Just Peachy....

This is the time of year where I really get into canning my fruit for the Fall and Winter seasons. I look out for those prices dropping in the market to get the best deal. This last week. When most stores had their peaches for $1.99-$2.69 a pound I found some beautiful Snow White Peaches for .88 cents a pound. Still a little higher than I would like but...I jumped on it anyway. I bought half a bushel which is 25 pounds...and canned them yesterday...I saved some for eating and made a wonderful pie for dessert.If all goes well...We will have them throughout the Winter. I also found Bartlett Pears for 33. a pound...yup!!! I didn't pass that one up...I bought 67 pounds!!!! I will be canning, juicing and have some for eating. I got a lot of work ahead of me with that one...But thrilled beyond measure that these healthy treats will be there for my family for the coming months!

~Old Fashioned Peach Pie~

Pastry for Two-Crust Pie

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

6 cups sliced peaches (6 to 8 medium)

(I used Snow White peaches)

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon butter or stick margarine, if desired

******

1. Heat oven to 425°. Make pastry.

2. Mix sugar, flour and cinnamon in large bowl. Stir in peaches and lemon juice. Turn into pastry-lined

pie plate. Cut butter into small pieces; sprinkle over peaches. Cover with top pastry that has slits cut in it; seal and flute.Or do a lattice style top like I did! Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.

3. Bake about 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown and juice begins to bubble through slits in crust. Cool on wire rack at least 2 hours.

ENJOY!!!

Vintage Summer

The day's of Summer are coming to a close. The kids will go back to school, back to their routines and lessons. We are sticking to the old days where school would start after Labor Day. Though my son already started a couple classes at the Jr. College....He will be working on lessons at home as well. Tomorrow he has a job interview...Praying he will get it. The kiddo's have been fitting in their last minute Summer fun with friends before we get back to the grind.


I have been cleaning the house, preparing the school years curriculum, planning this years Literary Tea group and adjusting schedules etc....Hopefully we will be able to find our rhythm with few conflicts if any. I have planned some fun things this year... so keep posted. 

Bible For Breakfast...

Source
My husband always says...Just like we need to eat breakfast in the morning to fill us...all the more we need the Bible for Breakfast to feed our souls. So true! I will be honest...There are mornings I don't feed my spirit...for whatever reasons be it I am undisciplined. Thank God for the husband I have for always encouraging me/us to fill our minds and bodies with the word of God with our children at breakfast time.
"People need more than bread for their life:They must feed on every word of God"
~Matthew 4:4

Every most mornings Freckles and I read from our 6 month track...It has taken longer than 6 months...But happy to report we are almost done with it. We will have read scripture in every book of the Bible. These days...we have been a lot more diligent in reading the Bible for breakfast...Because I know that I need it and my kids need it and because God calls us to read the word. It really has been a great way to start the day. My dear husband also says...
You wouldn't starve yourself from food right?, so why would your starve yourself of the word?"

Now since school will be starting back up our family won't have the same schedule.BOOOO!!!! Mr. Darling has classes during the week which will take much of the day and Maestro has started a couple classes in college which will keep him from a normal morning routine. My hubby though, as disciplined as he is reads the word every morning over coffee...As our son and a few friends who are also attending college with him have pulled together to read and discuss scripture as their devotions. This gives me complete joy.
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. ~3 John: 4
 So looks like it's just me and Freckles most days...
I feel very strongly our mornings with God and Bible for breakfast
 is a priority we need to focus our day.

Not only do we read the word...We also pray. Mr. Darling wrote up a whole little prayer booklet for Freckles to use as prayer guides for morning prayer, meals and night prayers as well. It is so neat. So each morning we read the morning prayer together and pray for others and the goings on.
"Pray without ceasing"
~1 Thessalonians 5:17

"The family that prays together stays together"

Another part of our devotion time is reading from this devotion. I read it to Freckles and she looks up the scripture verses and reads them aloud. Then we talk about it. We also got her a Faith Journal where she can write down her thoughts, joys, fears and take it to the Lord in prayer.

When we walk by the Spirit the fruit of the Spirit will be evident in our lives:
 love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control
-Galatians 5:16, 22-23
****
I pray you too will start your day of with your Bible for breakfast...It will keep you going all day long!
Blessings!

Gifts From Czech....

It's been a week since my son returned from his trip to Czech. It's been great having him home. This week we just sort of hung out, taking it easy, enjoying our last days of Summer. We are all preparing for school to begin. Our son started a couple classes at a Jr. College yesterday...as Mr. Darling will start September 1st. I will be starting Freckles lessons after Labor Day weekend. Sorry I have been quiet around here...I had three teeth pulled last week and still trying to recover from the pain...But wanted to pop in and share the gifts my son brought back from Prague! The first three pictures is of the scarf he got Freckles...It is colorful just like her. She loved it. Maestro said that scarves are a big thing in the Czech Republic...

He had a grand time for one whole week hiking many many miles in the Czech mountains....Somewhere along that trip he spotted these sweet owls from afar in the window of a shop...And knew he had to get them for his sister...and as a special belated birthday gift to her since he was unable to be here for her birthday. The owls are completely handmade from elements found in the forests/mountains of Czech...It is the sweetest, simplest, most thoughtful gift he could have gotten her. It now hangs in her room to enjoy.

He found some babushka nesting dolls for me to add to my collection.
 I love them of course!

Lastly he brought back Czech beer for Mr. Darling. I was actually shocked he made it out of the country with them...and gasped when he told me they sold it to him. All the gifts were thoughtful and appreciated. I am so happy he took the time to think about what we like. He really is such a sweet young man. He even brought back his friend a lovely gift...which I don't have pictures of...but it totally represented her to the "T". I told him that he has good taste just like his Mama.(LOL). Hope you all are enjoying the last days of Summer.
Cheers!!!

The Adventures Of Prague....My Son's Mission Trip To The Czech Republic

  

My son and his team had a wonderful time on their mission trip to the Czech Republic...He spent the last three weeks working with the youth in Prague...teaching them about his faith and Christianity. They stayed with a wonderful missionary family who lives and serves in Prague. It surely was an experience of a lifetime.  

 They worked with the children and teens throughout the weeks
 and had a little free time touring around the city and sites.

He was able to use his gifts of music and his faith with the children...They taught the little children
 "Jesus Loves Me" and the meaning of the song...How sweet is that?
They worshipped each Sunday together in Church.

 And spent one whole week in the mountains of Czech, hiking, fellow shipping and evangelising to the teens. It was a humbling, memorable experience for him...he was able to share his faith with unbelievers that came to believe at the end of the trip. it is so good to see the Lord working through my son and the other missionary team.

He also built new friendships with the team members and the Czech teens.

And he soaked up the beauty of God's creation...majestic isn't it?

 
He said it was so European..Not like America at all...His time was amazing!
The pic. above is the house of John Huss ( Jan Huss) A Christian Martyr, religious thinker.
he said every house or building seemed to have a box of flowers
 outside and the people were very friendly.
 

I am so thrilled beyond measure that he was able to go on this trip.....
 I pray they were able to bless others...For i know they left completely blessed by them.
I hope you all enjoyed the pictures.