A Place of Quiet Rest

Quick Soda Crackers

2012-01-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

I have a great old recipe for light crisp old-fashioned yeast raised soda crackers that I love, but it requires 24 hours in the fridge before rolling out for baking. Yesterday I needed something quicker - our Storyteller was in a bad way with a stomach bug and wanted some soda crackers to settle his tummy. These were not as light and tender as my old recipe, but they were certainly enjoyed, and they did their job.

Quick Soda Crackers

4 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (more for flouring the counter)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon honey
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
1 1/2 cups cold water
sea salt to sprinkle on tops

Directions:

In large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
Cut in butter with a pastry blender until crumbly.
Add water and honey, stir just until mixed.
Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead til thoroughly mixed.
Roll out dough on well-floured surface to 1/8" thickness. Fold this in fourths and roll again to 1/8".
Cut into 2" squares.
Place 1/2" apart on parchment lined cookie sheets.
Prick each cracker 3 or 4 times with a fork, then sprinkle lightly with sea salt.
Bake in preheated 350º oven for 25 minutes until crisp and lightly browned.

HomeSchool: Home Economics

2012-01-25T15:00:00.000-05:00

I love home making {most of the time}and I really want our daughter to enjoy it to! More than that, I want her to be skilled before she leaves home so that she doesn't have to learn everything all at once. My sweet Mum was an amazing whirlwind of activity when I was growing up - she could do everything faster, better and up to her standard without our help - and she did! We got away with murder when it came to chores - she did it all for us! Can you say spoiled? I did laundry for the first time under the close tutelage of a friend at summer camp - in a laundromat. I learned to wash dishes at camp too. I mastered vacuuming and clean bathrooms at Bible College - my room-mates taught me. When the Historian and I were first married, I spent countless hours on the phone with my Mum asking cooking questions - and served more than my fair share of burnt offerings to my poor husband.

I had a lot to learn.

I'm not the whirlwind of energy my Mum was. I've needed a lot more help with chores then she did,

and so both children are actually quite skilled in many of the basics already.

I like to think that's one of the many blessings of chronic health struggles.

Our Dreamer is by nature A Messy - she has the uncanny ability to turn a tidy room into utter chaos in less than 24 hours - but I still hold out hope for change!

Figuring out how to inspire that change has been a challenge.

I'm ready for another tactic.

Nothing as drastic as boot camp or anything, but something that will inspire.

Here's my latest plan - making the basics of home keeping a grade 9

High School Elective Course

- complete with grades, tests, and fun projects.

Dreamer and I have been bouncing around ideas based on the Biblical example of the Proverbs 31 Woman so this is a combination of things she wants to learn and things I think she ought to master!

We are almost ready to get started!

Grade 9 Home Economics Class

Based on Proverbs 31

Table of Contents: {so far}

I. Course Objectives and Overview

II. How to Clean the Right Way

a. ReadTalking Dirty With the Queen of Clean

b. LaundrySkills Overview

c. StainRemoval Chart

III. Soap Making 101

IV. Vegetable GardenBasics

a. Planninga Garden

b. Preparingto Plant

c. StartingPlants From Seed

d. Weeding,Watering and Feeding

e. Harvestingthe Bounty

V. The Art of Preserving Food

a. FruitLeather

b. FreezingFoods – Storage Time Chart

c. MakingJams and Jellies

d. Ina Pickle

VI. Basic Yarn Skills

a. Makea scarf

b. Darna Sock

VII. Basic Sewing Projects

a. Sewa winter hat for yourself

b. Sewa simple apron using a pattern

VIII. Advanced Sewing Skills: Garment Construction

a. Sewa skirt for yourself

b. Sewa jacket for yourself

c. Sewa hat for someone else

IX. Made By Hand

a. Embroidera Sampler

X. Food for Thought: Monthly Menu Planning

XI. Grocery Store Tips & Strategies

a. GroceryList Master

b. Shoppingfor Sales

c. PriceComparison

d. Keepinga well stocked pantry

XII. Recipes To Master

a. Muffins

b. QuickBreads

c. Soup

d. YeastBread – white and whole wheat

e. EntréeBasics ( 5 meals she can make well consistently before she leaves for college)

f. Pie - Apple and Pumpkin - her favorites!

XIII. Money Sense: Preparing a Budget

a. ReadWhat Ever Happened to Penny Candy?

b. ReadMoney Sense for Kids

XIV. Physical Fitness

a. PhysicalActivity Log

b. CalorieChart

c. UnderstandingBMI

XV. Candle Making

XVI. Personal Style

a. Flatteringand Modest

b. YourBest Colors

c. Layersand Accessories

XVII. TimeManagement Basics

a. DailySchedule

b. ChoreChart

c. Todo lists

XVIII. Wisdom for a Faithful Woman

a. ScriptureMemorization

b. Prayer

c. Bible Study Basics

XIX. Baby Care Basics

XX. Emergency Preparedness

XXI. Skin Care Essentials

a. ReadThe Herbal Home Spa

b. Makethree skin care products

c. Plana spa night for a friend and you!

That's what we've got so far - are we missing anything?

What do you think is most essential in equipping our girls for life in the grown up world?

The 7 year itch ...

2012-01-24T16:00:00.000-05:00


Photo Credit

I'm the first to admit that sometimes it takes me a while to figure me out

- and it takes my poor husband even longer!

It's not easy living with me ...

I have this dreaded '7 year itch' - but it doesn't have anything to do with my wonderful husband!

We've been married for 20 years - and we love each other very differently then we did when we first made that lifetime commitment, but it is a deeper, richer - tried and tested kind of love.

Two perfectly imperfect people relying heavily on the grace of God

and loving each other to the best of our ability.

Nope.

My sweet Historian has nothing to do with this crazy itch.

It's the house.

I've got this crazy 'itch' to redecorate every square inch of it!

I've suddenly fallen out of love with our lovely home!

Crazy stuff for a woman who is

overwhelmingly blessed

and strives daily to be thankful and content.

For a little bit I thought my problem stemmed from my new ~~obsession~~ enjoyment of Pinterest.

You know - the whole lust of the eyes thing bringing discontent into my heart.

I prayed about it for quite a while and almost cancelled my Pinterest account.

I realized I was getting a lot of inspiration - and some terrific ideas for our upcoming

boys bathroom remodel.

I didn't think getting some fresh ideas through Pinterest was any different from enjoying

a good magazine and they haven't been a problem in the past.

Then it hit me!

This is the LONGEST we have ever lived in a home since our marriage began in 1991!

We rounded the corner on 7 years in this house in November.

Seven years.

And counting!


Photo Credit

We spent 3 months in our first home, 2 1/2 years in our second, 3 1/2 in our third, 6 months in our 4th, 3 years in our 5th home, and 4 1/2 years in our 6th house - and now we've been here 7+ years!

No boxes, no trucks,

no major redecorating for about 5 years!

{we did a lot in the first 2-3 years}

So now that I've put my finger on the problem, I'm not sure where to begin!

My husband has suggested that I dig out my house journal and go room by room listing:

Things that need to be fixed.

New paint/fabric and furniture ideas

Major remodel ( if price were not an object) dreams.

Then he wants me to start room by room with the little fixes and see where we go from there.

I'm ready to tear out a wall.

{or two}

Purge the whole house.

Reupholster everything.

Paint every wall.

Re-arrange everything.

{but I have no ideas and no energy}

I guess I will do what I can do and that will have to do for now!

What do you do when you fall out of love with your house?

How do you deal with the urge to totally re-decorate everything?

I have one friend who just goes to town - fearlessly re-doing her whole house frugally and frequently.

She has endless energy and creativity and an amazing sense of style.

Any suggestions?

{my husband thinks this could have something to do with a certain birthday that's just around the corner}

I'll think about that next month ...