In Celebration of a New Year

"...let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD." Psalm 105:3

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This is the first week of the New Year, and its gone by so fast already ;)
As I think back to last January, it's amazing how much has come to pass since then! Thank you all for your loyal following and warm feedback, it has certainly been a blessing since the beginning. I've so enjoyed being able to chronicle this journey with you-- and I look forward to the future with gladness, indeed!
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We traveled up to Ohio {right before the holiday weekend} to attend a church fellowship meeting. The time spent there was edifying, the weather was beautiful, and memories.... priceless.

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Children are truly a blessing, aren't they! :) It was so encouraging to see so many young mothers & large families who are striving to live a life honoring to the Lord.

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I enjoyed driving through the old neighborhoods. These "turn of the century" homes were weathered with age, yet the blanket of snow softened the scene--adding a hint of nostalgia as we passed by.

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An expectant Mother & her daughter

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What an inspiring way to be able to spend Christmas weekend! I really enjoyed meeting new friends, having the opportunity to serve & worship together... and I even played guitar onstage! ;)
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On our way through Kentucky, we were able to get a quick tour of the Creation Museum. In the above exhibit, two women are shown weaving. Basket weaving is a skill I hope to learn this year, as I'd like a large basket for harvesting vegetables during the Summer.
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In this exhibit it's showing what an early version of a garden may have been like. Hmm, for some reason I'm inclined to feel that the soil was a bit richer than that... hehe!
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That soil reminds me of at home...

Yesterday, as my sister and I went bike riding down the lane, she'd collect a bit of wind-blown cotton along the way. The fields are all harvested and barren, but it's still a spectacular sight to me :)

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{the tree branches kept snagging my hair! lol}

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I decided to prepare an area for an upcoming small garden, so I started breaking up an old bale of hay, to thickly spread as the first layer of mulch.

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In the meadow, there's a patch of trees that should give part shade if I create a garden..so I'm thinking of doing leaf lettuces & swiss chard. Our summers get so dry out here, I really think a part shade plot will do well. I'll keep you updated.
*Update: I just started 3 new plots for No-Dig gardens, I'm on a roll (I think its because of these seed catalogues!) ah well.
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And a recipe...

Homemade Greek Pizza

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Easy Dough Recipe
(I usually double this & store it in the refrigerator)
3 cups flour, 3 tsp cream of tartar, 1.5 tsp salt, 1.5 tsp baking soda, 1/2 cup oil, 1 cup water.
{Pre-bake in a 450 degree oven before adding toppings!}
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Toppings: Mozzarella cheese, Onions/garlic/Portabella mushrooms lightly sauteed, kalamata olives, tomatoes, feta cheese, & a handful of organic salad greens (they cook down like spinach when baked)

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Homemade sauce (always!): Fresh organic tomatoes/paste, garlic, fresh herbs, sea salt.

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Crust: We enjoy a hardy crust, that holds up for excellent leftovers (never soggy!)

The secret is that it's the same dough used for crackers! ;) love it.

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Talk to you soon!!