What a Great Kids book!

Wow! I love the art work. The bright colors & wonderful animals are super! Any kid would love this!


It takes Ephesians 3:17-19 right down to where a kid can understand it with things that kids can see in their own worlds!


This one is going to be read to the grandbabies!
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”

Eggs! Eggs! More Eggs!

What do you do when you are overcome with eggs from your lovely ladies? Why you can always make pasta! I made several kinds last week.

First you put 2 cups flour in a bowl. Make a well in the center. Add 1 1/2 tsp salt & 2 eggs. Mix with a heavy fork. As it comes together in a ball take it out & knead it until smooth & elastic. You don't want it to be too sticky so if you need to add a small amount of flour.

Next you roll the dough out to about 1/8 inch thick.

Next I lay my dough out on flour sack towels to dry briefly. Usually until I am done rolling out the other dough. The it is time to decide what shape pasta you are going to make! This is the fun part! I have several pictures of different shapes that I made last week. You can make almost anythign that you can buy with the exception of the tube pasta unless you have a pasta maker with those attachments.

Ravioli cutter

Finished ravioli.

Cutting egg noodles.

Tortellini

Finished egg noodles.

I usually let them dry for a couple of hours. Then I either cook them or freeze them. They make the best home made chicken noodle soup!! Yummy!!





Lioness Rising

What imagery! It just makes you want to sit up & roar! The lion is a majestic creature & the lioness is certainly a force to be reckoned with! If God's vision is for His ladies to rise up as the lioness then this is the book to start your journey. It is based on God's word & strives to make you aware that this is for you also. Great read!!“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”

Here They Come!!

The seed catalogs have started to arrive. It always makes me start planning my garden. When I first start however, it has waaaaaaaay tooooo much in it! Then I have to weed it down to what I can really afford to buy & plant.

I have decided this year has to be a big salsa year so there will be lots of tomatoes, onions, green, hot, & banana peppers.  Of course I always plant way to much but it gives me a chance to share!

What are you planning on planting in your garden this year??

The Goodness of God by Randy Alcorn

What a meaty read this was! It is a real thinker! I read it & will want to reread it-it is one of those that is small but packs a big punch! I already am thinking of someone who might benefit from reading this book. I think it will be a great help for her! “I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”

Pigeon Pie!

I am going to give you another recipe from the cookbook by Fannie Merritt Farmer.

Pigeon Pie

Dress, clean, and truss six pigeons and saute in salt pork fat until entire surface is seared, turning frequently. Put in a kettle, nearly cover with boiling water, and add one-half teaspoon peppercorns, one onion, stuck with eight cloves, eight slices carrot, two sprigs parsley, and two stalks celery, and let simmer five hours. Remove pigeons, strain liquor, and thicken with four tablespoons butter melted and cooked with three tablespoons flou. Reheat pigeons in sauce, arrange in a pastry case, and cover with a pastry top.

I am guessing that a pastry case & top is the pie crust?!? It does not say any where in this recipe about deboning the pigeons so I am guessing you do that as you are eating it.

I know that pigeons are not common fare these days but it is interesting to me to see what kinds of things people did eat back then.

More to come!

Everything Christmas

**What a great Christmas reference or devotional.** It has wonderful recipes, stories & tidbits of info that you will be surprised to learn about Christmas.




It is set up in an easy to read format with small snippets or longer stories, whichever suits you for the day. I enjoyed the historical info that was woven right into the book. Great job!!
I hope to make it one of the books that I can pass on to my kids for them to read to their children!
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”

Fannie Farmer

I love to cook & bake! Because of this I have aquired quite a few cookbooks! I love the old cookbooks! I have a 1914 version of The Boston Cooking School Cookbook by Fannie Farmer.
 I am going to include a recipe now & then from this book so we can try something new!

Here is the first one:

Sour Milk Griddle Cakes

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups sour milk
1 1/4 teaspoon soda
1 egg

Mix flour, salt, & soda .
Beat the egg.
Add milk & egg.
Drop by spoonfuls on a hot greased griddle.
Cook on one side.
When puffed, full of bubbles & cooked on the edges, turn & cook the other side.
Serve with butter & syrup.

These make a wonderful breakfast or if you are like us we occasionally have breakfast for supper! Enjoy!

When the Hurt Runs Deep by Kay Arthur

**I got it yesterday and could't put it down!
Kay Arthur has the ability to take the hurts of this life and hold them up to God's word and God's word triumphs every time.
Woven throughout this entire book are various examples of hurts and how seeking out God's word can help you through them. She makes it clear that it does not get rid of them. It is definitely a book of hope for the hurting.**
“I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”

Prairie Flower Farms Cookie Cookbook is Done!!

Linda at Prairie Flower Farms has done an amazing job on a cookie cookbook that some of us contributed to! It has wonderful artwork & great tasting cookie recipes! Check it out for your self!

Bread baking day!

November 17th was Bread Baking Day! Did you bake bread that day? I did! I made this yummy & healthy oatmeal bread. It is so relaxing to work the dough & have something to show for it when you are finished. It tasted so good warm from the oven but even better toasted the next day. How many of you bake bread? How many of you can remember someone in your family baking bread? A Grandmother or mom? What are some of you favorite recipes & memories?

Thanksgiving

The season of Thanksgiving is upon us. What are you thankful for this year? Stop & think about all that has happened this year & send me your comments on what you are thankful for. I am thankful for my children, my grandson & one on the way. I am thankful for my husband & home. I am thankful for my God & my church family.

Baskets!

Here is a gal online who makes the most beautiful baskets! Take a look!
http://www.basketsbyemily.com/

Egg Noodles-Yummy!

When I have extra eggs I make them into egg noodles. It is so easy & makes the best homemade chicken & noodle soup!

3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs at room temperature
water

Mound the flour & make a well in the center.
Break your eggs into the center & add salt.
Mix flour & eggs.
When the mixture can't absorb any more flour-sprinkle a small amount of water over it & keep mixing.
Keep mixing unti it starts to stick together as a dough.
Knead lightly on a flour dusted board until smooth & elastic.
Divide into 4 balls.
Roll out on a four dusted board to 1/8 inch thickness.
Lay out on a flour sack towel to dry.
Cover with a 2nd towel.
Let dry until no longer tacky.
Cut into desired size-I use a paring knife-you can use a noodle cutter if they are dry enough.
Let dry 1-3 hours after cutting.
I freeze mine in big batches for homemade noodle soup!

It makes my mouth water just thinking about it!
Try making some noodles-you'll never go back to store bought!

Handwork Thrives!

There is a resurgence of ladies who are doing handwork. It may not be out of necessity like our grandmothers but nevertheless it has returned! Our grandmothers needed hot pads to get items out of the oven so what did they do? They made them! They crocheted & sewed to get them what they needed. Today we love to sit with yarn in our hands & imagine what it was like for  them so many years ago to have to create all that they needed. There was no local KMART  to go to. Most times there wasn't even a grocery store. We love to create! We love to see what we are capable of! We love to take basic materials & turn them into something lovely! What are you working on right now? I have a hat & mittens on a set of double points right now as I write this!  I also have a quilt to be quilted. I have many numerous projects in varying stages of completion. Somedays it overwhelms me but most it just stirs up my creative mind even more!

Fabric Giveaway!!

There is a great giveaway on this site! Take a look!
http://mountainhomequilts.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-fabric-giveaway.html

I love the fabrics, don't you?!?

Fall is here!

The nip is in the air! It is definitely sweater weather. Take a walk & smell the air. It is full of harvest! The corn is drying, the leaves are changing color, the farmers are out in the fields & the ovens are starting up again. I have had my oven off for most of the summer but not any longer! It is time to bake bread, cookies, pies, brownies & so much more. i think today I will start with pumpkin bread. Oh the smells that waft from my oven. Cinnamon, cloves, & pumpkin! Next week I will add my favorite pumpkin bread recipe-so easy & so yummy! Here is one the cookbooks that I have for sale! I love old cookbooks!
Here it is! My favorite pumpkin bread recipe-I think it is from a cookbook called Amish & Mennonite Kitchens.

Pumpkin Bread

3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
4 eggs
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups pureed pumpkin
2/3 cups water
1 tsp soda
1/2 tsp
baking powder
3 cups flour

1. Combine sugar, oil, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon & salt. Beat well.
2. Add remaining ingredients & mix well.
3. Pour batter into 2 loafe pans which have been generously greased. I like to put mine into 1 bundt pan for a fancier presentation.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool for 3 minutes & take out of pans to finish cooling.

 I have one in the oven as I type & it smells heavenly!!

This was a tree skirt that I made for my daughter Ashley. She likes the brighter Christmas colors.  Now I have to get the fabric out & make a 3rd stocking-one for my grandson. I have made several of these tree skirts for my family. It is fun to pick out fabrics for each one. It is a quick gift that hopefully will turn into an heirloom. I have had mine for 15 years already! How many of you still have ornaments or nativities from awhile back. I have the Angel from when I was a child to put on the top of my tree. My mom gave it to me  a few years back. She was going to throw it away! What a waste-so I rescued her & keep her for my tree!

Tradition still exists!

My daughter & son-in-law were married last Saturday. She picked an old church with a pastor for the ceremony. It was a simple but beautiful wedding. The marriage of a man & a woman still exists in this world. I am so thankful that they chose to have their marriage blessed by God from the beginning. I hope & pray that God will continue to bless them throughout their lives together.

I love to cook! I also love the old tins of spices that they use to have. I can smell the pumpkin pie cooking on Thanksgiving and the cinnamon toast in the morning.  I am finding that more & more of the kids today don't know how to cook. It amazes me that they haven't got a clue about it! It has been something I have  done since I was little & had to help make lunch for the farm help that came. Sometimes 10-12 people around the table! We had a neighborhood of farmers that helped each other out when needed. I remember peeling what seemed like mounds of potatoes. When the lunch dishes were cleaned up then it was time to get coffeetime stuff made.......cookies, pies, etc. It was a lot of work but I learned a lot from that experience. How many of you remember cooking for farm help?

How many of you remember seeing your grandmother dry her dishes with a flour sack towel? They are the best. They leave no lint & are very absorbant.  All of the ones my grandmother had had pictures of all kinds embroidered on them. There were flowers, silverware, dishes, animals, animated things of all kinds, people, etc. You can still find flour sack towels but the new ones do not have the embroidery on them. If you want embroidered ones you must look at the antique shops. I do embroidery on new ones for wedding gifts. It is so much fun to pick out a design especially for someone & then watch their face when they open it!

These are some of the ones I have for sale & you can see the variety. Think back to a time before dishwashers & remember what it was like to talk while doing the dishes.

Do you remember reading Dr. Seuss? The tongue twisters & the crazy animals? What an imagination!  I remember reading him to my kids & thinking he had been around forever!  Well he has & kids still love him! Pick up one of his books today to read to your kids or grandkids & watch their eyes light up! They wonder at what is coming next! They catch the sing song in your voice & want it reread so they can copy you! Pass on the love of reading with Dr. Seuss!

Laundry Rooms

Years ago, in one of the houses I lived in I found this old ironing board top in the garage! As you may have been able to tell I am a bit of a collector! I couldn't just throw it out so I used it in my laundry room on the wall! It makes such a neat arrangement with all the other laundry stuff! I have an old washboard that my mom gave me along with a thermometer used to tell if the water was hot enough! After this picture was taken I added a couple of more thins to it but it really makes my laundry room homey! I added a quilted sunflower table topper hanging over the edge of the ironing board & it really gives it a kick of color! What vintage items have you used in your country decorating? Let me know as I love to get inspiration from you! Be creative in all you do!

Quilts

I never knew that my Grandma made quilts until after she passed away & there were several in her things that my father told me she had made. The finished quilts went to the sons & daughters but there was one unfinished top (imagine that- they had UFOs even back then) that no one knew what to do with, so I asked my father if I could have it. I had it quilted by some ladies at the Methodist church that I used to go to but now it sits in my UFO pile waiting for the binding. It isn't just because I haven't had the time but it is also because I am trying to find a color of binding that will go with it. The types of fabrics that were available then compared to now has changed. So I continue to hunt for the perfect binding. I wish I could say that I have a picture to show you but it is packed away right now. When I can get to it I will be sure to include a picture. I did finsh one of my miniatures this week however, and have a picture of it to show you!

How many of you have UFOs (unfinshed objects)?

Last week I was in our Bibles for Missions Thrift store & you will never guess what I found! A treadle sewing machine! Even better was that it was only $25. It works & has all of its parts. My only problem is I haven't had time to sit down with it & figure out how to thread it. It is much different than any other treadle that I have seen. It will take some getting used to because up until now my electric Singer has been my main stay but I am excited to learn how. How many of you remember someone in your family who used a treadle sewing machine? How many of you have your family's treadle sewing machine. Tell us of your memories of it?! Pass on the stories of how simple life used to be. How the world was before electricity. I know my kids can't remember a time before cell phones so I know they can't imagine a world without electricity.