Christmas 'JOY'...

 Grant us 'JOY',

supply your grace-

A reminder... of that night SO long ago
And of the sweet child we would know as
JESUS, bestowing great love to the world.

Let us remember... & not lose sight!

Feeling MUCH gratefulness to have my mother...

We are to ENJOY the simple things... 

The stockings were hung & filled with LOVE!

Twinkling lights makes everything seem right...

Our goal should be to SHARE the 'JOY'
that Jesus has so freely gave...
to comfort those that are hurting in this
world today.

I'm SO blessed beyond measure for my
surroundings on this day & everyday... my hope
is to spread His love to all the precious souls!

With GREAT love on this Christmas Day!

Oh, Christmas Tree...

WELL... folks, the Christmas tree is officially
decked out in it's festive ware...
I don't think I have EVER waited
this loooong to add the tree for the Christmas season.
  Let's hope that it doesn't happen again...
 because the next time, there may NOT be a tree!
I planned it more around a WINTER theme, since it was
SO late going up... PINE CONES & SNOWFLAKES it was!

ENJOY every moment of the following days my sweet friends! 

Decorate the season...

"Percy, the puny poinsettia is hanging
his bloom in dismay.  If they had just
kept him wetta, he'd be a houseplant today."

From the song... 'Percy, the Puny Poinsettia'
By: Elmo & Patsy

We have some... 'Poinsettia' LOVE happening
here at Beehind Thyme... 
some are flowered to their fullest & some
are coming along slowly for an 
extended stay throughout the winter season.

Creating more baskets today... with a few
that's let for the taking.

Will present to you tomorrow the end results
of today's mess!

Happy Tuesday!

Be Merry...

Be merry all, be merry all,
With holly dress the festive hall;
Prepare the song, the feast, the ball,
To welcome Merry Christmas.

~ William Robert Spencer
   

Glorious, Sunday Morning... to all!
May your light shine BRIGHT for our Lord Jesus!

Friday Greetings...

Wishing you a season filled with FRESHNESS!
~ Me

Greetings... on this fine Friday from the farm!

I'm sharing one of the many planters created by
Beehind Thyme this Christmas season.

By choosing to be 'GREEN' in my many ways of
decorating...
FRESH GREENERY can be a delightful resource when it
comes to decking the halls both indoor & outdoor.
Here... we have pine, cedar, magnolia, holly & pine cones
nestled in this large planter at the base of a
pre-light tree.  Birch branches (my choice here at the farm)
have been coated with a dusting of white paint.
Then, let's NOT forget those magnolia pods...
throughout the arrangement, I've tucked them
amongst all the other fresh staples
to create a fullness.
And with this planter the theme was OLD FASHION, so
with that... I brought some red, plaid ribbon
into the bow.

JUST a reminder:
A BEAUTIFUL creation doesn't have to be
an expensive one... simply step outside your door
for some inspiration from nature!

Simpleness...

Stay in peace,
not pieces.

~ Joyce Meyer

I'm longing for... SIMPLENESS at this moment,
while amongst ALL this Christmas decor...

PLEASE, tell me I'm NOT the ONLY one still
without a tree??? 

'Norman Rockwell' Christmas, indeed!

I'll never
have enough time to
 paint all the pictures I'd like to.
~ Norman Rockwell

It's a 'Norman Rockwell' Christmas here at a local bank...
a FULL & I mean a FULL week (day & night) was devoted to this project,
of course with much DELIGHT!

If you happen to reside here locally...
you HAVE to drive by in the late evening & peer into the large windows,
it TRULY looks as if a small town in Massachusetts called
STOCKBRIDGE  is nestled right on the other side!

If you are not familiar with 'Norman Rockwell'...
PLEASE, take a peek at this wonderful tribute the
people of STOCKBRIDGE create each year at Christmas.

http://www.stockbridgechamber.org/christmas.html

ENJOY a BLISSFUL day my sweet friends!

A Quiet Life...

Make it your goal to live

a quiet life.

1 Thessalonians 4:11

It's been a 'GREEN PICKIN' day... here on the farm, 
I've pinched til my thumb has turned green!
Every fall I make sure there are several plots seeded
with Collards, Curly Mustard, Turnips, Kale & Cresses
for harvesting throughout the winter months. It's a warm
comfort knowing there is a surplus of food right here on our land.So guess what's on the menu for this evening???

You've guessed it... 'GREENS & CORNBREAD' with a big slice of onion & a drizzle of vinegar... 


(Photo was taken last winter, thought it was appropriate
for today's post).

Festiveness...

Sharing JUST a little festiveness this evening...
a custom made wreath for one of my customers whom
I'm dearly fond of...

Have a WARM & COZY, December evening!

Monday Moment...

It's Monday... & I'm finding BEAUTY 
in everyday life among-st the SIMPLE things, 
want you join me??? 

THANKFUL...

I'm VALUING my food this upcoming... 
Thanksgiving season!

"If more of us valued food and cheer 
and song above hoarded gold, it would be a
merrier world."
- J. R. R. Tolkien 

And there was... GOODNESS!

There is JUST something about the end of the day...
that brings MUCH joy... by strolling to a little, chicken coop with
basket in hand to find the GOODNESS in a nesting of straw.

HAPPY SUNDAY my sweet friends... 

May I TEMPT you...

May I TEMPT you with abit of... COUNTRY LIVIN'???

YES, I have NEW, FEATHERED FRIENDS in the house!
At this moment, I'm listening to chirps & the sound of little bodies crashing against their cardboard home... they are TRYING their best to escape... FREE RANGING is already on their minds. 
The '4' new additions to the farm that I've added are 
2 Red Rangers & 2 White Leghorn, the
White Leghorns will be the first WHITE EGG layers to the flock,
of course... they will stay safe & sound until it's time to be introduced to the other 'LADIES'!

I have TRULY enjoyed this adventure of 'CHICKEN KEEPIN'
& look forward to the MANY rewards from my 'LADIES'!

HAPPY COUNTRY LIVIN'

Just for YOU...

I've been spending LOTS of time in the garden lately... this cool, spring morning was spent clipping WISTERIA & my favorite is the CHINESE WISTERIA, 'Alba' with it's fine, clean white blooms, this is one variety that will bloom in mostly shade OR sun. Grows in zone 5-8 & is VERY fragrant as most WISTERIA'S are.

Hoping you a HAPPY THURSDAY!

The SIGN or the TIMES...

As I've been consumed by SO much lately, my mind overwhelmed with duties that have surpassed my ability to complete all of them.  I find myself drifting away to a more SIMPLE surrounding, more like a COTTAGE LIVING.  A COTTAGE nestled amongst tall trees, but within view of the OCEAN with waves coming in bringing sea treasures of shells, fossils & seaweed for an avid collector as myself.  To spend the early mornings strolling about with coffee in hand & a basket swinging from my arms JUST for those treasures waiting in the sand.  I have had SUCH a longing for a place as this... 

 Is it a SIGN or JUST the TIMES of today???

BUT for now... I have this chalked on my laundry room door, JUST for a reminder... that this is the REALITY at this moment in my life, doesn't mean... the COTTAGE LIVING will never come... JUST means it will be in another chapter in my life, God has the plans... & it will ALL be in His timing, NOT mine!

Long Over Due...

Greetings... I'm extremely sorry that I've failed on keeping my post upto date here on my blog.  I TRULY hope you have been following me on FACEBOOK to get the latest happenings.

'TIME WAITS FOR NO ONE', that's for sure! 

Ummmmm, let's JUST say, sometime ago I had promised to share one of my recipes that I ravished SO much about... Well, I'm here to do so this evening!

'DELIGHTFUL TURNIP SOUP', I think that's what I will call my LIGHT & SCRUMPIOUS soup that just SO happened one evening. 

About 2 lbs of FRESH turnips
1 FRESH apple
2-3 TBLS of REAL butter (homemade if available)
1 TBLS sugar
salt & pepper to your taste

Peel turnips... peeling the apple is optional, I normally do peel, but the peeling gives much color to the soup.  Slice turnips & the apple into chucks the size for eating, I prefer smaller chucks (as shown).
Fill a large pot half full with water, add the turnips & apple along with the butter, sugar, salt & pepper to your likin'.  Cover with lid & simmer for about 20 minutes OR until the turnips are tender to your preference.  Serve FRESH off the stove...
The APPLE gives MUCH flavor to the turnips!
I use ANY leftovers to go in stew OR vegetable soup.

ENJOY...

LOVE is in the air...

Baby, it's cold outside, BUT we here at Beehind Thyme
are warming up with some... LOVE!

Even Mr. Snowfolk, himself is feelin' the LOVE...

Hoping these HEARTS will spark your SPIRITS & BRIGHTEN
your day!

I'm finding warmth in welcoming the upcoming holiday
with HEARTS scattered about... it's that SIMPLE!

(HEARTS are DESIGNED & MADE here at Beehind Thyme)

COUNTRY EGGS...

The 'LADIES' have been over-achievers these days... even through their molting, egg production has been steady.

Which leads me to this...

Fresh off the farm our DELICIOUS, BROWN EGGS
are being offered by the dozen.
NOTHING else compares...

Our 'LADIES' are treated with the most LOVE... &
provided a HEALTHY diet.

'WHERE DAYS R WELL SPENT'

Warm & Winter Wishes...

Winter is on my head,
but eternal spring is in my heart.
~Victor Hugo

These days the temps have been far from what Winter is to bring, but I'm definitely not doin' any complaining. I've truly
enjoyed the spring-like mornings completing my morning chores
& I have to say... 'THE GIRLS' are appreciating the extended
warm days outdoor instead of spending their days inside
the coop.

As you wonder around here at Beehind Thyme... you will
happen upon LOTS of GALVANIZED TUBS, just one of
my weaknesses.

Winter is a time when the gardens are at rest_
there are few plants that bring color & zest to the landscape
during these Winter days.  Ornamental Cabbage & Kale
are some favorites that are packed full of color
& bring a tolerance that can withstand most Winters.
Here at the greenhouse we had some leftover from the
Autumn season, SO I mustered up enough energy to line our
back walk with these beauties.

Can you believe... the possibilities we've had in the garden
during these Winter days!
It's been a DELIGHT spending these Winter hours 
working in the soil...
How about YOU... have you been spending time in 
your garden this Winter???