A Christmas Giveaway

So, obviously I'm spending most of my time somewhere other than The Hope Chest! I'm sorry about that, as The Hope Chest does have the potential to be useful, but Keeping Home is a worthy cause too.

And now about the giveaway. It's . . . on Keeping Home's blog (of course!). Until 12/15 you can enter to win a Christmas instrumental guitar CD. Audio previews included so you can see if you like it first. DON'T WAIT! VISIT TODAY! (Sometimes I just can't be serious when I'm tired!). But seriously, please do visit. I'd appreciate it! :-)

My Treasuries on Etsy

Maybe you are like I used to be and don't know what a treasury is and don't know what Etsy is. Well, never mind. Just click on the links and find out!

Well, I'll give you a hint. Etsy is a place to buy handmade goods (as well as supplies for handmade goods and vintage items) from individual sellers. A treasury is a collection of items, usually with along a theme, put together by a member of Etsy (could be another seller or just a buyer) to share with other members.

I hope these will be a blessing to my readers!

The Gift of Life

Dreaming of a Wardrobe Makeover (part 1)

I now have an Etsy shop!

If you Etsy, come see me!. :-) http://www.etsy.com/shop/KeepingHome

Thoughts on Learning and Critical Thinking

Read widely,
. . . . but don't believe everything you read.


Listen carefully,
. . . . but don't believe everything you hear.


Look around,
. . . . but don't believe everything you see.


Think hard,
. . . . but don't believe everything you think.



If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ~ James 1:5 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:10 

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. . . ~ Proverbs 2: 10, 11.

Wordless Wednesday: Pretty Flowers

Monthly Theme for July, 2010

This Month's Theme Is . . . 

Summer!

Wordless Wednesday: It's Beyond Words, Anyway!

A good reminder, especially for maidens at home

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 

Things To Keep In Your Laundry Room

A large trash can or waste basket (well, not one of those huge outdoor things). Laundry room trash is mostly dryer lint, which won't start smelling if you neglect to empty it. Save yourself the trouble of emptying the trash frequently by using a larger trash recepticle.

Plenty of extra trash bags. You shouldn't have to fetch them from a distant stash very often.

A pair of scissors to snip loose threads and remove tags from new clothing.

Small containers (one for each member of the family) to collect things found in pockets.

Well, maybe the ironing board cover is more urgent than I thought. . . .

See Challenge: Do Something Laundryish for the background to this post.

My ironing board cover does have a hole in it but I can live with that. Yesterday, though, I was cutting out a baby item on it and layed the fabric out over the hole (I usually try to avoid it if I can but sometimes I forget).

As I cut around that end of the pattern piece I knew I had to be careful around the hole. I thought I made it okay but then the fabric felt a little thicker than before. . . . Yep. When I lifted up the piece to check, there was a neat little cut!


I had better be extra careful from now on or I will need a new cover long before I am able to make one!

Challenge: Do Something Laundryish

Anything. Well, anything outside your normal routine!

It might be cleaning (the laundry room), organizing (the laundry room), mending, stain removal, putting up a clothes line, sewing (clothespin bag, ironing board cover, etc.), decorating (the laundry room, of course), reading (about the subject, naturally), making laundry soap, or laundry itself. Or maybe something else I haven't thought of. It just needs to be in keeping with this month's theme of laundering!

Anybody can do this, even little girls!

I may be cleaning in the laundry room (I'm the family laundress). It needs major help. Not very interesting but it needs to be done! I will be glad when the extra stuff gets moved out of the laundry room and I can have my space back. Ah, well, we can't always have fun (but just because I'm not having fun doesn't mean you can't!).

Please share what you have done (or a part of it) as well as some of the things you plan to do in the future. You may share in the comments or leave directions to your blog posts.

June, 2010 Scripture of the Month

If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

~ 1 John 1:9 

~~~~~~~
P.S. Due to unforeseen circumstances I don't think I will be able to post as much as I intended to this month (or even all summer). I hope to get in at least a couple of posts a week, though.

Do You Sew, Crochet, or Cross Stitch?

Yes? Then check this out!

Summer pattern sale at Keeping Home! All sewing patterns, crochet patterns, and cross-stitch charts , including pattern books and booklets, up to 40% off now through June 30, 2010. While supplies last. Sale applies to new and restocked patterns and charts.

Please note that because of this sale I will not post a special Hope Chest coupon code for June.  

This Month's Theme (June, 2010)

The theme for June is . . .

Laundering!

Reality Check: Do You Have a Mother's Heart?

Think about what a mother means to you. What is her heart like? What is so special about her?

What was or is so wonderful about your mother as a mother? Or, what wasn't or isn't wonderful about her? What's missing that to you means “mother”?

Do YOU have a mother's heart?

More Gardening Resources ~ Plant Societies

Here are some plant societies I've found. I wish I had time to go visit them all too!

Official Site of the American Dahlia Society – Home

NAGC - North American Gladiolus Council

AIS: American Iris Society website

American Peony Society

American Daffodil Society

Gardening Resources: a few selections from my bookmarks

Garden Watchdog: The Garden Watchdog Guide to Gardening by Mail

http://www.finegardening.com

Bluestone Perennials, Inc 

Brent and Becky's Bulbs

Territorial Seed - Vegetable and Flower Seeds at Territorial Seed Company

Womanhood Challenge of the Month: May 2010

This month's womanhood challenge is to cultivate yourself. This isn't a contrast to May's Girlhood Challenge to let God garden your heart, it's just a different way of applying to concept of gardening to oneself.

Have you ever thought about cultivating yourself? Do you watch how you grow?

Do you weed your heart, your mind, your life of things that don't belong in it and choke out the good stuff?

Do you provide yourself with plenty of light?

Is the place you are planted good for you and meeting your needs? If not, can you amend that soil or at least give yourself some extra food somehow?

Do you protect yourself from predators (outside influences that may harm you) and diseases (inside conditions that will hurt you)?

Do you get enough water ~ literally (your body and brain won't work their best if you don't get enough water, which most people don't) and figuratively (the water of life)?

If you have carefully studied these questions and answered them, and carefully considered the answers you gave, you've met the challenge!

No Time to Write!

I've been "spring flinging" most of the day.

No brains to write either. The mess saps my creativity, energy, and focus. Things are much, much better now. I already feel smarter. :-) Well, maybe not, but I do feel more relaxed!

See you next week!

Wordless Wednesday: Wee Little Corn Plant

Scripture of the Month: May, 2010

And the LORD God took the man, 

and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  

~ Genesis 2:15

Reality Check: If You Were a Garden

If you were a garden, what kind of garden would you be?

Would you be a a welcome, restful retreat?

Would you be a colorful cottage garden ~ casual, friendly, and full of surprises?

Would you be a formal garden ~ symmetrical, predictable, sophisticated, regal?

Would you be sunny, cheerful, and fragrant?

Would you be chaotic, a catchall of color and form?

Full of weeds, briers, and thistles?

Would your plants be diseased and bug-eaten?

Think of yourself as a garden. What kind would you be in terms of your temperament, personality, character, appearance, manners, association with others, activities, behavior, etc. How would you describe yourself, as a garden?

If you were a garden what experience would others (including God) have as they visited your garden? Would you be ashamed to have others visit this garden ~ and inspect it closely?

Grab a few gardening books (with lots of pictures), or go walking through some gardens, and look at yourself while you look at them.

Think about this too: what kind of garden would you like to be?

Wordless Wednesday: Country Scene

What Will You Want to Have Done?

Think about this: if you someday get married and have a home of your own, what would you want to have done before that time?

What experience or experiences would you want to have had, for example, in homemaking, caring for the sick, child-care, cooking, sewing, or gardening?

What Skills Will You Want to Have?

Think about this: if you someday get married and have a home of your own, what would you want to be able to do at that time?

What skills would you want to have, for example, in housekeeping, caring for the sick, cooking, sewing, needlework, time management, or gardening?

What Will You Want to Know?

Think about this: if you someday get married and have a home of your own, what would you want to know at that time?

What knowledge would you want to have about, for example, homemaking, health, child-rearing, cooking, sewing, or money management?

Girlhood Challenge of the Month: May, 2010

Let God garden your heart. Let Him weed out the things He doesn't like. Let Him shine into your heart with His light and love.

The challenge this month is to choose to let Him do this and then ask Him to do it.

This is a very personal thing so I don't expect you to share your prayer or what you prayed for specifically, but you may share that you did it.

And ladies, this is a good idea for all of us too!

This Month's Theme: May, 2010

This month's theme is Gardening!

You don't have to be a gardener to appreciate it though, so stop by even if you don't have a teaspoon of dirt to your name.

Wordless Wednesday: Apple Tree in Bud

P.S. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. See what the apple trees look like now here: http://www.keeping-home.com/blog/?p=575

I've Been "Flinging" Today

Have you?

My sewing table looks better (I can see it). I've gotten rid of some clothing I will never wear, tossed a few others things, and more.

I can't say that I'm done though. I'll be at it tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. My to do list needs some attention too. :-)

Meeting the April Motherhood Challenge, part 2

So, what am I doing for points #1 and #2. I don't know. It's always easier to just challenge other people and let oneself off. *smile* Let's see what I can do

#1 We can clean up our bodies. We may be clean on the outside but maybe not on the inside! We might have too much cholesterol, too much sugar in our blood, or a variety of toxins in our bodies, for example. Or we might have health conditions that could be reversed or completely removed from our bodies if we made some changes in our lifestyles.

Hmmm. . .
. . . Hmmm. This is hard! Nothing is jumping out at me. Oh, I thought of something . . . but I'm going to keep it to myself (that's certainly allowable!).

#2 We can clean up our habits or our lifestyle. We may need to change some of our habits that have put us into a diseased condition or are moving our bodies in that direction, or perhaps have made us physically weak. We may need to increase exercise and “clean out” inactivity from our life., for example.

Physical fitness. No question about this one!

I have been working in the garden nearly every day with good weather. My back is complaining a bit about the load I put on it forking weeds out of the ground. It will recover though, and, hopefully, get stronger.

I need to work, particularly, back strengthening and arm strengthening into my routine, whether through work or exercise. This is going to be a hard clean-up operation, I'm afraid, because, obviously, my ordinary routine, no matter how much physical work I'm doing, just isn't giving me the strength I need. You know what that means? CHANGE!

Meeting the April Motherhood Challenge

Specific things I'm doing . . .

For area #3 The Diet I'm eating more vegetables. As a vegetarian I eat plenty of vegetation but it is in the form of beans, grains, and grain products more often than it should be and in the form of fruits and veggies less often than it should be. I'm working on vegetables right now. I've been eat lots of cabbage lately!

For area #4 The Environment my focus has been fresh air. My brain and body work so much better when I get enough fresh air. Sometimes it's a bit hard to get to my bedroom windows to regulate the air flow (and I can't just leave them open because it isn't warm enough consistently yet). My project (which took me only a few seconds to do!) was to move some stuff that had fallen in the floor in front of one of my windows that was making it harder to get to the window to open and close it. Such a simple thing. lol Sometimes the things we need to do ARE simple.

Still need to do something for those other two areas before then end of the month.

Wordless Wednesday: Peach Blossoms in the Sky

Womanhood and Girlhood Challenges of the Month: April, 2010

Due to the lateness in the month, April's challenge is going to be very small and easy. Quite simply, rejoice in the LORD.

And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house. . . ~ Deuteronomy 26:11

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~ Psalms 28:7

Take a moment to express your praise and thanksgiving to God for anything that comes to mind, in any way that suits you.

Please share what you have done (or a part of it). You may share in the comments or leave directions to your blog posts. You may also share your praise and thanksgiving itself in the comments if you wish.

Motherhood Challenge of the Month: April 2010

This month's motherhood challenge has to do with spring cleaning ~ spring cleaning our bodies, that is, or our physical health. The goal is to put our bodies in better health in order to make us better prepared for motherhood.

So how can we “spring clean” our physical health?

#1 We can clean up our bodies. We may be clean on the outside but maybe not on the inside! We might have too much cholesterol, too much sugar in our blood, or a virety of toxins in our bodies, for example. Or we might have health conditions that could be reversed or completely removed from our bodies if we made some changes in our lifestyles.

#2 We can clean up our habits or our lifestyle. We may need to change some of our habits that have put us into a diseased condition or are moving our bodies in that direction, or perhaps have made us physically weak. We may need to increase exercise and “clean out” inactivity from our life., for example.

#3 We can clean up our diet. That is, what we eat and drink, and how we eat and drink it. Can you think of any eating habits in your life that aren't exactly what they should be? Is it time to toss something out?

#4 We can clean up our environment. I don't mean “the environment” but our own personal environment: our home, the environment that surrounds the home in which we choose to live, and the places we choose to work and to go for whatever reason.

To meet this challenge:

Firstly, look at the above four points and brainstorm some ways in which you need to clean up for each separate area.

Secondly, make some research goals ~ several items you want to know more about or areas in which you want to learn more about what kind of cleaning up you might need to do. These goals should be planned for the next few months.

Thirdly, make some goals for how to continue to clean up after this challenge is over. Focus on one or two very high priority clean ups.

Fourthly, do at least one specific thing to spring clean your physical health in each of the four areas: your body, your lifestyle, your diet, and your environment.

Fifthly, please share what you have done (or a part of it) as well as some of the things you plan to do in the futu

Wordless Wednesday: I Can't Help Loving Dafodils!

Keeping Home Newsletter and Drawing for Gift Certificate

Keeping Home (the "parent" of The Hope Chest) is starting a free e-newsletter. You can find out more about it here.  As my post title suggests, you get entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate to the store when you sign up.

The Great Spring Fling!

Okay, I hope I'm back now. As soon as I got over being sick, a good chunk of my time was sucked up by a church project that is going on all week. It's a very worthy project but The Hope Chest is suffering because of it. :-)

The Great Spring Fling is a get organized challenge. Fling away the clutter!

Throw away your trash. Give away or sell things you don't need anymore. Return borrowed items to their owners.

This challenge also applies to any stuff that is out of place in your home. Maybe your clutter is stuff that you use (or would use if you could find it) but it's out of place either because you didn't put it away or because it doesn't have a good home.

If things are mixed up within your spaces (bedroom, bathroom, closet, sewing room, etc.), “fling” everything into it proper home. If things don't have a proper home yet, see if you can find one.

Dirt, dust, soap scum, and other junk and gunk are included!

What about items that have been hanging around your to do list for way too long? Or unfinished projects? Or anything you have been meaning to do for a long time? This challenge is about those things too!

So for the next month and a half (until the end of May) let's fling away the clutter, whethers it's physical clutter, mental clutter, or even emotional clutter.

Share what you are doing to meet the challenge. You can share in the comments or leave directions to your blog posts.

Thought for the Week: Trust In the LORD

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; 
and lean not unto thine own understanding. 
In all thy ways acknowledge him, 
and he shall direct thy paths. 
~ Proverbs 3:5-6

You Can Do It!

You can learn to garden. You can learn to sew. You can learn all those other things you need and want to know how to do.

Go read this post by Olivia over at Teaching Good Things. That is your assignment for today. :-)

Wordless Wednesday: Double Dafodil

With others in the background.

April 2010 Scripture of the Month

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

~ Philippians 4:4

This month. . . 

Let us rejoice in the LORD Himself.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. ~ Deuteronomy 6:5

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 9:23-24

Let us rejoice in His comfort, His peace, and His guidance through the difficulties of this life.

. . . for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ~ Hebrews 13:5

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. ~ Psalms 28:7

Let us rejoice in His salvation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ~ John 3:16

Let us rejoice in His promises of good things to come and to "wipe away all tears" from our eyes.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ~ 1 Corinthians 2:9

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ~ Revelation 21:4

Let us rejoice in the good things God gives us along the way. 

Although we cannot have every blessing we might wish for and although trials must come, I believe that God delights in making things as nice for us as He possibly can under the circumstances. The circumstances of this life are pretty rotten overall, but that's no reason to ignore all the wonderful blessings God manages to give us. Let's rejoice in His gifts and in the One Who gave them. 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights . . . ~James 1:17

And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house. . . ~ Deuteronomy 26:11

Theme for April, 2010

This month's theme is. . .

Spring!

Let's enjoy this wonderful season while we learn and grow this month!


Here's a springy picture for you. It's the inside of a white hellebore.

Just a little note . . .

I have been sick lately, and although I'm on the mend I'm still tired. My Internet connection is being especially slow too. As a result, the transition into April's theme is going to be a bit slow also. Thank you for your patience!


~ Hopeful

Thoughts from Yesteryear: No small thing

It is no small thing to stand at the head of affairs, and be the motive power on which depend the welfare and credit, the health, temper and spirit of the whole family. A late breakfast sends father and brothers to business with the whole day thrown out of shape ; a poor meal leaves all the family to work or study without proper supplies to work upon, and they will feel weak, nervous and lacking in energy, perhaps in some vital crisis like that which found Napoleon at a memorable battle. ~ Anna Maria's House Keeping by Mrs. S. D. Power, page 23.

Is a Hope Chest Practical?

Is a Hope Chest Practical?

I think it can be. Or it might not be.

One factor that determines its practicality is the woman who possesses it.

One argument against its practicality might be that it doesn't make sense to store things in a hope chest waiting for some phase of your life which may or may not come, while you need those very items to establish your own household now. Why save all the pretties for later?

But not every woman establishes her own household before she is married. Many women choose to stay with their parents until they are married. For those who leave home before they are married a hope chest may not be practical.

Another factor that determines whether or not a hope chest is practical is what kind of hope chest it is. A traditional hope chest may not meet your needs and if it doesn't it isn't practical for you.

Some women, for example, might only want to collect dishware and feel perfectly free to use it in the mean time if they want to. While that isn't traditional, it may be practical. If you need to be untraditional with it in order to make it practical, that's okay. It is possible to keep the spirit of the hope chest while doing this.

Wordless Wednesday: Awaiting the Mushrooms

Thoughts from Yesteryear: Practice, Practice!

Excellence in the art of cookery, as in all other things, is only attainable by practice and experience. In proportion, therefore, to the opportunities which a cook has had of these, so will be his excellence in the art.  ~ Chapter 4 (#78) of The Book of Household Management by Mrs. Isabella Beeton (1861).

I Am a Woman

I wrote this "Anti-feminist Manifesto in 2007. I can't remember if I posted it here or not, but it has not been recently if I did. Sometimes it makes me gulp when I read it ~ especially that last line ~ and remember exactly what it is I stand for. It keeps me on track. :-) Perhaps it will bless you too!

I Am a Woman

Finding Recipes: More Recipe Links

Cooking Light
 

Vegetarian Times 

Better Homes and Gardens 

Vegan Cooking 

RecipeArchive

Have fun! :-) 

Sewing Tutorial

I just posted a tutorial on my other blog: Using Fabrics with Picks, Stains, and Other Flaws. If you have some less than perfect fabric you'd still like to use, check it out!

Wordless Wednesday: Daylily "Cabbage Flower"

 

Photo from Laurel Hill Nursery, LLC. Used by permission.  

The Menu Designer

This is a tool I have found useful in my own preparation and so I thought I would share it with you.

This chart helps you plan potential menus, test them, and then record your conclusions about them. The .pdf file includes further instructions.

Menu Designer

A few terms of use:
Please do not share this file or share printed copies outside of your immediate family.

Please do not direct link to the file. If you want to tell someone else about it, please link to this post.

If you download it, please leave me a note that you did. Thank you!

PS: the graphics are by www.patswebgraphics.com. If you like them, you should pay her a visit. She makes web graphics and some print quality graphics too. They are just beautiful!

Building a Recipe Collection

You could, I suppose, simply collect any and all recipes that sound interesting. I have a better idea, though!

This is the way I do it: I am building a personal collection of recipes of things I would want to be able to cook and I only put recipes in my final collection that I know how to make. I am combining the building of my recipe collection with gaining cooking skills. My collection will represent what I know I can cook, not just a lot of possibilities!

I will probably eventually put my recipes into a binder. For now they are in a computer file. If you prefer recipe cards, you could get a small file box and some recipe cards. Then, whenever you “conquer” a favorite recipe or test a new one enough to know you want to keep it and can do it, you could write out that recipe card.

A good place to start with your recipe collection would be to make a list of all your family's favorite recipes. Check off the ones you are sure you can make successfully on your own. Then systematically work through trying the recipes you didn't check.

I'm far behind where I should be in doing this. Anyone want to challenge me to conquer at least one more recipe before the month is over? I would say “challenge me to a duel” but some of you might be able to do a lot of cooking in the next two weeks and I don't think I will be able to manage more than one or two new recipes!

Thoughts from Yesteryear: One of the Most Essential Pieces of Cooking Knowledge

To be acquanted with the periods when things are in season, is one of the most essential pieces of knowledge which enter into the “Art of Cookery.” ~ Chapter 3 (#74) of The Book of Household Management by Mrs. Isabella Beeton (1861)

Finding Recipes: Recipe Links

Cooking.com

Taste of Home

Cooking for Two

Recipe Zaar

AllRecipes.com

Fun Food Fabrics

For all you fabric lovers!

From Robert Kaufman 

Modern and fruity Metro Market

This collection isn't my style but I do like this one.  

Fruit Basket

I like this one and this one the best.


From Benartex

An Apple a Day

It's near the top of the list.

From Timeless Treasures

Farm Fresh

You will need to search for the collection.

From Red Rooster Fabrics

Harvest Town

From South Sea Imports

Apple Harvest

First Course

Enjoy! 

My First Regency Gown: Installment #5

I'm eager to sew (and get the final product) but I've got to get it right first! 

I've been making pattern alterations this week. I think the reason I kept avoiding working on this project was that I thought these alterations would be difficult. I was right!

Firstly, I'm using the neckline supplement because the regular neckline is too low for me (or at least seemed to be based on my muslin). I'm trying the high, ungathered neckline. The “instructions for modifying the original pattern” are, in my opinion, more like “a few comments on the subject,” not instructions.

The pattern pieces for the supplement are also confusing and not clearly marked. Detailed, step-by-step instructions are needed here. Be prepared to be confused at first, but if you pay close attention to “these guides are meant to be used as overlays” from the beginning that will help. I think I halfway missed that originally which only added to my confusion. You'll want to figure out what all those unlabeled lines on the supplements mean before you trace.

Second, I needed to lenghten the bodice. I thought I read somewhere for a more modern empire waist to lengthen the bodice 2” all around the bottom edge. The pattern doesn't have any instructions about how to do this and doesn't even have this note. I lengthened each of my bodice pieces at the bottom edge as best I could (it wasn't perfectly clear to me how to do that with curved pieces). That isn't the usual place to lengthen pattern pieces.

I was very concerned about this method of alteration so I looked on the pattern website's “Sewing Tips” page. No comments there about lowering the empire waist, this way or any other. So, I'm torn. Do I try it this way (I'll be making a muslin) or do I back up and lengthen the bodice pieces the usual way (by slashing them and inserting the extra length)? Or both ~ two inches at the bottom to extend the bodice and one inch in the bodice to accomodate my long torso. Hmmmm.

Motherhood Challenge of the Month: March 2010

The Motherhood Challenge of the Month is designed to help us prepare to be excellent mothers.

If you were a mother, would you be a mother just like every other mother?

And be not conformed to this world: 
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. . . . 
~Romans 12:2 (first part)

Would the nature of your motherhood be conformed to this world?

Renew your mind on the subject of motherhood. What it means to be a mother. What mothers do and don't do. Be transformed into a different kind of mother, not one that is knowingly or unknowingly conformed to the world.

I just realized this is a huge topic. I'm going to let my readers take it pretty much any direction they want to, within a few guidelines.

Firstly, I'd like you to look at whether or not your thinking on motherhood is conformed to the world. What is “worldy mothering”? How does your society and the mothers in it view motherhood, do motherhood, understand motherhood? What do they expect from mothers (including themselves)? How do/should mothers relate to their children? What do they do for their children? What does the mother's job consist of? What elements of motherhood that you typically see in the world have you adopted and are these ideas biblical, accurate, beneficial, practical? What ideas about motherhood have you chosen and what ideas have you picked up from those around you by default (where did you get them?)?

Secondly, What does motherhood mean to you? I'm not looking for dictionary or scientific definitions here. *smile* What does it really mean to you?

Do you think it would be different if you lived in a different historical setting? That question might be fun to play with!

Is this meaning consistent with what you came up with in step one, as you looked at your ideas about motherhood and how it should be carried out? If not, what are the differences?

Regardless of your ideas and ideals, what kind of mother do you think you would really be?

Thirdly, in addition to looking into the above questions, do something this month to renew your mind on the subject of motherhood, separate from the world (undo your previous conforming) in the area of motherhood, and/or work toward making your ideas and ideals a reality in your life (that is, do something that will bring you closer to being the woman who would be the kind of mother you think you ought to be).

Finally, please share what you've done this month to meet this challenge. You may share in the comments or leave directions to your blog posts.

Girlhood Challenge of the Month: March 2010

The girlhood challenge of the month is similar to the womanhood challenge of the month but is designed for girls under eighteen years (whereas the womanhood challenge is for about mid-teens and upward). It doesn't really have a lower limit so if you are a mom or big sister you can help your young daughter or sister meet the challenge if you'd like to.


This month's challenge is about cooking and has four parts.


#1 Choose to learn to cook. Choose to become a good cook, starting now, and to, throughout your life, lovingly, faithfully, and cheerfully prepare and serve satisfying and healthful meals (although not necessarily fancy ones) for your family. Your attitude toward cooking and toward those you cook for is more important than your actual cooking skills. Your comittment to becoming a good cook has nothing to do with whatever interest you may or may not have in cooking.


#2 With your mother (or whoever is in charge of you and of cooking), make a plan for how you can take a regular part in planning, preparing, serving, and cleaning up after meals (this is obviously a very small part for little girls!).

#3 Cook something this month. It doesn't have to involve actual cooking or baking, but it does have to involve the preparation or serving of food. Choose something appropriate for your skills and abilities. Little girls may just learn to make toast (in a toaster) or stir food without spilling it. Older girls and teenagers, however, should be able to do more even if they have no real cooking experience.


#4 Share what you are doing to meet the challenge. You can share in the comments or leave directions to your blog posts.

Womanhood Challenge of the Month: March 2010

Choose to live healthfully, and particularly in what you eat and drink. 

Why? Here are a few reasons.

#1: Your body belongs to God. If you intentionally hurt it you are damaging God's property.

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

~ 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 20 

#2: It's your "reasonable service".

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
~Romans 12:1 

Notice it says living sacrifice. Not one your personal habits have made sickly and half dead. You may not have perfect health in this world, but give God your best.

#3: Thou shalt not murder. That includes yourself.

#4: Thou shalt not steal. When you abuse your body you rob your family of your service and maybe even yourself. You also rob God.

#5 A lifestyle of self-gratification is degrading to womanhood. Satisfying one's wants is a good thing, within reason. Making the satisfaction of one's desires paramount is disgraceful and beneath the dignity of a true woman of God.

#6 The results of an unhealthful lifestyle interfere with a woman's ability to do what she has been called to do.

The challenge? 

Choose to live a healthful lifestyle. For God. For your family. For yourself. For your future family.

In particular, choose to eat and drink healthfully.

Do something this month to improve your eating and drinking habits.

Do something this month to set the stage for further improvement, or for the maintenance of good health practices, in eating and drinking.

Share what you are doing to meet the challenge. You may share here or leave directions to your blog posts.

March 2010 Scripture of the Month

. . . Let us not be weary in well doing . . .

~ Galatians 6:9

Let's face it, shall we? It is easy to get weary with the responsibility of cooking. Even if we like cooking it gets old. We're tired. We'd like to do something else for a change.

Don't. You may be weary of it but don't allow yourself to be so weary that you don't do it or that you do a bad job. Just keep cooking . . . cheerfully.

Psst Again . . .

The new coupon code is up in the sidebar!

Thoughts from Yesteryear: Good Food Isn't Everything!

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. ~ Proverbs 17:1

What Happened?

I haven't posted much in the cooking department this week, have I? We had a funeral in our church/family this week, which ate up Tuesday and Wednesday. The only "work" I did was sending an order. Certainly no blogging! I wanted to spend the time I was at home with our visiting family.

But Thursday, on the other hand . . . . What's my excuse? I must confess that I have spent most of the day playing with my new file cabinet. *grin* In the process, I found my desk again so maybe I can work more efficiently now. I am SO thankful for this (free) file cabinet! I was really tired of "papers, papers everywhere, and I can't find what I need!"

I will be back before the end of March. Maybe even tomorrow.

Wordless Wednesday: Yummy Daylily

Photo of daylily "Decatur Cherry Smash" from Laurel Hill Nursery, LLC. Used by permission.

March, 2010 Theme

Welcome to March!

This month's theme is . . .

Cooking! 

Learning how to cook is absolutely necessary and sometimes fun (at least I'm going to try to make it fun this month here at The Hope Chest).

Join me, and call your friends!

Thoughts From Yesteryear: Luxurious Food Isn't Everything!

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. ~ Proverbs 15:17 

Psst . . .

I've added a section in the sidebar called "Specials at Keeping Home". Here you'll find any current specials at my online shop that relate to the month's theme in some way. And maybe some that don't.

You'll also find special deals just for readers of The Hope Chest. There's one there now. Shh. Don't tell anybody. *grin* Actually, go ahead and tell as many people as you want to, just send them here to get the coupon code, okay?

The Hope Chest Binder

A little tour of my hope chest binder. Here's the front cover.

  

Each section has a title page.

In one section I have several wardrobe pages, including page protectors with catalog clippings of clothing I like. These are for inspiration.

 

This section also includes a wardrobe inventory, which I have yet to finish.

And that's all for now. I'm not sharing more because the binder is based on a book I'm writing and I'm not ready to share those things yet. I do hope to add a few more things next month (and take some pictures to share) in keeping with next month's theme. 

Wordless Wednesday: Amazing Snow!

What I've Been Doing Instead of Working On . . .

. . . my first Regency Gown.

 

Fitted sheet and pillowcase 

  

Baby blanket and two scarves. 

 

Baby blanket, four scarves, and two bags.

 

Pillowcase 

  

Shower curtain. 

 

See? I have an excuse!

Thoughts from Yesteryear: Be Careful Who You Marry!

If a man purchases a house, he inquires about its situation, whether he can secure a perfect title, the cost of the property, and whether it is adapted to his needs; yet a man and woman unite their interests in marriage without serious reflection as to whether they are adapted to each other, or whether their union will prove a blessing or a curse. Surely more foresight and good judgment should be used in such a choice than in a business transaction.

~ The Real Home, pages 18-19. Mrs. Vesta J. Farnsworth. 

Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, CA, 1923.

Recent Projects: GIft bags

A couple of little gift bags I made recently from Kwik Sew 3404 ~ not that you necessarily must have a commercial pattern to make a simple little gift bag, but I am working on making shop samples from this pattern. This was the easiest of all the projects so a good first!   

Wordless Wednesday: Daylily "Big Kiss"

 

Photo from Laurel Hill Nursery, LLC. Used by permission. 

Don't Marry That Guy If . . .

. . . you wouldn't want him for a roommate.

. . . you wouldn't want him for a neighbor.

. . . you wouldn't want to be his sister.

. . . you wouldn't want to be his mother.

. . . you wouldn't want to be his daughter.

. . . you wouldn't want him for a co-worker.

. . . you wouldn't want to work for him.

. . . you wouldn't want him for a nurse.

. . . you wouldn't want to be dependent on him.

Thoughts from Yesteryear: The Decision to Marry

A man uses great care in selecting a partner in business. If he wishes to purchase a jewel, he takes more time to examine the gem than the casket that contains it. A partnership in business can easily be dissolved. A precious stone may be exchanged or sold. But how much more care is necessary in selecting a companion for life, one concerned not in business only, but in every relation and interest as long as both shall live!

~ The Real Home, page 18. Mrs. Vesta J. Farnsworth. 

Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, CA, 1923.

What Is a Hope Chest?

A hope chest is a storage chest in which an unmarried woman stores items for her future "hoped for" marriage. The items may be made by herself, given to her, or purchased. Parents may also start hope chests for their daughters.

A hope chest is not so much an object as it is the purpose for which an object is used. If a woman is saving items for her future marriage, she has a hope chest even if she does not have a literal chest to store things in.

A chest, wooden or otherwise, is not a hope chest unless it serves this purpose. It either needs to have been a hope chest (such as your grandmother's), be a hope chest now (such as yours or your daughter's), or be reserved to become a hope chest in the future, in order to be accurately called a hope chest. Otherwise it's just a chest. *



* A woman hoping to be a mother or a grandmother may also have a "hope chest" of sorts for the storage of items for hoped for babies.

Wordless Wednesday: Daylily "Forever Loving You"

Photo from Laurel Hill Nursery, LLC. Used by permission.  

Womanhood Challenge of the Month: Read the Bible!

If you have never read the entire Bible, I challenge you to do so starting this month. If you have read it before, read it again!

• You don't have to read it entirely through in a year. I personally don't like that way of doing it because I want time to absorb what I'm reading and benefit from it. I can't do that on four chapters a day! 
• But if four chapters a day suits you, go for it. Many people like to read three chapters from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament each day. Remember that you only need to read an average of four chapters each day. You could read fewer on some days and more on others. 
• Straight through from Genesis to Revelation isn't the only way to read it, although it's a good way if you're just getting to know the Bible. I've heard of a lot of people getting bogged down (usually in Leviticus!) so it might not be the best way for you. 
• You could read a portion from the OT and one from the NT each day.
• Read the books in chronological order. The books of the Bible aren't in the order they were written. They're grouped in categories like history, prophecies, the gospels, the epistles, etc. If you can figure out the historical context of each (or get a chronological Bible) you can read them in order, which may be especially helpful if you're new to Biblical chronology. 
• Another way to read the Bible is book by book in any order you please. Just take your pick, read it, and check it off in the front of your Bible (if it has a list of the books). You don't even have to read each book in its entirety before switching to another one. Maybe you feel like Genesis one day, John the next, and then the Psalms. No problem, as long as you have a way of keeping track of which chapters you've read!

However you choose to read the Bible, just read it!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God [and that means you too] may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 

                                                     ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Romantic Fabric Collections

For your browsing pleasure!

I like to window shop fabrics, particularly full collections of coordinating fabrics (I'd like to do more than window shop, but . . . .). I used to do it before our dial-up connection slowed down to near-sloth speed. No more.

I did, however, put together a list of collections that those of you with reasonable speed can enjoy! I had to be content with the main page of each one ~ no looking at each fabric for me (that would take all day and all night!).

Cottage Romance (Maywood Studio)

Return to Romance (Maywood Studio)

Sweet Love (Maywood Studio)

Sent With Love (Moda)

With Love (In the Beginning)

Thoughts from Yesteryear: Set an Inviting Table

The dining table should be inviting at every meal. Such a table is not necessarily a luxurious table. Tables set with inexpensive dishes may be charming

~ Your Home and You: Unit Course In Home Economics. 

Page 296. Carlotta C. Greer. Allyn and Bacon, 1944.

Recent Projects: The Apron

This apron is Kwik Sew 3480. It's a Kwik Start pattern ~ especially designed for beginners.
 

More pictures and information in my sample gallery!

Scripture of the Month: February 2010

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.  ~ James 1:5 

So, what does wisdom have to do with Love and Romance (this month's theme)? A lot!

You need wisdom.

You lack wisdom (no matter how wise you are).

Handling love and romance foolishly (and foolishly is the opposite of wisely) will cause you a lot of discomfort, embarassment, regret, pain, guilt (both the feelings and the actual condition of guilt), sorrow, heartbreak, difficulty, etc., and even if you don't care, it will hurt someone else (and God).

Ask.

And then when it is given (and it surely will if you believe), take it.


P.S.: Read the book of Proverbs. :-)
 
~~~~~
How can you apply this Scripture of the month to your life this February, whether along the lines of this month's theme or not?

Shaped Breads Step-by-step

I made my breads using my regular whole wheat bread recipe. Any yeast bread recipe should work. Actually the boxes for these pans say you can bake cakes in them too. So, probably just about anything would work!

Heart shaped baking pan.

 

Preparing the dough. I used half what I would have used for a loaf. I was just guessing because it had been a long time since I used these pans. Just experiment! If you put in too little you won't get a full loaf but it will still be usable. If you put in too much it will spill out one or both ends. The extras won't be pretty but they are still edible!

Roll the dough into a thin loaf. The roll needs to be smaller than the innermost points of the pan. This flower pan was easy but the star (see below) was a tighter fit. I had to roll it out to a much thinner roll. I sprayed the pans and both caps with cooking spray.

The bread in the pans!

Capped and ready to rise. Keep them upright. This is especially important if you underfill them. After rising, place them upright on a baking sheet. You may need to lower your oven rack so they will fit in the oven. The pans are easier to stand up on a baking sheet than on an oven rack. Also, if a pan falls over (which it may well do if it's too full and the dough pushes out the bottom), you won't have dough running out onto your oven rack.

Although, I don't suppose dough actually "runs" does it? What does it do? Well, anyway, you don't want it to come in direct contact with your oven rack.

Sometimes even if you don't overfill the pan it will ooze out the bottom a bit. A tight fitting cap on the bottom is helpful (I've found that some caps fit tighter than others ~ I'm not sure if that's the case with all such pans).

Also make sure the pan starts out standing perfectly upright in it's bottom cap. If it still overflows you might be able to prop the pan against the side of the oven. If that won't work, just bake it lying down. Bake slightly less than you would bake loaves, then check for doneness. Remember that the sides of the loaves will not be browned.

 

Above: this oozed out the bottom just a tiny bit!

Below: The bottom sliced off. 

When you remove loaves from the pans, place them upright on a cooling rack. If the bottom is uneven (like my star loaf) slice the end off so it will stand up. 

 

The finished product! Cute breads ready for spreads or sandwich fillings. 

Wordless Wednesday: Totally Sweet Dog

Isn't That Cute: Shaped Breads

First of all, I'm not a food photographer nor do I have a food photographer so please bear with my less-than-perfect photos!

Did you know you can make bread in heart and other shapes? These are perfect for mini sandwiches. Or, spread them with your favorite spread for a tasty appetizer.  

 

Look for shaped loaves among baking equipment. You might have to go to a specialty store. Mine (which really belong to my aunt) look like this.

Little sandwiches. 

I don't know how I managed to cut off part of the heart (and it was part of the show) without even realizing I did so. Told you I'm not a food photographer!

More samples! 

 

I learned how to apply a filling neatly. Use a teaspoon to spoon the filling into the center of the bread, then gently spread, or flatten, it out to the edges. This technique helps to prevent dropping bits of filling on the plate or smearing it on the edges of the slice of bread. 

  

Garnish each slice to make them look more "festive". I used dried herbs (because I didn't have anything else!). Dried herbs make a very quick garnish.

If you're using a spread, rather than a filling, start with a generous portion on your knife or spoon. Don't ever let it come in contact with the bread and you won't pick up any crumbs.

 

 

Tomorrow, look for my shaped breads step-by-step post.