From The Hymnal ~ In Times Like These

More than once this week I heard someone say "In times like these". I know they were discussing the news or the upcoming elections but it brought my mind to the words of this wonderful hymn. No matter the times, the answer is Jesus! Listen and be blessed.

In Times Like These (You Tube Link)

In times like these you need a Savior
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these you need the Bible,
In times like these O be not idle;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Chorus
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One;
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

Redwork

I learned how to embroider as a little girl. It is something I have always enjoyed. I have a set of pillow cases that I made for my grandma when I was 9 or 10 and I retrieved them after she passed on. Kind of crude but I've learned with practice.

I moved from simple embroidery to cross stitching and then back to simple embroidery...most specifically REDWORK. It is my very favorite. I want to share A Redwork Embroidery Primer for anyone who is interested in knowing more about Redwork.


Last year I was shopping my favorite thrifty store and found a zippered freezer bag FULL of skeens of red embroidery floss. I knew I could put them to good use and they were priced at only $2.00. So I purchased them, brought them home and stuffed them in a crafting drawer and moved on.



I had a few small projects I was working on but what I had in my embroidery basket was enough that I didn't need to seek out my thrifty purchase until recently. What a surprise I had in store for me. Not only was this beautiful, vibrant, red floss, it was from American Thread Co. (the Star Thread folks) and the skeens are marked 5¢ each. Oh, my...how long ago was embroidery floss only 5¢ a skeen!



I am currently working on a little red sunbonnet sue for a apron pocket panel for a swap I am participating in. Shhhh...don't tell my swap partner!




Posting to:
Sue's REDnesday
Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday
Debra's Vintage Inspired Friday
Laurie's Favorite Things

Granny's Skillet & Skillet Cornbread

My dear Grandmother would have celebrated her 92nd birthday this last week -- if she was still with us. She went home to be with the Lord almost 18 years ago. I will always miss her very much! Grandpa joined her the following year and when their home was cleared out and readied to sell, I was able to take a couple things. One was my Grandma's rocker and the other was her old cast iron skillet. I treasure both, but most especially the skillet. I use it several times a week and each time I grip it's handle, I know I am griping where her hands griped uncountable times. That gives me comfort.


One of Grandma's favorites was always cornbread and buttermilk. I found myself wanting to bake some in her skillet over the weekend...so I did. Not a better cast iron dish than cornbread. And perfect with soup for a soul satisfying supper!



Skillet Cornbread
(Printable Version)

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white or yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 tablespoon butter

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Stir in buttermilk, 1/3 cup melted butter and eggs just until mixture is moistened. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy cast iron or oven-proof 10-inch skillet (2 to 4 minutes). Immediately pour batter into pan. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Sharing at Lisa's Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Michael Lee's Foodie Friday AND Laurie's Favorite Things! BIG thanks to these lovely gals who graciously host these events each week!

Candy Corn Cupcakes

Later this week,we are going to be having little friends to supper. Since Halloween is coming, I plan to make a fun menu. When I spied these cupcakes in a local newspaper, I KNEW I found what dessert will be.

I am joining Betty for her FIRST Cupcake Sunday! Who doesn't just LOVE a cupcake. Next time I will share my favorite fall cupcake. It will appear in Gooseberry Patch's new cookbook due out at the beginning of next year....101 Cupcake, Cookie & Brownie Recipes!

I am also posting to Lisa's weekly Tempt My Tummy Tuesday!

From The Hymnal ~ My Faith Has Found A Resting Place

We who have believed enter that rest. Hebrews 4:3

Another great hymn that speaks so much truth!

My Faith Has Found A Resting Place
My faith has found a resting place,
Not in device or creed;
I trust the ever living One,
His wounds for me shall plead.

Refrain

I need no other argument,
I need no other plea,
It is enough that Jesus died,
And that He died for me.

Enough for me that Jesus saves,
This ends my fear and doubt;
A sinful soul I come to Him,
He’ll never cast me out.

Refrain

My heart is leaning on the Word,
The living Word of God,
Salvation by my Savior’s Name,
Salvation through His blood.

Refrain

My great Physician heals the sick,
The lost He came to save;
For me His precious blood He shed,
For me His life He gave.

Refrain

We Have A WINNER!

First I want to THANK the fine folks at Mikasa. They were such fun to work with on this giveaway! AND I want to THANK my readers. I appreciate your friendship and always kind comments....YOU'RE THE BEST!!

The winner is.........................................

Marlis from Creative Journeys!!

Congratulations Marlis and look for an email from me!

Canisters

Quick reminder....My Mikasa Giveaway ends Friday! Be sure to get entered in.

Do you use a set of decorative canisters in your kitchen? Growing up, my Mom had some on the counter. They were crome, square-shaped, with the name of the proposed stored item vertically on them in black & a funky font and a Lusterware black top with a knob on top. She also had the matching bread box. This set is very similar to the ones Mom had. I'll have to ask my Mom what became of them. I am sure they went into a donation box as she updated her kitchen. IF they had been red like these in the advertising, that thought would make me very, very sad.



I love the idea of having a storage spot for everything and I am always on a quest to be more organized with both my stuff and my time. I have a thing for jars and mostly use mason jars to store things in...coffee, tea bags, sugar cubes, Splenda packets and the like. I have even picked up some more decorative jars (both vintage and more vintage inspired new) for my laundry detergent and supplies.

For my large, bulk purchases (flour, sugar, grains, etc.,) I have invested in commerical quality, large canisters. Very utilitarian. These work perfect for storing things in the pantry but when I need a cup of flour or sugar, I need to trot off the the pantry. I guess I was always on the look out for the solution to that minor inconvenience.



Last week I strolled thru one of my favorite thrifty stores and stopped dead in my tracks when I saw these beauties! They had all the elements needed for MY kitchen..large enough to hold several cups of flour and sugar, RED and that lovely vintage script (not to mention just the right amount of funky factor, lol). I just loved them. Checked the price....$3.50 each. I tucked one under each arm and headed straight for the check out.



After I got them home and cleaned them up, I filled them with their respective labeled ingredient and stood back and admired my FIND!! Then the guilt settled in. You see, these 2 handsome guys had a little sister named Tea. I left her behind. How could I do that? I really didn't need a tea canister. I had my tea stored in a cute little jar with a red lid. That really was good enough BUT the GUILT. I assume the sister named Coffee had met with some terrible end or even worse, someone had only purchased her. I slipped my shoes back on and away I went to fetch Tea. At first, I was unable to find her....she wasn't where I left her. Then from accross the store, I saw her standing alone on a shelf. It was like she was calling to me...here I am, here I am...



Now she has a home on the beverage counter and can *see* her big brothers from accross the kitchen. Life is organized and good!





So what kind of canisters do you have? How do you store your staples?

Sharing at~
Sue's REDnesday
Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday
Debra's Vintage Inspired Friday
Laurie's Favorite Things

From The Hymnal ~ I Must Tell Jesus

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

I had another post prepared for this segment this morning but I woke up with this hymn roll thru my head. I encountered so many dear folks this week who were bearing burdens that were beyond their abilities to bear. I love both this verse and this hymn....GREAT reminders that we are not alone in our cares.

I Must Tell Jesus

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;
I cannot bear these burdens alone;
In my distress He kindly will help me;
He ever loves and cares for His own.

Refrain

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
I cannot bear my burdens alone;
I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!
Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;
He is a kind, compassionate friend;
If I but ask Him, He will deliver,
Make of my troubles quickly an end.

Refrain

Tempted and tried, I need a great Savior;
One Who can help my burdens to bear;
I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;
He all my cares and sorrows will share.

Refrain

O how the world to evil allures me!
O how my heart is tempted to sin!
I must tell Jesus, and He will help me
Over the world the victory to win.

Refrain

Cervical Cancer Awareness & A Prayer Request

Have you entered in for the Mikasa giveaway? Please take a good look at the fabric I chose to make the napkins for this tablescape. Teal is the color of the ribbon for Cervical Cancer Awareness.



A sweet young woman that I work with has a dear sister-in-law, Laura who is in the fight for her life against this dreaded foe. Laura is a young wife and mother. Please add Laura to your prayer list and speak her name to the Father. Thank-you!

A Special Tablescape & A Mikasa Giveaway!

Dear, Dear Readers;
I have something very special to share with you today!
(Please click on the photos to see a better view)

First I would like to show you this entire table. A special table. It is a table of celebration. A sweet table for two. A picnic table.....a living room picnic. Have you ever had a living room picnic?

This one calls for the *good* china.

Today's good china is Mikasa Briarcliffe (1971 - 1997). A beautiful bone china with platinum trim.

To make the table more playful, I passed on using the traditional matching cup and saucer and instead am using Mikasa Color Studio Black/Platinum Dots Mugs.

I made the table cover & reversible napkin from Rhythm & Blues by Red Rooster Fabrics (read more about my fabric choice).

Napkin rings are vintage silverplate by E.B. Rogers Silver Company.

Vintage silverware is Clinton by International/Rogers & Bros. 1919 (thank you to Marigene who identified this for me last time I posted about them).

And the star of the table....Mikasa's Avenue Vase. Isn't it gorgeous! Lead crystal and 12-inches tall, this vase is both classic and contemporary. Oh, and with those deep cuts, boy does it catch the light and SPARKLE!

My new friends at Mikasa thought you all might be interested in this gorgeous vase!


Would you like an opportunity to WIN your own GORGEOUS crystal Mikasa Avenue Vase? You must be a follower of Faithfulness Farm to enter.

Leave me a nice comment saying you follow! ~ 1 Entry

*LIKE* my friends at Mikasa on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mikasadining and www.facebook.com/lifetimebrands ). ~ 1 Entry

Leave a message on their wall telling them why you’d like to win this gorgeous vase! ~ 1 Entry

Follow my friends at Mikasa on Twitter (www.twitter.com/mikasadining and www.twitter.com/lifetimebrands ) ~ 1 Entry

Suggest Mikasa and suggest Lifetime Brands to 10 Friends. ~ 1 Entry

Already a Mikasa lover, post a review at the Facebook review tab. ~ 1 Entry

That is a TOTAL of 6 possible entries for this giveaway!

The giveaway will be open for entry until Midnight, Friday October 22. The winner will be posted on Saturday October 23. I can hardly wait to see which one of you will get to enjoy this beauty!

Legal Mumbo Jumbo:
~I am not nor have I ever been employed by Mikasa or any affiliate of Lifetime Brands, Inc.
~I received the items from Lifetime Brands at no cost for review purposes.
~My opinions and the content of my blog are MINE and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lifetime.

Posting to:
Susan's Tablescape Thursday
Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday
Debra's Vintage Inspired Friday
Marty's Tabletop Tuesday

From The Hymnal ~ Blessed Assurance

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:21-22

I cannot think of a hymn written by Fanny Crosby that isn't a favorite of mine but this one is set apart for me. Very special. Maybe because I was raised in a faith that taught that salvation is something I could blow but I have since come to believe that God's precious gift is secure, despite my own short comings and I have BLESSED ASSURANCE!

Blessed Assurance

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

Refrain

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior, all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Refrain

Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Refrain

Cast Iron Cooking ~ Going Dutch!

Going Dutch!!

Dutch ovens, that is!



There was a time that no kitchen was without a cast iron Dutch Oven. They really were the workhorse of the kitchen, performing duties stove-top as well as in the oven and even outdoors (or hearth) on the fire. But our mothers and grandmothers pretty much set these icons aside as too heavy or old fashioned and instead went with more *modern* choices.

Well, the Dutch Oven is back and back in a BIG way! High-end brands like Le Creuset have helped bring the DO back. Stylish and brightly colored, they have gotten the attention of the modern cook. Celebrity chefs, like Martha, Paula, Rachel and Mario all lend their names to their own versions of these wonderful pots. The downside is most of these pots are expensive and although probably worth every penny, out of range for many of us.

Luckily, there are some lower cost (not lower quality by any means) options. My favorite DO is one I picked up about 20 years ago at a garage sale. It is a vintage cast iron, black, dome lidded DO. No bright colors but oh, what a wonderful job it does cooking. And my favorite manufacturer of cast iron, Lodge Manufacturing also has a line of enameled (as well as non-enameled) DO’s at a remarkable price when you consider the amount the high-end makers are asking. If a Le Creuset pot is just what you are wanting and there is nothing else that will do, shop TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, HomeGoods, etc., for a DO that is priced more reasonably.

We are moving into the time of year that my DO gets a workout. I love the smell of slow cooking goodness coming from the oven. I've had a request for youngest son's favorite this weekend...POT ROAST! YUM!!

Dutch Oven Roast
(Printable Version)

(8) pound chuck roast, 2-to 3- inches thick, bone in if available
2-3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup Burgundy wine
2 cups warm water
3 cups sliced yellow onions
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons coarsely ground pepper
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
6 carrots, cut into large chunks
6 medium sized red skinned potatoes, cut in half
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven temperature to 350 F. Heat vegetable oil in 16-inch dutch oven. Salt and pepper roast on both sides. Sear both sides in hot oil. Pour warm water and Burgundy wine over roast; add garlic, onions, carrots, potatoes and sliced mushrooms. Cover and cook about 2 ½ hours. Pour cooking liquid into a large measuring cup. Skim away fat. If necessary, add a little water or red wine to make 4 cups liquid and return to the cooking pan. Stir in the cornstarch dissolved in ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 3 minutes. Return roast to cooking pan and arrange vegetables around the roast. Cover and allow to rest 15 minutes before serving.


So even though that picture is of a big, ugly (not in the eye of this beholder) pot, it is one of my FAVORITE things and I am sharing at Laurie's A Few Of My Favorite Things! Thanks for hosting Laurie!

Adding this post to Lisa's Tempt My Tummy Tuesday hosted this week At The Well.

Fallen Leaves Table

Today's tablescape has a fallen leaf theme. I so enjoy the turning of the season and all the beautiful colored leaves. We don't get much of that here in Nebraska...this land is very hostile to trees which is why God made it prairie, I'm sure. When we lived in Minnesota, our property was full of oaks and maples and we always had glorious color. So, instead of enjoying the changing of the colors outdoors, I've brought it in and onto my dining table.


I started with the charger that Walmart is carrying this fall. I first saw these on another blog and just loved them...I've seen them on several blogs now...Walmart saw us all coming!


Next is a cream colored plate also from Walmart. I bought 24 of these months ago on clearance for .75 each. These come in handy when entertaining a crowd.



Isn't this fabric just perfect! It came from a large bag of yardage from Goodwill. There was enough to make.....



8 of these great oversized napkins.



And then a leaf-shaped plate. I have collected a nice stack of these over the last few years. I think they all are from Walmart and I have several different colors...just like leaf plates should be.



Topped everything off with a little boo pumpkin that my dear friend Rose brought me from her pumpkin farm.



Water goblets from Dollar Tree.



Vintage silverplate was a Goodwill find.



Votive Candle Holder was a clearance find last year at our local Hallmark store. I scored 2 of them for $1.00 each.



Cloche contains silk leaves and pinecones from Hobby Lobby.



A very thrifty fall table! Sharing at Susan's Tablescape Thursday.

25 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

I just LOVE my friends at Gooseberry Patch! They have compiled 25 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes by Gooseberry Patch and I am sharing them with YOU!! Thank you Gooseberry Patch!

From The Hymnal~Grace Greater Than Our Sin

...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Romans 5:20

This is a hymn we sang last week on Sunday morning. What a message it delivers of our Savior's love and GRACE. Please meditate over the words and listen and be blessed.

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Refrain

Remember This?

I started this project the same weekend I did my entryway bench. This project met with stalls in the process. Do you see that the handles are really ribbons? This was how I acquired this piece (a long time ago). The piece resided in my sewing room for a long time and held notions but now I don't have a sewing room and I still love the size and scale of the piece. The paint and ribbon handles were never going to do for it's new purpose...a small kitchen hutch! I knew I wanted to paint it and add bin pulls. Picking paint was easy. I wasn't going to change it too terribly much. I wanted a red top with a cream colored body. For the bin pulls, I decided on red colored glass pulls. I ordered them from VanDyke's Restorers and waited. Painting was done and I was still waiting. Finally, they arrived and sadly the red was all wrong. Now what? Well I headed to our local home improvement center and found the bin pulls that belong on this piece. I mean it...looks like they were supposed to be on this little hutch. What do you think?!!





Sharing at Stephanie's ~ Sunday Showcase Party and Susan's Met Monday and Sue's REDnesday because it is RED afterall!