10/29/03 PUMPKIN, BABES, JUMP ON HOLIDAYS, PLANTING
Posted by: jhbreneman <jhbreneman@...>
HEART TO HEART NEWSLETTER
ENCOURAGEMENT TO WOMEN
Compiled especially for YOU with LOVE by Lois Breneman
10/29/03 PUMPKIN, BABES, JUMP ON HOLIDAYS, PLANTING
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CONTENTS:
ANALOGY OF A PUMPKIN
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
GETTING A JUMP ON THE HOLIDAYS
CREAM CHEESE-PUMPKIN ROLL & A LAYER CAKE
PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE ~ (REDUCED CALORIE)
THANKSGIVING PROJECTS, CRAFTS AND BOOKS
A SPECIAL SEASON
FALL PLANTING FOR SPRING GARDENS
TIDBITS
ANALOGY OF A PUMPKIN
Author unknown ~ Contributed by Elsie Wertz, Virginia
A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
From Peggy Stevenson of Virginia ~ We sit down as a family after our Bible reading and the three of us are supposed to asked one another at least two questions - concerning anything they want to know about the other or whatever they want to ask. It doesn't have to be about the Bible, but one day my son, Cody, who is almost eight years old asked what my favorite Bible story was and I told him, "The woman at the well." He said, "No, it's not! It's 'Obey your Parents!' " We also talked about how God did things in 7's and he said, "I'm seven!" Children are so precious!
From Margie DeMonbrun in Missouri ~ Four year old Olivia was having a box lunch with her mother, grandma and great aunt. As Olivia was eating her apple she said, "I spy something I need to eat!" It was the chocolate chip cookie tucked away in the box.
Midge Crutchfield of Virginia, who is a kindergarten teacher told how one day she had to leave school early to get a flu shot, leaving her students with another teacher. Later one of the mothers reported how her child came home telling her that Mrs. Crutchfield had to get a flea shot!
Judy Primo of Virginia who teaches 4th grade told how she was listening to her students quote Psalm 51:1-2 in class. Verse 2 says, Cleanse me from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. One girl quoted it like this: Cleanse me from all my intrigrity
Judy Primo also told about a kindergarten teacher who asked a student, Have you ever had chicken pox? The answer came without hesitation: No, but Ive had hotdogs!
Teacher, Kathy Friar of Virginia had a substitute filling in for her one day. The students kept telling the substitute, Mrs. Friar does it this way. Soon the substitute teacher told the students that they were creatures of habit. One student piped up and said, No, were creatures of God!
From Barb Campbell of Mississippi ~ After a hardy Oklahoma rainstorm filled all the potholes in the back alley, a young mother watched her two little boys playing in a water puddle through her kitchen window. The older of the two, a five year old lad, grabbed his sibling by the back of the head and shoved his face into the water hole. As the younger boy recovered and stood laughing and dripping, the mother ran to the back yard in a panic. "Why on earth did you do that to your little brother?" she inquired as she scolded the older boy in anger. "We were just playing 'church', Mommy!" he said. "I was baptizing him like the preacher did in church last Sunday." I said, "I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and in-the-hole-he-goes!"
Dr. Elmer Towns told a story of a little boy who told his mother, I beat the devil today! When she asked how he did that, he replied excitedly, I beat him running! This little boy understood biblical theology just right, since we are told to flee from Satan!
I asked my five year old daughter if she wanted a whole or half sandwich for her lunch. She said, Half, but give me both of them! ~ Lois
My four year old daughter was concentrating intently while tying her shoe and singing a song she had just learned - all at the same time. When she finished, she laughed, saying, Oh dear! I forgot to put my foot in! ~ Lois
GETTING A JUMP ON THE HOLIDAYS
By Lois Breneman ~ [email protected]
Holiday Recipes will be sent to you real soon to help in your planning.
Most of us are not finished with our Christmas shopping, and dont get stressed about that! Im not finished either. There are a few other things we can do ahead of time to help get a Jump on the holidays.
Shop early for your favorite holiday recipes. Purchase basic ingredients such as unbleached flour, shortening, cooking oil, baking powder, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips when on sale, but dont wait until the last minute. I remember once needing unbleached flour for baking cookies and the shelf was bare! Buy it now! This will cut way down on your time, saving trips to the grocery store during your busiest time of the year. Spices such as ginger, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg that are necessary for Thanksgiving and Christmas baking, can be purchased in bulk at a health foods store to save as much as ten times the price in grocery stores. Use your savings to buy gifts.
Bake cookies, cakes and pies now and freeze them for the holidays. This will help get you and your children into the spirit and spur you on to finish the shopping and pull out the decorations too. I enjoy decorating the day after Thanksgiving, if at all possible, so we can enjoy everything longer. Dont overdo the baking, though baking now for parties will save you time in the long-run. A birthday cake for Jesus will freeze well, if baked ahead. Frost after it is thawed.
Look through recipes, write out your holiday menu now, make a grocery list and shop for all but the perishable items.
Cream cheese balls freeze well. Thats something you can do now for later.
Buy a turkey breast now while on sale for 88 cents a pound!
Make a large batch of stuffing at Thanksgiving and freeze some for Christmas, if you plan to serve it then as well. No need to make it twice. It freezes very well, separate from the bird.
Make a list of goals for your family during this holiday season, along with how you can reach those goals. Keep things in perspective.
If you dont have an Advent Calendar to use with your children, you may want to work on one now.
Choose Christmas cards now or use what you had already bought on sale last year. Type out all the names and addresses of those to whom you plan to send a Christmas card. Keep this list in a file to copy, paste and print. These names and addresses can be printed on mailing labels. Or they can simply be printed on white paper, cut out and glued onto envelopes with a glue stick. This can be done now. Sign the cards now, as well. Stickers, stamps and return address labels can be added now. Let the children help. There are so many rubber stamps available to dress up an envelope and that can also be done ahead of time!
If you plan to send a newsy Christmas letter to friends and family whom you dont see very often, work on a rough draft now. Get in-put from each family member on what to include. Then fine tune it and print it out! Make copies on colored paper. Use a rubber stamp with a Christmas theme. Done! Fold the letter and tuck into the cards. Now your cards will be ready to mail when the time comes. If you are waiting for a picture to include, fine, but the rest will be done, and your planning ahead will relieve a lot of pressure.
You may want to find a new Christmas ornament to make together as a family. Search for ideas now. Holiday magazines, the library, craft books and Michaels are good places to find ideas.
Find an Angel Tree in the mall and shop early for the child you choose to bring some Christmas joy. Find out if there is also a needy family who needs a meal or other help. Remember the single moms.
As far as your gift list, write all the names of those to whom you plan to give a gift. Check to see what gifts you already have on hand and continue from there. If you have time to make a gift that isnt too complicated, make it in multiples assembly line style. Handmade gifts that are done well are always welcome, and you can save so much. Christian books, CDs and tapes are a great gift idea too. Some cities have a temporary Christian bookstore in their area, with merchandise discounted as much as 80%. I know one had returned to our area again this year.
With some planning ahead, you can make this Thanksgiving and Christmas season a time of real thanksgiving and peaceful joy, rather than hurried, frazzled, stressfull drudgery!
CREAM CHEESE-PUMPKIN ROLL & A LAYER CAKE
Moist and delicious! I made this recipe several times already this fall and it freezes very well. This is one way to get a Jumpon the holidays. Out of this recipe you will get one large pumpkin roll and one small layer cake. You can double this recipe, using one large can of pumpkin. Make several batches and you will be able to go to a Christmas parties without baking! Just pull one from the freezer! Your teens will enjoy doing this recipe with you. It is really easy, but the final result is rewarding and delicious!
Cake: Filling:
1 ½ cup unbleached flour 2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 tsp. baking powder 2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. baking soda 1 ½ sticks butter, softened
1 tsp. ground cinnamon 2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cloves powdered sugar
½ tsp. salt
6 large eggs
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/3 cup 100% pure pumpkin
1 to 2 cups chopped walnuts, optional
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a 10 x 15 inch jelly roll pan and a 9 inch square pan with wax paper. Spray wax paper with Pam. Set aside. Beat eggs, sugar and pumpkin until thick. Stir in dry ingredients, but do not over mix. Spread evenly in prepared jelly roll pan and 9 inch square pan. Sprinkle with nuts, if desired. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen the jelly roll while hot, cover with a clean tea towel or an old pillowcase, and invert cake onto the cloth. Carefully peel off wax paper. Roll up the cake and cloth together while still hot. Cool on a wire rack or on the counter. Filling: Beat first four ingredients until smooth and creamy. When the cake is completely cool, unroll it, remove towel, and spread cream cheese filling over the cake. Re-roll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar before serving. Slice into serving sizes. The 9 inch cake can be cut in half when cool, so you have two 4 ½ x 9 inch wide layers. Frost one layer when cool, and stack the other layer on top. Lay a paper doily on top of the cake and sprinkle sifted powered sugar over the top. Remove paper doily and you have a beautifully decorated cake!
PUMPKIN CHIFFON PIE ~ (REDUCED CALORIE)
Courtesy of http://www.homemakersjournal.com ~ Used with permission
2 3/4 cups cold skim milk
2 pkgs. (1.5 oz. each) instant sugar-free vanilla pudding mix
1 can (15 oz.) solid-pack pumpkin
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 reduced-fat graham cracker crust (9 inches)
In a mixing bowl, combine milk and pudding mix. Beat for 1 minute (mixture will be thick). Add pumpkin and spices; beat 1 minute longer. Pour into piecrust. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours until firm. If desired, garnish with light frozen whipped topping and sprinkle with cinnamon. (This recipe does not freeze well, but less carories is a plus! Or should I say a "minus?" ~ Lois)
THANKSGIVING PROJECTS, CRAFTS AND BOOKS
By Julie Druck of York, Pennsylvania, "A Heart for Home" ~ [email protected]
Used with permission
* This idea is from one of my past newsletters - making a blessings turkey. At the beginning of November, I (or one of the boys) cut out a large turkey from construction paper and many small pieces of paper shaped like feathers. Every day, on one feather, each member of the family writes something theyre thankful for. Each of us then tapes the feather to the body of the turkey. By Thanksgiving Day, our turkey is full of colorful, thankful feathers!
* Heres a handwriting idea to use this month: have your children copy Psalm100, which is a psalm of thanksgiving to the Lord. Depending on your childs age and ability, have them copy a few lines each day until complete. Maybe they could memorize it and recite it at your Thanksgiving celebration.
* I love reading books to the boys that pertain to the current holiday. For Thanksgiving, try: "Squanto - Friend of the Pilgrims" by Clyde Robert Bulla (a short chapter book); any of Kate Waters books (great history and "real-life" photographs); "The Thanksgiving Story" by Alice Dalgliesh; and for fun - "One Tough Turkey - A Thanksgiving Story" by Steven Kroll; "Cranberry Thanksgiving" by Wende Devlin; and "Franklins Thanksgiving" by Paulette Bourgeois. Also, check out the video "William Bradford and the First Thanksgiving" from the Nest Family Animated Hero Series.
*For a fun little craft, try marble-painted turkeys. Cut a white piece of construction paper to fit into the bottom of an aluminum pie pan. Grab some fall colors of acrylic paint and pour in small dishes. Drop a marble in each paint dish then allow your children to scoop out the paint-coated marble with a spoon and drop it in the pie pan. Have them roll the pan around so that the marble leaves prints. After the paper is dry, attach a construction paper turkey body and legs. Add eyes, a beak and a wattle. Hang up!
A SPECIAL SEASON
By Arleen M. Kaptur ~ Used with permission
Holidays are times for family, fun, decorating, good food, and all the trimmings. It certainly does not have to be a time to go knee-deep in debt and have to pay off credit card bills, loans, etc. until next Holiday season when it can start all over again.
How do you create a beautiful Holiday Season without creating a worry-filled budget crisis? You want all the best for family and friends, and yet - Using creativity and imagination are two great starters for fabulous holiday faire with a minimum of cash out-lay. Wait a minute, you might just be thinking - I'm not creative and my imagination leaves much to be desired. We all have ideas in our heads - 24 hours a day, seven days a week - use them, encourage them, and then watch and be amazed that you cooked this fabulous dish, made your own Holiday decorations, and have turned your home into a Holiday mecca for family and friends.
The Internet is full of ideas to start you on your way, as are magazines, television specials, stores, etc. There are displays at malls and storefronts that will give you suggestions, craft stores will truly inspire you, and taking into account your personal and family likes and dislikes - you are building a wealth of possibilities. Fabric stores are a myriad of colors, samples - feel free to browse and let your mind take in some of the ideas. When you begin to put your ideas to the test - know that you are not in a contest - relax, change things as the project progresses, if you like, and remember that one-of-a-kind items are more pleasurable than machine-stamped, one-of-a-zillion types that everyone from here to the moon and back will display and have in their home. Your creation will be unique and special because it was made with fantastic intentions of
bringing pleasure and beauty into your home, not only for yourself but for everyone who will venture into your home during the Holiday Season. No one will come up with exactly the same color scheme, little touches, and special features that you know your family will enjoy and love.
If you can't sew-glue; if you are short of time with job and family obligations-ask for help. Children love being "elves" during this time of year and they will gladly trim, paint, glue, glitter, etc. Not only are you getting some additional help in your attempts, but the giggles, laughter, and camaraderie makes it all worthwhile. Your holiday decor will have special meaning to everyone because everyone made them. They added their own special insight or attempt and that is something money can't buy.
What about gifts - you can start with stripped-down store-bought items if you like. Just personalize them, add a little here and there and, taking into account the person they are intended for, gear them to that individual. Someone who loves to cook or bake would delight in a variety of cooking utensils in a basket, with cookie mixes, spices, and other additions. Same thing for a hunter/fisherperson, crafting friend, or co-worker. Working next to someone all year 'round gives you some idea of what they like and what they don't care for. Just incorporate these insights and you will have a treasured gift. A favorite book with an inscription, a little girl's jewelry box with a pendant tucked inside, a tool belt with safe tools for a little lad to help dad, or some fanciful containers of niceties that will remind the recipient of your concern and friendship each time they are used - not very expensive, but an extension of love and affection.
When buying toys for children, remember less is more. The more the gift is programmed "to do" everything and let the child become a bystander without having to do anything - the more the gift will find its way into a closet for the remainder of the year. Creativity and imagination are blossoming in the youngsters and toys that are geared to "take over" will become boring and unwanted toys. If a child can add his own touch of storyline, activity, colors, plots, etc. - this will provide hours of enjoyment. Remember Tinkertoys and Lincoln Logs - basic, but the hours spent trying to create better and more impressive results were fun and memorable. There is the painful realization of too much technology in a child's gift when they find a day's worth of fun with the box it came in. Playtime should be fun time - time that allows the child to bring out ideas, possibilities, dreams, hopes, and even fears. When all these emotions are passed on to toy items, then life becomes easier to understand and handle and Teddy bears become friends, and blocks, tools, and train sets can be molded into the type of world that interests and motivates.
Food gifts are always wonderful to receive and give. Someone took the time to give you their favorite soup base, chili mix, bread recipe, etc. Then when you use the item, pleasant memories are right there.
Homemade quilts, painted vases, picture frames, scarves, gloves, etc. may be old-fashioned and not "expensive" but they are "impressive." There is extra warmth in home-made slippers, and a softer texture to sweaters and vests. Store-bought clothing can be individualized with a thoughtfully placed accessory or touch. A new wallet with pictures of family and friends becomes more than a wallet, and a robe with a favorite book in the pocket has meaning and special tucked in.
Start impressing family and friends with your creativity and imagination - this holiday season may just become the best ever - thanks to you! ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 October
Arleen Kaptur is offering her free Holiday newsletters, Woodland gifts, and more-
e-mail : [email protected] to subscribe or visit:: http://www.arleenssite.com
http://www.Arleens-RusticLiving.com http://www.topica.com/lists/simpleliving
FALL PLANTING FOR SPRING GARDENS
by Carrie Paulk ~ Used with permission
Ask someone what their favorite time of year is, and you'll most likely hear them wax eloquently about Spring, with it's colorful spring gardens heralding the end of Winter. Ahh, if only your garden gave you that feeling when spring rolls around. But alas, you do not even know where to begin in your landscape.
Fear not, achieving that gorgeous spring garden is not as hard as it seems; all you have to do is get your plans in gear and tackle them one by one. This way, you won't be caught by surprise when spring rolls around. One of those plans that you can do now is bulb planting. Many of the flowers that you connect with springtime are actually bulb flowers, planted back in fall. Planting these bulbs now will help you to achieve that colorful spring array of flowers that you so want. The first place to start when you're planning a spring bulb garden is your local garden center or other establishment that has spring-flowering bulbs for sale. To get the best quality bulb, try to stay away from the packaged bulbs in netting, and go to a place where you can pick out the bulbs individually. This way, you can check the bulb's quality. The old saying, "The bigger, the better," applies when you're looking for a good bulb. You also want to check for any soft or squishy spots, and look for any sort of pests or disease. A good quality bulb should feel solid and slightly heavy.
So exactly when in autumn should you plant flower bulbs? Some bulbous flowers, like crocus (Crocus spp.), baby gladiolus (Gladiolus colvillei.), and ornamental allium (Allium spp.), can be planted at any time during the Autumn season. Other flowers are more finicky with their planting times. Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) should be planted as early as you can get them. Tulip bulbs (Tulipa spp.) should be planted in mid to late October in this region. Hyacinth flowers (Hyacinthus spp.) do their best when planted from October to December.
Spring-flowering lilies (Lilium spp.) should be planted as soon as you receive them. As for Iris species (Iris spp.), they depend on whether they are a bulbous iris or a rhizomatous iris. Bulbous irises should be planted between October and November, and rhizomatous irises can be planted from July to October. Even though all these flowers can be planted in Fall, many are specific about exactly when they should be planted.
Planting depth of bulbous flowers are specific as well. Generally, the larger the bulb, the deeper it should be planted. However, there are exceptions to every rule, so the following is a list of common bulbs and the depth that they should be planted:
-Daffodils: 5-6" (large), 3-4" (small); planted 8" apart
-Tulips: plant three times as wide as the bulb width, 4-8" apart
-Bulbous Irises: 4" deep, 3-4" apart
-Rhizomatous Irises: just below the soil surface, 1-2' apart
-Baby Gladiolus: 3-5" deep, 4-6" apart
-Crocus: 2-3" deep, 3-4" apart
-Lily: 2-3" (small), 3-4" (medium), 4-6" (large), 4-8" apart
Bulbous flowers are more finicky than most when it comes to how and when they should be planted, but that shouldn't deter you from having a garden filled with their noticeable presence come springtime. Once you educate yourself and formulate a plan for your garden, you will be well on your way to having that springtime burst of color and shapes to welcome you back from the bleak winter.
Carrie Paulk is the author of "Fall Planting For Spring Gardens," which is part of the Tip of the Week program with Turf Tamer, Inc. She has written many informative landscaping articles. To learn more about landscaping tips and tricks, you can find the rest of her articles at http://www.turftamerinc.com/tip.shtm . She can be reached at [email protected]
TIDBITS
"Family members are not interruptions to your work but extensions of it. Consider every family member a VIP - Very Important Priority." ~ Author unknown ~ Contributed by Mirian Cox, Missionary in Brazil
"THE 23RD CHANNEL" ~ The TV is my shepherd, I shall want. It makes me lie down on the sofa. It leads me away from the scriptures. It destroys my soul. It leads me in the path of sex and violence, for the sponsor's sake. Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities, there will be no interruption, For the TV is with me. It's cable and remote, they control me. It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of worldliness; It anoints my head with Humanism, My coveting runneth over. Surely laziness and ignorance shall Follow me all days of my life: And I shall dwell in the house Watching TV forever. ~ Author unknown ~ Contributed by Barb Campbell of Mississippi
Great sites for Movies and TV shows and for video games:
file://C:My%20Documentsww.christiananswers.net and file://C:My%20Documentsww.screenit.com
Barb Campbell of Mississippi says her family uses both of these regularly.
God bless each of you ladies and your families!
Love from your Heart to Heart friend, Lois
Remember Who You Are!
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us,
that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 NIV
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