Thursday, March 3, 2011

Packing, Decluttering, Baby Dolls & Muffins Oh My!

Hi-de-ho Everyone!

It's that packin' time! Yes indeedie. : )

The other day I was packing my books from my bedroom bookcase on the wall of my bedside. It was kind of scary. I felt like I was putting old sweet friends in boxes, it was almost as if I was afraid of not seeing them again for a while...Oh I'm such a sentimental mess.

But you know? The thought came to me...Does anyone remember the old Ray Bradbury story? It's the story where there was a nuclear explosion on earth and there is one person left alive? The person is a man who loves books. So he is content reading books until his eyeglasses are shattered....Is that not horrible? I thought of that story as I was packing my books... I hang on to my glasses with a safe hand I tell you! :) For me? I couldn't drive without them...Wow, which is worse, not reading or driving?

I did leave some books out...Just a few..or so. ; )

I kept my pediatrician's book out, the one with medicine dosages and warning signs etc. My youngest is 17 but every now and then those charts come in handy. I loved my pediatrician's detailed-ness. I never understood why more doctors didn't put together a booklet like that for patients. I remember my girlfriends would call me for advice and I would simply go to my book.

The other books are three Grace Livingston Hill books, no four...'April Gold',' The Substitute Guest', 'Crimson Mountain' and the one I am reading now...'Beauty for Ashes'. It's wowee so far and we have experienced a bit of a situation a bit similar as of late. I am so amazed at the protection of the Lord! Even though a situation of a potential courtship doesn't work out, God reveals! He protects so major it is unreal. Talk about a secret detective of the BEST KIND! GOD is the REVEALER. He's the Revealer on a lot of things let me tell you... At 50 I see so clearly now the ways God has protected our family.

My dd25> also likes GLH books...She read them when she was younger and is getting back on the GLH train too these days....The books are so much fun to talk about with our girls, I have even been able to read parts outloud after dinner, and my husband even enjoys them especially "Beauty for Ashes" it has a wonderful dad in the book. Our daughters can also so relate to the young women in these books. Most are written in the 30s and 40s....They also have very strong Christian themes woven into them in the most beautiful of ways.

Hm. Looks like I just went off on a bunny trail there but isn't that what blogging is about? : ) It's my journal, my life, my thoughts for the world to see.

The other books of honor left are: 'The Joy of Less', 'Mrs. Sharp's Traditions' (You never know when you need to pull something out of her book!) 'Best Homes of the 1920s' (In case I catch myself whining about not enough space), 'Stories of Dogs and the Lives They Touch', 'Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health For Dogs & Cats', 'Cold Noses and Warm Hearts' (Yes, I love my doglets and catlet a great deal) 'Mitten Strings for God', 'Clutter No More' and 'Organized Simplicity'. 'To Live Again' by Catherine Marshall is on the shelf to be previewed, I'm thinking it may be nice encouragement for my mil. A 'Reminisce' magazine or two...or three... My Bible and 'Streams in the Desert' will stay out of course. : )


I'll have to do a blog soon on those Grace Livingston Hill books, Carmen here on blogger let me in on them several years ago and now I'm a full blown fan... : ) They are wonderful. Here is a nice blog entry Carmen did on her inherited collection of Grace Livingston Hill books.

I'm a packin' away, I even decluttered more and so did our four daughters. They have nine bags of dolls, doll clothes and toys and such ready for a donation pick up. I told the girls I did not even want to look in the bags, it would do me in. Dd28 tells me it 's probably for the best I don't look. (yikes)


< Dd28 is concerned though. Why? Because FAT BABY is missing. Missing! That was her favorite doll when she was little, her name was Jennifer but most of the time... "Fat Baby". She is a darling lil' baby dolly, she is the old fashioned kind, with a vinyl face & head, with a cloth body and little vinyl arms and legs, and the cloth tummy is sooooo cute and pudgie...thus.... Fat Baby.

I assured Dd28 Fat Baby is probably in the attic carefully stored. I just cannot imagine otherwise! Isn't it funny though, my little girl, now 28 working for her daddy in Real Estate aspiring to be a wife and mommy herself one day...but now? She wants her Fat Baby! lol She was sharing with me when she and my other daughters get together with their sweet friends, other wonderful and godly Christian young women, they turn back the clocks to a carefree youth...Laughter and jokes coupled with girliness....A labor and delivery nurse, a sports writer, a wedding photographer, a master herbalist...all aspiring wives & mommies, lovers of Christ. Where God will lead no one knows, who God will bring these precious young ladies in what timing, no one knows...But He is in control, yes He is. In the meantime let them laugh. Let them laugh and be silly all they want! : )

So much for that, but in case you are wondering my declutter party is still in gear.

Yesterday I even wrapped up a sweet cookie jar someone made, but we all agreed it may be better off with someone else? .... I don't know sometimes....It is cute and the rabbit on the top has the cutest face............... ? : (

My husband brought his musician stuff to the new house today remarking: "You know we're packing seriously when I move my music stuff". Yep, he's right.

I'm also wrapping up sewing projects, my latest, Simplicity 8523. V-neck top with black and lime green dots, will be cute belted with black skirt should be finished up by tomorrow or so. Then I need to pack my sewing. My sewing machine? I have the blue and white Brothers from Walmart and the pink flower Brothers from Walmart online. I love those machines in case you're looking and they don't cost an arm or leg. We all sew thus two machines.

Such freedom in sewing....I keep it easy, I keep it simple. It works.

Last but not least I have a recipe for you, my Dd21>

My Photo

...just made these and they are marvelous dahlings! Marvelous!

Healthy Banana Oat Muffins

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (you could also use half whole wheat flour)
1 cup rolled or quick rolled oats

1/4 cup sugar (I used honey to make them more healthy)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup applesauce or vegetable oil

1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup mashed bananas

Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. Beat egg lightly in a large bowl and then stir in milk, applesauce (or oil), and vanilla. Add mashed bananas and combine thoroughly. Stir flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined making sure not to over mix it. Divide the batter among cups of the muffin pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 min. or until golden brown.



As for Dd17> My  Photo

Our baby girl? I found the sweetest letter yesterday while decluttering she had written a little friend seven years ago after moving to the burbs. It said:

"We used to live on 10 acres, I love the country, I wish I still lived in the country"

Oh it broke my heart...But ya know? Sunday's coming and we'll be back baby Becca. Yes, my Lovely we're going back. Soon. May God be glorified. Amen.


Dh & I

Grace and Peace to All, God's Protection be with you...until next time. ~Amelia

Please pray for Baby Jonathan that God would move on hearts and be with this precious, precious baby. You can read about Baby Jonathan on my Vision For a Godly Home blog.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love muffins! Healthy or not :-)

Take care Amelia and have a great weekend :-)

~Ron

Amelia said...

Thanks Ron!

Blessings!

Little Mama Mia said...

Fat Baby!!! Yes! And she would be delighted to know she received honorable mention in your blog...!

Oh how that part of this blog tickled me!!! LOL

The sad part is I still haven't found her... :( I will keep looking though... she is hopefully in the attic as you say. I haven't looked there yet.

That is such a great pic of you and Dad. I'm so blessed with parents like y'all. How it so often blesses me to see the harmonious relationship & bond y'all share. This pic is such an accurate illustration of that.

Love you!

Beloved's Redheaded Bride said...

I hope all is well. I was thinking about you.

Amelia said...

Hi Carmen,

Yes, all is well, just wrestling with our new satellite internet...unpacking....etc. etc... enjoying nature. Did you receive my note? I trust everything is perking along in your home? Please let me know if you did not receive the note.: ) Bless you Carmen.

Beloved's Redheaded Bride said...

HI Mrs. Amelia. I did receive your note. I wrote back. Did it not go through? It was long.

I just finished "Since You Went Away". Oh my! What a wonderful movie.

I know the process of moving isn't fun but I do like the feeling of putting everything back in its place.

Amelia said...

Hi Carmen, I don't think your note went through...

So glad you enjoyed Since You Went Away! Isn't it a wonderful old movie?

Oh the unpacking is so very overwhelming...We are constantly packing up more boxes to donate even still. I'm pretty worn out these days...