About The Book

This Christmas, there’s plenty of room at the inn.

Nestled in the snow-covered Sangre de Cristo Mountains near Santa Fe, the Grey Sage Inn looks like the perfect place for weary travelers to escape the craziness of the Christmas season. There’s plenty to see in historic Santa Fe during the day, and the inn’s owners, Maude and Silas Thornhill, are happy to spend their evenings hosting this year’s guests from across the country.

But an unusual snowstorm throws a wrench in the festive mood. The sprawling inn becomes close quarters as stranded guests discover this Christmas won’t be the relaxed vacation they expected. Tension and fear mount as the storm worsens, and Silas, a retired doctor, is called away in the middle of the night to care for a neighbor. The snow and stress unlocks tongues-and in the unexpected conversation that follows, secrets and pasts are revealed, and hearts are healed.

In the midst of snowdrifts and fireside conversations, of tales of days gone by, the warmth of Christmas brings a renewed hope as these trapped strangers become friends-proof again that the joy, hope, peace, and love of Christmas can be experienced no matter where you are.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

My Review

Things are not always what they seem to be, even with a perfect outside appearance. The beautiful inn owned by the lovely Maude and Silas seems the perfect place to spend the holidays. Why then, did the couple spend the last decade escaping this picture postcard home every Christmas? A favor for a friend starts a process of facing and coming to terms with a past darkness they never have been able to acknowledge. In the process they discover everyone must face past struggles and hurts.

Was the book a little “Hallmark Channel” for my taste…maybe, but I’m really not looking for dark and disturbing in a holiday fiction book. It was the perfect combination of gentle forgiveness, holiday miracle and family restoration I am looking for this time of year. A little escape from the stress of the everyday. This book won’t save the world but it may brighten the attitude toward the world, and that is just as important.

*I was provided a copy of the book from the publisher but the opinions are all mine*

The best part of my newly revealed kitchen…the ease it lends itself to Christmas decorating… and Valentine’s Day as well I guess…but we have a few months until that event. The crisp white with touches of red only needs a few holiday elements to look polished, simplistic and classic. I may have to give away all my glitter and gold accents…just kidding. This Christmas my motto seems to be less is more. Hopefully I have managed to also evoke a feeling of a cozy, warm home because that is what I, and probably most of my readers, long for during these stressful times. Grab a cup of hot chocolate and come inside…

Simple (and free) greens in an antique Swedish dough bowl add a lot of impact. I love the simple red berry wreaths in the windows.

My Grandmother’s church was made for a beautiful snow cover and simple pine trees. An antique postcard finishes the vignette.

A Swedish Santa stands guard over vintage cookie cutters, waiting for the baking to begin.

But until that baking time occurs, we can enjoy the adorable gingerbread decorations…and the Santa as well!

And what says Christmas more than plaid…even cuter on a little Princess…singing on a hay bale!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us. Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday Favorites  waste not. Dagmar’s house.  Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. Pit stop. Morning cup of joe home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekendcreate bake grow.  5 things Friday. Sunday at home share it. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI. Amaze me.

…are happening in this house! See you next week!

About The Book

How do you explain the gospel to toddlers and preschoolers?

Often adults are stumped, but Jared Kennedy’s focus on the promises of God makes the gospel come alive to the littlest hearts. Through fifty-two Old and New Testament stories, The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible highlights God’s perfect promises. Every page pops with bright colors, playful illustrations, fun learning opportunities, and, best of all each story points children to Jesus.

Kids know the value of a promise. Through the gospel, our good and all-powerful God keeps his word and fulfills his promises to us better than we could have ever thought or imagined!

In The Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible, author Jared Kennedy traces God’s perfect promises through fifty-two Old and New Testament stories, retold in simple and compelling ways with toddlers and preschoolers in mind. Each gospel-centered story highlights God’s tale of redemption through Jesus and the unexpected and surprising ways that God’s grace and mercy are revealed throughout the Bible. Children will hear the good news of God’s love for them clearly expressed in ways that will speak to their young hearts. Brightly colored illustrations highlight the stories and add fun teaching elements of counting, opposites, patterns, and object recognition to keep even the youngest child’s attention. Every story also ends with a question that parents and caregivers can use to further reinforce the message.

Through reading this book one chapter at a time to your children-or letting them read it to you!-even the youngest kids will come to know that God’s promises are especially for them, and that God always keeps his promises.

Learn more, read a sample, and purchase a copy.

My Review

How does one introduce the good news of the Gospel to little ones? Many children’s bibles seem to either talk above or talk below them. You don’t want to offer a watered down version nor do you want to bombard them with information too complex for them to process correctly. This story Bible does a pretty job balancing the simplistic and the complicated, although I did find the stories a little disjointed at times. My daughter, aged 4, really enjoyed our evening stories, so for that I am thankful. She is probably on the verge of moving into a more challenging Bible experience. Best suited for the 3 and under set, it is a pleasant way to introduce your child to God’s great love for us. The illustrations were great and discussion questions are included for personal application. It would be a lovely gift for new parents.

Some really incredible things happened in the early 1990’s. The first cell phones burst on the scene, the Hubble Space telescope was launched and the World Wide Web became a real thing! Also, my kitchen was apparently remodeled. As a renter, you see the challenge of “resourcefulness and just make do”. As an owner, you see dated cabinets, bad paint color and well past their prime appliances. Alas, a full kitchen renovation is just not in the cards right now…but a Gal can dream. In the meantime, it is miraculous what a fresh coat of paint (on the walls and cabinets), some beadboard (for a backsplash) and some great vintage finds (chicken feeders into light fixtures) can do for a space…thanks to a handy Hero!

Before

After

A few simple changes can have a huge impact!

My kitchen makes me happy!

Almost as much as this sweet face looking so proud!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us. Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday Favorites  waste not. Dagmar’s house.  Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home. Feather nest. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. Pit stop. Morning cup of joe home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekend create bake grow.  5 things Friday. Sunday at homeshare it. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI. Amaze me. Style showcase Fresh market Friday count your blessings

Beyond excited to be featured at Bloggers Pit Stop! Check out all the inspiration!

Cute Paper Turkey Wreath @ Dazzle While Frazzled

Time to get ready for Thanksgiving…how cute is this turkey Wreath? He just might have to make an appearance at my house this week!

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For whatever reason, I have attended many a potluck in my lifetime. When asked what I was going to contribute, I always said “I can bring homemade sourdough bread!” This statement was almost always greeted by a look of pure awe or barely disguised disbelief. Even now, some of you are thinking…sourdough bread isn’t that really hard…time consuming…better left to the experts? Just have some faith…and a good starter, and you can impress your family and friends with the crusty, chewy goodness. The basic starter is probably the most challenging aspect. However, if you can measure and mix flour and water, you can make starter. There are terrific recipes all over Pinterest, or let me know and I can give you my own secret recipe.

This recipe is a good beginner’s sourdough bread because most of the uncertainty of the rise is removed with the addition of a little yeast. It is great for a newer starter…and absolutely delicious.

The usual Cast of Characters

1 cup “fed” sourdough starter

1 1/2 cups lukewarm water

2 teaspoons instant yeast

2 1/2 teaspoons salt

5 cups Bread flour

1 tbs dough enhancer…optional but highly recommended.

The Steps to Glory

1. Combine all of the ingredients, kneading to form a smooth dough. I use a kitchen aide mixer on low about 8-10 minutes

2. Allow the dough to rise, in a lightly greased, covered bowl, until it’s doubled in size, about 90 minutes. Keep in a warm spot.

3. Gently divide the dough in half; it’ll deflate somewhat.

4. Gently shape the dough into two oval loaves. Place the loaves on a lightly greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover and let rise until very puffy, about 1 hour. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 425°F.

4.Spray the loaves with lukewarm water. This step is essential for the crusty outside, soft inside beauty of sourdough.

5. Make two fairly deep diagonal slashes in each using a serrated bread knife. Sprinkle with sea salt.

6. Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes, until it’s a very deep golden brown.

7. This is my secret tip just for you…turn oven off, prop open door with an oven mitt and allow the bread to cool in the oven. Don’t remove until the outside is cool enough to touch. Why do this? It prevents the Bread from having a soggy outside from the evaporation as it cools. Soggy bread is just sad.

8. Remove, slice and enjoy…and accept all the compliments. Just don’t tell them how easy it was to do.

Especially good to serve following a Navy win on a cold game day!

Show and share. Inspire me Monday. Tuesday at our house. The scoop. Inspire me Tuesday. Make it pretty. Made by you. Metamorphosis. You’re the Star. Tuesday with a twist. Let’s talk vintage. Wonderful Wednesday. Wow us.Talk of the town. Tuesday talk. Share your cup. Share your style. Home and garden. Welcome home. Thursday Favorites  waste not. Dagmar’s house.  Vintage charm. Friday features. Home sweet home.Feather nest. Friendship Friday. Funtastic Friday. Grace at home. Pit stop. Morning cup of joe home matters. Sweet inspiration. Best of the weekendcreate bake grow.  5 things Friday. Sunday at home share it. Snickerdoodle. Simple Saturday. Silver pennies. Create with joy. Inspiration Monday. DI&DI . Amaze me. Style showcase. Fresh market Friday. Count your blessings. Smell good Sunday

My Autumn Delights post was featured on Blogger Pit Stop #97! Thanks for the love!

Welcome to Friday Favorites…a little late. This week was crazy busy…and the next few don’t look any easier. Thank goodness for my slow cooker and 17 new slow cooker recipes from Playdatesparties.com.

17 Slow Cooker Recipes@Playdatesparties.com

 

Our party will look a little different until the holidays. Our fearless leader is anticipating the arrival of her very own bundle of joy very soon. Each hostess will have their own features on their site. Don’t forget to check out what the other ladies selected. The links are below.

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming Alice – FB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage Presents – Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo Blues – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small Things – Pin

Penny at Penny’s Passion – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas Sky – Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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