Too Many To Count

Cookbooks! Cookbooks! Cookbook!  Yes, I have an affinity for cookbooks.  I have quite a selection too!  Been collecting them for about 40 plus years I guess.  I have inherited loved ones cookbooks, I have purchased vintage charmers at my favorite thrift shops.  In the beginning years of my collection I belonged to a cookbook book club where you purchased several to start at a very low price and then once a month you purchased an additional one till your commitment was complete.  That was fun.

Finding a place to store all these is always a challenge - a very fun challenge though.

My favorite cookbooks tend to be those compiled by clubs or church women who include all their tried and true recipes.  These are the best - who would want to put a yucky recipe in a book with their name attached?  I have quite a few recipes actually published in cookbooks like this too. 

Funny thing about all my cookbooks?  I really don't use them a lot when I am looking for a recipe.  More often than not I go to my computer and google the desired culinary creation.  The cookbooks are more for reading like a novel almost - they encourage my homekeeping and cheer me on.

How about you?  Have a favorite cookbook you can't live without?  Would love to hear about it in the comment box.

Voicing Gratitude

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone." -- G.B. Stern

Think about that for a minute.  Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.  I love to read Ann Voskamp's blog A Holy Experience where she emphasizes gratitude and making our lists of what we are grateful for today.  Go visit Ann if you need encouragement to keep a list of blessings to be thankful for.

Today, this quote touches me and challenges me to speak my gratitude everyday thereby touching the hearts of those around me and hopefully encouraging their gratitude too.  It will definitely make a difference to my heart and to my day if I voice my gratitude and not keep it inside

I think my chickens, Henrietta and Henrietta (I can't tell them apart) are grateful for these beautiful cool days here in Arizona.  I know Precious Husband and I are sure enjoying eating our breakfast on the patio these mornings.

Yesterday while we were away from home for the day we had quite a dust storm.  All the windows were open and you can imagine the layer of dust on my dark oak furniture we came home to but on the bright side look at these beautiful blue skies we have today as a result of the wind blowing the gunk from the air.  Yes, there is always something to be thankful for.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

 

Laughter is Good For You!

Fall Warmth

With the arrival of fall comes a new warmth.  Not warmth that high temperatures of living in the Valley of the Sun bring but an inviting hospitable warmth.

Warmth of lighting candles as the sun sets in the evening.  It is very normal for me to have a candle burning on the kitchen island from the start of my day.  It sets a mood if you will.  But when the sun sets lighting more candles gives such wonderful warmth to a room and to a heart.

I think I have shared before that my favorite time of the day is supper time.  We eat supper about 6 PM and now the days are shorter and I can go around the house and bring down the shades by supper time.  Shut us in and the world out for the day.  

Truth be told here I make soup even when it is *110 degrees outside but now with the coming of fall and cooler evenings I get interested in new soup and bread recipes and start thumbing through my cookbooks.

Give Precious Husband a bowl of ham and beans and he is a very happy guy.  Add some Jalepeno Cheese Bread from the bread machine and yummy, supper is wonderful.  Something I have tried to share with my daughters is that making a meal does not have to be difficult.  Beans and Ham has to be one of the easiest dishes I make.  Add the convenience of putting a few ingredients into a bread machine and pushing the button - walla - couldn't be easier or more tasty.

For sure I welcome Fall with all the warmth it represents.  Lit candles, homemade soup, fresh hot bread, mmm mmm mmm, comfort, warm fall comfort.

Fall Has Arrived!

 I guess it is a toss up between fall and spring when asked which season I like the best.  Because the heat is so harsh in Arizona I think fall tends to win the title of favorite season because it brings cooler days and they are so appreciated.  When you appreciate something it will always cause it to be more special.

Yes, we finally have the air off and the windows open!  Fresh air!  Days when the round face displaying temperatures finally stays under a hundred at 3 PM and wakes you to 68 degrees of sunshine in the mornings.

Having coffee on the patio is once again such a wonderful part of our day!  This past weekend we enjoyed fresh strawberry scones along with that coffee  :-)

I so enjoy pulling out the boxes of fall decorations to officially end summer and welcome fall to our home.

It has been so long since I put up a fresh post I wondered if I would still know how - but hey, it really did all come back to me quite easily.  

Hope you are enjoying the change of season in your home as much as I am.