Whole Wheat Pancakes

Hi friends!

Elsa is napping, Micah is working with the big kids on a large puzzle, and I just sat down with a cup of hot cocoa to write to you because I wondered if perhaps you'd like my whole wheat pancake recipe...

I made these for my kids this morning and thought I'd share it with you!

I know you all are wonderful home chefs and homemakers, and could teach me a thing or two... but why not? Why not inspire and learn from each other?

I do not remember where this recipe originally came from. I've been making these pancakes for my kids ever since they were babies.

It's a very simple recipe!

Anybody can do it.

Come on in to my kitchen!

I'll show you what I do...

I could probably go by memory, but I pull out my little homemade recipe book just in case...

Here's a close-up, if you decide to try it...

This morning I decided to half the recipe, because I was cutting up fruit and making eggs as well.

Start with dry ingredients first...

Measure everything out, and plop it all into a large mixing bowl...

I should mention that the only tweak I do in this recipe is add a pinch of nutmeg. I don't bother with the nutmeg if I'm making this in warm weather months, but for some reason I find myself always looking for excuses to use nutmeg in the fall and winter, haha... It's such a comforting spice...

The wet ingredients go in last...

I was a bit messy as you can see... And I don't even have kids to blame for this one! Haha... They were all in the living room watching Saturday morning cartoons as I was doing this...

But they all trickled in one by one as I cooked the batter on the skillet... They could smell it from the living room!

"Mama's making pancakes!!!" I heard one squeal.

That does my heart such good!

"When I was a little girl I always wanted to be in the kitchen. It was warm, and that's where my mama was." 

~ Dolly Parton

I am sure you know that once the pancakes start to bubble, it is time to flip them!

"Well I got me a fine wife I got me an ole fiddle

When the sun's comin' up I got cakes on the griddle

Life ain't nothin' but a funny funny riddle

Thank God I'm a country boy..."

~ John Denver

I like to warm my oven to about 200 degrees, and once the entire batter is cooked and buttered, I cover them with foil and place them in the oven to keep warm while I finish breakfast.

Then, I line up my children's plates on my kitchen island like an assembly line, and dish everyone up...

I even made a plate for myself...

Like my mug? *wink

Those closest to me know that I am careful to feed my children well, but I am not good at feeding myself. I want to try to get better! Maybe that can be my New Year's resolution!!!

When breakfast was over my kitchen looked like a bomb had gone off...

Recently I was watching a Flylady Youtube video, and she taught me to think about the three "F's" when faced with a housecleaning task ~

Do it First!

Do it Fast!

And Finish the job!

That advice is perfect for me!

So immediately I began tossing dishes in the dishwasher and filling up my skillet with hot, soapy water...

Wasn't that good advice, friends? Look! I'm done already...

As long as I'm in the groove, and the three "F's" are fresh on my mind, I might as well whoop up on a few other jobs...

I cleaned one of my bathrooms, completed three loads of laundry, dusted and swept the main rooms of the house, and put some chicken breasts in the dutch oven to get a head start on dinner.

Now I feel I have earned a little blogging time, and a little bird watching time...

What a luxury...

I noticed there was a blue jay AND a cardinal together at our backyard feeder...

What a fun treat this is! If only I could get a decent picture!

Here the cardinal is in the bush, and the blue jay is still at the feeder...

The poor cardinal is patiently waiting his turn. Blue jay's are bossy, so little cardinal is keeping his distance!

Well friends, that's all the time I have today.

I wish we could visit longer!

Hope you all are shopped, wrapped, and ready to go for Christmas!

Check back with me soon!

And let me know if you make my whole wheat pancakes!!!

xo,

~ Courtney ~

My Home This Christmas

Hi, friends!

I hope you are enjoying this holiday season!

As promised, I will be showing you my home decorated for Christmas.

(This is my view early every morning. The lighting is dim, and I sit with my coffee and read my bible.)

As I was taking the photos for this post, I wondered if I should even bother... 

I decorated very simply this year.

"They will not be impressed." I thought to myself.

But, nevertheless, this is my home and I am thankful for it.

The reason I decided not to be elaborate or detailed this year is because I have a painting and wallpaper project that I intend to start in January. So, I am hoping for a quick takedown of everything so I can begin as quickly as possible.

Also, no one can ever really know just how time and thought consuming homeschooling is unless they've done it. 

I don't want to use my kids as an excuse, but realistically, they are a factor! Haha...

A wiser, older mom friend of mine told me recently, "You will always have your creativity and heart for decorating, but you won't always have your kids."

Her words impacted me!

"YES!" I thought. "I will make Christmas crafts and decorate the bedrooms when I'm an empty-nester!"

But for now, my home looks like this...

~ Welcome! ~

This is my foyer and staircase, and what you'd see upon entering the front door...

This is my front room...

As always, my goal is to decorate in ways that are appropriate for an old farmhouse...

That is why you don't see me jumping on board with the latest trends.

(As darling as they are, my old home is very much set in her ways, and finds comfort in being filled with authentic decor. I've never minded catering to her wishes. *wink)

I love it when the sparkle of the lights reflect off of surrounding glass...

My dining room...

I know you know that Micah and I host Christmas Eve in our home each year. I look forward to sharing with you the photos of our farm table set and ready for the event!

It'll be here before we know it!!!

The heart of our home ~ the kitchen...

Have you picked up on a pattern yet, friends?

I love to use red roses in my Christmas decor!

I feel they are unique in a way, but also quite classic.

I have kicked the toys out of the way for the moment to show you the family room...

This is mainly where the kids hang out, but it does spread to other areas of the home, as well...

Roman and Nola played for hours up in the front room today. I'll throw in a messy pic for good measure...

Grab a coat, I'll show you the outside!...

We like to hang a small wreath on the kids' cabin...

Like I said, nothing fancy. Just simple this year...

Micah hangs lights and garland on the bushes and front porch banister each year.

I love that I see it from the couch...

"I'll be home for Christmas.

You can plan on me.

Please have snow

and mistletoe

and presents by the tree..."

~ Bing Crosby 

I hope you enjoyed the tour, friends!

And I hope you can be home this Christmas!

Until next time...

xo,

~ Courtney ~

Some Encouragement

Hi, friends!

I hope you are enjoying a cozy evening at home.

I'm just popping in with a quick post tonight because I got an idea of something I want to share with you...

Once in a while I come across a quote in a book, or paragraph in a blog that really inspires and encourages me.

Other times I may read something that convicts me and causes me to want to strive to do better.

(I believe this is good for us. We should have a desire to learn more and do better.)

I do not read books or follow blogs by young women who preach the, "I'm awesome. You're awesome. Anything you do is awesome" message while boasting about the piles of dirty dishes in their sinks and bragging about their rambunctious children and greasy hair.

You know the type. 

"Just keepin' it real!"

*eye roll...

Yes, I know the overall goal of these women is to be humorous, and I like to laugh just like everyone else, but I try not to let their message take root in my heart.

I do not need to hear from some stranger on the internet that I'm beautiful and anything I do is more than good enough.

When you know who you are in Christ, you don't need validation from anyone else.

"In Christ you have been brought to fullness."

~ Colossians 2:10a

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

~ 1 John 3:1

"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light."

~ 1 Peter 2:9

But anyway, (I may be getting off track) I prefer to follow the blogs of older women who can teach me valuable things about being at home, because then I'm encouraged to do better!!!

And that's what gave me the idea for this post!

I thought I'd share just a few lines that I've read recently from books and blogs that have inspired and convicted me.

Does that sound interesting to you?

Ok! Let's begin...

"As godly women, our goal in life should be going around doing good and the most important people we should be doing good for is our own family. Learn to be a servant and do what you can to make their lives as happy as you can. Be in the Word so you can be a cheerful presence in your home. Don't be ruled by your emotions but be ruled by truth."

~ Lori Alexander, The Transformed Wife

"Today women worry so much about whether they are considered to be beautiful according to some narrow standard. They are so focused on appearance they neglect the unique beauty they already possess and that never ages. It is the beauty we have in our feminine smile, mannerisms, and the way we treat others.

If you work on these qualities and do the best with what you have physically, you will be adored and thought charming, even beautiful. Others will want to be around you and when you're not there, they will remember you fondly and speak well of you. They may not say you had the prettiest face or the best legs but they will think of you as a beautiful person.

We should all take care of ourselves and not neglect our hair, clothing or makeup, but don't worry if you don't look like a movie star. Even movie stars have to work at it and as you no doubt know, their looks don't promise them happiness, or even lasting love."

~ fascinatingwomanhood.com 

(This was our backyard last year on Christmas Eve. I really hope we have snow again for Christmas this year!!!)

"The home is powerful. If it were not an important institution, the enemies of God and man would leave it alone. The people who control the home control the future. Parents are the first representatives of God on earth, within the home is the hope of morality."

~ Dr. Daniel A. Lord

"A mother should not only have no favorites among her children, but she should be the earliest confidante of all their thoughts and hopes... Early feelings and experiences are the most enduring with all of us, and in proportion to the child's sensitiveness will be the depth of scars which the sorrows of childhood leave behind them. Too many parents, alas, imagine that so long as the child is fed and clad all is going well with it."

~ An excerpt from Mothers of Great Men and Women, published in 1892

"In order for a mother to have children that respect her, she must train them from an early age to respect the authority in their lives. If a mother fails to teach her children this important discipline, the child will suffer their entire lives since children don't naturally obey, respect, and reverence authority, as we see among many children today.

Children need to be disciplined and trained from a young age to obey their mother's first request to them - immediate obedience! But, the mother must also show her children a lot of love, warmth, affection, and cheerfulness so obedience isn't burdensome. She should want them to grow up to obey the Lord willingly and joyfully. Mothers are the training ground where children either learn to do this or not."

~ Lori Alexander, The Transformed Wife 

Just today I was driving home from the grocery store with my children in the backseat, and as I was coming through a round-about, a truck barreled through in front of me and I had to slam on my breaks in order not to hit him. 

He never saw me.

He never looked.

He just bullied his way on in at my expense.

As irritating as that is, it actually sparked a great discussion between me and the children. (So for that I was thankful for Mr. Daredevil.) 

It began as me telling them that even if you're in the right, and another person is in the wrong, do everything you can to avoid an accident. (I slammed on the breaks so hard, several grocery items came sailing out of their bags and onto the floor. Haha...) I explained to them how important it is to keep a clear driving record, and to follow traffic rules at all times.

From there the conversation evolved to me explaining that rules and laws are put in place to protect us and keep us safe! I said, "Sometimes you may be tempted to think that dad and I are trying to ruin your fun with rules, but that is not true. Dad and I love you and want you to be successful someday.  That's why we're teaching you now how to obey, so that when you're older you'll know how to obey the laws, and how to obey a manager or boss."

To that, one of my children replied, "Yes, mom, you've told us this before."

Haha... 

So, maybe I'm a broken record, but they'll get the point... won't they?

Well friends, weren't those quotes and excerpts encouraging?!

I hope you feel uplifted! (And reminded to yield to the left in round-abouts!!! Sheesh!)

:)

Until next time...

xo,

~ Courtney ~