Just in time for Thanksgiving dinner, we’re getting a primer in how to make buttermilk biscuits from the best biscuit-maker in town.
No, not those biscuit-makers. We have a video from the one and only Chef Swanky! Take a look:
Those look delicious! Can’t wait to get in the kitchen and try out this recipe. They’ll make a delicious addition to anyone’s Thanksgiving feast!
Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.
I don’t think this is what Bob Dylan meant when he wrote that song.
Writer Girl is trying to muscle through…
It’s almost Halloween, and that means it’s time for trick-or-treaters and those bite-sized chocolates that I always save for myself, let those dressed-up beggars have all the jolly ranchers and candy corn … ahem, maybe I’ve said too much.
What I mean is: It’s time for tales of mischief and mayhem. Including tales about food!
Like this one: Ever wonder about why we scoop out, cut up, and light pumpkins? Chef Swanky does!
Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.
Image/Point North Images
Original artwork by Elliott Summers himself.
Click to embiggen.
I was going to post a photo of our raised bed garden — correction: our attempt at cultivating a raised bed garden — but the photo has a sad “before” look. By which I mean: We have a lot to do to prep it for next year’s crops. And none of that would be particularly nourishing or inspiring for any of you.
Instead, here’s a photo — with accompanying haiku (because of course) — from when we first started the garden. Enjoy!
p.s. I’ll post lots of photos of our garden after I have some “in progress” ones to go with our “before” photo.
I volunteered to write two devotions for the upcoming Advent booklet for my church.
Here are a few words I received back from the person who’s reviewing them.
I actually didn’t expect a review at all. I thought I’d turn it in, and that would be it. So getting a wonderful critique like this was extra special.
Your conversational tone draws readers right into Paul’s message — not only to understand it, but to feel it. Your reflection on the repetition in Philippians 4 is both fresh and pastoral. The encouragement to take “anything and everything” to God in prayer perfectly captures the heart of this passage — a reminder that joy and peace flow not from our control but from His nearness. The modern illustrations (like the “balcony” image) and the gentle humor make it wonderfully relatable while staying fully faithful to Scripture. It’s exactly the kind of writing that helps people connect deep theology with daily discipleship.
I received this critique on one of those mornings — filled with challenges and irritants and headaches — and it turned into a full-blown pity party (party of one!) that slid into questioning a lot of what I was trying to do.
And then I got this message, and it fed me. Such a great reminder that we are here to hold each other up.
Here’s the devotion. As soon as the book is ready, I’ll post the link.
Say it again and again: Rejoice!
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippian 4:4-7
The directive is so important, we get it twice:
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Sing it again. Say it louder. Once more for the balcony.
Rejoice!
And no wonder it’s repeated. It needs to sink in.
As one of those balcony-sitters who needs to hear it over and over, I confess that I tend to cherry-pick both my worries and my prayers.
You know what I mean: Fretting over lots of little things because they seem too trivial to take to God. Or limiting my prayers to big stuff: asking for overall help and guidance or giving thanks in a general (or generic?) way.
That’s not what he said, though.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Those “absolute” words (anything, everything) are what editors typically frown upon and psychologists caution to avoid in relational discussions.
But this is the Lord. We can take Him at His word. No worries: none, zero, nada, zip. Pray about it all: Every.Single.Thing in your heart.
The Lord is at hand. He’s ready for a conversation.
Rejoice!
Second verse same as the first: Rejoice!
Go Write Right Now 