MISTY'S MORNINGS

How did I make it to my age without having had French Press coffee?  When Hurricane Irene threatened, friends advised me to get a press in the event that we had no power, we could boil water on the grill and still have our morning coffee.  I went straight to Target and purchased the Bodum press for less than $20.00.   Since then I have found the unique intensity of this type of coffee makes a wonderful mid-day break.  Here's a simple guide to making a delicious cup of coffee right in your own home.  (This could also be used to make loose-leaf tea if you'd prefer.) Fill carafe with four scoops of your favorite good quality coffee grounds  and two cups of nearly boiling water. Stir with a wooden spoon. Allow coffee to steep for three to four minutes. Slowly press down on the plunger.  The grounds will be trapped underneath the mesh strainer. Take a moment to savor the crema on top of the rich, dark coffee. Mmmmm. ...

I love to read cookbooks .   The menu and flavor possibilities seem endless.  The glossy photos can elevate even the humble grilled cheese sandwich to a gourmet experience.   In the evenings I often page through cookbooks carried home from the library.   Occasionally I'll photocopy a recipe to save.   Sometimes I want to photocopy the entire cookbook so I know I need to purchase the whole darn thing.  You should see my shelves! These are not gf cookbooks but they offer plenty of gf friendly main courses and sides.  I'll save my favorite gluten free cookbooks for a future post. Better than reading cookbooks is actually cooking from them .   You'll notice I have written in the margins of these recipes.  Don't hesitate to do so - that's what makes them extra special when you pass them on to the next generation of home cooks. ~PRETTY~ The Deen Brothers ~ Take It Easy This cookbook is full of handsome photos of bo...

In the morning when I rise,  I light a candle.   The flame ignites  my soul's deepest desire  to connect with God. Every time I see the flame alight,  I whisper the simplest prayer of all, Thank You. As sunlight fades into night,  my candle flickers,  drawing me ever back  to my soul's  source. Before I climb the stairs to bed, the candle glows one last moment  before I inhale and blow it out the puff of smoke  my silent  Amen . Are you acquainted with Ann Voskamp yet?  If not, you should be!  Author of the visually arresting blog, A Holy Experience , and bestselling author of One Thousand Gifts , she is the champion of being present in each moment of your day .  She sees the sacred in a pile of freshly grated cheese or in the warmth of towels fresh from the dryer.  There is also a companion site to her book called one thousand gifts .  Go there f...

Today I am writing at a wonderful site for moms ~ Catholic Mothers Online .    Angie runs CMO and has her own blog called Many Little Blessings where she shares her homeschooling stories and her artistic side.   In "Why Blog?" I'm sharing why I started blogging and what has made me keep going when I have felt my voice seems small and insignificant.   It's not just for bloggers though.  Haven't we all felt that way from time to time? Please stop over and read my post here   and be encouraged today. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day 1   {the kick-off} Day 2  { linky parties } Day 3  { podcasts } Day 4   { daily devotionals } Day 5  { art journaling } Day 6  { gluten-free blogs and my gf story } Day 7  { 31 Days Bloggers } Day 8 { Home Decorating Blogs } Day 9 {Catholic Mothers Online} The Entire 31 Days Community

Every year as temperatures begin to cool I feel the urge to re-organize and re-decorate the interior of our home.  I know that for the next several months our time will be spent mainly indoors and I dream of having a cozy and comfy place for us to hibernate .  The following home decorating blogs are a few of the places I can go for instant inspiration . 1.     Kim at Savvy Southern Style shares beautiful images of her own home.  An empty nester, she often repaints her furniture and even hosts a linky party called . 2.    I simply adore Melissa's style which she showcases at   320 Sycamore .  She has an amazing ability to transform a space into something I would never have imagined.  Check out her entryway before and after . 3. My Romantic Home .This blog makes me want to stop over at her house for a tea party.  She also hosts a linky party each Friday.    Her latest one had 397 people link up...