My favorite time of day in the winter is early evening when the sun has set for the day and the house become aglow in lamplight. I love looking into windows from outside and seeing how cozy and inviting a house looks. No matter how many crumbs may be scattered on the floor or dust bunnies may be gathering on the furniture, like magic when the sun sets and lamps are turned on the crumbs and dust disappear and are no longer visible!

What is more iniviting than curling up in a chair with a good book under the glow of a reading lamp?

Or the soft glow of a lamp on a kitchen counter? After the supper dishes have been washed and the kitchen tidied for the day, I love turning off the main kitchen lights and leaving the counter lamp glowing on its own.

And of course the warm glow of a bedside lamp, luring you to bed at the end of the day

What is your favorite time of day in the winter?

What a wonderful book this is! Written by Jane Brocket, she has taken some of the favorite childhood books from the past and brought to life the scrumptious foods mentioned in those books, such as Ma's hand-sweetened cornbread from the Little House books and Paddington Bear's favorite marmalade buns. This book certainly contains two very pleasant combinations: past childhood books and eating!

I was given the book "Last Minute Patchwork Gifts" this past summer and have enjoyed making some of the projects in the book. One project in particular which is fun to make is the quilted coasters. I used Moda charm packs and made up some of these coasters to give as gifts. I also used the same method used in sewing the coasters to make hot pads, sewing together four charm squares to make one larger square. I used different fabric for the front and back of the coasters and hot pads to make them reversible. They make a unique gift and are fun to make.

A PERFECT WEEKEND

A bit of eating...

A bit of crocheting...

A bit of reading!

These little cakes are a delicious way to start your morning - served warm they melt in your mouth!

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp nutmeg
sufficient milk to moisten dough (1 tbs)
1/2 cup raisins or currents

Stir sugar into softened butter.
Crack an egg into a bowl and beat.
Add to butter/sugar mixture
Add dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, nutmeg)
If needed to make dough hold together add milk a few drops at a time.
Fold in dried fruit.
Roll dough into a small ball about the size of a walnut and flatten.
Cook on a heated griddle. Turn once to brown both sides.

Serve hot and enjoy!

Happy New Year

O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord all the earth.

Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among the people.

For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.

Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering and come into his courts.

O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and people with his truth.

~Psalm 96~