It’s Stuffing Time!!

Do you have the time?
A question with so many potential meanings



Do you have the time? This simple yet complex question can evoke so many thoughts. For instance I may look at my watch and make note of the actual time. Perhaps I look at my watch and ask will I be on time. Maybe it is a planning question, will there be enough time, or how much time will I need. I might simply look to a calendar, weather it is on the wall, the desk, the computer, day planner or PDA. This could lead me to ask what kinds of time do I have, there is work time, appointment time, exercise time, time with the kids, time to do work around the house, time for shopping, time to read, time for a favorite show, time for commuting, time with friends and perhaps time for me.

Could there be more? What about the time of year, what season is it? Time for birthdays, holidays, and special days of recognition. Might I look at chronological time, how much time on this earth do I have?

Clearly time is of the essence. Many of the things I read hear or are told, today are time based. Act now while supplies last. Hurry in for today’s sale. For a limited time only. Send this to 10 people in the next three minutes. While you still can. Before it’s too late.

Let me take a moment (of time) and relax, think about who is really in control of my time. How do I want to spend it? Time is my greatest commodity and I will want to use it as wisely as I do any other resource. We are a society of gatherers we gather together and we gather things. No matter what is going on in the world we are constantly gathering something for some greater purpose. I must stop to consider what it is I am gathering and for what purpose? It is so easy to place value on that special gift all wrapped up. Can we begin to place an even greater value on our time?

This season of the year we tend to gather supplies together to make things to share with others, some heartfelt some out of a sense of obligation. And in return we become recipients of other people’s gatherings. Thus the cycle of “stuff” begins. Maybe it is tangible “stuff” or emotional “stuff”, but we are definitely entering the season of “stuff”. Will I enjoy the “stuff” I give? Will I enjoy the “stuff” I receive? Will I find contentment in this new season or will I “stuff” my feelings down?

I propose that we each take the time to ask ourselves some questions. What are we trying to accomplish? Do I want, need or feel obligated to purchase? Do others in my life want, need, or feel obligated to receive? Is today’s gift tomorrow’s yard sale or a lifetime treasure? Was it an after- thought or well thought out?

We can begin to break this cycle. We are “stuffing” so much into ourselves and each other that we are all slowly suffocating on well intentioned “stuff”. The greatest gift we have is time. Time to take care of me, time to spend with my family and friends, time to gather together and connect in a meaningful way, perhaps if we actually spend more time gathering together and less time gathering “stuff”, we would find that in all actuality we want, need and feel less obligated to gather “meaningless “stuff”.

So this season will I begin to “stuff” my shopping cart, “stuff” my home, “stuff” calendar and perhaps “stuff” we must realize that although “stuff” may trigger a memory our memories will far outlast the “stuff”.

This season I am going to choose to do something a bit old fashioned. I will choose to spend my time more wisely on more meaningful things, and more memories!

Seriously have you ever seen memories for sale on e-bay? There simply is no way to price them!

Applesauce Cakes

On this chilly winter day I am going to take a cake out of the jar take off the ring and lid and pop in the microwave for 10 seconds and slice this thing up with some butter or cream cheese settle down with a cup of coffee and mmmm, you have to try this. Great to have on hand for that drop in.

I love baking these little cakes in a jar. Actually you can adapt many cakes to this method. I like to bake these every year at Christmas time. I usually bake around 100 jars and give these to friends and family. They last up to a year sealed in the jars.

When I bake I like to get all the ingredients out so that it makes the mixing process faster. You can find these small bowls in many stores for a great price. I found these on sale at Pier One for .50 each.

It is important to follow the recipe. Many people like to skip this sifting method but it is vital to get the right texture for your baked goods if the recipe requires it.  

Once you have your batter mixed up you add one cup of batter to a wide mouth pint jar.

Arrange directly on your oven rack and bake for 45 minutes @ 325 degrees

When you remove the jars from the oven

 have your

 lids and rings handy so that you

 can put them on immediately.

Do not tighten the lids too tight.

Set them out on a flat surface where they can be left alone to seal.

When you hear a little tink and notice that the center of the lid now looks like a tiny dimple your jar has sealed and is ready to be decorated for a gift or put on your shelf for later.

This truly has become a tradition in our home and friends and family look forward to them each year.

It is so nice to just take one out of the pantry and mmmmm fresh baked cake.

Applesauce Cake in a Jar (makes 8 pints)

2/3 Cup solid shortening

2 & 2/3 Cups of Sugar

4 Eggs

2 Cups Applesauce

2/3 Cups water

3 & 1/3 Cups Flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 & 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Cloves

1 Cup finely chopped pecans

Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs, applesauce and water.  Sift all dry ingredients. Add to mixture. Stir in nuts. Pour into wide-mouthed pint jars that have been sprayed with Pam.  Fill 1/2 full (1cup of batter)  A large pastry bag or Ziploc with a hole works great as well for putting the batter in with. Bake for 45 minutes at 325 degrees. Wipe sealing edges clean. when finished baking put on lids and rings iimmediately and screw down, not too tight just snug when they have sealed you can tighten. Jars will seal as cake cools. Store as you would any canned good. Best if eaten within 1 year.



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A bit of whimsy

As I was going through my computer today after it had to be reloaded (post crash). Thank you to my son for fixing it for me. Anyway I came across a project I did a long time ago that always brings a smile to my face so I thought that I would share it with you all.

It all started as the church I was attending at the time was hosting a Christmas party where each table is hosted by someone different and it is your pleasure to decorate your table in a style all your own. All the ladies were sitting down and talking about the event and that it was not supposed to be a competition but to have fun. I decided to do something totally out of the box and the project was born.


The little houses started out as simple plain brown cardboard.

It is amazing what we can do when we allow ourselves to think in a way that is different from our normal course. What evolved through this process was so much fun. Something I had not allowed myself to have in such a long time. It appeared that I had just been taking life so seriously that I truly needed this.


The plates are painted bamboo plates with clear plastic on top to eat off of.

On several occasions I have gotten this set out just for fun for a lunch with friends. We really do need to have fun.

These are simple whimsical ornaments attached with pipecleaners hidden by the small white fur. The candle holders are filled with plastic crystals and topped with a round candle.

We should always try to allow our creative side to be nourished. Life is meant to be lived in color so why is that we insist on black and white.

What are you chasing?

I have entered a very different season of life. I find myself asking some very hard questions. As our entire family has entered a year of transition it is only fitting to look at my own life and ask my self if I am going in the direction that will yield fruit? Am I on the path that God has called me to? I find that over the past year I have been cleaning out both heart and home. I find that I have had to let go of relationships both friend and family that were only one way energy drains. What I mean to say is that a relationship should be an exchange of life not just a drain out to one party.

I have let go of groups that I have been teaching and am even considering come changes to my company. I truly have peace about the decisions but it does beg the question...what am I chasing?

I am chasing the will of God, the perfect peace of our Lord. I want to be used as a vessel. I long to teach young women how to become productive Home Managers. how to embrace a way of life that will render them great joy. I yearn to help people find first that you must clean out your heart before you will ever be able to tackle your kitchen table.

So I challenge each of you to consider what is it that you are chasing. Are you chasing your tail like a dog? Are you chasing someone elses' dreams? Perhaps you are sitting idly by waiting on someone to come along and tell you what to do.

I say leave the drawing board and take action.