8 January 2011
An old, painted crate from a rummage sale has made the perfect home for our handmade soap, making a cheerful display in our kitchen (especially with the little “sunshine” decoration).
Every batch of soap we’ve made in our home has been unique, but each and every bar of soap makes for a smooth, refreshing, and bubbly wash.
Crate: Inexpensive yard sale find
Soap: Homemade – plain & oatmeal
Decoration: Handmade and easy to make
(for a closer look, see them in a tree or basket)
P.S. You can find the recipe for this kind of soap on the Homestead Blessings: The Art of Soap Making DVD.
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4 January 2011
The NCFIC Love the Church Conference was held in Asheville, NC December 9th-11th. It was a time of rich teaching, precious fellowship, wonderful memories, much singing, and priceless workings of the Lord for which we are forever thankful.
Below are just a few of the photographs from the conference:
Morning landscape in Indiana while traveling.
Myself, Emily, Lauren, & Breezy. (Photo by Mum)
Taking notes during the Men’s Leadership Luncheon.
A priceless moment.
Two of the dear Kendall ladies.
The Kendall family sang from their hearts. God has blessed them with beautiful, harmonizing voices.
To see the rest of the post with more pictures, click here!
3 January 2011
Reflecting on the past year, rejoicing in the Lord and His goodness, and resolving to nobler things in the coming year.
R e f l e c t i n g
Reflect: To throw or turn back the thoughts upon the past operations of the mind or upon past events. [We reflect with pleasure on a generous or heroic action; we reflect with pain on our follies and vices; we reflect on our former thoughts, meditations and opinions.]
Looking back at this past year and seeing how the Lord has changed me and given me new life in Him, what and how He has taught me, what goals have and have not been accomplished, what my strengths and weaknesses have been, where I have visited, who I have met, etc.
It was most certainly a wonderful and blessed year.
And in all of the reflecting I am reminded that “only the things done for the Lord will last.”
R e j o i c i n g
Rejoice: To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult.
Rejoicing in God’s goodness, law, faithfulness, grace, love, justice, mercy, forgiveness, restoration, sovereignty, perfect time and plan, joy, strength, peace, . . .
God has shown me great mercy this past year and I am so thankful for His salvation, His mighty works, and His forgiveness. I am indebted to Him, and my life is His and His alone.
R e s o l v i n g
Resolve: To fix in opinion or purpose; to determine in mind. [He resolved to abandon his vicious course of life.]
We are to be always reforming. I want to always strive for higher, nobler things – things that bring honor and glory to my Lord and Savior.
I have several lists for this coming year, but I know that I would like to make this forever true in my life: “for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). I want there to be less of me and more of Him. I want to faithfully serve in the domain that He has placed me, to joyfully submit, to use my time wisely, seek to bless others, to be prayerful in all things, and to wait on the Lord.
Semper Reformanda! Soli Deo Gloria!
(Definitions courtesy of Webster’s 1828 Dictionary.)
30 December 2010
When I grasp a good book in my hands and read words that edify, my heart sings; it is a breath of fresh air, a lovely breeze on a warm summer’s day.
The books that inspire, uplift, and encourage are such rich blessings, but they are not always easy to come by.
Recently I was able to read such a book – or, listen to one, I should say. The book is a collection of letters written by a sturdy, godly woman in the 1700′s. Although she was imperfect in an imperfect world, she was a hard-worker who diligently sought to improve her skills, and delighted in the Lord and His sovereign plan.
At the age of sixteen, her father left her in charge of his plantation in South Carolina. She was responsible, put her mind to her work, and took pleasure in caring for her father’s property. A rigorous schedule she made for herself and followed, looking out for the well-being of others and ways to help the economy in the state she lived.
Her name? Eliza Lucas Pinckney. She was an inspiring woman, and God has used her legacy to continue to impact lives today.
Would you like to listen to her story, and know more about this amazing woman of God?
“The Letterbook of Eliza Lucas Pinckney” is a part of the series “Voices from the Past: American Heroines in Their Own Words” read aloud by Victoria Botkin.
Each book in the series is encouraging, inspiring, challenging, uplifting, and shares about the beauties and hardships of life and the women who lived before our time – women whose examples we can learn from.
With period-fitting music composed by her daughters, Mrs. Victoria Botkin captures each story in a way that imprints on hearts and minds. Her voice is soothing, with meaning behind each word . . . I believe I could listen to her all day long.
Through the end of the year you can receive 25% off these audio books from the Western Conservatory (and all the products there), plus free shipping! Use coupon code “ENDOFYEAR” at checkout to receive the discount.
29 December 2010
With a new year, a change of life, and a charge of inspiration
comes a new design for Simply Vintagegirl!
Welcome, and feel free to browse around to see what you might find.
Don’t forget to subscribe, if you haven’t already, as there are many updates coming soon!
8 December 2010
A very pleasant and simple way to brighten the home: a single rose in a vase.
3 December 2010
Having been in search of the perfect gluten-free bread to replace that delicious whole-wheat bread, my dear mother has experimented with many recipes. Some tasted good, others tolerable – but, of course, nothing had that grand taste of whole-wheat.
So, it was decided that we needed to look for a good recipe with a good texture and forget the taste of wheat. The loaf needed to work for the different things we would eat it with, hold up for longer than one day, and have its own delightful taste.
Enter: Almond Quick Bread.
The flour in this bread is almond flour. Almond may be slightly more expensive compared to other gluten-free flours, but it outweighs them all when it comes to healthfulness.
Instead of paying extra for already ground almond flour, we blanch and grind our almonds (post on that coming soon). This way we can purchase the regular almonds at a lower price (thank you, Costco!).
Here is the recipe for this amazing bread (great for sandwiches, pb&j, toast, etc.)
Almond Quick Bread
MAKES: One Loaf | NOTE: Gluten-Free
1 1/2 cup blanched almond flour . . . or non-blanched* (see below)
3/4 cup tapioca starch
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 eggs
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, tapioca, flax, salt and baking soda. In a larger bowl, blend eggs for 3-5 minutes, until frothy. Stir honey and vinegar into eggs. Add and mix the dry ingredients with the wet.
Pour batter into a well greased 7.5″ x 3.5″ loaf pan. Bake at 350ºF for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Let cool. Slice and enjoy!
(This is our version of Elena‘s Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread.)
*Update:
Using non-blanched almond flour adds moisture (which, when gluten-free is especially important!) and makes it taste more “wholegrain.” Aesthetically, it darkens the bread and adds little brown specks.
Although both ways it tastes delicious, we recommend using the non-blanched almond flour (because of the added moisture as well as if you’re making your own flour, it’s a great time-saver).
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