I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God
Trod gladly into the night
He led me towards the hills
And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!
What need our human life to know
If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things
Both high and low,
God hideth his intention."

~Minnie Louise Hoskins.

I am crazy about vintage linens. This gal is having a great giveaway. Pop over and check it out. Check out her ebay pages and website while you are there.

Vintage Linen Treasures

The apostle Peter knew that hard days lay ahead for his fellow believers. So he reminded them about their security as children of God: they were chosen by Him, born into a living hope, given spiritual protection during this life, and guaranteed eternity in heaven with their Father. Peter then gave them specific ways to prepare for the coming trials. His words, divinely inspired by the Lord, can guide us as well.

His first instruction relates to our minds: What we believe has a direct impact on our response to life's problems. If we trust that God is looking out for us, then we will feel less threatened by hard circumstances. But if we decide we must rely on ourselves, then we are more likely to react poorly to situations beyond our control. A negative attitude--whether from anger, fear, worry, or jealousy--can make a hard time worse. Preparation for the future starts with developing biblical thinking.

A second lesson from Peter is to be "sober in spirit"--in other words, to maintain our balance in the midst of crises (v. 13). That requires resisting quick fixes to problems and refusing to embrace ungodly ideas or philosophies. Our enemy Satan is quick to offer suggestions designed to trip us up or turn us away from God's path. With the Spirit's help, we can learn to stand firm in a crisis and steadfastly follow the Lord.

Our culture is increasingly distancing itself from Jesus Christ and opposing His followers. Are you preparing spiritually for whatever the future holds?

If A Dog Were Your Teacher,  you would learn stuff like...

- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

- Allow the experience of fresh air & the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

- When it's in your best interest--practice obedience.

- Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

- Take naps & stretch before rising.

- Run, romp & play daily.

- Thrive on attention & let people touch you.

- Avoid biting, when a simple growl will do.

- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

- On hot days, drink lots of water & lay under a shady tree.

- When you're happy, dance around & wag your entire body.

- No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing & pout... run right back & make friends.

- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

- Eat with gusto & enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

- Be loyal.

- Never pretend to be something you're not.

- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by & nuzzle them gently.

Way to hot here to camp in the summer. We usually camp in the cooler fall weather.

This came in my inbox.

S'mores

~

The first written record of S'mores was in the Girl Scout Handbook of 1927. Now S'mores are an absolute "must" for the annual camping trip, or back yard BBQ. 

Apparently S'more is a contraction of the phrase "some more", most likely picked up from some youngster with a full mouth. 

S'mores are so popular that there are now several variations including Belgian S'mores which is made by placing a piece of red licorice on top of the marshmallow. Peanut butter is another yummy addition.


Camping Help

~

This is a tip for camping rather than a recipe. Take a bar of plain soap such as Ivory with you. Rub a thick coat of it onto the outer bottom of any pan you use before putting it over the fire. This way, instead of having all that blackness to scrub off, you just wash off the soap and all the blackness goes with it.


Coffee Can Cooking on a Campfire

A simple and easy way of campfire cooking is to set a large coffee can on the coals. Layer your food into the can, cover it and use the coffee can to cook your meal. This is a very simple and easy method for camp cooking. 

Can Cooking Instructions:
Use an empty 44-ounce coffee can for your pot.
Layer your food into the can.
Suggested foods: Use hamburger or chicken, onions, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and other vegetables.
Seal the top of the coffee can with heavy-duty foil.
Place the can onto the coals.
Put a few coals on top of the foil.
Cook the can for 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.
Carefully remove the can from the fire. Using gloves may be a good idea.
Serve up your mouth-watering meal!
Save your old coffee cans, and try out this idea on your next camping trip. You won’t even need to bring a pan along!

Source: Camp Spot

Oak Hill Homestead

Check it out, lots of good stuff!

This is a shot of the back yard. You can see one of the gardens , part of the orchard, Dad's house ( on the left) and my sisters ( on the right.)

This is a section of the herb garden. Boy, am I behind in weeding!!

My sweet kitty. Eighteen pounds of snuggle.