Saturday morning thoughts . . .

I was thinking yesterday. Oak Cottage is the one place in my life that I have lived the longest. As a child of a military man, I moved several times when I was growing up, and as the wife of a military man, it was pretty much the same story. I may have spent long periods of time in one province, but always in several different locations. I suppose that makes me somewhat of a gypsy at heart . . .

Back in the early days of my marriage to my ex, we had occasion to visit a place that I had lived in for quite a long time as a child (5 years) called Gimli, a few hours north of Winnipeg in Manitoba. It had been about ten years since I had lived there and I can remember being very excited when I knew that I was going to be able to go back and see it.



I ended up being quite disappointed though . . . Everything that had seemed so large when I was a child, seemed to be so small when revisited . . . Gone were the familiar haunts and buildings of my childhood memories . . . everything had changed so very much. It was no longer the place that I had visited ofttimes in my mind . . . the place of all those golden reminiscence's . . . it was almost depressing . . .

I suppose that's a bit like life. Life is filled with constant changes . . . changes that we sometimes feel ill at ease with, things that may depress us from time to time, things that challenge our inner selves and our families . . .



But isn't it nice to know that each one of have a constant in our lives, something very special that never changes. God and His son Jesus Christ do not change. They are the same today as yesterday and will be the same tomorrow. They encourage us to face up to the changes we all have to experience . . . They give us the strength to cope with all the slings and arrows life throws at us from time to time . . . and They help to carry us when we can no longer carry ourselves. Their love is the same as it has always been . . . and will remain constant . . . forever.

What a wonderful comfort in an ever changing world.



I baked Todd a tasty crumb cake the other day. I can't tell you how many times I have baked this cake in my lifetime. It is a recipe that I got from a wonderful old friend many years ago, when I was a young bride and mum, and she a great mentor and help, and support to me as a young woman far away from family and my own mum. She was quite a bit older than myself and I always looked up to her in a great many ways. She was a great cook and shared a lot of her delicious recipes with me and her hints and tips as well. I hope to have a chance to visit with her, if only for a short, next summer when I go home to Canada on my holidays.

This is a really tasty cake. Simple and easy, and quite delicious! You can have it as a dessert, with some ice cream or whipped cream . . . or you can have it as a brunch or coffee cake along with your favourite hot beverage. It's also the perfect thing to share with a friend.



*Leona's Crumb Cake*
Makes one 9 inch square cake
Printable Recipe

Delicious cake that is fabulous as a dessert, served warm with some ice cream on the side, or as a great brunchtime coffee cake!

2 cups light brown sugar (packed)
2 cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup of sour milk or buttermilk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
cinnamon



Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Butter and flour a 9 inch square baking pan. Set aside.

Combine the brown sugar, flour and butter in a large bowl, rubbing in the butter until the mixture is crumbly. Remove 1 cup of the crumbs and set aside for later.

Beat the eg lightly and add to the remaining crumbs. Dissolve the soda in the milk and then add along with the salt, and vanilla. Beat the mixture only until smooth. Spread into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle the reserved crumbs evenly over top. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a rack. Cut into squares to serve.



Chicken Cacciatore is on the menu over on The English Kitchen today.