Monday Message

"I wish to urge again the importance of self-reliance on the part of every individual Church member and family. None of us knows when a catastrophe might strike. Sickness, injury, unemployment may affect any of us. We have a great welfare program with facilities for such things as grain storage in various areas. It is important that we do this. But the best place to have some food set aside is within our homes, together with a little money in savings. The best welfare program is our own welfare program. Five or six cans of wheat in the home are better than a bushel in the welfare granary." (President Gordon B. Hinckley)

Well at the time of this post it is the thirteenth of December by the time you read it. Christmas will be over, I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

This afternoon at four we are to get freezing rain which will go through the night and until noon tomorrow. I am glad we don't have to be out in it for sure. It does remind me of when our girls were youngsters, we had such an event, however there was snow on the ground.  And this freezing rain encased the snow... we all went out with pennies and skidded them across the ice encrusted snow. We had a great time and to this day we are finding those pennies in the driveway - a happy memory for us all :)

We all turn our thoughts to the New Year....

Many economists are saying higher prices ahead. I hope they are wrong but we should be ready for that just in case. Remember, every time you go into a store, pick up one thing for your storage.

I don't really do resolutions but I plan to learn new skills, learn more frugal ways of doing things, and also to be content with/using what we have - I feel this is a skill as well.

I think finding joy will be a good thing to do this coming year.

Finding ways to slow down and enjoy the spaces between the lines would be a good thing too. I feel sometimes I am running from one thing to the next.

I have been watching many water-coloring tutorials so I hope to put it all into practice this new year.

I started some Christmas baking...

This is my favorite, it is julekaga. It is like a stollen with frosting, very yummy.

I use this recipe and add 1/8 tsp. cardamom and add half a cup or some more of candied fruit and fourth a cup of raisins and handful chopped almonds. Then I have a frosting of powder sugar, two tbsp. butter and half tsp. almond flavoring, a little hot water, mix till you get the consistency you want and then put on these breads which I make into these shapes. You could make whatever shapes you want, then when frosted I sprinkle with sliced almonds yum.

The first holiday puzzle is finished...

I have pulled another out to get it started.

I finished up this little mitten I was making to hang on the knitting bag where it now lives. Yay!

I have a mitten I will be working on over winter - the speedy Selbu mittens, remember it is before Christmas as I write this and it will be my Christmas Eve cast on.

I look forward to making them. I will be using what I have on hand, so that is my plan. Sounds relaxing to me.

I hope that you are slowing down and looking to the new year.

Some make bean soup out of the leftover Christmas ham to bring prosperity in the coming year as a tradition. I like bean soup sound warm and inviting.

Missy says practice frugality this year.

Tippy Longstockings says be sure to rest more this coming year.

We all wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!