Autumn is a great time for you to plan a picnic. Whether tailgating or pumpkin picking pack the perfect picnic and enjoy this season of crisp nights and cozy sweaters. For those leaf raking days or an afternoon with a surprise visitor I have included a recipe for Soft Pumpkin Spiced Cookies that only take two ingredients, and a Fall Picnic Update.
Our first Central Coast Fall Picnic was great! There was much “Beauty & Bounty” in our day. Our venue – the Oceanpoint Ranch located on the beautiful Moonstone Beach Drive in Cambria was the perfect setting.
The sound of nearby crashing waves and the cool ocean air greeted us as we set out our blankets and picnic baskets. Everybody’s baskets were filled with yummy goodies. Delicious salads and desserts were shared and I had lots of fun prizes and giveaways!
Days before my sisters (Harriet and Lorna) helped with the prep work and my dear neighbor and friend Dianna, made homemade Apple Butter to give to each lady as well as decorating adorable pumpkins for my centerpiece atop an antique ironing board! We lingered long to enjoy the sweet fellowship of old and new friends alike and some even stayed the weekend at the hotel for a retreat! Plan ahead and make this a girlfriend or mother/daughter getaway for next year. Visiting the Central Coast in September is beautiful!
These are the highlights of my Fall Newsletter I handed out and I wanted you to enjoy it as well!
EVERYDAY WORSHIP
With summer’s hot days closing her doors autumn is a glorious welcome. Unfurl that old comfortable quilt and enjoy an unhurried moment that hints of a new season ahead bringing with it a renewed perspective, beauty and bounty. If we look around His beauty is all around us. Nature is one of God’s beautiful creations, through it God is able to teach us, speak to us and provide for us. Psalm 95:4-5 proclaims, “In His hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to Him. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land.”
Bounty is defined as, “something that is given generously.” Our God is very generous! Lamentations 3:22-23 declares, “The steadfast of the love never ceases; His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” What a bounty we have, our salvation, and a personal walk with our Lord along with the peace, joy and hope He lavishes on us. No matter the headlines or what is taking precedence in our life today God is still on the throne, Romans 8 is still in the Bible and He is always working behind the scenes!
His generous love demands a response from us and I want to encourage you to worship Him. “How we direct our eyes, minds, hearts and hands in the everyday will determine whom we ultimately worship and what we ultimately become.” By Ruth Chou Simons.
EVERYDAY HOSPITALITY
Of all people we never saw Jesus in a hurry. The cross was always before Him and yet He had time for what we might consider interruptions and the inconvenient. Jesus never gives us the impression that others needs were going to make Him late. What an example for us.
Rosario Butterfield shares, “Your home is not a castle it is an embassy.” In 2 Corinthians 5:20 the Bible further instructs us in this matter, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” We are His representatives and around our table is where some of the best opportunities take place to show the love of God. When we open our doors to others we open up our lives for God to work in wonderful ways!
For the Soft Pumpkin Spiced Cookie recipe please follow this link to A Home To Keep.
Of course we had to take a group picture!!
Autumn blessings from my home to yours,