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Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Spring Rains and Thunderstorms Evoke A Flood Of Sweet Memories

Here in southwest Missouri we're in the midst of one of the first big thunderstorms of the season. Spring rains and rumbling thunderstorms always evoke a flood of sweet  memories in my heart and soul. 💗



When I was growing up, the first really good spring rain of the season would find me sitting in front of the screen door watching the rain, while my mother sat nearby reading Susan and the Rain by Madye Lee Chastain aloud to me.

When my oldest daughter was little, she loved Sesame Street. There was a song that they sang on there about a rainy day and we still sing it on rainy days today. It goes like this...



Soft gentle rains would put us in the mood to watch this version of Beatrix Potter's 'Peter Rabbit'...



And when the first big thunderstorm of the year hit...(for those that live in the Midwest...you know the kind I'm talking about...strong wind, torrential rain, earth rumbling thunder, and cloud to ground lightening...yes! that kind of storm)...that's when we would stop whatever we were doing, grab one of our favorite books, The Key to the Treasure by Peggy Perish, and we would sit down and read it all in one fall swoop! Today would have been that day had my children still been small and living at home. Even with them grown and with families of their own I'm fighting the urge to drop everything and read it again right now!😄


How about you? How do you feel about rainy days and thunderstorms? And how do you and your family like to spend rainy days at your house?

Until next time...
~Rebecca

Recent and related posts that you might enjoy reading...




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Monday, April 29, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - April 29, 2019

Good morning, Sweet Friends! Happy Monday! 💗 


Can you believe that this is the LAST Monday in April??? Where is the new year disappearing to??? 😲

I trust that you and yours had a good week last week. Ours was busy, but good!

Monday, of course, was spent at home taking care of stuff around here. 

Tuesday I led a group of local homeschoolers on a hike at Walter Woods Conservation Area near Joplin and we had a ball! Afterwards, we visited All Aboard Ice Cream and Joplin's 'Grand Falls'. The weather was so nice that the children were able to wade and play in Shoal Creek. What a treat! 

Grand Falls - Joplin, Missouri
The Children (and Adults) Enjoyed Wading and Playing in Shoal Creek
Wednesday I took a friend and my cousin grocery shopping.

Thursday John had his consultation appointment with the eye surgeon. He is scheduled for cataract removal on the left eye on May 28th, but the right eye is so bad that they want him to see a cornea specialist before they even consider doing anything with it. They said there is a lot of damage to it, but we're not sure from what. Continued prayers on his behalf would be greatly appreciated! 

I worked full days Friday and Saturday and a half a day on Sunday. I will go in for a few hours today, as I have a school group coming in this afternoon and will be doing a special program for them.

Enough about last week! Let's get right on into this week's post! Shall we? And, please, join me as, I link up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew. You'll be glad you did! 💗

Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at
Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
Right now I am...

... finishing up breakfast and enjoying a cup of hot tea while I work on this post. 

Am thinking...

... about the day, week, and month ahead. Between school groups at the park, spring training, and John's upcoming eye surgery, May promises to be the busiest month of 2019. I'm already looking forward to June! 🌹

 On the breakfast plate...

...  French toast with sugar-free syrup and hot tea

The weather...

... It was raining when I got up, but the rain has tapered off and it's a cool 61 degrees and cloudy at the moment. 


On my reading pile...

The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard, Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.

Online this week...

No time for anything this week other than a couple episodes of The Rifleman.
The Rifleman Starring Chuck Connors and Johnny Crawford

 On the menu this week...

Monday - Homemade pizza
Tuesday - Fish sandwiches and oven fries
Wednesday - Oven roasted chicken, brown rice, and steamed broccoli
Thursday - Roast beef and oven roasted potatoes, carrots, and onions with brown gravy
Friday - Broiled salmon, baked sweet potatoes, and steamed broccoli
Saturday - dh's night to cook ❓ (last week he made butter and garlic pasta, frozen peas, and garlic bread...and it was delicious!) 💓
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to-do' list...

Monday - HHM post, plan the week ahead, home blessing, laundry, work (school group in the afternoon)
Tuesday - eye appointment, schedule my Lilla Rose Launch Style- Up (official kick-off)
Wednesday - Work (school group in the afternoon), figure May budget 
Thursday - Work around the house and rest as much as possible
Friday - Bank, pay bills, work
Saturday - Attend my cousin's 'Celebration of Life' (she passed away in February)
Sunday - Church

My Cousin, Teresa, and I and One of her Little Granddaughters
I miss this sweet lady so much! 😥

In the craft basket...

Temperatures have remained fairly steady this week, so, again, not a lot of color changes. 
Temperature Afghan Through April 28

Something interesting that I watched this week...

Hummingbird Sipping Nectar At The New Feeder
From the camera...

Morning Glory Seed and Plants Bought At Nursery
Scripture passage...



Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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Spam Spoiler





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Sunday, April 28, 2019

Spam Spoiler



Since the beginning of the month I have received nearly 800 comments on my blog from people who have posted anonymously and none of the comments are relevant to my content. 

A few of them are okay, but, for the most part, they either don't make sense or are in a foreign language...and some of them are right down nasty! Trying to wade through them to get to comments by faithful friends and true blog followers has been a nightmare! 😱 

 BUT...after very nearly driving me to the brink of insanity, I finally figured out how to deal with them so they can't bother me anymore and I am praying over those that have posted them. God knows who they are. He knows each and every one of them by name...who they are, where they are, and how to reach them. I pray laborers into the paths of each and every one of these people...laborers that can reach them for Christ and I pray that every single one of them gets saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, and devotes the rest of their lives to sharing the Gospel message with others. Honestly, that is my prayer for them. 🙏

And, to my readers, please note...I'm pretty sure I've got the problem solved, but, just to be on the safe side, if you are a regular blog follower and you comment anonymously, please, please, PLEASE, sign with your first name or initials or something so I know that you're for real. I would probably be able to tell by what you wrote, but, then again, who knows? A little extra precaution certainly couldn't hurt. 😉

Blessings over all! 

Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls



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Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Recipe: Cinnamon Rolls


Cinnamon Rolls

 SWEET ROLL DOUGH

1 package yeast
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup lukewarm milk (scalded then cooled)
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter (softened)
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3 1/2 to 4 cups flour

 Dissolve yeast in warm water in large bowl. Stir in milk, sugar, butter, salt, egg, and 2 cups of the flour. Beat until smooth. Mix in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

 Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in a warm place until double, about 1 1/2 hours. (Dough is ready if an indentation remains when touched.)

Punch down dough. Shape, let rise and bake as directed.

 (Note: After kneading, dough can be covered and refrigerated in greased bowl no longer than 4 days.)

 CINNAMON ROLLS

 1/2 Sweet Roll Dough (above)
3 tablespoons butter, softened
slightly rounded 1/4 cup sugar
2 slightly rounded teaspoons ground cinnamon
   Glaze (below)

 Roll dough into rectangle, 15 x 9 inches, on lightly floured surface; spread with melted butter. Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over rectangle. Roll up tightly, beginning at 15-inch side. Pinch edge of dough into roll to seal well. Stretch roll to make even. Cut into nine 1 1/2-inch slices. Place slightly apart in greased square pan, 9 x 9 x 2 inches. Let rise until double, about 40 minutes.

 Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Spread rolls with glaze while warm.

    Glaze

 Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla until glaze is smooth and of desired consistency. 

 Until next time...
~Rebecca

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Happy Homemaker Monday - April 22, 2019

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Monday, April 22, 2019

Happy Homemaker Monday - April 22, 2019

Good morning, Sweet Friends! A very Happy Monday to you! 💗 


I trust that each of you had a great week and a lovely holiday weekend! We had a beautiful Resurrection weekend here with many blessings along the way! 🌷
Last week I mentioned getting my new glasses the week before and not being able to tell much difference between them and the old pair? Well, shortly after posting about that, the eye doctor's office called to see how the new glasses were working out. After I told them what was going on they set me a new appointment (on the 30th) and are going to recheck everything. Hopefully, they will get the problem figured out and fixed, and they're doing so at no additional charge. I am so thankful! 💗

Tuesday morning I had a doctor appointment; that evening we attended an Easter program that three of our grandchildren were involved in. All of the children in their choir group did a fine job! 

I worked Wednesday (library programs) and made jelly. Unfortunately, I was doing too many things at once and put the sugar in before the pectin and the jelly didn't set right. 😞 As soon as I get the supplies I am going to rework it and try to get it to firm up. I will let you know if I'm able to pull it off or not. 😆

Thursday was spent working around the house and making cinnamon rolls. Our oldest granddaughter was in the middle of one of her college classes the other day and messaged her mom saying that she wanted some of Grandma Knox's cinnamon rolls. That's all it took! She got 'em! 
Cinnamon Rolls
Also, on Thursday I signed up as a stylist with Lilla Rose. My kit just arrived! (I'm so excited!) If anyone is interested in shopping or becoming a stylist themselves, click HERE! 
Lilla Rose Stylist Kit
I worked Friday and Saturday. Friday evening we dyed and filled eggs and on Saturday evening we had the annual egg hunt for the grands, where our sixteen youngest participated.
Our Sixteen Youngest Grandchildre
Easter Egg Hunt 2019
Sunday morning, of course, was spent celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord...sunrise service at our daughter and son-in-law's church early, then, breakfast and regular service at our own later. 

Okay...so enough about last week! Let's get right on into this week's post! Won't you join me as, I link up with Sandra of Diary of a Stay At Home Mom and all the other lovely ladies that make up the Happy Homemaker Monday crew? You'll be glad you did! 💗

Today I am joining Sandra and the other ladies over at
Diary of a Stay At Home Mom for Happy Homemaker Monday.
Please be sure to go over and check it out! 💗
Right now I am...

... finishing up breakfast and enjoying a cup of hot tea while I work on this post.


Am thinking...

... about the day and week ahead and working on menu plans.

On the breakfast plate...

...  leftovers from yesterday's church breakfast...waffles, link sausage, deviled eggs, and, of course, hot tea! 😄

The weather...

... Cloudy and breezy...66 degrees with a high of 76 expected. The ten-day forecast looks perfect! 🌞

On my reading pile...

Am still reading The Great Buffalo Hunt by Wayne Gard for work, but didn't have time to read a single word of this this week. I haven't got started on them yet, but plan on re-reading the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder (for the umpteenth time, but with fresh eyes after reading Pioneer Girl and Prairie Fires) and am reading Mother Culture by Karen Andreola.

Online this week...

The Story of Hosea - Amazing Love with Sean Astin and Erin Bethea


On the menu this week...

Monday - invited to supper elsewhere
Tuesday - baked spoonbill, fried morel mushrooms (was blessed with both of these this weekend!), deviled eggs, and green beans 🐟
Wednesday - meatloaf (frozen), baked potato with cottage cheese, and peas and carrots 
Thursday - turkey burgers and oven fries
Friday - baked spoonbill, baked sweet potatoes, cottage cheese, and steamed broccoli
Saturday - dh's night to cook ❓
Sunday - leftovers

On my 'to-do' list...

Monday - HHM post, plan the week ahead, home blessing, laundry
Tuesday - Lead a hike and scavenger hunt in Joplin for area homeschoolers
Wednesday - Take a friend shopping 
Thursday - Dh has consultation with cataract surgeon (prayers please)
Friday - Work
Saturday - Work
Sunday - Church; work in the afternoon

In the craft basket...

Temperatures this week have been pretty steady, so not a lot of color changes. I do like the way the afghan is progressing, though! 💗
Temperature Afghan Through April 22
Saved and dried egg shells this weekend to turn into an art medium for future classes. 
Crushed and Dried Egg Shells
Have been commissioned through work to make a curtain for an open-faced cabinet we have. I will be using a bison-print fabric.

Something interesting that I watched this week...

 Our grandchildren hunting Easter eggs! They were so cute!!! 💗

Grandgirls Mercy and Mary

Getting Ready!
(I love this filter!) 💗
From the camera...
Easter Eggs
The First of This Year's Irises
Scripture passage...


Well, Ladies, that's it for this week! I pray that each and every one of you have a blessed and beautiful New Year, and I'll see you next week! Blessings!

Until next time,
~Rebecca

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Giving The Bedroom A Spring Lift



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Thursday, April 18, 2019

Giving The Bedroom A Spring Lift

In winter I love the cozy, rustic look of our black bear ensemble, but, with the arrival of spring, I felt that it was time for something new...something cool and more suitable for summer. 
1950's Reproduction Chenille Bedspread
When I saw this I knew it was the perfect thing! 💗

 This 1930's Waterfall bedroom set belonged to my great aunt, Tootsie. When she passed away my mother inherited the set and, when both of my parents were gone, of course, it came to me. 

 As a child, I always remember seeing this set of furniture in Tootsie's bedroom. The bed always had some pretty chenille bedspread on it and a set of collie dogs like this one.
Photo Credit
After my mother inherited the set, she always talked of getting a pretty chenille bedspread for the bed, but never did. When I saw this one, offered through Vermont Country Store, I decided to go for it! 
1950's Reproduction Chenille Bedspread
I love spring flowers and wanted something pretty and pink to tie in with the sage green walls. My mother always wanted a chenille bedspread and Tootsie always had one (or more) during my growing up years. This bedspread just seemed to fit all the way around, so, I ordered it! 
1950's Reproduction Chenille Bedspread
To round it out, I purchased a set of white sheets and a pair of rose-printed pillow shams for our top set of pillows. 
Photo Credit
Photo Credit

 (And since this was only the second or third set of bedding that we've purchased in 30+ years of marriage and since it wasn't going on a credit card, I didn't feel too bad about it, either!). 😆

 How about you? What spring lifts are you giving the rooms in your home? 🌷

 Until next time...
~Rebecca

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The Days of Lilac, Redbud, Dogwood, and Violets






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