Here are a few things we’ve been up to most recently!

Baking some homegrown butternut squash to be used in soup, chili, bread… The color of these is rich and luscious!

Braided cinnamon bread, baked for church fellowship snacks. I made a simple icing to drizzle over the top for serving.

Evening Advent reading for Mama. Excellent!

Trying a new cheese: quark! We used it on salad, stirred into macaroni or rice, and spread on crackers. I also reserve the cream from the raw milk when cheesemaking and use it elsewhere.

December 6th is St Nicholas Day and, instead of doing Santa Claus, we celebrate this real Father Christmas who lived his life spreading the love and gospel of Christ. I made spiced nuts, Irish shortbread cookies, and fudge.

Real life. Dishes stacked and ready to wash after some cooking and baking.

And, a new quilt! After over a year of searching, I was pleased with this beautiful blue triangle quilt. It’s cozy and the colors are neutral and pleasing. The bookshelf bedside tables were cleaned and the books replaced. I had other ideas for bedside tables, but went back to these.

My oldest son brought up our Christmas books for the season! We have separated our books into seasons to make things ‘new again’ each time a certain holiday roles around. Most books fill our living rooms bookcases and each bedroom has at least one bookcase… do I have a book problem? Perhaps.

I cooked a chicken in water with ACV vinegar this time again. I am trying my hand at meat stock (which is very similar to bone broth, but uses meat, not just bones and skin). The result is very gelatinous and the meat is still delicious. A time saver, too! Now, we’ll be set all week for meat as well as stock/broth, adding nutrition to our meals.

And finally, seeking to grind more grains again as I bake for the family. Most recent recipe (besides loaf bread or rolls): cinnamon rolls!

Have a lovely week, slow, reflective, and focused on the birth of the One who came to rescue us! Glory to God in the highest!