Just A Quick Hello

I wanted to pop in here and say "Hello" to everyone before I hit the hay.

I have had a quiet day spent pondering what I can do around here to spruce it up for fall. I think I will go on a bittersweet vine search tomorrow and I have some fun ideas that I want to do to bring some of the outside-in. I love the outdoors and don't get outside as much as I did when my children were younger.I will charge up my camera and hopefully I'll be able to get some indoor photos of a couple of areas I got to have fun in.



One thing I need to sit and work on are my new living room curtains. I have the cloth, I just haven't had the time. Maybe this coming week. I have old thrifted vintage sheers hanging there, but I want to make some heavier panels to hang over them for the colder weather. I also have some old vintage fabric given to me years ago by my friend Linda, that I want to use for the valances. It will be painful for me to cut it, but for goodness sake...why hold onto it in storage and not enjoy it? It's so pretty and will make lovely valances. (Linda, if you read this...it's the old cover from May's daybed that you gave me years ago.) I've always been saving it for the perfect project...well, it will look so pretty with my apple green living room.

Anyhow-I'm chattering your ears off and I do have some things to share, but I need to go rest for the night and hopefully I'll have some fun things to put on here tomorrow night to encourage your creativity.




Thank you Lord, for the gift of creativity-may we use it for your glory. Thank you for the season of the harvest and let us remember the true harvest is the one that we reap for eternity. Amen

Enjoy your homes Dear Friends...God has placed in us the desire to make our homes a place we can enjoy, a place to express the creative spirit made after Him. Take the time to make a cozy spot, or fix up a little corner for your own. Just remember, no matter how humble our attempt at creativity-we glorify God when we take the time to make the home-sweet things lovely-a place where our families can rest! xoxoxo

Consider the Lilies

I won't write much tonight Dear Friends. It is late and I am tired and my pillow calls my name. I still need to do the rest of my dishes and set up the coffee for Dave in the morning-my husband who, no matter how he feels, gives of himself, as he has done for years, to bless and provide for his family.


I received my first Fay Inchfawn book in the mail today. It is called "Think of the Lilies." It is a collection of her works over the years. It's copyright is 1970. She was older and still had much to share from the wisdom she had gained over the years. Here is something from the book:



Think of the Lilies
by Fay Inchfawn

These lines are a tribute to the unknown person who remembered not so much the doctrinal words of Jesus but just this thought about the lilies.

Whenever they met together
That favoured company
Who had heard the Lord of the Ages
Say: 'Come and travel with me!'

Whenever they met together
To talk in the after days
They would retell to each other
His wonderful words and ways.

Tides great and deep were moving
Stirring the souls of men-
And words which the Master had spoken
Were passing precious then.

His close friends-Philip and Andrew-
His chief friends-Peter and John-
Had stored up marvellous treasure
Which they could draw upon.

But who, I wonder, remembered
That once on a summer day
Jesus said: 'Think of the lilies
Growing their beautiful way.'

It was surely some flower-lover
Who kept those words in mind.
It may have been a woman
Whose face was worn and lined.

It is likely she had been spinning
Till sundown the day before.
It is likely she had been grinding
Corn for her larder store.

And still she was anxiously planning
How to get food and clothes-
Enough for the needs of her household.
And that was the moment He chose
For saying: Think of the lilies.

And then, as she looked on His face
All her anxiety vanished
And left itself not a trace.

No wonder she told her story
With a rapt and radiant look.
No wonder Think of the lilies
Was written down in the Book.




When I read this, I just knew I had to share it. If you are anything like me, you ponder bills and provisions and make lists and budgets and check pantry stock and wonder where and how it will all be provided.



And then...just as I am about to wonder again...the wonderful Word of the Lord comes to me. I remember the part about casting my cares upon Him for He cares for me and I remember the lilies and I remember the birds and that every hair on my head is numbered. And then the Holy Spirit reminds my heart of the verse I am to live by: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto me." Plain and simple, no worrying required.



Keep your eyes on Him, on His Kingdom and He will take care of the rest. He takes care for us because we were not meant to have cares. He has provided the way for us to remove every burden of this kingdom, of which we are to be strangers. Let us look on His face and every anxiety will vanish.

As the song says:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

Lord, help us to learn to trust you to take full care of us. Teach us how to lay down our worries and cares at your feet and leave them there. Remind us that worry is not a fruit of your Spirit. Let us understand that You, our Love, always protect us and You never fail. Thank you Lord, that you taught us to consider, to think on the lilies and the sparrows-and that You told us God cares for us more than them. Oh that we could look on Your face and have full understanding of You. Amen



Bless God for His provision to us, His children. Praise Him as He provides you with what you need for the Home-sweet things. Good night! x0

Unawares

Unawares
author unknown

They said, "The Master is coming to honor the town today,
And none can tell us at whose house or home
The Master would choose to stay,"
And I thought while my heart beat wildly,
What if he should come to mine?
How would I strive to entertain
And honor the guest divine?

And straight I turned to toiling
To make my house more neat;
I swept and polished and garnished,
And decked it with blossoms sweet;
I was troubled for fear the
Master Might come ere my task was done,
And hastened and worked the faster,
And watched the hurrying sun.



But right in the midst of my duties
A woman came to my door;
She had come to tell me her sorrows,
And my comfort and aid to implore,
And I said; "I cannot listen, Nor help you any today;
I have greater things to attend to."
And the pleader turned away.

But soon there came another
A cripple, thin, pale and gray
And said, "O, let me stop and rest
Awhile in your home, I pray
I have traveled far since morning,
I am hungry and faint and weak,
My heart is full of misery,
And comfort and help I seek."



And I said, "I am grieved and sorry,
But I cannot help you today;
I look for a great and noble guest,"
And the cripple went away.
And the day wore onward swiftly,
And my task was nearly done.
And ever a prayer was in my heart
That the Master to me might come.

And I thought I would spring to meet him,
And serve him with utmost care,
When a little child stood by me
With a face so sweet and fair
Sweet, but with marks of teardrops,
And his clothes were tattered and old.
A finger was bruised and bleeding
And his little bare feet were cold.



And I said, "I'm sorry for you,
You are sorely in need of care;
But I cannot stop to give it,
You must hasten on else where."
And at the words a shadow
Swept over the blue-veined brow;
"Someone will feed and clothe you, dear,
But I am too busy now."

At last the day was ended
And my toil was over and done,
My house was swept and garnished,
And I watched in the dusk alone;
Watched, but no foot-fall sounded,
No one even paused at my gate
No one entered my cottage door,
I could only pray and wait.



I waited until night had deepened,
And the Master had not come;
"He has entered some other door," I cried,
And gladdened some other home!"
My labor had been for nothing
And I bowed my head and wept,
My heart was sore with longing,
Yet in spite of all I slept.

Then the Master stood before me,
And his face was grave and fair;
"Three times today I came to your door
And craved your pity and care;
Three times you sent me onward,
Unhelped and uncomforted,
And the blessing you might have had was lost,
And your chance to serve has fled."



"Oh, Lord, dear Lord, forgive me!
How could I know it was Thee?"
My soul was very shamed and bowed,
In the depth of humility.
And he said: "The sin is pardoned,
But the blessing is lost to Thee;
For in comforting not the least of mine,
Ye have failed to comfort me.



I tell you, when you make your own plans for the day, always be ready for the Lord to throw something else in there. We are called to be instant in season and out of season (to be ready for God's leading when it's convenient and when it's not!)

My motto: "OK Lord, whatever you have for me, I'm game!" I live a life of surprise, and God is alright with that-He'll use it-you know? God knows I am always open to anything. I consider myself easy going-most of the time. And the Father uses this to His advantage. Now, I won't pretend I always like having "my" plans thwarted...but God knows if He has an opportunity and can use me, I'm willing.

So, today is Monday. The first day after 4 days of busy-ness and business, I am home and ready to accomplish some things! My plans!!! I planned on getting some housework done, some winterizing done, and some cleaning taken care of in my barn. I got as far as winterizing my kitchen window and moving a couple of things in the barn.



It has become obvious to me, over the years, that God wants to use me to help people sort out things in their lives. I suppose I am a good listener...though at times I have a horrible habit (I think) of interrupting. Still, I tend to have more than my share of people needing advice. If I was a cartoon character, my name would be Lucy and I'd be in a box-turned-office with a sign out front that stated, "The Doctor is In"! I'm not complaining-it's my joy to help others sort out their problems according to the Word and help them get on track. My phone rings endlessly some days.

Back to my plans: they didn't happen the way I planned them!

I got an early call from a very sad sister who needed advice. She came over and we talked and she cried and I talked and she smiled and I encouraged and she helped me in the barn and we talked and prayed and she went home. God love her, I pray she'll obey God and it will be alright. As long as we follow His path, we cannot fail. As soon as we begin on any way but the narrow way-we are lost! She was persuaded somehow to take her eyes off the Lord and she quickly made a mess of things! But God is so wonderfully there for us! The poor, dear sister had herself convinced that she needed to beat herself up with her mistake and I had the joy of seeing her face when God's light shone on it in revelation that she most certainly did not need to beat herself up with her mistake. Repent and turn and be saved. There is no beating up necessary. Praise our most merciful Father!



God, our loving Father is not a mean Father waiting to pummel his children into submission. He looks for a humble and contrite spirit and heart to mold with His Potter's hands to conform to His image and will. This can be painful, as we submit to the process, but it's also a time of growth and trust.

She left with a prayer and although she was not looking forward to the sadness her mistake would cause her, she knew God stopped her before she strayed too far from Him. Thank God for His Word that keeps us...that it's a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path! Because she had brethren who love her, she was pulled back to the narrow path before the wide one consumed her and caused her years of pain. He will never leave us nor forsake us! He is so good!



My next unplanned activity was a spur-of-the-moment Bible study (which I love!) with the friend who is studying the wives of the Bible with me. We decided to begin with Proverbs 31 and use it as a guideline for the wives and for our own lives. As we study, I plan to put what we feel the Holy Spirit shares with us here on my little corner of the web. I love to study the Word with several translations of the Bible and Strong's Concordance and a dictionary.

This topic we are studying comes from a very God-born desire to repent, revamp and reconstruct the life I've formed, mostly and sadly from what I thought was The Way, but which in reality, was my way.

As I recall this morning's talk with the first sister/friend I realized that what I spoke was most absolutely what I needed to hear, once again. I don't have to beat myself up for not being the wife I should have been. I am reaping the benefits of trying to "wife" (can that even be a verb?) in the flesh and it's not pretty.

Dear Ones, I have some advice for you...if you are trying to be the Proverbs 31 wife in the flesh...stop it! In the long run, it won't work-you'll become weary of it and become bitter and angry and start resenting it and all those negative emotions will rub off on your beloved husband. BUT...if you are determined to become the wife God desires you to be and commit your plans to the Lord-His Word says they will succeed! It's His will for us to be good wives, it's His desire to reveal the "Great Mystery" through us! What a calling! To show how much Christ loves His Bride and how much the Bride loves her Husband, Christ! I would do anything for my Savior...wouldn't you?



Likewise, we are to treat our husbands with the same respect as we have for the Lord, to show a lost and dying world how blessed we are. Yes, husbands also have a role to play in the Great Mystery, but we are not husbands-are we? Therefore, we must learn what God would have us do to glorify Him in our marriage. Our flesh wants to mind our husband's business...but one of our callings is to mind our own business...which means to have our minds full of our business in the Lord-and our business in the Lord is to reverence our husbands. This is only ever possible as we walk in the Spirit of God on a daily basis. He calls us and He supplies what we need to do His will. It's all for His glory!



So, my word to you today would be, Dear Sisters, do not waste time beating yourselves up. Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee. God has your very best interests at heart and as you submit to Him, He will enable you through His Spirit to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. He who calls us is faithful. Whatever God is calling you to do, He will equip you to fulfill. Love your husbands, love your children, love your neighbor as yourself. And really, don't beat yourselves up-when God forgives, He throws all He forgives into the sea of forgetfulness, as far as the east is from the west...never to be remembered again. Let it go and move with the cloud!!!



I promised you a chicken casserole recipe...and here it is:

Chicken Casserole

1 box stuffing mix
1 stick butter
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 tray of chicken thighs (8 thighs)

Boil chicken until meat comes off bones. Save broth. When chicken is cool to the touch, pick the meat off the bones and place in the bottom of 9" x 13" baking dish. Put your soups in a pan and 2 cups of broth and heat them up. Pour over chicken. Pour stuffing, dry, over chicken. Lightly push stuffing into soup, not too much, but to make sure when the soup boils, it will saturate the stuffing. Melt butter and drizzle over stuffing mix. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes or until heated through.

I serve this with cranberry sauce and vegs. It tastes like Thanksgiving dinner. I brought it to a covered dish at church and quite a few women asked for the recipe, so it should be a hit when you make it! YUM!!



Lord, I pray you help us to understand your vast power to forgive, your unfathomable love toward us who deserve it not. Help us to believe Your Word when you say we are forgiven and that you choose not to remember it at all. Help us to walk in the Spirit so we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Help us to commit all our plans to You, in accordance with Your will, so that they will succeed. Thank You Lord that your love covers a multitude of sins and that You equip us for whatever you desire us to do for Your glory! Amen

May God bless you richly, as you reveal His Great Mystery to a lost and dying world-and as your heart revels in the Spirit and reveals the Home-sweet things as a shining light in the kingdom of darkness. Good Night. x0

Family Day

Today we all sat and ate dinner together. That is a big deal at this house as my daughter Jynette doesn't live at home at this time, Jordan works a twelve hour shift starting at 7:00 p.m. Sunday nights, and Brendt isn't always home. My wonderful Mother-in-Law came over to enjoy dinner with us, my nephew was here and "Jordan's Amanda" was here totalling 9 for dinner. I was absolutely blessed to have so many loved-ones around me at once!

We had a chicken casserole dish (I'll share the recipe tomorrow-it's nice for church dinners), cranberry sauce, green beans from our second bean planting in the garden, broccoli, "Dilly Beans", pickled garlic, and squash whipped with brown sugar and butter. I made cupcakes and apple pie and had cookies and donuts leftover from Lydia's birthday party yesterday.

Hearing my MIL's stories is wonderful. I showed her my copy of "The Complete Home" and she told of her Mom's washday experiences and how they conserved water and baking cookies in the cookstove. I really want to write some of her stories down for our family! So many wonderful tales!

I couldn't have asked for a lovelier day either. The weather was fantastic! Tomorrow is supposed to be the same and my MIL predicted a frost by week's end. We shall see! If so, I'd better go out and pick the rest of my beans and tomatoes.

Ahh, yes it was such a good day! There is nothing like visiting with family. Dave's sister and her husband came down, and my niece who is a new Mama. We all had a chance to hold the baby-little Kylee Marianna. Uncle Dave held her for the first time and he's such a pro! I know he enjoyed it, he loves babies so!

Now the dishes are all done, the food is put away. Everyone is asleep except me. I am so very tired and I think I will soon go to sleep myself.

I am so thankful for having the chance to spend time with my family today. Jynette came and helped with dishes and a couple of tasks and Lydia helped with some chores and cooking. Brendt carried some things to the basement that I had taken out during the week. And Dave...my husband...he helps cook...he is so very good to me! I could never pull off these big feast days without his help! Sadly, the feast days are few and far between right now, but I hope to have them more frequently in the future, Lord willing, because I think it's important to touch base and actually sit together as a family.

These things are ever-so-much-more important to me as time goes on and the Lord works in my heart. They were important before, but now I'm looking at things from a new perspective. The view from the cross, and the importance of all my children (and whosoever the Lord sends to my home), knowing and having peace with God. He is so faithful, He is the One Faithful Friend I can count on. His Word will never return void. He will restore all that the moth and the canker hath eaten. He is good. He Who promised is faithful, Who also will do it!

Thank you Lord, for our homes and the blessings on them. I pray, Lord, that all who enter our homes, know at once that You dwell there. Let your grace smile upon the inhabitants and those loved ones who come and fellowship with us. Let us always glorify You and show the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all we say and do. Amen

Take time to meditate on the Lord and the gifts He lavishes upon us as we bask in the wonder of His love toward us. Our families are a great reward from the Lord. A heritage of God's love and blessing. Cherish them as you go about your day and set your heart to delight in the home-sweet things. x0

A Busy Wednesday

Wow...what a full day! I took my Mother-in-law (whom I adore!) to the foot Doctor this morning. While she was being seen, I walked down a ways to the library. She was just about finished when I got back and we went on our next journey.



Today is Lydia's 13th birthday. On any one of my children's birthdays, I spend time pondering the whole event. Lydia was two weeks overdue. I was supposed to have her here at home, and she just wasn't budging. I was scheduled to go first thing in the morning to the hospital about an hour away to be induced. I was not looking forward to this because my firstborn was induced and it was not a pleasant experience (which is why I had the rest of my children at home-with the Lord's blessing!) Anyhow...my first two children were two weeks late, so I really wasn't worried. And wouldn't you know it...at about 2 a.m. I woke up to contractions and had her around 8 a.m. She weighed over 9 lbs and I was just so glad to have her at home. Imagine my relief when I called the Dr. early in the morning to tell him I was having her at home after all. I think he was disappointed-he was not an advocate of home-birth. And there she was, my sweet little (?) baby. And now she's 13. So grown up and still sweet. She is a joy and a help to me and a lovely young lady. I love her dearly!

So, after the Dr. and the library, I ran to Price Chopper to get cupcakes to bring to Lydia's class at the private school. Yes, I bought cupcakes. I would have made them myself, but the night before I was fitting my cousin who is soon to be married in her wedding gown here, and adjusting buttons and seeing if we needed to hem it. But we are saved on the hemming-all I have to do is move some buttons and it's done! Since we haven't seen each other for awhile, we sat and chatted about marriage and home making and having babies and drank tea and visited. Hence, no cupcakes.



After delivering the cupcakes, we went to put gas in the car and my MIL treated me to a cheeseburger. I ran home, made meatloaf (forgot the onions!) and ran with Dave to the Dr. Came home and finished dinner and I'm writing early so I can go to bed earlier than I have in the past couple of weeks.

Tomorrow is another day foiled as far as housekeeping goes. I am going with a friend to the hospital while her daughter has a sonogram. The hospital is about an hour away, near NYC. So, that will take a bit of time. I'm sure I'll be pooped when I get home. Why does travel take so much out of a girl? Nowadays anyway! We shall have a nice visit in spite of the trip.

I did reserve three wonderful sounding books at the library:

The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery

Storey's Basic Country Skills: A Practical Guide to Self-Reliance by John and Martha Storey

The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It by John Seymour and Deirdre Headon

All found here. I will purchase them one at a time if I think they are something that will be beneficial to our quest to homestead as much as possible here on this little, tiny piece of earth.



I am so psyched. This winter I will work at a gardening plan better than the one we had this year. There is alot to take into consideration. Besides the planting, there is the weeding and the work of harvesting and preserving. It is not easy, it is very time consuming. But so worth it in the long run. One thing I need to do over the winter is invest in canning jars. I gave all mine away years ago when I thought I'd never can again. And we've gone around that mountain haven't we???



I have been sharing Fay Inchfawn poems and prose on here lately...I discovered her quite by accident. I think her poetry is dear. It speaks to me on my level, where I am at right now in my life. She's written about 37 books. Little by little I would like to collect them (see...here I go!) But...her writings are so personal and touching that I would like to have the collection to use in my work somehow. As soon as I get something, I will share it with you. I hope you are enjoying her prose as much as I am. It just speaks to my heart. The photo above is of her. Fay Inchfawn is the pen name of Mrs. E. R. Ward. (1880-1978). Depicted and known to thousands as 'A Homely Woman'. I will share more on her as I learn it.

Here is one of her poems:

Sometimes, when everything goes wrong;

When days are short and nights are long,

When wash day brings so dull a sky,

That not a single thing will dry.

And when the kitchen chimney smokes,

And when there's none so "old" as folks;

When friends deplore my faded youth,

And when the baby cuts a tooth

While John, the baby last but one,

Clings round my skirts till day is done;

And fat, good-natured Jane is glum

And butcher's man forgets to come.

Sometimes I say, on days like these

I get a sudden gleam of bliss.

Not on some sunny day of ease

He'll come...but on a day like this.


No day is perfect, nor will it ever be (although once in awhile we think that day the best ever)! But Jesus will return when the time is right, we do not know when this will be. Let us take each moment into account and see to it that we are thankful in each thing that comes our way-knowing that by the time it gets to us, God is already at work. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. "Romans 8:28



Lord, help us to understand that "all our times are in Your hands". Let us draw near to you, and yet nearer. Let us see You in the faces of our loved ones and let our loved ones see You in our face. Let our hands minister love to those about us, and let us always speak blessings upon those who hear our voice. Make me an instrument of Your peace.

May the Lord teach us to be wholly set apart for His work and His glory. May we look for His coming, even as we go about our tasks for the Home-sweet things. x0

She Watches Over the Ways of Her Household...

Proverbs 31:27..."She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness."

We know this chapter as the one containing the biography of the Virtuous Woman. She is one busy Mama! There is no slacking off on her part. She is on the same page as her husband and totally committed to his well-being, orderly, in charge, works with her hands, rises while it is yet night to prepare food for her family and a portion for her maidservants, she buys fields with her profits from her home business (she makes linen garments and sashes and sells them to merchants-v. 24), she blesses the poor, all her household are clothed well (physically and spiritually), she is wise, she is kind, she is watchful, she is not idle, and her husband and children praise and bless her.

I've got a long way to go. But I'm not kicking myself, I am merely stating the truth. I'm still learning the first part-laying down my will for the benefit of my husband-to be his suitable helper. God knows I am trying to be teachable.



Next-orderly. I am very artsy...which is another way to say...um...cluttery. I collect things-like a magpie. If it's rusty, shiny, glittery, glass, ceramic, wood, metal, cloth, yarn, thread, beady, papery...you name it...I can think of some artsy use for it. Hence, the reason it is taking me ever so long to make the big "studio" switch. It's still dragging on...move a little down to the basement...paint another section of basement wall...move and paint, move and paint. But I will say...it's coming along-however slowly...each day I progress...and that's what it's all about. I actually have a vision for the new studio...which is a good thing! It's about moving forward, and it's not a race.

So far this week, I've been busily working on my "mission"-which is...getting things down to a system here. I haven't read any more in the Pam and Peggy book...but I know the plan and I am working on making up my index cards as I go. I will use them until I am comfortable enough to transform it all to a control journal/office in a bag (Flylady). Right now the cards help me keep focused. Though I am still setting the timer-I have to. I tend to overdo it and then this fibro flares and I am in trouble.

I did accomplish alot Monday and today. It just brought me so much joy to know what I was doing was blessing my family. I am beginning to see how this will come together. One step at a time, one card at a time. I have the major part of it all done before my husband walks in the door. I might have to fold laundry after dinner, but that's no big deal. Once my house is totally in order (under control), I know I will have the freedom to begin sewing again! This is my secondary goal, the first is to bless my husband and family!



I even know what I'm making for dinner all week! This saves frustration. I plan on making a month's worth of menus and using it twelve times. This should save time for me. It makes me feel so good when Dave asks me what's for dinner and I can give him the answer he wants to hear, instead of the "I don't know" I used to say.

I'm reading a book called "Toxic Relief" and feel one of the next steps I need to do to make my home healthier is to get rid of all chemical-based cleaning supplies. This fibromyalgia is no joke. I feel chemical overload is part of it. So, the first step I am taking is to "de-chemical" my home. I will be on a quest to find natural alternatives. This should be interesting!

I'm sure you've all seen this recipe for laundry soap:

Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap
-Use 1/2-3/4 cup per load
-50 cents per gallon

This is an old-timey recipe and easy to make. The resulting consistency is somewhere between a gel and a liquid, making it easy to use.

For a two gallon plastic pail: grate half a bar of Fels-Naptha soap. Heat and dissolve in 3 pints of water. Remove from heat and stir in 3/4 Cup Borax ad 3/4 Cup washing soda (not baking soda. It is available at a reasonable price from some smaller grocers and supermarkets-you may have to look around for a source near you.) Mix well. Mixture will thicken. Pour 1 quart hot water into a 2-gallon plastic pail. Add Fels-Naptha solution, stirring well. Fill pail with cold water. Stir occasionally. Ready to use in 24 hours. Makes enough for 48-64 loads. For a 5-gallon plastic pail, use 1 1/4 bars of Fels-Naptha, 1 7/8 Cups Borax, and 1 7/8 Cups washing soda.

I will start researching and see what I come up with as far as other household cleaning supplies. I'll keep you posted! If you have any good recipes, let me know!



It is such a pleasure for me to be at this stage in my life. To be content being at home and not feeling like I need to run out into the world to make money. I know it will all come together when the time is right. The wonderful thing is that it is entirely the Lord's doing...rather than doing it in my own strength...I am operating in the joy of the Lord...which, in turn, is my strength. When I'm having a flare I don't have much of my own physical strength, and I find that when I ask the Lord for His help, it is there. It is a supernatural event-this newfangled thing (for me) of fulfilling Proverbs 31 by the Spirit of the Lord!



There is no substitute for being in the absolute will of your Heavenly Father. No peace anywhere else or any other way than following His Holy Direction. Wait upon the Lord, seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and each day-each moment-He will bless you with exactly what you need. Today's equivalent of "Fresh Manna". It's there, new and fresh each second-as you need it-just stay with the Cloud by day and the Fire by night!

May God bless you as you seek Him. You will receive from His Spirit-joy and strength-to aid you as you look well to the ways of your Home-sweet things. x0

Because

photo taken by my brother Glenn


Because
by Fay Inchfawn

(PSALM CXVI.)

Because He heard my voice, and
answered me,
Because He listened, ah, so patiently,
In those dark days, when sorrowful, alone,
I knelt with tears, and prayed Him for a
stone;
Because He said me "Nay," and then in-
stead,
Oh, wonderful sweet truth! He gave me
bread,
Set my heart singing all in sweet accord;
Because of this, I love -- I love the Lord!


The Lord's voice. It is to me so sweet and kind. It is the sound of peace. It is the voice of a gentle friend. It is a flowing stream that never runs dry. It guides me and leads me and tells me and instructs me. It keeps me. It never leaves me.

As I spend time more and more with the Lord, throughout my day, talking to Him in my heart, I sense His leading. I sense His delight in the little things. I sense Him all about me, loving me.

As I seek His Kingdom more and more, I know the righteousness, peace and joy that are His blessing. His life for mine, my life for His. The eternal switch-once for all. The peace that moment accomplished will be heralded for eons. My heart smiles with a joy that is not of this earth. A contentment that He is all I will ever need to be satisfied. He is my righteousness, peace and joy.

Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.

It's all about Him. Him first. Drop your selfishness. Drop it like a pan from the fire. Drop your will. Just let it go.

Step into grace by faith and see that His love is more than capable. Overabundant. Full to overflowing.

His desire is for you. His desire is to show Himself true. His desire is for you to draw near to Him and let Him wrap you in His wings. His will. Your desire for His.

The love He embodies is a force no man can comprehend. It is boundless. It reaches to the heavens. The unlovely, undeserv-ed...they comprehend it, those who cry out to Him comprehend it...He is immediate for them. He is for them. He is.

We pray and He answers to our delight. We pray for a stone...and He gives us bread. He is the bread of life. All who eat this bread will never die. Eat and live.

May God mightily bless you as you seek His will, as you delight in His Word, as you exchange your filthy rags of self-for His robes of righteousness. Seek His Kingdom first and He will add all these things to you. Righteousness. Peace. Joy. Serve the Lord with gladness in your endeavor to give your life for your family...the Home-sweet things-the abundance of His will for you. x0

A Quiet, Restful Day

When He Comes

by Fay Inchfawn

"When He comes!
My sweetest 'When'!"
C. ROSSETTI.

Thus may it be (I thought) at some
day's close,
Some lilac-haunted eve, when every rose
Breathes forth its incense. May He find
me there,
In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,
In some sweet garden place,
To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!

Or, in my room above,
In silent meditation of His love,
My soul illumined with a rapture rare.
It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes
Might glimpse Him coming in the East-
ern skies,
And be caught up to meet Him in the
air.

But now! Ah, now, the days
Rush by their hurrying ways!
No longer know I vague imaginings,
For every hour has wings.
Yet my heart watches . . . as I work I
say,
All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,
Then wilt Thou find me thus: just as I
am --
Tending my household; stirring goose-
berry jam;
Or swiftly rinsing tiny vests and hose,
With puzzled forehead patching some one's
clothes;
Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and
run,
From early dawn till setting of the sun."

And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,
Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.


May my attitude reflect the words of this poem: "All simply to You. Find me thus: just as I am-doing what must be done in a day-for Your glory. And whenever You come for me, Lord, I'll rise and go, all the gladlier that You found me so."

"Finally, there is laid up for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." 2 Timothy 4:8

Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus!

God bless you as you enjoy the home-sweet things! x0

As I Remember...

The Long View
by Fay Inchfawn
[Elizabeth Rebecca Ward]


Some day of days! Some dawning
yet to be
I shall be clothed with immortality!

And, in that day, I shall not greatly care
That Jane spilt candle grease upon the
stair.

It will not grieve me then, as once it did,
That careless hands have chipped my
teapot lid.

I groan, being burdened. But, in that
glad day,
I shall forget vexations of the way.

That needs were often great, when means
were small,
Will not perplex me any more at all
A few short years at most (it may be less),
I shall have done with earthly storm and
stress.

So, for this day, I lay me at Thy feet.
O, keep me sweet, my Master! Keep
me sweet!




I spent a good part of this morning looking at a bin full of photos of my husband and I, our children, our parents, our siblings, our relatives, friends, places we've been. So many memories held in one bin.

My heart delighted in each photo as the memories came rushing back. Some of the loved ones frozen in them are no longer here to laugh or cry with, but, I have captured them, smiling and enjoying life. And each moment brings the sound of their laugh, a precious memory of a day in my life and theirs. Yet, I am here to remember them still.

Then, of course, I think about the scripture in the Psalms that reminds us our lives are like a blade of grass, that comes up one day and withers in the sun. And I am beginning to see the reality of that verse.



So many days seemed so long, but looking back in the photos, I see how the years have flown. My little children, where did you go? You are now two grown men and a woman and a young lady. Time has flown. Did I enjoy you enough? Did we laugh enough? Did I do the right things? Did I teach you enough about our Heavenly Father? Will you be alright when the Lord someday calls your father and I Home? These are the things that go through my heart as I look back and remember our fleeting days together-you as my little charges and I as your Dearest Mama.



I have dedicated you to the Lord, for Him to do with you as He pleases. I leave you in His hands forever, to will and to do of His good pleasure. He will lead you where it is you should go, as He's been faithful to lead your father and I.

I intend to get these photos organized during this organization/simplification process the Lord has me going through. I want to journal our times so our family will always know my thoughts on the many adventures we have had and what you all mean to me.

So many faces, so many lives touched, so many in my life to hold and encourage and love. And I do love them, with the Love the Lord has placed in my heart.



It was once prophesied over me that the love of Christ would constrain me. Does that mean I never get upset at a wrong done? When I get hurt it breaks my heart...but can I ever stay upset at anyone? No, God's love is a shining light that forces it's way out of my very soul and forgiveness is a gift God has given me, aside from my own forgiveness. He has blessed me with the ability to walk in true grace and forgiveness toward others that have caused me great pain in my life. I might tell about those situations I've overcome one day to help a brother or sister walk better, but for now, like the photographs, those memories will stay captured, still and frozen, locked in the bin of my mind, always under God's grace, until He gives me a reason to let them out and look at them and share how He helped me overcome wrongs done. I will only say that He is the faithful One, He alone is true.

One thing I did not remember as I looked through any of the photos, were harsh words spoken, punishment for a wrong done, bad or sad times. I remembered good conversations, church services and picnics, graduations, births and birthday parties, babies, babies, babies, pictures of children for my refrigerator-to remind me to pray for them. So many happy times. So many years. So many memories.



A few short years at most (it may be less),
I shall have done with earthly storm and
stress.

So, for this day, I lay me at Thy feet.
O, keep me sweet, my Master! Keep
me sweet!


Lord, I pray I remember how quickly our time here on earth is over. Help me to lay me at Your feet and keep me sweet my Lord, my Master. Help me remember that nothing is so important as showing your grace to others-at all times. And help me, Lord, to remember that no earthly "thing" is so important that I need love it more than one of your beloved. Keep me Lord. Amen

Good night my dearest friends and family. May you be rest at His feet and be kept sweet by Him. Thank Him always for the Home-sweet things and whatever you do, do with all your might, as unto the Lord. x0

Around Here...

Well, the purple pantry is coming along, stocked with lots of food and summer harvest. I had to bring in another shelf to hold the squash. Turban, Butternut and Kuri. The Kuri is new to us. This is the first year we planted it. I must say, it's a keeper! We baked some and I milled it and made pie using a pumpkin pie recipe. Yum!!



I have to tell you, there is no making just one pie here, I made 4 pies. I hope to be able to make some more pies at some point tomorrow. I've got a new batch of squash all baked up and ready to go. Some Kuri and a Turban. I'll try to post some pictures.



I did bake some soft pumpkin cookies though. They didn't make it to the icing stage. There are only 5 left! So soft and yummy! We had visitors and Lydia took some to her class because she said they would want some when they saw her eating hers. I sent some home with my niece and nephew and sent some for my brother. And I'm sure everyone here had their share! Maybe next time I'll get to ice them.



At some point, I thought it would be fun to challenge you all to a "Search for the Best and Easiest Pie Crust Recipe" contest. The art of making a good pie crust is something I really want to accomplish. I am tired of buying the already made pie crust (Pillsbury)-although they make the yummiest pie crust I've had-from a box. I have saved so many pie-crust recipes over the years...and I've tried them here and there-but I want to get a recipe that works for me! If anyone has one-I'll let you know when to share it...I'll list some soon and we'll try them and see what results we get! I'll post them on here and by then I should have something handmade to offer the winner! Fun!

I am still working on getting things situated here at home. Things are going so dreadfully slow for me! I am still painting in the basement. Cinderblocks are not very bright, nor are they very pretty, and they certainly will not be inspirational to my creativity-once that begins again! So I'm painting them white, a section at a time, then I put a shelf there and load it up. When I'm done painting and all my things are moved down there-I'll begin the task of organizing and throwing away. I have a bunch of ephemera for collage and altered art...so I may sell some. We shall see!



I cannot wait until it's done! I have some fun things planned to share creatively with everyone and I hope to be able to offer some pretty things and patterns for sale to brighten your own home, goods for ourselves and our spirits and other things to encourage you in keeping a home!



This is my desire-to delight in the Home-Sweet Things and encourage others to as well! I love my home...and one of the results I'd like in my attempts to declutter the overflow of stuff I've accumulated is to replace it (very sparingly) with decorative, yet useful items, not clutter! And to encourage you as you also make a lovely home and place of rest for your family or for youself if you live alone!



Bread cloths, things to decorate with, crochet patterns, knitting, friends who offer items that might encourage you at home, recipe ebooks, other ebooks (I like ebooks, no clutter!), stitcheries, downloadable patterns...and much more! I am really looking forward to it!



Kathy, over at her blog Highlights From Higher Ground is having a special pumpkin week, go over and leave a comment and you might win a set of pumpkin potholders she made. She has a sweet blog and shares fun stuff! See what it's all about on her October 8th post. Check it out!



In keeping with the pumpkin spirit...here is a fantastically yummy soft pumpkin cookie recipe for you to enjoy!

Soft Pumpkin Cookies with Icing

1/2 C shortening
1 1/3 C sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. grated orange rind
1 tsp. orange or lemon extract (opt.)
2 1/2 C all-purpose flour
1 TB baking powder
1 tsp. salt (opt.)
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 C raisins (opt.)
1/2 C chopped nuts

Cream shortening, sugar and eggs together; add pumpkin, vanilla, orange extract and orange rind. (Batter will be funny looking-that's alright!) Beat well until blended. Combine flour, baking powder, salt and spices in medium mixing bowl; stir well. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Stire in raisins and nuts by hand. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Icing:

1/4 C butter, softened
2 1/4 C sifted powdered sugar
3 TB half & half
1/2 tsp grated orange rind

Cream butter. Gradually add 1 C sugar. Add remaining sugar alternating with half & half, beating until smooth. Add zest-beat well. Frost cookies.



And now, without further ado...I wish to bring you Aunt Sophronia's visit to Miriam's house...(you know-the BO one...!)

The next day I went to see Miriam. It was about nine o’clock, and my niece was just taking her place in the sitting room window. She beckoned me in. I said: “Ah! This is the time when you study.”

“That is nothing,” she said; “I am always learning when I talk with you. Let us have a morning visit; you shall stay to dinner. I can pursue my sewing and fancy work, and the study can come in by itself some other hour in the day.”



Miriam’s sitting room was in lovely order. She is trying window gardening, and had a jardinet in one window in fine bloom. A broad board had been screwed upon the window sill. Mark had made for it a rustic frame three inches high, and Miriam had lined that with moss and planted in the moss common vines, as “Love-Entangled,” “Wandering Jew,” “Money Word,” and “Parlor Ivy;” these drooped nearly to the floor. Inside the moss lining she had set an old-fashioned square dripping pan, and filled it with rich earth well piled up; in the center and in each corner was a green flowerpot with a thrifty geranium or Begonia; and between the pots grew low ferns, blue and pink oxalis, pansies and other things, which did not demand deep rootage. It was a very pretty, cheap and easily-taken-care-of winter garden, and over it hung a very handsome basket of drooping plants. I saw in one corner a rather large basket of work folded into neat bundles. I inquired what it was. Said Miriam:

“My time for sewing more than suffices for myself, so this is some work for the Missionary Society, and for the Children’s Home. I have been cutting it out in my spare time for a week past, and now it is ready to sew upon, and as it is here at hand I can set a god many stitches at odd moments. See, here is some pretty work I am doing for our missionary-box. I like to send pretty things away, and I thought the little sums I had to give in this way would go further if I bought material and made it up. If I have more time after that, I will sew on the material of those who have no time to give. After Christmas I shall begin on a set of shirts for Mark. He will not need them before next summer, but you know Mrs. Burr’s rule is to be before-hand with your work, and in warm weather one feels less like sewing and there is more company, and Mark and I may take a little vacation.



Miriam went upstairs for some patterns to show me, and as I heard a know at the kitchen door I answered it. The kitchen was in beautiful order; the floor was covered with oil-cloth, and there were rugs of carpet lying before the table, stove and sink. The fire had been arranged to burn low until needed for dinner; the vegetables for dinner were standing ready in earthen basins of water. I was glad to see that the table and the good work of the sink were covered with oil-cloth. This saves a great deal of time and of hard work in scrubbing. Young housekeepers should remember that they cannot practise truer economy than in investing a little money in things that shall spare them severe labor, and save their time, as for instance, coverings for kitchen floors and tables. I was glad also to see that Miriam had been wise to provide articles for use that were light and easy to handle. Young folks often strain themselves by lifting enormous pots and water pails, when small, light ones would be far more suitable for a small family. Miriam generally uses white metal saucepans and skillets instead of iron. In her kitchen everything was handy, to spare steps. Mark had been at some expense in fitting up an outer shed-room for a snug laundry, so that the washing should not be in the kitchen, where Miriam had her work. He had had a new drain opened, and bought a stove for this work with a stationary copper boiler, beside the clothes boiler. Miriam leaves the clothes bags there, locks the door into the kitchen, and allows the laundress to have one key of the laundry door; therefore, on Monday morning she can come and begin as early as she likes, and she always finds soap, starch, bluing—all that she needs ready. Now while I was at Helen’s the other day, Hannah left her tubs twice to go to the store, once for soap, once for blue. I don’t wonder that that girl never gets done quickly with her work. I saw in Miriam’s kitchen closet a shelf with plenty of bar-soap cut, and spread to dry, as this saves it in the washing; she never gives the laundress soap that has been drying less than three weeks. It is by small economies and cares, such as this, that large economy is attained. One does not, in a household, make some great fifty, or a hundred, or two hundred dollars saving, but it is the little saving of five, ten and twenty-five cent pieces, of half dollars and dollars, which in the year mounts up to a goodly sum total, and these savings represent not meanness, but care; not cutting down the rations of the hired people, not buying inferior tea and flour, and poor butter whereof less will be eaten, but getting the best, and in quantity, and then allowing no wasting. Miriam has in her laundry closet a tea-pot and a little caddy with some tea, so that her laundress can make herself a cup of tea as soon as she lights her fire, and thus not be forced to work on faint and hungry until after the family have finished their breakfast; a plate of rolls or bread and butter is left beside the teapot, and thus the working-woman is heartened for her toils, and can comfortably wait for her later morning meal. Miriam says that next spring she means to have breakfast at half-past seven, and as during the summer Mark will have Mr. Cox’s place, he will be home for a five o’clock dinner; Miriam says she will then have a deal more time to herself, and she means to do all her own dressmaking, and plans for many other undertakings.




And so, Dear Ones, I have come to the end of today's post. It's getting late and I ran up and down the basement steps so many times today I am worn out! Good-night and I shall go to sleep thanking God and dreaming about the Home-sweet things! I pray you will as well. x0