It has been awhile since I last came by my "favorite blog". I had so much fun doing this one. When the changes were made a litle over a year ago I decided to leave this blog alone for fear of losing all my hard work. I have another blog now and if you would like to visit her is the addy: http://www.thimblecottage.blogspot.com

Blessings

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Posted in January 2007

This past week was a busyone. I visited with dear Leslie ( we had tea) and my friend Cindy came over and had tea with me. I love getting to spend time with friends. We share ideas and dreams and just thoughts about everyday life. I also love getting to try out new teas. Leslie had some Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Gardens Green Tea. Yummy! I walked, ran, drove to the nearest grocery store and bought some for myself. I spent time this past week visiting lots of blogs. Rocks in my Dryer and Smockity Frocks are two of my new links. I also saw a link to a rag rug at HGTV at one of the blogs that I visited. I am a little short on the memory of which blog now...bummer. I would love to try this sometime.

Saturday was a really bad day for me. Got my feelings hurt by a family member and it uncharacteristically took me the entire day and night to get over it. I was red, purple ,blue for the entire time. Too bad!

Peggy is home again and I have visited her blog this morning. I am one word away from BINGO but then so is everyone else. *smile* It has been a lot of fun to play.

Well, there are many chores and duties this morning and daylight is burning. Have a great day.

Ginger

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Posted in January 2007

Well it has taken awhile but all my previous entries have been moved here to Homestead Blogger and I am looking forward to blogging again.

Our family had a great time over the weekend. We rented a cabin with my hubby's family and spent the weekend together palying games andjust enjoying each other's company. I picked up some wonderful books from a used bookstore and am looking forward to reading them. I have started Having a Mary Heart by Joanna Weaver. I read her previous book and loved it so I am excited about this one.

Ginger

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Posted in December 2006

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Posted in December 2006

I made some changes to my blog last week. I love to redecorate and this is such a fun way to do it. You do not have move furniture or paint and I am pleased with the results. Come take a look.

Ginger

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

My daughter and I made stuffing this morning. We experimented a little and here is the recipe.

2 packages Pepperidge Farm Cornbread Stuffing (14 oz. each)

1 package Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned Stuffing (14 oz.)

3/4 cup turkey,  chopped

1 1/2 onions, chopped fine

2 cans chicken broth

1 tsp. parsley

1 tsp. sage

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. basil

1/2 tsp. thyme

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

4-6 cups of water (according to how moist you like it)

Mix together. Spray 2 10x13 cake pans with Pam and divide mixture into the them. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

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Posted in November 2006

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Posted in October 2006

My son has been complaining for awhile that he cannot sleep because his bed is uncomfortable. Now my daughter who sleeps on the same type mattress does not complain. I will admit at 6'2 he is big and the bed will feel different for him. I am uncomfortable in my bed too so I found something that we are going to try. At a local discount store I purchased a Simmons Beautyrest smart foam mattress pad. Hopefully my son will like it and so will me and my husband. I'll post my thoughts on this tomorrow.

I am enjoying my candles! Yankee's Home Sweet Home candles has been the one that we have burned most often this past week. They had a beautiful delicate looking white lacy looking candle topper a few months ago but I have waited too late and they have replaced it with a more country stoneware looking type that is also pretty but less delicate looking. I did find a tiny topper for their small candles on sale recently and have it for my little office/study area off of our bedroom.

Is the grayness of our autumn days bothering you? I have found that placing many small candle type lights, lamps and clear christmas lights around our home casts a soft golden glow that is very pleasing. You might want to give it a try.

Blessings,

Ginger

Well we all feel that our beds are much more comfortable. Yeah!

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Posted in October 2006

The last few weeks have been busy with all sorts of activities.

My daughter and her cousin had pictures made by a local photographer. I saw some of them that they downloaded onto their computer while my sister in law and I waited on studio pictures to be made. The photographs are awesome! I look forward to seeing the studio ones soon.

After pictures were made my daughter made dinner for her our family and her dad's families. She makes a really good Japanese type meal that we all love. She loves to do things for everyone!

I recently attended an Intimate Issues conference. I would love to see every woman attend this conference. It is a time for confronting and finding forgiveness and healing for past sins... either our own or those inflicted upon us and finding answers to questions that we all have but.....are afraid to ask. It has bothered me for years that ours churches remain so closed about dealing with these topics and I found it very refreshing to finally see so many issues confronted with God's Word being the place to find the answers. If you can possibly find a way to attend the conference I would highly recommend it. If you cannot there are several books written by Linda Dillow and Lorraine Pintus that deal with this subject. You can find information here: http://www.intimateissues.com/.

I am continuing to paint my little wooden houses and will post a picture when finished with them. I also have a ton of house cleaning that needs to be done. I really need to organize more than anything.

I hope your day is a great one.

Ginger

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Posted in September 2006

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Posted in Cottage Gazette

In my teacup:
Iced Tea

What's baking:
Two loaves of Sweet Buttermilk Bread

Candle of the day:
Spice Cake from Keepers of the Light (gotta love those primitive candles)

Cottage Plans:
Meet with yearbook staff to begin it's printing and work with my little one on a science project.

Thought of the day:
God is so good and His mercy everlasting. I am so thankful today for His intervention in so many areas of my life and the lives of friends.

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Posted in August 2006

 I have had so much fun decorating my blog for autumn. It takes a long time to do it on my dinosaur dial up but I am really pleased with the results of the time spent. I need to spend some time in my home doing the same.  I recently found some really wonderful candles that I look forward to burning.
The name of one is orange cinnamon and I think it will be the first one that I will try. Not only do the candles make my home smell lovely but they also create a warm, cozy feeling. Our family has been busy the last few weeks preparing for and beginning our new school year. I know that autumn will pass quickly and that winter will be soon upon us...but I so enjoy the crisp cool autumn days and nights.

Ginger

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Posted in August 2006

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

1 stick of unsalted butter (real butter), melted

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

3/4 cup sour cream

2 cups plain, all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 -10 ounce jar maraschino cherries, drained and quartered

slivered almonds

Cream together butter and sugar and add eggs, vanilla and sour cream. In another bowl sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Add this to your wet mixture and stir until blended well. Add cherries mixing them well. Spoon into greased, texas size muffin pans. Sprinkle with sugar and almonds. Bake in a 375 degree oven (that has been preheated) for 30 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and they will lift right out of your pan.

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Posted in July 2006

I noticed the changes a few weeks ago. The sweet twittering of the birds was missing and I feel a little sad knowing that they are leaving for the winter. The parents have completed their tasks of building their nest, raising and feeding their young and then watching them as they fly off on their own.

My oldest children are away for the week. They will have many opportunities this week to meet and accept many physical and spiritual challenges. I realize that like my bird friends I am also watching my young on the verge of taking flight into their own worlds. I know that they will quickly adjust. Mom, however, will be much slower to accept the changes.

My little nest had been filled all these years with the needs of my brood  and I know that as they prepare to leave home their need for mom's and dad's advice and guidance will lessen. But oh, how they can soar if their obedience and faith in Jesus Christ remains solid.

Take flight my sweet ones.....

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Posted in July 2006

All five of them..add my two boys and my girl and we are working hard on that Cheaper by the Dozen theme. The boys are my children's cousins from my husbands side of the family. I have to admit it, they are all awesome. So our days will be full...full of outdoor games and water fights, full of food preparation for a crowd, full of games and movies, full of the lack of sleep and most of all full of fun and laughter. I just love "em". What joy!

Ginger

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Posted in July 2006

Sometimes I come across a post on another blog that is amazing. I was visiting Beth's Blog and read her post titled "Me and My Prince". Beth has wisdom beyond her age and it is well worth the time to read her post. Notice the prayer at the end.....it is a wonderful, powerful prayer for all wives.

Ginger

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Posted in July 2006

I really am a homebody...really. These last few weeks have been full to the brim with traveling, doctor appointments, shopping (of all sorts), cleaning and lots of planning for the new school year. There is a fair amount of stress involved with all the activity and I have had lots of headaches and even a little uncomfortable feeling in my chest ( that tends to happen when I am under stress). It is so funny. When I was younger I really enjoyed all the activity and rushing around. Now I like quiet days shared with a friend over a cup of tea, or a moonlit walk with my family (or just my hubby), or a peaceful nap with the cool air blowing through the windows. I do have lots of fun when we travel and I love to see new things but truly there is "no place like home".

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

This is one of our favorite recipes. We hope that you will enjoy it too.

8-10 chicken breasts, cooked and put through food processor (until chunky)

1 3/4- 2 cups mayonnaise

2 cups red grapes, sliced in half

3/4 cup pineapple tidbits

1 cup pecans

Mix together and chill well before serving. This is fantastic on homemade rolls.

Enjoy,

Ginger

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Posted in Cottage Comforts

I love my soap jar dispensers. My husband made these for me. The green one holds my dishwashing liquid and the peach one my hand soap. They really give a little country charm to my kitchen and of course make me think of him.

Ginger

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Posted in Cottage Pantry

My husband loves chocolate. A few years ago I found a recipe for muffins that I liked very well but they were not chocolate. So I spent some time experimenting until I came up with this:

Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 stick Imperial margarine, softened

1 cup of sugar

1 cup of sour cream

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix well.

Add:

1/2 cup Hershey's dutch cocoa

2 cups plain flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soad

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix and then add 3/4 chocolate chips;

Spoon into greased jumbo muffin pans and sprinkle each with sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes or slightly more.

Cool for a few minutes and remove from muffin pan and place on cooling racks.

Enjoy!

Ginger

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Posted in Cottage Homemaking

Leah asked about my binder so I thought I would post and tell a little about my plans for it here. I like the half-size binders because they are compact so I purchased a premade one from Walmart. It is a cherry red color and already had the monthly and weekly forms as well a telephone directory. These I will use most from this planner.

Let's move on. I have looked all over the web for the type of forms that I need. So far my favorites have come from Donna Young's website. I am in love with the Excel  monthly sheet and downloaded it to use for my homeschool planner. I also printed out her version of a weekly menu and grocery shopping list. I may eventually make my own but for now I am very grateful for hers.

I have looked at several homemaking binders on the web. I love them all. My needs for a binder are a little different. Instead of lots of different sections I need mine simplier. I get distracted easily and if I have to flip back and forth between sections I WILL GET DISTRACTED. 

I want everything that I need to deal with in one place. I will be putting everything that I need for the month all together. For example the July section will have a monthly calendar, weekly pages ( for the to-do lists), 5 weekly routine and cleaning checklists (so I can SEE what I need to do), my zones list ( which already has the detailed cleaning list on it), 5 weekly menu planners with grocery lists on the side, homeschool monthly planner for each child, and my monthly budget sheets all together. All the other months will have the same information included.

I think I will have these catagories separate with their own tabs since I will not need each one every month:

Medical

Recipes

Birthdates

Internet

Phone numbers and addresses

Journaling

Correspondence

Children's chore lists

Christmas

Prayer journal ? I may keep this with my Bible study stuff instead.

Well these are my thoughts. I will post more about it when it is completed. Right now I am trying to learn how to work with Word and Excel so I can make my own forms. I have the budget, medical and journaling forms completed so far.

Ginger

Homemaking Binder Websites:

Life With Christ

With the Fruit of her Hands

The Sparrow's Nest

Mrs. Catherine

Home Keeping Heart

Home Works Best (several Links on her page to see the whole thing)

Keeping the Home

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