Peace

May God's Peace be with you throughout the New Year!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful."

Col. 3:15

Christmas in the Northwest!

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

Winters Jewels

~

The dawn of day was witness to,

a transformation of the land.

The night had seen the change unfold,

unique creations of His Hand.

~

So many made, while slumber reigned,

no two alike, these crystals, white.

The billions softly touched the earth,

as breezes shaped them in the night.

~

The frozen-cotton, covered boughs,

as rays of sun climb winters hills.

To see the splendor made by frost,

on window panes and window sills.

~

The curvy mounds shaped 'round the trunks,

where blown about the feet of trees.

And leaves that peek through snowy white,

at wonderous winter scenes like these.

~

Their lives so short; a day or week,

or season at the very most.

To disappear when spring is nigh,

like figment of a vanished ghost.

~

But first they must adorn each twig,

and blade of grass and lowly weed.

Essential act required by some,

to germinate their precious seed.

~

And map the many tiny feet,

of creatures that have braved the night.

With fan-shaped swirls at end of tracks,

where birds of prey have taken flight.

~

To crown each post and stone and wall,

the royalty of winters scene.

Look down upon the snowscape, white,

approve each subjects bow and lean.

~

Then melt to slush and hang from twigs,

and drip and drop like tear-shaped jewels.

The tiny trickles congregate,

to create icy winter pools.

~

Returned to earth, from whence they came,

The same as you, the same as me.

Water to water, ". . . dust to dust",

perpetuates His Plan, you see.

~

~Nevin Hawlman~

~~~~~~~~~~

"He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes."

Psalm 147:16

O' Come! Let Us Adore Him

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 1:26-38

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 2:1-20

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Matthew 2:1-12

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and my the True Spirit of Christmas live in your heart today and every day in the coming New Year!

Winter

"Thou hast established all the boundaries of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter." Ps. 74:17

Christmas trees and Cocoa!

Gentleman Farmer had the day off work on Thursday, so he and I decided to hop in the 'sleigh' and head to the hills for our annual Christmas Tree Hunt!

The day was sunny and bright, unlike many other years where we've "enjoyed" snow, rain, sleet or cold!

After searching for an hour or two, tromping through the acres of trees, we succeeded in our quest for the perfect tree. We've been coming to this same place for years, and we somehow always seem to find the "best tree on the place." I wonder how that works?It was a Noble Fir ( Gentleman Farmer prefers Nobles to the many other types available), the perfect height for the low ceilings in our home, and it was a lovely blue-green color! The lovely "Tannenbaum" was cut, tied to the rooftop of our 'sleigh' and then we dashed home with our treasure. Soon it will be adorned with festive ornaments and twinkling lights.

As we decorate our lovely tree, with the fire crackling and music playing, we shall have a steaming cup of hot cocoa! Not just any old premade cocoa mix, mind you! My favorite recipe is the one my Grandpa used to make for me; rich, creamy and sweet! Here is his recipe:

Grandpa's hot cocoa

~~~~~

2 Tablespoons Hershey's Natural Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 (or more!) Tablespoons Sugar

Add just enough evaporated milk to make a thick paste

Continue to fill your cup a little more than halfway with the canned milk

Finish filling cup with boiling hot water.

Stir and enjoy with your favorite tree decorating partner! ;~}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here are some recipes for four flavors of homemade cocoa mix that make lovely Christmas gifts.

Just layer the ingredients in a pretty jar, add a ribbon and a tag with directions.

[On the back of the tag, add these directions; Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remainng mix in airtight container.]

~~~~~

Mexican Cocoa

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup powdered milk

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

3/4 cup chopped Mexican chocolate (like Ibarra, found in the Hispanic food isle)

Cinnamon sticks

Makes 1 quart mix or 12 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

Peppermint Stick Cocoa

1 cup powdered milk

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 Tablespoon salt,

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 cup crushed peppermint candy

Makes 1 quart or 12 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

Mocha Cocoa

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup espresso powder

1 cup powdered milk

1 Tablespoon salt

1/2 bittersweet chocolate or miniature chocolate chips

Makes 1 quart or 12 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

Classic Cocoa

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup powdered milk

1 Tablespoon salt

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/2 miniature marshmallows

Makes 1 quart or 12 servings

~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~

All this talk about cocoa has me craving a nice hot mug! Anyone care to join me?

~~~~~~~~~~~

"How sweet are Thy words to my taste!" Psalm 119:103

I'm Dreaming.....

of snow! I would love to have a White Christmas, a rare occurance here on The Farm. Just a lot of rain. The drop in temperature last night and this morning's frost did set my mind to dreaming....

But until I see those lovely white flakes I will just have to content myself with making some snowflakes of my own. Perhaps you are like me and love the snow but seldom have much. Or maybe you have snow but still enjoy making snowflakes. Here is a fun little place to make as many as you like and even send a message along with them. Or just look at the ones others have made.

Let me know if you make any. I would like to take a peek at your creation. Have fun!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Though your sins are scarlet, They will be white as snow;"

Isaiah 1:18