Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart

Through thick and thin, good and bad, hard days and soft days...there is always something to be thankful for.

446. Christmas movies  
447. reconnecting with long lost friends I haven't seen for awhile
448. birthday parties as reasons to reconnect with old friends
449. neighborhood marionette shows that happen EVERY night at 7, for the holidays
450. inspirational books
451. The Message Version of the Bible
452. free books for Kindle
453. fireplace on Netflix
454. vitamins
455. great deals
456. a new-to-me-grown-up bed
457. a sunflower in the middle of my yard
458. fresh tires
459. the rainy season
460. answered prayers
461. Joy while waiting
462. something to do
463. adopting a family
464. books from the grocery store
465. the lights on Naples Island
466. Christmas traditions
467. Advent
468. Advent readings
469. gum
470. $10 shoes
471. $10 dresses
472. ideas
473. memories
474. truth
475. justice
476. odd jobs
477. ridiculous rounds of family laughter
478. climbing doorways
479. hopping one legged races down the hallway
480. wool roving
481. new felting needles
482. change
483. seeing the positive
484. hand-me-down kid clothes
485. the romance  of Christmas

486. the Christmas story
487. people who ask, 'How are you doing?'
488. people who don't
489. friends who remember
490. being missed
491. love
492. cozy sweaters
493. perfect timing
494. walks along candle lit sidewalks
495. being loved
496. the scent of Christmas trees
497. garlands on sale
498. all the memories contained within a single ornament
499. Christmas lights
500. a great Christian radio station
501. piers lit up Christmas style
502. underwater light shows via glow in the dark planktin
503. oldest first art show
504. sold art
505. hand made rings from vintage jewelry
506. pumpkin spice tea
507. a bright future
508. pink suede shoes
509. crochet blankets that coordinate with my love seat
510. crochet blankets from my grandma
511. homemade rosemary wreaths
512. seeing formerly famous people at auditions
513. a full tank of gas
514. Christmas lights reflecting on the water in the canals at night
515. curved shower bars

 

i really enjoy my tea

You know I really, really enjoy tea. I used to only drink peppermint tea, straight, no milk, no sugar. I loved it that way because you could really taste the flavor so nicely. It was never bitter. Then I bought a latte from a coffee shop. Little did I know that it was simply 'baby tea' (tea with milk and sugar) and easily made at home, even iced lattes.

Then one day someone gave me some different flavors like Vanilla Chai and Cocoa Chai...yummylicious. Of course, my looose leaf tea from Ethiopio is still my absolute favorite and it has never, ever gone bitter. Last semester, one of my professors gave me some loose leaf tea from Kenya I think--that was delicious too. One time my oldest brought home a box of licorice tea---oh that was is so tasty, with out additions too!

Over the holidays, I noticed a display in the grocery store of Christmas Teas. They had the loveliest names like: White Christmas, Holiday Chai, Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning, Merry Mint and even Pumpkin Spice, They are all produce by Stash Tea.

Wow were they a fabulous addition to my collection of teas. Such cozy flavors to sit and enjoy. Another new holiday fav was Ginger Snappish by Bigelow. What a fun name for a tea, right?


I have quite a collection of teas now but I just can't stop myself. Enjoying a cup of tea is one of the loveliest moments of my day.

Do you vary your tea selection by season or stick to reliable favorites?

perfect christmas treat

Inspired by these delicious goodies, I did some baking last night. I based my recipe on hers but I did not have all the exact ingredients so I did a few changes. They were still incredibly delicioso! You can follow her recipe or mine, either way--I don't think you can go wrong. They are super easy to make too.

Mine had a more brownie-ish texture and needed to bake longer. I have a vintage Okeefe & Merritt stove, so that may be why, I'm not sure. I regularly have to bake things at least 5-10 minutes longer than recommended.

The asterisks indicate my changes.


Brownie Textured Ginger Strips

3/4 cup butter (1.5 sticks)
1 cup packed *brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp *ginger (I grated fresh ginger, maybe 1 tsp)
2 1/2 cups *mixed whole wheat & white flour (they were already mixed in my container but probably half & half)

Beat egg, butter & sugar together. (it will be helpful to soften the butter first-which I did not & it took longer to mix it) Add remaining ingredients.

The dough won't look like much, but trust me, it will expand while baking. Separate dough into two sections. Shape each section into a log and then flatten. I lined my long rectangular baking stone with parchment paper & shaped the dough directly on it. Brush each log lightly with water and sprinkle with sugar. I used *raw sugar. It is bigger and chunkier and actually looked nice.

Once removed from oven, allow to cool slightly, then cut into strips.

I baked at 350 for about 30 minutes.
If you read her recipe--that is significantly longer. Please be mindful of your own oven temperament.

The ends were slightly crunchier but over all, the bars I made had a chewy consistency. Everyone loved them. I think the few changes I made make them slightly healthier too. I wasn't trying to make them healthier--it just happened to be the ingredients I had on hand.
 
Enjoy!
Christmas treats are some of the loveliest treats, aren't they?

This post linked to:
Not Just a Housewife

an advent prayer

 Almighty God,

You are author of history. You created the heavens and the earth, all that is seen and unseen. In the fullness of time, Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. Open your eyes so that we cannot over look the coming of Your only-begotten Son. Purify our hearts as we await His coming in glory. 

Through your son we pray.

Amen

Prayer taken from this lovely book, Christ in Christmas A Family Advent Celebration.