~Comfort Box~

I was reading one of my favorite books, The Book of Stillmeadow by Gladys Taber yesterday and came across a wonderful idea in the December chapter....

My great-great-Grandfather was a minister in Boston, and among the relics in his little haircloth, brass-studded trunk I found this week something which pleases me very much. It is a small yellowed box labeled “Comfort Powders.” Inside were thirty folded papers such as were used for powders by the old family doctors, folded at each end to keep the medicine from spilling. On each folded paper is a message, to be read for the day.

This is a lovely idea, I think, and bears repeated. For starting a new day with a beautiful thought might help us all. Grandfather’s comfort powders were Biblical, naturally. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Even though we have medicine in the form of pills nowadays, I loved the main idea and went off to look for a box to make my own Comfort Box.

I found an empty wet wipe box in the bathroom and covered the top with some matching paper. I wrote the same message on mine that was on Grandfather's box.

~Take one each morning with a generous dose of cheerfulness and thanksgiving.~

Box
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

~Good for the mind and heart, will promote love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.~

Inside
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I numbered 31 small pieces of paper, one for each day of the month. Index cards would work really well too.

Papers
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I wrote down various Bible verses. Today's message is, The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life-of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1 I was thinking of making a few for Christmas gifts.

Verses
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

In a world still uneasy, these are good words to hear. And as we hear the daily news, we might feel a world of peace was a most vain illusion. But under the snow, violets sleep, and in the world there are still love, gentleness and goodness.

~Thanksgiving Menu~

Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

My mother-in-law came over for lunch yesterday and we put the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving menu. We are both making a turkey and stuffing, and of course deviled eggs. You can never have enough of those! ;0) We split up the sides and desserts to make the cooking easier. In additon to the 5 in our family, we will be having Phillip's parents and two brothers over, a friend from church, and a couple that we've been friends with for several years and their 2 children.

I am so excited about this coming week. I'm looking foward to a house full of family and friends (and pumpkin pie!). The kids are counting down the days until they can watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." I told them they have to wait until Friday!

Here is our Thanksgiving Menu. It is subject to change depending on how full my grocery cart gets today. ;0)

Appetizers
~Deviled Eggs
~Crackers and Brie
~Pickles and Olives

Dinner
~Roast Turkey
~Cornbread Stuffing
~Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
~Sweet potatoes with Marshmallows
~Corn with red peppers
~Waldorf Salad
~Cranberry Sauce
~Yeast Rolls

Dessert
~Pumpkin Pie
~Pecan Pie
~Apple Pie
~Pumpkin Roll
~Orange Fluff

As you can see, we will have enough food until Christmas! Leftovers are nice though, especially after all that cooking.

So, what is on your Thanksgiving menu?

Our Crafty Saturday

We decided to make some Thanksgiving cards today. We got out all our supplies, including Coke for me, since I stayed up too late last night!

Table
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Emily made cards for her friends and Benjamin made one for his cousin, Jacob.

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Grace designed her cards all by herself! Gobble Gobble!

Turkey
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We have also been adding leaves to our Thanksgiving tree. It is getting nice and full.

Tree
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Here is the front of my card....

Forever
on
Thanksgiving Day
the heart
will find
the
pathway
home.

Front
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

and the inside.

With loved ones all around,
may you have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Inside
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

All ready to be mailed out!

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I hope you are all having a great weekend, we are having a friend over for dinner and a movie. I'm off to make brownies. :0)

Thursday~The Patio and Gardens

It was such a nice day, I decided to spend it outdoors. The girls and Benjamin played in the sandbox while I got the gardens and patio ready for winter.

What a mess!

Patio
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also cut down alot of my perennials and cleaned out the vegetable garden. Looks like we are going to the dump on Saturday!

Weeds
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Much better!

Patio
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I planted my pansies last weekend. Here are one of the flower pots by my front porch. Don't worry, the hedgehog is friendly. :0)

Pot
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

If my pansies do well this winter, I will press them for Easter cards in the spring.

Pretty little maidens,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Standing in a row,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Looking towards the sunshine,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Faces all aglow,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Decked in pretty colors,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

With their gloves of green.

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

These lovely little ladies,

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Love to pose and preen.

Pansy
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

Do you have a favorite pansy?


Pretty Pansy Poem by Tinuviel

A Blustery Day

Gopher: If I was you, I'd think about skedaddlin' out of here.
Winnie the Pooh: Why?
Gopher: 'Cause it's "Winds-day."

Pooh
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

We are having a "blustery" sort of day. When I opened my front door this morning, I was greeted by lots of lovely leaves.

Welcome
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I was supposed to clean the livingroom today but shopping sounded like more fun. ;0) We found some chocolate truffles and raspberry hot cocoa to help keep us warm. I also picked up a squash I've never tried before. It is called Sweet Dumpling. I mainly bought it because of the name, but I'm sure it tastes good too. :0)

New things
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I found some pretty Christmas cards. They read:

One thing at Christmas we always like to do
is send "God's Blessings" to special ones like you.

God Bless you with the most
joyous Christmas season.
"I thank God upon every remembrance of you." Philippians 1:3

Cards
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I also picked up a Thanksgiving Menu at Whole Foods. I like to look through it for inspiration, I have no desire to spend $119.00 to feed 6-8!

Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Parmesan Roasted Asparagus, Cornbread Pecan Suffing, Chocolate Pecan Pie...mmm....only 8 days until Thanksgiving!

Menu
Originally uploaded by pwinn.

I promise to clean tomorrow. ;0)

Photo from Allposters.com.