Grandma's House

If you were to ask us kids where our favorite home-away-from-home is, we probably wouldn't have to even think about the answer.

Our grandma & grandpa's house!

We usually call it Grandma's House. I'm not sure why it's her house, not Grandpa's. But we've called it Grandma's House since I was a toddler.


It is a beautiful white house with navy blue shutters, surrounded by tall trees, and with a large green lawn in front & back, where the boys love to play football. There are always daffodils & tulips in the spring, roses in the summer, a beautiful magnolia tree, & crab-apple trees for the finches.


We have a big family. A really BIG family. And this family loves to have get-togethers. Can you guess where these parties take place?


Yep. Grandma's House.


There's always a big delicious meal, bunches of hugs & kisses at the door, & something sweet to go along with a football game or opening birthday presents (usually both).


But most importantly, Jesus is the center of this home. His love & generosity is exemplified everywhere, and TRUE HOSPITALITY is an almost instinctive gift as soon as you walk in the door.


Stop by sometime.


You're always welcome, and there's plenty of room-- both in this house, and in these hearts.

~Gracy

Company's Coming!

"Company, company!!! Where would we be without company?!"

~Sir John Middleton, a truly hospitable heart in Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility

New Layout!

What do you guys think of our layout?

It's still in process, but we're really enjoying the new look.

Hope that you're enjoying the beautiful fall weather!

New post upcoming; stay tuned!

-Gracy

Muddy, Messy Company!

Yesterday, my brother's best friends, Dan & Nate came over. I had been scrapbooking when they first arrived, but as I heard them playing upstairs, I began to feel... left out. ;) So I asked them to play football with me! And we had FUN. Here's some pictures of the game:

Dan making a touchdown!

The boys were pretty excited about this picture!

Although I get more excited about tea & a movie with my friends, or a fancy family dinner, I learned yesterday that hospitality consists of many different activities. Even football. Getting to enjoy your guests is a priceless gift that won't fade with time.

These boys are growing up before our eyes! It's a blessing to get to freeze that speeding clock, & watch them...

Have a lovely day!!!

~Gracy

Apples & Pooh Bear...

Apples of Gold...and Red...and Green!
We have a small apple tree out back that is finally yielding enough fruit to turn into a pie, cake or some other yummy treat. Our tree has three different varieties grafted in: Red Delicious, Granny Smith, and Fuji. The apples, too, are small, but packed with flavor.
The boys have been hungry for an apple dessert (me too!), so I used the Granny Smith apples today to make an Apple Cake with Maple Frosting, a recipe we love from the Williams-Sonoma Baking Cookbook. The flour mixture spiked with the warm scents of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg brings such comfort on this dark and drizzly day. Hmmmm...could it be that fall really is arriving (yesterday the temperature was 85 degrees!), and it is time for our annual viewing of "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day"??? I can hear him singing now:

Rumbly In My Tumbly "Hum dum de dum, hum dum de dum I'm so rumbly in my tumbly Time to munch an early luncheon Time for something sweet Oh I wouldn't climb this tree If a Pooh flew like a bee But I wouldn't be a bear then So I guess I wouldn't care then Bears love honey and I'm a Pooh bear So I do care, so I'll climb there I'm so rumbly in my tumbly Time for something sweet I don't need a pot of honey I'd be greatful for a platefull When I'm rumbly in my tumbly Then it's time to eat It's the tasteful thing to do Be it ten or twelve or two For anytime is food time When you set your clock on Pooh time Bears love honey and I'm a Pooh bear So I do care, so I'll climb there I'm so rumbly in my tumbly Time for something sweet to eat" _____ Well...no honey in this recipe, but I'm sure it is an apple tree Pooh mentions in this tune, and it's definitely time for something sweet!

A Rather Blustery Day

Hum, dum, dum, dee, dee, dum
Hum, dum, dum
Oh the wind is lashing lusterly
And the trees are thrashing thrusterly
And the leaves are rustling gusterly
So it's rather safe to say
That it seems that it may turn out to be
It feels that it will undoubtedly
Looks like a rather blustery day today
It seems that it may turn out to be
Feels that it will undoubtedly
Looks like a rather blustery day today

____

Have A Blessed "Windsday"!!!

~Gayle