June 2020 Newsletter

"Anne pinned her narcissi on her hair and went to the lane gate, where she stood for awhile sunning herself in the June brightness before going in to attend to her Saturday morning duties. The world was growing lovely again; old Mother Nature was doing her best to remove the traces of the storm, and, though she was not to succeed fully for many a moon, she was really accomplishing wonders."

~ Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea

Hello dear reader! Here we are with another monthly newsletter in which I talk about books I have read, things I have watched, projects I have been working on and any other ponderings which really don't fit into its own post! Its been a busy few weeks and I have much to do! I have been working on some creative projects that I have been thoroughly enjoying and I hope to share them with you all soon (but not quite yet)! I also have a lot of paperwork to process this week for our family business so this homemaking chit-chat (based on the reflection of the month before) might be a bit rushed... but deadlines must be made! 

June was a productive month in the garden and harvest kitchen! It was pickle making time! I was able to put up some fermented pickles (shown above) and deli style pickles (which are pictured below).

I also prepared and froze 24 quarts of turkey stock/bone broth for the freezer. I had been saving up produce scraps in a bag in the freezer. When we made a turkey, I took the leftover bones, etc., and added in the saved scraps. Now we have a nutrient dense liquid which will be good in rice and soups in the autumn/winter.

Also, if you ended up enjoying our Zucchini Quiche recipe, you may also be interested in this variation if you are still going squash-strong... I know we are! Simply follow the original instructions except replace the mozzarella cheese for shredded Colby-jack cheese and add 1 cup of cottage cheese (for added protein and a bit of a flavor change). It is easy for me to serve this once a week during garden season and keeping ingredients a bit different helps out sometimes. 

If you haven't yet shared your "STRICTLY FROM THE PANTY RECIPES" with us (meaning no refrigerated/freezer items involved)-- please do so :) I am hoping to combine all the ideas into a printable that we can place in our Proverbs 31 Preparedness Notebooks. I think this would be a wonderful resource in difficult times!

Last month we enjoyed watching the new rendition of The Call of the Wild. I have always loved the Alaskan landscape and adventure films featuring it (and this one didn't disappoint). However, I just wished the ending would have been a bit different... perhaps they will consult me on that the next time 😉.

I also enjoyed reading "The Big Book of Homemade Products for Your Skin, Health and Home" by Jan Berry. It is such an informative and lovely read full of pretty pictures! We are currently doing a giveaway on this book which ends in 3 days. Feel free to enter for your chance to win this charming book! 

We have also announced the winners of our last two giveaways. The Happy Homemaking Giveaway was won by Angel who said "her favorite thing about homemaking is making a place my family (and any visitors) feel cozy and cared for". The Happy Hostess Giveaway was won by Kim who said the special thing she does for her guests is "have snacks available as well as coffee and some fun board games". Congratulations ladies and I hope you enjoy your goodies!

We have four other giveaways lined up shortly that I hope you will enjoy! I will give you a hint on the next one. It is called the "Pretty in Pink" Giveaway and is going to be focusing on our feminine side. 💕 A few of the items are sprinkled in the picture above... 

What about you? What wholesome and lovely things have you been reading, watching and/or working on? Recommendations are much appreciated! 

Verse of the Month:

"Be strong and of good courage...

for the LORD your God,

He is the One who goes with you.

He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

~ excerpts from Deuteronomy 31:6

May 2020 Newsletter

Hello dear reader! I thought it would be fun to share a monthly newsletter of sorts in which I talk about books I have read, things I have watched, projects I have been working on and any other ponderings which really don't fit into its own post! At the same time, I would love to hear what you have been reading, watching and doing! Recommendations are much appreciated! It will be based on the reflection of the month before. It is essentially some homemaking chit-chat...



💕But before I begin, I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome! Your prayers and encouragement mean so much! Your sweet comments are greatly treasured in my heart! 💕And I send a huge embrace your way! 💕 For some reason I am having trouble commenting. There must have been some kind of glitch or update I didn’t get during my time off but I hope to rectify it soon. Thanks for understanding!

Reading...

Without going into all the nitty-gritty details of last month (as you all have lived through it yourself), I found that my instinct is to burrow into my little Hobbit hole, pour myself a hot cup of coffee and nest! I enjoyed this little book -- Cozy White Cottage, 100 Ways to Love the Feeling of Being Home by Liz Marie Galvan -- the title itself being very appropriate in so many ways to the theme of this blog! The author shares lovely photographs to inspire you and writes to encourage you to love your home, ways to decorate it and invest time and energy into it. I like how each concept is given a number and a few pages. This way, I was able to sit down and peruse a few inspirations a day without the feeling of needing to "finish a chapter". It was light reading and just what I needed at that time! You may be able to find this sweet little book at your local library or on Amazon.

Watching...

Finding books to read has been a lot more easier than finding things to watch! Now to give you some background, we haven't owned a television for many years so I haven't been kept up to date on the latest shows and so forth. What we do is judiciously choose movies and old television series to watch on the computer. I can’t tell you how many television series we have started that appeared to be “clean” only to find out there were disturbing scenes and themes in the later seasons. What is frustrating is that you get into the plot and it takes some willpower to walk away from the show (and never finding out what happens!!!). But alas...

What we ended up enjoying (and in my opinion was completely appropriate -- and I know that differs with each household) was Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye. We were able to enjoy all 3 seasons! It was such a heartwarming and exciting series with extremely likable characters! It is especially nice that it is a show that both husband and wife can enjoy together (and not just a sappy romance you need to beg hubby to watch). The first few episodes are a bit slow as it sets up the stage for the main character to begin work for the FBI. The neat part is that this is based on a real-life deaf woman's career. I would call it an inspirational FBI drama with a splash of comedy and clean (squeaky clean) romance. Sue even shares about her faith to encourage the characters in the show. Have you ever watched this series? I feel like it is a diamond in the rough as I had never heard of it before (but remember, give it a chance into the first three episodes and then it gets exciting).

Some excerpts from Amazon -- "Inspired by a true story, Sue Thomas is a deaf woman hired by the F.B.I. to use her ability to read lips as part of an elite investigative unit. She meets her professional and personal challenges with her trademark common sense, humor and faith."

Doing...

I have been dabbling with the sewing machine again. You can see from the seams that I am a beginner! But grandmother always taught me to iron in every step and I do hope that redeems the crazy stitching I ended up with! I like to make up burp cloths in my spare time so I always have something to give to a new mother when visiting her new bundle (I also add some all-natural baby products to round out the gift). The leftover fabric I used to make dusting cloths (from the idea found here). I purchased the soft flannel at a thrift shop and it appeared to be brand new but I always wash and soak them really well when using fabrics from second-hand stores! Placing your purchases in a hot dryer for 20 minutes will sanitize everything (I received this tip from an exterminator). The sun is also a wonderful sanitizer! 

Pantry maintenance has been a daily upkeep! Six months ago I actually freed up two extra sections for food storage (where I used to store my linens) and opened up lots more space. I was very happy I did that due to our current circumstances! I bought a used cabinet on Craigslist and made that into a stand alone linen closet so we were able to increase storage tremendously. Ever since then I have been trying to fine tune everything, decant what I can and assess the "zone" areas (what foods to keep together and so forth). Honestly, it is still a hobby I enjoy. I tell my husband I must be a weirdo but he says a woman who is placing time and value on areas to store nourishing items for her family is not a weirdo (love is a wonderful thing!). 

In the Garden...

It's zucchini season! As I have mentioned in the posts of zucchini pasts, I feel it is my homemaking duty to share at least one zucchini recipe each season! This month I will be sharing this very simple crustless quiche. You can actually use any summer squash in this flavorful casserole.

As the old adage says, "April showers bring May flowers"... and with that came lovely hydrangea blooms that we continue to enjoy in June! These are the planters of flowers that produce for my kitchen table. I love being able to have my own free flower market on my front porch!



Health...

I noticed I was starting to feel a little loopy (not my same positive self). It turns out I am low on vitamin D! It wasn’t too surprising considering the current situation and the fact that I lost my clothesline which was my daily fellowship with the sun. The truth is that vitamin D deficiency does affect your mood. Please consider this if you have been feeling “emotionally off” lately. Other symptoms can include getting sick more often, fatigue and tiredness, bone and back pain, depression (uh-huh), impaired wound healing, and bone loss (source). I began taking brisk, 20-minute outdoor walks (in addition to my normal health routine) every day I am able (I used to do this daily on the farm but our current situation in the city hadn't made it so appealing). I also have started taking a supplement. I am already beginning to feel some positive results from this and I share this information in the event that it may help someone else going through a rough patch as well.



And finally, if you haven't entered our "Happy Homemaking Giveaway", you still have a few days to do so! I am really enjoying reading what everyone’s favorite part about homemaking is! It looks like cooking is high on the list by many which kind of surprised me! My favorite parts would be organizing, pantry building/maintenance, fluffing the house and setting the dinner table. Though my meals are usually simple, I love to make the setting look abundant through colorful salads, any toppings or sides that would compliment the dish and using pretty serving bowls and platters to bring about loveliness and fulness to the table.

Now, what about you dear homemaker, what have you been up to?

Verse of the Month:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love

and of a sound mind.”

~ 2 Timothy 1:7

Return to the Hiding Place ~ Family Movie Night

The Return to the Hiding Place is the latest addition to Our Wholesome Video List. It has been quite awhile since I have had the opportunity to recommend a movie (you will find our last entry here)! I will advise that the PG-13 rating is for thematic elements that may be disturbing for younger children because of the atrocities committed during Hitler's reign (though nothing too vivid is shown, there is obvious violence and peril but besides this, the movie is quite refreshingly "clean" without vulgar language, intimacy or nudity!). 

What I found most inspiring in this "based on a true story" was the courageous young people in the Dutch resistance movement! They were fighting for lives (and not a later curfew, the latest clothing trends, or an updated iPhone)! Full of suspense, conviction and worthy causes, this "edge of your seat" sequel to The Hiding Place will leave you encouraged. If you have seen neither movie, then I recommend the double feature of both DVD's in one. Due to some disturbing World War II content, (nothing too extreme), you may choose to show this to older children of 12 and up. These young people are an excellent role model for today's youth!

What is it about?

"Corrie Ten Boom's Secret Student Army. The Untold True Story. In WWII Holland, Corrie ten Boom leads a secret resistance army of untrained university students who navigate a deadly labyrinth of hijackings, rescue missions, and underground networks to save and transport over 880 Jewish people in their panicked exodus from death. Watch this harrowing true tale of ordinary students who dare to resist one of historys cruelest tyrants, risk their lives for total strangers, and prove that a handful of devoted young people can change the course of history."

~ Summary from Amazon.com

Homeschool categories:

• Geography: The Netherlands/Holland

• World History: World War II

• Character Building: Courage (Joshua 1:7)/Laying Down Your Life for a Brother (John 15:13)

To see our criteria for choosing media for our family, visit here.
For our wholesome video list, visit here.

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, From the Farm Blog Hop, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five Star Frou Frou Friday, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post contains affiliate links.

Period Movies for the Romantic Hearted and Sentimental Soul

“Take away love and our earth is a tomb.” 

~ Robert Browning

I took a day trip to old England last week.  I strolled along the countryside and walked among the peaceful meadows. I took in the lovely landscapes of wild birds and wild flowers. I toured the homes of the rich and the poor, saw how they lived, where they supped and what they ate in their grand castles and cozy cottages. I also witnessed their sweet and sentimental love stories. It was a peek into the past and it was all very romantic!

Though we don't watch television in our home, an old fashioned period movie, on occasion, is a delightful treat. Especially in the cooler months, to curl up in the evenings with a cup of hot chocolate while viewing beautiful, feminine dresses, ivy-covered cottages with breathtaking lush, green scenery. This is "cream" to my coffee! It is a gentle getaway for this romantic-hearted homemaker.

We will begin in the Regency Era. The music and cinematography put me into a trance... walking with a book through the open fields, entering the quaint country property, crossing the shimmering waters, geese gracefully flapping their feathered wings, the clothesline waving its white linens in the fresh spring breeze, and finally the tranquil sound of the black and white piano keys with a rush of swirling skirts... 

                    

“Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.” 

~ Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

When one says the Regency Era, one is really saying "Jane Austen". Who could resist either screen depiction of Pride and Prejudice? They both have their own charms (movie and mini-series). Sense and Sensibility is a heart wrenching film but with a satisfying ending (I didn't include the other versions here because this one is by far the best in my opinion). {Note: Pictures of movies are all linked.}

                         

Persuasion is also a gem though I highly suggest that you read the book first in order to really appreciate this movie (BBC version and movie version). The turmoil that is going on in the main character's heart is hard to see and more understood through the words in the actual novel. I had always brushed that title aside but when I finally did read it, it became a favorite! It is the story of an enduring love.

                 

If you are in the mood for a light and sweet comedy, you will appreciate all three adaptions of Emma! I do think the Gwyneth Paltrow version is the finest depiction. However, the BBC mini-series is much more detailed which I also appreciate. I am always impressed by the gentle love and respect that Emma shows toward her father. I think her a nice role model for young ladies because of it.

                       

"...yet, even before he left the room, - and certainly, not five minutes after, the clear conviction dawned upon her, shined bright upon her, that he did love her; that he had loved her; that he would love her."

~ Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South

We have now made our way into the Victorian Era. The Young Victoria is a delightful dessert for the history loving soul. I am smitten with this movie! There is also North and South which is my personal favorite in this time period (I consider it the Victorian Era twin to Pride and Prejudice and I know that is saying a lot). The Cranford Series is quite witty and wonderful. You will appreciate the dialog between these older, eccentric women. Basically, the movies based on the novels by Elizabeth Gaskell are all excellent (and if you are a reader and like old novels, give Mary Barton a try for a poignant tale).

                  

"I hold an old-fashioned notion that a happy marriage
is the crown of a woman's life." 

~ Beatrix Potter, Her Journal, 1894

The Lark Rise to Candleford collection is absolutely exquisite. It was so hard to see this heartwarming series end (excellent, excellent)! I think you would fall in love with it too!  And a movie for those melancholy moments is Jane Eyre. Ah, does it get any more heartbreaking and healing than this classic? I personally like the William Hurt version the best. And finally, there is Miss Potter (which has a bit of everything). This movie is enchanting. Just watching her watercolor paints dance among the parchment is mesmerizing!  

                      

“Perhaps, after all, romance did not come into one’s life with pomp and blare, like a gay knight riding down; perhaps it crept to one’s side like an old friend through quiet ways; perhaps it revealed itself in seeming prose, until some sudden shaft of illumination flung athwart its pages betrayed the rhythm and the music, perhaps... perhaps... love unfolded naturally out of a beautiful friendship, as a golden-hearted rose slipping from its green sheath.” 

~ L.M. Montgomery

I don't think I can end this Victorian Era list without touching on the Anne of Green Gable series. I think she is everyone's childhood favorite. And to not include her on a "romantic" list would simply break her heart! They have also done a "prequel" movie {Anne of Green Gables, A New Beginning} which hasn't received much popularity because it has strayed so much from the original story, but if you are an Anne fan, you would probably enjoy watching it "just because". {Note: there is an element I don't care for in the third movie though nothing actually happens, I wonder why they even include it! That is Hollywood for you!}

                 

And we must not forget the amazing and romantic stories of life on the American Frontier. The Love Comes Softly Series is still sweet to me. Though there is nothing like the first movie, I still enjoyed the others (I recently bought the 10-DVD collection of this series for $12.49 on Amazon!). Being full time farmers the last four years, the Sarah, Plain and Tall Trilogy has a close place in my heart as well! Oh, the value of rain and a loving and supportive wife! And finally, the newest Hallmark series, When Calls the Heart. I wasn't sure if I liked this at the beginning but after the third episode, I was hooked. Old fashioned, sweet and tender! I am looking forward to the second season now.

             

And finally, I will include these romantic-era period movies that would be suitable for family viewing. Who could forget the tender affection between the Captain and Maria in the Sound of Music? Another favorite is the Masterpiece edition of Pollyanna (just who was Auntie's mystery beau?). The Disney version depicts Pollyanna as a bit too saucy for my liking and this is a much sweeter story which is closer to the book! Lastly, The Adventures of Ociee Nash is a fun and pleasant look into the Edwardian Era with a bit of romance in the air for her aunt. These last three are all family friendly movies that everyone would enjoy. (Note: The Sarah, Plain and Tall Trilogy can also be classified as family-friendly.)

“I was made and meant to look for you and

wait for you and become yours forever.”

~ Robert Browning

This is another joy of being a keeper at home. In those quiet moments when the household is asleep, we can stroll into Candleford for a few moments, breath in the fresh country air and travel to beautiful places in the confines of our comfortable homes. It is quite the romantic little life, to be a homemaker, to have a husband you love, and to be his soulmate, called "wife".

“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. Our times are in his hand who saith, 'A whole I planned, youth shows but half; Trust God: See all, nor be afraid!” 

~ Robert Browning

What are your favorite period dramas? Is there something I didn't list? I purposely keep away from movies that have scandal, "forbidden" adulterous relationships as the main theme and lust for a married person (so this would exclude classics like Wuthering Heights). I have "seen" adultery work in real life and I am not interested in honoring it on the screen. There is NOTHING romantic about it. The same goes with unnatural relationships (so this would exclude the latest popular period TV drama). I am also looking for G and/or PG ratings for our movies with the main character displaying high moral standards. With that being said, do you have anything to share? I would love to hear from you!

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Marriage Monday, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Roses of Inspiration, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays, Wildcrafting Wednesday, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Hearts for Home Thursdays, Home Acre Hop, Growing in Grace Thursdays, From the Farm Blog Hop, Farmgirl Friday, Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Simply Natural Saturdays and Clever Chicks Blog Hop. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. All the beautiful paintings are by Edmund Leighton Blair.