With Spring right around the corner, I decided to start freshening-up around the old farmhouse starting with my pantry. It was really in need of a good de-cluttering, cleaning and re-organizing!

“The beauty of the house is order. The blessing of the house is contentment. The glory of the house is hospitality. The crown of the house is godliness.” ~Author Unknown

Let me tell you it was a mess! And that is not a good thing since my pantry is open for all to see.

When my husband and I designed our house, putting in a large pantry was a priority for me.  Not only is there enough room to store food but also serving platters, extra dishes, small appliances, canning supplies, tablecloths,  paper goods, lunch boxes,and  bowls. But when these things get out of place it can get messy!

I get so many questions and comments on my pantry, I thought I would give y’all a closer look…

My baking center is attatched to the pantry with a pass through window so I can gather ingredients and pass them into the kitchen area.

The sheer white curtains were hung as a sweet reminder of the days when  busy farm-wives would set a fresh baked pie on the window sill to cool….the curtains would flutter and dance around it in the fresh country air….

The pantry is an eight by eight square room that separates the living room/entry from the kitchen. The vintage farmhouse screen door comes with me to every house I move to.

The farm-y lantern actually flickers as if  there’s a flame inside. I have the same ones hanging around my front porch too.  You can even get them with sound effects. Near my front door I have one that plays cricket and frog sounds and another one that plays the steam whistle sound from a Choo-Choo train! These are the kind of lanterns you would find at an amusement park, and since I’m a Disneyland girl, who loves Knotts Berry Farm and Silver Dollar City, I knew they would be perfect!  The company offers a variety of entertaining sounds such as cows mooing, chickens and roosters, and horses trotting! The company who makes them is called Somethin’ Different, you can click here to check them out.

The vintage apron hanging on the screen door reminds me that my job as a homemaker is vital to the well being of my family.

“A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands.” Proverbs 14:1

Come on in and take a peek…(it’s clean now! lol)

The Flour, Sugar, Eggs,Milk, Bread, and  Coffee signs, painted on tin, were found at Gordman’s for around 3 dollars each. They give my pantry an old General Store look.

I stock a lot of my canned goods for those times when the cold wind blows bringing with it snow and ice. It’s a good feeling to have food on hand ( like the makings for Chili or soups)  to fill our tummies so we can stay home where it’s warm and safe. On most days though, we eat more fresh fruits and veggies rather than canned goods.

I keep a bowl of clothespins handy in my pantry to keep opened packages air-tight….plus it looks cute…cute is important!

I am serious about cute being important….tucking  little bits of sweetness in the nooks and crannies of our home bring delight to the heart, adds comfort in the corners, makes things cozy. It’s the  sweet little things placed in love,  that help make our house a home.

My canning jars are ready for my summertime jam making!

This is so HillBilly… I just had to show ya! My funny hubby, who does not have a “Mr. Fix-it” bone in his body (he is a financial genius instead) decided one day that he wanted the screen door to close on it’s own. So he rigged up this weight system by tying a ribbon (somehow he found my cute red and white gingham ribbon…thank goodness! LoL) to a metal basket. The weights consist of one can of peaches and one can of pumpkin. It works!!!! Oh HoNeY!

HiLaRiOuS!

Getting my pantry cleaned and organized gave me such a freeing feeling! Like a weight lifted off my back. Don’t y’all just love the feeling when you’ve cleaned out a closet or the garage? It was something that needed to be done for a while but for one reason or another I just couldn’t get to it….until one day I went in to get something and looked on the package to see the expiration date…well, that thing should have been thrown out a loooooong time ago!  That was it! I grabbed my apron and rolled up my sleeves…this was gonna be war and it was not going to be pretty! I knew  right then I needed to clean  every shelf, and check every item for freshness…. I was not going to have  a repeat of something that happened a year ago….

…this is what happened….one day last year little Summer stayed home from school with an upset tummy and a slight fever.  Wanting to make her as comfortable as I could I made a little bed on the sofa by covering the bottom cushions with a fresh bed sheet, propped up her pillow at one end and covered her with a soft warm blanket and turned  a video on for her. Then I got busy making some chicken soup. Around noon I lined a tray with a flour sack towel, placed the bowl of soup on it with a side of saltine crackers. Then I carried the tray of homemade goodness to Summer. Of course at this point I’m feeling like a happy little mother hen taking good care of her baby chickie……until Summer took a little nibble from the cracker. She grabbed the napkin and immediately spit it out with a loud “EW!”,I said ‘What’s wrong?”  She answered, as she ran to the bathroom to rinse her mouth out and brush her teeth, ”the cracker tastes yucky….like it’s rotten!”  Well, I took a bite…”Ew!” she was right, the cracker was bitter, it had turned rancid.  After I ran to brush my teeth, I went to check the expiration date and yes it was way old…not quite as old as Moses, but pretty old!  Oh for goodness sake! My poor child! I felt TeRRiBLe!  From then on I’ve become a freak at checking expiration dates on food.

I guess it made sense. We don’t eat a lot of saltine crackers except for when someone gets sick and no one had been sick in quite a while (thank the Lord). It didn’t seem like it had been that long since I bought them. Of course, they could have been sitting on the shelf at the store for a long time. So now I check the dates on the food before I put it in my grocery cart. No more yucky old food is gonna get passed these Mama’s eyes ever again!

Back to cleaning my pantry….as I was taking everything off the shelves, checking each item, throwing away any expired food and wiping everything down, I began to think about the similarities between the things we stock  in our pantry and the things we store in our hearts and minds. It doesn’t do me or my family any good to have a pantry filled with rancid food nor does it do us any good to have our mind filled with rancid thoughts.  Bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, self-pity, stagnant thinking, unrealistic expectations, disappointments, holding onto the past, bad attitudes, grumbling,  complaining, self- destructive thinking, critical, unkind thoughts toward people, jealousy, hopelessness, dreading to do the things that need to be done, laziness, fear, worry, negativity (thoughts we all have have had at one time or another).  These kinds of thoughts don’t just stay in our mind and heart they come out through our actions and the words we speak (”For as he thinks in his heart, so is he” Proverbs 23:7) causing those around us to experience the bitter taste of our negative attitudes.  They also can make us sick physically, cause us to feel miserable emotionally, and steal our peace and joy.

Why do we keep these miserable thoughts on the shelves of our mind and heart, knowing they will only keep us from the kind of joyful life we all want? Is keeping that grudge on the top shelf worth more than having peace of mind? Uh. No.

What’s a gal to do?

We need to take stock and clean out the pantry of our mind and heart!

The fabulous news is we’ve got help from the Lord!

He has given us the tools to clean out, freshen, and  sweeten our mind , through the Word of God.  He has all of the tools that we need right there in the Bible. But we’ve got to roll up our sleeves, and take the time to renew and refresh our mind everyday by reading and meditating on His scriptures. We’ve got to take the time to pray! You may have heard this 1000 times but  I am telling you if you aren’t prayerfully meditating on God’s Word everday your rancid thoughts will get the best of you. Now, don’t you want the best of you to be put to better use? I do!

Romans 12:2 says ”… do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

God and His Word is our only hope, because things happen everyday that can cause us to become disappointed, fearful, angry, offended and worried.  If  the pantry of our heart and mind are not stocked fresh with His promises  then our rancid thoughts will soon take over, leaving a bitter taste in our mouth, causing us to forget about His tender mercies, grace, and love. Our spirit gets weak because we aren’t feeding it nourishing soul food. We forget God’s blessings. If we forget His blessings we fail to be thankful. It’s like boarding up all the windows in the house, shutting out the  fresh air and sunshine. Our thoughts become dark and stale. Rancid thinking is faith contaminated.

But Glory Be! Oh mY! His Word will bring light and a fresh breeze of sweetness into our mind so we can clearly see the thoughts we need to discard and replace them with God’s sparkling goodness!

Sugar Pies here’s what to do:

Start with asking for forgiveness. Ask for God to change your heart. Then whatever negative thoughts are in your mind find a scripture  that relates to it. Highlight it in your Bible, write it down, read it  and pray it over your situation each time this thought bothers you….that could mean you’ll be reading it several times a day! That’s a good thing! Write it on sticky notes and place them around your house to remind you. Write it on your cute chalkboard!  I’m telling you this will bring freedom! That same feeling you get when you clean out your pantry, scrubbing the shelves with a bucket of hot soapy water and throwing away the outdated stuff that’s just been sitting there rotting. ( We don’t want to serve our rancid thinking to our family!!) Pretty soon things will start to feel bright and cheery again! But remember you have to keep it up, or things will go back to how they were.  Fill the pantry of your mind and heart with God’s goodness. Here are just a few samples of scriptures to get you started.

Need to be more loving?

Read: 1 Corinthians 13

“Love never gives up…love cares more for others than for self…Love doesn’t fly off the handle…Love doesn’t keep score….Trusts God always…always looks for the best…never looks back but keeps going to the end.” ~The Message Bible

Need to forgive someone?

Read: Matthew 6:14-15

“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.”  ~ The Message Bible

Been critical?

Read Luke 6:37

“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults–unless, of course,  you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier.” ~ The Message Bible

Read Proverbs 18:21

“Words kill, words give life: they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.”  The Message Bible

Read Ephesians 4:9

“Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. say only what helps, each word a gift.” ~ The Message Bible

Want to change?

Read Acts 3:19

“It’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you.”  The Message Bible

Angry?

Read Romans 12:19

Don’t insist on getting even: that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.” ~The Message Bible

Want joy?

Read Psalm 16: 8-9

“Day and night I’ll stick with God. I’ve got a good thing going and I’m not letting go. I’m happy from the inside out–and from the outside in, I’m firmly formed.” ~The Message Bible

Read Philippians 4:4

“Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in Him!” The Message Bible

Dissappointed?

Read Psalm 121:1,2

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills; from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

Read 2 Corinthians 1:4

“God comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, He brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we  can be there for that person just as God was there for us.”  The Message Bible

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16

“Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace.” ~The Message Bible

Need direction?

Read Psalm 19:13

“Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work.” ~ The Message Bible

Read Proverbs 3:5-7

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart. Don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go. He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!”  ~The Message Bible

Well, Sugar Pies, isn’t it wonderful that the Lord can use our everyday moments…like cleaning out a pantry….to shine the light on the joy-giving path so we can see the best way to go and the best thoughts to think? I want God’s best for me and I know you do to!  Get ready to roll up your sleeves sistas and let God throw away any rancid-cracker thinking and scrub your heart and mind sparkling clean through the cleansing power of His Word

Be faithful Sugars, to read it, pray it, and obey it and He will set you free and  fill your heart up with the brightness of His love! Tell your family to get their sunglasses ready because you are going to be RADIANT with the sweetness and goodness of the Lord! (I can see you’re glowing already!)

Blessings and hugs honey’s!

Aunt Ruthie

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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

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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 and the whole vampire craze. 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 a big dose of 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, Grandpa’s wisdom, gratitude, contentment, honesty, friendship, gentleness, thoughtfulness,  being proper, nurturing, enthusiasm, fresh from the farm nourishment, excellence, positive outlook, hope, purity, beauty, balance, cleanliness, peacfulness, 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 fabulous advanced technology  ( the  Internet…texting…media… the Ipod) if we are not careful they too will distract us and cause us to forget  the good old fashioned ways of living life …

Like when; folks would  say how-do-you-do in person…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….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, tweets, DS games or the Ipod).

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 to preserve the goodness of the good old days before it fades away like a neglected heirloom family photograph! Yes-siree Bob, we’ve got to engage that  survival stagegy 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 is a 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!  If possible try preparing it while the house is relatively quiet so you can focus and thoroughly enjoy the experience. Then share the yumminess 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 Cat from The Vintage Housewife 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

Sweet old fashion goodness

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 you darlin’s!

Aunt Ruthie!

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Howdy Sugar Pies! Happy New Year!I hope y’all had a wonderful Christmas! My Christmas was a happy one with all of my kids together…finally! My younger son J.J. lives in California while attending College and my daughter Ashley and her hubby Glen also live there….although not for long… they are moving back here to Branson in February!!! Woo Hooo!  My hubby and I are sooooo  excited that our new Grand-baby, and Ashley and Glen of course, will be near us! Ashley is due to deliver toward the end of May. I am so thankful!

Well, I just got back Friday night from a whirlwind trip to the West Coast spending time with my family for the Holidays. While we were there, we got to go with Ashley and Glen to see an ultrasound in 4D on a huge screen to find out the gender. It was amazing to say the least! What a miracle! I couldn’t wait to share the news……

Yay!!! All of a sudden I feel like I need to go buy some little trucks, building blocks…and oh yes, some baby cowboy boots! This Grand-mama’s farmhouse is going to have everything to make that little boy happy…most of all lots of love…and pie!

That baby boy already has his first Chargers Jersey! Go Chargers! ( A gift from Uncle J.J. and Aunt Tiffany)

We had so much fun with all of  the kids together…we enjoyed lunch at Cracker Barrel Restaurant and several meals around our family table…like old times! We played “Rock Band” and performed skits and sat by the fire sipping hot chocolate.  It’s so funny that when our kids are little life seems like it’s always going to stay that way….and somehow they grow up without us noticing…until one day they’re all grown up and we wonder where the time went.( For all of you young mama’s out there, cherish the moments you have with your little ones! ) I am thankful for memories and for photos that freeze those special moments in time. I am one thankful mama to have such wonderful kids.

Kimmy and Dusty (married four years) live here in Branson…just down the street from us. Dusty is the genius that designed my Web Site. Kimmy is the manager for the company she works for, she’s won several awards for being the top salesperson….she’s a real go-getter and perky ‘n’ cute to boot!

J.J. is in his third year of College studying Business and his adorable girlfriend Tiffany has just finished and is now going back to get her teaching credentials to become a math teacher.  We were so happy she was able to join J.J. in coming here to Branson for a few days. We couldn’t resist giving her an Ozark-y-hillbilly nick-name….T-Bone! My hubby Gary gave me one too….Ruby-dew! (oh brother! now don’t y’all start calling me that!)

Summer, Gary and I got home Friday night around midnight. It was a long day of traveling as we flew from Ontario to Phoenix to Tulsa, then drove 3 hours home.  Although tired on Saturday we decided to go get some groceries….we heard there was a winter storm on it’s way. So we stocked up enough food for several meals, plus the basics, milk, bread and eggs. It’s a good thing we didn’t wait until Sunday to shop because that evening the snow started falling and didn’t stop until we had several inches! Being snowed in is kinda fun (remember I’m a California girl!) It’s so beautiful too….it looks as if the angels sprinkled powdered sugar everywhere!

“Outside it was cold and snowy, but the little log cabin was snug and cozy. Pa, Ma Laura, Mary and baby Carrie were comfortable and happy in their little house in the Big Woods.”  Laura Ingalls Wilder

It’s so fun to know that  just one hour from where I live sits Laura Ingalls Wilder’s home in Mansfield Missouri. The place where she penned all of her heartwarming stories of life on the prairie. As I look out my window and see the wonder and beauty of the sugar-coated Ozark hills I think about Mrs. Wilder and how she must have also delighted in the cozyness of her glowing hearth with the same breathtaking snowy views.

Dad and Dusty loaded up the jeep from our stockpile of firewood to bring down to Dusty’s house…just down the street. It’s so hilarious that they wouldn’t want to be seen with those burly hats on in California….but here, with temps around 10 degrees, they are pretty much a necessity!

As suggested in the Farmhouse Christmas Cookbook from Gooseberry Patch that I did a video review on, I filled up a dishpan with fresh snow for Summer to enjoy. She’s getting over a cough and cold and was not able to go outside to play…so I brought a little of the outside in!

Here are a couple more pictures of  my Ozark Farmhouse in the snow….

While it’s a shivery cold wonderland outside, I’ll be busy as an “oh honey” bee putting away the ”Wonderland”  inside….

This week I have a lot to tend to! Because I was out of town during the holidays all of my Christmas decor is still up! I’m itching to take it all down but I wanted to get a post out to y’all, so as soon as I hit the “publish” button I have got to get my house in order! I actually enjoy taking down the decorations.  I just like how my house looks so fresh and clean….clearing away all of the jolly glitter to make way for the sweet things of spring,  which is just around the corner…ahhh, I can almost hear the birds chirping!

One of the verses that I’ve been thinking a lot about lately is Proverbs 31:27 it says “She looks well to the ways of her household.”  In the Amplified version it says “She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.”

As we look forward to a new year, lets look well to the ways of our household by being thankful, joyful and contented. And lets do our best to create a home our family feels loved in! It’s all starts with a sweet and nurturing attitude!

The best is yet to come!

Bless you Sweet Sugar Pie Sistas!

Thank you for all of your encouraging comments they make my heart sparkle!

Hugs y’all’

Aunt Ruthie

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Merry Christmas Sugar Pies! I hope that in the midst of all of your busy preparations…baking those yummy sugar cookies….shopping and wrapping those last minute gifts….doing laundry, cooking meals, and keeping the house tidy…that  you would take a few moments from all the flurry to sit and ponder (like Mary did) at the dazzling-wonder of God’s most wonderful gift to us…..the reason why we are celebrating! So go grab a yummy cup of hot cocoa or tea and come spend a few Christmas moments with me….

“O star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect light.” ~Old Christmas Carol

“Oh Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining, it is  the night of our dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, and He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn…..

…Fall on your knees,Oh hear the angel voices. O night divine, O, night when Christ was born, O night divine, O night divine!” ~ A. Adam

“Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them” Luke 2:19

The Word of God says that Jesus is the light of the world. Light brings life. We couldn’t survive without light on this earth. If the sun no longer shined every plant would  wither and die. No plants, no food, no life, no beauty, no joy.  Ahh, but when the sun shines the sky is blue, flowers bloom, fruit hangs sweet from the trees, sunbeams warm our skin, the birds sing and beauty fills the earth. It is the same with our souls. Our souls cannot survive without Jesus, it’s His light that  brings us life. It’s His light that fills our heart with hope and goodness, love and comfort, mercy and grace,  truth and wisdom,  beauty and joy and of course Salvation with the promise of eternal life in Heaven with Him.  His Word (the Bible) lights up the path of our life so we can see the right way to go.  Think about this…when we come home at night and everything is dark, the first thing we do is turn on the light. It makes us feel safe and it helps us to see where we are going. It also helps us to recognise and feel that comforting sense of belonging…we think to ourself….ahh, it’s good to be home! That is what Jesus does for us when we invite Him to make His home in our heart. He turns the light on…and wonder upon wonders… hope and beauty fills our soul! The wonderful news is, His light is eternal….it can never be snuffed out. We never have to live in darkness again.

“Later, Jesus talked to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” John 8:12

Let the glory of the Lord shine in your heart today! If you find yourself in a dark and lonely place this season, ask the Lord to turn the light on in your heart so you can feel the warmth of His love for you and see the glow of a brighter future.

“Look up! However dark your night, there’s a Star shining for YOU, it’s the Bright and Morning Star, Jesus Christ, your Lord, Light of the World.” ~Peggie Bohanon

If you need God’s help, Pray this Prayer…Dear Heavenly Father, you are Holy and so Loving, thank you for sending your Son to this earth to rescue me. I believe that He died for my sins and you raised Him from the dead and He is alive and hears my prayer. I need your grace and mercy, please forgive me of my sins and make me white as snow, come into my heart and fill me with your goodness and love, I make Jesus my Lord and Savior. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer you are no longer alone! Your Prince of Peace has rescued your soul and He has an amazing future designed just for you and you have the promise of Heaven. This doesn’t  mean there won’t be bumps in the road, but He will be right by your side, holding your hand every moment of every day. You must read His life giving Word to stay strong and to get to know Jesus personally (I recommend the New Living Translation). Read Psalm 139 to find out how the Lord had all of your days planned before you were born…and the thoughts He thinks about you are so many they out-number the grains of sand! He is always watching over you…He loves you so much He just can’t take His eyes off of you!! Then read the Gospel of John to learn about our wonderful Jesus. And read Psalm 91 to remind yourself that God is your protector. Welcome to the Family of God!

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory fo the Lord is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

Please leave me a comment if you prayed the prayer of Salvation…I would love to know!

Jesus is the best gift Ev-ah! That is why I love to decorate my home for Christmas in celebration of His Love and sacrifice for me.  All the lights and sparkle are perhaps a little glimpse of heaven…..

…a reminder that He is preparing  a glorious take-your-breath-away heaven!

“Considering God decorated the heavens–His own dwelling place–it seems no less fitting for us to dress up our homes with strings of lights, carols that worship His name, and symbols and seasonal reminders to help us celebrate the birth of His Son. “  Karla Dornacher

These are a few vintage ornaments from my childhood Christmas tree. I love that my favorite ornament as a little girl had the title of my favorite Christmas song…Silent Night…the same song I sang my babies to sleep when I became a mama.

Here are a few more peeks into The Farmhouse….

Simple adornments….hurricane lamps filled with tinsel garland….pine branches…a string of  shimmering snowballs. I bought a package of tinsel strands for 99 cents, and it transformed the whole look of the mantel into a sparkly winter wonderland. I remember putting this same silvery tinsel on  my Christmas tree as a child….what was old is new again!

I found these vintage ice-skates at a fleamarket…when I saw them heartfelt memories of my own ice-skating days were brought to mind. I “frosted” them with clear glitter and  snowball pom-poms.

A frosted snowman from Homegoods and a handsome clock from Walmart! Embellishing your home doesn’t have to be expensive!

The Disney-girl in me just loves to create this snowy village each year….

I love this Victorian house with the bay window…inside a bountiful table is set with all of the fixin’s …turkey, ham, cranberry sauce, pies, homemade bread, asparagus and candlelight!  I was asked where I got my village houses…..this one is  Snow Village– Department 56—and the title is “Thanksgiving At Grandmother’s House”…..all of my other houses I got at Walmart several years ago.

“Oh, the snow, the beautiful snow, filling the sky and earth below; Over the housetops, over the street, Over the heads of the people you meet, dancing, twirling, swirling along.”~ James Watson

The framed artwork is Thomas Kinkade.

Oh dear…the deer is eating Frosty’s carrot nose!

A favorite family tradition…picking out the Christmas tree! The fragrance of a  pine tree is the most wonderful smell in the world!

“For years we put the Christmas tree in the parlor. It was the fanciest room in the old farmhouse–carpeted, wallpapered and curtained. It seemed fitting to celebrate the Master’s birthday in the best room.” ~ Jean Bell Mosley,  The Christms in Mama’s Kitchen

“Children’s happy voices sing ‘Glory to the newborn King!’ while the church bells joyfully ring… this is Christmas!

“Festive trees and child’s delight, carols ringing through the night, frosted panes aglow with light…this is Christmas!” ~ Beth Edwards

Here are  a few ideas for some last minute gift-giving…you can order from Amazon and in most cases have it delivered to your home in two days…

Farmhouse Christmas Cookbook: This is one of my favorite Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks…it’s filled with yummy recipes including the sweet and chewy and very farm-wife-y  Hot Milk Spongecake! There is also a section in the back for gifts you can make, heartwarming Christmas memories that you can adopt for your own family, and  fun things to do with your kids. Some of the chapter titles are Farmhouse Breakfasts, Fireside Soups and Breads, Cozy Kitchen Suppers and Homemade Desserts.

Check out my new video product review

about this book and watch me giggle!

(oh brother!) 

The Trip To Bountiful: Oh my, oh my!  This is one of my most fave movies EV-AH! It’s for anyone that gets giddy over old fashioned movies set in the 1940’s and 50’s.  The adorable Miss Geraldine Page won an Acadamy Award for her role. The clothing…the sets….the cars…the story….just wonderful! Click here to see it on Amazon.

It’s Your Time: By Joel Osteen: I am in the middle of reading this book and in Joel Osteen style, it is powerfully encouraging! Of the  23 chapters here are a few titles: Thriving, Not Just Surviving….Be A Bounce Back Person…Gaining Strength Through Adversity..Finding Your Place of Blessing.Joel is a gifted encourager. This book is a blessing and a great boost as we enter a new year with new dreams and goals. Click here to see it on Amazon.

Eat This And Live: By Dr. Don Colbert: This glossy, full color book is filled with information on  the kinds of foods we should and should not eat and why.  Each subject is on a two page spread with photos and graphics and very easy to read. A few chapter titles are: What to Avoid…Stayin’ Alive With Living Foods…Targeting Your Intake Of Specific Antioxidants, Vitamins and Minerals… What To Drink: The Miracle Cure…Tips For Healthy Kids…etc.  As we approach the New Year, one of my goals is to eat healthier! Oh , I’ll still have some pie every now and then, but on a limited basis…this book is a great start! Click here to see it on Amazon.

VillaWare Pizzelle Baker: Pizzelles are Italian Waffle cookies…light and crisp and especially delicious sprinkled with powdered sugar. Growing up in an Italian family,   there were always trays filled with a variety of delicious homemade Italian cookies at every holiday gathering….and there were always cookies at Grandma’s house….and my favorite were her Pizzelles! My daughter Summer and I have so much fun making them….Summer, age 11, is a pro! The baker comes with recipes! You can even roll them up in a cone or make an ice-cream sandwich! I use this year-round!  Click here to see it on Amazon!

Bless you Sugar Pies! Have a wonderful sparkly Merry CHRISTmas! I will be taking the next couple of weeks to spend with my kids and spending time in California to see the rest of my family…Yahoooo!

May the King born in Bethlehem find room in your heart today!

Happy Birthday Jesus….You are everything wonderful!

Sending lots of  Blessings and hugs!

Aunt Ruthie

P.S. To the sweet gals who asked…my wall color is Burnt Almond–Behr Paint–Home Depot and the Markings on my vintage Choir boy reads “Artistic Latex Form Co. New York City 1958″.

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