Thinking About Home

As the name of my blog indicates, I spend a lot of time thinking about home. Of course, my Heavenly Home is the one that is eternal, so that’s where I need to lay up my treasures, and that’s the one I’m striving for. But in the meantime, I have been given this tiny piece of the here-and-now—this home on the edge of town, this family, this neighborhood—in which to serve Him. And, though this is in the earthly realm, I want the things that happen here to be investments in the Heavenly realm.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

gather. {memories with friends}

~ a cozy evening corner at Creekside Cottage ~

We have been away for a few days...and were blessed to have been invited to gather some memories with our friends at Creekside Cottage.

Deanna and I met on our blogs, quickly became blog friends, and now we (and our families!) are face-to-face, hug-your-neck kind of friends. We have been able to coordinate visits two or three times a year, sometimes here, sometimes there. It is always a delight to share time with them.

We began this visit with Moses, a spectacular production at Sight and Sound Theater. Their married daughter Lindsay and her husband Joseph work at the theater, and they gifted us with tickets! What a show! Then Lindsay, who is an animal trainer, led us on a fabulous backstage tour. We were all amazed at the size of the stage and the huge set pieces, as well as the precision with which every single detail must be planned. We enjoyed meeting the animals who were in their holding pens and stalls waiting for the next scheduled show. Lindsay introduced them by name and told us of some of their specialties and quirks.

Lindsay guiding our backstage tour

Bekah is learning about ancient Egypt in her history studies, so I photographed her with the hieroglyphics. :)

After Moses, it was time for a little shopping. Off we went to Fresh Vintage by Amy, a delightful store that Deanna had introduced us to on our last trip to Lancaster County. I love this store too, but Kati and Bekah are totally smitten with it! 'Round and 'round we went, circling the store once, then twice, and then back to one spot and another to make final purchase decisions. Both girls gathered some "fresh vintage" treasures!

one of Bekah's treasures...a button ring

Then it was on to Creekside Cottage! Tim was home by that time, and he and Ron began to catch up. Bekah disappeared with Sarah and Kyle. Deanna and I exchanged birthday gifts. We all sipped coffee or apple cider and chatted away until it was time to gather around their table for delicious dinner of Chicken Tortilla Soup. (Oh my, was it good!) Rachel had made a mouthwatering pumpkin dessert, served warm and with a mug of hot coffee. We chatted through the evening, then made our lingering good-byes.

Creekside Cottage is a warm and welcoming place! It is comfortable and open and charming and cheerful. Deanna has so many beautiful and personal touches in her decorating. But more importantly, the people in the home are gracious...the hospitality there is also comfortable and open and charming and cheerful! We feel at home at Creekside!

beautiful scarf and jewelry from my friend who shares my love for autumn

Sarah, Deanna, Tim, and Rachel
Kyle in front :)

It is good to take time for gathering memories with friends!

For Deanna's sweet words about our gathering, go ~here~.

This is day 9 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

gather. {apple · grape · celery salad}

Today, let's gather the ingredients for an autumn salad.

We made this fruity salad for a couple of gatherings in September. It was the perfect September salad with its seasonal apples and grapes. But I think we'll bring it into October...at least one more time. It is a pleasant blend of tart and sweet fruit with a savory twist.

APPLE · GRAPE · CELERY SALAD

original recipe from Everyday Food magazine, September 2007

1/4 cup chopped pecans

2 celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal

1 Granny Smith apple, thinly sliced

1 cup seedless red grapes, halved

1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon olive oil

coarse salt and ground pepper

* * *

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spread pecans on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until lightly browned (about 4 minutes).

In a large bowl, combine celery, apples, grapes, pecans, vinegar, and oil.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with celery leaves, if desired.

This is day 8 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

gather. {even more pumpkins}

I love to use natural elements in my autumn decorating. But this year...well, I just couldn't resist these velvet pumpkins! I picked up one in August while on our anniversary getaway. And then I picked up another one at "my" Marshalls. Then I decided that a trio would be just right.

I gathered them in my dough bowl with some faux and natural fall-ish things.

My mom has been gathering some pumpkins of her own! Don't hers look lovely there on the white tray with the mercury glass candle holders? This arrangement is so "Mom."

I love that we all decorate with our own style, don't you?

What sort of pumpkins fit your style? Have you been gathering fall decor?

(Okay...no more pumpkin posts. I'll gather something else. For a few days.)

This is day 7 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Monday, October 6, 2014

gather. {the beauty of nature}

Kristin's family had plans for the day and the dinner guests we had invited needed to cancel. The day was crisp and deliciously autumn...not one to fritter away!

Ron went with a couple of his brothers to an antique car show. His oldest brother Max has restored their father's tractor and it was entered in the show.

So we girls grabbed our cameras and pumpkin spice iced coffees, and off we went for a Sunday afternoon drive! We rambled around, looking for autumn beauty...and because we are house-y sort of people, we ~~stalked~~ drove through several neighborhoods to see pretty fall wreaths and pots of mums and piles of pumpkins. (More on that later.)

But it was such a gorgeous day, we just couldn't stay in the car. We hopped out and took a walk through the woods, following a path that meandered alongside a stream.

Changed plans became an opportunity to gather some lovely moments in the great outdoors.

This is day 6 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

gather. {for worship}

One of the highlights of my week is our gathering with His Body on Sunday mornings. We are so blessed to be a part of a fellowship where God's Word is exhorted faithfully and where there is unity among believers. Our worship together is a beautiful thing.

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name." Malachi 3:16

This is day 5 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

gather. {more pumpkins}

The gatherings from the farm stand made their way to the mantel and the dining room table and the front porch and the back porch and the patio.

Pumpkins in the nooks and crannies.

What are you gathering this weekend?

This is day 4 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Friday, October 3, 2014

gather. {pumpkin}

I have never met a pumpkin I did not ~~like~~ love.

I love pumpkin spice iced coffee from Dunkin Donut. I love pumpkin muffins. I love Kati's pumpkin cake. (And I'm glad she makes one for her birthday every year). (Yes, the girl makes her own birthday cake.) (Because my layer cakes are...well...not always successful?) I love the pumpkin roll that my sister makes. I love pumpkin waffles. And did I mention pumpkin bread?

photo by Bekah

Pumpkin candles are the bomb. I buy them on clearance in December so I have a stash when autumn rolls around again.

Do you gather pumpkin flavors and scents too? Or are you like my friend Becky who feels like this...

~ source ~

This is day 3 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

gather. {at the farm stand}

We arrived at the farm stand in the early evening. As we carefully considered our choices (who can choose among the bounty?), we paused to chat with the farmer and his wife. We talked tractors and new grandbabies and pinched nerves. The farmer is our brother-in-law; the wife is Ron's sister.

Between snippets of conversation, we gathered Indian corn, Cinderella pumpkins, and Mexican hat pumpkins and put them in the wagon. More chatting, and then some butternut squash. More talk, more gourds. Ron and the farmer discussed sweet potatoes. The farmer walked over to his plants, crouched down and dug up a few, and handed them to Ron. Bekah chose some Baby Boos for her room and some for Kati who was at work.

The shadows lengthened, we gathered our selections, and headed home for an easy supper of leftover sloppy joes.

Do you gather autumn bounty from local farm stands? What do you choose?

This is day 2 in the series gather. Click ~here~ to see more.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

gather. {31 days}

I had pretty much decided not to do a 31-day series this year. A month long series is a lot of work. I know, because I have written such a series three Octobers in a row. I wrote about topics that I was passionate about...31 Days to Make a House a Home and 31 Days of Hospitality and CeLeBRaTe!! I didn't think that I could get that excited (31 days worth of excited!) about another topic.

But then I was shopping a few weeks ago and I saw this plate...

...and it sparked an idea!

Gather. Harvest. Autumn. Hmmm...

Off went my brain in a dozen different directions. Maybe even 31 different directions!

gath·er /ˈgaTH ər/

(v.) bring together and take in from scattered places or sources

I am going to gather. All month long.

I'll be "bringing together from scattered places and sources" and sharing what I've gathered. I may even challenge you to gather from time to time. As I gather, I'll actually be touching on the ideas of all three of my previous October series.