Thursday, March 29, 2007

Lots of Bits & Pieces

I'm sorry if you are one of the people to whom I owe an e-mail (poor Linda has been waiting a couple of weeks). I've been busy with the daily gotta do's and the times I normally work on correspondence have been taken over by my husband working on a major project with the computer. At least it isn't as challenging as when there were three of us using one machine!


I don't know if many of you read my recipe blog. It has lots of my family recipes on it because it is where I'm typing out recipes to be put into a family recipe book. If you like old fashioned cooking, you probably like these recipes. I recently added my grandmother's recipe for Jam Cake and the "redo" of the recipe my oldest sister did to make it even easier. As I've mentioned, I was born when my mother was older and Mom was born when her mother was older...so...we're talking the end of the Victorian era recipe here.

My mother-in-law was older when she married and she has a Pennsylvania Dutch background. Add to that the fact I was born and raised in the Midwest...well, it's an interesting combination of old fashioned Midwestern, Amish, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Southern style of cooking. :) I'll continue to add recipes as I can...so check in once in awhile.


I'll be writing soon about my latest reading and how I'm doing on the Spring Reading Challenge. Last night I let myself get sidetracked from the Challenge by picking up the copy of a book I purchased at Goodwill (of all places) called The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard. I've heard so many great reviews of the book that I had to start it. I'll continue to read Edith Schaeffer's book at the same time. Since it is a reread, I can go through it when I'm tired and my brain does not want to be challenged. Edith's two volumes of letters are wonderful, I'll write more about them soon. I've reread them at least once each year for many years.


I feel a burden to place a little reminder about my other passion (emergency preparedness) here. As I've been reading about what is going on in the Persian Gulf, it takes me back to the early days of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I was only a child but I can remember the feelings going on at the time. I also remember the sudden call from the government warning people to stock up on food and necessary supplies (of course, there was complete madness in the stores). Having been raised on a farm and she was a (very) young wife in the Depression, Mom always kept a deep pantry and full freezer, though.

Please pray about it and talk about it as a family. It wouldn't hurt to purchase some extra groceries and such (always purchase what you are used to eating). If everything calms down again, you'll still be able to use it. Reading Psalm 91 and other favorite scripture would be a very good thing. We're living in uncertain times but I firmly believe, as in Esther's day, we were created "for such a time as this". How exciting to be God's Light and Salt in today's world. As the angels say, "Feat Not"!

EDIT: Last time I read, the angels say FEAR Not...sheesh. Sorry!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI Brenda, I enjoy all your posts and find everyone of them helpful and encouraging!

I love your recipe blog, I am going to make the oatmeal cake very soon, it sounds delicious!

We are always on the same page it seems.(: I am so with you, on being prepared for "whatever" may come our way in our world situation or anything else that would require us to be be on our own for a few days or even longer...Just watch Jericho and you want to prepare! Or 24!

I was a child during the Cuban Missile Crisis and I remember well, my parents having the basement shelves stacked with all kinds of things. I lived in Michigan then. Out here in California, we don't have basements. But our earth quake supplies are in a very convenient and safe place.

Have a great day, Brenda...keep inspiring all of us who read your blog to THINK...in so many wonderful and challening ways,
Blessings, Patty

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Thanks, Patty!

That cake really is delicious, and it keeps well...if it lasts long enough. :)

I've had "fun" watching Jericho because it was so unrealistic the first year. I don't know a lot about nuclear war and radiation but I'm pretty certain one big rain doesn't clear your air!

It seems to be getting a little more realistic this season because there is a shortage of food and such.

It really doesn't cost much to have some extra food put back (and necessary items like diapers, toilet paper, etc.) We are on an extremely tight budget and I do try to have a couple weeks worth of food in the house.

When we get a "gift" of money, we sometimes use it to stock up on basics like flour, canned goods, etc.

It's not just the big things that make it handy to have, we were able to stretch our food money for a long time because I had a deep pantry when my husband was out of work.

And...no...we aren't Mormon! :)

Janie said...

Brenda, I got sidetracked from the Spring Reading Challenge too this week. When I finished one book, I picked up one that I had ILL-ed from the library (a teacher book). It is going quickly so I'll be back to the regularly scheduled list soon. I like to read Edith Schaeffer too!
Janie

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

Well, I'm glad to see you get sidetracked, too! :)

I just brought home lots of books from the library...sigh. I can't help myself.