homemaking

‘My Little Mother’ and thoughts on mothering

June 1, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 36 Comments

The girls and I are almost finished with book 2 (Anne of Avonlea) of the Anne of Green Gables series. It’s got to be one of my favorite book series of all time. Lucy Maud Montgomery was such a phenomenal writer and was able to craft a character that will forever live in the hearts of many girls. Anne (with an ‘e’) is definitely one of my favorites. In book two, Anne becomes a teacher her favorite student always refers to his deceased mother as ‘my little mother’. Well, I’ve now coined that phrase for my momma too. If you haven’t read these books, they are a must read for summer! The most common phrase in my household the last month or two, “Mom, pleeeeeeease read Anne.” You will not be disappointed!

And two more things.

1. My church is encouraging it’s members, kids and adults, to read the New Testament through this summer so I thought you might want to join us. The pastor will go over the scheduled reading each Sunday and I’ll give you the highlights. The girls and I plan to read it together in the mornings—it will usually end up being 2-3 chapters a day. Here’s the reading schedule if you’re interested.

2. Also, I’m doing two guest posts this week about mothering. I’m always humbled and somewhat hesistant to write about raising children because I fail often to “love my neighbor as myself”. It seems as if we’re constantly asking for and granting forgiveness in this house. Mostly, my prayer is that God fills in the gap—-that He does for them what I, in my fallen condition, can not.
In the midst of obvious failures, it always warms my heart to find small evidences of His grace in them.
I found these notes by their bed this morning and I got a little teary eyed.

I’m saving these for when they’re 16 and fighting over who’s driving.

Join me at my friend Ruth’s blog today for a guest post on “Raising Kids You Like”.

Don’t leave though before you watch this video of ‘my little mother’ line dancing. She’s apparently done this a time or two. She’s normally the one at parties that you never see, serving food, washing dishes, making sure everyone has what they need. She came out of nowhere when the line dancing started and showed us all how it’s done. She’s so darn cute that I can’t take my eyes off her in this video! I thank her immensely for her unconditional love and grace over the years. Apparently, she passed on her line dancing skills too, at least to my sister.

Happy June 1st!
p.s. I have a fully shingled roof and windows!!!!

Home for Easter

April 26, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 33 Comments

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! My semi-break from blogging has left me with a million posts in my head. Maybe I can transfer them from my head to the keyboard 🙂
It’s always such a treat for us to have our older kids home—at least some of them. I regret that I didn’t get pics of Marcus and Katilin all dressed up. They were so chic for church on Sunday but they changed before they got to our house and then I was out of photographer mode and into southern chef mode. As usual, we missed Mal, Savannah and Nicholas:( The kids came in shifts so I made turkey, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs and carrot cake cupcakes on Friday. THen on Sunday, it was ham, scalloped potatoes, baked beans, deviled eggs and banana pudding. Both days we had bread, creamed corn and green beans. It was a busy weekend!

I just finished Karen’s photography class and Erin Cobb’s Clean Color tutorial for photoshop, I was happy to have willing subjects to photograph. Most of these photos are edited using portions of Erin’s method. I’m still such a beginner at photoshop but it’s a start.

the little girls

Caiti {my graduating senior} and the littles

emme

sisters (edited in picnik by caiti)

taylor and caiti

the girls in their ‘Crewcuts’
I wanted to thank you all for all your wonderful encouraging words and prayers these past few months. I know this hasn’t been a very cheerful, uplifting place to visit but I think I’m on the comeback and I so appreciate your support. I apologize for the notes, gifts, cards, etc that have gone unanswered. It means more to me than you know. I took all your kitchen/pantry advice to heart and I think we have a solution that will work. I’ll share more house stuff soon. Our foundation was poured yesterday—so let the framing begin!

There have been some wonderful podcasts on Issues Etc for Holy Week. I really liked this one by Arthur Just on the institution of the Lord’s Supper and this one on God, the Great Gift Giver. Check out their archives for amazing orthodox teaching.

Blessed Resurrection to you!

xo,

edie

12 Days of Christmas Crafts 2010

April 10, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 22 Comments

Day 1 Crayon Roll

Day 2 Zippered Pouch

Day 3::Appliqued Placemats

Day 4::Quilted Potholder

Day 5::Camera Strap

Day 6::Embellished Dishtowel

Day 7::Bean Bags

Day 8::Alphabet crayons

from the archives………

February 22, 2011 by Edie Wadsworth 37 Comments

Greetings from a very quiet house this morning. My girls got into trouble, bickering and sassing and whatnot, so I’ve banned them temporarily from my presence and given them a hefty amount of history to do. Don’t feel too sorry for them. They spend most of their time with me anyways and they’re learning about the beginnings of the American Revolution. How much punishment could that possibly be? I’ve been busy with house plans and inventory lists and grandparents visiting and seem to keep forgetting I have a blog. And since there are many of you who are new to this neglected place, I thought I’d dig in the archives to see what I was doing this time last year. I was making soup. You might like it too. Perhaps you need a little spice in your life!

Update: An hour later, we’re all hugging, talking about Patrick Henry and memorizing the introduction to the Declaration of Independence, while the girls promise they’ll never leave me to go to college. What can I say? My heart is mush.

Spicy Tomato Soup

{with a hint of blue cheese}

don’t let the blue cheese scare you. this is the best tomato soup i’ve ever eaten. ever. just ask stevie.

he won’t lie for me just to promote my tomato soup.

Now, if I’ve already offended you with the suggestion of blue cheese, don’t get your panties in a ruffle.

You just use a little—for a complex layer of flavors—- and I highly doubt you could tell it had blue cheese in it, if you didn’t already know.

Try it and you could always substitute the cheese if you have serious issues with blue cheese.

The other two stars of the show are sriracha and a large can of cento tomatoes.

Sriracha is a deliciously-hot-addictive sauce that has seductive powers unlike any hot sauce

you’ve ever had. Your mouth might burn but it will not stop you from adding more. A little squirt into soup is makes all the difference!

You’ll need these ingredients:

a few splashes of olive oil

1 small onion

2-3 cloves of garlic

1 28 ounce can of tomatoes

1 14 ounce can of diced tomatoes

1 cup chicken broth

2 T. honey

1 small squirt of sriracha (more if you like really spicy–but start small)

handful of basil leaves

about an ounce of blue cheese (or your favorite easy melt cheese)

1/3 cup of cream

kosher salt and pepper to taste

You’ll also need a submersion blender!

The directions:

In a large dutch oven, add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Don’t measure, just swirl a few times. Then add the chopped onion and garlic and salt to taste and then saute for about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes in their juice. Then add the rest of the ingredients except the cream and let it simmer for about 10 minutes. Use your submersion blender to achieve the consistency you’d like and then add cream. Taste it and reseason as necessary. I almost always have to add more salt and more honey. And if you accidentally go heavy on the sriracha, add a little more cream to balance the heat. Serve with artisan bread or crackers and prepare to be lavished with ” mmmm’s” and gratitude.

Garnish with basil and enjoy!

Old-Fashioned Homemade Fudge Recipe

December 19, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 117 Comments

href=”https://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2013/12/online-christmas-cookie-exhange/”>online cookie exchange! Link up your favorite treat with us tomorrow!

This is a recipe that I have memorized and have made countless times. It’s a family heirloom. The family jewels.

It was recently entered in a county fair by my Aunt Rosemary and won 1st place. Which makes it award-winning fudge as well.

I give it to you as a token of my love and deep gratitude for all the countless ways you’ve encouraged me these past few years.

The taste of this fudge could well be my favorite taste in the whole wide world.

This fudge recipe is my love language.

And I don’t like any other fudge at all. It has to be this one.

Well, I mean I’d eat other fudge. But no other fudge does what this fudge does to me.

If I were transformed into a confection, it would most definitely be fudge.

And just so happens, it’s pretty easy to make. You must give it a try.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 sticks of butter

6 cups of sugar

1 can of evaporated milk

1 can of marshmallow cream

18 oz (1 1/2 packages) of chocolate chips

2 t. good vanilla

In a large dutch oven on medium heat, melt butter, sugar and evaporated milk. Heat to boiling and once it has come to a rolling boil, set a 6 minute timer. After 6 minutes, remove from heat and add the marshmallow cream and chocolate chips.
And if I happen to be making this fudge with my mother around (who we affectionately call Grannie), this is where she gets bossy. Even though I’m a grown woman who cooks all the time and who’s cooked this particular fudge a million times, when Granny’s around I’m 12 and can’t turn on the stove. Do you do this too? Start asking your mother how to do something you clearly know how to do? It’s kind of endearing,really. Back to the fudge. You have to stir it just right and we all know that only Grannie can do it just right. Just try your best. After it’s well combined, add the vanilla and continue to stir until the fudge no longer runs quickly off the spoon. It kinda collapses off the spoon. That’s when you know it’s ready. Otherwise, ask Grannie. She knows exactly when it’s ready.

You are now ready to pour the fudgy goodness onto the jelly roll pan and spread the mixture evenly around.

And this is my favorite part. Licking the bowl. Or the dutch oven. It’s the best ever.
Warm fudge from a spoon. Hide it from the children if you can. Hoard it all for yourself.
Wear your stretch pants.

Now pull yourself together long enough to slice it up. But wait about 30 minutes or so and it’ll be just right for slicin’.
And then once you eat this, it’s like we’re blood brothers.
But more like fudge sisters.
We’re for real friends now.
This chocolate bond can never be broken.
Your welcome.
xo,
edie

Award Winning Fudge aka Grannie’s Fudge aka There’s No Other Fudge For Me

4.50 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook Time 30

Ingredients

2 sticks of butter
6 cups white sugar
1 12 oz can evaporated milk
1 7 oz container marshmallow cream
2 t. good vanilla extract
18 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Grease a 10x15 jelly roll pan.
Combine butter, sugar and evaporated milk into a dutch oven or other heavy duty (deep) pot.
Bring to a rolling boil and boil for 6 minutes.
Remove from heat and add marshmallow cream and chocolate chips.
Stir until it begins to thicken and then add the vanilla.
Stir until it no longer pours from the spoon and spead into greased pan.

ps. In case you didn’t know, this family doctor took the plunge into the world of natural health and essential oils and these oils are BLOWING MY MIND. If you want to feel better, sleep better, strengthen your immune system, reduce your stress, and clear some of the common toxins out of your life, I’d love to walk with you as you get started.

In the month of December (2016) I’m giving away a signed copy of my book along with a $10 product credit (to repay you for the cost of your shipping) to anyone who joins Young Living with me with a Premium Starter kit.

Young Living is giving away a free bottle of Christmas Spirit (my ABSOLUTE favorite Christmas scent and SO GOOD for mood!!) with every starter kit purchase. It’s a great time to join!!

Click here to read more about it!!

Our Christmas Journey 2010

December 13, 2010 by Edie Wadsworth 109 Comments

I’ve joined The Nester’s Christmas Tour both in 2009 and in 2008. I love that girl. She gives me a goal for finishing my decorating.

I haven’t finished decorating yet, despite her promptings but I’ve decided to tell you about my Christmas journey anyways.

This year has been different for me. This is my first Christmas in the lake house. And honestly, I’ve had a hard time completely letting go of the other house, at least in my heart. I have so many wonderful Christmas memories from that house. It’s different here.

And then with that geographic change came a heart shift.

I found myself not wanting a fancy, glitzy perfectly decorated house.

I wanted to slow down. To take an Advent journey without all the rushing. A quiet journey of waiting and hoping and longing.

For the Christ who would come in lowly means to a world that is messy and hurting and broken.

I’ve been a little hamstrung. Wanting to ‘get in the spirit’ but not knowing for the life of me how to usher it in.

Not depressed. Not a Scrooge. Just quiet. And waiting.

Slowly, but surely, a few decorations go up. Not in my normal frenzy. But a few things here and there along the way.

I missed this party and this one and especially this one, since I have no tree yet.

But I didn’t miss this or this.

I think I like my new Christmas. You have to slow down to see it.

So instead of spending lots of time and money decorating, I’ve decided to do a few things different. I’ve been:

1. Studying the poem “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity” by John Milton. I’m leading my bookclub discussion this Thursday and I picked this poem, partly because the girls and I are memorizing the first four stanzas and partly because I find it so fascinating that Milton wrote such a brilliant piece at the age of 21. Wow! So, I’m taking copious notes and reading lots of commentary. You can read the poem here.

2. Hand-Writing my Christmas cards. Novel, huh? I haven’t handwritten cards in many-a-year, since the computer generated labels became so avant-garde. It’s all so old-school and fun. I love writing—with a pen!
3. Baking like there’s no tomorrow. And then freezing it all for the holiday rush.

Which means I always have a sink full of dishes. It looks less messy from this point of view. Don’t let that fool you. It’s messy.

And that candle? Winterberry from Target. Hands down the best Christmas-y scent I’ve found this year.

4. Doing a lot of arts and crafts with the littles. Today? Snowman paintings to go along with our snow. We painted the Voyage of the Dawn Treader ship this weekend and hope to brave the snow to see the movie later today.