Simplicity, Sharing, & Saving...what a timely book!

Money Secrets of the Amish by Lorilee Craker
Book Review

As soon as I read the title of this book, along with its subtitle, "Finding True Abundance in Simplicity, Sharing, and Saving", I knew this was a book I was going to love reading! What a timely book-for my family as well as for most other people I know. The author, Lorilee Craker, sets about to discover some of the thrifty ways of her Mennonite ancestors by researching the frugal ways of the Amish.

The book is well-organized into chapters for each of the thrifty ways that modern families can adopt the money saving ways of the Amish people. Some of those include: buying used items instead of new, not replacing items that are still able to do what they need to do, evaluating 'needs' versus other reasons for purchasing things, gardening, canning, baking & cooking from scratch, finding low-cost or free fun activities, finding joy and fun in working together as a family, re-gifting, bartering, and so many more. These are certainly not new ideas. My family and I have been zealously frugal for many years, so there was scarcely a new idea in the book for me, BUT, I still wholeheartedly enjoyed reading this book. It is inspirational and challenging to have so many great ideas, along with the practical benefits and the author's examples of how she applied them to modern life, all gathered together in one well-organized volume. The author stresses, and illustrates with some great examples, the benefits of having a long-term financial vision, with the cumulative small sacrifices and savings providing the stepping stones to get there.

I could scarcely put this book down, and I plan to re-read it as necessary when I need a booster shot of inspiration. I have often been asked for tips on how my family gets along on one income with all needs well met. If I had the ability to write a book listing what our family practices, this would have been the book! Since that is far beyond my abilities, I am so happy to have found this book so I can recommend it to anyone who asks us our money saving methods. I *will* say that I would love to read the hypothetical 'volume two' that would contain more stringent methods that my family and I have yet to put into practice.

Beyond just the financial gains of a simpler, more thoughtful lifestyle, the author shows the benefits to self, family, and community, of choosing more interactive pastimes over the typical American leisure activities. Dining in with friends as opposed to eating out; playing games with loved ones instead of sitting passively watching a movie at a theater; finding the fun in doing meaningful work together as a family instead of needing to be entertained, are just a few examples of enriching life by choosing the simpler path.

This book is written in a folksy, conversational style. The ideas are (for the most part) practical (the art activities she recommends left me shaking my head at the cost/mess/uselessness of the 'product', but that is a very small part of the book.) and easily accomplished for any family truly desiring to save more and spend less. I highly recommend this book to all!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Quilting Inspiration Photos

Here are the photos of two of Sophia's quilts. If this doesn't make you want to go shopping--imediately!--for vintage sheets...take your temperature : )

Quilting inspiration

Sophia, a blogger I follow regularly Frugal ideas from the Parsonage, is having a fat quarter giveaway. Quick!...Get yourself over there and enter : )
I've been seeing the gorgeous small quilts that Sophia churns out so quickly, while running perhaps a busier life than most of us. My daughter and I have been gathering up vintage sheets, planning to try our hand at making quilts for family members. We'll see if that all turns out, with homeschooling, putting up all the produce from our big garden, and all of the other things we stay busy with. It IS fun to plan and dream, though, right : )
Just to give you some further inspiration, here are two of my favorites of Sophia's quilts. You can find her Etsy store through the address on the pictures. I've purchased adorable skirts for American Girl dolls from her, and I have my eye on other of her items also.

(photos are pending Sophia's approval)

Summer in the Country Blanket is finished!

I finished this lovely blanket about 2 weeks ago, but haven't gotten around to showing the finished project. It is SO soft and just the right warmth for the chilly spring evenings and nights we have where I live. It took exactly 3 cones (690 yards each, so about 2070 yards) of cotton yarn. I stopped when I had about 2 yards left on the 3rd cone. It is VERY generously sized; about 54" X 76" before it stretches, and it is really stretchy. I absolutely LOVE it!

This blanket was done as a KAL (knit along) from one of my favorite designers, Firefly (scrumptiousliving.wordpress.com). I've been taking it along on day trips with my husband and daughter in the hills where we live, and it is so perfect for the chilly spring weather, especially in the hills. Some of the photos were taken on those little trips. This is completely different than a toddler taking along a comfort blankie...right???? lol






This is a classic old Oldsmobile, possibly a 1947, I didn't write it down. What a beautiful old car, hmmm? It seemed like a nice backdrop for my pretty new blanket : )

I started another blanket in the same baby blue Peaches and Cream cotton yarn. One of them will be for my sister. I'm going to try to make this one a bit smaller, and without bobbles, as our cats think the bobbles are completely irresistable. I have to fold up the finished blanket inside out to keep them from biting the bobbles, so I should just give this blanket to my dear sister who would love it. Blue is her favorite color also.

For the second blanket, I cast on only 170 stitches. It will also have 5 cables, but with only seed stitch between them, no lattice work. I need a project that I can do without a pattern so I can work on it without thinking at all : ) I'm anxious to see the photos of my KAL-mates' Summer in the Country blankets, too. Here's hoping Firefly hosts another KAL before too long!

Book review: Daddy Dates by Greg Wright

Daddy Dates, subtitled “ Four Daughter, One Clueless Dad, and His Quest to Win their Hearts: The Road Map for Any Dad to Raise a Strong and confident Daughter”

I would certainly recommend Daddy Dates by Greg Wright to any father who desires to become closer to his daughter/s. The author has four daughters, whom he decides to really get to know, ‘to win their hearts‘. What he sets out to do is so simple, so basic to parenting, that it almost seems superfluous to have to read a book about how to do it. That is my opinion as a mother, but when my husband heard about the book, he asked quite a few questions, seeming to think it was a GREAT idea.

The author has given very specific and detailed instructions for every thing he advises fathers to do. I think this is perfect for most dads I know. Writing the book as though it is a step-by-step blue-print makes it very accessible. If, indeed, women are so very hard for men to understand, this book seems perfectly crafted to lead the way to a close relationship with daughters for any man who will give a bit of attention to the author’s methods and the degree of caring and love he gives to his daughters.

Anyone can glean great ideas from this book. As I read it, I thought of how valuable these tips would be in getting closer to other family members where not much relationship has been forged (think mother in law for instance, lol!). The ideas are equally applicable to sons, or to the relationship between husband and wife. Doesn’t everyone spell ‘love’ t-i-m-e?

This book was well worth reading. Greg Wright has a conversational writing style that makes the book a quick read and one you don’t want to put down. I recommend it to anyone longing to get closer to the most important people in their lives. It is a warm and encouraging book, sure to give you great, easy to use, ideas.






Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

Rise & Shine Coffee Oatmeal Muffins

Lately, my teenage daughter has been enjoying these muffins for breakfast and (frequent LOL) snacks throughout the day. We homeschool, so grazing during the day is happily welcomed. You might notice that the plate of coffee oatmeal muffins is short of a dozen...I had to take the photo fast, as the number was diminishing rapidly as soon as they came out of the oven!

We tinkered with this recipe several times and now find them to be just 'perfect'...healthy enough to feel good about eating, and tasty enough that we don't think we'll ever get tired of them!

Rise & Shine Coffee Oatmeal Muffins

3 heaping Tablespoons of instant coffee powder (we use decaf)
1 cup hot brewed coffee or hot water
1/4 cup dry powdered milk
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
2/3 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vinegar
1/3 cup sourdough starter (can omit this if you don't have starter)
1 1/3 cups white flour
2/3 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cups oatmeal
1 cup chocolate chips

Dissolve the milk and coffee powders in hot coffee or hot water. Beat together the eggs, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, vinegar, yogurt, butter, oatmeal, and sourdough starter. Add the coffee mixture. Mix well, and mix in the flours and chocolate chips.

Fill paper cupcake liners in standard size muffin pan about 2/3 full. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Makes about 20-22 muffins.

We have made these as peanut butter oatmeal muffins also, by exchanging peanut butter for the yogurt, and omitting the coffee and sourdough starter. Those were wonderful also, but not as addictively yummy as these : )

Progress on the Summer in the Country Blanket

I am really enjoying the "Summer in the Country" KAL (Knit ALong) from Firefly. It is fun to see the bands of seed stitch meandering over and under the cable pattern. As you can see by the photo, I am nearly finished with the second cone of cotton yarn, so there are about 1380 yards of yarn in this blanket already! I think it is going to take about 3 1/2 cones as it is only about 32 inches long so far. I used Peaches and Cream article 930 yarn in baby blue color. I'm SO sad to see Pisgah mills close down. Theirs is the softest, smoothest, strongest cotton I have ever worked with. Luckily, I bought nearly a ton of their yarn a couple of months ago ; )



There is still plenty of time to join this KAL if you are interested. Firefly's patterns are always easy to follow and turn out so lovely! I think I am going to make one more of these blankets for one of my sisters, probably in this same blue color as that is her favorite. I will alter the next one to omit one cable and one section of lattice work, though. Mine is about 68 inches wide, which would probably be heavier and just bigger than my sister would enjoy.

The pudgy gray cat in the photos is trying to chew on my KnitPicks Harmony needle tip! Rascal is her name. She certainly lives up to her name : )