Blueberry Coffee Cake

~very, very good family recipe~

1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2 cups blueberries (can use fresh or frozen)

Preheat oven to 350.  In a mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar together, add egg and beat until fluffy.  Mix in the dry ingredients alternating with the milk.  Spread in a greased and floured 11 by 7 inch pan or two 9 inch pans.  Sprinkle the top with 2 cups blueberries

Crumb topping

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together with a pastry blender or a fork until crumbly and sprinkle on top of the berries.  Bake for 30-45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.

This morning has filled me up spiritually.

The verse “blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled” is in my mind, I’m meditating on it over and over and I think to myself that Righteousness is God, I hunger and thirst for Him, for Jesus, and He fills me up to overflowing with this lovely life of mine.  Yes there are dry, exhausting, and difficult days but then another sort of day comes along like this one and the tears of gratitude are ever ready because I feel His restoring care in such a real and deep way.

It’s raining on and off outside which is just lovely, a visual for what is happening inside of me as well.

I’ve been watching Netflix’s Chef’s Table series and today was episode three (watched this morning as I matched socks and folded laundry) it was sooooooooooooo good!  It did it’s part to fill me up, too.  Wow.  (episode one was the same way, #2 wasn’t as good IMO)  People are so unique and there is so much to learn from another’s life.

The rabbit hopped around the living room and ate a pear under the coffee table.  I put down newspapers because she loves to chew and shred them.

Small Gentleman Gray napped in the midst of my clothes piles, I would stop and pet him now and then.

I went outside to take the leftover breakfast milk and cereal, eggshells and crusts of bread to my hens.  I spent some time cleaning the coop and peeked around the corner to slyly take a picture of a VERY skittish hen.  She lays VERY small eggs.  Really nothing to make such a fuss about.

I picked a small bunny salad to bring back in to Rabbit; mostly clover

The stream has filled up again, and I did a little wading in the cold water.

I came back inside and made a cup of coffee in my new sage fiesta mug.  I took a picture of it but the colors of Fiesta can be hard to photograph, it looked much truer to color when I edited the photo to black and white.  I dumped my coffee on the couch, and they were right….leather is MUCH easier to clean.

I’m sitting here blogging and also scratching like a maniac at a bee sting on my ankle which is still bothering me and I’m making it worse but it feels so good to scratch…..ahhhhh!!!…..so I better go make some more baking soda paste to rub into it.

Happy Wednesday, friends!  You are loved.

“The Sovereign Lord will show his justice to the nations of the world.  Everyone will praise Him!  His righteousness will be like a garden in early spring, with plants springing up everywhere.”  Isaiah 61:11