A touch of Spring-time Beauty...and a recipe!

I've been enjoying researching more about Quince, as we have quite a few established shrubs near the running shed-- Right now they're in full bloom and it's lovely! I look forward to harvesting some fruit later this year! To encourage fruit, I decided to fertilize it naturally.
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Using Bananas as 'Fertilizer'

Bananas are rich in both phosphorus and potassium--these are important macro-nutrients plants need. After cutting/pruning the other surrounding trees back, I raked under the plants, then spread about 5-6 banana peels on the ground. Then I covered them up w/ leaves & dirt to start the de-composing process.

What to do with all those banana's?

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* Banana Bread *

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*2 large eggs (I used 3 medium)

*3/4 cup brown sugar

*1/2 cup oil

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*Then mix in (a heaping) 2 cups mashed bananas

Here's a trick: Using a blender, blend your bananas w/ a little milk until completely smooth before using in a recipe!!
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Separately, mix together: *2 cups flour, *1 tsp baking soda, *1/4 tsp salt.

Add to banana mixture

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For extra flavor, *1 tsp ground Cinnamon (!!)

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Pour in a lightly greased loaf pan or 9x13 casserole pan...Bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes (Or until completely done). This recipe can be easily doubled...That's what I'll do next time :)

ohh, this is so good, especially with hot tea *grin*

I do hope you'll try it!

Mother/Daughter Weekend

Our dear friends invited us to a local conference, and it was such a blessing for my family to spend the weekend in sweet fellowship at their lovely home! It was a delight to meet other like-minded ladies this weekend, along with quite a few blog readers--How wonderful!

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Crafts

They had tables set up for daughters

and Mothers to create notebooks together...

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Knitting needles and yarn was provided for

ladies to knit together during breaks!

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My sister taught a few girls how to crochet--that was such a sweet sight!

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It was so encouraging to hear scriptures on Biblical womanhood

& testimonies of Homemakers...

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An Old-fashioned Hairstyle

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1. Clip hair half up/down, then divide into two sections

2. Braid the two sections of hair

3. Starting from the right, guide braid over to the left,

so that the ends are being held in place, while it's pinned.

4. Do the same for the left side until secure.

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I thought this style was lovely, I had to share!

A Tea party!

At the closing of the conference,

all the ladies dressed up for an afternoon Tea :)

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It was a delightful time, and we all enjoyed the fellowship immensely!

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Busy in the kitchen...

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Edwardian Skirt (Finished!)

I love the simple style of the skirt, and have enjoyed wearing it all day! (I used the Butterick 3418 pattern, but constructed the waistband myself)

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Back

I'm still working on the closure {I used hook and eyes} but it will do for now!

ps) I'm wearing a hat of course :)

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(Paired with my jacket)
This was such a fun outfit to wear out at the grocery today! :) lol I can't imagine what they were thinking...

I'm inspired to continue to hand-sew though... It's fun to be able to work on a project while watching a family movie, or even whilst on the road during trips!

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Kindredly Yours,

Mia

Enjoying January

I'm hand-sewing another Edwardian skirt, but it has taken me longer than expected! It's almost finished though. I'm using the "oversewing stitch" for the bottom hem, plus, I want it to fasten with buttons, not a zipper...

The material is a smoky dark grey w/ a hint of plaid. It's a heavy wool/cotton blend..much more authentic than my last one! I bought it from the secondhand store in a bundle for $3.00--I think it's about 4-5 yds of fabric.

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When I recently helped out at a Historical Museum, I brought my skirt pieces along to sew as the tourists went through. It was a great opportunity to show the tourists an old-fashioned hand craft..it was nice to get some sewing done while interacting and answering questions of those who were interested!

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A snapshot of my garden area...it's 1/4 acre. My dad drove a huge trailer filled w/ year old manure up to the area, and I emptied the load myself...It was about 3,000 lbs! lol! It took me two days, but now all the beds are covered w/ about 3-4 inches.

(The grassy area is for the melons/pumpkins to spread)

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We all worked together to get my Mother's herb garden ready too.

Her kitchen garden will host a few vegetables as well...

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I did an experiment and sprouted some garlic for a few weeks, so a few days ago I put them in the garden...hopefully they'll make it!

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Organizing Seeds

I thought I'd show you how I organize my seeds! Well, I'll share a little history...

When I was in my pre-teens, I was really into the craze of collecting trading cards w/ my friends--I bought special clear pages to store all my cards in. When I recently came across these again, I thought this would be a great way to store seeds!

Each "card sleeve" holds a few packs of seeds, so it's much easier to visually find what I'm looking for. I keep the binder in a dark, cool place. I have both heirloom and traditional seeds.

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Second-Hand Treasures

I've had luck finding brooms lately! The one on the left is completely hand woven on the handle! It's 3' tall and I paid $0.25 for it! The one on the right is a few inches shorter, and I paid $0.50 for it. These are really helpful to keep in the corners of my bedroom to actually use, and as decor!
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I bought this oil lamp for $1.00. The handle is like an old-fashioned key, and it is in great condition! It was dusty in the corner of the store, and needed a home!!

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My sister shelling soybeans for lunch...

The tall grass in the back is our 2nd area for picking dewberries in the summer :)

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"By the breath of God ice is given,

And the broad waters are frozen" Job 37:10

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My Dad and sister in the kitchen,

adding fun ingredients to cookie dough..

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My Mother reading by candlelight...

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A new friend recently shared this verse with me:

'Tis the gift to be simple,

'tis the gift to be free,

'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Winter: A time to rest, learn and prepare

"Winter is the time for comfort -

it is the time for home." Edith Sitwell

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I've really been inspired to grow a large garden this year and do ALOT of canning & drying--I'm using this time to plan, prepare the ground, and read as much as I can on the subject!

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This book,"The Self-Sufficient Life and how to live it" by John Seymour is a wonderful read for the garden enthusiast. I recieved this book as a gift, and am really enjoying myself! The author truly lived a rugged, self-sufficient life, and shares so much knowledge on his experiences. My whole family is involved with drawing up plans for a productive heirloom veg. garden, orchard, and herb garden so we don't have to depend on the city grocery as much :)

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I didn't preserve much last year, but now I'm taking my time to mark our favorite foods, which of those grow in our region, and creating a space where we can grow it! Through my research, I've studied: Agriculture/Farming, Botany, Horticulture, Garden design , and History of heirlooms/genetics.

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Because I know we'll be doing alot of preserving, I've been using the past few weeks to collect canning jars. At SecondHand stores, I find most pints and quarts for 25-50 cents each. I have 50+ jars so far :) Keep your eyes on the lookout for them, I've found some great deals!

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This week I'll start pepper seeds indoors, so that they'll be transplant size by late March.

Following peppers will be tomato, squash and more!

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It's taken me a while to update because I've misplaced my USB cable -- So hopefully I'll find it soon so that I can post photo's! Once everything is settled, I'll be posting more regularly!

Keep warm!

*Mia

A memorable New Year celebration...

We celebrated the New Year by visiting new kindred spirits! A blogger family invited us to their home for New Years eve, and we were able to celebrate together!! It was so nice to meet them, and hope it won't be too long until we see their dear family again!

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Themed in the Regency period, we were able to dance a few dances from the era, and had so much fun! We taught them a dance as well, and it was nice that all the parents, sisters & brothers participated as well!
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Sisters

After we had refreshments, we all gathered into one of the rooms to play card games, sing & play guitar as we counted down the time until the 12th hour!
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I loved the dresses!

After celebrating the New Year (Greetings, 2010!), We all continued in edifying fellowship--It's always a blessing to be together with like-minded families!!

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New Years Morning

Aprons and scribbles

While we (the ladies) prepared breakfast, our parents were able to engage in wonderful fellowship...

Mothers discussing Homeschooling :)

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After Breakfast, we trekked through the woods, in search of the lake...

Exploring

"The shady trees cover him with their shadow;
the willows of the brook compass him about. " Job 40:22

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Perspective from the fishing dock...

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"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14

As a parting gift, I gave the family this oil lamp--Their gracious hospitality was a delight! We stayed until that afternoon, and it truly was a lovely time!

I'll try to post again in the next day or two :) Well, last year was certainly a blessing (especially being able to move out to the country), and I look forward to what the Lord has in store for 2010!

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How did you celebrate the New Year? (I'd love to know!)

A Season of Simplicity, Week Two

On the first day of Winter, we were met with a lovely surprise of snow! Although it only remained for the day, it was the perfect element to bring in the new season.

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While we read in the parlour, my brother did creative art...
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Inside, I'm rooting cuttings of butterfly bushes--In a day or two,

I'll plant them outside and see what happens!

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This is the time that we get flocks of migrating birds that fly through...it was a spectacular sight, especially when they traveled over the fields. They're so loud, we can hear them from inside the Cottage!

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Cooking by candlelight

I have been doing extra baking and cooking lately so that we could have a special Christmas Dinner. I prepared the meals ahead of time, so luckily all we had to do was warm up the dishes!

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I added pecans to mason jars to hold the candles steady...

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Mother gathering collard greens for dinner...

~Everyday I've been working to gather "stakes" for the garden(in the Spring). These dormant China berry branches will work great!

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Adding more to the messy collection...

ps)That's our vintage (1974) Airstream in the background.

I'll have to share more about it one of these days :)

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My brother helping me slice apples for tomorrow's pie

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A snapshot of my sister preparing an early breakfast...

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Christmas at the Cottage

"With Pomp, Power & Glory the world beckons vainly,

In chase of such vanities why should I roam?

While Peace & Content bless my little thatched cottage,

And warm my own hearth with the Treasures of Home."

*Beatrix Potter
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Taking an afternoon walk down the lane...

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On Pilgrimage: It was so quiet and still as we all walked together, it was brought up that we felt like we were on "Pilgrimage" (for our fellow Pilgrims Progress/Christiana readers )
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A lone puddle, formed by the winter rain

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Wagon (the cottage is in the background)
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We all enjoyed the temporary pond in the woods...

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New watercolor pencils...

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These crocheted hearts bear a "Fruit" of the spirit

From left: Faith, Hope, Love, Peace, Joy.

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100% cotton Crocheted washcloths

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*With Gentle gifts and Grateful hearts,

We live in Simple Ways*

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Christmas Sunset

This Season of Simplicity has been amazing...Here's what we learned:

Father: "This was an intentional way of spending good family time together. Candlelight made the mood more peaceful and I enjoyed watching the contentment of everyone. I realized how much of a blessing it is not to rely on outside forms of entertainment."

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Mother: "Without artificial lighting & entertainment, the atmosphere was beautiful, time moved slower, and we felt more relaxed. I found we gathered all together in a central location [most often the Parlour] where there was light and a heat source. So all of our evenings were spent in one room where there was pleasant conversation, singing, games and even hobbies--all done by Candlelight."

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My sister: "We don't need the outside stimulation of everything..being away from all the noise of the Season, Being with family made me realize how everyday matters. We read together, ate together, weren't separate in different activities."

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My brother: "We learned how to keep things very simple. How to do things if there wasn't any electricity...read and be a family. That's what I think."

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Myself: "During this Project, instead of using the Internet to research, I had to use our home library as my authority on the "outside world" lol! If I needed recipes, gardening info, or tips on sewing, I was in a state of constantly running to the bookshelf. I learned how important it is to have really good books!"

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To my Dear Readers,

I want to thank you for your "online friendship". Like many of you, as far as our area is concerned, we're alone in this [lifestyle] and we've made a transition to live in a simpler, back-to-basics way that doesn't seem to appeal to most. Y'all have been SO interested, and SO supportive and have asked the sweetest, and most sincere questions, that it has encouraged me more than I can express. Please continue to comment and email...each one is read and deeply appreciated!

Yours Kindredly,

*Mia

A Season of Simplicity, Week One

What a week!

It's truly been a blessing, I hope you enjoy a peek into the Cottage :)

During this week, the only electricity we used was for the Refrigerator and a few small space heaters. PS) We don't have central heating, lol!

It was a great experience for the family!

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Mother started Scrap booking...

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My sister playing the piano...

(we went without radio/tapes/Cd's, so this was extremely hard for my sister and I as we *love* music! We compromised by playing instruments, singing together, and writing songs!)

~There's a curtain that covers the computer area, so I didn't think about Blogging as much...out of sight, out of mind!! :)
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Natural decorations...

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Here I am journaling in the parlour...

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My sister preparing a dessert...

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Washed green beans

It was fun to snap the beans in the parlour while talking to my Mother and sister...it went much faster!

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My sister writing in her journal...
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After dinner, my sister and I put on a "concert" for the family...playing a few songs each before dessert was served.

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My Dad showed me the correct way to level/work the ground

before laying down mulch...

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The mulch was from a tree stump we're removing...I couldn't wait to put that out on the future garden area.

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Caught up on my baking...

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I made soda bread to serve garnished with egg salad

and fresh lettuce from the garden.

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While I finished up the bread and my sister made cookies, my Mother read aloud to us.

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Cookies!!

She made a large batch to save some for later...

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My brother worked with my Dad to seal in the back porch...

It's being set up as shelter for the animals on cold nights

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Playing cards...

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A parable come to life:

"Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps." Matthew 25:1-4

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We ran out of oil! It was a great time to make reference to that scripture of always being prepared! We (thankfully) have more oil now, but it was so convicting to realize, that without oil or sufficient candles, we're stuck!! :)
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It was so beautiful to literally be covered in fog!

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Down the lane...

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Cotton fields...

The cotton blows into the road, so we used some when decorating the parlour!

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Nearby creek...

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My brother, sister and I all went out to the woods to collect straw/mulch on the ground to lay over the garden soil...It was hard work because parts of the garden area are so saturated in rain water, that you can easily sink on a soft spot! Well, we did...frequently. We had some good laughs, though!

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Evening sky

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We have to make sure we prepare supper early, because when it gets dark (between 5-6pm) it's candle-light only! One night I made a late supper, and it was *so* frustrating searching through ALL the deep cabinets, holding a dripping candle, all in pursuit of a strainer! :)

But I found it. hehe

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Journal

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For a while I wasn't playing my guitar as often, but during this week I have! When you're left without an outside source of music, you quickly compose your own! :) A few nights ago, we were in the parlour, and I played guitar while each family member made-up a verse about living at the cottage! It was so much fun!! :)

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At the kitchen table...

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My sister took a walk through the property after the rain shower...

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My mother brought in sprigs of Cedar branches

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Later, she prepared hot tea...

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Dinner and a Board game

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When we're asked if we have a dishwasher, I point to myself and my sister and say, "We have two!" We're used to washing dishes the old-fashioned way!~

One of our favorite times is using the late night hours to read before retiring for the night. It's so quiet, and it's a wonderful time for reflection.~

Inspired by my Gardening magazines, I went out to the woods and "pruned" some trees to use as garden stakes! They're not exactly the size I wanted, but it's better than nothing! Hopefully I'll have a huge stack by Spring :)

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I'm so pleased to see that my strawberry plants are doing great! (I really let them run wild!)They've sent off many runners, so I'll grow some in the greenhouse soon.
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Mother writing in her notebook...

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SecondHand Treasure

I purchased this cute rocking chair for only $5! It's really heavy, but thats a good sign to me, it should last a while! Anyway, I thought you would like to see it, It's a new item for my hope-chest (not literally to go inside it, lol, it's for "later")

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Well, my sister and I have been working on a crochet project together this week...and it's finished today! Even though we didn't knit, I still love this above photo! :)
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1860's style Sontag

I'm pleased with how it turned out! Because it's crocheted it's *really* hard to find patterns (usually its knitted). We found a large (Womens size 16) and my sister studied the pattern, and converted it to my size (8/10) and changed a few things. At one point, it was too narrow, so we hard to start all over again!

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I'm wearing it right now :)

The sontag is very comfortable, perfect attire for daily wear or at (re-enacting) events!!

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Inspiration

Meg (on the far left) is wearing a sontag.

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I hope you enjoyed the update! I'll update again on December 26th!

*Mia

Natural Decorations...

To decorate for the season, we went outdoors in pursuit of inspiring, natural decor.

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My brother went ahead to look for any hints of color...

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These leaves and branches will look perfect on the fireplace mantel!
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My sister and brother... still searching for more decor...
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The weather was *very* windy and cold (I know my brother's wearing short-sleeves...but believe me there was a chill in the air!!)
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I wore a knit sweater and shawl, and was still cold!
Hmm, it's time for wool coats/dresses!
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We decorated the parlour & lit the candles just in time for a family who came over for dessert... We had a wonderful time sharing about our transition to the country life, the outrageous characters we meet in town, and my new interest in heirloom gardening! We had a lovely time :)
I'm looking forward to our December project (Dec 11-25) which starts tomorrow! I'll be off the internet, but our one free day will be the 19th, so I'll update you then!

Yours Kindredly,
*Mia

A lovely Monday

Now is the time for preserving Sweet potatoes! They're now 25-30 cents a pound, so we definitely took advantage of the sales and bought quite a bit! I'm really surprised at how easy it is to freeze potatoes:

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The first thing I did was fill a large kettle/pot with water to boil.

I peeled & chopped each potato into about 6 pieces

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Blanching

When the water is at a rolling boil, pour in raw potato slices

(I put in enough potatoes to fill 1/3 of pot)

Keep potatoes in water for 3 mins, then remove and place in a sink/bucket of clean, icy water

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(Blanching cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms, brightens the color and helps prevent loss of vitamins. It also softens vegetables and makes them easier to pack.)

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Then I finish up by packing into freezer bags, then storing in freezer until needed!
After freezing the potatoes, we all got ready for a Candlelit get-together with friends.
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My sister and I are working on a new project together...I'm really excited. I'll keep you in suspense until the 19th :) Ok, a hint is that it's an item of clothing.

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Beautiful table of 19th century confections.

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Hostess

Everyone dressed in 19th century style attire, so that made it extra special!!
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After the meal and delightful fellowship, we were invited to play an old-fashioned parlour game called "Questions and Answers". It was soo much fun! We also sang together...

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Ladies watching...
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Home crafts

Everyone learned how to make paper stars out of 4 strips of paper...

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Folding
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What a great project! It was fun to try Moravian stars for the first time :)

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Heartfelt testimonies were shared, and mutual gratefulness for each others friendship was a lovely feeling we parted with. There's just something special to come together as brothers and sisters in Christ, and delight in His blessings.

'And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.' Colossians 3:15

Preparing for a "Season of Simplicity"

(Picture is of our Backyard area)

A few months ago, I was inspired to participate in a "December Project" which basically is a time to pull away from the noisy distractions of the season, and focus on the Lord in the comfort of our home. I'm so excited, because as a family, we're going to use this time to *really* simplify!

December 11th-December 25th We're planning on:

*Strictly Candlelight/oil lamps only

*Television/Movie, radio & internet free

*No convenience foods/mixes

*No trips to the store/shopping

We're really looking forward to this, and I know it will be hard not to update my blog ;) I'll take pictures everyday though! Our one free day is Dec.19th, so that evening I'll give you a huge post!! :) We're all thinking of creative ideas for games, crafts, putting on a theatrical play, singing hymns, family devotions & reading...

If you have any electricity-free ideas, please comment!!

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Inspired by MaryJanes recipe for Homemade Crackers, I decided to give them a try!

First, I prepared my favorite No-mayo Spinach Dip recipe:

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Drain 10 oz. pkg of Chopped spinach...

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Add 8 oz. softened cream cheese...

Add 1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, and 1 cup sour cream. (I know, I know, triple threat!!)

1 Tbsp minced onion, 2 cloves garlic (crushed) , 1 tsp spicy mustard, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper

Combine ingredients, then put in crock-pot or on stove top until cheese melts. (Makes 4 cups)

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MaryJane's Basic Farmhouse Crackers

In Medium bowl combine:

1.5 cups flour, 3/4 tsp salt

(1.5 tsp cream of tartar, 3/4 tsp baking powder--I just used baking powder instead of tartar/soda)

Add 1/4 cup oil until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs

Pour in 1/2 cup water. Stir until dough forms

In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

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Roll out dough as thin as you'd like, then brush with a bit of egg mixture.

Cut into whatever shape crackers you prefer. (I did rectangles) Transfer to oiled baking sheet.

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Bake for 10-20 minutes in 350 degree oven...Then serve with dip!!!

O0O0Oh, this is *delicious*

I sprinkled the crackers with sea salt before serving :)

Tip: I'm sure it depends on your family/friends, but I'd triple this cracker recipe for serving 4-6 people.

Fare thee well, November!

Ah, it's been a while! :)

Hope everyone had a nice holiday! We traveled up to SC for the day to visit my Grandmother and relatives. It was a good time of fellowship~ I'm looking forward to the upcoming weeks of cool weather..better excuses for homemade bread and COMFORTING soup!
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Sweet Potatoes--Last of the harvest

My brother joining us...
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I'm so glad they produced..we let this section go "wild" so I wasn't sure what to expect!

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"Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root:

they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit" Jeremiah 12:2a
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My sister holding a basket of small potatoes

(I really like her crocheted sweater--

We're working on a new project soon! )

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I am holding the 2nd basket of potatoes~

We harvested about 13-14 lbs total--I hear smaller potatoes have better flavor (heh)

Well, we'll see!

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Nearby pasture...

We were driving home to the cottage, and I couldn't help but capture this serene moment!
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Interior

My Mother moved our antique sewing machine into the living room..(from the parlour)

I love the warm light shining through.

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I think these were literally our last days of nice weather. What better time than to hang laundry while we still can :)
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.soft.

We've been raking leaves and collecting pecans..

(My Father and brother are in the background.)
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My Mother enjoying the cool rain from the kitchen window...

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"Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest"

Proverbs 6:8

Serving at Home

(Dad and I )

I'm so grateful that I'm able to use this time to be a stay-at-home daughter. I sincerely do feel like I've been given a great opportunity, and my relationship with my parents is continuing to grow closer, as I strive to honor them.

Today's society seems to see this as a step-backward, but if my goal is not to be a fast paced career woman, wouldn't it be more prudent for me to spend my time doing what will benefit me in the future? There is so much I desire and need to learn, so this bit of time is spent growing in character, convictions, home skills and ((gathering)) wisdom from the older generation!

The question of, "What will you do now that you've graduated?" has been brought up many times, but what concerns me is that 'serving at home until marriage' isn't viewed as a respectable option anymore. How unfortunate! Using my time at home is something I chose to do, and desire to do as a career--I personally believe it to be a noble calling!

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Media Review

I watched this dvd, "To be One" a few months ago, and I'd definitely recommend it for those who want to learn more about courtship! I think many have a misconception of what courtship/betrothal means, but this dvd really highlights the differences. The beauty was showing all three weddings...in each, you could tell the atmosphere was so sweet :) I also enjoyed the interviewing before and after marriage. They all stayed true to guarding their hearts, and I learned more about the symbolic parallel of Christ and His Bride. Link to website: HERE

~ I just discovered a new magazine called "SALT" and it's such a delightful read! It's run by a family (now expecting 13th child!) with great articles on Homemaking, Courtship, Family, Education and more. I really like the humor throughout, and they offer a *free* magazine HERE if you're interested! We're planning on supporting the ministry, please join us! It encourages me so much to see and hear of families who are training their young men to be providers and their young women to be homemakers.

Hmm, We all seem to be S P R E A D apart (location-wise) though!

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Visiting Friends

A fortnight ago, we traveled up to spend the day with a dear family (who follow my blog) whom we'd met through other blog readers, and it was a delight!

~We had wonderful fellowship at their home, then we walked through the historic town for a local festival!We enjoyed ourselves so much! We hope it won't be too long before we get-together again :)

The above photo is of an older woman churning butter *sigh* I love her classic hairstyle and dress...I hardly ever see older women dressed modestly/femininely anymore....


I decided to make butter yesterday!
1. Pour 32 oz room-temperature heavy-whipping cream in 2 jars (half-full)
2. Shake! I shook the jars for about an hour
3. Start pressing & 'rinsing' the butter with ice cold water...this removes the buttermilk.
4. I added: 1/2 tsp salt, 1 TBsp raw honey, and 1 tsp dried rosemary. Wrapped the butter up until use.

Done! I made 1 lb. butter using 32 oz of cream.
It's *delicious*
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In the Garden


I remove the old (lettuce) leaves so that the nutrients focus on new growth.
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Lettuce and tomato plant...
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Bell peppers..
They're small, but packed with flavor!
I guess that's the story with organic gardening....
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I'm really excited about next years garden because we're going to do alot more...
I've been doing alot of research on what will grow best for our area, and how much we'd need to be self-sufficient, so that's exciting :)

Don't let the pictures fool you, the temperature is dropping, and it's starting to get cold!

So much to do!!

Sleepy days...

For the past few days, we've been receiving rain non-stop, and it's been wonderful!

Slumbering to the natural sound of rain ceaselessly pouring on the tin roof & waking to the beginnings of rain showers...Because we couldn't go outside, it was a great opportunty to spend more time "making home" as my Mother says!

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I use vinegar/baking soda to deep clean the chopping board...
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My sister & I baked cupcakes together...

I've been making so many pumpkin/apple/sweet potato recipes, that I was happy to taste just good, old-fashioned vanilla!

2 cups flour

1.5 cups sugar

2.5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

3/4 cup cream (or milk)

1 TBsp vanilla extract

2 large eggs

Combine wet ingredients...add dry ingredients

Pour into paper-lined muffin cups; Bake in 350 degree oven for 20 mins.

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We baked quite a bit of cupcakes! I tripled the recipe :)

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How do you like "Cupcake Mountain?" hehe

I didn't make all these for dessert, they're to be frozen for later!
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Cupcakes keep for up to a few months (although I don't think these will last that long!)

I individually wrapped each one, sealed in container, then a freezer bag. To make it airtight, I used a straw to withdraw the extra air in the bag...

In total, we baked 58 cupcakes!! This was a great, basic recipe :)

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Potato Soup w/ salad

Here's my favorite Italian (House) dressing I created last year...

1/2 cup each: olive and vegetable oil

1/4 cup each: red wine and apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp each: pepper, onion powder, ginger powder

2 TBsp powdered/fresh Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup water
1.5 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp dried oregano

5 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
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A delightful read:

I paged through Victoria magazines from the early 90's....
They're so feminine!

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~Lovely~

Antique books...
I love reading books written 75+ years ago--
All the books on this table are copy written circa 1840-1930
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Handwritten:

"Presented

Mary I. Chloe (sp?)

her grandmother

on her 9th birthday

June 13th 1876"

"The ordinary arts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest." ~Thomas Moore

Q&A and a review of my day...

"...do you (or your sister and mother) wear crocheted ponchos or sweaters throughout the day?" *A.J.

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Yes, I've bought a few crocheted sweaters/shawls, but my sister wears her handmade sweater she finished last year. She's currently working on another project now that her blanket is finished! I've crocheted scarves, but I'm not diligent like she is! Wearing shawls is a must during the winter months! :)

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"Just found your blog...and Love it! Does your family watch tv? What's a typical evening for you?" Anonymous

Our family has chosen not to watch television, but we do watch movies together! We specifically review & choose our movies through Netflix and it's a delight to have them sent directly to our cottage! We used to go to the video store to rent dvd's, but as you know dear reader, the advertisements and selection are not family friendly! So they unofficially succeeded in scaring us away! Plus, we love BBC period drama's, vintage classics, and christian films which are most often in stock via Netflix.

A typical evening for us is usually spent in fellowship! When my father comes home, he works outside for a while, then we eat dinner together in the parlour. A variety of subjects are brought up, then we usually discuss for quite a while! Also, if a dvd happened to arrive that day, most often we'll bring in dessert, then watch the movie together. PS) We do stay up (moderately) late! :)
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"....my question is how to stay warm and wear skirts/dresses i live in a very WINDY cold place I wear 2/3 layers of thermals and jeans over the top and still can be cold any ideas?" *Anonymous
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Great question! Here's what helped me when I wore skirts during our *cold* trip to St.Louis, MO during the winter:

*A good pair of COTTON tights....those thin nylon/poly whatevers don't do a thing! The only problem is that cotton doesn't have alot of "stretch" so you often have to purchase larger sizes...but the warmth is great!

*A warm pair of flannel-like capri's...sweatpants are fine, but in public I wouldn't risk the chance of someone spying the pant leg! lol So I like capri's to wear under calf/ankle length skirts.

*Heavy Skirt--Corduroy, Wool or Denim are great types of heavy material. Even though I love cotton skirts, they just aren't heavy/warm enough (for me) during the months of January and February!

*100% Wool-Blend socks--They're expensive so I bought ours in bulk for a discount price from Ebay. They feel 10x warmer than traditional socks...Oh, make sure they're Men's socks..they're better!

*Get rid of the jeans--Jeans are much colder than skirts! I won't go into detail, but believe it or not, skirts keep in/circulate warmth, while jeans actually leave you exposed to the cold! I found that for my own experience, there wasn't any need for jeans under my skirt- however your preference may differ of course! :)

*Try petticoats (cotton slips) It's what women have done for years and it works great!

*A good pair of boots..(I found mine secondhand for $5) I put away my flats and wear nice boots instead! They're warm and I like the old-fashioned look.

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"...it looks like you have the same texture hair is me. Do you do anything for frizziness? Or to calm to curl so they will lay flatter? Just wondering!" *Shani

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Yes, I once heard someone say "Treat your hair like fine lace!" and so that often comes to mind when I style my hair--although it doesn't have to be taken literally, I try to take my time to preserve length (I decided to grow out my hair..no more hair cuts!). It's hard to tame frizziness because often it's determined by weather (from the windy city of Chicago, to the humidity of the South) But here's what I try to incorporate regularly:

*Deep Condition often. This strengthens the hair & 'calms the curl' for me. Normally I use natural or homemade products.


*Use heavy conditioner instead of gel/mousse--I'm sure this won't work for everyone, but this "weighs down" the hair for me, reduces "frizz" and defines curls. Great on dry or wet hair. Herbal Essence works best as a heavy conditioner. This is my only store bought product for hair I consistently use.

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"What is your daily routine on a "normal" day..." *Rhonda Jean
Fun question! In response, I decided to document my day through pictures:

We do things by "homeschool time", so it's really relaxed here, no rigid schedule! :)

~Thursday, November 5th~

7:15 am
Good morning!

7:30 am

Run outside to feed the cats and dog, complete devotions, shower, iron clothes for the day.
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Dew laden grass...

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In response to those who asked about everyday feminine attire..here's what I wore:

*Ruffle long sleeved blouse w/ high collar folded down
*Dress & matching belt *Brown shawl *Black lace up boots

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My Mother made french toast for breakfast, but on a whim I decided to invent a pumpkin pancake syrup! It was scrumptious!!

Heat in a small saucepan:

1/2 cup milk till very hot

1/4 cup plus 1 TBsp Pumpkin puree

1 TBsp sugar

1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, ginger,cloves

Add 1/2 cup pumpkin mix to 1/2 cup pancake syrup.

Turned out wonderful, perfect for an Autumn breakfast!

9:15 am Finished Breakfast, read a chapter from the Word

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9:45 am Homeschool Lessons

We laid out a blanket, and I taught my brother's lessons outdoors. Here's how we do the nature studies:

At the library, I asked my brother what new subject he'd like to learn about, and he chose the Rainforest! So we looked through multiple books on the subject, and chose the most interesting (with best photo's!) I then learn about Rainforest's myself, then choose what I'd like to focus on. I like to have a measuring tape nearby, so he can visualize how big the creatures are.

I read some, then ask him questions...He reads, then does copy-work in his notebook.

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While he was writing, my sister joined us outside, and the two of us had a bible study. We simply picked Psalm 119 and read 5 verses each until the chapter was done. Wow, it's beautiful, long, and full of good truths to ponder on! By the time we were done, my brother completely finished his work.

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11:00 am Bike riding

After lessons, the three of us went bike-riding through the neighborhood. Even though this morning was chilly, it did warm up!

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11:30 am

When we came back, my brother had received his package in the mail--The Chronicles of Narnia dvd! He placed a bid on Ebay for the first time, and won! It was a great deal: $1.98 with Free Shipping!
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11:35 am

Usually during this time I sew or play piano, so I decided to practice piano...

12 pm: Lunch! We usually sit on the front porch to eat and talk for a while

12:30-2 pm: My Blog, e-mail, and research :)

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I set aside time to do photography:

My blonde cat, Jessie
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He is Exalted

The king is exalted on high

I will praise Him

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He is exalted forever exalted

I will praise His Name!

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I walked up to the back of the property and started singing this as loud as I possibly could! I started to raise my hands, and at that vulnerable moment, everything seemed to just fade away... and all I could hear was praise ringing through the trees!
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Texture of the overlooked
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Sunlight pouring through the barn...
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Last of the roses....

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3 pm: Homeschool Lessons with Mother

My Mother teaches spelling, reading, writing, & math to my brother. He uses the revised McGuffey readers.
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During this time, I'm overseeing my sisters' work.

She's working out of the Far above Rubies unit study.
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Feminine Hairstyle

4:30 pm

Here's a favorite style of mine, that I usually use for re-enacting.

The previous night, I twist many sections of damp hair, then put up in a bun.

In the morning, I take out the twists so that my hair is now wavy.

Roll up hair ends, then pin directly in the back.Take pieces of hair from the sides to pin in the middle.

Here's what I base it upon:

4:45-6 pm We used this time to eat supper & prepare for the Little Women production at 7 pm. My sister and I dressed in our 1860's style dresses and also wore our shawls. It was at a Historic Church, and it was delightful to come as a spectator completely in costume!

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7:00 pm

The audience of family and friends were really engaged and in-tune to the flow of the story, and the 1 act play was well done by the students!

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A snapshot: 'Jo' March and 'Laurie' Laurence

8:45 pm- Arrived home

9:00 pm- I made some homemade Kettle Corn and my Mother, Sister and I watched a bit of BBC's Wives and Daughters before retiring for the night!

That was our day!

An evening to process Chickens

*To my dear vegetarian readers please feel free to skip this post, as I'd never want to upset you in any way!!

It's that time! Yesterday our chickens were processed!

It was done the old-fashioned way, and it wasn't *that* bad :)

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We've all really enjoyed having chickens. They were free range during the day, then followed one of us back to the chicken house to roost at night. They *literally* crossed the road, and wouldn't want to come back, so we would send "Ol'Yeller" and they'd be round up, sheepdog style!

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At the Chicken Coop...

A friend of ours came to give us instruction since we're beginners, and my father & brother assisted him.

I, ...er, watched from far away!

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Here he is about to...*ahem* start. He did it on a cut log which I thought was old-fashioned, (ok, so I was searching for the bright side of the situation) lol! My father's in the foreground holding the...hatchet. heh.

BUT It wasn't messy because instead of letting the chicken frantically run around (and get stains everywhere) He placed the chicken in a clean rubbage bin/trash can to flap around until their life ceased.

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Seriously though, you should've seen me...I was taking deep breaths, pacing around trying to convince myself how Pioneer style this is...lol! I got used to it though, and the whole family worked together, and it was done quickly. I thought it was good that our instructor showed us what to do, and left us to do it ourselves. I think we all feel prepared enough to do this again in the future.
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We were completely finished by sundown, and we'll probably sample one this weekend, and freeze the rest. Oh, just in case you're wondering, we processed 6 organic chickens, and they're all about 5-6 lbs each.
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So that's our babystep towards self-sufficiency!

A walk around the Cottage/Living Simply

A peek out our kitchen window...

Our cottage has truly been a blessing, but I've become aware that it may seem a bit "cleaned up" or "perfect" here, and dear reader, that isn't the case! Our days filled with homeschooling are often boisterous and carefree, and not quite so scheduled! But whether we're quick to hop on our bikes to enjoy the sunset, or watch a beautiful movie on a sleepy, rainy day; we do invest time with each other!

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I'm so blessed to have Visionary parents...the decisions my Father makes for our family direction is in our best interest, even if I don't see it at the time lol! They're quick to go to the Word for leading, and always challenge us (especially me) in different areas of our thinking, which I appreciate.
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The reason we call our current home a Cottage, is because it's an endearment :)

Like the word "Darling", it isn't necessary, but shows affection.

Our cottage was built in 1940, and is very small; but we love it!

Although it needed loads of TLC, our family saw past the imperfections and we continually work toward making our tiny home cozy, judged on it's warmth and not square-footage.

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December 2008

Kitchen wall

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November 2009

It only took my Dad a few hours to build these shelves around the wall
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December 2008

Part of the Kitchen counters/cabinets

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November 2009
We love that these windows face the front of the Cottage! The canister on the chopping board is filled with vegetable scraps for the compost outside.
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One of the Flylady tips my Mother uses for organizing is the "27 fling boogie". Everyone in the house collects 27 items each to give away to a good thrift store. It's a great way to de-clutter, and bless others in need! I'll confess this is so hard for me, as I have quite a bit of SecondHand Treasures that I love! I did end up giving away 27 items & a few extra blouses/skirts, as I have too many.
Would y'all be interested in a giveaway of some Treasures? :)
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Making Pretzels together...

I think I've mentioned this before, but I now see the value of homeschooling and being together all day. As an older sibling, I learn to practice patience and other values that will benefit me in the future. As the eldest daughter, I'm continuing to learn true submission to my parents, and I'm so grateful for this time to grow so that I will be better prepared!

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We all became interested in "Simple Living" a few years before moving into the cottage...we had always had a small garden, but desired to have a larger one. We shopped second-hand, My Mother sewed and used a clothesline, I made soaps, we did square-foot organic gardening and in the midst of suburbia we created a mini-homestead :) Now that we're out in the country, we have more room to have farm animals/garden/greenhouse etc.

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"...The LORD has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm,

And the clouds are the dust of His feet." Nahum 1:3

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Now's the time for fresh pecans!
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Ahh, it's baking season! My favorite spread:

Honey Butter Recipe

4 TBsp (softened) Butter+ 1 TBsp Honey= 1/4 cup
or doubled:
1 Stick (softened) Butter+ 2 TBsp Honey= 1/2 cup
This is so delicious on Scones/Biscuits or even baked Sweet Potatoes!
. An Old-Fashioned scale to weigh ingredients...

This is such a fun kitchen item, it's accurate too!

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An Open door...

We've had quite a few unexpected visits lately, and although its been a blessing, it does challenge me to be better prepared to recieve guests at any time! Here's what I want to have done:

*Frozen Meals

*Parlour always tidy

*Extra baked goods wrapped and put away

*Homemade tea concentrate for quick batches of Sweet tea

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So much to do before the cold weather moves in...

Finished Crocheted project

Although I only helped crochet the easy parts (hehe) my sister did the majority of it! The beret was crocheted quickly(in 1 day) and I've enjoyed wearing it. When we go bike riding, I wear it as a "snood" so my hair isn't exposed to the wind!

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Puff Slouchy Hat (beret)

From the back...
It looks slightly different from the original pattern because of the material/hook size

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Upclose...

Now that we're familiar with the pattern, we'll make adjustments to the next few!
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I really appreciate your comments/suggestions/questions at my last update, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming posts, especially answering a few questions! Please continue to stop by :)

I'd like to hear from you!

Dear Readers,
I'd like to get your opinion on what type of posts you're interested to see in the future! I do this every once in a while :) So if you've ever thought, "I wish Mia would post about _______" Here's an opportunity for me to try and incorporate a few fun questions, facts, topics etc. on anything!
For example, my Mother has been mentioning if I'd incorporate more homemaking posts, which I'll be doing soon!
Ideas/Posts on:
*My attire or hair care/styles
*Homemaking/decor/cleaning
*Encouragement for stay at home daughters
*More about my family or extended family
*My thoughts on youth today
*Reviews on dvd's/books
*(Or just any random question!)

Please leave a comment (come out of lurking! lol)
I love hearing from you!

A Crisp, Fall day for an Old Fashioned Picnic

The picnic was a small gathering of families whom we knew, and it was a delightful day--we had so much fun! Here are a few snapshots:
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Table setting

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A young lady dressed for the occasion
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We had simple decor--everyday things from the cottage. One family brought a CD player & so Mozart was played as delightful background music the entire time :)
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I don't have an upclose picture, but this blouse is an Original shirtwaist from the late 1890's! I bought it off Ebay for a bargain price, and *love* the authentic look! It's interesting--The cotton material seems to have a firm/tighter weave and has a unique feel compared to modern cotton blouses. I'll be washing it by hand only.

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The ground was dry (it had rained the night before) so we decided to spread out the blankets/quilts and picnic the old fashioned way! After the prayer, we ate together and had really good fellowship...At one point my dad asked us, "what event or invention can you share about that happened in the 1800's?" This sparked fun conversation :)
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Beautiful Bonnet

(Her grandmother made it for her)
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Another Badminton game :)
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These two went exploring for Mica rocks

My Mother and I

Nearby Woodlands

My sister knitting--Her hands are always busy!

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The weather stayed at around 70 degrees & was partially cloudy--perfect for today! I didn't capture everything we did at the picnic, as we also had other fun games and even bubbles for the younger ones {ok, I'll admit I loved the bubbles too! } There was a wedding at the stone pavilion, and a few curious guests seem to enjoy the picnic scene/music/us running around in hats swinging badminton rackets lol. They even tried to discreetly take pictures from their cars!

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After we packed up everything to make the journey home, my Mother commented saying, "What made this unique is that its something we've always wanted to do, and done in a way we always pictured an old fashioned picnic to be like (compared to old-fashioned=grilling out, BBQ potluck etc.)" And for me, I really appreciated that everyone took the extra step to dress in attire that reflected the theme!!

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Last Thursday

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About a week ago, our family was out shopping, and stopped in an antique mall. We really enjoyed ourselves, and before we left, we were approached by an older gentleman. He said he was encouraged by our family because we were all modestly dressed and could tell we were Christians! He talked with my dad for a while, then invited us to his home & exchanged contact info before we all parted. So on Thursday, we visited their homestead! They live way out in the country, and it was so beautiful!

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Their sons are in the Dairy business, so there were dozens of cows, one of which gave birth right before we came! They showed us the garden and orchard, and offered collard/lettuce plants for us to take home!

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Butter crunch & Red leaf Lettuce

They've been homesteading there for over 30 years and own many acres of land, so it was simply inspiring to ask questions on self sufficiency and fellowship with the family!

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A Trip to Town

On Friday, my dad had the day off, so we all got ready to plant the lettuce & collards. Well, to make room, we'd have to dig up a few sweet potatoes...and we didn't have a pitchfork! So we spontaneously jumped in the car, even took the dog with us, and drove to "town" to visit the local hardware stores. We drove into the super small town 20 mins away, compared prices, then purchased the tool needed. Dad took long, scenic roads back to the cottage! What made it fun is how focused/purposeful the trip to town was-- we drove all that way for one tool!
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Here's one of the potatoes we uprooted...Most of the potato plants we'll leave alone until mid-November.

These are ready to be planted!
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Dew drops
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Planting...
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"Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" 1 Corinthians 3:8

Simply Wednesday

The OldFashioned Picnic is still scheduled for this Saturday--Oct 24th.

11 am-3 pm at Indian Springs Park

A time for fellowship and a few games :)

We look forward to seeing you there, *please* remember to email me if you're planning on attending! And feel free to dress up if you'd like! :)

Melodytoharmony (at) Gmail.com
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This morning my sister continued working on a Slouch Beret she's crocheting for me :)

After breakfast, we sat outside and had a lovely time!
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Tom Kitten says, "I think you skipped a stitch!"

To see the pattern, click Here (The pattern turned out to be small, so she increased to make it larger.)
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While my sister crocheted, I read out-loud a chapter of 'The Last Sin Eater' by Francine Rivers.

It's an excellent book, and we took turns reading and crocheting together.

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I've been blessed to have such a lovely sister. We're complete opposites in personalities(harmoniously compatible!), but she laughs at all my jokes, accents and stories (hehe) and I know that if I need her help during the most inconvenient time, or opinion on a song I wrote, she's always willing to sacrifice her time for others... A blessing indeed. Hope y'all have had a great week thus far!