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Don’t Judge

17 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

Photo credit WFTV 9 in Orlando, Fl

We are spending the winter in Florida. Before we left North Carolina we had some wet and chilly days so I was able to observe the type of outerwear being worn this year. This, along with some weight loss prompted me to purchase a lightweight but warm, quilted jacket at the an after Christmas sale. ( Everyone was wearing them) When I packed for Florida, I brought 4 outerwear items. 4… What was I thinking? When we lived in Florida full-time I never had 4. I would drool over sweaters in the stores but I already had one I liked so why spend the money?

This week brought some chilly temps as well as wind and gave me a chance to observe the Florida folks outerwear. I saw lots of sweatshirts and even dress length coats. Now non Florida raised people might consider this to be wimpy but you would be wrong. Cute sweatshirts and coats are fun to wear and since the state has limited cold days, they must be worn as soon as the temps drop.

The political world has a mantra: “Don’t let a crisis go to waste.” Well in Florida we have one too: “Don’t let a chilly day go to waste!”

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

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Today I Choose to Hear His Word

11 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

photo credit simon matzinger unsplash photo

 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,

for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

PSALM 143: 8

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And Then the Sun Came Out

10 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

We certainly didn’t have a white Christmas or New Years in Western North Carolina. The only white we experienced was fog and clouds.

 

 

We enjoy clouds and mist but after a while, it does become monotonous. We awoke on Saturday to a brilliant sun. We were supposed to be returning to Florida for the winter that morning, but an unexpected medical test required a day’s rest for my husband before we could travel.  Rebekah and I decided to take advantage of the day of sunshine to explore 12 Spies Vineyard in Rabun Gap, Georgia.

The vineyard had been on my wish list to explore with Rebekah for quite a while and I was intrigued by this excerpt from their website. From our home, sunsets are blocked by the mountains and I really miss them.

12 Spies Vineyards is tucked between the North East Mountains to the west and the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest to the east. The sunsets are spectacular and views from the vineyard are stunning. There are many gardens filled with gourds, pumpkins, flowers and vegetables scattered around the 9 acre property. Bring your camera and enjoy a glass of wine from the covered deck or take a relaxing walk.

After making sure my husband was ok and promising to not do any lifting, Rebekah and I set out on the 30 minute drive to Rabun Gap. We spotted a sign directing us to turn off highway 441 and the adventure began! The next sign we saw pointed us to turn onto a “less traveled” road and I was a bit leery. Mountains roads have a tendency to wander and one can end up in odd places. Fortunately, this road ended up in the right place.

I wish I had taken a picture of the tasting room. What was the point of a new camera for Christmas, if I forget to use it?  The tasting room is small with a cozy ambiance. Our host was a lovely woman who reminded Rebekah and I of one of the actresses on the television show, Cedar Cove. She explained their wines and was patient as we made our tasting choices. I love the idea of drinking wine, but my body doesn’t. When I explained that I wouldn’t be able to handle tasting, she offered me mini pours. I decided to purchase a bottle of 2016 Lordy Mercy Sweet White to give as a thank you gift to a friend. After several pours, Rebekah chose, I think, 2017 Holy Moses Sweet Red. The tasting room has a patio with inviting views. We decided to enjoy the sunshine, me with water and Rebekah with wine.

 

The winery doesn’t prepare food, but it does offer packaged foods and after a while in the outdoors, we decided to have a snack of cheese and crackers. I went inside to order and I was disappointed to learn they were out of the cheese trays. They did have hummus so I ordered that for Rebekah. The host asked if I wanted hummus as well and I explained that I only eat low carb. She set about pulling together items that I could eat and I had two cheese slices and some cucumbers at no charge. I sure did appreciate her extra efforts.

I like the rustic table set and the casual feel of the patio. Some afternoons and evenings they offer live music.

 

In the distance I could see cows grazing against the backdrop of the beautiful hills. ( I have a “thing” for cows) I can imagine how beautiful the scenery will be in the spring and summer and fall. And I plan to return with a picnic to enjoy sunset.

 

 

If you are driving through North East Georgia, choosing the less traveled road to the winery would be a pleasant diversion. I can’t compliment the owners enough for the friendly hospitality. Call ahead for hours or check their website.

12 Spies Vineyard

550 Black Branch Road
Rabun Gap, GA 30568

706-490-0890

 

 

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

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Today I Choose to Seek Peace

4 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

2018 was a year-long journey to experiencing joy. I have a tee-shirt that is inscribed with “Joy…in spite of.”  While reading Galatians 5:22-23, I decided that my purpose for 2019 would be to aspire to the next aspect of the Spirit’s fruit and peace was next on the list.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

 

I confess I am not looking forward to 2020 with long-suffering following peace!

Hebrews 12:14-15 advises us to make every effort to live in peace with everyone. How hard can that be?  Ha!

I confess that the state of my mind this first three days of January has been a war zone with past angers rising like a bon fire’s hungry flames.

 

 

Hebrews 12:14-15 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

 

We are living in an era that is soaked in contentious speech and disrespect.Seeking peace will be challenging, yet exciting.  I’m counting on converting the flames of anger into flames that will purge bitterness from my heart and mind so that no roots will survive.

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Redeemed Angel

3 Jan

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

 

Painting by DiVoran Lites

 

Morning mist, heavy with moisture shrouded our front yard as I sipped my first cup of coffee for the day.  Does any other cup, taste as satisfying as that first cup? Our land has two levels with the house setting on the top while the front yard is flat, then drops sharply towards the road. The mist draped the tress “down below” in white shadows.

My mind drifted to our hopes and dreams eight years ago at my husband’s retirement. Finally we would have a home in the North Carolina mountains, a retreat from Florida’s long and brutal summer heat. And it was all good for a time. My husband enjoyed his woodworking shop and a brand new rider mower. The slope below our house was a challenge to weed whack, but he was able to do it…until he wasn’t. It became evident, that we were going to need to hire help, something of which, we had no experience. We asked our friends and they recommended John, but he came with a caveat. John had served jail time for driving under the influence more than once.

After jail, John began attending our church and eventually married one of the women in the congregation. He was a hard worker and could turn his hand at just about anything from lawn care to home repairs but due to his record, his drivers license was suspended. One of our friends drove John to his job sites for quite a while until his drivers license was returned.

We hired John that summer and he was a blessing. What had taken my husband a couple of hours to clear, John could knock out in 45 minutes or less.  He was a regular helper among our friends and we often talked about what John had done for us that week. He kept our yard looking tidy for at least three years. In time, my husband’s health improved and he was eventually able to resume his yard work.

As I continued sipping my coffee, I gave thanks for John and I wondered, did God place him in our lives, kind of like an angel, a redeemed angel?

 

 

 

 

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

 

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Joyful Christmas

25 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people- Luke 2:10

 

 

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Finding joy has been my journey in 2018. I could not have followed this journey without the wonderful counselor, whispering courage and truth into my heart.

On behalf of my faithful friends, the blogging team of Old Things R New, we wishes each of our readers and friends a joyful and blessed Christmas.

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Today I Will Choose The Softest Pillow

21 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

Submission to God’s divine will is the softest pillow on which to rest.

Streams in the Desert

 

 

Baking update The eggnog will mixed up yesterday is now being sipped as Rebekah and I watch the Gingerbread Christmas movie. One batch of cut out cookies is cooling and we have peppermint mocha ice cream chilling. #makingmemories

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Baking Love

20 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

 

 

Our daughter arrived from Florida yesterday to spend the holidays with us in North Carolina.  Like me, she enjoys the Christmas season when there is a nip to the air. I am thankful she chose Wednesday for her flight as Thursday’s weather in Florida would have made her flight iffy.

Rebekah and I enjoy baking together for Christmas but we weren’t able to do any while we were in Florida as the church event consumed our time and energy. While we were in Ashville yesterday, awaiting her flight, we stopped at Fresh Market to pick up some baking supplies. I fell in love with the store. Everything is arranged attractively and the produce section popped with color. More importantly, I was able to purchase some hard to find ingredients for our baking. My husband and I are 6 months into clean Keto living and looking forward to Christmas treats without the harmful ingredients.

I needed to pick up several quarts of heavy cream to be sure I had enough to make eggnog and a special Christmas coconut cake. I decided to pick the cream up at Aldi, since it was less expensive there. A lot of people must have had the same idea as Aldi was out of heavy cream!

Today we awoke to a steady and cold rain. I wasn’t thrilled about braving the weather to buy heavy cream but it turned out we needed several items so my husband agreed to drive us to the entrance of the stores and pick us up when we finished. Our daughter said it was like having a personal Uber.

While we were waiting and hoping the rain would stop, I decided to use the heavy cream on hand to mix up the eggnog. My mom would make eggnog at Christmas, but I always bought a quart at the grocery. The recipe called for freshly grated nutmeg. I had bought the nutmeg seeds in Ashville and I thought I knew what to do but when I took the seed out of the package, I was baffled. How does one grate a hard knot?  I decided it must have a shell on it and I did a web search for how to crack a nutmeg. Wikihow said I needed to smack it with a large knife. I got out a butcher knife and gave it a sharp smack. The nut skittered out from under the knife and shot across the counter. After a couple of attempts, I got serious. and pulled out the big gun.

 

This weapon got the job done! Split that nut in half. But then I couldn’t  figure out how to get the shell to separate from the meat. My husband, who is a You Tube enthusiast suggested I You Tube it. After watching three videos, including one that gave the history of nutmeg ( did you know that the discovery of nutmeg changed the world? You Tube said that so it must be true.) all they told me to do was use a fine grater. After walking up to the television screen and peering intently at the screen, I determined that my nutmegs were not in the shell! And it was quite easy to grate.  Fresh nutmeg has a wonderful aroma and I look forward to grating some on top of my eggnog tomorrow.

Rebekah, our daughter, mixed up a recipe for shortbread and put it in the fridge to chill. Tomorrow she will make cut out cookies. She is mach better at rolling out cookie dough. My husband said he was looking forward to having a treat to eat with his evening tea. Fortunately, the gingerbread bundt cake with lemon glaze we also made turned out well. We left molasses out of the recipe to decrease the carb count and weren’t sure how it would taste. It was delicious! I only had a small slice. So far no one is owning up to the large slice.

 

 

Friday is supposed to be another rain day. I haven’t decided what to bake but I am drooling over the recipe for peanut butter bundt cake with chocolate ganache. The recipe is in Keto Gatherings by Kristi Sullivan.

Baking with someone you love is one os the best parts of Christmas for me.

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His Name Will Be Called

18 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government will be upon His shoulder. 

 

 

These words never fail to thrill my soul. After reading them this morning my heart hungered for music to celebrate the Savior’s birth.  The music of Disney’s Candlelight Procession is one of my favorites. Often the choir is made up of high school students who practice during the year for this big event. Of late, I have begun to pray that this glorious good news will be planted into their hearts. The celebrity narrator for this one is Chris Pratt. I have to confess, I don’t know anything about his acting career.

 

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Don’t Undervalue Your Value

13 Dec

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

 

The whirlwind of activity I wrote about last week is over. The Christmas Tree Walk and Christmas Market was a success. The trees were beautifully decorated and some of them were purchased in the silent auction. The rest was given out to our community friends who come to our food pantry. Some of the decorations didn’t fare well as we moved them from the gym, but the trees themselves were fresh, fragrant and beautiful.

 

Last minute preparations began on Saturday with picking up 25 trees. We were met at the church by  strong guys who quickly unloaded them. Once the trees were unloaded it was non stop action to get these trees decorated. I had set out decorations that had been donated to be used on the trees that were sponsored but the sponsor did not choose to decorate.

 

 

To our heartfelt gratitude, when people finished their tree, they just kept decorating, moving from tree to tree. They hadn’t signed up for this, they simply saw the need and did it. And that was the spirit during the whole event. What can I do to help? Two teenage girls restored my faith in their generation. I had asked them to set out luminaries but due to the wind, they kept falling over. They solved the problem by taping them to poles. After the event, I was stressing over the need to collect the bags and lights but the girls had picked them up, disposed of the bags and collected the L.E.D lights and packaged them. As clean up continued, people saw what needed to be done and did it.

I’m having a hard time putting into words, what I want to express. I think I will go with the title, Don’t Undervalue Your Value whether you are creating a beautiful tree, doing the heavy lifting or packing up boxes, you are making someone’s job a lot easier and definitely more enjoyable. You are giving of yourself. You are appreciated. You are infinitely valuable.

 

 

 

I'm a winnerAfter my retirement, I decided to re-learn the canning and preserving skills I learned from my mother but hadn’t practiced for twenty years. I titled the blog Old Things R New to chronicle my experience.  Since then I have been blessed to have six other bloggers join me, DiVoran Lites, Bill Lites,  Judy Wills, Louise Gibson, Janet Perez Eckles and Melody Hendrix

In addition to blogging, I work as the publicist/marketer/ amateur editor and general  “mom Friday” for my author daughter, Rebekah Lyn. I also manage her website, Rebekah Lyn Books  where we frequently host the best in up and coming authors.

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