Fall '25 Decor
When visiting with my parents recently, I was inspired by my mom’s fall decor. Let me share it with you!
As I was photographing, I discovered a fall teacup that belonged to my maternal grandmother, a drawing by my daughter (sweet!), and some spoons that date back to 1908—handed down from my mom’s paternal side of the family.
Happy October.
Christmas Centerpieces '24
These wooden trees were crafted by a local artisan for use in my parents’ Sunday school class. Receiving paint and sanding first, they are centerpieces for their Christmas program tables this year. Greenery, ribbon, jute, and a bell are all hot glued to the center of each tree. A candle, more greenery, and fairy lights are added to the table.
Decorative Acorn Craft
As seen below, today my mom is making an acorn craft with a wicker trinket basket, a glass candle holder, a cut branch, and dried moss.
The wicker trinket basket is acquired from Dollar Tree. To make it proportional to the glass candle holder (also purchased at Dollar Tree), cut off the gray top portion. Set aside.
Take out acorn-colored paint, or pumpkin-colored (if preferred). Paint and dry between coats; it takes two to three coats for covereage.
Then, take outside for clear coat protective spray to provide durability.
Next, cut the branch to desired length for stem. Use glue gun to afix stem to the bottom of the wicker basket.
Use glue gun again to place dried moss around the stem.
Acorn can be used as a candy jar, candle holder (with top off), or with decorative fairy lights.
Fall Tablescape
Here is a neutral fall tablescape at my mom’s, Sheryl’s. The knit pumpkins at the center are handmade by my mother. The candlesticks are Homememory LED flame moving wicks.
Following, this demonstrates an easy transition from a seasonal decor set-up to a dinner look.
The dishes were sent from my maternal grandparents in Japan to their niece, early in my grandparents first missionary term. The silverware is my maternal grandmother’s. The glasses were a wedding present to my maternal grandparents.
Apple Crisp and Edwards Apple Orchard
After getting our honey crisp apples, we headed to my (Lianna’s) kitchen this time to make not apple cobbler, but apple crisp. My grandmother, who is with the Lord, made apple crisp from her Northwoods cookbook (pictured below).
First, we gathered our ingredients and the recipe. Then, my mom, Sheryl, peeled and cut the apples into slices.
Next, she started building the topping of brown sugar, GF flour, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, and butter.
Then, instead of using a pastry cutter, take knives and cross them through the mixture from middle to outside until the butter is in pea-sized pieces. This creates easier clean up because the butter doesn’t stick to the knives like it would to a pastry cutter (personal preference).
She then poured the mixture on top of the apples and put it in the oven. Walnuts are optional.
Serve with whipped cream and coffee, as desired.
Apple Crisp
4 c. sliced, pared, tart apples
2/3-3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. flour
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. nutmet
1/2 c. oatmeal
1.3 c. butter
Grease 8 x 8 x 24-inch pan. Place apples slices in pan. Mix remaining ingredients thoroughly. Sprinkle mixture over apples (walnuts optional). Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until apples are tender and top is brown. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.
Heirloom Accordion and Missionary Music Ministry
In the Missionary Trunk story that I posted recently, we wrote about my grandfather’s use of music in ministry. Here are some pictures of the family accordion that we still have—which my grandfather played.
My grandfather also played saxophone and sang throughout his ministry. While in Japan, they would learn the words in Japanese to a hymn. Then, they would be sung during worship services. One example is “I Am Not Worthy,” by Beatrice Bush Bixler.
“I Am Not Worthy,” by Beatrice Bush Bixler
I am not worthy the least of His favor,
But Jesus left heaven for me;
The Word became flesh and He died as my Savior,
Forsaken on dark Calvary.
Chorus:
I am not worthy this dull tongue repeats it!
I am not worthy this heart gladly beats it?
Jesus left heaven to die in my place
What mercy, what love and what grace!
I am not worthy the least of His favor,
But "In the beloved" I stand;
Now I'm an heir with my wonderful Savior,
And all things are mine at His hand.
I am not wortly the least of His favor,
But He is preparing a place
Where I shall dwell with my glorified Savior,
Forever to look on His face.
Pictured above is my grandfather playing saxophone while my grandmother accompanied him. We still have their copies of the music they played (pictured throughout this post). And, another hymn they would feature is “Unworthy,” by Gloria Roe. The full lyrics are below.
“Unworthy,” by Gloria Roe
I am unworthy of the price He paid for me
I am unworthy of His death on Calvary
I am unworthy to call upon His name
Chorus:
Yet He loved me
Still He loves my
Praise His Holy Name
I am unworthy of the blood He freely gave
I am unworthy for in sin I was a slave
I am unworthy that He should bear my shame
I am unworthy of the place He has prepared
I am unworthy of the love that He has shared
I am unworthy to claim His precious name
Pictured above is my grandfather with a quartet that played during his ministry and more music—which was a duet that my grandmother and grandfather sang together.
“Beyond the Sunset,” by Virgil P. Brock
Beyond the sunset, o blissful morning,
when with our savior heaven is begun.
Earth’s toiling ended, o glorious dawning,
beyond the sunset, when day is done.
Beyond the sunset, no clouds will gather,
no storms will threaten, no fears annoy;
o day of gladness, o day unending,
beyond the sunset, eternal joy!
Beyond the sunset, a hand will guide me to God,
the father, whom I adore;
His glorious presence, His words of welcome,
will be my portion on that fair shore.
Beyond the sunset, o glad reunion
with our dear loved ones who’ve gone before;
in that fair homeland we’ll know no parting;
beyond the sunset forevermore.
Decorating with Wooden Medallions
I enjoy this wooden medallion decor at my mom’s—and have mimicked it, in part, around my house. Paired with the sofa pillows, I think it’s a successful compilation.
Missionary Trunk
My grandfather and family went to Japan as missionaries in 1950. One of his first activities in Urawa was to engage in street evangelism with nationals. This trunk pictured above was purchased in Japan and screwed to the bottom of a truck bed. It held his materials and supplies—saxophone and Bibles, etc. Here is how one friend remembers the ministry’s beginnings:
“I still remember his stories of how, in Japan right after WWII, he was among the new missionaries who got a week or two of language orientation before they were sent out to do evangelism. His job was to attract a crowd by playing his saxophone standing on the roof of a vehicle. He later learned the language well enough to do his doctoral research on a Japanese cult.”
In the first picture from Japan above, my grandfather is the tall man in the center of the photograph. He is also in the center of the third photograph, sitting down.
Ugnspannkaka (Swedish Oven Pancakes)
Ugnspannkaka is a recipe traditionally served with lingonberry sauce. My family has historically served it with cherry pie filling, as pictured above.
4 eggs
2 cups milk
3 tsp or more sugar
1 tsp salt (scant)
1 cup flour (GF flour used above)
2 Tbsp. melted butter
Beat eggs (for at least 3 minutes), add milk, sugar, salt, flour, and melted butter; mix well. Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 baking pan. Bake at 425° for 20 minutes. Pancakes should puff up and be somewhat brown. Cut in squares. Serve immediately with hot apple or cherry pie filling and cream.
Notes: The Swedish candle holder and red apron belonged to my Great-grandma, Vendla. The white and red towel and dessert plates belonged to my Grandma, Gertrude. The mugs are my mother’s, Sheryl’s—from Stockholm Inn (a traditional Swedish restaurant in Rockford, IL).
Where We'll Be Cooking and Baking
Here’s a little introduction to where we will be cooking and baking in future posts.
Welcome home to my mom’s kitchen.
My Mother
“You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
\ Psalm 16:11
My mother is a creative soul—she is ever engaging with life, and is an inspiration to me in doing so. She uses her skills organizing and decorating and crafting and cooking to help others constantly. She is immersed in the Scriptures and always has a word of truth-speaking wisdom to share. When she is on her own time, she travels to Door County, WI, or goes to visit my sister in Kentucky. She also enjoys reading, friends, and maintaining all memories from our family heritage.
My mom, Sheryl, will bring all of these skills to this—our little homemade photography lifestyle blog posts. I supply the photography, and often, she will supply the topics of our posts.
A Quiet Life
“…make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you”
1 Thessalonians 4:11
I’m a housewife. I believe it is what the Lord is asking of me—leading me to set other avenues or potential avenues aside and embrace this one. My heart is leading me home, and I’m receiving this path. In a spirit of thankfulness, setting aside work outside the home with its traditional goals and deadlines, I want to take hold of life. I want to aspire to live quietly, as the Scriptures say—to work with my hands. For me, that verse guides to photography. Embracing life through the lens—that is my quiet and simple path. When I have a goal, I focus more on what I can pull from life, what I can cultivate. So, I'm adding photography lifestyle posts to my blog in partnership with my mom. It’s all for fun—recipes, family heirlooms and history, crafts, etc. This blog is my new light goal and airy deadline—concurrent with a life at home.