Clothes Pin Bags, Aprons and Laundry Day Inspiration

Once spring arrives I am always excited to hang laundry outside to dry on my clothesline again. There is something absolutely wonderful about wearing a garment that smells of fresh air and sunshine!

 I have found my clothes pin bag to be a very handy accessory. In the past I would sometimes be guilty of leaving clothes pins on the line. Over time the clothes pins would become discolored and the springs could become rusty. But with a clothes pins bag it is so easy to collect my clothes pins up at the end of the day.

Over the past two years I have enjoyed making my own homemade laundry detergent. I found this recipe on Pinterest and really like how quickly a batch can be made. I always add lavender essential oil to my detergent.

Homemade Laundry Detergent:

• An empty  1/2 gallon old detergent jug or 1/2 gallon canning jar
• 1/2 cup liquid castile soap
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

Combine ingredients in 1/2 gallon container, fill container with hot water. Shake to combine. Gently shake before each use. Use 1/4- 1/3 cup per load.

Another laundry favorite is this stain remover recipe.

Use 2 parts peroxide and 1 part blue Dawn and baking soda. I usually use 1/2 cup peroxide, 1/4 cup Dawn dish soap and 1/4 cup baking soda. Apply to stain remover prior to washing.

 

I shared this some time ago, but thought it would be a nice addition to this post....

Old Recipe

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Years ago a Kentucky grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe for washing clothes. It appears below just as it was written, and despite the spelling, has a bit of philosophy. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrap book (with spelling errors and all).

1.Bilt a fir in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. 2.Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. 3.Shave one hole cake of lie soap in bilin water. 4.Sort things make 3 piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile colored, 1 pile work britches and rags. 5.To make startch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with bilin water. 6.Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and then bile. Rub colored don’t bile, just rinch and starch. 7. Take things out of kettle with broomstick handle, then rinch, and starch. 8.Hang old rags on fence. 9.Spread tea towels on the grass. 10. pore rinch water in the flower beds. 11. Scrub porch with hot soapy water. 12.Turn tubs upside down. 13.Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

***Paste this over our washer and dryer and next time when you think things are bleak, read it again and give thanks for your blessings!

 

The clothes pin bags featured in this post are for sale in my Etsy shop. I have also added some pretty new aprons too.

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Colossians 3:23

Springtime Dresses

Earlier this spring I sewed some new dresses for my daughter, Jemimah. I love to sew, but sewing something for my little girl brings me the greatest pleasure! In the photo above is a jumper/sundress, which has been Jemimah's favorite new dress this spring. She selected the fabric herself, in spite of my efforts to talk her into a similar fabric in lavender. Pink is her favorite color and she reminds me of this fact often.

I think another reason this jumper is a favorite are the pockets! I had fun designing these pockets. They are simple rounded pocket cut out taller than usual, so that the extra fabric can be folded down to create a casing for elastic. Jemimah loves pockets! She carries her little treasures with her in these pockets; flowers, bows and her little Thomas trains. : )

My mom and I are offering this jumper/sundress on our Etsy page here. It can be custom sewn in a variety of pretty cotton calicos.

 Another favorite has been this sweet little rose print dress, because it is also pink! This is one of my favorite dress styles due to it's simplicity. I sewed this dress style with a collar and long sleeves last fall.

I used Robert Kauffman fabric that I had purchased from fabric.com for this dress, and the dress below. I was very pleased with this line of fabric, it was hard to choose just two from the collection.

I especially enjoyed sewing this dress! It was Jemimah's Easter dress this year. I love the soft lavender floral pattern.

It was fun to select the different trims and ribbon to make this dress special. She looks so sweet and old-fashioned wearing this dress.

Since taking these pictures I have sewn a few other garments for Jemimah's spring/summer wardrobe. I am so grateful and blessed to be able to sew most of my daughter's clothes. It is also a joy to see her pleased with the what I have made. I remember the excitement I felt helping my mom choose fabric for my dresses when I was a girl, and then the feeling of trying on my new dress for the first time! All of the dresses my mom made with such love are special memories to me.

I hope you are enjoying a pleasant start to your week. Do you have any special sewing projects this week?

Spring Flowers and Birds

Spring arrived earlier this month, and it has been one of the loveliest springs I can remember! After a very long, cold winter the sunshine and warmth is truly a blessing. 

With the arrival of May my mom and I always look forward to the arrival of our favorite feathered friends. While we talk on the phone each day we give each other bird reports. : ) I saw my first Rose Breasted Grosbeak of the year at my mom's house. We were impressed to see three males at one time! About a week after seeing the Rose Breasted Grosbeak at my mom's house Jemimah yelled out "Mama, the Rose Breasted Grosbeak is here!". I came out to the kitchen and sure enough outside the kitchen window I saw the Rose Breasted Grosbeak eating from our feeder.

We have been super blessed by the variety of birds that have been visiting us regularly. One of my favorites has been the Baltimore Oriole. I would love to take a picture of the Baltimore Oriole, but he tends to hear me if I try to open the door or window. Usually we may see a Baltimore Oriole once or twice in the month of May, but this year he has visited our suet feeder every day in the morning and evening. 

We also have both of our bird houses inhabited. In the picture above in a tree swallow. Despite Adam's efforts to dump their nests and move them along, they have persevered! The boxes we have purchased are special for bluebirds and we try to keep them available specifically for bluebirds. However we were delighted to discover a sweet little bluebird family nesting in the other box.

The crab apple tree was exceptionally gorgeous this year! I was amazed at the fullness of the blossoms and how they remained on the tree about a week. In past years the wind has blown the blossoms off within a day or two.

 I made a bouquet of crab apple blossoms and lilacs for Mother's Day. I thought it was one the prettiest combinations I had seen.

You may have noticed in the picture of the crab apple tree that there was work being done across the road from our house. Last fall a Mennonite family purchased the land across the road from us and the field next to our property. They have worked hard to remove all of the overgrowth and old buildings that stood deteriorating across the road from us. It has been wonderful to gain more sunlight in the evening due to the removal of all of the trees. Another treat has been the addition of cows! They built a large fence and a couple of weeks ago brought in several Angus cows as well as a few other breeds of beef cows. I love to hear the cows mooing when I wake up in the morning. : )

The lilacs are in full bloom now. They smell so beautiful!

I have added a few new flowers to my garden this year. The Columbine in the picture above was called "songbird bluebird".

My grandma always had a bleeding heart in her garden. Adam bought this plant for me as a Mother's Day gift. It makes me think of my grandma and her love of God's creation.

 I have also been blessed to see so many wild flowers growing in our yard. The little violet in the picture above is one of many I have discovered. Jemimah has such fun looking for flowers. Every morning she comes in from playing outside with a little bouquet of flowers.

The flower above became one of my favorites last year. I discovered it growing along side the road in front of our house. I was puzzled. Growing up in the country I had seen many wild flowers and knew most by name. I had never seen a flower like this before. I went on-line and searched to try and discover the name, but couldn't seem to find the same flower. A day or so later I was reading a blog post about flowers, the post did not include pictures, just names of favorite flowers. When I read the name "Star of Bethlehem", something inside me just knew that was the name of this flower, and it was. This year we have Star of Bethlehem growing all along the edge of our front yard.

 To close this post, a picture of "cat Winston", as Jemimah calls him. Thankfully he has been doing all of his bird watching from inside! I hope we can keep it that way.

I hope you all have a blessed and beautiful weekend!

"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
 For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
 O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep." Psalm 92: 1-5

Spring Tea Cup Exchange

Last month I had the pleasure of participating in The Enchanting Rose Tea Cup Exchange. This was my third tea cup exchange, and once again I was blessed by my experience.

I received a box filled with beautiful gifts from a dear lady named Esther who lives in California. It was exciting to think that the package had literally traveled across the United States, since I live in New York. : ) Each item was carefully and beautifully wrapped in pastel colored tissue paper. I felt as though it was my birthday!

Blue is my favorite color, and roses just happen to be my favorite flowers. As you can see this tea cup, saucer and plate are just perfect for me!

 Esther knew that I enjoyed old-fashioned and vintage items. She was so thoughtful in not only finding gifts that were vintage, but blue too! Isn't the blue glass slipper lovely? The broach and scarf go perfectly together too. I love how the scarf is printed with blue and white dishes.

 Esther mentioned in her letter that these Mexican Wedding cookies are one of her favorites. I can see why! They were delicious. I am also enjoying the fabulous collection of flavored green teas. It has been fun to sample so many different flavors.

I love this little scripture notebook. How true! He has filled my life with good things! The framed tea cup picture looks so sweet in my kitchen.

 After planting flowers in my garden last week, I was so excited to finally put these garden stakes in my flower bed. They are the perfect finishing touch!

Esther, thank you again for putting so much care and love into this delightful collection of teatime treasures! You truly blessed my heart and day!
 ****************************************************************

My package went to a lovely lady named Linda. She too loves to sew, and has a blog where she shares about her sewing adventures. Linda also has a beautiful Esty shop, Eastern Ave Designs. I had so much fun collecting gifts for Linda. A few of the gifts are handmade: the apron, dish towel, doily and lavender soap. I was delighted when I found the tea cup note cards, especially when I discovered they coordinated with the apron. : )

 It truly was wonderful to participate in The Enchanting Rose Tea Cup Exchange again! Thank you, Stephanie for all that you do to make this event such a blessing to all the ladies involved!

Be sure to visit The Enchanting Rose, as all of the other ladies who participated in the exchange will link up and share their posts too!

May- Yarn Along

 It is hard to believe it is already May. The month of April seemed to fly by, despite the winter-like weather we had most of the month. Spring has finally arrived here and we are enjoying the spring breezes, golden daffodils and sunshine!

Today I am pleased join the May Yarn Along. Despite spring's arrival my knitting is autumn minded. I know how little knitting I accomplish throughout the summer months, so I thought it best to begin work on a new fall/winter cardigan for Jemimah. The pattern I am using is "Granny's Favorite", I used this pattern once before.

I am currently reading For All Your Life by Emilie Loring. The book was published in 1952. It is a fun romantic mystery about a young woman who unexpectedly inherits a fortune, as well as a beautiful mountain home. From the day of her arrival mystery has followed her, as she and her new found friends try to discover a missing parrot and $10,000 of stolen money. I am more than halfway through the book, and have enjoyed the descriptions and story line. However it is not my favorite Emilie Loring book. I have read a few of her books now, and this so far has been my least favorite.

You may remember these coasters from this post. They were a fun project and the best part is they are pretty and practical! I used this pattern to crochet my coasters.

Sally Lunn Bread

As a girl I enjoyed reading all of the American Girl book series. It is hard to say which was my favorite, but looking back I think it was Felicity. Reading her book series brought the colonial era to life in my imagination. When I was around 10 years old my family visited colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, which definitely increased my enthusiasm for the 18th century. 

Last week my mom returned my copy of Felicity's Cookbook. I had loaned the book to her a while back and forgotten all about it. It was fun to review the recipes and historical facts sprinkled throughout. When I saw the recipe for Sally Lunn bread I thought that it was a recipe I should try soon. I remember eating a turkey sandwich made with Sally Lunn bread when we visited Williamsburg. The bread was so delicious and unique.

My one setback was that the recipe suggested using a tube pan/angel food cake pan. At the time I did not have a tube pan and was not willing to purchase a new pan just to make this bread.

Much to my delight I found a tube pan over the weekend at our local thrift store! I noticed some writing and numbers on the bottom of the pan. Adam did a little on-line investigation and discovered the pan was made in the 1950's. I am convinced that vintage bake ware is often superior to new bake ware. I guess if has lasted over 50 years it must be well made. : )

 The Sally Lunn bread was a big hit with Adam and Jemimah! It really was a lovely treat on a chilly, rainy spring afternoon. Especially when enjoyed buttered with red raspberry leaf tea. I found this fact from the Felicity's Cookbook interesting: Felicity made tea from raspberry leaves to protest the high tax on tea that came from England. Over the past few years I have read so many articles about the health benefits of red raspberry leaf tea, it really is a nice alternative to black caffeinated tea.

Sally Lunn Bread

 

Ingredients:

3/4 cup milk

1/4 warm water

 1 package active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 tsp.)

6 tablespoons butter, softened

3 tablespoons sugar

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 1/4 teaspoons salt

Directions:

1. Measure the milk into a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. Turn off the heat.

2. Measure the warm water into a small bowl. Add the yeast and stir. Then stir the warm milk into the yeast and water.

3.Measure the butter and sugar into a large bowl. Stir them until they are creamy.

4. Crack 1 egg into the mixing bowl of butter/sugar and beat the mixture. Add the second egg and beat the mixture again. 

5.Stir the flour and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.

6. Stir about 1 cup of the flour mixture into the butter and sugar mixture. Then stir in about 1/3 of the yeast mixture.

7. Add more flour and beat the mixture. Then add more yeast and beat the mixture again. Continue adding yeast and flour in this way, beating the batter unitl it is smooth.

8. Cover the large mixing bowl with a clean towel  and let the batter rise in a warm place for 1 hour. When the batter has doubled in size, remove the towel. Stir the batter quickly to take out the air.

9.Use paper towels to grease the tube pan with shortening or butter.

10. Pour the batter into the baking pan. Cover it with the towel. Let it rise for about 30 minutes, or until it has doubled again in size. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees while the batter rises.

11. Remove the towel and bake the bread on the center oven rack 40-45 minutes.

12. Remove bread from the oven. Use a butter knife to loosen the bread from the sides of the pan. Turn the pan upside down to remove the bread.

If you try this recipe I hope you will enjoy it as much a we did! It is a light, moist, delicate, bread. 

Dreaming of Spring

Yesterday morning we awoke to more snow after an incredibly windy Thursday. It has snowed a little bit today, but when I remember that it is April I know that spring can't be too far away!

This picture was taken through my kitchen window. Unfortunately I scared a couple of the birds away when taking their picture. Jemimah and I are both avid bird watchers. It has warmed my heart to watch as Jemimah has learned to identify the sounds and names of the different birds that visit our feeder. I think her favorite may be the mourning dove. Last year when she first heard the plaintive coos of the mourning doves she was frightened, and assumed it was some mysteriously spooky creature. When I told her that it was simply the doves talking to one another, she was quite pleased. We have been blessed with a variety of brilliantly colored birds: crimson cardinals, yellow gold finches, black, white and red woodpeckers, plus a variety of less vibrant beauties.

We discovered our first tulips and daffodils peeking through the snow. I am dreaming of a sunny spring morning when they will all be in full bloom!

Adam has started some vegetable and zinnia seeds. They are setting on an old sewing table in our bedroom by the window. The table was given to me by an elderly lady my mom and I once cleaned for house for years ago. She knew of my love of sewing and wanted me to have this table. It had belonged to her great-grandmother and was made sometime in the 1800's. It is very handy, as the legs fold up into the top. This makes it easy to carry from one room to another, as needed.

It has been wonderful to watch as they grow towards the sun. What a blessing to see green!

Every week we make a batch of no bake cookies. No bake cookies are Jemimah's favorite snack. She loves to help mix and press the cookies.

They are quick and easy to make, plus they are delicious. Here is the recipe for those who may be interested in making some too.

No Bake Cookies

In a saucepan combine:

1 cup natural peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup coconut oil ( I use a rather generous half cup)

Heat until melted and thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and add:

6 tablespoons cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups oatmeal

Mix well and then scoop out mixture into cookie sized portions onto a cookie sheet (I cover my cookie sheet with wax paper for an easier removal of the cookies). We then press the cookies flat with the bottom of a glass, however this is not necessary, just our preference.

Currently I am reading Rainbow Cottage by Grace Livingston Hill. The description of grandmother Ainslee's gardens are breathtaking! I wish I could step into the pages to see her gardens myself. : ) Rainbow Cottage is a lovely story. I always enjoy G.L. Hill's description of home and homemaking.

Recently I discovered this pattern for knitted dishcloths. I am knitting the smaller size, which is just perfect for small hands that love to help in the kitchen. The cotton yarn color is called "Sunshine", I thought that was quite fitting. I  feel like I am knitting with a ray of sunshine on these gloomy days.

This afternoon I listed a couple of new apron in my Etsy shop. This blue apron was my favorite, I especially liked how the darker blue binding and white trim looked against the calico.

I hope you are all enjoying a peaceful weekend. If you are still experiencing colder temperatures and snow, stay warm! : )

"For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield." Psalm 5:12