Just thought some of you (if anyone is still reading) might like to know that you can grab the Sugar Pie Farmhouse button to put on your blog or website. Ruthann just added this in her last post which is a Q and A session with 'Aunt Ruthie'. The button looks like this:
I have been anxiously awaiting the unveiling of Ruthann's (Warm Pie, Happy Home) new website...and I'm excited to tell you that it's up and going. Actually, the site is still where Warm Pie, Happy Home was...but now it's called 'Sugar Pie Farmhouse' and it is just lovely!
She still has all her delightful archived posts, but you have got to check out all her new goodies. In addition to the new look and different sections, she also has a 'review' page where she does video reviews of all her favorite products. As I told her, she is just as 'cutie-patootie-pie' on video as she is in her photos!
She is also having a give-away, so head on over and check it out. One of the prizes is the book Farm Chicks in the Kitchen! I have this book, and I can tell you that it is a GREAT prize! She also has other neat prizes...so hurry on over there and see for yourself! You'll LOVE Sugar Pie Farmhouse!
If you want to know how to make yummy leprechaun hats from marshmallows and vanilla wafers, head on over to either The National Writing For Children Center here or to Jewel of A Book here to check out my guest posts. Easy and yummy!
HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY!
I also have a book review about the re-released edition of Little Toot over at the National Writing Center here. Little Toot, by Hardie Gramatky, is the very first picture books I can remember, and now my children are enjoying it too. I've had the privilege of corresponding via email with the author's daughter, Linda Gramatky Smith. She is a sweetheart, and I know she's excited and thrilled that her dad's art/work are still being enjoyed by generations of children today!
Putnam used Gramatky's original artwork and endpapers to do the new edition, and the colors just pop! A new edition of an old classic...a great combination! Be sure to check it out!
When I read Ruthann's latest post, my heart began beating a little faster. She announced that she will be unveiling her BRAND NEW WEBSITE soon! She will also be having a give-away, so spread the word!
I don't mind admitting that visiting Warm Pie, Happy Home is one of my sweetest pleasures and also one of my greatest sources for inspiration for striving to be a better wife, mother, and homemaker. She loves the Lord, her family, and her home...and it all shines through with every single sentence she writes. I can hardly wait until the new site is up and running! Yay! Now if there was only a Warm Pie, Happy Home book!!! Hint, hint, Ruthann!
If you're interested in 'green' cleaning, then you must check out this post over at Down To Earth (Rhonda) on how to make your own homemade cleaners. The post was from January of 2008, but I just discovered this wonderful blog a couple of days ago via another great blog called Homespun Living that I've been following for quite a while. I think I first found Deb's blog when I began knitting dishcloths.
And today, Deb (at Homespun Living) also has a neat recipe for Lime Body Scrub...I think I gotta try this one! Also, be sure and scroll down on her blog to find out how she and her husband made their own maple syrup. I loved how they made a little 'sugar shack' out of stacked logs!
I hope you all have a blessed day, and if I can, I want to participate in Kelli's Show and Tell later...I've missed that one for a long time!
BTW, I haven't been updating my walking progress, but after I recovered from the m/c...I got going again. I'll have to update. But y'all, it's been like SUMMERTIME in mid-March here...and that spell H-O-T!!! Yesterday, I had to walk early in the morning to avoid the heat of mid-afternoon.
I am sooo anticipating the release of the Farm Chicks book, The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen! But guess what? In the meantime, they are having a give-away. Hurry on over, check it out, and enter to win!
Here's their book. It will be released in bookstores in April, and the new book they're working on is Christmas themed! It will be ready in the fall. Can't wait!
If you have a moment, pop over to the National Writing for Children Center and check out my article on using narration with young children. I'm one of four educators who share a monthly Teaching & Parenting Tips column on the site. And while you're there, be sure to leave a comment.
Yippee! Ruthann has posted Part Two of her Christmas Open House. Ruthann's home is just as lovely as she is, and you DON'T want to miss this special treat!
Hurry on over there and check it out. It'll inspire you, warm your heart and definitely put you in the holiday spirit!
After I posted my recipes below, I knew I just had to link to Heritage Schoolhouse, one of my most favorite blogs. Check out Mrs. H's wonderful Christmas goodie recipes! I know I posted my Cowboy Cookie in the previous post, but Mrs. H has a post here on how to make Cowboy Cookies in a Jar for a special Christmas gift! I will also be adding her Double Drizzle Pecan Cookies to my gift-giving repertoire! Yum!
She always has WONDERFUL ideas and crafts on her blog, so head on over and check it out!
Yesterday, after I posted the photos of my Christmas centerpiece, I visited my friend Marybeth's blog to catch up there. She is doing a series of Christmas posts, and she has shared some really great ideas and suggestions! I have her ebook, A Recipe for Christmas JOY, and it's wonderful too.
Anyway, be sure to check out her post showing more Christmas centerpiece ideas! Beautiful!
I'm also looking forward to her new book, Learning To Live Financially Free (Kregel Publishing), coming out in March! Congratulations, Marybeth! I want an AUTOGRAPHED copy! LOL
I will be posting my cookie/candy recipes here soon, and I've found another one to add to my collection! My friend, Beth, has made truffles in the past, and they were SOOO yummy! I'll have to get her recipe as well!
But check out this post on how to make easy Chocolate Truffles over at Creative Mountain Cooking. I always enjoy reading Dorcas Annette Walker's posts, and I've found some great recipes on her site. She's a writer/newspaper columnist from Tennessee, and I know you'll like her 'style' as well!
Just when I think Ruthann can't possibly top a previous decorating post, she goes right ahead and does it anyway! LOL You simply MUST head over to Warm Pie, Happy Home and check out Part One of her Christmas Open House post! Oh. My. Goodness. Her home is decked out in all its holiday finery, and you don't want to miss this feast for the eyes! What a festive delight! Head over there and see what I mean!! I can't wait for Part Two!
I'll be back later today (hopefully) with photos of my own Christmas decorating! Take care and have a blessed day!
I always enjoy visiting Brenda over at Coffee, Tea, Books and Me! She writes wise, thought-provoking posts, and this post is no exception. She wrote about 'forced simplicity'...and it's one I think everyone should read!
This particular paragraph really jumped out at me:
"I was still pondering it when I arrived home to set the breakfast dishes soaking and prepare a new lentil recipe in the Crock Pot. I was thinking of how the economy is affecting our family today and the realization came that Recessions (and Depressions) force simplicity on people, whether they like it or not. How much better to embrace a simpler life rather than yearn for the days when purchasing required little thought or creativity."
Amen and amen! Be sure to head on over to Brenda's blog and read it all! It's definitely something to think about!
I've always been a big believer in finding the simple joys and pleasures in life regardless of how much money we have, but Brenda writes about the topic much better and more eloquently than I ever could!
Yes, money is important...but it's not what makes a happy home or contented children (or mama or daddy).
Edited to add on 9/22: I didn't get to listen live to the interview, but Cindy has since edited and uploaded the MP3 audio here. I listened to it already, and it is great!
As I've said before, I enjoy all of Cindy Rushton's resources! Today, she will be interviewing Malia Russell of Homemaking 911 on the Mom-To-Mom Radio Show. The topic will be about preparing freezer meals. You can listen live at 1 pm CST (or 2 pm EST like me). To find out out to get into the conference room and listen, you can go here for more information. If you can't listen live, the link will be up later for download at your convenience. I love to download audios and podcasts onto my MP3 player to listen to when I go on my walks! It makes the time pass quickly...and I'm learning something profitable at the same time!
Be sure to browse the Mom-To-Mom archives for many great past shows! There are many wonderful resources out there for homemakers...all for free! You just have to know where to look!
Yay! Ruthann over at Warm Pie, Happy Home has posted Part Two of her 'Getting Your Home Ready for Autumn' series! Many great ideas, beautiful photos of her gorgeous home all decorated for fall, and lots of down home advice and encouragement await you at Warm Pie, Happy Home! Hurry, hurry...grab a cup of coffee and head over there quick! Thank you, Ruthann, for such a delightful treat!
We have a funeral to attend today, but I thought I'd do a quick post to share two links to articles that will motivate you and inspire you to get things done!
Ruthann at Warm Pie, Happy Home has a wonderful post on "Housewarming: Blessing Your Nest for Fall" Part One. You will be ready to tackle your house and get it ready for the new season. The link is here. I can't wait for Part Two!
And Cindy Rushton has a great article on using a To-Do List! You'll be racing to get a pen and paper! That link is here.
I know these two ladies have really lit a fire under me, and I hope that I can make some headway later this week to get our house all spruced up, cleaned out, and decorated for my most favorite time of year...FALL!
Do you have plans to ready your house for the new season?
I recently discovered a delightful blog called Homemade Blessings! The subtitle of the blog is 'Celebrating Life In Our Large Family'! With six blessings of our own, I can certainly appreciate Nancy's posts about her family and her nine (!) children! Wow!
Right now, she is hosting a very generous 'Autumn Back-To-School Giveaway' at her blog with some lovely gifts in the mix! Head over there and check it out! It will end at 11:59 pm on September 5th.
Okay, Friend Girls! The operative word for this post is CHOCOLATE! I accidentally stumbled upon another treasure when I went back online to find the crust recipe for the tiny pie in a jar...the one I posted about earlier today. Because I was using my husband's laptop at the moment and didn't have any bookmarks, I typed 'tiny pie in a jar' into my Google search engine. It took me right to Lloyd and Lauren...the link I posted before. But this time, instead of the tiny apple pie in the jar, I landed on a post about Mudslide Pie in a jar...and it can go right into the freezer no less! There is also a recipe for 'Strawberry Cheesecake in a Jar" as well. Here's the link.
I do believe I may have to experiment with this idea!
I am so going to try this...pie in a jar! I first found information at Today's Creative Blog at this link about a blog called Sycamore Stirrings. Then I bunny hopped my way to that blog, clicked around a little bit, and voile! I found out about tiny pies in a jar. Check out these links that are all interrelated about the tiny pie project. Each blog has something different to add!
The Simple Mom is hosting a great give-away for the book The Creative Family by Amanda Soule. This book looks fantastic, and there is an interview with Soule Mama (Amanda) as well telling about her book. So head on over to The Simple Mom blog and check it out. The deadline for entering is Friday, August 1st.
I'm a very happily married pastor's wife, former schoolteacher-turned-homeschool mom of six wonderful blessings, and freelance writer--and we live in the great state of Georgia! I'm a southern girl through and through...but most importantly, I'm a child of the King! We have just finished up our twelfth year of homeschooling, and our two oldest have now graduated! This is my place to record thoughts about homemaking, Classical-Charlotte Mason based homeschooling, writing around the fringes of family life, and more...so welcome to my little corner of the world!
Photo From lloydandlauren.com
Photo From "Not Martha" blog
