Thursday, 13 October 2016

Thursday Pearls

 "There is no better time than the present
- no matter the busyness surrounding us or the grinding ordinaries of life -
to seek rest, pleasure, goodness, and beauty. 
It's always there, wherever we happen to find ourselves,
 though to find it we might need to hold our expectations 
a little more loosely and open our eyes and hearts.
If we can do that, we'll be surprised at the 
delight that can visit itself upon us."
~ Sally Clarkson

Blessings on this beautiful Thursday...

Painting:  Market Day by Edmund Blair Leighton

Monday, 10 October 2016

♥Country Diary Entry ~ October♥

 
The oldest and the youngest...Caleb {5 months} and I

~
A glimpse into my world...in October
 
A glimpse into my day...
After a busy morning of sowing seeds and weeding, I enjoyed a cup of tea and a scrumptious bran muffin with my mom whilst chatting about the happy developments in the garden...
Now I am working on a few blog posts in between tidying my room...and I think a cup of coffee is on the horizon...{{Smiles}}
I hope to write a letter a bit letter and perhaps do a little sewing.  Mondays are generally my gardening days, so anything else is simply an extra.  {{Smiles}}

Watching...
We have been watching the old BBC series, Its Not Easy Being Green and feel very inspired in our homesteading!

What I am Reading...
I just finished reading The Thorn by Beverley Lewis.  I have discovered Amish fiction and excitedly anticipate a trip to the library for the next instalment in the Rose Trilogy...{{smiles}}

Listening to...
I love the soundtrack from Woman in Gold and downloaded it just the other day so that I can enjoy it whilst sewing...  It has become our new favourite soundtrack...

Sewing...
Last week I completed an order for six reindeer, four of which I had to make in just three days as I had sales on Saturday, decreasing my stock of reindeer!  I also worked on a Miss Lettice rabbit and hope to finish another this week...  The busy season has begun and thankfully I restocked my fabric supply earlier this month so I can make a selection of things for the market without having to first visit the fabric shop...

Dreaming of...
My garden...preserving the harvest...tea with dear friends who live far away...Christmas...
Making things for my poor, neglected Etsy shoppe...
In the Garden...
The garden is coming along quite nicely now, although for Spring it is still pretty chilly.  The courgette plants are growing happily and I reckon in about two or three weeks we will be harvesting fresh courgettes!  We have just about finished eating our baby potatoes, harvested last month after my potato patch developed blight.  Thankfully we managed to harvest a good 8-10kg of baby and medium potatoes which have been greatly enjoyed in our cooking!
I am now planting lots of beans, other squash as well as plenty of spinach, lettuce and Swiss chard.  
Thankful for... 
Sisters...Nancy celebrates her 17th birthday this Friday and Sofia turns five on Wednesday.  I could not imagine life without them...Nancy keeps us laughing, fills us in parts on history we may or may not have forgotten and appreciating good music...
Sofia is such a precious little lady who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to ask or simply do...surely it was just yesterday I held her for the first time?

Blessings, dear readers...

Sunday, 9 October 2016

An Anne of Green Gables Tag...

I just happened to stumble upon a delightful tag hosted by Miss Evie at Over the Hills and as I am a devoted lover of Anne of Green Gables, I simply had to participate...  
Do hop over to her blog on period drama if you would like to join in the Green Gables happiness!

~
And now, without further ado...

https://overthehillsthereisacottage.blogspot.co.za/2016/10/anne-of-green-gables-week-kickoff-and.html#comment-form

 1. How did you get introduced to Anne of Green Gables?  Let me think...  If I recall correctly, it was actually my mom who began reading Anne of Green Gables to my sister and I when we were just little girls...  I loved it from the very beginning and have adored the Anne Girl ever since...

2. Are you more like Anne or Diana? Why?  I would say a little of both as I have a dreamy, romantic side just like Anne, but generally display my more practical side, bringing out the Diana in me.  However, I am sure most folks would agree that I can chatter on about half as much as Anne!  {{Smiles}}

 
3. If Rachel Lynde called your hair as red as carrots how would you react?  I quite like the colour red, especially as generally red hair (according to Mrs Lynde, that is) darkens to an auburn as the years go by, and I think that auburn is a gorgeous hair colour!  {{Smiles}}  Just as a side note...carrots are not red...

4. Gilbert or Morgan Harris?  I have always loved Gilbert Blythe in both the books and the television series, although I find him more heroic in the books to have won the heart of Anne...I really felt sorry for him when Roy Gardner came on the scene...

5. Honest opinion on the third Anne film.  I would say it is simply not my cup of tea.  I am somewhat of a purist when it comes to these things and believe that an accurate adaption is key! 

6. Have you seen the New Anne film?  That would be a no...I hadn't even heard of its existence till now.  I probably won't watch it, as I am a firm lover of the original television series with Megan Follows.

7. What in your own words is a Kindred Spirit?  Someone whom you can be truly honest with and will not think any the less of you...  A person who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and who will always speak the truth.  Someone who is like...or is...a sister...


8.  Movie Gilbert or Green Gables Fables Gilbert?  As I have not seen GGF, I would definitely say the Anne of Green Gables Gilbert.  I think that Jonathan Crombie was the perfect Gilbert and when reading the books now, I cannot separate the two in my mind.

9.  Does anyone know where we can watch Road to Avonlea online?  Oh, I have heard so much about Road to Avonlea...what a delight it would be to watch it!  Anyone?

10. Favourite book cover?  It would be this one, as I am happy to have it on my bookshelf!  {{Smiles}}

 
11. The Films or The Books?  Both!  Megan Follows is just...Anne Shirley...wouldn't you agree?  Both are equally charming in their own right.  I love that Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote such a long, detailed series about Anne and then about her children...I find that when reading any of the Anne of Green Gables books, I slip into a world of blissful imagination and oh!  It is a most delightful place to be...

~
And if you have not yet read Anne of Green Gables...ah, dear readers...best you hop over to the library and take out the entire series in one go, for you will not be able to put them down...   {{smiles}}

Happy Sunday!
Kelly-Anne

Thursday, 6 October 2016

Stormy Day Musings

The sky is misty and greyA cold wind is blowing, bringing with it drenching rain, making me exceedingly glad  to be inside sipping a cup of freshly brewed coffee...  Ah, the simple pleasures in life....{{smiles}}

 
This morning after returning indoors with a foaming pail of warm milk, I looked through my seeds before venturing into the garden for bit where Mom joined me a little later on to plant a fair sized patch of beetroot.  
I long to serve beetroot from our garden at each evening meal and to preserve our harvest by making chutney and pickles.  I greatly anticipate the coming of warmer days when fresh produce begins to pour in and the season for preserving commences...

Today I discovered beautiful buds on the blackberry bushes...we only have a few plants, but I am interested to see what kind of harvest we have this year.  Did I mention that I am a particular fan of blackberry jam?  And you simply cannot beat homemade blackberry pie and farm cream...
Our farm efforts are still relatively small, but they are growing...too often we overlook that fact that all our milk is produced right here, we cook all our meals from scratch, often making the jams, pickles, etc. which are included in a recipe.  
Of course we would like to increase that which we already do, but it is not always possible whilst taking care of little ones, running a home business and keeping up with daily life...{{smiles}}


^ Wild carnation...

We have been living on this farm for over four years now and how much we have learnt along the way!  Of course we someday hope to own our own farm, but in the meantime we enjoy doing what we can to supplement our daily food consumption and perhaps make us some pocket money here and there along the way...  
Currently we trade milk with a fellow homesteader once a week for pasture range eggs...  We don't have enough of our own hens at present to keep us supplied with eggs, but that too will hopefully change in the not too distant future.

Today more butternut, courgettes, carrot and beetroot were planted, vegetable beds weeded and seedlings thinned and transplanted...  We finished just in time, for by tea time a storm had blown in which meant I could spend some time in my sewing room completing an order...


^ Freshly baked bread...

And now I am waiting for supper to finish cooking...I decided to try a new chicken dish, adding a few other lovely ingredients such as Swiss chard from the garden as well as fresh majoram...  Hopefully before too long we will be able to use baby tomatoes and peppers from our garden too.
  
Patience is key and I am learning to wait patiently and work diligently to achieve a good harvest...I also pray each day for the LORD to establish the work of our hands so that we would not only be able to feed our family, but bless others with healthy vegetables grown with love and care right here in our home garden.

"And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish you the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish it."  ~ Psalm 90:7

Blessings on this beautiful day, dear readers...

Thursday, 29 September 2016

Caleb the Cowboy...Five Months

 

I just had to share these adorable pictures of a five month old Caleb Courage with you all, dear friends...
We dress our baby brother up all the time...today he was a cowboy and my, did he look the part...except for the moose slippers, that is!  {{smiles}} 

At five months old, Caleb is enjoying solid food and is also starting to sit...  He likes to tootle about in his walking ring, often amusing himself by fingering or sucking things left around on his level...he is simply the most precious little person in our lives!
 
I will leave you with this sweet saying...can you tell we love cowboys around here?  {{Smiles}}

Enjoy the last few delightful days of September, friends...

Sunday, 18 September 2016

A Little Rest...

Dear readers...
I will be taking a little break from the delightful world of blogging this week.
I have an order or two to attend to as well as a spot of gardening...  
I will be back very soon with some lovely posts, including photographs of our Spring tea party which took place this Friday past!  {{smiles}}  
Above is a sneak peak of the delicious and beautiful cake Nancy baked for the occasion!
Have a wonderful, creative week ahead, dear friends...

The Enchanting Rose

In the meantime....how about signing up for Stephanie's delightful teacup exchange? 
You don't want to miss this wonderful occasion...{{smiles}}

Many blessings,
Kelly-Anne

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Thursday Pearls

  

 "I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our disposition and not on our circumstances.” 

 ~ Martha Washington

~

 "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."  ~ Philippians 4:11, KJV

 Thursday Blessings, dear readers...

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

♥Country Diary Entry ~ September♥

 Spring has Sprung

~
A glimpse into my world...inspired by my dear friend, Elizabeth....

Dreaming of...
Our Spring Tea this coming Friday...what a pleasant morning it promises to be!  I have invited several young ladies between the ages of 9 and 17 and have a few delightful activities up my sleeve...I hope to share photographs of the event...{{smiles}}  Oh and the new Shining Stars magazine which ought to arrive in the mail within the next week or so...dear readers, if you are not yet subscribed to this wonderful magazine for young ladies, might I encourage you to hop over to their website and take a sneak peek at the up and coming issue?

Watching...♥
I am currently enjoying season 2 of Jill & Jessa Counting On...I love seeing how their little ones have grown and all the changes that have taken place in their family.  I find it inspiring to see how they treat one another and love being around each other...it encourages me to invest in my relationships with my siblings...

Listening to...♥
Anyone who knows me also knows how greatly I enjoy beautiful music!  {{smiles}}  
Whilst busy at my sewing machine, I find it wonderfully uplifting to have music playing in the background...I think I am in need of some fresh music, though...  Josh Groban has been my favourite once again this week...

Crafting...♥
I have been creating pretty paper butterfly bunting for our Spring Tea and hope to make a paper flower wreath for the special occasion too...photographs to follow very soon...{{smiles}}

Sewing...♥
 As usual, my sewing machine has been humming pretty much everyday...I continue to work on stock for my market and hope to add a couple new items to my little Etsy shoppe too, which reminds me...  Heart♥made on Etsy celebrates its first anniversary this Thursday!  {{smiles}}

Currently loving...♥
My beautiful new blog design done by my creative and very dear friend, Elizabeth from The Daisy Fields.  She and I have enjoyed sweet friendship for about 2 1/2 years now and hope that someday we can meet in person!  {{Smiles}}  She was so kind to do Beautiful Girlhood's design which I loved...and again sweetly agreed to help me with this one!  What do you think, dear friends...? 

Glimpses into my day...♥
My dear mom, sisters and I have been Spring cleaning and doing a spot of decluttering...  What a good feeling to work diligently all day to behold a spotless home!  {{smiles}}  And did I ever mention how much I love clean windows?  In preparation for our tea party and the arrival of Spring, we decided to dust away the cobwebs and make our little home look all fresh and pretty for the coming season! 

In the Garden...♥
I have been very busy sowing Spring seeds and keeping the ground moist during the day...  Thus far I have zucchini popping up as well as baby spinach, radish, Swiss Chard and beetroot...  My butternut, melon and cucumber have yet to poke their leafy heads above the ground, though...  Sadly I just discovered that my potato plants have developed blight...thankfully they were just about at the end of their growing season so the crop is not a complete failure...I can still harvest baby and medium sized potatoes for our kitchen...

What I am reading...♥
I will confess that I am not a good reader...I read every so often and if it happens to be a particularly wonderful, absorbing book, I actually do find it quite challenging to put it down!  {{smiles}}  However, I have just begun reading Kidnapped at my sister's insistance but I don't know how far I will get...  I did read a truly inspiring book the other day called In All These Things by Marjorie Buckingham and would highly recommend it to every believer!

Favourite post from this week...♥
I enjoyed this beautiful post written by JES from Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth...  I love her writing and find myself both challenged and inspired through what she shares on her wonderful, God-honouring blog...   Do you sometimes find yourself envying the carefree life of ''everyone else''?   Read JES' wise words over here...

Thankful for...♥
A good cup of coffee after a good day's work...  Time spent with the LORD...  Another order for Heartmade...  Mailing packages and letters to dear friends across the globe...
A shopping excursion with Mom, Caleb and Beth...

~
Happy Wednesday week, dear friends...  I know I have been somewhat absent of late but I hope to remedy that very soon...{{smiles}}

Blessings,
Kelly-Anne

Monday, 5 September 2016

Caleb Courage||Four Months

 
  
 
 
 
 
Four of the most wonderful months in our lives...the four months that little Caleb has been part of our family...  He has made life sweeter and richer and he is so very precious to us.
His personality is unique; his smile a true delight.  As a friend once said to me...it is a true wonder that anything gets done when there is such a darling baby to love and hold!  {{smiles}} 

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD:  and the fruit of the womb is his reward."  ~ Psalm 127:3

~
Happy new week, dear friends...

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Thursday Pearls

"Although the threads of my life
have often seemed knotted, I know,
by faith, that on the other side
of the embroidery there is a crown."

~ Corrie Ten Boom

"They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth forever."

~ Psalm 125:1, KJV

Thursday blessings, dearest readers... and happy September!

Painting:  Edmund Blair Leighton

Tuesday, 30 August 2016

Scrumptious...Pasteis de nata

A warm welcome to you, dear friends...♥
I hope you'll join me for a lovely cup of tea this morning...
and perhaps one or two of these scrumptious little tartlets...?

Ever since I first tasted these delightful Portuguese custard tarts, I have loved them...
The other morning I thought it would be a good idea to whip up something delicious for teatime
and then remembered I had a recipe for these lovelies somewhere...

What I love about Pasteis de nata is that they are not too sweet...
Perhaps I may be considered strange, but I do not have much of a sweet tooth and generally would choose a savoury treat over a sweet one...these are an exception...{{Smiles}}


 A little history about Pasteis de nata...
 
Pastéis de nata were created before the 18th century by Catholic monks at the Jerónimos Monastery in the civil parish of Santa Maria de Belém, in Lisbon, Portugal.
These monks were originally based in France and loved these pastries which could be found in local French bakeries. 
At the time, convents and monasteries used large quantities of egg-whites for starching of clothes, such as nuns' habits. 
It was quite common for monasteries and convents to use the leftover egg yolks to make cakes and pastries, resulting in the proliferation of sweet pastry recipes throughout the country.
Following the extinction of the religious orders and in the face of the impending closing of many of the convents and monasteries in the aftermath of the Liberal Revolution of 1820, the monks started selling pastéis de nata at a nearby sugar refinery to secure some revenue. 
In 1834 the monastery was closed and the recipe was sold to the sugar refinery, whose owners in 1837 opened the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém. 
The descendents own the business to this day.
Since 1837, locals and visitors to Lisbon have visited the bakery to purchase fresh from the oven pastéis, sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
Source:  Wikipedia
 ~
And now of course you would like the recipe...you will be surprised at how simple they are to make and how very delicious they are...
 
  Portuguese Custard Tarts
Recipe Courtesy:  Fresh Living Magazine, April 2013 
 Makes 12-16 Tartlets
1 roll puff pastry
1tsp castor sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Custard Filling:
2tbsp (30ml) cake flour
2 cups (500ml) fresh full cream milk
1/4 cup (60ml) cream
4 free-range egg yolks
1/4 cup (55g) brown sugar
Pinch salt
Zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp (5ml) vanilla essence

Preheat oven to 290 degrees Celsius.
Roll out pastry thinly and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Rightly roll pastry into a sausage and cut into 1cm rings.
Press each pastry round into base and up sides of each cup of a greased muffin pan.
Chill.

Filling:
Mix flour into a paste with a little milk and combine with remaining ingredients in a saucepan.
Stir over a gentle heat until custard thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon.
Don't boil mixture.
Remove from the heat and strain through a fine sieve if need be.
Cool.
Pour filling into pastry lined muffin cups until 3/4 full.
Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden.
Remove tartlets from pan, cool and serve. 

 

Pasteis de nata are best eaten straight from the oven and served with either coffee or tea...hmmm... ♥
~
We decided to have a mini tea party...everyday is a good day for tea party, wouldn't you agree?
And a tea time treat is a wonderful incentive for little ladies to complete their tasks diligently and cheerfully too...{{Smiles}}

~
 Wishing you a happy new week, dear readers...
Do you have any special plans for the upcoming week?

Sunday, 28 August 2016

Treasures this week....❤

What a delightful week passed us by...
Productive, pleasant and peaceful...days that were happily filled with both work and leisure!  {{smiles}}

 "Have regular hours for both work and play; 
make each day both useful and pleasant, 
and prove that you understand the worth of time by employing it well. 
 Then youth will be delightful, old age will bring few regrets, 
and life will become a beautiful success." 
 ~ Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

I decided to compile all the little ''treasures'' I discovered this week and share them with you, dear readers...


I enjoyed a lovely little baking sesson one warm afternoon this week...these darling and oh~so~delicious custard tarts were the result...recipe coming soon...❤


Nancy and I spent a very pleasant afternoon sewing together on Tuesday...
We created a pretty summer outfit for Sofia with sweet pink fabric we had on hand...
Nancy made the peasant blouse and headband whilst I worked on the tiered skirt.

Whilst I am not a big fan of board games, I enjoyed an evening of Trivial Pursuit...or rather our attempt at it...with my mom, dad and sister, Nancy.  
Oh, how we laughed at the questions and most especially at our answers...  
We are hoping to make a board game evening a weekly occurance...
 

I discovered how dearly I love old hymns...and how few I know by heart...
This week I have been humming, singing and pondering 
the richness of hymns and the words penned by men and women who truly tasted hardship yet chose to praise and give thanks to the LORD in the midst of pain, sorrow and loss...

This is one of my favourite hymns...❤



"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain;
leave to thy God to order and provide;
in every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend
through thorny ways leads to a joyful end."
 ~ Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel

This week I resumed my walks...how delightful to whistle for the dogs, pull on my boots and meander through the fields and gravel road surrounding the farm.  
I don't think I could ever tire of this route for although the beauty is sparse and rugged, there is a deep joy to be found in spotting tiny flowers amidst brown grass or withered leaves...  
A drier winter means less greenery, but there is still a great deal to enjoy when on a country walk.


How quickly potatoes grow after beautiful, refreshing rain!  
Nancy and I were just about to set off on a walk on Sunday afternoon when a strong wind came up, bringing with it wonderful rain!  
Oh, how we have needed water...the LORD always provides in time...
My potato patch soaked up the life-giving water and a couple days of sunshine combined with clean water means I have another vigorous afternoon of hoeing before me!  {{smiles}}

Aww, baby smiles never cease to bring delight!  
Little Caleb is such a darling baby boy...he has now begun wearing more boyish outfits seeing as he outgrew his baby clothes in less than four months!
He is perfectly precious in his wee tracksuits and dungarees!
 
Lately I have been very challenged to spend more time in prayer and in the reading of the Word...
I am purposing to ''not look into the face of man before looking into the face of GOD" each day and oh!  My time of quiet before the LORD has been blessed and wonderful...
He has given me a renewed desire to serve Him and seek a deeper, richer relationship with Him!

 Flowers gracing a vintage planter...

I am dreaming of Spring days...  
Springtime weather is most certainly just around the corner...winter is making her way to the Northern Hemisphere and warmer days are swiftly approaching!
I must take pen to paper and begin planning all that I hope to sow this season...{{Smiles}}


We have been planning a wonderful occasion for all the sweet young ladies we know...
A Springtime tea is coming up soon and oh!  
I am so looking forward to sharing the delights with you...
At the moment we are crafting and sending out invitations... 
As the tea is for girls ages 9 and up, both Beth and Gabrielle will be attending..  
You can just imagine their delight!  {{smiles}}

I have also been sewing for Heart❤made as and when I have time...
I hope to share what I have been making very soon...

~
...And thus another blissful, busy week draws to a close...

What brought you joy this week, sweet readers?

Thursday, 25 August 2016

Thursday Pearls

 "Watch out for the slightest inclination to be careless about such things as reading the Bible, going to church, praying, and the taking of the Lord's Supper. Beware of shortening your prayers, Bible reading, your private communion with God. Be careful that you do not give way to a thoughtless, lazy manner of using weekly services of the Church. Fight against any rising disposition to be sleepy, critical, and fault-finding, while you listen to the preaching of the Gospel. Whatever you do for God, do it with all your heart, mind and strength. In other things be moderate, and dread running into extremes. In matters of the soul fear moderation just as you would fear the plague. Don't care what men may think of you.
Let it be enough for you that your Master says,
"make every effort."

~ J.C. Ryle 
 
 "When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

~ Psalm 61:2, NKJV
 
Blessings and love in Christ Jesus,
Kelly-Anne
 
Painting:  A Young Girl Reading, or The Reader. Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Wednesday, 24 August 2016

Sewing for Sweet Little Girls....

The house fairly quiet, unusually so in fact...
The pins were scattered across the table and the fabric laid out...
Patterns were traced; the scissors fearlessly cut through the pretty 
printed material before the sewing machine began humming steadily...

~
Today my sister, Nancy, and I spent a pleasant afternoon sewing together 
which was a rare occurance indeed given our opposite personalities....{{smiles}}

Nancy worked with beautiful dark pink summer cotton to 
make a simple peasant top whilst I used a printed cotton and a 
light pink cotton for a girl's tiered skirt...
The two of us confered with one another as to the style and 
choice of fabric before we began our seperate afternoon's tasks...


The little girl we were sewing for just happened
to be our littlest sister, Miss Sofia.
Now, sweet Miss Sofia is in dire need of pretty clothes...
She is a true farmgirl and doesn't like to keep her clothes neat 
and clean when playing outside with her sisters...
Thus, we decided to sew something feminine for her that 
would be reserved for special occasions or when going to town...


The two of us were busy as bees and when little Sofia awoke from her nap, 
she was required to have us fit the garments before we continued with our sewing...
In between the evening milking, cleaning and supper preparation, 
we completed both items and did the final fitting just as Sofia made her way to bed...
Now she has a gorgeous summery outfit 
which is many things indeed...feminine, modest, comfortable 
and just right for an adorable four year old such as Sofia.

 
^A precious almost-five-year-old little lady...Sofia

I added ribbons to the two sides of the skirt so as to make hanging
up in the wardrobe simpler...and, but of course (!), 
I hung her new outfit on one of heartmade's covered hangers...{{smiles}}

 

Look at the little darling in her peasant blouse, beautifully handmade by Nancy...
She even made her a sweet matching hairband and 
added a bow to the blouse, made from the same fabric as the tiers of the skirt.

 
^Sofia in her new pink outfit, complete with a happy smile!  

 
^Aww...isn't she a precious little thing?

 
^Posing

I have not written much about Sofia of late...but just like Caleb, she too is reaching milestones every day and growing so beautifully indeed...
She has a truly kind heart and is very affectionate towards her family.
She gives the most wonderful hugs and sloppy kisses...

 

Sofia loves to play but enjoys working as well...and not just 
doing her chores...  I am constantly amazed at how diligently she goes about 
her school work and how focused she is when learning a new concept.  

 
^ The young gent with his adoring older sister...

She loves Caleb so much...before he was born, she was 
convinced that she didn't want a brother, but as soon as she 
laid eyes upon the little lad, her heart melted...she and Caleb are 
dear friends and could perhaps be a handful as he becomes a bit more mobile...

~
Ah, and so ends a most delightful sewing project indeed! 
Both Nancy and I agreed that the afternoon was very well spent 
 and we were quite surprised at how quickly 
we finished sewing, considering we had only one sewing machine 
between the two of us and more than a couple of interruptions... 
We have come to the conclusion that we need to be intentional 
about that which we wish to do...  
Each week we hope to make something along the clothing 
lines as we love dressing our sisters in beautiful, girly outfits...  

I don't know about you, but I am always shocked at not 
only the price of clothing in the stores, but also how little there is to be found 
that is feminine and modest...
Young girls today are dressed in modern, skin tight clothes from a very 
early age that does not encourage them to be young ladies or feminine in the least...


My sisters have time to be rough and get all dirty...they shouldn't need to fret about clothes.
And as Julie Andrews so eloquently said in the film The Sound of Music...  
"Excuse me, Captain, but when do they play?"  {{smiles}}

Many days I am shocked by the little girls' appearances...
Not only do they constantly tear and muddy their clothes, 
but they also get their hair dirty and messy, and their faces 
are positively brown by the end of a day's play!
Ah, but they are happy and that is what truly matters...
My mom always maintains that one can see how well a
child has played by how dirty they are at the end of a day!

 
  ~
Hopefully this is the first of many sewing projects for the little girls in our family...
Have a wonderfully creative day, sweet readers...

 "Unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of her honor." 

~ Webster's 1828 Dictionary

~
 Today I am sharing this sewing project with...