Enter to win The Art of Bread-Making DVD

Click over to A
Pondering Heart, read the review, and follow the instructions
to enter. What a great addition this could be to a learner's library!

Tagged

I was tagged some time ago by Miss Taylor and I'm finally getting around to doing what I'm supposed to. So, six random things about me:

1. I am quite capable of procrastinating. It's so easy to put things off when I don't know what to do or say! I'm not good at randomness, so this has been challenging.
2. I just turned thirty. That must seem very grown-up to most of my readers! lol I don't always feel grown-up but I do feel more grown-up than I did just a few years ago--like I'm officially an adult or something.
3. I like to sing-- especially solos. I sang O Holy Night at our church Christmas program Sat. night. I was surprised to get applause (most things get amens). I don't do it for the applause (I'm definitely not the performer type!), but it was nice to know it passed off nicely. I hate botching a song.
4. I am an idea person. I can come up with more ideas for things to do than I could possibly carry out! Just the number of book and website ideas that I have written down is humorous. But, alas! I can't do everything.
5. I'm having a really hard time coming up with things to say. I'm not that boring!
6. I have a sister and a brother, and they're both older than me. There! This was even harder than I expected. lol Well, now I get to pass on the challenge to a few more people.


The Rules
1. Link to the person who tagged you.

2. Post the rules on your blog.

3. Write six random things about yourself.

4. Tag sixish people at the end of your post.

5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.

6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

I tag:

Crystal

A City On a Hill

As for Me and My House

Angel of Patience

The Beauty of Home/Jessica's Blog

12 Days of Holiday Homemaking

I'm going over to Joyous Home for this. Are you?

Something Every Maiden at Home Needs to Remember

"And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,
who shall give you that which is your own?"

~ Luke 16:12

Sense and Sensibility E-patterns Released

Some of the beautiful Sense and Sensibility patterns are now available as e-patterns. My first reaction to e-patterns was that e-patterns for full-size garments are strange and I wouldn't like them. However, since visiting the S&S website I can see that they do have some advantages (lower price being one of them!) and I would be willing to give one a try. Curious? You can try one for a mere $5.95.

ABCs of me

This WAS hard! I tried to keep it on the positive side. I didn't think anyone would want to read a list of twenty-six faults I have!

Always leaning on God for everything
Bursting with ideas
Creative
Devoted to country living
Enthusiastic
Faithful
Generous
Homemaker at heart
Intent on blessing others
Jesus follower
Knowledge-seeking
Little known and seldom seen
Musical
Nearly thirty
Optimistic
Particular
Quiet
Reclusive (to a point)
Social (in my own way)
Temperance advocate
Unfinished
Virtuous
Writer
x-self-centered
Yearning for so much
Zealous

More Links from My Collection

Not necessarily modest exclusively.

On The Hip: Long shirts for the active woman.

Diviine ModesTee - Long fitted Cap Sleeves, Camisoles and T-shirts

Kate's Camisoles

Custom hand made high quality modest apparel by The King's Daughters ~ simple modest clothing for ladies, girls, babies and boys

Enjoy!

50% off sale

The Hope Chest Legacy is having a 50% off sale right now (on nearly everything).

A Challenge from the Hope Chest

In keeping with the theme and purpose of this blog, I would like to issue a challenge each week to the girls and women who read it. So, without further preliminaries . . .

This week's challenge is to sew something. Anything, as long as it is either for your hope chest (if you have a literal one), learning new skills, practicing skills, or otherwise getting yourself moving in this area.

It can be a big project, a little project, or several little projects. You don't necessarily have to complete an entire sewing project but try to complete something (hem your skirt, do the collar on a blouse, etc.).

It can be a mending project, as long as it involves sewing (i.e., no darning).

It doesn't necessarily have to involve stitching as long as what you are doing is not a means of avoiding actually stitching. It might be preparing fabric, laying out, cutting out, etc.

Although this challenge is intended for the unmarried woman or girl, others may join in too.

If you don't know how to sew at all, do something toward beginning to sew.

Leave a comment about what you have accomplished, or, if you want to blog about your project (I'd love to see pictures!), leave a link to your blog post (non "family-friendly" links will be deleted).

If you know anyone who might appreciate these challenges, please point them this way!

A Little Coupon Giveaway

It's not huge, but it might be just what you need. Here's the deal:

To enter ONCE, click over to my website (you can go to the home page, to the blog, or to the store ~ doesn't matter) then leave a comment here telling me what you think (about the whole thing or about something you saw there), preferably positive (*grin* nobody likes criticism, but I will take that too).

To enter TWICE, do the above and also post about this giveaway on your blog.

I'll randomly choose a winner on or after Wednesday, October 15.

The winner will choose 5-8 coupons from the list below (yes, that's right, you get to pick!). These expire 11/3 or later.

MidNite or MidNite PM

Weight Watchers bagged chocolates

Murry Sugar Free Cookies

Cold Stone Creamery (2 different coupons)

Breyers Swirled Lowfat Yogurt ~ Disney Multipack

Tyson Frozen Breaded Bagged product

Tyson Frozen Breaded Boxed product

Bausch & Lomb Alaway antihistamine eye drops

Lysol Neutra Air FreshMatic Starter Kit

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Lysol Disinfectant Spray

Lysol All-purpose Cleaner Triggers, Pourables, Anti-bacterial Kitchen Cleaner or Lysol Plus Bleach

Lysol Healthy Touch Gentle Hand Sanitizer Foam

Lysol Disinfecting Wipes

Lysol Bathroom Cleaner or Mildew Remover

A Giveaway Within a Giveaway

I also have the following, which expire 10/19:

French's Original or Cheddar French Fried Onions

Any Spray 'n Wash product

Any Resolve product

Any combination of two Cream of Wheat, Polaner or Maple Grover products

I'll take entries for these today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday). All you have to do is enter the above giveaway and add that you'd like these too. Winning this giveaway won't prevent you from winning the first one.

Pumpkin Potholder Giveaway

A fun giveaway at Teaching Good Things just for today: a set of two pumpkin potholders! If you like these but don't win, check out the tutorial and make your own.

Celebrating the Beginning of Autumn with Roasted Potatoes

I'll tell more later about what I did today to celebrate the beginning of Autumn over at my other blog, but one thing I am doing is making roasted potatoes this morning to go with whatever DearMother decides to make for dinner/lunch (it's her turn to cook today).

This dish is still in the experimental stage. I've made it once! What temperature do I use (ETA: high--about 400, but I'm not sure what is best)? How long do they bake (a long time, but I don't know for sure!)? How much salt do I put in them (I guess I'll have to start measuring the potatoes, won't I?)? The herbs are easier since they are a bit flexible.

Here's what I put in the potatoes.
Olive oil (not a lot)
Salt
Ground oregano
Ground rosemary
Ground thyme
Spanish paprika
Basil
Sage (just a little)
Marjoram

I mixed this all with the potatoes (cut into large unpeeled chunks) in a bowl and then poured the potatoes into a sprayed baking dish. I think DearMother put the oven on 250 degrees since she will be baking something else at the same time that requires that temperature.

We shall see how this batch turns out! I think that roasted potatoes must be perfected and that I shall attempt to do that this fall.

While I was making the potatoes I also thought of something else I could do along the lines of using this holiday to better serve those in my household: make a potato dish once a week, at least throughout fall. Not just microwave-baked potatoes but something more "real" like roasted potatoes, oven-baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, etc. I think this would be very popular with DD (dear dad) and DB (dear brother).

My Hope Chest Calleth for . . .

What do you do when you don't have any money to spend on your hope chest no matter how frugal you are? You just talk about it . . . I guess.

I'd like to try some of this huck toweling. I don't know if I would like this kind of towel but I want to find out. If I do like it then I might buy some more and make towels.

This Needlework Skills Book 1: A Handsewing Primer looks interesting.

Some cast iron cookware. I'm not sure what. If anyone uses cast iron cookware and wants to advice me I shall be grateful. I already have one skillet (10 inch?) and maybe another (8 inch?) that I used while in college.


What do you think of my choices?

More links on dressing from my collection

. . . for Womanhood Wednesday.

Baker Lane

Amelia's Aprons

Practically Pretty by Design

Show and Tell: My Current Hope Chest

So, no, it's not very special or pretty, is it?

More Garden Project Pictures

After clean-up but before making the garden.

Another view.

Squaring up the garden. We had to measure diagonally to do this ~ under the forsythia!

The nursery!

Lookin' for Love?

It's not so much about finding love as it is about learning to love.

For the Frugal Flower Gardener

My family's business is having a sale. Drop by for some lovely flowers before it's too late for fall plantings!

My New Project . . .

. . . and confession time. My confession is that I have been meaning to post about this project since last winter or spring! Okay, no more excuses. Here it is.

I now have my own garden.

1. Because a certain spot on our property demands to have something done with it.
   
2. Because I think we need this type of garden.
3. Because I want to.
4. And because I want to learn to garden and I think jumping in with both feet is the only way I am going to accomplish that.

It's approximately 40x40 feet (it has been so long since we laid it out that I have forgotten the exact measurements), in our front yard, and is to be a potager.

A potager is a mixture of flowers, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Potagers are usually thought of as formal gardens but they do not have to be formal. Mine will be semi-formal.

The plot of land was previously a raspberry patch, nursery beds, and a let's-put-this-here-until-we-find-a-place-for-it area. Some things we were not able to move this spring (including the raspberries) so it is very much in progress.

Here are a few pictures from this spring:

A "before" picture, after we had cleaned it off some.


Digging up grass clumps.

Measuring and staking.

More measuring and staking.

Dressing Ideas

Fashion Ideas : One woman's tips on dressing modestly and femininely.

And a couple of potential sources for modest clothing: DownEast Basics and Lilies of the Field. I just realized I have a lot of decent clothing links so maybe I'll share more in the future!

Memorization With Motherhood In Mind

I have thought for years that if I was a mother I would want to be able to sing lullabies and other songs, and repeat choice bits of poetry and prose to and around my children. It has also occurred to me that in order to someday do this I must first know about these things and memorize them. Imagine that!

I have wanted to do this for so long but just now it has become a practice, not a wish. I am now memorizing with motherhood in mind!

To start me off, I have a book (that I bought years ago) called A Child's Garden of Verses: A Collection of Scriptures, Prayers, & Poems, featuring the works of Robert Louis Stevenson and the art of Thomas Kinkade (published by Tommy Nelson). I am memorizing something of a religious nature and something not particularly of a religious nature (I may not always be able to do this--I fear that good selections not of a religious nature will be in shorter supply).

I am also going to try to put up a sidebar of my memorization choices.

Something Extra In the Kitchen

It is so easy to just do the basics when cleaning the kitchen--the least I need to do. Empty the dishwasher, put the perishable food away, wash the dishes, wipe the countertops we used for that meal, then go on to other projects.

Although kitchen cleaning is a high priority, I wouldn't say that it is always the highest. Quite a few things are up there as the highest priorities--all fighting to be done! Yet, just doing the basics in the kitchen day after day eventually means a messy kitchen.

So, I have determined that every time it is my turn to do the dishes I will not only do the minimum but I will always do "something extra". If I have a lot of time I might do a lot of extras. If I have little time I might just do one extra, but I will always do something extra.

This morning (Tuesday is the only day I do breakfast dishes) I filled the soap dispensers in both sinks (you know, the soap dispenser for the double sink has been empty for at least a week and it didn't take that long to fill!). I spilled soap while filling the one for the large single sink, so I took that opportunity to wash out the sink too. When I closed the dishwasher, I also wiped off the handle and panel. While my washing sink was filling I took a few seconds to wipe off the faucet and handle--it wasn't a thorough job but it looked better. All of those extras didn't take much time at all!

After lunch I cleaned and put away a cutting board that had managed to escape cleaning from Sunday. I also wiped some water off the countertop by the big sink. Mom had been cleaning dehydrator screens. She left a few to drain on a bowl on the countertop and unbeknownst to her they dripped quite a bit of water on the countertop.

See? I think this is a great idea--it's already working!

What's Going On ~ A Personal Note (updated)

Aside from the usual busyness (and an unexpected cold), my grandfather has been seriously ill ~ still is, in fact. He has been in the hospital for about fourteen days so far. I'm sure I'll be back someday!

If you'd like to read more about the situation with my grandfather, you may do so here.

Update on The Keeping Home Blog

I've Made a Decision

I'm going to dress right.

I believe I really need to dress like the Godly woman I profess to be.

My dressing problems are probably a lot different from most people's, however. Modesty isn't a big issue. I've always tried to dress modestly. I'm even modest naturally! I've have been more conscious over the last few years of modesty issues I never thought about before (actually, I really didn't think about modesty--because I didn't intend to be immodest, I just assumed everything I chose to wear was automatically modest!). For one thing, I've become more conscious of skirt length. I've never worn short skirts, but I've never thought about just how long I want my skirts to be. I dress be default! I've also realized that most of my shirts are too short. Not intentionally--that's just the way shirts are (especially for someone who is long-waisted). I just accepted it before--that skin would show when I lift up my arms or bend over--but no more. It may be "normal" but I don't have to accept it!

I've never been fashion-conscious. That's sort of an under-statement. Anyway, I don't intend to become so now, but I do want to dress more becomingly. You know, I'm glad I don't have a fashion addiction to overcome!

I could NEVER be accused of spending too much money on clothes. In fact, I've never had enough money for clothes. Really. Most of my clothing for my entire life has been hand-me-downs from various people or gifts. When that's all you can get, you take what you can get, even if it's not perfect (welcome to my wardrobe!). A "clothing budget" has been a joke. This situation doesn't put me in a very good position to improve my way of dressing, but God is good. That does put me in a good position to improve my way of dressing. I have learned that God will concern Himself with providing me with decent clothing if I will trust Him.

Ah! I learned that lesson years ago. To make a long story short, for the last 8-10 years I have never (except for a few weeks) been without an ample supply of nice jeans (until recently they were all I wore except to church) that fit very well without spending a penny. Enough said!

I can sew, and I have a nice sewing machine (free!). I've also inherited fabric, patterns, and other sewing supplies from my grandmother who can't sew anymore. Getting everything, including my limited sewing skills, to work together is very challenging. I rarely have enough money to by any sewing supplies, including matching thread. My challenge as far as making my own clothing is concerned, is to get this random collection of patterns, zippers, thread, fabric, buttons, etc., to turn into garments that work for me.

I don't have a closet. We built our own house, but haven't built my own closet yet. This does not help matters. That was also an understatement.

Did I mention I don't have any money to spend on clothing or sewing supplies? Sigh. This would be a lot easier if I did. I know exactly where I would go to shop!

More Spring Pictures

A primrose
(I'm sorry it's a bit blurry!)

A Grape Hyacinth

A white Hyacinth

Busy as a Bee

I'm busy as a bee! I don't think I have been moving around quite as much as a bee, but my head certainly has been.

Okay, let me see . . . When I finish putting these dishes away then I can rinse and chop the greens. Then I'll wash the dishes.

When I get the dishes done, I need to sweep the floors and then wash flower pots. No, I need to check the laundry first. Maybe I'll check the laundry, then wash the pots, then sweep the floors. And vacuum. But I need to cook beans and rice too. And clean my bathroom. And I sure would like to blog today and write. And work on my websites. And . . . I wonder if I could have time to sew? But I might need to sweep and mop the kitchen floor, if Mom doesn't get home soon. I wonder if I'll need to help plant greens? And I really want to . . .


After I get done blogging I really need to clean my bathroom and sweep. Or should I sweep first and then clean my bathroom? . . . after I check the laundry, of course. Or should I go ahead and e-mail my women's ministry leader while I'm online, or should I do that later?


Whew!


I'm not complaining, though. Far from it! Sure, I would like to get my housework done so that I could spend my time doing other things, but I'm even enjoying the housework. It's not always that way. You see, I have suffered from depression, during which nothing brings me joy. But praise the Lord, today is not such a day. I have lots of interesting things to keep me busy (my head is spinning!) and I am capable of enjoying them. What more could I ask for?


I thank God for helping me
To be as busy as a bee.
For I was meant to be ALIVE!
And when I'm active ~ 'Tis then I thrive!

I Love Spring!

These are lilies just starting to come up. I think they are so cute at this stage!


A daffodil and a hyacinth.


Our first tulip!

Climbing Higher

I was reminded again this morning and in the quiet hours of the night before, how truly unworthy I am. How slow I am to progress, how inadequate I would be as a helpmeet, how unprepared to train and educate little ones.

I could be content to be in the state I am in ~ but I am not. Why settle for less when you can have more? It would be a denial of my God to do only that which was easy, which was natural, which suited my tastes.

My journey ~ not just in these things but in all areas of life ~ might be compared to rock-climbing (not that I have ever engaged in rock-climbing, but I have watched it). As I climb up the cliff, I am often tempted ~ and often persuaded ~ to stay and rest awhile on a ledge, where life is easy. It's not a bad place. I'm not regressing. Yet I need to climb higher, and still higher, rather than stay in the same secure place.


I think of the the hymn "Higher Ground":

I'm pressing on the upward way,

New heights I'm gaining every day.

If only I were gaining new heights every day! Too often I lounge on a ledge and soothe my conscience that I am not where I used to be and that I am in a good place. I fear the climb. It's too hard. I'm tired. What if I fall? It's better to stay here than to risk a back-set. May I have the courage to climb higher.

May I always be at peace, but never content.


Words of "Higher Ground" by Johnson Oatman, Jr.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas, I choose to give my Love. . . breakfasts yummy, things to his liking, worthy housekeeping, gracious answ'ring, menus appealing, knowledge of hemming, commitment to staying, wind beneath his wings, edifying words, frequent encouragement, two kinds of love, and myself completely free!

Looks like I have a lot of work to do preparing these gifts!