Thank you for your patience with us, with me, through the whirlwind of transitioning, moving, Christmas-ing, and settling-in. Indeed, all are complete and the dusts of transition are settling in to their proper places as today begins the new melody with which our life will hum. Daniel is off to work after a beautiful time off. What a blessing these days have been for our family. Such wondrous provision from the Lord.
On provision...
A new weekly tradition of posting has begun to stir in my heart.
Manna Monday
Marlene hand burned these words into wood from their yard, as a symbol of all the Monday nights that Anna, Meredith, Tirzah and I spent together while the Soldiers were away.
Manna. The food the Lord provided while they wandered in the desert.
Manna. A word combination of the names Anna and Meredith. Friends the Lord provided during the first leg of our military journey.
And although the Manna Monday dinners with those two very dear friends have ended, Manna Mondays continue as we feast on the Lord's provision everyday, but most especially as we begin a new week. On this Monday, we have feasted upon the Lord's provision:
a full night's rest
All good things for our enjoyment
Beauty that surrounds
Coffee
Walking trails
UPS man to take a package
Daniel's found dog tags
Daniel home for breakfast! and then home for the day at 2:15!
(From Genesis 1 Reading this morning)
Separation from light and darkness
from land and sea
Seed-bearing plants and trees
Lights in the sky to govern
Mondays will also be, a favorite in the Shear household, for they will be the week's baking day! Tirzah and I have created a new system with baking. She, the little Delight that she is, desires to be in the middle of absolutely everything Daniel and I do. In the kitchen, it can become quite complicated. But now, we pull her homemade high chair up to the second drawer by the sink and place all of her kitchen utensils inside. Mama's recipe needs a little bit of flour, so Tirzah gets a little bit of flour in her bowl too. Mama needs some sugar to make the treats real nice, well Tirzah does too. And goodness how she loves to put her hands in and get them deliciously dirty!
What's baking today:
Blueberry Crumb Muffins
a recipe from my Apples of Gold class
preheat to 350
Sift together:
2 C flour
3 t baking powder
1/2 C flour
1/2 t salt
Add and stir only until moistened:
1 egg
1/4 C oil
1 C milk
Stir in:
1 1/4 C blueberries
Spoon batter into greased muffins pans and sprinkle topping:
3 T melted butter
1/3 C brown sugar
1/4 t cinnamon (I use a teaspoon or so...)
1/2 C flour
Bake for 25 minutes or until a deep golden brown on top
Best Brown Bread
a recipe from my childhood friend Jen Jorgenson
Preheat to 350
Sift together:
1 1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 C all purpose flour
2/3 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C old fashioned oats
1/3 C ground flaxseed
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
Stir in:
1 2/3 C buttermilk (or I have been using 1 C plain yogurt and then 2/3 c milk and it works great!)
Spoon batter into greased bread pan and then sprinkle with 1 T old fashioned oats.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean
And as an add-on to my last post, the one outside of Starbucks (thanks Aunt Carol for the gift card!! ), here are more pictures from our adventure down to the Sound. Since then we seen 3 or 4 Bald Eagles and have done even more adventuring. Needless to say, we are loving it here in WA!
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| Olympic Mountains from a trail by our house |
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| Mt. Rainier just down the street! Yesterday was ALL sunshine and gorgeous! |
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| More Olympic range across the water |
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| This is the rock where we see the seals |
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| Mama... I don't like dirt! |
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| Tirzah loves to watch the kiddies at the bus stop each morning! |
And as promised last post, here is an incredible gingerbread recipe from Danae. She and Michael had a loaf of this waiting for us with hot cider and fresh whip cream when we arrived for Christmas. It is SO good! We have made it for several neighbors surrounding us and everyone has enjoyed it! We hope you will too
Gingerbread
Preheat 350
Mix wet:
3/4 C dark molasses
1 C yogurt or buttermilk (we use yogurt)
3 T oil
Sift together dry:
1 1/3 C whole wheat flour
1 C flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t dry powdered mustard (seriously! The "secret ingredient")
1 t ginger
1 t cinnamon
1/4 t ground cloves
pinch of salt
Grease a 7x11 pan (for thicker pieces) or a 9x13 for thinner pieces
Mix wet into dry and spread in pan.
Bake 30-35 minutes
May the rest of your Monday be filled with delicacies of the Lord's provision.
Blessings
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