Day One 31 Days of Proverbs 31 Study

Today is Day One of the 31 Days of Proverbs 31 Study at Hisbeloved's Blog. Take some time to visit and feel free to put her button on your page to remind yourself and others to stop by for encouragement, and encourage 0thers in God's Word. We can all learn more each time we read through Proverbs 31. Don't forget to share what God is showing you, and praise Him for His faithfulness. To God alone be the glory!

After reading Proverbs 31, this is the verse that stood out to me... Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 3:30 Mankind looks at the outward appearance, and grants favor to those who are pleasant to look upon. Under the skin lies a heart that matters most to our Jesus. Beware and guard your heart against a pretty face that is only skin deep with a heart attitude that does not follow after God.Remember God looks upon the heart, it is the heart attitude that pleases Him. Praise God if the two be at home in one person, both beauty and a godly heart. But beauty can be altogether vanity, judge not the outward appearance and be deceived by the inward. As a follower of Christ, we are to morally revere our Maker and Savior. Such a woman shall reflect the beauty of her Lord. To God alone be the glory!

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 1Peter 3:3-5

Free E-Book Life Amidst The Rhymes

While reminiscing of days in my youth and days with a new generation of youth,

I put together a collection of poems and some of my artwork

for family and friends. 

Filled with poems and short stories relating wonderful times in the garden with the grandchildren to difficult times in life when you think no one is here to hear. 

May you be encouraged for Someone really is there to listen. 

FREE E-Book Download..... Life Amidst The Rhymes

© Monika Hardy

What's inside...matters.

Abundant life, who can know it? Solomon tried it all, all to him was emptiness. So how in the world do we experience abundant life? Perhaps it is not attainable through earthly means. Wisdom personified calls out to all who will listen. How long will you be simple minded? How long will you be seducible? Throw off the foolish ways. Turn, be of an understanding heart, a heart that is discerning, prudent, attentive, and diligent. Even Whinnie the Pooh got it…think, think, think.

Oh how happy is the one who finds wisdom, for that one is alive! The one who fails to find wisdom injures themselves. All who hate wisdom, love death. Don’t be stuffed with fluff, be filled to overflowing with wisdom.


 Monika Hardy

Mighty Tighty League

Happy February! It has been so mild here and the birds have been singing. Not so for those on the East Coast, so I do not take this nice weather for granted. We have been busy with grandchildren for quite some time and now have a chance to introduce you to our grandson Titus. He was born with some special needs and I am sharing a Caring site fund raiser to ask for help with therapy and medical costs. 
Titus can use your help in these areas...

• Prayer support
• Financial help 
• Spreading the word

You can find all the info at the following site. Thank you so much for your help! 

© Monika Hardy

It's Contagious!

Go ahead,

SMILE

It's contagious!

© Monika Hardy

Book Giveaway!

Good evening all! 

Blessed Homemaking's Blog has a Book. Giveaway! 

Mother's Book of Home Economics

Stop on by and enter for a chance to receive this 

Book of encouragement for Homemaker's 

© Monika Hardy

Fall has arrived!

Fall has arrived and school is on the brain! Time to crack open books and dig deep. Of course my favorite book to dig into is the Bible. There is so much buried treasure in the Bible just awaiting discovery. 
I began attending a Ladies Hebrew study recently and it is so wonderful to get into what is considered "meat and potatoes" in the Bible. The first four verses of chapter one of the book of Hebrews is filled with an endless amount of doctrinal importance. 
Doctrine seems to have been set aside in recent years for the purpose of gaining more "practical" application of these weightier issues. However, it is important to understand that they go hand in hand. I suppose it is the old nature that just wants to get the rules down first so we can figure out how to get around them. 
Practically applying doctrinal issues to one's life is important. Case in point, I was just searching my blog for an old Pumpkin Biscotti recipe I knew I had posted on my blog years earlier. I rejoiced over  finding the recipe but had I stopped there, being happy to have the knowledge in my possession, friends and family would not enjoy the benefit of the finished product. It is one thing to share a recipe, or knowledge, but another to share a batch of  Pumpkin Biscotti, or application of that knowledge. 
I can only share my knowledge online, but I can apply it in my life to those around me, and you are able to do the same to those around you. What if we all decided to dig deep for Doctrinal truths and  share them? It's not that difficult, just open the Bible and read to learn. The world be a better place, and we could all be enjoying Pumpkin Biscotti!  

Read Hebrews online

Pumpkin Biscotti Recipe

© Monika Hardy

Apple Galette

A Taste of Fall.....

 The cool, crisp air of Fall along with thunder clouds yesterday was a welcome change in season around here! The leaves are beginning to turn, the air is fresh, and the smells of soup and cider and spices fill the home. It was nice to be able to turn a recent apple Harvest into a few apple pies to share with the family. The pie on the left is an Apple pie that my daughter in law made, while I made the one on the right.  I hope to talk her into sharing her recipe in the future, when she has a few minutes to spare from caring for our grandchildren. There is plenty of pie to go around, and a nice mix of flavor to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea and some wonderful conversation.

We enjoy the flavor of many different apples, and the contrast of flavors and textures offered in the area are tremendous. Local apple orchards are a fun destination this time of year. The Fugi apple was the apple of my choice for this recipe, but others will work fine as well. The Fugi apple  brought a crisp, tart finished flavor to the Apple Galette, a french farm style pie. 

Domestically Inclined Apple Galette

French Apple Galette

For Dough place following ingredients in a food processor:

3 cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour * 1/4 cup organic cane sugar * 1 cup butter (very cold)

Process in short bursts until mixture resembles coarse meal

Add 3/4 cup ice cold water 

Process until incorporated then wrap dough in cling wrap and place in refrigerator while preparing filling.

Filling: Wash, core, peel, and slice about 12 apples. (keep slices in bowl with cold water and a teaspoon lemon juice or citric acid to prevent browning)  *Pre heat oven to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit 

*Remove dough from fridge and place between two sheets of waxed or parchment paper. Use rolling pin and roll out dough to desired shape. Move dough to deep dish pie plate, removing paper  (Dough should extend a few inches beyond edge of dish.)

*Drain apple slices and stir in: 1/4 cup organic cane sugar, 1/4 cup raisins, 1 tablespoon almond extract, 1/4 cup melted butter. Place filling into crust. 

*Fold the dough up over the filling around edges, and sprinkle filling with 1/2 cup dark brown sugar. 

*Cover pie with aluminum foil just around the edges, not the top. 

Place Apple Galette in hot oven at 425 for 40 minutes. Serve with a drizzle of honey, or ice cream. 

Enjoy!

© Monika Hardy

Luscious Lemon Loaf

It has been a while since I have visited my own blog! Recovery after thyroid removal two years ago has been slow, but thankfully I am doing better and slowly moving into the areas of life that have not had much attention. My health had to be my first priority for awhile, and then family and now beyond the circle of life into virtual world of friends again. It has been a difficult but amazing journey and now wonderful to be able to think past low thyroid brain fog and write again! 

It is amazing how much of life can fall by the wayside in a few years time. 

I have been enjoying being able to read and comprehend my Bible again, spend time with family, spend time in the garden and finally make my way back to the blogging world. 

I picked up a bread machine this past summer at the thrift store and have been able to enjoy making bread with out fake ingredients. It has also been a blessing to be able to not turn the oven on in the summer to heat the whole house. I am still experimenting on a good recipe using whole wheat flour to use in my bread machine, but we all enjoyed the following last night. It was the second time I tried a quick bread in the machine and it was a hit. I prefer it without the glaze, but the Mister prefers something sweet now and then since I have taken most of the sugar out of the diet. Certainly not the sort of thing I should make often, but so nice to share with others over a cup of tea or coffee.

Enjoy!

Luscious Lemon Loaf

Domesticlady

(Bread Machine Recipe)

Place ingredients in Bread Machine in the following order

2 teaspoons poppy seeds (optional)

1/2 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons softened butter

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon lemon extract

1/3 cup lemon juice

Zest from one lemon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup raw cane sugar

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder 

Select Quick Bread Setting and Bake

After the Loaf has finished baking

• Make the following glaze

• Using toothpick poke holes in top of loaf

• Pour glaze over warm loaf

• Let cool

Glaze

Mix following ingredients with mixer

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

www.domesticallyinclined.blogspot.com

© Monika Hardy

Tender Greens

There are two sides to every story. In the following story there is good news and bad news.

First, the good news:

This beautiful bunch of greens was just collected from my raised garden bed a short while ago. As I write this story I have already eaten a salad without salad dressing and enjoyed the incredible flavors of the following tender greens...

Radish 

Bachoy 

Beets

Kale

With....

Tender Garlic Snipes

Sweet sliced onions

Green onions

The first salad from the garden is something I look forward to after a long winter in North Idaho. The flavor is incredibly intense compared to what is shipped in from somewhere else. I am thankful food is shipped in from somewhere in the winter, but also thankful to have the health and strength to garden again after a long year of health issues last year. 

Now that the weather is warmer and we have more sunlight I thought it was time to get the window sill ready to grow sprouts and micro greens. So I was carrying these boxes from the back steps to a table when something happened....

The bad news:

As I was carrying these boxes and I tripped on a chair leg, I think, because it all happened so fast, and down I went with the boxes flying and landing on and around me. The concrete and I are not friends! I have a few good welts, scrapes and bruises that flared up instantly, and I can feel the jar to my spine. 

The boxes are for Micro Greens that I like to grow inside for salads. I just add a good potting soil to the individual cups, add seeds and let them grow a few inches high and snip above the dirt line. The cups can then be re-seeded. It is a good supplemental green source in the summer time for a short while, and leaves room for the cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, and several sorts of tomato plants I have hardening off right now. 

Hope you are enjoying the dirt in your backyard this season. Stay safe. :)