PORCH
a soft place to land
a calm weekend haven
a gentle pause from life's busyness
so we may experience
the tender lovingkindness of Jesus
as we do life together
as we do life together
in community
“What people are craving isn’t perfection. People aren’t longing to be impressed; they’re longing to feel like they’re home. If you create a space full of love and character and creativity and soul, they’ll take off their shoes and curl up with gratitude and rest, no matter how small, no matter how undone, no matter how odd.”
Shauna Niequist
Hey All ~
My original intent for this edition of PORCH was to share a bunch of lovely Christmas snapshots from past years since this is often a stressful time and I thought it would be a nice respite for us all.
But as I was pulling everything together it hit me that these days my kitchen doesn't usually look like those pics and I'm guessing yours doesn't either. After spending an hour and a half cleaning up the kitchen last night, I shifted this weekend's theme upside down to reflect what's pretty much true.
1. Our December kitchens have morphed into command central, bustling hives of all kinds of frenzied activity and unorganized chaos.
2. Yet, is it still possible for our homes to be known as welcoming havens in the midst of mixing, baking, arranging, hunting for the elusive recipe, creating, whisking, wrapping, taking out the garbage, washing, crafting, eating, checking homework, pulling food together for the food pantry and the potluck. Coffee sloshing from our mugs, reading, stacking, folding, drying, emptying the dishwasher, and checking our phones every other minute. Wielding rolling pins, keeping an eye on the kids and the clock, organizing, chopping, praying, re-filling the fridge, writing, cleaning, paying bills. Broiling, scrubbing, charcuterie-ing, packing and unpacking, checking our calendars, piecing puzzles, making lists, shifting our ever-growing piles as we traipse across sticky floors.
What do you think?
Can we cultivate hospitality right about now or do we have to wait til 2023? (Notice I didn't use the word entertaining which I absolutely despise.) In the midst of relentless activity, how can we offer a warm and welcoming haven, a nurturing refuge, a hub of kindness to others? Let's talk about what's happening in our pre-Christmas kitchens ... and our overloaded souls.
Linda
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Those hand-written recipe cards!
ReplyDeleteWe have friends landing tonight, driving four hours from the depths of Maine to spend the night with us and then attend a concert in Portland tomorrow!🎄
And I have my mom's and grandma's, too. Treasured indeed.
DeleteEnjoy that wonderful time with your friends. Blessed.
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These are the most fabulous photos, Linda. They really capture what life in the Christmas kitchen is like! Baking and cooking and packaging -- all the details. It's a delightful seasonal photo essay!
ReplyDeleteOh Jeanie, thanks! It took a whole lot longer to pull this together than I had expected, but your generously kind words made it worth every minute (hour!)
DeleteHave a wonderful weekend, friend.
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That's exactly how a holiday-welcoming kitchen should look like, Linda! With just Danny and I here this season, I don't think I'll be doing much of the usual baking; I so enjoyed baking cookies with Virginia when she was little. I am, however, just getting ready to address Christmas cards.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the season in every quirky moment, Linda!
Quirky is a good word, Martha. I like it.
DeleteYep, there's little baking around here these days, but I'm figuring out my Mom's shortbread recipe and making a pan or two every day for gifts. Of course, I have to do a lot of sampling in the process.
Yum.
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Hm… and yet photos that look like perfection….. 🤣
ReplyDeleteLove having people over all throughout the year and I’m a preK special Ed teacher who teaches full time runs a small group ministry and leads hikes and helps lead choirs. My kitchen is always organized and clean and I’ve learned the power of NO to more unneeded Baking. Crafts??? That’s what craft stores are for! Potluck??? Just toss soup ingredients into a crockpot toss a garlic bread from pepper ridge farm into the oven, order a bottle of wine from your local store and call up your best friends. Voila! Simple and so much easier!!
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I'm resonating with your can-do attitude. Figuring out what matters, keeping it simple, and feeling free to say 'no thanks' when necessary. You make a good point about having people over throughout the year. Why we think we have to do everything within a span of six weeks at the end of each year is beyond me.
DeleteThanks for that nudge to open our hearts and put out the welcome mat. I'm so glad you're here!
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Linda, I have been baking all afternoon and my kitchen looks similar to yours! Merry Weekend!
ReplyDeleteOh I bet it all smells so good, Pam. I hope you've taken time to sample everything with your feet up and a hot cuppa!
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I love the handwritten recipe card Linda which takes me back!
ReplyDeleteI am having a rest this morning after hosting our ladies Book Club Christmas luncheon here at my home yesterday. It was a lot of fun 😊
I admire your energy though!
Blessings, Jennifer
Oh a Book Club lunch for Christmas. What a lovely idea. I miss my NY group even after 7+ years. You're blessed.
DeleteOh no, there's not a whole lot of energy around here these days. But it's all good, we do what we can and then take a nap. All is well even though seasons have changed. That God hasn't changed one bit and is as steady and solid as a rock is such solace, isn't it.
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This is so true! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you're here, Susan!
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We haven't found our counter since we moved in, but I am hopefuly it is there somewhere, LOL! Yes, no matter what, we can still practice hospitality! I tell me we live here when my house is less than I want it to be. We are real and honest and it's not about perfection.
ReplyDeleteDon't worry, you'll find it some day! Meanwhile, it sounds like you've been doing a fine job in moving in and sorting things out and settling into your new space. Let's hear it for being 'real and honest' and not about perfection.
DeleteWell said, girl!
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I love these snapshots of your Christmas kitchen.
ReplyDeleteAmy, I'm glad you're here today! It's been fun.
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Wonderful photos, Linda. Our kitchen isn't quite a busy this year though I'm going to the granddaughter's to do some baking with her today. I also cherish the written recipe cards I have from my mom. Going to try her peanut butter balls this year! Thank you for sharing your home and heart with us, Debby
ReplyDeleteOh I love that you live close enough to have that sweet, productive time together, Debby. Have fun making those peanut butter balls. I'm off to the kitchen to pull together yet another batch of shortbread.
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Ah, Linda ... Your kitchen reminds me of mine. It's my favorite place to be.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say it's my favorite place to be, but I am thankful anyway!
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I enjoyed these delightful photos of your Christmas kitchen.
ReplyDeleteThat handwritten recipe card brings back so many wonderful memories of my mom's kitchen.
Hugs and blessings, Linda.
Wonderful memories of your mom's kitchen ... such a beautiful legacy she's left you, Veronica. May you create warm and lovely memories this Christmas season. Bless you!
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Hospitality can be a Holy thing - thank you for that reminder! I love your photos of real life home - and # 2 explains it all so very well! Someone asked if my Thinking Room (not quite an office and not quite a library but something inbetween) was my prayer room - and I thought - that my kitchen just might be my prayer room. That's where I pray, praise, listen and talk to God the most. Merry Christmas, Linda! ~ Maryleigh
ReplyDeleteThe kitchen as prayer room. Wow, such a profound image loaded with truth! This kinda took my breath away ... and made me smile in the process, Maryleigh. Holy work, indeed. I never thought of it like this. Thank you for enlarging my spiritual boundaries, friend.
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There's nothing quite like praying at the kitchen sink, Maryleigh!
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DeleteThis opens the door for love and family, Linda, "Offer a warm and welcoming haven, a nurturing refuge, a hub of kindness to others." We just finished a family wedding, so Christmas cooking hasn't begun yet, but will begin soon. I'm looking forward to all the mixing, stirring, baking, sampling, bustling, kidding that goes on in a kitchen full of extended family members.
ReplyDeleteYeah ... the laughter! I'm guessing we've all experienced the tension and stress that often comes with pulling together a big family meal. These days I've been simplifying anything that happens around here. I'd rather have a good time than counting the minutes 'til everyone's gone.
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Linda, this is great. Love your Christmas kitchen. I'm baking all kinds of cookies with my BFF the next few days. I have no cookie follow through on my own, Lol. Merry Christmas dear friend.
ReplyDeleteThank you bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.