Homemade Strawberry Jam

Homemade Strawberry Jam

Ok, so I am in the middle of completing my final assessments at the moment, so I have cheated a bit.  For Valentines Day this year I decided to be a bit more creative because let's face it after being together for over 20 years - chocolates, bears etc gets a little bit predictable.  

My sweetheart loves berries - so I decided to buy (yes you heard right) some strawberries and make jam especially for him.  Unfortunately, they weren't really in season and mine all died - which is why I did the strawberry pallet garden earlier.  Needless to say when I presented him with this and his other favourite, homemade shortbreads - he was blown away with appreciation.  Sometimes it is good to think 'out of the box' a bit so that we can create something special and unique.

Recipe for Strawberry Jam

500g strawberries

1 cup sugar

juice of 1 lemon

Wash and dry berries.  Squash berries with hands into a saucepan and add sugar and bring to the boil with lid on.  Stir and take off the lid.  Let simmer until soft and add the lemon juice.  Test to see if it is set by putting a dob on a saucer and letting cool.  Bottle in sterilized jars and lable and decorate.  

 Makes one bottle - but you can adjust the quantities to make more or less.

Thought for the day:  Valentines Day, celebrated on 14 February, helps us focus on love and romance, even though many think it is too commercial.  In light of celebrating love and marriage, I thought this verse would be appropriate.  '..... Rejoice in the wife of your youth.  A loving doe, a graceful deer - may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.  Proverbs 5:18-19.  I like this verse because it highlights that love and marriage can last a lifetime. I know how happy my husband has made me and I treasure our relationship.  I am always looking for ways to please him and he tries to do the same.

Eagles

I have been very busy studying and with sick kids.  However, I have still been creating.  I will post some of these things really soon.  For now I will leave a couple of photos that I enjoyed taking.  Who knows, one day someone might want to buy one!

Two Wedgetail Eagles

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

 

Thought for the day:   While researching about eagles I found that some people say that the word eagle is mentioned 34 times in the bible.  Wow!  These creatures evoke both fear and wonder when I see or hear them.  I guess that is a bit like God.  We are told to fear him, but also to love Him.  

 

So, how do you feel about them?  Do they remind you of God or maybe Satan?  These are the questions I leave with you to ponder.

Here's Eagle Rock for you to listen to

Handmade Mother's Day Card / Fridge magnet

Handmade card for Mum in her favourite colours

With Mother's Day coming up next Sunday, I decided to make my Mum a card.  She loves mauve and pansies.  I made a puff with a pansy button and it detaches from the card as a fridge magnet, so she can appreciate it all year long!

Materials I used:

Purple card stock
Pink card stock
Printed scrapbooking paper (feathers)
Star shaped brads
Glitter Letters
Suffolk puff in yellow
Pansy button
magnet
glue

Inside I used a little verse from the rub-offs range.

Thought for the day:  The bible talks about a lot of different mothers. I especially like the story of Naomi and Ruth.  Not all of us have a mother or if you do, through circumstances may be estranged from her.  However, a mother does not necessarily have to be 'Blood'.  Sometimes there might be a substitute mother figure in our lives.  Naomi must have been a wonderful woman.  The bond formed between her and her once daughter in law, Ruth, must have been so strong because even though Ruth had a mother, she chose to stay with Naomi.  I am not saying to turn your back on your own mother, but if you don't have a mum or the best relationship - sometimes there will be another woman who might be able to fill the gap.  In my parent's church, they honour all women on Mother's Day by giving each woman a small gift.  Many times we have attended the service on this day and I loved seeing the joy on the face of a particular elderly woman who never married or had children.  However, when I was young she would encourage me and other children to visit her, which was always a happy time.  She would spend time with us and make us lovely morning or afternoon teas.  Sometimes she would have older children / adults stay so that they could go to work or university.  She loved children, and tried to mother them with her kindness.  I am sure she meant a lot to many children that were not hers.  Read Ruth's (Chapter 1-4) story.

Honey Joys - for Sunday :)

Honey Joys

Yum!

My son has just started wanting to cook.  I must admit even though he is my youngest, I haven't cooked honey joys since I was a little girl!  Anyway, he tried some and has been nagging me ever since to make them.  So today was the day - I really enjoyed creating these with master 5 :)

Honey Joys

4 cups of cornflakes

3 Tablespoons of butter

1/3 cup of sugar

1 Tablespoon of honey

Put cornflakes in a large mixing bowl.  In a small saucepan melt sugar, butter and honey until frothy.  Pour hot liquid into cornflakes and mix.

Line patty tin with patty papers and give a light mist with cooking spray.  Place spoonfuls of mix in papers and cook on a low heat 150 degrees celsius for 8 - 10 minutes.  Let cool completely in patty tins.

Makes 18

This recipe comes from the Take 4 book (green)

Thought for the day:  I love Sundays because it a great day for family and relaxation.  We try to go to church regularly which adds to my joy because I come away feeling uplifted and enjoy seeing and chatting with other people (yep, I don't get out much through the week).  Today, even though it isn't Christmas, I am going to enclose the wonderful song - which should be sang all year round - Joy to the World.

By the way - these are so quick and simple and would be great for a fete/stall.  We are taking some with us to visit Nanna & Pa this afternoon!

Knitted Mobile Phone Socks

The past couple of days, I have been playing around creating knitted phone socks.  Different colours and patterns.  I have a touch screen phone that seems to be always 'searching' the internet - even though I am sure I put it back to the main screen and turned it off.  The cases are sooo expensive and my phone is a cheapie - they might not even sell a case for it.  It is baffling when you have to buy the exact case for the exact model, isn't it?  Well it is when you are me!  I always forget what mine and my husband and son's phones are - all different.  Of course if you have one of the popular and expensive smartphones you are usually ok.

Anyway, I have enjoyed knitting up these socks and will be starting to decorate them.  I thought they would be handy for mother's day or other gifts.  The plain grey one at the back - I might give to my husband or father and my daughter has already took a pink one I did.  They are very easy to make and I will include the patterns at a later date - or I will make you one if you like!

Thought for the day:  I have a friend going through a traumatic situation with a gravely ill husband at the moment and another family who have recently lost a loved one.  It it is times like these in life when we want someone to comfort and protect us - a bit like a phone sock!  Psalm 121:1-8 tells how God is our protector, which is a comforting thought.  We are never alone, He is with us always!

 Bible.is is a free bible application that can be used online or for any idevice (iphone, ipod and ipad) or android.  My teenage son uses it on his ipod and I will link any readings to it from now on.  It is available in different languages and versions and it has the option of listening too.