At Considerable Cost

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4AZBhmVk6E It is always amazing to me how music can transport me to another time and place.  Tonight, on a rather nostalgic bent, I began searching for songs I remembered from my younger years.   I came upon this one from singer/songwriter Paul Overstreet.   It was a favorite of mine and I can remember sitting and listening to it as a teenager, then as a college student, praying that one day I might be so blessed to attain what I secretly considered the ultimate occupation.   My secret desire of my heart while all the while hearing advice about graduate schools and career paths, changing majors, etc... And I realized, no I believed,  that I have arrived; I am living the dream.   Arrived not to a mere occupation, but to my vocation, the journey that will lead to my ultimate destination, eternity with God, in heaven--a reality of homemaking which I didn't understand as a young girl.    It really is here, with me, here, in the midst of the piles of

It's almost time for the holiday pie baking season!   After my mom died, I decided I had to learn how to make homemade pies so my children would be able to have pie like Grandma would have made.   So, I researched and practiced and discovered in the process a true love for making pies.   I'm also able to express a little creativity as I try to make the pies look as good as they taste.   Here are a few of the pies I made this week: One of the best parts of baking pies is the left-over bits of dough.   Mama always cut these into diamonds, brushed them with melted butter, and sprinkled them with sugar and cinnamon.   I can remember stepping off the bus and smelling the crust cookies baking as I entered the house.   This week, the girls made these pretty leaf-shaped crust cookies.

What's better with a hearty bowl of soup or stew than cornbread?   And what's the best part of cornbread?    Those crisp outer edges, of course.   This recipe gives you that crisp outer edge through out each piece.   We also like these with chili or topped with creamed chicken.  They freeze beautifully; just be sure you cool them completely on a baking rack before freezing.   Corn Meal Waffles                                1 egg 1 1/2 cups milk 1 1/2 cups self-rising corn meal 1/4 cup vegetable oil 2 tablespoons sugar (optional) Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer's directions.   Break egg into bowl and beat.   Add remaining ingredients; beat until smooth.   Bake in hot waffle iron.  from the Martha White Southern Baking Book Snickerdoodles When I was a little girl, one of my favorite authors was Beverly Cleary.    It seemed that it was not unusual for the mothers in those books to have cookies on hand for an after-school snack and snickerdoodles see

"WHO TOUCHED MY MEAT MALLET?" No longer will that question be uttered in our house.   I am typing this post on my NEW LAPTOP!!!   Let me introduce you to my last, rather cherished connection to the outside world: My power cord was frayed and would no longer stay plugged in unless pressure was applied.   For the past few months, I managed to prop it up, finally using a prop from beneath with weight applied from above.   In the photo, a Tide pen, a meat mallet, and an antique candle holder serve to make the connection!  There were other problems, too, that added up to the cost of a new one.    I can be a little frugal and I put it off as long as I could, but I am delighted with my new computer.    We bought it today and I'm up late playing with it while my little ones sleep. WE HAVE A BIKE RIDER! E wanted her training wheels removed and she began to ride on her own by the second day.   She went straight from a tricycle to a big kid bike, so she never had the c

I'm old enough that I remember the television commercial slogan, "Calgon, take me away!"   Sometimes, Mama just needs a little break--a little respite from the daily routine.   I'm not one for spas and my favorite form of "retail therapy" is garage sales which are limited to Saturday morning.   So, what was I to do Sunday morning of this past busy weekend? A civilized coffee break with all my favorite little unnecessary necessities was in order.  Instead of the usual Fiesta ware cup and cream and sugar set, it was time for the china cup and saucer and my most recent splurge, sugar cubes.  They used to be so common, but now they are hard to find.    It may seem silly, but those little cubes just make me happy and I think they are beautiful in my mother's cream and sugar set.  Another favorite item is my toast rack.   It's something I always noticed when I watched British television shows. No matter what the social class, there was some for