To Travel Up A Hill
February 28, 2008
Oh, can’t you just imagine it!
Four young ladies walking up the hill to their neighbor’s home for a lesson of piano. All of them wearing their empire waistline dresses, each step taken with care in a lady-like fashion!
Well, that’s not quite how it went today.
In our family there are two daughters, both taking piano lessons, both loving the elegance of feminine dress.
Our piano teacher’s driveway is a hill, a long hill, and it goes downhill all the way to their house. You must take into consideration that this driveway is icy, long, and did I mention downhill?
There was once the time when we got stuck after a lesson trying to go back up the hill in our car. There was also the time after a recital that we got stuck going up the icy hill – in our car.
I have said all this, so that you may now hear my story.
It is true.
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After many weeks of cloudy, drowsy days, a day of sunshine had risen. Three ladies were walking out to the truck, a mother and her two daughters. For privacy reasons we shall call the two young ladies Bertha and Matilda. The ladies had switched vehicles with their father. Since some of the roads were still a bit icy, they wanted to drive the truck so that they wouldn’t slide or get stuck.
Ever practicing their piano, the girls enjoyed music, as well as the challenges it brought. The elder, Bertha was taking lessons for congregational singing accompaniment. The second and youngest, Matilda, was taking lessons to enlarge and heighten her knowledge of music theory.
On their way to their teacher’s home, the subject of getting stuck on the Smith’s (we shall call them this, for privacy reasons) driveway. It was not a happy thought, but it was comforting to know they were driving their truck, and not their car.
They all arrived in a healthy safe condition. They walked up the shoveled path to the front door, and were greeted by the Smith’s youngest son, who had opened the door for the ladies. Their teacher, Mrs. Smith, called them into the living room where the baby grand was located. The lessons commenced.
Miss Matilda was first, and had quite the giggly lesson. For some reason – she could not tell – she was having the time of her life, laughing joyously. Miss Bertha’s lesson was next, and she was more focused and less easily distracted, as well as much more advanced in the study of playing piano.
Afterwords, they dressed for the outdoors accordingly. Hurrying to their truck to get out of the cold, they once again piled in. The mother started the vehicle, and backed out of the parking area – so far, so good. Then when she started up the hill, there was a loss of traction, but it was regained quickly.
The speedometer showed them going 40 mph, yet the vehicle was only progressing at about 4 mph. A long time it seemed to them to get up the hill, finally they were almost to the top.
Suddenly they stopped. The girls’ mother pushed on the accelerator, and the wheels went swirling, but but the truck went no where. She began to explain to her daughters how much she disliked the hill for this very reason.
Backing up, they tried again with a “running” start. Yet once again, the attempt failed. This process was repeated once more, then giving up, the ladies waited for Mr. Smith to come and save them.
Soon he was there, and the mother stepped out momentarily so that Mr. Smith could drive the truck where needed. After a few tries going up the hill, he went into the side-yard. With the wheels spinning, and the vehicle not going very far, Mr. Smith said, “It doesn’t have enough weight in the back, that’s why the truck isn’t getting any traction.”
Matilda offered for her and Bertha to sit in the back, and that was replied with, “That would probably help.” So they quickly hopped out, rushed around to the back, and climbed in. Their mother joined them.
With a few more tries around the yard and driveway, they just weren’t making much progress. More weight was needed for the back of the truck. So Matilda asked Mrs. Smith if she’d like to get in too, to see if it would help.
Mrs. Smith got into the back of the truck and was excitedly followed by her three sons. Immediately the occupants could feel that there was more traction between the truck and the icy snow. But alas, it still seemed like there was not enough weight.
The girls’ mother offered for her husband to come and pick the three of them up, and that they could pick up the truck a few days later when the snow melted. But Mrs. Smith said, “It’s a thing guy thing now, he’ll have to conquer it.”
Then, the truck took off. Up the hill it went with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their three boys, along with the mother and two daughters. Yay! Cheers all around! Safely the vehicle arrived at the top of the hill, and made its way to the road.
Ah, what relief. The owners piled into their truck and headed for home, but not until several thank yous were gratefully spoken.
On the way home, Bertha announced, “This Summer, we’re gettin’ a 4-wheel drive!”
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Now, I will reveal the identities of these young ladies. The eldest is my older sister, Breezy. And the youngest, well, we’ll just say her name is vintagegirl.
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When I had shut the door and Momma took off driving, I accidentally shut my seatbelt in the door. Sometimes the belt doesn’t get sucked back into the slot, it just hangs there. The funny thing is, the “Smiths” followed us part of the way home in their truck (they were on their way to their church). I wonder if they saw my seat-belt hanging out the bottom of the door, they were smiling pretty big when they went past us.
Lovin’ Kefir!
February 26, 2008
We recently purchased a package of Kefir, acquiring it From Fields and Gardens.
In short, kefir is a form of bacteria that you let sit on your counter, ferment, and grow. Then you eat it. Well, not it, just the milk it’s been sitting in for the past 24-48 hours.
Kefir is a pro-biotic. An anti-biotic is something that kills the bad and good bacteria in the body. A pro-biotic, builds up the good, healthy bacteria in the body. By this process, it assists the digestive system and is a helper to the intestines.
Depending on how long you let it sit on the counter, the thickness of the milk varies. The longer it sits, the thicker it gets.
The first time Mom explained this process to me, I was quite grossed out, but it’s really not as bad as it sounds.
We make smoothies out of the “concoction.” Usually the flavor is of some sort of berry. Long ago, in a far away land (about 5 days ago, here at home) we used to make our smoothies with yogurt, milk, berries, and a little bit of sugar. Now we’ve down-sized and use only berries, kefir, and a little bit of sugar. They don’t taste all that different.
If you’d like to see a cute video about making kefir smoothies, please click here. Mia and Katie demonstrate how their family makes smoothies using kefir.
Kefir will ferment and continue to grow when placed in animal milk. If the kefir is in non-animal (soy, etc.) milk, it will ferment, but will discontinue its development.
Since we’ve first gotten the kefir it as grown into about 1 and 1/3 of it’s original size. One day we will have to separate it and share it with fellow citizens who are interested in trying out this bacteria.
Kefir looks a bit like cauliflower without the stem. I have not yet touched it, but it makes me think of small rubber doorknobs.
The smell is like that of plain yogurt, just strong. When we first got it, I wasn’t willing to smell it because Bre thought it smelled gross. Since then, the smell has changed, and it’s actually quite delightful.
I‘ve learned quite a bit since we’ve bought the kefir, it’s a growing process. (*get it — growing*)
Have you ever heard of kefir? Do you own any kefir? If you do, do you have any suggestions as to how else we might use it?
Fearlessly Feminine Overview
February 23, 2008
Wearing skirts everyday has made me feel more feminine and lady-like. As the days went by, I found myself walking more gently around the house. Going about everyday activities was just as easy as it was when wearing pants, though now and then I felt like I would wrinkle my skirt when I sat down. Never did I notice anyone responding differently to me because I wear skirts now and then anyways.
It was a great pleasure to feel more like a lady, and I would enjoy wearing skirts everyday, though there is the occasional day when I’d like to wear pants. In the past when I’ve seen ladies wearing modest skirts, it makes me so happy inside, I can’t help but smile at them and wish I was wearing a skirt too.
Through this challenge, I have been greatly blessed to see other young ladies enjoy wearing skirts. Seeing modest, feminine ladies is so rare these days, it beautiful to see it in these young ladies’ lives.
While looking over the different time periods and the ladies style of dress, it is amazing to see how much ladies clothing has changed. All the ladies used to wear long, flowy, beautiful dresses. Many times I’ve looked at period clothing, wishing I could wear those kind of dresses. A couple years ago Momma made both Breezy and I a Regency dress. They were very pretty, but we’ve both grown out of them.
Wearing modest, pretty skirts and dresses is a wonderful way to be feminine, but we mustn’t forget that our attitudes and temperaments add to or take away from our femininity. We are to be “sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands [or in our case fathers], so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Titus 2:5). Our actions have a lot to do with our femininity.
I am very glad that this challenge was started, it has been a great blessing. I encourage all you ladies to spend a week wearing modest feminine clothing, you never know what kind of an influence you can have on others by being fearlessly feminine!
Fearlessly Feminine Days Six and Seven
February 22, 2008
The Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge was first started by Brooke.
Day Six – Thursday, February 21, 2008
I wore an embroidered, green, corduroy jacket over a black t-shirt, with a denim skirt. I blew dry my hair while flipping it out. During the afternoon I worked on some aprons in the kitchen.
Sorry, no good full-length photo from this day. Here’s a photo of me sewing one of the aprons.
Day Seven – Friday, February 22, 2008
I wore a three-quarter length sleeved green sweater, with my jean skirt.
Yet again, I didn’t get a full-length photo, but this picture should give you an idea of what it looked like. Breezy and I are “sharing secrets.”
This ends the Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge week. The next post will be on my Fearlessly Feminine Overview.
Fearlessly Feminine Days Four and Five
February 20, 2008
The Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge is ladies wearing modest, skirts/dresses for one week.
Day Four – Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I wore an orange/red hooded sweater over a black t-shirt, with long, distressed jean skirt. I pulled back the front of my hair with clips on both sides until mostly dry, then removed the clips.
Day Five – Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I wore an orange cardigan over a black t-shirt, with a swing-style black skirt. For shoes, I wore Breezy’s ballet style shoes. I blew my hair dry, hair sprayed it, and then straightened the front.
Fearlessly Feminine Days Two and Three
February 18, 2008
Here are my photographs from days two and three of the Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge. For more information on this challenge, please visit Brooke’s introductory post about the challenge. The challenge is for ladies to wear skirts/dresses (modest, feminine clothing) for one week, and then review over that week.
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31
I want to keep in front of me the fact that I am to glorify God in everything that I do.
DAY TWO – Sunday, February 17, 2008
Brown, fuzzy sweater (embellished with a rose pin) over black undershirt, distressed jean skirt, and casual brown shoes. This outfit is very cozy and down-to-earth, it is one of my most comfortable
Me in the out fit sitting on the couch in our living room. In the basket under the stand you can see one of my needlework projects, as well as my antique hat.
This is a close-up of the rose pin. It was purchased in England at an antique shop for a friend of mine, who, in turn, passed it on to me.
DAY THREE – Monday, February 18, 2008
Black hoody with white stripes over matching t-shirt, late 80’s tan flowy skirt. I call this my quirky outfit. It’s very comfortable, and a bit more, shall we say, “my style.”
From the side, posing in front of our laundry-room door in the kitchen.
And lastly, a picture of my “little” friend and me.
So far, I am really enjoying wearing skirts every day. I’ve even noticed that I’m walking around the house more gently. More posts to come!
Fearlessly Feminine Day One
February 16, 2008
I first found out about Brooke’s Fearlessly Feminine and Female Challenge in a comment on Eyebright’s blog. Since then, I’ve seen several of my friends taking the challenge, and I’m so happy for them.
The goal of the challenge is (quoting Brooke),
“Venturing out for one week to be fearlessly feminine in the way you dress. Experiencing a week of skirts/dresses and comparing it to your regular ways of dress and style. Evaluating yourself at the end of the week and comparing it to your regular way of dress: how was the experience for you? Any particular stories? Did wearing skirts rather than pants affect the way you felt? The way you felt about yourself? The way you acted? The way you carried yourself? Were you able to go about everyday activity as freely as pants? How did people respond? Were you more respected? Did you feel more like a lady? After the challenge do you desire to keep wearing skirts more regularly, or were you desperate to wear pants again? etc. Sharing with other girls your outfits and give ideas of mixing and matching. Showing how beautiful female femininity actually is.”
Over the past couple years, I’ve struggled with whether I should wear skirts or pants. Sometimes I feel like pants are just more suited for the occasion, or I just don’t want to wear a skirt. But usually when I do end up wearing a skirt, I feel so much more feminine and lady-like.
Though wearing pretty skirts and dresses is a wonderful way to be feminine, we mustn’t forget that our attitudes and temperaments add to and take away from our femininity. We are to be “sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands [or in our case fathers], so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Titus 2:5). Our actions have a lot to do with our femininity.
Femininity is so rare these days. It is so refreshing to see these young ladies in modest, feminine attire. So I am going to join them, and take the challenge.
DAY ONE – Saturday, February 16, 2008
I’m wearing a white blouse with a pink/red floral pattern, and a white, flowy skirt.
Having short hair, there isn’t a whole lot I can do with it in regards to style, but you’ll see a slight variation in my hair throughout the different days.
Here I am standing over our dog Charlie, also you can see a little bit more of our house.
There are seven days to this challenge, and I hope to post each day.
More coming soon!
Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
February 14, 2008
When I was about 5 years old, Momma made these cookies. She gave both Bre and I bowls of the cream filling, and let us icing the cookies. The taste of them have so many memories — it’s a taste you’ll never forget.
Cookie:
2 pkg. devil’s food cake mix
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2/3 cup vegetable oil
Cream Filling:
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
3 to 4 cups confectioner’s sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Food coloring
Beat cake mixes, eggs, and oil (batter will be very stiff) roll into 1-inch balls, place on ungreased baking sheets and flatten slightly.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes, or until slight indentation remains when lightly touched. Let cool.
In another mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter. Add confectioner’s sugar and vanilla; mix until smooth. Tint with the food coloring of your choice. Spread icing between two cookies.
Makes 4 dozen.
While living the life my Lord has blessed me with, I am at home with my family enjoying being a daughter, homemaker and artist. My highest goal is to give glory to God and enjoy Him forever. It is He that has saved me with His amazing grace and is continually molding me; to Him I owe everything. Read more . . .
