From one glory to another

A better morning could not have been ordered. Last night's storm brought a respite in the heat wave so sitting outside while Rose had her riding lesson gave me time to sew on Charlotte's dress, one that I had smocked with blueberry floss. I hemmed and sewed on buttons

while sweet Charlotte sat beside me and counted. Usborne's 1001 Things To Spot books are wonderful to keep in the car because they may be pulled out anytime and anyplace to fill empty waiting moments. I must confess even my easily bored mind enjoys the activity these books extend.

A 22 year old American soldier's body was laid to rest today. He was killed on Sunday, July 13 while on active duty in Afghanistan. I provided food for the family and attended the funeral this afternoon. He was honored as any deserving hero should be honored by the country he so proudly served.

Whistle while you work.....

What else can you do on a hot day in July when even swimming in the pool seems tortuous? Clean of course! Since college- age son has completed summer school algebra class and work schedule is scanty he is engaged to scrub the kitchen tile with Mrs. Meyers Lemon Verbena Cleaning Spray. I am hopelessly into fragrances so I believe I am making his chore more enjoyable. We shall see. More the merrier and it certainly makes the load lighter as the girls joined in with their own respective jobs. Charlotte cheerfully helped me change my bedroom sheets while Rose picked up her bedroom and supposedly cleaned her bathroom. Absolutely no one receives extra credit for complaining......but you just might receive an extra chore. Whistling, however, is permissible.

Poison Ivy Woes

Poor Rose! Her outbreak of poison ivy sent us to the doctor's office today. This is actually her first episode and it is a doozy. We kid her along these lines," No, I am not allergic to poison ivy. Here, I will prove it to you and go roll around in this patch." Because according to her she does not know from whence she contacted it. As for me I find myself wanting to scratch whenever I see her, sympathetic itch woes you know.

Eternal Remnant

"And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day." Deuteronomy 6:24


Still thinking about remnants, but this time of a different manner. The Lord our God has for us to be preserved for Him and His glory, to be a remnant that lasts forever.....a remnant chosen by grace. (Romans 11:5)

Remnants of Fabric

My grandmother was an excellent seamstress who had a business of making draperies and slipcovers. I grew up spending time in her sewing room where I learned to appreciate a variety of multitudinous bolts of fabric. This morning found me waiting in line for the doors to open at a fabric sale. These designer fabrics are originally very pricey, but bargains were today's prize and I decided even if I never sewed these remnants into anything, it would be an uplifting experience just to get them out once and a while to ooh and aah over. (It doesn't take much to indulge any decadence on my part! )
Some of my plans are to make American Girl clothes for my daughters' dolls with these silk, brocade, and broche remnants.
Felicity and Samantha will be the most well-dressed dolls at the tea party.

Morning Delight

"Thou my best thought, by day or by night,

Waking or sleeping, thou presence my light".

I have mentioned before I am an early riser. The Lord has always provided a special space for my daily quiet times with Him and now it just happens to be outside on a covered porch. Gratefully each and every morning I marvel at His mercy and grace to me by giving me such a simple thing; but one that bears great weight in my life. Here I pray, read His Word and journal. I am always in my nightgown and about halfway through I go inside to get a mug of coffee. Then with hot coffee in hand I return to just delight in Him. I once read a story about a missionary that told a story of a young convert in China. At the close of prayer time this young woman would profoundly close her prayer,"Lord, I am just delighted to talk with You!" My thoughts exactly......

peaches and plums

Farmer Markets make for a satisfying way to spend a morning. Every one of the senses are activated right up until the time you hop into your car to drive home. I do not want to hurry the process and I find myself lingering even after my arms are filled with my choices of the bountiful harvests. Peaches and plums fancied me on this trip.The plums are so juicy they squirt their juice all over your face and clothes when you bite into them. These particular kind of peaches, freestones, are my favorite and upon twisting out the pit their sweetness just exudes summer. After arriving home I tenderly wash each one to display them in this old turquoise dish given to me by my mother when she was moving. It is in fact a canape dish, but its whimsical appearance make it a good choice for holding small portions of fruit too.The dish is quickly emptying itself because when fresh fruit is so available who can resist such goodness! Not me.

Seasonable Books

Some books have seasons. Yes, it is true any book suitable for summer can be just as suitable for winter, but there are certain books I prefer to read in the summer and others I prefer to read in the winter. For example, I still have vivid memories of reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's book, The Longest Winter, to Alan during a particularly stormy winter. Even though the winter in her book was so much more severe, nevertheless, while we read we were cozily wrapped in afghans and staying inside while the harsh winds blew outside our windowpanes. Now reading this book on a sultry 92 degree summer day would not be half so credible. Those are the times I love to get absorbed in books such as Gone Away Lake or Return to Gone Away by Elizabeth Enright. The mosquitoes and long stretch of days without school conjure up reality as I sit reading to my girls on wicker chairs while drinking iced tea with lemon; in other words,"I'm living it". And is not this what a good book intends to do for us?

A Place at His Table

"He has taken me to the banquet hall, and His banner over me is love."
Song Of Songs 2:4



As I was putting up my wedding china, silverware and crystal from the Sunday meal I could not but help think of the day I would sit at His table.

I knew ......so I baked a cake

We have a favorite chocolate pan cake around here that I make quite often because it is so easy and good. The icing alone is worth it all because I always think I am eating fudge . Charlotte is my helper in the most special of ways. She adds the vanilla.
Then with the most coordinated and precise little hands, she turns on the mixer.

Since no one else assisted with this cake, the beater was all Charlotte's!

Chocolate Pan Cake

2 cups flour

1 3/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 sticks of butter

4 tablespoons of cocoa

1 cup water

2 eggs

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

Melt butter, cocoa and water together in saucepan. Blend eggs and sugar. Sift together dry ingredients. Add cocoa mixture to eggs and sugar; then add dry ingredients. Mix in buttermilk and vanilla. Pour into greased 9x12 pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

Icing

Melt 1 stick butter,4 Tablespoons cocoa, and 6 Tablespoons buttermilk in saucepan until melted.

Add 2 cups powdered sugar,1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt.

Pour onto cooled cake, this icing will harden as it cools.

Serve with a glass of cold milk and be sure to close your eyes as if you are in chocolate heaven! So simple.

Company's Coming!

Bathroom cleaned to a shine.....check

Floors mopped.....check

Fresh towels put out....check

Rosemary sprigs placed in milkglass vase.....check

Homemade soap placed in shell holder.....check

Some very dear friends are visiting for the weekend. Alan is agreeably giving up his room which is especially nice since he has his own bathroom. But boy did I have to clean this room today. And that is all I am going to say about that......! The soap is made by a friend and her daughter. They make a variety of natural soaps in their basement soap kitchen.It is heavenly and I am an addicted customer for life. You can find them at katherinelesliesoaps.