Little Ways to Make Life More Beautiful from the Kitchen

As the final post in our “Making Life More Beautiful” series, we decided to end in one of our favorite places: the kitchen! These are all simple ideas, but, if nothing else, perhaps they will give you food for thought.

• Take time for small touches. For example, when you take bread out of the oven spread/rub a little butter over the tops of the loaves. Besides giving an appealing shine, the butter also adds an extra bit of flavor for even those situations when you’re not actually going to butter your bread.
• Dress it up. A grilled-cheese sandwich can at least border on gourmet when made with Tomato Basil Bread, a yummy cheese or two, a pair of tomato slices, and Penzeys Sandwich Sprinkle - all toasted until warm, gooey and crunchy! “Sunny-side-up” eggs get even sunnier when fried within a slice of sweet pepper. And don’t forget the cherry (or whatever you like) on top of the sundae!
• Go with variety. Color and texture work the same on a plate as they do on a canvas, so, at least for those special occasions, see what eye-appealing combinations you can create. (We ourselves really do eat plain ol’ peanut butter and jelly at times; don’t get any ideas of all of our meals being from a French cooking magazine!)
• Spice it up. This idea is very similar to the above thought but still deserves to have it’s own bullet point. Spices add flavor, depth, color and sometimes even health benefits to food. Beyond that, they also tend to make food more satisfying and filling. Enjoy and make the most of them by experimenting. We’ve found that most American recipes (especially those in the bakery section) can handle more spices than called for, so we usually add extra. especially when it comes to our Jolly Green Ginger Cookies...

•  Set it well. “A dish well-presented is half eaten,” as the saying goes. This reminds us of one Easter when we were having our extended family for dinner. One of our cousins who had worked in food service remarked that we even had the handles of the teacups pointing in the right direction - that is, five o’clock. Susan’s response was, “Oh, I only did that because it makes sense and looks better!” A funny example, perhaps, but the point is that details can matter and sometimes surprising people notice.  
• Tag it. Using your computer or drawing supplies and card stock, create your own bakery labels for goodies you are giving away. Hole-punch the labels and use a bit of string or ribbon to attach one to your gift. The very best recipes are made with thoughtful consideration and love. 

Photos from apronstringsblog.com, houseoffiftyblog.blogspot.com 

Review of Shipwrecked But Not Lost

Shipwrecked is a tale that glistens with the icy pinnacles and cool morning dew of lands rarely heard of or visited. Starting in the small Russian t

own of Archangel, we meet dear old Ozaroff, his son Alexis, and his nephew Ivan. Shortly into the story, Ozaroff finds himself raising both headstrong boys on his own. Despite Ozaroff’s wise efforts to train his boys to become merchants like himself, Alexis and Ivan develop a love for the sea. A journey to St. Petersburg for studies at the Naval College only encourages their interest in going to sea. By the time we get to chapter seven, our young friends have left all they’ve ever known in search of a northeast passage.

That is where the story really begins. As the ship travels northeast above Asia, the young men become acquainted with the ship’s pilot, a wise old sailor. He and the two cousins become the only characters left in our story when a violent storm first traps the Juno in ice and then, presumably, buries her beneath the icy waves. Thus the pilot, Alexis, and Ivan are left alone on the island of Spitzbergen well within the Arctic Circle and far away from any help that might come except from the hand of God. 

The rest of the story, their grand discoveries, brave endurance, patient faith, and miraculous rescue are told in the remainder of this pretty little book. The young men do eventually return to Archangel and honor the wisdom of their father and uncle, Ozaroff. 

I suppose you can tell, but I really did enjoy this book. The geographical area (a very new one for me) seemed to grow and deepen in color and beauty as I read the story. I honestly did not see any glaring problems in it, so I can only say that I sincerely hope that you will enjoy it as well.

P.S. I have been informed that, since this story is largely a narrative, readers who prefer more dialog will, perhaps, not like it so well. I cordially enjoin such readers to use their imaginations well and be Shipwrecked but not lost.

Title: Shipwrecked But Not Lost

Author: Hon. Mrs. Dundas

Setting: Archangel (Arkhangelsk) & Spitzbergen (Spitsbergen), Russia

Main Character: Alexis

Original Book Printed: NA

This Printing: 2004

Pub: Lamplighter Pub.

Series: Rare Collector’s Series

ISBN: 1-58474-041-8

Chapters: 46

Pages: 167

Pages/Chapter: ~ 4

Additional Stories: None

Photo from store.lamplighter.net

Patrick Henry’s Letter to His Daughter

On March 23, 1775 Patrick Henry delivered his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech before the House of Burgesses. We thought we would honor the day by posting about him. However, we decided to give you a glimpse of him, and his daughter, that you may not be familiar with - just as we weren’t until several years ago. Below are excerpts from a letter he penned to his daughter Annie on the occasion of her wedding. We did our best (with the time we had) to find an accurate copy, but this was a bit difficult as we found several that differed slightly. At any rate, the advice Patrick Henry shares, we think, is a good reminder for all of us, whether married or not. And perhaps this letter will paint you a picture of Patrick Henry as not only a Christian statesman and the “Trumpet of the Revolution” but also as a loving Christian father. 

My Dear Daughter,

    You have just entered into that state which is replete with happiness or misery. ...                              

    You are allied to a man of honor, of talents, and of an open, generous disposition. You have, therefore, in your power all the essential ingredients of happiness: it cannot be marred, if you now reflect upon that system of conduct which you ought invariably to pursue - if you will now see clearly the path from which you will resolve never to deviate. ...

    The first maxim which you should impress upon your mind is never to control your husband, by opposition, by displeasure, or any other work of anger. ... Little things that in reality are mere trifles in themselves often produce bickering and even quarrels. Never permit them to be a subject of dispute; yield them with pleasure, with a smile of affection. ...

    Cultivate your mind by the perusal of those books which instruct while they amuse. Do not devote much of your time to novels. ... History, geography, poetry, moral essays, biography, travels, sermons, and other well-written religious productions, will not fail to enlarge your understanding, to render you a more agreeable companion, and to exalt your virtue. ...

    Mutual politeness between the most intimate friends is essential to that harmony which should never be broken or interrupted. How important, then, it is between man and wife! … I will only add, that matrimonial happiness does not depend on wealth; no, it is not to be found in wealth; but in minds properly tempered and united to our respective situations. Competency is necessary. All beyond that is ideal. Do not suppose, however, that I would not advise your husband to augment his property by all honest and commendable means. ...

    In the management of your domestic concerns, let prudence and wise economy prevail. Let neatness, order and judgment be seen in all your different departments. Unite liberality with a just frugality; always reserve something for the hand of charity; and never let your door be closed to the voice of suffering humanity. Your servants, in particular, will have the strongest claim upon your charity; let them be well fed, well clothed, nursed when in sickness, and let them never be unjustly treated.

You can read the letter in its entirety here on GoogleBooks, Patrick Henry: Life, Correspondence and Speeches Vol. 2 by William Wirt Henry, 1891. See Chapter XXXIV, pg. 305-309. Newer republished editions are also available on Amazon.com.

Making Your Closet A Little More Beautiful

As yet another post in our “Making Life More Beautiful” series, we’re going to tackle one of the areas we’ve had the hardest time keeping beautiful: clothes closets! Here are a few tips we’ve come across that have definitely helped us.

• First, make a list of all the main activities you have to attend during each season. Church, family gatherings, work, around-the-house-work days, outdoor work, travel, conferences, funerals, weddings, parties, running, days at the beach, playing in the snow, etc. Try to figure out how many outfits for each event you’re likely to need. This will help you in sorting, planning, and buying clothes.
• Sort. Take an hour (or two) to go through all your clothes and sort them into piles. If you’re like us, it can be helpful to have a friend along to “give permission” to get rid of something! Have a pile for keeping, mending/altering, and donating/giving away respectively. 
• We’re slowly learning that less really can be more in the clothes department if we’re thoughtful in what we buy and keep. Don’t feel like you have to keep something just because even though it doesn’t fit, has faded terribly, or simply doesn’t look good on you anymore. Sometimes it can be easy to keep those awful looking clothes for “dirty jobs”, but if you wouldn’t want your mailman to see you wearing it, do the world a favor and throw it away. Daughters who have dirty jobs to do, don’t have to wear ugly clothes! If it helps, consider getting rid of those over-worn clothes one more step in making life more beautiful. It’s really freeing to do it. And it’s much better when you don’t wish you could run and hide when an unexpected visitor comes to the door!
• Now that you’ve sorted through and gotten rid of what you don’t want, look at what you’re keeping. Now’s the time to get out that activity list that you made earlier. Can you make outfits for those activities out of what you have? Use a color wheel to see what colors look best together. Lay out or try on outfits and take photos if you like to help you remember your wardrobe plans.
• Need a few pieces? After going through your clothes, purposefully map out what you still need. Have fun picking out your new items!
• With all the clothes out of your closet, it’s the perfect time to clean it!
• When you’re putting your clothes back in your closet, think about how you want to do it. By color? By item? Specific outfits together? By occasion? Whatever you choose to do, remember that it does make it look tidier if things are generally facing the same direction and the hangers are hanging the same way. (Admittedly, it took quite a while to convince a particular but anonymous member of our family of this!)
• Of course, another aspect of keeping a clothes closet beautiful - or as beautiful as a closet can be - is everything else in the closet. Keep shoes tidy by investing in a shoe rack. Use hooks to hang up purses or scarves. Keep shelves neat and clutter free. Basically, principles in our post “7 Simple Ways to Make Life More Beautiful” apply here as well!

Well, there really aren’t any genius-statements for today, but maybe something will help you out as you go about making life a little more beautiful. 

Note: Some of the above ideas crossed our path via a webinar and study course called Reclaiming Beauty, a resource you can check out here.

Review of Always in His Keeping

Always in His Keeping is a fine little book with a precious story and a good Biblical lesson. It has very few problems, except that it is too mature for very young ears, and some readers may find problems in the theology. Nevertheless it is an encouraging story - one guaranteed to make you say “well, at least my life’s not as bad as that!” 

The first chapter tells us some about Vincent (the narrator and man who may have written the story), how he and his sister met two young children and how, many years later, the two boys were reunited. But the real story (chapters 2-12) is the tale, reportedly a true one, of Lenny and Alice. 

Kidnapped at an early age, Lenny can barely remember his mother, father, or home. Alice only knows about it from his stories. Slowly they begin to piece together the mystery of their past - and the mystery of a loving God. As they travel England and Scotland with their “Uncle Jerry” and “Aunt Elizabeth” they stumble on clues. A miniature painting of their mother and a few overheard words lead them closer to discovering why they are different from everyone else in the acting troupe they perform with. A Bible and a few kind words from strangers show them that they are not forgotten by their Father in Heaven. 

Vincent and his sister become interested in Lenny and Alice after meeting them in the Highlands of Scotland but soon loose any way of finding them. Sometime later, the two lonely waifs hear the preaching of Mr. Wesley and are greatly encouraged. Soon after that, however, they are thrown into some serious trouble. Don’t worry, though, these two lost little children are “always in His keeping”.

Title: Always in His Keeping 

OR The Missing Children

Author: Author Unknown

Setting: England

Main Character: Lenny

Original Book Printed: 1868

This Printing: Fourth, January 2011

Pub: Lamplighter Publishing

Series: NA

ISBN: 978-1-58474-023-0

Chapters: 12

Pages: 156

Pages/Chapter: 13

Additional Stories: None

Photo from Christianbook.com

A Friend of Mine...

Have you ever had the kind of friend who reminds of you of life’s simple joys and puts a spring back in your step? I hope you have had at least one. Over the years, I have been blessed with several. Today I’d like to introduce you to one of them. Her hame is Elinore Pruitt Stewart.

Elinore Stewart has quite the story. We call it the “grown-up-girls’ version of Little Britches”. Both of her parents died when she was young, leaving Elinore in charge of her siblings. In order to stay together, they went through all sorts of adventures of the hard-work variety. Eventually, she found herself a young widow with a baby girl in Denver, Colorado. Elinore once again had to do all sorts of labor - hauling coal and doing laundry - to eek out a livelihood for herself and her daughter. The hardest part of all was that she had to leave Baby in a nursery while she worked.

By now you are probably thinking that poor Elinore had a decidedly sad life, but don’t give up yet. Leaving out dozens of descriptive details, she eventually became a housekeeper on a Wyoming ranch and was able to not only spend time with her daughter but also make a living, get married again, homestead her own claim, and have all sorts of lively escapades in the West of 1910s America! 

1910s? Yes, that’s right; Elinore Stewart doesn’t come and actually sit at my kitchen table with me, and I’ve never actually met her - although I feel like I have! It was during her years in Wyoming that she wrote letters full of details and vibrant expressions to a friend back in Denver. Thanks to her friend, Elinore’s letters were published in the Atlantic Monthly and later in a book illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. Her story lives on through an audio recording called The Frontier Adventures of Elinore Stewart: The Letters of A Woman Homesteader, part of the Voices of the Past series. It is through this audiobook that I have come to feel, to a certain extent, as if I know Elinore.

As I look at history, I sometimes think that remarkable women often had one great character trait that defined them - the hospitality of Katherine Willoughby, the intellect of Abigail Adams, the adventurous perseverance of Sacajawea. If we were going to pick out what defined Elinore Stewart it would be her infectious zest for life and her care for others.

Somehow Elinore’s hard early years, instead of making her bitter, gave her a great appreciation for the often-overlooked pleasures of life. She got delight out of a sunset, a letter from a friend, and the simple fact that her family could be together. What a good reminder that is when I’m having a not-so-great day! Besides the fact that the realities of Elinore’s life remind me how good my life really is, her joyful outlook is simply contagious.

I think that a large part of this was her care for others. She refused to be self-focused and industriously set about making life more beautiful for others. Even when she had a ranch full of people to cook and clean for, four children to raise, food to grow and animals to tend, she found time to bring a little beauty to friends, neighbors and strangers. In disc 5 you can find Elinore serving as maid of honor at a long-awaited wedding as well as making the wedding dinner and helping the overloaded boardinghouse owner, writing “Indoor Outings for Invalids” to bring some of her adventures to the homebound and, oh, well, you might just have to make it your own adventure...

Beyond these things, Elinore was on an others-focused mission. While making a good life for herself and her family was a priority, it wasn’t the only reason she chose to homestead her own claim. She chose to do it to possibly inspire other widows that they too could enjoy a simple, healthful life homesteading with their children instead of slaving away in cities where they had to leave their children to find work. Of course, it wasn’t an easy life, but not easy doesn’t necessarily mean not good; working hard in the clear, fresh open where one could grow one’s own food with family together could be so much better than scrimping to earn whatever one could to buy a little food alone! Elinore aspired to give struggling women hope by her efforts, and as you can discover for yourself, she accomplished what she set out to do.

I hope you’ve enjoyed getting acquainted a bit with my friend Elinore Stewart and that you can get to know her for yourself. I love to have Elinore Stewart in the kitchen with me when I’m alone on a baking day or working on some project. However, I will add that her story is a real story about the American West. It’s not all happy-go-lucky. There are deaths, outlaws cause trouble, the realities of Mormonism are discussed and people have tragedies in their past. Also, while Elinore does express her faith in God, she is not quite as Christian as could be hoped perhaps. All of these elements are a part of a real woman’s life. This is the kind of story that makes history breathe and makes me love it. At the same time, please be discerning in letting little/sensitive children listen.

And don’t worry, I do have some still-living friends of this kind as well! They’re just not quite as shareable as Elinore.

Blessing to you.

~Kristen

Making Life More Beautiful for Others

While we’re about the business of making life more beautiful, we really need to be keeping others in mind (Philippians 2). There are so many people who are walking around in a dark, dreary and downright gloomy world that, on the bright side, there are myriads of simple things that do make life more beautiful for them. In darkness, even a little light does a lot of good. This list is just the beginning - you can likely come up with more and better ideas - but we wanted to give you enough variety that there might be something to suit your fancy or at least give you pegs on which to hang new ideas as you come up with them. 

1. Sing a song. There’s just something about music, isn’t there? Elderly people - who might have some of the loneliest days of all of us - especially seem to love music. Singing a song (hymn, ballad, WWII favorite, Psalm, or even Italian Aria!) can be a splendid way to cheer them up. We’ve known girls who have brought joy to WWII veterans, grandparents, the sick, and little children by sharing the sweet gift of song.
2. Give someone freshly-baked bread or cookies. Homemade goodies aren’t as common as they once were. Spread some merriment by mixing up something scrumptious - with plenty of love mixed in. Don’t forget the post or UPS man; it’s admittedly rather fun to get a “Wow! Thanks!” from a surprised deliveryman! 
3. Write a note. We can personally vouch for this one. The little notes we receive truly do brighten our day. Whether it’s a “card” decorated with crayon scribbles, a sticky-note in a lunchbox, a thoughtful text or a multi-page letter of exhortation and encouragement from a distant friend, written words touch the heart.
4. Say thank you. Once we had the opportunity to thank a non-Christian lady for helping us with a long project. All we gave her was a small gift and a card and a verbal “thank you”, but her eyes teared up as she told us, “No one’s ever told me thank you before.” That little act of gratitude opened up the opportunity for sharing the Gospel and also taught us the importance of taking the time to say those two petite but powerful words. Can you imagine spending your whole life helping people, albeit in a small way, and never truly being thanked? Finally hearing those words would definitely make your world a bit more beautiful!
5. Give a gift. A flower/plant, painting, book, or crocheted baby blanket...We all know what it’s like to receive a thoughtful trifle. Just the fact that someone took even a moment to think of us is a heartwarming blessing.
6. Clean up. Whether it’s the dishes, taking out the garbage, folding the laundry, washing the dog or vacuuming the car, this is a sure-fire way to beautify life for everyone concerned! 
7. Be cheerful. Alas, this one may be the most difficult of all at times. It sounds so simple but sometimes...it’s simply not. We hope to introduce you soon to a friend of ours who might help you along with this idea....
8. Share a story. Recently, we had lunch at a friend’s home. Her house was quite clean and the food was gourmet, but the best part of the day was the stories of God’s faithful work that she shared with us. It seemed like she had carefully thought through what would encourage and strengthen us and told those very things. Of course, made-up stories of daring deeds and adventures told to an audience of eager faces before bed or the reading (or retelling) of a great book to someone under the weather are equally delightful!
9. Lend a hand. Have you ever known the sheer relief of coming home to a driveway already plowed clear of snow by a caring neighbor? How about the pleasant picture of a young person helping an old lady down the church steps? Or maybe one of the little girls helping a busy mama by taking another little one’s hand? Such simple things, yet what joy they bring to the receivers and givers - not to mention the spectators! 
10. Pray. Our family has definitely been through times and in situations where it positively meant the world to us to know that our friends were lifting us up in prayer. If you know someone who’s going through a hard time, pray for them and tell them so. This may be one of the best blessings of the Christian life. Don’t miss out.

This post wouldn’t be complete without saying that we can’t expect ourselves to somehow make life an English garden for everyone. Many things are God-sized jobs. We simply do the part He has given us with the strength He gives us. Then we have to choose to trust Him (and ask Him!) to “bridge the gap” between what we can do and what needs to happen in whatever situation.

Well, we do hope you are blessed by people doing all of these life-beautifying things for you. Whether or not that’s happening, we’ll be praying that you can create your own ways of making life more beautiful for others...and that life becomes more beautiful for you in the process!

Review of The Lamplighter

     I finished reading The Lamplighter by Maria S. Cummins, the book that Mark Hamby appreciated so much he named Lamplighter Ministries after it. Oh, I am so glad he republished it because, as I told Mom, it would be so sad to have such a story bound up in some falling-apart volume, not being read by anyone because there weren’t copies of it available….

    Within the pages of The Lamplighter you will uncover the story of an unloved, untaught little girl who, thanks to God’s use of a kindly old lamplighter, grows into a loved and mature young woman. Trials and tender moments, of course, lie along the way, and through them you will find yourself endeared to both Gertrude and her caring companions. This book presents delightful—and surprising—pictures of God’s providential hand directing events....

    Main Characters

    Gertrude “Gerty”: the protagonist

    Nan Grant: Gerty’s wicked, troubled aunt

    Truman Flint/”Uncle True”/The Lamplighter: an elderly         

        Bostonian Lamplighter who takes Gertrude under his wing

    Mrs. Sullivan: Uncle True’s kindly neighbor and Willie’s         

        mother, who helps Gertrude in a number of ways and         

        receives Gertrude’s help in return

    William “Willie” Sullivan: a young man who grows from 

        Gertrude’s friend into her husband and works to take         

        care of his mother and grandfather

          

    Looking back, I think The Lamplighter also illustrates how one man and a little girl make life a little more beautiful for each other and many more. Love and kind deeds, with God’s grace, go so far in shining Christ’s light and making this world brighter!                                                                                                                                                                                                       

     If you would like to get your own copy of The Lamplighter you can visit Lamplighter Publishing at www.lamplighter.net 
[Selected from my "Book Journal"]