Howdy Sugar Pies and Happy Valentines! I’ve got some sweet things to share with you…so come on inside and let me show you how I go about romancing my home……
“Home, the spot on earth supremely blest, a dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.” ~ Robert Montgomery
Does this chalkboard look familiar?It gets a lot of use around my house! In December it was in my kitchen with the simple word “JoY!” and now it graces my entry with a note of love. What was once an old twin size headboard is now used to send seasonal messages of love and joy to my family. The Chalk-Ink Markers (click here to find them) are so much fun to use and if you want my secret for the best way to wash the ink off the board CLICK HERE! I also use my creamy-white pitchers, milk-glass vases and cake stands over and over. I love things that combine function and beauty! And you know I love me some farmhouse-white!
Fresh Carnations from the grocery store add a burst of color on these bleak winter days!
Tucked inside this lantern …is my vintage milk-glass candy dish filled with Kisses….the chocolate kind and the Bride and Groom kind! This was my Wedding Cake topper! I thought it was very fitting and romantic for Valentines Day! A sweet reminder that thirty one years ago (which sounds really weird to say because I thought I WAS thirty one!) I said “I do” to my wonderful honey, hero and hubby.
I was marrying a red-head but the groom figurine had yellow hair. Come to think of it I don’t think I’ve ever seen a red-headed groom on a cake decoration! Well, it was no problem! Nothing a little orange paint couldn’t fix! Little did we know then we would have two red-headed little girls and two brown-haired boys! What a blessing!
A candy-sweet bouquet….just simple little lolli-pops from Walmart!
The Vintage lamp post was made from an old outdoor lantern that was fitted onto a chippy painted front porch post. I found it last year at an antique store in Ozark Mo. I really think lamp-light creates such a cozy glow and a feeling of warmth to our home.
“Candle light, moon light, star light. The brightest glow is from love-light.” ~Grey Livingston
It’s been said “Home is where the heart is”, and I do believe that is true. Home is the place where we should feel loved and cherished….. and Valentines Day is a great reminder to do just that. The Word of God says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21. I know for myself I have a tendency to get a little too busy with things….good things…but I get immersed in a project and it isn’t until my hubby half-jokingly says “Hey remember me?”. OoPs-a-DaiSy! It’s moments like those that I re-adjust my priorities and put them in proper balance. I want my hubby to know that I treasure him, value him, appreciate him, am proud of him, love him! But if I’m always scurrying around doing my own things paying no attention to him, how will he feel treasured?
I decided that my evenings are to be spent with my husband and family…..not working on a project or at the computer blogging or surfing the Internet. As much as I LoVe, LoVe, LOVE blogging and reading all the fabulous blogs and web sites that are available out there, I have to put a limit on my time devoted to that. Seriously, I could spend hours on the Net …it’s that fascinating to me! But that would not be wise or fruitful. There are people to love and feed and a home to take care of! That’s why my blog- posts are usually every other week, it’s because I need to treasure my family and take care of my home. As you know my blog is about happy homemaking….well what kind of a homemaker would I be if I neglected my family and home? If I’m gonna talk the talk, I’ve got to walk the walk.
I just know that when my hubby is happy, I am happy. Thankfully, we read the book The Five Love Languages together in our church small-group fellowship last year. I learned so much from that book and more importantly what my honey’s Love Language was.
Your Love Language is what makes you feel loved. Some people need praise other people need more physical touch, hand holding…hugs etc. The Five Love Languages are: Words of affirmation, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts and physical touch. In the book the author provides a short little-Ol’ test to discover what your love language is….what makes you and your spouse feel the most loved. Once you know this vital information then you will be better equipped to build a happier marriage.
You may be going around feeling unappreciated. If that’s the case then perhaps your Love Language is Words of Affirmation, and your heart’s “Love Tank” as the author puts it, needs filling. You may be keeping the house clean, and fixing delicious, nutritious dinners every night to show your love to your hubby but if his Love Language is Physical Touch then his Love Tank feels empty. In this scenario it’s a merry-go-round of empty love tanks. This book can change your marriage! Click here to check it out.
It’s also available in Audio form to listen in the car in case you or your honey does not have time to read. Click here to check it out.
Here’s a book my dear friend told me about. Have A New Husband By Friday! Dr. Kevin Leman writes in a very down to earth style with lots of humor, so it’s easy reading with great benefits. Dr. Leman says “you can change your husband’s attitude, behavior, and communication in just 5 days.” My friend said she saw changes in her hubby in just a few days! Gals there are so many tools out there to help us have happier, sweeter marriages, we need to take advantage of them!
The grass is greenest where you water it. ~Mitch Temple
These are just a few ideas and resources to help you romance your home and now here is a recipe to romance your sweet tooth….
Sweet ‘n’ Dreamy Cream Puffs!
I usually make these at least once a year at Christmas…if I made them more often I would eat so much of them I would turn into a cream puff! But they sure are yummy on special occasions! The great thing is once you make the pastry puffs you can fill them with all kinds of mouth-watering goodness…fresh strawberries, fresh sliced peaches, and ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce! We like them filled with easy vanilla pudding and then sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Start by getting your filling made then chill in the frige while you are making the pastry. Just a box of instant vanilla pudding and 3 cups of milk…..
Beat for 2 minutes then chill….easy peasy!
The ingredients are simple to make the pastry puffs…just eggs, butter, sugar, salt, water and flour….
Heat the water, butter, salt, sugar until it boils….
Then, add the flour….
Stir until it forms a ball. Let it cool a few minutes ( I take that time to clean up my mess), then transfer the pastry to your electric mixer.
Add your eggs one at a time while mixing the pastry at medium speed….
It will look goopy like this…keep mixing…
Until it looks like this…smooth and thick….
Cover your cookie sheet with parchment paper and with a tablespoon drop dollops of the pastry onto the sheet 2 inches apart…
Bake! 35-40 minutes later…golden brown puffs!
With a sharp knife, split the puff in half and fill with the pudding…
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and get ready to have a party in your mouth!
Aunt Ruthie’s Cream Puffs
Filling First: Decide on your filling and prepare that. Keep it chilled until your puffs are ready.
For the Pastry Puff Shells:
Preheat oven at 400 degrees
1 cup water
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (you can use salted butter, but then omit the salt)
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt (if using salted butter leave this out)
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 eggs ( 3 whole eggs and one egg white)
In a medium size pan combine WATER, BUTTER, SUGAR, SALT. At medium-hi heat , bring to a boil. Lower temperature to low and add flour. Stir the mixture until it forms a ball. Transfer the pastry to your mixing bowl…LET IT COOL. (while cooling, clean up). Once cooled (10 minutes) turn on the mixer and add one egg at a time ( I always crack my eggs into a separate bowl so I don’t get little shell pieces in the batter). The batter will be goopy…keep beating the pastry until it is smooth and thick. Then using a tablespoon drop mounds of the dough onto a parchment lined sheet. (you can use a pastry bag, but this way is easier and turns out just fine.) Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes and then lower the temp to 350 and bake for 25 minutes more. They should be golden brown and crisp. Once cooled, split in half with a serrated knife. If there is a lot of excess moist dough inside you can pull that out and discard or you can put the split puffs back in the oven –at 350– and let them dry out in the heat for 5 minutes. Fill with sweet goodness, sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Well Sugar Pies, be sure to let your honey know that you treasure him in the way that he feels loved….
And keep on cherishing your babies (even if they are all grown up) and fill up their “love tanks” too!
Dear Lord, please help me to remember to take the time to bestow the kisses today that I want loved ones to remember tomorrow. ~ Jennifer Thomas
Thank you Sugar Pie Sistas for filling my “love tank” with all of your heartwarming comments….I am so very thankful that you take the time to share your thoughts with me!
Happy Valentines Day!
God Bless you!
Lots of love and hugs!
Aunt Ruthie
Ahhhh Choooooo! That’s what I’ve been doing for a while now! Four Kleenex boxes later I am finally back in the saddle again! That cold was a real doozie! Ya know, there’s nothing like having to stay in bed for a few days to give you time to think about things. My head was throbbing too much to be able to read so I did a little channel surfing on T.V. only to conclude there’s not a lot of good ol wholesome programing available anymore, or at least that I could find ( other than the cooking and home improvement shows ). I began to feel so sorry for the generation of kids growing up on violent and sarcastic cartoons, shows about wizards and teenage witches, inappropriate reality shows, not to mention violent video games. I’m afraid America’s kids are missing out on what is good, pure, and wholesome! The Bible says that whatever a man thinks about, so is he and whatever we sow we shall reap…..what kind of harvest will result in planting these kinds of seeds in the minds of young people? Yikes!
I just think our country needs get back to good old fashioned goodness!
What is old fashioned Goodness? Faith in God, love, wholesomeness, respect, kindness, graciousness, honor, manners, values, morals, modesty, hospitality, appreciation, good clean fun, family traditions, Grandma’s old family recipes, courage, citizenship, patriotism, an honest day’s work, Grandpa’s wisdom, doing the right thing, gratitude, contentment, honesty, friendship, gentleness, thoughtfulness, being proper, nurturing, enthusiasm, fresh-from-the-farm nourishment, excellence, positive outlook, hope, purity, beauty, balance, cleanliness, peacefulness, clean humor, gratitude, encouragement, joy, and a whole lot more!
I love the USA, I love the virtues, morals and values that our country was founded upon. But if we are not careful to preserve goodness, it is likely to evaporate.
While I’m so very thankful for living in an age with such amazing technology, if we are not careful that too can distract us and cause us to forget the good old fashioned ways of living life …
Like when; folks would look at you in the eyes and say how-do-you-do instead of looking down at their cell phone …and when the door was held open as a courtesy with a nod, a smile, and a “good mornin’! “….when neighbors waved hello and actually knew your name….when milk , cookies and a listening ear were waiting for the kids when they came home from school…when the family would pile into the car to go for a drive in the country and stop to enjoy an ice-cream cone…when neighbors would gather to help another neighbor in need…appreciating the simple things like when the first rose of springtime would appear bringing great delight in the sheer beauty of it while breathing in it’s exquisite sweetness, thanking God for such a gift…when mom would sit on the front porch steps to watch the kids play catch with dad outdoors in the warm sunshine…when kids were taught manners, to be diligent and to tell the truth…when parents tucked their kids in bed with a story, kisses and prayers… when women realized the high calling of caring for her home, and nurturing her children with joy, giving them a sense of belonging and safety, raising them to be honorable…when families went to church together on Sundays and read the Good Book together throughout the week…when the call rang out “time for dinner!” the family would gather with grateful hearts for a hot meal ’round the old farm table, uninterrupted by texts and tweets.
These are the things that will make our families thrive not just survive. It’s old fashioned goodness that will build strong families and then in turn, build a strong country….without such no nation is secure.
Gals, we’ve got to Circle the Wagons and come together to preserve the goodness of the good old days before it fades away like a neglected family heirloom photo gathering dust up in the attic! Yes-siree Bob, we’ve got to engage that survival strategy of the Old West, rally together to guard and protect Old Fashioned Goodness on the homefront, for the sake of our families and our country! The America that we know and love needs to make a comeback! Come on Sugar Pies, if we round-up together I know we can make a difference!
Gals, I just know there are so many of you out there that feel the same way. That’s why I think we are so drawn to vintage things and the whole farmgirl-farmhouse way of life. It reminds us of a simpler time. It’s about learning to be resourceful. It causes us to reflect on God’s faithfullness. It’s comforting and it encourages us to comfort others. The farm-girl kind of life is filled with simple joys, a deep down contentment, thankfulness to the Lord and of course good old fashioned goodness.
“I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.” Psalm 143:5
We need to be intentional about preserving this goodness. We are all so busy and our lives can sometimes feel complicated and overwhelming…that’s all the more reason why we need to gather up this goodness and bring it on home. This coming new year. We have a fresh start. So no matter what the difficulties of the past year has been, y’all need to pull yourself up by your own adorable cowgirl bootstraps!
Y’all need to get back up on that horse again! Atta girl…you can do it!
Don’t let the bumps in the road derail your dreams….dreams for a life filled to overflowing with sweet goodness! So come on y’all… with a nod to the past and an eye to the future I’m gonna share with you a few old fashioned ways to put a song in your heart and a spring in your step so you can bless your home, your family, your country! Grab your cute wicker basket and gather some goodness!
“Arise (from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you–rise to a new life!) Shine (be radiant with the Glory of the Lord) for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!” Isaiah 60:1
If we want to enjoy a harvest of Old Fashioned Goodness then we must plant it ! Start by planting this verse in your heart:
“Whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly (proper), whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things (fix your minds on them) .” Philippians 4:8
You know, this scripture is not an option. It doesn’t say “if you feel like it…think on these things…”. It is meant to help guard our hearts from things that will cause us stress and unrest. To protect us from bitterness, anger and sadness taking root. The more we think about something the bigger it gets and these kinds of emotions have been proven to cause all kinds of sickness. Thinking about things that cause you to be upset is time badly spent.
Change the way you think and you’ll change the way you feel!
So honey’s start counting them blessin’s!
Say out loud in your most adorable southern accent (and mean it from your heart) ” I do declare! ‘As for ME and MY HOUSE we shall serve the LORD!” . Amen sista! The goodness starts here.
Next to the Lord, make your family your top priority! Let them know you cherish them, be their cheerleader, bless them, nurture them, spend time with them, listen to them, pray for them.
Fill up on the Living Water, (the Word of God), the only thing that will quench our thirsty soul. Drink it everyday, it’s delicious!
Bring beauty into your home! Whether it’s flowers from your garden or from the grocery store, brighten the corner where you are!
Smile more! “Your smile is the front porch of your heart.” It’s also a mood lifter for everyone around including yourself!
Find an old family recipe and make it, then share the yumminess and the story behind it with those you love.
Say Grace at dinnertime. This is a wonderful time to teach children to be thankful for God’s faithfulness.
Come Springtime, plant some tomatoes and basil. It never fails to thrill me to see the abundance of tomatoes grown from a tiny seedling! And eating a homegrown tomato warmed from the sun is pure sweet goodness.
Fill your heart and home with music ( instead of the noise from the T.V.). I love the sounds of the 1940’s, bluegrass, southern gospel, and classical. Humming a happy little tune while you work will put a spring in your step and a twinkle in your eye.
Learn, live and teach the Golden Rule. “Do for others what you would have them do for you!” Draw names out of a bowl and have your kids do a good deed each week for a member of the family. Planting good-deed-seeds will grow thoughtfulness in your home.
Have a meal around the table as often as you can. Did you know that the statistics show that the benefits of the family meal are that kids are less likely to use drugs, smoke cigarrettes, drink alchohol, and they are more likely to make better grades, eat healthier, and feel a sense of belonging.
Get the family involved in preparing the meal, and setting the table. Create a homey atmosphere, light a candle and put on soft music.
Make it a rule to keep the converstion pleasant and gracious. Dinnertime should be about nourishment, comfort and support. My dear friend Catiena told me about the High-Low game they play in her home….everyone shares their High’s and low’s of the day. That’s one great way of staying in tune with your kids thoughts and feelings. Oh yes, and make sure all electronics are NOT part of the family mealtime.
“One of the simplest and most effective ways for parents to be engaged in their teens’ lives is by having frequent family dinners,” says Joseph Califano Jr., chairman and president of The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA).
I’m going to Church where the sweet bells call
to ask our Heavenly Father to bless us all.
Go to church as a family on Sundays and spend time in prayer and reading God’s Word. Do you know spending time with God is like having a beauty treatment? Just read this verse and see what I mean!
“God wraps you in goodness–beauty eternal. He renews your youth –you’re always young in His presence.” Psalm 103:5 The Message
The more you spend time with God and get to know Him, the more of His goodness will rub off on you…and that’s a beautiful thing.
Read Psalm 139 to find out how God is always watching over you, He loves you so much He just can’t take His eyes off of you!
Have a family fun night or a family fun day… that’s how the warmest memories are made! Popcorn and a movie….playing board games…baking cookies…going for a walk….just ask your kids what they would love to do, then make it a weekly time they can count on for family fun.
Teach your kids the Ten commandments ( Exodus 20) , The Lord’s Prayer ( Matthew 6:9-13) and the 23rd Psalm. Planting these seeds will give your children a lifetime of strength, wisdom and comfort. I can’t think of a better gift.
Fill up with lots of old fashioned goodness by watching The Waltons family! If you can’t find them on TV you can purchase the series from Amazon..click here!
Have a slice of Mayberry pie everyday!! By watching the ever lovable Andy Griffith show with Aunt Bee, Opie and Barney! We watch an episode every night! This is one way to keep the good ol days alive! You can also get the series from Amazon click here!
Ahh yes! The ever wonderful Little House On The Prairie! (Also available on Amazon…click here.)
Tuck your kids in bed each night with lots of sweet things to say about them…like “if I could pick from all the kids in all the world, I would pick you!!” Pray for them and let them have a turn to thank God for their blessings.
Find a fun apron to wear with your pearls….it’s makes homemaking that much more fun!
And to America’s rescue…. Franklin Springs Family Media has so many wonderful resources for the family!They have excellent films that will inspire and encourage your family to live a life of honor and goodness. If you go to their web site you can watch little samples of their wonderful films.
“Franklin Springs is focused squarely on producing original films that provide a picture of the exciting reformation that’s happening in families across the country – fathers serving and loving their families, mothers embracing the high calling of raising children, and children enjoying the adventure of growing up in a family seeking God’s best for their home. ” ~Franklin Springs Mission Statement
The Homestead Blessings Series featuring the West Ladies is one of my personal favorites from Franklin Springs! They have a couple new DVD’s out that I can’t wait to get! The Art Of Cooking and The Art Of Dairy Delights. This sweet family lives on a farm in Tennessee and they share their farm-girl life from the kitchen to the garden. Talk about old fashioned goodness!
“The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.” Psalm 33:5
Lastly, I would like to share the lyrics to an endearing new country song by Craig Morgan titled:
Sweet Old Fashion Goodness
Wind chimes in a weeping willow
Biscuits light as feather pillows
At Mama’s house
Sunday morning kids a squirming
Thank the preacher for the sermon
As your walking out
Sweet old fashion goodness
Old man comes out and pumps your gas
Tells a joke while he cleans your glass
And says thank you friend
Grab a cup of sugar from your neighbor
Honor roll made the morning paper
Cut it out again
Sweet old fashion goodness
Chorus:
We don’t need no bureaucrats
No scientists or diplomats
To help us figure out what this world needs
Just sweet old fashion goodness
He says have you met my young bride
We got married back in ’49
She ain’t changed at all
There’s a nervous boy on the front porch waiting
While the daddy of the girl he’s been dating
Lays down the law
Thank you Sugar Pies for stopping by for some down-home Goodness Pie!
Please share your thoughts and ideas on how we can preserve the goodness of the good old days.
Bless your family, make home sweet!
Aunt Ruthie!
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