Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Once again…

 

Another whole week has slipped by without any posts from ‘Plum Cottage’. The week zipped by. So glad it is now September, that means we are getting closer to more comfortable weather.

Yesterday was a celebratory day, it was our 45th wedding anniversary. I had a peaceful, relaxed day. I worked on & finished a heart that I had started on Sunday afternoon. It has seed beads, faux pearls and two freshwater pearls in a dusty/peachy/pink, embroidery floss and silk ribbon. I made the crocheted and beaded edging to finish it off.

09-08-emb-heart

I stayed indoors all day except to do some hand watering of plants in containers. I thought of my dear husband and the 43 years we had together and was thankful. I miss him every single day, but I know where he is and that fills my heart with peace and joy. Being with God has to be the most awesome thing ever. Smile

The gift for the 45th anniversary is sapphire. Well, my dear husband gave me a ring with sapphires and opals many, many years ago, ahead of this anniversary. It is very special to me.

09-08-sapphires-opals

I looked into my cupboards to see what I could pull out in sapphire-like colors and this is what I came up with. The napkins were from Lemon Verbena Lady awhile back and I save them for special occasions.

09-08-setting

The bride and groom is the cake topper from my in-laws wedding, September 7th in 1942. Dad was in the coast-guard back then, (DH was in the US Navy). This was on my list of things from their estate. The embroidered and beaded heart I made for DH and I a few years before he left this planet. The heart on the right represents him, the one on the left myself. The rose petal fell from one of the roses in bouquet.

 09-08-hearts

I bought this bottle of wine a couple of months or so ago as it was discontinued and on sale, and we enjoyed a good Tempranillo. At the time I didn’t know when I would open it, and when our anniversary rolled around, it was the perfect time. It was really nice.

09-08-tempranillo

When I read the back label last night, I was pleasantly surprised with what I read and underlined it in photo below. ‘A daily hug’. Wow!  On our 45th anniversary. That makes me tear up writing it now. DH always complimented me on my meals.  He was a good sport with new menus and we enjoyed our nightly dinners/suppers together. (I did fix a few duds through the years, needless to say I didn’t fix those recipes again.)

09-08-back-label

I fixed ‘Steakies’, a beef patty dish using Sherry. Very good and easy.

09-08-dinner

Since this recipe made 4 patties, I froze three and it will be nice to take one out to fix for supper on days I work, or don’t feel like cooking.  I love to cook, always have, but it’s not the same cooking for myself.  I can’t stop though, and I do have to eat, now I just have more left-overs for other days.

Here is the recipe.  I did tweak it last night though, as I didn’t have everything on hand, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.  This is taken from my cookbook ‘Wine and Wine Cooking’ by Anne M. Logan.

 

Steakies

1 lb. ground beef

1 c. (firmly packed) soft bread crumbs

2 eggs, slightly beaten

1/2 c. cream

1/4 c. Sherry

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/4 cup chopped parsley

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

3 Tbs. bacon drippings of other fat

2 (10 3/4 oz.) cans beef gravy

2 Tbs. Sherry

1 (4 oz.) can mushroom stems and pieces, drained, optional

In a mixing bowl combine beef, bread crumbs, eggs, cream, the 1/4 c. Sherry, onion, parsley, salt and pepper; mix lightly but thoroughly. Cover and chill mixture several hours or overnight to make it easier to handle.  shape chilled mixture into 6 fat patties, allowing about 1/2 cu mixture per patty. Heat bacon drippings in a large, heavy skillet; brown patties slowly on both sides.  Pour off fat from skillet.  Add gravy, the 2 tbs. Sherry and mushrooms; cover and simmer very gently for 45 minutes, turning and basting patties several times.  Serve on toast, or with mashed or baked potatoes. serves 6.

(Last night I used 3/4 c. oatmeal flakes instead of soft bread crumbs, 1 egg, a little half-n-half instead of cream, Sherry. Didn’t have parsley, with the onion I added 2 cloves of minced garlic. I used olive oil for the fat, I didn’t have beef gravy so I used 2 beef cubes, water and flour.  I didn’t have any mushrooms either. It was still delicious.)

This is making me hungry as I write, so it’s time to go have some breakfast, I’m late this morning.

I’ll write another post full of blooms and more needlework later, too many for this post.

I read a line yesterday in a devotional that I got in my email that makes me stop and think about the blessing and gift of each new day. 

“A life once spent, is irrevocable!”

We can’t undo anything in our lives, but hopefully while we are still in the land of the living, we will learn and grow from mistakes we make.

There’s also a song that’s been running through my mind too, “One Day At A Time”. This was written by Kris Kristofferson

***

I'm only human

I'm just a woman

Help me believe in what I could be

And all that I am

Show me the stairway I have to climb

Lord for my sake help me to take

One day at a time.


One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from You

Just give me the strength to do ev'ryday

What I have to do.


Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine

Lord help me today show me the way

One day at a time.

 

Have a great week and count your blessings, big and small.

FlowerLady

32 comments:

Jean Campbell said...

What a beautiful tribute to your husband and your life together -- celebrating your love.

Balisha said...

Happy annniversary to you. Love that you celebrated with that perfect bottle of wine.

I have your music playing and I'm humming along with it...a favorite old hymn for me.

Have a beautiful day...
Balisha

That recipe sounded good to me....maybe I'll give it a try

Julie said...

Happy 45th anniversary, Lorraine! Looked like a lovely celebration...so thoughtful and beautiful!

I appreciate you letting me know about the broken link in my last post...I fixed it. For some reason (I'm sure it is a ME problem) I have been having terrible troubles with HTML. I see now I can just do a hyperlink of the address, and that's OK too.

Thanks again!
Julie

Nancy J said...

Your words are so full of love and thankfulness, much love and so many good wishes for your 45th, and the heart, bride & groom, a bottle of wine, and some special goodies, you did it your way, and One day at a time is so special to many of us right now, hugs to you today and always, as your cooler days arrive. XXX Jean

Ruth Hiebert said...

Beautiful and thoughtful post. We each celebrate these milestones in different ways. i for one,do not make a special meal or anything like that.I just cherish the memories I have. It's OK to do things the way it feels right for you or me,I guess.

Sallysmom said...

Wonderful to see you post again. I think of you and hope your days are blessed.

Jillayne said...

What an absolutely lovely post Lorraine. I want to wish you a Happy Anniversary - I know it's bittersweet... but the heart always remembers doesn't it? Your beautiful mementos speak volumes of the love you've shared with those closest to you and this post is a beautiful tribute to them, and to how you feel.
your recipe looks pretty good too - I'll have to give it a try soon!

Rose ~ from Oz said...

-sigh- the wine, the meal, the memories, the song! You have touched me very, very deeply dear Lorraine.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

This is a lovely post. Your place setting is simple and elegant. I'm glad that you treat yourself well and lovingly as your wonderful husband would have. Much love to you Lorraine. This post is a loving memory of a wonderful marriage.
xx, Carol

BTW, my birthstone is opal and I love saphires. Terry has given me a ring of each. I love the two stones together in YOUR ring. A marriage of sorts I'd say!

Val said...

I love your place-setting and that "hug" of a wine. A celebration of your love and relationship. ♥

M.K. said...

Hi, FL :) I think your embroidered hearts are so lovely. There's something about them -- they are never gaudy, always elegant. They look OLD, antique, mysterious. Hmm. Not quite up to describing them, but just wanted to say that you do a very good job.

You said, "I thought of my dear husband and the 43 years we had together and was thankful." Such simple words, but I know from speaking with other widows how very HARD it is to be thankful in your situation! You have a meek, trusting spirit, and it shines out. Keep thinking of your dear man, waiting for you, and the eternity you'll have together. We just studied last night the ending of Revelation, and how exciting it was to read again of the place we will live. Blessings to you :)

gld said...

Wonderful tribute to your husband and your marriage!

I have saved the recipe. I have everything but the sherry. I have never tasted it before but will now be searching for it.
Might even try this before using another wine.

I had forgotten that song. Thanks for reminding me.

I love how you are still cooking and serving good food for yourself and setting such beautiful table settings. That is something we should all remember.

Betty said...

Happy Anniversary. It looks like you had a wonderful evening and I know he was there with you.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

OH My Heart.. That was an awesome post and tribute to your 45 years with your Sweetie. I know that he was looking down on you all day yesterday (as he does every day) smiling from ear to ear. I loved the way you spent that very special day with him. Love the sapphire...

Your dinner sounds terrific.. Made me hungry...

God Bless You, Sweet Lorraine.
Hugs,
Betsy

Unknown said...

Lorraine,

Happy anniversary, I hope you felt the Love of God embracing you all day and that all your memories of your DH were happy ones!! Love, love, love the heart and that meal looks scrumptious:-)
Teresa,
sugar, spice and whatever's nice

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Your loving and sweet tribute made me teary eyed. What a beautiful post! I needed to tell you about the photo on my blog that you commented on. It is a photo from last winter........we are not that cold in Texas yet......sorry, I just chose it to go with the verse I posted. Loved visiting here!

Susan said...

What a lovely tribute to your husband and your 45 years together. I'm sending a warm hug your way, as well. Stay indoors until we feel the first breath of fall!

shadesofidaho said...

Happy Belated Anniversary. Your dinner looked yummy. I believe the Rose Petal dropping was a sign from DH.

Miss you .Please email if you get a chance. I can not seem to get an email to you. Love & Hugs Chris

The BUTT'RY and BOOK'RY said...

Hello Dearest Lorraine,
That was a sweet tribute, and a very yummy dinner with the warmest of sentiment. You have a sweet way of sharing your thoughts and bringing all back to Jesus. :-)
I went over to You tube and listened to many more versions of One Day at a Time, and I believe I shall be humming it for a time now!;-D
Thanks for sharing your sweet heart, Many Blessings and warmth, Linnie

Sandra said...

Lorraine, you are such a sweetheart and such a beautiful spirit. This post made me smile from ear to ear. I love the tribute to your husband and I'm sure he is smiling down from Heaven :)

The dinner looked delicious, I'll have to give your recipe a try as I think my husband would enjoy it :)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thank you again, for always knowing just what to say when I'm having a bad day. I appreciate it more than you know.

Big hugs and much love to you,
Sandra

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

Dear Lorraine, what a touching post...
Your DH was smiling at you...

Karen said...

Rainey, I thought of you extra-special-hard on the 8th and sent many prayers your way on your anniversary. I love the beaded hearts, so beautiful! The cake topper is wonderful, what a lovely keepsake.

Your meal sounds and looks delicious, you are such a good cook, I can see why Mark enjoyed your culinary talents, too.

So much has been going on around here, some good, some not so hot, but not a day goes by I don't think of you, dear friend. Hugs to you from across the miles.

Deb J. in Utah said...

What a sweet and poignant anniversary celebration of eternal love!

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

You always bless me
when I visit you.
This morning especially
with you sharing your wonderful memories, more beautiful creations and a wonderful recipe.
Blessings to you sweet one
and continue on in your spirit
and you have it made....

sweetbay said...

I am glad you were able to enjoy and celebrate your 45th wedding anniversary. Your dinner looked lovely -- delicious too!

Kit said...

Happy Anniversary Dear Flowerlady! You celebrated it beautifully! Love you, Kit

Deborah Montgomery said...

Happy anniversary to you. It looks like you had a very special celebration. What a beautiful way to honor your memories and the hope that you have.
I see you have several blogs. Is this the main one? Do you show your embroidery more on the FL Creations blog? I want to make sure I'm following your embroidery b/c I'm so eager to take that back up again, and I admire your beautiful work.

Darcie said...

What a beautiful celebration to a beautiful marriage. A very Happy Anniversary to you. I love how you set the table to honor your years together, to many special things that showcase your love for one another. Simply wonderful!

Yesteryear Embroideries said...

Just dropped back by to say hello and to see how you were!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Lorraine, I'm terribly late, but I enjoyed this post. You are blessed to have fond memories of time spent with your husband.

Terra said...

What a nice way to spend your anniversary, with the pretty heart you created, the wine to give you a hug, the cake topper, the sapphire ring and all. Have a blessed week.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Such a lovely post and so full of love and memories. I have really enjoyed reading it!