Airing "Dirty" Laundry - Not What You Think

Good Saturday Morning!  I hope this morning finds you refreshed and ready to enjoy a nice weekend doing whatever it is you do with friends or family.  Me - I'm going to be working our homeschool co-op's HUGE curriculum sale today.  We set up yesterday and it is amazing to me how much stuff is there!  It's always fun to shop, but even more fun to fellowship with some wonderful Christian women. 

I'm linking up today with Susie B. Homemaker's Weekend Wind Down.  This weekend's topic is one every woman can relate to I think - laundry!  It's always interesting to see what techniques people use to get the grass stains or chocolate (my personal favorite) out of the clothing.


For this Weekend Wind Down, there were 4 questions to answer.

1.  Do you use liquid or powder laundry detergent, what brand?
We don't use any laundry detergent (did I just hear an almost audible gasp in blog-land?!)  We use Laundry Pure by Ecoquest International which utilizes oxygen and silver ionization to clean the clothes.  It sanitizes and smells fantastic.  We have saved a lot of money on laundry detergent over the last several years!

    2.  Do you pre-treat, if so what's your stain remover of choice?
I do pre-treat.  What mom of little ones doesn't?  Oxy-Clean is my stain fighter of choice.  Love that stuff.

    3.  Where is your laundry room located?
We live in a small home of about 1,400 square feet, so ours is located right inside the front door to the right of the foyer.  It's nice because it's centrally located, but someday, if ever given a choice, I'd love to have the laundry in the bathroom.

    4.  How many loads of laundry would you say you do a week?
Oh my...I'd say at least 7-8.  Some are small loads, but we do at least 5 significant-sized loads each week.  Our girls do the sorting now which makes my job so much easier - just toss it in and go!

I won't be doing laundry today, but Monday will come 'round again.

All my best to you today,

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

I'm linking to Harrigan Howdy's Recipe Share Party!  Hope you'll join us for some terrific recipes!

I discovered this sugar cookie recipe in one of my tried and true recipe books, The ABC’s of Recipes with P. Buckley Moss, produced in 1995 by the Springfield Ohio Star Chapter.  Sue Hunt submitted this recipe titled "Old Fashioned Soft Sugar Cookies".  I did adapt the directions for making the cookies into my own "voice".

These cookies aren’t as sugary as most sugar cookies, but instead have a “light” flavor with a bit of cinnamon on top.  They’ve always been a big hit with family and friends.  Perhaps you’ll add this sugar cookie recipe to your cookbook!

Ingredients for Sugar Cookies

• ½ cup margarine or butter (butter is better!)

• 1½ cups sugar

• 1-teaspoon vanilla

• 2 eggs

• 3 cups sifted flour

• 1-teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• 1-cup dairy sour cream

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the mixing bowl, cream butter to consistency of mayonnaise.

Add sugar gradually while continuing to cream.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add vanilla to the mixture and beat until it becomes light and fluffy.

In a separate mixing bowl, mix and sift flour, salt, baking powder and soda.  Add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.  Begin and end with dry ingredients.

Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet.  I use either the wrappers from my butter sticks or canola oil spray to grease my cookie sheets.

Sprinkle with either straight sugar or a combination of cinnamon and sugar.  Cinnamon sugar is easily put together if you have both ingredients on hand.  Use a shaker or simply your fingers to put a little on the top of each sugar cookie.

Bake the cookies at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes.  Every oven varies, so it may be wise to check your oven at 9 minutes.

I found that this sugar cookie recipe did best when baked for 10 minutes.  The cookies should be soft, and slightly browned, but not too dark or they’ll be on the crunchy side.

Allow the cookies to cool before eating with a tall, cold glass of milk or, my favorite beverage of choice, a hot cup of coffee.

All my best to you! 

Me and My Sweets

Now and then, when I have time to sit and think (seriously, who has time for that??), I sometimes think on all of the reasons I am so very blessed by my hubby.  We met in college way back in 1986.  I dated his roommate for about a month, but during that entire time, Jeff and I were the ones sitting on the green talking for hours.  He and I seemed to "click" but I didn't think he liked me like that.  But, finally, one spring evening we figured out that we did like each other!  We were both out that night and ended up getting burritos at the Burrito Buggy and sitting in front of my dorm until nearly 4:30 a.m....you guessed it...talking.  We talked about everything it seemed, but then we had been doing that as friends too.  We began dating in 1987 and dated throughout college. 

I'll make a very long story as short as possible.  I graduated a few months before Jeff, so I was working my first job a few days after my last class on campus.  We broke up just a few short months after that.  I literally thought  my heart was going to break in two, but I was the one who asked for the break up because I wasn't sure about marriage at all.  On the day Jeff and I saw each other for the last time (for a while), he told me he would always be "there" for me, if I ever needed him.  The Lord knew that I would...within about a year and a half... I would definitely need Jeff. 

I ended up getting engaged to a guy I dated for a short time in college during my freshman year.  It wasn't a good decision to say the least.  I was so miserable I called Jeff one night out of desperation.  I was ready to end my life...just couldn't figure out how to do it without causing myself physical pain.  Geez...yes, I know.   So, I picked up the phone and called Jeff.  He was actually home!  Now, you need to understand why that is so important.  After Jeff and I broke up, he was actively involved in his singles group at church.  He was studying God's Word every night for a few hours and didn't watch any television for two years.  He spent many evenings out with the group for Bible study or service projects, so the fact that on the night I called and needed to chat and he was home - this was no coincidence.  God is good!

We talked for a few hours that night.  I realized about halfway through the conversation that Jeff was somehow different...in a really good way.  I thought I knew everything about this man, but couldn't put a finger on what was different about him since we had dated in college.  All I knew was that I wanted what he had in his life. 

Jeff came alongside me as a friend.  He spent so much time with me listening to my pain and my confusion about my life.  I was drinking heavily at that point several times a week.  I was caustic and very unhappy.  How Jeff put up with me...ugh.  He helped my parents move me out of my ex-fiancee's apartment and sat with me on the steps while I sobbed and wondered how my life had become so empty and meaningless.  I was a "good" girl and couldn't believe I had allowed myself to sink to this level.  Jeff never judged.  He sat with me and was quiet.  When I was finally ready to get into the car and drive home to my parents' house, he hugged me and promised we would stay in touch.  He told me he was praying for me. 

That was the summer of 1993.

I visited Jeff on weekends whenever possible and sometimes he would travel up to see me at Mom and Dad's.  He took me to church with him on the weekends I visited him.  I was certain that someone was going to hit me over the head with a Bible and know just by looking at me that I was no good and I didn't belong there.  But, no, instead, everyone I met was so kind and genuine and that really spoke to my heart. 

One night in Jeff's mom's house, we were sitting on the living room floor talking.  I expressed that I just didn't understand why he got out of bed in the morning.  Really, what was the point?  I was at probably the lowest point I could be, physically and emotionally and most certainly spiritually.  I still entertained thoughts of ending my life, but deep down I really didn't want to, you know? 

Jeff sat with me that evening and shared Christ with me.  He just calmly and slowly explained that Jesus had died for my sins and that He loved me and wanted to save me.  He walked me through the gospel step by step and answered every question I had.  I was sure that it was a trap or trick and I told him as much.  Every guy wanted something...and I was sure that Jesus wasn't any different.  But, Jeff assured me that Jesus Christ was different.  Salvation was a gift with no strings attached. 

I went to sleep that night after praying for Jesus to save me.  I desperately wanted to believe that the Lord loved me, despite how awful I had become.  I slept through the night in one spot that night.  That's significant to me because for many months, I had tossed and turned and had dreams that wouldn't allow me to sleep through the night.  That next morning when I woke up, I knew I was saved!  I knew it in my heart and my mind! 

Ok, I know that I said I would make it short...sorry!  Really though, this is the short version!

The rest of the story in very abbreviated terms:
·    I accepted Christ in November 1993
·    Jeff and I began dating in January 1994
·    We were engaged in June 1994
·    Married in January 1995

Jeff is my Sweets.  He is my best friend.  Jeff is an amazing husband and father.  The Lord gave us something precious when He gave Jeff the opportunity to lead me to Christ.  I am so thankful for that gift!  I am thankful for this man the Lord has lent to me for a time.  He is everything I've ever wanted and didn't know I needed. 

This photo was taken this past Sunday on Mother's Day.  I would love to post photos of us when we were in college and dating, but that would involve figuring out the scanner!  Maybe someday.

Do you have interesting memories of your dating relationship with your husband?  Testimonies?  I'd love to hear them! 

Homemade Blueberry Jam Recipe

It won't be long before jam-making season is upon us.  It's a busy time in our house, but a welcome one as we cook and can fresh fruit into jam that will line our pantry shelves with oh-so-fruity goodness.  I thought I'd share with you one of the jam recipes I use regularly.  It's from the Sure-Jell pectin insert and has worked well for me the last several years.

I'm surprised every year that we have enough blueberries to make jam because I find myself popping them into my mouth every chance I get!  They're so delicious fresh, but jam is the perfect way to savor that freshness throughout the cold months when summer seems far, far away.

Ingredients 

• 4 cups fresh blueberries, crushed - you'll need about 3 pints of fresh blueberries to yield 4 cups crushed
• 4 cups sugar
• 1 box store bought pectin or 1/3 cup bulk pectin

Equipment

• Canning jars with lids and bands
• Water bath canner with rack and lid
• Jar lifter
• Funnel with wide mouth and insert
• Large bowl
• Potato masher
• Measuring cup with a spout
• 6-8 quart stockpot
• Small saucepan with water
• Stirring spoon
• Pincers
• Ladle
• Clean dishtowel
• Oven mitts
• Apron - I always wear one because the berry juice stains

You’ll be processing your jam in a water bath canner, fill the canner with water to the top “line”, cover it with the lid, and place on the stove to begin heating.  Due to the amount of water that needs to be brought to a boil, this takes a bit of time and should be started first.  However, every stove varies, so keep an eye on the water so it doesn’t come to a boil for too long before you’re ready to process the jam.  It’s important that there is enough water to cover the jars as they process. 

Next, wash all of your jelly jars and bands either by hand or in the dishwasher.  I prefer the dishwasher because of the high heat that is generated, but if you don’t have a dishwasher, simply use hot soapy water to wash your jars.  Rinse thoroughly and either allow them to air dry or dry them by hand.

NOTE:  Don’t put your lids in the dishwasher because the heat will render them unusable (they won’t seal on the jars).  Once the jars are clean and dry, place them upright in a deep pan.

Once your jars are clean, dry, and in a deep pan, place them into your cold oven.  Next, turn your oven temperature to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.  This way, the jars and the oven heat up at the same time at relatively the same rate.  Your jars will be sanitized by the time the blueberry jam is ready to be ladled into the hot jars.

While your jars are sanitizing in the oven, prepare your fresh blueberries.  Make sure you weed out any blueberries that may be "squishy".  Wash the blueberries and remove any stems.  Crush the blueberries in a large bowl using a potato masher.  Avoid using a food processor to crush your berries.  Jam is supposed to have bits and pieces of fruit in it.  If the berries are pureed, the jam just won't be the same.  However, if you feel you absolutely need to use a food processor, simply use the "pulse" option.  You'll need 4 cups of blueberries for one batch of jam.

Fill a small saucepan ½ full with water.  Bring the water to a boil.  Turn the heat down to a lower setting (like simmer) and place the lids (not the bands) into the water and cover. Allow the lids to sit in the hot water until you are ready to seal the jars.

Measure 4 cups of sugar into a large bowl.  Set aside.  You’ll be adding all of your sugar at once, so it needs to be ready before it’s time to add it to the boiling blueberry jam mixture.

Place your crushed blueberries into the large sauce pot.  Add the pectin.  Also add ½ teaspoon butter or margarine to help keep the mixture from foaming and boiling over during the boiling process.  This is a little trick my Momma shared with me and it really does work!  How do I know?  I've forgotten it sometimes and guess what happens?  

Bring the entire blueberry jam mixture to a full rolling boil.  A rolling boil means that the mixture continues to boil even when it is stirred.  Stir the mixture constantly for one full minute.As soon as the rolling boil is achieved and the mixture has boiled for one minute, pour the entire 4 cups of sugar into the sauce pot with the blueberries and pectin.

Return the mixture to a rolling boil and allow the mixture to remain at the rolling boil for one full minute.  Continue to stir so the mixture doesn’t stick to the bottom of the sauce pot.

After one full minute at a rolling boil, remove the blueberry jam mixture from the heat.  Using a large spoon, skim any foam from the top.

It's time to fill your jars with deliciously sweet blueberry jam.  Remove your heated jars from the oven using oven mitts.  It's important to fill and seal the jars as quickly as possible.

Insert the wide mouth funnel into the first jelly jar.  Using the ladle, fill the jar to 1/4 inch from the top of the jar mouth.  Wipe the jar rim and thread completely.  Cover the jar quickly with a flat lid, using the heated lids in the saucepan.  Screw the bands on tightly.

At this point, (hopefully), the water in the water bath canner is boiling nicely.  Lower the jars of jam into the water carefully using a jar lifter.  Once the water bath canner is full, process the blueberry jam for 15 minutes.   
*I am hoping to take photos of the jam in the water bath canner the next time I make jam and get them posted later in the summer.

After 15 minutes, remove the jam from the water bath canner using the jar lifter and place them onto a cooling rack.  The jars and jam inside will slowly cool.  As this happens, you should hear "popping" noises.  This is the wonderful sound of the lids sealing the jam jars properly.  If for some reason a lid doesn't seal, put that jar into the refrigerator to use right away.  Opened jams can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Let your blueberry jam stand at room temperature for roughly 24 hours.  Sealed jams should be stored in a dark and dry place away from direct sunlight.  They can be stored for up to one year.  It’s handy to save the boxes that the jars come in so you can put the blueberry jam back into the box, effectively keeping sunlight from it while it’s on the shelf.  Label the box so you know at a glance what jam is in each box.

Now you know how to make blueberry jam in the comfort of your own kitchen!  There is a deep sense of satisfaction after making jam for the first time.  It really doesn't take that much time to make a batch, but you'll reap the benefits for months to come.  Now that you know how to make blueberry jam, you’ll be able to make strawberry jam, raspberry jam, and many others, with only slight differences between each.

I'll be posting recipes for the other jams too, so feel free to stop back soon!

Give jars of homemade jam to friends and family members as gifts.  A jar of jam along with a homemade loaf of bread or cake is a sweet and thoughtful gift at any time of the year.

One important note:

As tempting as it may be, do NOT double jam recipes.  The fruit mixture may set up correctly.  Simply do one batch after another.

I'm linking to Trash to Treasure Follow Friday Roll Call.

Won't you stop by and see her beautiful, informative and fun blog?  Thanks!

All my best to you,

So much to write about...so little time!

I don't know about the rest of you, but since I started writing this blog, I seem to have blog topics running through my head constantly.  Ideally, it would be great to sit down right then and get my thoughts all out on "paper".  But, life gets in the way and as a result, I have posted notes and lists to myself in at least three rooms of the house in an effort to remind myself that I had a thought and wanted to write about it.  Does anyone else do this?

As a teenager, I journaled about everything - friends, boyfriend, parents, clothes, band, choir, speech team, people who had treated me horribly that day, feelings, well...you get the picture.  When I look back on those pages, I see glimpses of the writer I was struggling to become even then (and didn't know it).  Even in college I continued to write in my journal, but after I graduated and got my first job, I quit writing in my journal and seemed to drop all that was important to me to chase after empty pursuits.  Sad, but true.  Although, the lessons I learned during those few years are still etched in my brain and heart, so perhaps it was better I didn't journal about them.

Ok, fast forward to roughly present day.  About 2 1/2 years ago, I began ghostwriting and fell in love with writing all over again.  Who thought I'd ever actually tackle a blog?  Not me!  But, I find that the thoughts going through my mind are ones I want to share (well, most of them) and ones I would pray would encourage and inspire others.  Isn't that what all writers desire to do?  Words - the written ones and the spoken ones - have been a blessing to me in my life for years now.

Just yesterday, a dear friend of mine called me and we were able to catch up a bit.  Cathy and I have been friends since 7th grade!  She is an absolutely amazing lady who loves the Lord and her family.  I am blessed more than I can express by her friendship.  She has this amazing laugh that makes me want to laugh.  She has broken into spontaneous prayer with me when she feels the Holy Spirit leading her to pray for me.  I am humbled and blessed by her!  As kids, we would write to each other over the summer because we didn't see each other that much during those months.  I'm talking epistles!  Not just a short, "hi, how are you?", but pages and pages about this, that, and the other thing, but mostly about our boyfriends and how life was going at the time.  Cathy's letters in the mailbox were like getting a gift!  I loved seeing her beautiful handwriting on the envelope.  Those letters helped us stay connected.  Words - a blessing to me and a "language" I understand with all my heart.

The Lord is so good to me!  He sent to me a husband who loves to talk...to me.  I love that.  We talk, talk and talk some more.  Not everyday, not all the time, but we share our hearts as often as possible.  He "gets" me like no one else and I believe it's because he is willing to listen to me with not only his ears, but with his heart as well.  My Jeff is my very best friend.  He is my confidant and so much more.  Thank you Lord!

Words, both written and spoken, have been a blessing to me.  Yes, they can be hurtful too, but I prefer to focus on the good, at least for today.

Do you as a writer have difficulty getting all of your thoughts down on paper?

Are there times you find that are better for writing than other times?  Morning, evening, afternoon, etc.

Do you use paper and pen or the computer for even the drafts?

Can you remember a time when the thoughts were flowing and you actually had the time to write and then felt fabulous afterward?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!  I am not sure yet how to do a link party, but until then, I'd love to hear your comments.

All my best to you today,

What's On Your Kitchen Windowsill?

I have always loved my Momma's kitchen windowsill.  It is filled with odds and ends that reflect her wonderful personality.  She loves the outdoors.  She is creative.  She rarely, if ever, tosses anything and yet, her home is neat, clean, and uncluttered.  She sees the beauty in the smallest things of nature and I love that about her. 

What is on her kitchen windowsill?  Small rocks, pieces of wood, birds made from fabric and feathers, shells, coins, and other odds and ends that she has gathered from the outdoors and brought inside to enjoy.  She could probably tell you where each item came from and perhaps even when and where she found it.  That's pretty amazing to me considering the number of years things have been gathering on that windowsill.

You can tell a lot about someone just by looking at the things on their kitchen windowsill (in my humble opinion).  I began thinking about my very own kitchen windowsill and what is there right now.  So, I grabbed the camera and took a photo this morning.

 Here is what I found:

• A baby photo of our oldest daughter, who is now 10, soon to turn 11 years old.  The frame is one that I received from friends when our daughter was born.  
• Two-toned miniature vase - this vase belonged to my Grandma Robinson.  I was happy to have it as a remembrance of her and the flowers she always had in her kitchen.  The purple flower in the vase is one that our youngest sweet daughter picked for me.
• See the colorful little woven bag?  My Julie made that for me for Christmas on her loom.  it is a special token of devotion and love and the fact she made it with her own two hands is even more special.  Love that!
• The little "jigger" glass is one that my girls spotted at the thrift store and having no idea the purpose of it, fell in love with it and "just had to have it".  For a whopping $.09, how could I refuse?  It now holds our daughters' rings that fall out of jean pockets.  Eventually they look for them and I know right where they are and can surrender them at a moment's notice.
• The die cast car - that was in my stocking this year!  Love it because it's from my parents!  A few years ago, we made a pact with my parents that we (my husband and myself) would only exchange stocking gifts instead of spending money on things that neither of us need.  It has become a stress-free and fun tradition and we take the opportunity to gift each other things that are sometimes very nice, but also very silly.  It's a great tradition and one that I hope we continue for many more years!
• My wedding rings and my promise ring - I am one of 'those' wives who doesn't wear her rings at home.  I always wear them in public, but at home, this is where they stay.  Next to my rings, you can often find my favorite pair of earrings, which seemed really big to me on Christmas morning when I first saw them, but now they are just perfect.
• Coupons - I am surprised there aren't more there, because other than food coupons, this is where I place promotional coupons and information so I am reminded of what I have as I am putting on my rings and heading out the door.

So, that's it for my kitchen windowsill.

What is on yours?  I look forward to hearing your responses!

All my best to you this evening. 

Hello - I'm still here!

Good Morning!  Yes, I am still here.  I haven't written in a few days because the outdoors have been calling my name.  It was so beautiful yesterday that I was outside for at least four hours working on the yard.  After mowing both the front and back lawn, weeding, trimming, and pulling out some of the old foliage from the side flower bed, I can honestly say I was a bit 'creaky' last night.  But oh, the rewards of looking out at a newly mowed lawn...well worth any ache to me.

We don't have one of those beautifully manicured lawns.  In fact, I think in the 13 years we have lived here, we've had several lawn care companies come through here just dying to help us out with those dandelions and crabgrass.  When we politely decline their offers of spraying lovely chemicals all over the lawn where our children like to run and play, they seem so disappointed.  I even had one guy get irritable with me! (Not the way to garner respect and business from a potential customer, but then what do I know, 'eh?)  Ah well, it's ok.  It's just grass, right?  Growing up in the country, I was surrounded with beautiful green lawns and gorgeous wildflowers that my parents cultivated and allowed to grow naturally, so I come by this attitude about the lawn honestly. 

To top it off, I have what I am told are 'ditch lillies' in our front flower bed.  They are a junk flower I am told, but hey, the plants were all free and at the time we accepted them, we couldn't afford to deck out the front flower bed with shrubs and perennials as we would have liked.  So, the lilys provide foliage and blooms - voila - done!  In between mowing and weeding, I spray painted some great things for the flowerbeds and even some letter trays for my office.  My friend Tammy was purging her garden shed, so we struck a deal and I returned home on Monday with some great things for the outdoor patio.  I spray painted a pretty 'lil metal house that will hang on a shepherd's hook in the garden.  I also painted a planter and a metal plant stand.  I am quickly seeing the benefits of spray paint on projects, but I still love to sit down with a paintbrush and do it by hand too.  There are still several projects I want to tackle, but all in due time.

The office is a work in progress (more on that later) because I have never liked that closet!  And, I was pulling out stuff for the girls' homeschool portfolios and pulling things for the curriculum sale coming up in May, so as a result, the office is completely and utterly trashed.  Ugh.  But, it will get better!  I now have lovely paper trays to put in there once things are organized again.  These .25 each trays (love garage sales!) were black when I bought them.  Now, they are a snazzy light satiny caramel color.  They're not perfect, as I am still learning the art of spray painting, but I am very pleased with the way they turned out anyway.

See this planter and blue pot?  I am thinking I am going to "plant" an artificial plant in there for the summer months.  Yes, I know, you're cringing, aren't you?  I know, I know...I would have never thought I would resort to fake foliage, but in the summer when it is 95+ degrees and the brick is radiating the heat, making it even hotter, any plant I have ever tried to have next to the house croaks in a very short period of time.  I still want something at my entrance though, you know?  Something that says, "welcome!".

Any ideas?  Thoughts?  Would love to hear what you think!

All my best to you today,