Dropping by to say hi...

From my Instagram feed

It has been too dark to take more photos with the digital camera.  So I'm sharing the above photo, taken with the iPad camera.  I made lemon scones* this past week, doubling the recipe and baking half right away and freezing the unbaked scones for another day.  I read on The Kitchn website** that you can do this so we'll see if it works.

I adore Christmas teas.  The one shown above was purchased last year but is still quite tasty.  I bought the lemon curd on sale last summer.  Oh, my... Heaven will be so nice.  Yummy foods will not be fattening or raise blood sugar levels.  Until then, scones are nibbled with great delight and only one per tea time.

The weather has been strange all over the country.  The warmth and rain are welcome by some but for those in my family who suffer from mold allergies, it has them on the sofa... or worse.  My husband could not stand up yesterday.

When people hear about him having had to go on Disability many years ago due to environmental allergies, some don't realize the ramifications of how serious they can be.  I texted the kids and a close friend to pray!  Rain on all those decaying leaves are dangerous for him.  He is feeling a little better this afternoon since the rain moved out late yesterday.

The extended Fall made it possible to get some work finished in the yard and garden that we thought would have to wait until Spring.  But we are ready for the weather to return back to normal.  Going outside in December without a jacket is just plain un-Christmasy!

On a brighter note, I made biscuits this afternoon for the first time in... years (since I need to be careful with carbs).  But I needed some for a recipe I'm making for dinner to use up leftovers.  I forgot how delicious these are.

Although I will post the recipe soon, they are simply: 1 cup self rising flour, 1/2 cup buttermilk or heavy cream (I usually use heavy cream), and 2 T. oil for every four standard size biscuits.  Cut out 1" thick and bake at 450 degrees for approx. 12-14 minutes, until biscuits are slightly brown on top.  I always double the recipe since that uses up one pint of cream.  Like I said, I will post it on the recipe "blog" soon.

My daughter let the grandchildren open their Christmas gifts when the two boxes arrived.  (Being frugal, I sent the books Media Mail.) They have enough to open Christmas morning and this extends the Season.  I used Amazon credit for most of the gifts.  An item I bought for both my daughter-in-law (for her birthday) and my ten year old granddaughter, was an adult coloring book***.

It is the book created by one of my favorite authors, Margaret Feinberg.  It is unique because each page contains a beautiful Bible verse as well as flowers to color.  When finished, each page could be frame worthy.  I read that she is creating a second color book since this was so popular.

I do pray each of you finds a way to enjoy this special season.  Isn't it true that any challenge we are going through seems to get magnified during Christmas, whether it is stretching finances, dealing with illness, a prodigal child, a death in the family, and so many other difficulties?  It is rare to come into the Christmas season with no challenges at all.

Not to mention, for already busy moms there is the added stress of even more to do.  My Season is very quiet but I remember working full time while balancing church and school activities.  (One child was in public schools, the other spent three years in public schools before homeschooling.)

I spent time in the study this morning, reading through a few favorite Psalms.  My Bible opens to this section immediately unless I'm purposely going to another part of it.  What a gift these Psalms are to those of a Judeo-Christian heritage.  

So I am at the end of just saying hello.  Back to the To Do list in the non-virtual world.  I really need Downstairs Staff.  ;)

*   Lemon Cream Scones... here.
**  Freezing Unbaked Scones For a Quick Breakfast article... here.
*** Live Loved: An Adult Coloring Book... here.  (An Amazon Affiliate link.)