"Children, should be... loved, not coddled; led, not driven, respected as
an individual... guided to walk freely on directed paths; to slay
caprice and to liberate will; to kill selfishness and to conquer self;
helped by the shining of your steady light to a vision of the
relationship between the world of nature and the world of the spirit..."

Kate Douglas Wiggin (author of Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm)
(HT to The Common Room)

I'm trying to see my life as art... it's hard for this unimaginative soul. I miss too much joy, trying so hard to "do the next thing".

I know that my thinking- my heart is something that I constantly have to stop and realign. I can get very caught up in getting our chores done, our math and spelling done... even that Bible lesson - lesson 65 comes after 64 which comes after 63... And then my children are nothing but cooperators or annoyances - when they are not cooperating.

It is very easy to frame such thinking and living in righteous sounding terms. I am my husband's helpmeet and it is helpful to him if I keep the house clean and educate our children. I'm helping him in his calling...

But looking under it all, those are the good things that often take priority over the best. Those things are definitely important... doesn't that go without saying?

I've been forgetting the first G of the three G's of education*. I'm forgetting WHO GOD IS! What has that got to do with not appreciating my kids for who they are? EVERYTHING! We need to stop together and remember who God is and in that we remember who we are. Then everything is a precious gift!

Then I see my life as art! I see the beauty before the dust, I see the joy before the character flaws. I see His loving benevolence to me in my husband and children, in what we learn, in what we have and even in what I do.

Heavenly Father, help me to remember who you are, what you hve done and then what you require of me. Thank you for constantly renewing my mind and heart in Christ Jesus. AMEN


The three G's - Who God is. What He has done. What He requires of us. From When You Rise Up; A Covenant Approach to Homeschooling by R.C. Sproul Jr.

Some thoughts...

I've started water aerobics with my Mom...I feel like my skin is absorbing all of that chlorine! Yuck! I am really tired and sore but am enjoying it.

Over at Quiet Life, Donna is asking for warm weather meal ideas. Here is a favorite:
Oriental Crunch Salad
Saute in a 1/4 cup of oil:
2 pkgs of chicken flavored ramen noodles, crunched up
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Until brown. Sprinkle the seasoning packets from the Ramen noodles over. Set aside to cool.
Cook
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbs. vinegar
2 Tbs. soy sauce
in a sauce pan over med.-high heat until the sugar is dissolved. Whisk well and set in refrigerator until cooled.
Shred one head of cabbage and two carrots and put in a bowl. (My friend Myra just buys cole slaw mix in a bag and our own family likes about a half of head of cabbage and mixed greens as well.)
Serve dressing and "crunchies" along with the salad (the crunchies will get soggy if you have mixed them all together and have leftovers).
For a summer meal, we often add a rotisserie roast chicken sliced to the salad, or just some grilled chicken from the bbq.

Yum!

I just found this really cute blog of decorated cookies. Great ideas there!

One of my favorite blogs that comes up in my reader every day is One Pretty Thing, check it out.

I've been inspired today for a bridal shower cake I'm making...I can't wait to get started on it!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Where do I begin?

I have confessed before that I really struggle with being a good housekeeper. I have needed to train myself through the years and constantly backslide in my standards for cleanliness.

There are “seasons” in my life when I have made good progress in this area and have maintained my home in a sufficient manner. There have even been a couple of “seasons” when I was manager of my home enough that my children were on the ball – doing a lot of the housekeeping along side of me.

THIS is not one of those “seasons”!

I have really let the ball drop as far as the children’s chores and my own.

I certainly have many legitimate (in my own eyes!) reasons to have spent my time elsewhere- things that were higher on the priority list, that have taken much time and physical as well as emotional energy. But that is more often the case than not, isn’t it?

I’ve let my housekeeping lapse. We’ve been keeping up on the laundry- mostly, and making our meals- though we have made far too many convenience meals, and our academic lessons have continued-until we took a break. So, even our necessary tasks have been suffering. This is surely not the way to be faithful in my God-given tasks in life!

I have learned over the years that this phenomenon - gradually letting everything slide until it is all screaming for attention has often preceded a change in direction for my housekeeping. Something that was working before isn’t, anymore. It is time to change my routines, or methods or look at some training that hasn’t happened (in myself, or my children).

So, we are taking a mini vacation from schoolwork so that I can pray and plan and work. It’s time to overhaul our routines and assess what training is lacking in the kids, or what has lapsed that must be taken up again.

We are spending time deep cleaning rooms and getting back to our daily chore charts. The kids have a little more free time and I’m spending time on paperwork – long range lesson planning, book lists to take to the annual home educator’s convention and slogging through old files, etc.

There’s so much to do like the above mentioned that there is no way that we are going to get it all done in the planned two weeks I’ve taken off (we are in the second week now!) So, one of my tasks is to find a way to fit those big maintenance jobs into our regular routine. This has always been a challenge for me!

Question: How do you manage to keep all your plates in the air and make sure things like deep cleaning, culling your files, mending, organizing and do ahead type things (i.e. gifts, meals, planning for special occasions) get done?

Okay...

with the last installment of Masterpiece Theater's Little Dorrit, I have lost my sympathy for John... I was grieving for him, but now I want to say, "Stop snivelling boy!" Sheesh!

Go! Go enjoy it, just don't neglect your duties!

Tobias' Baby Shower...Gifts & Cake

This is the little layette set I made for little Tobias...the appliqued onesie and the shoes are my favorite.

Here's the cake I made...I ended up being rushed toward the end...so I wasn't thrilled with it. but it definitely was yummy!

	Currently Reading: Get your copy here.

Quilt Show pictures...

I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get these up. I didn't take enough pictures this time because my memory card was not in my camera, much to my dismay. Here are the ones I captured, though:
This first one was my favorite from the black and white challenge. Isn't it great?
This strippy quilt goes in my file of quilts I actually would consider doing.Looking at this one, I'm not sure why I took the picture...perhaps it was one that Shayna wanted me to snap.This quilt is using the traditional "Flying Geese" pattern in a unique way. I really, really like it!
Applique over "Grandmother's Fan" I love the use of the dark fabric, it really makes the vintage '30s colors "pop".Another view.

An amazing Celtic Applique quilt.

A traditional Baltimore Album appliqued quilt. I love the pineapples square!
Appliqued Fleur de lis.Isn't this one beautiful? I'm thinking that this is my favorite of the show.
Hat boxes! And they are on the traditional "attic windows" blocks. What a great way to use some of your favorite large sized patterns. This one is for Laura Lee.

Blocks! I took this one to study because I really need to work on my color theory and shading. Isn't it lively?
Another example of Celtic Applique. I am really fascinated with this technique, but not enough to do all of that work!
I love a sampler quilt! This one is applique, very traditional.This one was taken at a vendor's booth at the request of Janette. The gold and black would be a great combination for her living room project. This block pattern is called Sage Buds (according to my quilt block encyclopedia). I like quilts that combine two different blocks.

Well, there you have it, my quilt pictures. I hope you enjoyed them.

Overheard at the Quilt show...

"The oxy-products are great for new organic stains, but Biz is best for old organic stains." Overheard at the vintage linens booth. So, there you have it!

Rescue Recipes

Last night we had a guest for dinner. The dinner was to be just a casual weeknight dinner for a guy who lives by himself and would appreciate some home cooking.
I was totally stuck!
I had a turkey breast thawed but was totally uninspired as to what to do with it. Then it hit me...one of my favorite rescue recipes was perfect.

Rescue Recipes are favorite, easy and versatile recipes that include ingredients that you always have on hand. I decided to make a new catagory in my recipe box with that title and copy my favorite rescue recipes into it.

The one I used last night was Dona's Wonderful Honey-Curry Sauce.
1/3 cup honey
1tsp. curry powder
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. prepared mustard.
Pour over chicken or pork or even rabbit & bake.

If you have someone in your family who doesn't like curry, this will change his/her mind. We like this sauce very much and it is wonderful served with brown rice.

Last night's menu was turkey baked with the sauce, brown rice, carrots, greenbeans and homemade apple sauce with cranberries. We had a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a little chocolate sauce with our coffee after dinner and family devotions.

Another favorite Rescue Recipe is fried rice.
I just saute' lots & lots of celery, onion & peppers and then throw in leftover rice. I fry all of that in a little oil until browning nicely then pour soy sauce (or Bragg's) over and sprinkle generously with chinese five-spice powder. I often scramble a couple of eggs and throw in frozen peas as well. This is especially good if you have a little diced leftover meat. Then we serve with a salad and applesauce.

Do you have any favorite recipes that help you out when the menu muse has left you? Please share!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY Monday, February 23, 2009...

Outside my window...The sun is blazing and the wind is blowing so that my screen rattles in it’s frame. I see little sticks on the ground that we will have to gather up to add to the “stick pile”. I see a board the children left on the ground after playing some sort of make-believe game.

I am thinking...that the sunshine feels good on my neck as it shines on me.

I am thankful for...the news that I will be a Grandmother late in the year.

From the learning rooms...a tour of Europe and a look at the Church in the year 1000 before we head into the Norman Invasion next week. I love my Truthquest!

From the kitchen...Whole Wheat Cinnamon-Raisin bread rising & yellow split pea & sausage soup for lunch.

I am wearing... blue jeans and a bright pink blouse with ruffles, socks and my ancient black slides.

I am creating...still working on that quilt for Crista, must finish it!!!

I am going...nowhere outside of my domain today except to pick up hubby from work.

I am reading... The Beauty of Modesty by David and Diane Vaughan

I am hoping...to get the house ready for company tonight.

I am hearing...Isaac putting away dishes and singing and Shayna working on memory verses.
Around the house...typical Monday things, cleaning up after Sunday, backlog of laundry, just trying to get things ship-shape for the week. On top of that, a visitor or three for dinner expected.

One of my favorite things...my transferware bowls (Friendly Village), for our morning oatmeal.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Getting on a new schedule, back to early rising and a new thing-breakfast & devotions with Papa before he is off to work.

On Friday & Saturday I’m going to the quiltshow. I’m so looking forward to it (have been all year)!

Here is picture thought I am sharing... My favorite from last year’s show:

Thanks again to Peggy at Simple Woman for the DayBook project.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly

Ann’s writing often moves me, telling me truth in poetic words that sink deep into me, convicting me and pointing me to The Savior.
Read today’s post at A Holy Experience.
I was convicted by this phrase: “So I do it. I grab the angriest, messiest heart and hold it close.”
How often I want to push away the angriest, messiest heart in our home! How often I let that one turn me into the one who is the angriest, leaving a bigger mess that is so much harder to clean up than the one left by one littler, simpler… “take the log out of your own eye…”

We are memorizing a passage of Scripture as a family. We desperately need to renew our minds with the truth of God, I need it most of all.

Here is what we are working on.

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:12-16

Valentine's Day Menu & a Recipe

For our annual Valentine's Day supper Shayna and I made Prime Rib Roast (bought marked down at the commissary).

We made mashed potatoes to go with and they were very yummy:
Yummy Yellow Taters
8 medium yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
Place the potatoes in a large pot, and fill with enough water to cover by 1 inch. Add the onion, garlic and basil, salt & pepper and bring to a boil. Cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
Drain the contents of the pot in a colander, then transfer to a large bowl. Add sour cream, butter and milk. Beat with a mixer until light. Adjust milk if needed. Do not beat long, or the potatoes will become stiff and pasty. Taste and adjust salt & pepper before serving.

We also had cooked carrots and spinach salad with orange sections, walnuts & feta cheese.

For dessert Shayna and I made Delicious Baked Fudge from Pioneer Woman Cooks. We served it with a little scoop of Ice Cream.
Dinner was definitely a success!

You know what they say about good intentions…

The month of January has been full of ‘em and not a lot else!

I’m sorry that I have been away so long, Aunt Rose and others who care. I’m getting over a bout of Bronchitis, slowly.
I was a total slug last week! I was talking to my daughter-in-law yesterday evening and noted that though it seems that I rarely get things done, I must peck away at things all week. Because, when I am lying around like a slug and only the things the kids are in charge of get done (dishes, towels washed, vacuuming, etc.) things sure start to fall apart quickly. So, we are slowly but surely getting things back into shape.

Today, I did 4 loads of laundry and we did a pretty good clean of our keeping room (the large kitchen/dining room that we have). I also baked two cakes, a chocolate pound cake and a cinnamon-pecan pound cake. As I type this, the men and older boys of our church are gathering in that room to have a session meeting…and eat cake! And we did a full day of school, including watching the new president take his oath of office and listen to his speech.

Tomorrow, we will finish the keeping room, and make a meal to take to friends. We will also do a day of school including catching up our Middle Ages timeline… the last guy on there is Arthur, King of the Britons (c.537)…and we are up to Mohammad (570-632).

We celebrated Shayna’s 12th birthday yesterday. Gaelan & Emily came over and our friends the E family. The Dally cousins and D family are all down with bad colds and didn’t come. L (So, when cousins are better, we will have to have another party for both Aunt Kathryn & Shayna.) Shayna’s birthday dinner choice was philly cheese-steak sandwiches, we had chips to go with, homemade apple sauce and a green salad. I also made a brown rice salad that was very tasty, for our vegan family member, as well as for those of us who like that kind of food. Actually, Conrad likes that salad although he doesn’t remember having it before. I told him that the note in my cookbook says, “Conrad especially likes.” Shayna wanted to make cupcakes, so we made strawberry jell-o poke cakes and found little gummy frogs to put on them for fun. It was a fun evening.

I am trying to join in on the 12 Worthwhile Books Challenge, but I’m afraid that several of the books that I’ve picked are so big that I’ll never get through twelve. I’m currently reading a book on the middle ages that I think my dad used in college. It has been a good overview, but is 600+ pages. I am not going to read the Institutes in a year, because a few years ago we did a study of them with tapes from Greg Bahnsen…we didn’t get all the way through but that was enough for me! Does anyone else have a reading plan?

I’m taking a short break while bread is rising and cake is cooling to do a little reading/writing.

I have plans for next Christmas. I’m going to start on present making early. I know, I know, I say this every year, and being a flighty procrastinator, find myself running around like crazy in December trying to catch up!
BUT! !This time I have made plans to get together with other ladies once a month and work on a project. I really, really hope this works!

Also, I think I will get the family to help me work out an advent catechism….I wonder if there is already such a thing in existence? You know, put down into words the things we talk about throughout the Christmas holiday to be used as a sort of family liturgy. “What do we celebrate at this time of year?” etc…. getting down into the beautiful Grace filled theology of Christ’s incarnation.

Tonight, Gaelan & his bride Emily will join us for dinner, advent devotions and gift exchanging before he heads off to work. Police Officers don’t get holidays off very often as sister Kathryn has often said.

Tomorrow, we will go to Kathryn’s house, (just a mile a way, what a blessing!) and eat begniets and open gifts with her family. We will then just hang out there, playing games, eating and visiting with friends who drop in.

I hope that you all have a blessed Christmas, as you remember the Savior who gave up the riches of heaven to dwell among us so that we may be adopted as sons of God.

All praise to thee, Eternal Lord,
Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood;
Choosing a manger for thy throne,
While worlds on worlds are thine alone.

Once did the skies before thee bow;
A virgin’s arms contain thee now;
Angels who did in the rejoice
Now listen for thine infant voice.

A little Child, thou are a guest,
That weary ones in thee may rest;
Forlorn and lowly is thy birth,
That we may rise to heav’n from earth.

Thou comest in thy darksome night
To make us children of the light,
To make us, in the realms divine,
Like thine own angels round thee shine.

All this for us thy love hath done;
By this to thee our love is won;
For this we tune our cheerful lays,
And shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.
Martin Luther 1524

Click the cartoon for more...

FOR TODAY, Monday, December 22, 2008...

Outside my window... the Sun is shining brightly and the wind is blowing mightily – I bet there’ll be lots of sticks to pick up later.

I am thinking... how blessed I am to be able to be at home to make things warm and welcoming for my family.

I am thankful for... so many things! For this time of year that makes us stop and reflect on the best & most beautiful gift of all, our Lord Christ.

From the learning rooms... just every day things, good music (really listening to Handel’s Messiah), discussing what we are reading, reflecting on our Advent Devotions and praying for those God has given us to pray for. Oh, and 20 minutes a day spent on handwriting practice! ;^)

From the kitchen... some gifts- Apricot-Pineapple Jam & cheesecakes, and a headstart on Christmas Eve dinner – Onion- Mustard rolls & King’s Hawaiian Bread.

I am wearing... Blue jeans, a favorite t-shirt (with burgundy flowers) and my old khaki sweater…my ancient black slides on my feet.

I am creating... a few sewing projects for Christmas gifts, can’t tell though!
I am going... to have to venture out eventually for just a couple of more things and a few groceries.

I am reading... the delightful “Anne & Frederick What-If” entitled “The Little Particulars of the Circumstance” by Susan Kaye over at her blog, what fun!

I am hoping... that Conrad will be home soon, he went in to work last night.

I am hearing... Shayna practicing her piano “Give me that old-time religion” and several carols.

Around the house... People doing chores upstairs, the smell of apricots, laundry waiting to be started and little snippets of felt all over the couch from late night ornament projects.

One of my favorite things... early morning with a hot cup of coffee and blessed quiet so that I can think!

A few plans for the rest of the week: Early this week, a mad scramble to get things finished. (I had the flu and some other things that took my attention and made it impossible to stay on schedule last week!) Our son, Gaelan and his Emily Dearest will come for Christmas Eve dinner, Advent devotions and gift giving, then we will head on over to sister Kathryn’s after begniets in the morning to hang out all day, playing games and just enjoying each other’s company.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...
I would like to put up a Christmas tree picture, but am not the camera person in our house…so I will just put up the family picture from the wedding.

Read other Daybook's at SimpleWoman's Daybook site.

Check out the Mother Letter Project. I’ve only read a couple of the letters but they are good…and I like the idea very much.

I learned about it in a convoluted way, (like so many things in the blog world!). Amy’s Humble Musings linked to the letter written by Ann at A Holy Experience…I thought that that letter was excellent and saw the link to the Mother Letter Project. So get a cup of coffee or tea and read one (but only while the kids are otherwise occupied). Merry Christmas, Moms!

A New Kind of Thanksgiving Day

For the last couple of days I have found myself spending more time than usual in prayer.

You see, I have a friend who has a terrible injury, he is in excruciating pain requiring morphine and while he waits to see one of the only two physicians in this country who will treat his injury I am praying for him – every hour. Won’t you join me in praying for my friend and his family?

And also, I have another friend. She and her husband thought he just had a terrible case of pneumonia. It is actually lung cancer and the Dr. says that there is only a tiny sliver of hope that he will ever be off life support again. She is reeling from the shock and spending all her time at his side while their mostly grown children gather. So, I pray for dear Anne & Don and their family as well.

So, I shed tears and pray on Thanksgiving Day, crying out to God for His mercy on these loved ones. And I thank Him that He is God of the universe who holds all things in His hands. And that He loves me, and these friends.

“…in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philipians 4:6b,7

A Thanksgiving Recipe

I made this dressing (stuffing) for Gaelan & Emily's rehearsal dinner.

Cornbread Dressing with Andouille Sausage
2 c. chopped onion
3 c. chopped celery
1 lb andouille, diced
1 stick butter
6 c. cornbread, crumbled
3 c. stale or toasted white bread, cubed
2 tbs. poultry seasoning
1 tsp. each, celery seed, sage, salt
3 eggs, well beaten
2-3 c. broth
Put crumbled bread and seasonings in a large bowl.
Sauté the onion, celery & andouille with butter in a large skillet until the onion is transparent and the andouille is beginning to brown. Add to the bread mixture. Mix.
Add the eggs and broth (should be wet, the eggs give this a soufflé type texture.) and turn into a greased baking pan or pans and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until hot & golden on top.

Cornbread
Mix 2 cups each of cornmeal & white flour, ½ cup sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 2Tbs +2 tsp. baking powder in a large bowl.
Mix 2 eggs, ½ cup vegetable oil & 2 cups milk together. Add to the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.
Pour into two greased 9x13” pans (for thinnish cornbread) or 1- 11x14” pan for cornbread you want to split in half to butter. Bake in a 425° oven for 30 minutes or so.

Note for those who don't have access to real andouille...Costco sells a wonderful chicken andouille that tastes better than some andouille I've had from New Orleans. You could substitute any spicy smoked sausage in this recipe.