to judgment;
Woe, woe to them who hate!
To those who love and seek Him
He opens the heavenly gate.
Come quickly, gracious Savior,
And gather us to Thee,
That in the light eternal
Our joyous home may be.

And another translation:

O how shall I receive Thee,
How greet Thee, Lord, aright?
All nations long to see Thee,
My hope, my heart’s delight!
O kindle, Lord, most holy,
Thy lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please Thee best.

Thy Zion palms is strewing,
And branches fresh and fair;
My heart, its powers renewing,
An anthem shall prepare.
My soul puts off her sadness
Thy glories to proclaim;
With all her strength and gladness
She fain would serve Thy name.

I lay in fetters groaning,
Thou com’st to set me free;
I stood, my shame bemoaning,
Thou com’st to honor me.
A glory Thou dost give me,
A treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me
As earthly riches fly.

Love caused Thine incarnation
Love brought Thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling,
That led Thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o’er joys departed,
And tremble at your doom:
He who alone can cheer you,
Is standing at the door;
He brings His pity near you,
And bids you weep no more.

Easy Noodle Bake

From time to time we are asked for recipes for easy meals for busy moms with young children. This recipe will fit the bill. This recipe is enough to serve two adults and one or two younger children. It can be doubled to feed more.

Ingredients:

1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1-1/2 cups uncooked egg noodles (I used medium)
1 cup frozen vegetables of your choice (I used chopped broccoli)
10 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 cup shredded colby/jack cheese

Method:

Saute onion with a little olive oil until translucent.
Add ground beef and cook thoroughly, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste, drain excess fat, set aside.
Spread uncooked noodles evenly in bottom of prepared baking dish.
Top with cooked beef and the vegetables.
Whisk soup, milk and water together.
Pour over vegetables.
Top with cheese.
Cover dish with foil sealing well.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve hot with a side salad if desired.

Ellen’s Extra Tip:
Why not cook up a larger portion of ground beef when preparing this easy meal since ground beef usually sells for less in larger packages. Use a whole onion and cook up a three or more pound package of ground beef and save equal portions in freezer ziploc bags for future use. You could store one package in the refrigerator and make a nice taco salad another night of the week. Freeze the other portions for easy retrieval for a quick meal like hamburger soup or chili.

Birthday, Snow, Birds and Wally

A very happy birthday to our firstborn son Josh. He is a wonderful son, husband, brother, uncle, cousin, boss and friend. So thankful to God for Josh and all he means to our family. Praying God blesses your new year with joy, strength, courage and more love for Jesus.

We’ve been enjoying the birds showing up for birdseed.

We had another 5 inches of snow this week and when we looked out the window we thought this looked like a walrus so we are calling him, Wally the One Eyed Walrus Snowman.

Have a good weekend everyone.

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage