Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Monday, December 17, 2018

Alive!


I'm alive!
Not completely well, but oh so much better :)
This flu has played havoc with my lungs,
so there is still some congestion,
but getting better day by day :)


I want to thank you all
for your thoughtful get well
comments . . .
they touched my heart and warmed my soul.
Thank you so very much :)


Steve has had more problems
and was sent to the emergency room
one day, but thankfully was sent home
without a hospital stay.
Do keep us in your prayers. 


I have been quilting away 
on my sister-in-law's
grandmother's quilt. 


And this morning I was inspired to 
bake Steve an apple pie.
 So I got out my mother's old
mixing bowl.
I love using her old bowl,
somehow it puts her here in the kitchen with me :)


I used one of my quarts of
Amish apple pie filling.
I canned these this Fall from a
new Amish canning book 
that I purchased on-line.


Going into the oven.
This small six inch corning ware 
pan is just the right size for us.
We get four generous servings.


Out of the oven. 
It makes the house smell wonderful :)


While I was off on my break . . .


This lovely gift arrived in the mail.


Hand-made my Melba 
of
Henny Penny Lane
if you have not visited her blog
I suggest that you do.
https://hennypennylane.blogspot.com 


These beautiful fabric squares 
were also included in her gift.

She and her husband live in 
a beautiful log cabin in 
North Carolina.
She raises a garden, 
has the best cared for animals ever,
and is an amazing stitcher
of all things old fashioned 
and lovely.


Well that's it for today,
it is good to be back among 
the living.


Wishing you all a healthy
winter season . . .
stay warm and cozy.

Keep Smiling!

Your blogging sister,
Connie :)




  
 

 
 



73 comments:

  1. How wonderful that you and your hubby are on the mend. My sister had the flu and she said she had never been so sick in her life! So far we have escaped it.
    How sweet of Melba to send you that cute gift. I find the cast iron handle covers great but mine are just pot holders that I folded over and stitched by hand.
    Have a great week. I'm sure you must have a long list of things you want to accomplish before the big day. Blessings,

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for stopping by. I have missed all my sweet blogging friends, but truly needed my sick leave break. Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

      Delete
  2. It is a wonderful thing you and your husband are feeling better. Apple pie will put a smile on your husband's face. It looks mighty delicious! Isn't Melba's gift to you beautiful. I love those flower panels. Your sister-in-law's quilt is coming along beautifully. May you and your loved ones' Christmas be sprinkled with love and joy, lovely Connie♥

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Connie :) So happy you're on the mend and Steve is in my prayers. Wishing you all the best in health and happiness this holiday season! What a nice gift from your friend, those fabric squares are beautiful! Heading over to Melba's blog right now! :) That apple pie...omg...I LOVE Corning Ware!!! I wish I had some, they do remind me of my grandma. Pretty decorations for Christmas!!! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Rain, I've been enjoying a slice of pie while blogging this afternoon. If you ever want to can apple pie filling let me know and I'll share this recipe with you. It was nice having it made up and so easy to get a pie in the oven. I was not feel up to peeling apples and all that work, LOL. Prayers are truly appreciated, thank you.

      Delete
    2. I would love that canning recipe Connie. I think you still have my email address, so when you're up to it, can you share it please? I won't be canning apples until next fall, but I'd still love to have it in my recipe book! :) Thanks for offering!!! xx

      Delete
  4. Glad to see you back...but take care of yourself now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Elizabeth . . . it's a nasty flu, so if it's going round in your neck of the woods, stay away from couching people. As we get older I think our fighting back power goes a little weak :)
      Wishing you a wonderful Christmas.

      Delete
  5. So glad you are feeling better. Hope you and Steve are feeling 100% soon

    ReplyDelete
  6. Good to see this post, lovely gifts from a friend always make the day blessed. So thankful, you
    and your hubby are on the road to feeling well. Blessings to your cozy home! Merry Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's great to be back among the living again . . . nothing makes us appreciate health like a bout of the flu :)

      Delete
  7. I'm glad you're feeling so much better! That little apple pie looks amazing. And I'm sure it tastes even btter since it was mixed in your mother's bowl.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mamma's mixing bowl makes all the difference in the world :)

      Delete
  8. I'm glad you are better! That sounds like an awful flu bug!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and yes it is . . . stay away from coughing people :)

      Delete
  9. Welcome back! I'm so glad you're feeling better, and hubby too. Will continue to pray for you.
    I love Henny Penny Lane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Mari, and thank you for stopping by . . . believe me when I say how very much your prayers are appreciated, thank you :)

      Delete
  10. I'm sorry to hear both of you have been ill. But glad that you are doing better. I think that cute apple pie might be just what the doctor ordered

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope it helps :) It certainly did make our little home smell lovely today; the smell of cinnamon was drifting from the kitchen out into the whole house.

      Delete
  11. So glad you're better! Rest and then have a Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you . . . this warms my heart and Merry Christmas to you too sweet friend.

      Delete
  12. So glad to read you and Steve are getting better and that you are back to blogging again! Yummy looking pie there. Good thing I am not your neighbor or there might not be four servings for you and Steve. Thats a cute apron from Henny Penny. So sweet of her. I just love her big beautiful white dog, Eli! The ice skates are cute with the red polka dots! Were the polka dots just added this year? Take it easy and don't do too much to cause a relapse. Nancy
    added this year? We didn't even get around to having the kids get our sleigh down from the attic this year. I need to look at Goodwill for some ice skates. I always just put a swag on mine. Don' try to do too much and have a relapse. Nancy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Nancy, I know that we have been in your prayer and I want to thank you for that and for the sweet homemade card that came in the mail. You are so thoughtful and kind. I added those polka dots a few years ago, and love bringing those skates out at Christmas :)

      Delete
  13. I am so glad that you’re feeling better. I will be praying for Steve. The apple pie looks absolutely delicious and the gifts from Melba are beautiful. Blogging friends are the best! Blessings, Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Betsy, thank you for your prayers, they are so much appreciated. We are not completely over this, but feeling much better.

      Delete
  14. The pie looks heavenly. It would be so good with a hot cup of coffee. I'm glad you're on the mend. Prayers for you and your husband.
    xx Beca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Beca, the pie is good, I had a slice yesterday with cold cream on top. It made the house smell all Christmasy with the cinnamon smell drifting through the house :) Thank you for your prayers, we are grateful for Christian friends and their thoughtful and most welcoming prayers.

      Delete
  15. So happy to hear that you're feeling better again, Connie. An Apple Pie is always such a joy to make and enjoy! Look after yourselves!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was great having this canned apple filling ready. I almost didn't try that recipe, but now I'm adding it to my canning each Autumn when the orchards are selling apples :) It's great to be feeling better.

      Delete
  16. Hi Connie- So good to hear you are on the mend from illness and getting your strength back and enjoying things that you like with Cooking delights and your Craft. Best Wishes. KEV.(AUSTRALIA).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kev, it is great to be feeling better. We still are couching and not wanting to share our gems, but at least we are feeling like being up and moving again :)

      Delete
  17. Oh ! Poor Steve and now you have flu on top of everything . Well yes of course Steve is in my prayers ...you both are ! You take lots of rest now and keep yourselves warm .......mmmm... I can smell that Apple and cinnamon pie from here ! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! There is nothing as sweet as having friends praying for you.
      We appreciate it it so much :)

      Delete
  18. Glad to know that you have turned the corner, and are feeling better.
    Prayers for your hubby, and hopes that he is returned to full health soon!

    Yummy looking pie, and I'm sure that it tastes even better with home~made apple filling... YUM!

    Warm wishes.
    ~K.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It warms my heart to know that so many of my blogging friends have been praying for us. We appreciate it so much, it fills my heart with pure joy and that wonderful warmth of being loved. Thank you :)

      Delete
  19. Dear Connie I am stopping by for a piece of that yummy looking pie. What a great idea to put it in a corning ware dish. So glad to read you are on the mend and hubby didn't have to stay in the hospital. I certainly understand how frustrating that can be - my mom has been for a week - hoping she gets to come home today. Well take care friend and have a lovely day. Need to check out your Amish canning recipe for apples.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll have to take a photo of the canning book. I purchased it on Amazon last summer. It's filled with wonderful Amish canning recipes. They have been canning forever and they break it down to a much easier process. Steve goes in Thursday to see the doctor again. They have changed his meds a bit so hopefully he will get a better report.

      Delete
  20. I am glad you are feeling better, both of you. Apple pie has healing properties, I am sure of it :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apple pie and chicken soup . . . cure alls :)

      Delete
  21. So happy to hear you are feeling better. I had you in my thoughts and prayers. Good wishes for your hubby to feeling better too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, blogging friends are wonderful and your prayers are appreciated so much :)

      Delete
  22. Oh my...happy you are feeling better a good pot of chicken soup may be just the remedy! The pie looks wonderful when you make an apple pie you dont mess around lol hopeing you all feel better ! Lisa @ sweet tea n salty air

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Lisa, it's great to feel like blogging again and a good go between being able to visit with friends without spreading gems :) Chicken soups sounds wonderful . . . I might just get that going. I have a chicken in the freezer.

      Delete
  23. I am so glad you are healthy again sweet friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too! It's a rough flu, so watch out for coughing people. I received your beautiful homemade card in the mail. Thank you so much . . . I don't know how you do it, but everything you do is pure gold. Your talents are bountiful dear friend.

      Delete
  24. So pleased you are feeling a little better. It's not a good time to be sick is it, this time of year with so much going on. So nice that you have received a lovely parcel to cheer you up. And your Apple pie looks so tasty, I bet hubby loved it too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It is not fun. We have already missed three things that I was looking forward to attending, but I'm a firm believer in not sharing bad germs. I was sad that our daughter and grands would not be here this year, but now am happy about it, I would not want them flying in to two old sick people. Life is good and we are surviving this bout and already climbing over the other side of it :) Thanks for popping in to say Hi.

      Delete
  25. I am glad to hear that you are on the mend, but how scary for Steve to have gone to the ER! I hope he is feeling better soon, too. I hope that you two are well enough by next week to enjoy your Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Melanie, you are so sweet. Steve has a doctor appointment tomorrow so we are hoping for better news. We have a cozy little home to snuggle up and stay warm in. My heart goes out to those that are sick and do not. We are blessed and we have each other to share the tasks of taking care of one another. We are over the hump and feeling better, it's just a slow thing to get completely over. Do your best to stay away for sick people, you don't want it. Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement, they are appreciated.

      Delete
  26. I'm so glad you are feeling better! I hope you continue to feel stronger. I'll keep you both in my prayers! Love your beautiful gifts. Friends know just what we love! Holiday hugs!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We truly appreciate your prayers. There is nothing that anyone can do that is more powerful than prayer. We are both feeling better, Steve is having a lot of problem sleeping and with his back, and I am still couching, but compared to what we were going through this is easy. He has another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so hopefully it will be good news.

      Delete
  27. We are so lucky here in Australia, as Seniors get free flu' vaccines. I get free vaccine because I am asthmatic. So sorry that Obama TRIED to get a National Health Care system in place, but voted down.So sad.Every "Civilised" society needs to protect and look after their vulnerbale citizens. I am so glad you have recovered though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Judy. It's great to report that we are feeling better. This to will pass :)

      Delete
  28. So pleased you are feeling better Connie. Your apple pie looks wonderful .. wish I could reach into my screen & sample a piece. I have not visited your blog as we lost our internet for quite awhile after an electrical storm. I am just now catching up on some blog reading. Have a great week Connie Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Julie, I'm happy that your internet is back and running. When you're a blogger you have a problem not seeing what's going on in your group of blogging friends. This flu put me into a two week break, the longest I've done since starting to blog so many years ago. It was a good rest, but now I'm happy to be back, too. So here's to blogging sisters everywhere . . . May our internet be up and working and many our friendships spread and bring good cheer and great encouragement throughout the coming year:)
      Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  29. Good to hear you are on the mend, and able to get things done, our household came down with a cold, but I am hoping I am on the upswing side of it. I didn't get a flu shot this year, kept thinking I should but didn't get around to it, hopefully we don't get that too.
    That pie looks so delicious, now you have me wanting to make one too :)
    such lovely gifts you were given, how sweet!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No flu shot here either, but then I have gotten them in the past and still caught the flu and in a bad way. It's a catch 22 :) I do hope that your family are all feeling better and that you have a feel good Christmas :) The pie was very good, we finished it off last night before bed :)

      Delete
  30. So glad to know you are feeling better. Surely that delicious pie would make anyone feel better. I love the flower seed fabric squares that Henny sent. What fun you will have with those. Take care and Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the get well encouragement . . . we are working on that daily, LOL. I'm down to a continuing cough and headache, but this too will pass. Steve is feeling better too, but we are still not out completely out of the woods. I'm excited about that fabric . . . so many possibilities :) Melba was so kind to send them to me. I do hope you visit her lovely blog. Merry Christmas!

      Delete
  31. I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying what you like through cooking and your craft. I also like this way of life and look forward to different kinds of delicacies.
    Pray for your husband and hope he will recover soon!
    red evening dresses

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by and thank you for your prayers, they are greatly appreciated :)

      Delete
  32. So many with this horrible cold. So good to hear you are so much better. I didn't get a flu shot but am scared of those too.
    Your pie, I can almost taste, it looks so delicious! That crust looks so tender and flaky.
    What will you make with the seed fabric squares? Nice thoughtful gifts your friend gifted you.
    Happy Christmas
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Betsy,
      The crust was just a simple Crisco recipe. I did leave it pretty thick, Steve is a crust person :)
      As for the fabric squares, there are many of them, so I will be able to use them in several projects, but the first thing that comes to mind is a Spring quilt :) They are beautiful and Melba was an angel to sent them my way. Thank you for your "get well" encouragement :)

      Delete
  33. I so hope you continue to feel better! How pretty the fabric looks and that apple pie looks so wonderful!
    Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oh Connie, I was so happy to see your blog post! So so glad you are both on the other side of feeling rotten, and on the way to feeding good again! It's a good sign when a person who has been sick wants to bake and cook! That pie looks absolutely DEVINE. Looks like my mom's pie crust. Hers was with crisco and so light and flakey and yummy. I have to cook gluten free and make a pretty mean pie crust like my mom's. The canned apples is such a great idea! Hubby got me one of those corer peelers so hope we can figure it out to use next summer! It is in about 15 pieces! the quilt squares of the seed packets are just darling. They look hand colored. Just love them. How sweet of your friend to send them. My closest thing to apple pie has been some cinnamon apple spice tea! It makes everything smell wonderful. Take care of yourselves. I haven't gotten a flu shot either. Just started them a couple of years ago, but last year, I got sick a few days after I had the shot. It was a horrible flu, but not fun. So have debated this year. Any time I'm in a store and hear someone coughing, I immediately turn around and head the other direction! Again.. take care... and glad you're on the mend. Hugs... Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apple spice tea has much less calories, so you are doing good girl friend :)
      Here's to a new year of good health and a joyful and happy life.

      Delete
  35. Connie, we can smell that delicious apple pie all the way from here ! Looks fabulous !
    We're so glad that you're feeling better and are on the road to recovery. :-)
    A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family ! Blessings, from Marina and Daryl Lynn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you . . . your blog has been a great source of inspiration through the years. Beautiful quilt work and charming posts. We are feeling much better and feel blessed to have so many friends sending us good wishes.

      Delete
  36. Hi Connie! I just wanted to stop by and wish you a Happy New Year! I enjoyed seeing your Christmas crafts and am so glad that you guys are feeling better. ~ Kathy M.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Kathy, this is such a pleasant surprise I was just thinking of you.

      Delete