BeautyRevealed | The Blog of Melissa J. Dillon

“Hold on to your hat! Today is going to be a blustery day.”

- Winnie the Pooh

The winds picked up a couple of days ago and finally blew in some chilly Autumn weather for us. That’s when I get in the mood for baking and making yummy soups to warm us up. Last night we turned on the heat for the first time this season to take the chill off the house, and while Mark watched “The Bourne Supremacy”, I headed to the kitchen to bake Snickerdoodles. I love the smell of fresh baked cookies on a cold evening. We could hear the wind whipping around outside and it felt so snug and warm inside. That’s what home is all about: a place of refuge and safety; a place to surround yourself with all things that make you feel “at home” and cozy; a place where you should feel the most loved and wanted.

After we enjoyed a few warm cookies and milk, I put the rest in the freezer to save them for our camping trip coming up this weekend. Looks like it’s supposed to be chilly (especially at night… brrrrr!!), but that’s the fun of camping in the fall and huddling around the campfire with a cup of cocoa. Next year we’ll have to plan it a little earlier since we’ll have a baby with us~ Ooohh, I can hardly wait!

Here’s a yummy recipe for Snickerdoodles if you don’t already have one:

Snickerdoodles

Cream together:

1½ cups sugar, ½ cup softened butter, ½ cup shortening, and 2 eggs

Sift together and add to above ingredients:

2¾ cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons cream of tarter.

Shape into 1¼ inch balls. Mix ¼ cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon in a bowl. Roll balls in mixture. Place 2 inches apart  on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes in a 400 degree oven (or until set). Cool. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Today I am making a big pot of my mom’s yummy Wild Rice Soup to take along with us on our camping trip. I’ll try to get the recipe posted before we head out on Thursday. I hope you are all enjoying these Autumn days! Many blessings!

~ Melissa Joy~

Some cute fall things that I cannot afford! But one can dream…

(j.crew)

(anthropologie)

(anthropologie)

“May you have warm words on a cold evening…”

- An Irish Blessing

(Wordle.net)

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.”

- Emily Bronte

With such an unseasonable warm September, we have had much less color up north than we normally do. But I’ll take what I can get… I savor these autumn days, even if I wouldn’t mind it a tad cooler and cozier.

Our annual camping trip is coming up the first weekend in October. I can’t wait for a cozy fire, tin mugs, canoe rides, and Jodie’s famous campfire breakfast. It’s one of the things I look forward to the most all year long. Ahhh, very soon.

After having one of the busiest summers I ever remember having, I’ve been looking forward to Autumn tremendously this year. And Fall is definitely in the air. Although it has been warm and sunny, the leaves are beginning to change and there is a certain smell in the breeze that makes me yearn for cozy chilly days around the corner. Mom and I have been visiting the local shops to get some inspiration, and I’ve been taking down all my summer decorations and breezy curtains to make room for cozy Autumn decorations… candles, pumpkins, etc. (Pictures to come one of these days).  I love to light my apple cider and pumpkin pie candles in the evenings and enjoy a little “house warming”.

Tonight I’ve been flipping through cookbooks to find some “comfort food” recipes: soups, hot-dishes, crock-pot creations… and I’m hoping for more apples this year from my neighbor so I can make my favorite Apple Bread again.

The Lord is taking me through some hard things lately, but I’m just so aware of His presence that never leaves me nor forsakes me. He never promised us that life would be easy… in fact, just the opposite. We are told to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”… not if… “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2-3) I think at times women can feel like they need to look like we have it all together. That our life is great and perfect in every way. But sometimes life is messy. Sometimes it’s hard. And sometimes the lessons we must go through can bring about pain and suffering. And that’s okay, because everyone experiences the tough stuff at some time or another, and we shouldn’t be in a competition to prove our perfection. Perfection can only be found in Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. So during this last week, I have been drawing on His strength to bring me through.

My devotional from Streams in the Desert today really spoke to me: “Recognize that Unseen Presence… which is so wonderful, quieting, soothing, calming and warming. He is here, close to you, and His Presence is real. Some One is present, and He is a warm-hearted Friend and the all-powerful Lord.”

So really the true “house warming” comes from inviting His Presence to permeate every nook and cranny of our homes. When we allow Him to quiet our hearts amid whatever storm we’re in, and to set us aglow with His love for us once again.

Autumn blessings to all as you enjoy this upcoming cozy season.