A Trip to Lancaster, PA and Amish Baked Oatmeal

Now that my dear friend Connie reminded me that we only have 3 WEEKS until Christmas I feel a little panicky. But like every year, it will all get done....somehow. A few weeks back I went on a little trip to Lancaster County here in Pennsylvania. I took a few pictures but forgot to take so many. My mom and I travel there at least twice a year and usually stay with good friends of ours that own a Bed and Breakfast. We talked so much I forgot to take pictures of her place but here's a link. http://equestrianbnb.com/ We are so blessed that the Lord connected us with these lovely people. It's like coming home every time we visit.

I love all the little Amish farms ~ I guess they really aren't little!

I just love seeing this sweet garden in Strasburg, PA. Note the repeat blooming Irises.

I want to paint something this color!

Dienner's is the place to eat! We eat here a few times every visit....its always delightful.

Below is a copy of Linda's Amish Oatmeal Recipe (from the BnB). I can't tell you how good this is...of course it always taste better when she makes it! Warm hugs and blessings today....Jenn

Equestrian Estates Amish Baked Oatmeal
½ Cup Butter Softened
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs Beaten
2 tsp Vanilla
1 Cup Milk
¼ Cup Oil ~ Canola or Vegetable
2 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking Powder
3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix butter and sugar. Add egg and mix well. Add vanilla, milk and oil. Stir this then add the salt and baking powder until well blended.

Spray medium-sized baking dish with cooking spray. Pour mixture into dish. Stir in Oatmeal.

Bake 35 minutes until brown on top.

Serve with brown sugar and hot milk. I also add fresh fruit….strawberries, apples or pears are good!

Sending Warm Wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving.

My family will be going to my mom's for dinner then to my sister-in-law's for dessert (or as my friend Bob says desserts). I'm truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family near and far. Sending you all my best for a Happy Thanksgiving. xoxox

Pictures from the Weekend

What a great weekend! So many wonderful friends visiting for the 1824 Antiques "Christmas in the Country" holiday open house. Audrey and David make it so special and really go above and beyond. The shop looked so pretty. We had a long line waiting at the door Saturday morning in the freezing cold weather but everyone seemed to have so much fun shopping with Christmas music, the smell of pine and spices, and little twinkling lights everywhere. Here's a few pictures before we opened for those of you who couldn't be there. Many blessings.........Jenn

2nd Annual "Merry Little Christmas" Open House Planned

I'm home! I've been on a lovely road trip with my mom to Lancaster County...pictures will be posted later this week!

Things get a little crazy around here. I am getting ready for a Christmas Open House this weekend at my friend's Antique Shop. http://www.1824antiques.com/. My mom is making some wonderful handstitched pillows for this also. The craziness must run in our family....she meant to stitch "Jingle Bells" on this pillow but look how it turned out! She was going to take the stitching out but I stole the pillow from her before she had the chance! Its something I will treasure always.

If your interested in these e-mail me jenn@rabbithillprimitives.com. They are $20 each. Handstitched on the best black wool felt with lots of rusty jingle bells. She has a few also that say "Sleigh Bells". They are darker than pictured here...I think I had the flash on.

Please stop by for our 2nd Annual "Merry Little Christmas Open House" here at Rabbit Hill Primitives. It is on Wednesday December 3rd at 7:00 p.m. est. I'm stitching away to create lots of primitive Christmas wares. Plus I'll be adding some new antiques and vintage Christmas goodes from my trip!

I've got to get back to work....we've had some beautiful snow flurries this morning and I've got the new Harry Connick Jr. Christmas CD on. Life is good. God Bless......Jenn

Thankful for thoughtful friends

"Which way to the show????"

Taking a break today from sewing. It's been a busy week. My lovely friend Audrey called last weekend to tell me there was a cancellation and this was short notice but did I want to send some of my wares with her to the Simple Goods show? hmmmm YES! That is one of the best shows around.

Just a little background here to catch you up.....Audrey and her husband David own 1824 Antiques which carries the best primitives around these parts. They are the kindest people you will ever meet and really go out of there way for you. If you visit their home, you really never want to leave.

"Blessed is the man who has the gift of making friends; For it is one of God's best gifts"

Audrey is a true kindred spirit and David is just a dream ~ hee hee! He'll get a kick out of that one....but its true!

So yesterday I dropped off a few boxes for the show because I can't go (yes I'm a little jealous). I had big plans for making so much more but unfortunately you gotta sleep sometime. Ohhh the antiques they are bringing will make you droll.....early textiles, old farm finds and some lovely pieces from a personal collection that many of you may know..... Jimmy Cramer of Seven Gates Farm. The truck was full and ready to go. They are probably setting up right now....did I say I'm a little jealous??? Until next time ~ blessings!

For more information on the Simple Goods Show and it's wonderful exhibitors here's a link: http://www.simplegoods.net/SimpleGoodsInfo.htm

If you'd like to visit Audrey and David, here are their links: http://www.1824antiques.com/index.html

http://1824antiques.blogspot.com/

They fought for our right to vote...

"The struggle of today is not altogether for today -- it is for the vast future also."

-Abraham Lincoln

HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET.....IF ....WE EVER KNEW...... WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

(Lucy Burns) They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

(Dora Lewis) They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms. (Alice Paul) When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoner...

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democrat, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.