Abundance ( with video)

Today I talked about aspect of abundant living.

 

All is Well

 

Greetings and congratulations for another day of home life. All is well here and I hope all is well with you.

I spent the day cleaning up outside and making things look as curb- attractive as possible for my family and friends. It is time to get the paint out and freshen up garden fences and outdoor things before rain comes. 

The Manse this evening.

In light of world events and cultural pressures swirling around us, here is a little scripture that I feel is integral to keep the homemaker focused on every good thing: 

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV)

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." 

It is easy to be distracted by the uncertainty of the world around us. Replace those worries with kindness and forgiveness and tenderness. I will try to talk more about it on video.

Also to the homemaker: It's never too late to create an atmosphere at home conducive to happiness, especially in a country like ours.

When you are doing well, there will be criticism and attack. My husband read a scripture that helped deal with the unjust and undeserved hatred of the Titus 2:5 reference to women as keepers at home .

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you." 1st Peter 4:12

Those who pressure homemakers to get a life outside the home, can leave you puzzled, but that's what the enemy does: keep you in a state of uncertainty and fear. 

Instead of taking up thinking space in hours of emotional turmoil, rehearsing what someone said to take away your love of homemaking, use it as a trigger to do something nice for yourself, the house and someone else. Do not stay in that immobile state, unable to progress from the sorting of good books to the careful keeping of family memories in a journal or a box of precious papers.

I like that phrase "be not surprised...as though something strange were happening to you."

It is saying "don't be so surprised when those who are minding their own business at home will sometimes be attacked for it."  It triggers negative, jealous people. 

Previous generations taught their children about this: Whatever you try to do that is justified by God, even the simplest things like having a home and being a homemaker, -- "whatever you try to do, someone will try to stop you."   

When we were younger, (back in the olden days 😊) we  rather expected resistance when we practiced goodness.

 Homemaking, and homeschooling , being feminine, teaching others what is good, pursuing interests, improving yourself, etc. would always attract envy and resentment. Those good things just seem to trigger negative people. 

Read the book of Nehemiah and see how the culture tried to prevent the progress on building something good. Some people would sneer at the builders and make snide, disrespectful remarks. Read what Nehemiah did to encourage the workers. 

This would all be easier to understand in a video talk but my vocal chords have felt thin the last couple months. I hope to talk to you pretty soon and fill you in on what has transpired since I last broadcast. 

Lydia Ruth 

Things I saw in a shop recently;

Pictures

 

Hopefully you'll be hearing from me via video soon. 

We have been to World Market and were able to purchase these three cups. 

Talk Soon

Hello Ladies,

I feel as though I am a character in a book called A Long Way Home because I can't seem to find my way back to the video broadcasts which I create to encourage homemakers. Busy days make it a challenge to get to a broadcast. My voice is wearing thin from all the unnecessary talking I do at home, so I am trying to be quiet, and reserve some voice for you. 

As you see, above, my castles are back!! 

Miss Lillian is in The Manse  talking to

her future husband. 

She is here sewing her wedding dress. Her home in eastern Oregon has been evacuated due to smoke. 

Please  do not copy photos on this page nor send.

Painting:

The Wedding Dress by George Goodwin Kilburn 1839-1924

Sewing the Wedding Dress

( author unknown)

The White Stitch

• Soft white cloth upon the floor,

•

• Silver needle through the door

•

• Of time and hope, a-threading slow,

•

• Where quiet, happy feelings go.

•

The Dress Takes Shape

• Inch by inch the bodice grows,

•

• Sweet as petals on a rose.

•

• Long white lace and smooth-spun silk,

•

• Pale and bright as morning milk.

•

Ready for the Day

• Pins are pulled and thread is tied,

•

• Waiting for the happy bride.

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• Every seam a wish made true,

•

• Old and bright, and white and blue.

Hopefully I'll talk at you soon!!!

Lydia Ruth

Hay Season

 

Hello Everyone,

It is hay season here. We stop and watch the huge farm machines with their air conditioned cabs and up to date fascinating amenities. 

If I can manage my time properly I'll make a hay season dress. 

Miss Lillian, our little granddaughter, is busy trying hair styles, and is busy sewing for her wedding. She is going to marry a young preacher in Missouri. I will tell more about it in a video. 

We are all doing the best we can and keeping cool with plenty of ice and taking dips in the stock tank . 

All is well here and I

hope all is well with you.

We are having a Ladies Day at our little congregation and my daughter Lily Beth and her daughter Lillian are conducting the event with singing, reading, reciting  poetry, a Bible Brides quiz and a delicious Afternoon Tea luncheon. I will include pictures of table arrangements and party favors soon. It will also be a gift card wedding shower for our bride-to-be. 

I still plan to converse with you on video when the rush is over. 

Lydia Ruth

Happiness Today

 

I'm still well and happy and trying to get back to broadcasts.

Thank you for being so patient!

Lydia Ruth

Home Made Ranch Dressing

 

Greetings to all those who have come from abroad for the World Cup.

I see everywhere you are excited about some of the food, so I will

share where to get recipes to enable you to make these favorites at home when you return to your country.

Find the particular recipes by doing a web search for DIY, Homemade, or "Copy CatRecipe for______" and include the thing you are looking for. 

 Also, grocery stores, WalMarts and other places that sell cooking magazines will have entire issues showing how to make the following things at home:

Ranch Dressing

KFC and Chick-Fil-A coatings for chicken

Home made flour and corn tortillas

Taco Fillings and Sides.

Mac and Cheese

Cole Slaw

French Fries like _____(name the place)

I was able to make fries very similar to the ones in fast food restaurants, with a few helpful tips:

After cutting the fries, soak them in ice water. Then drain and dry on paper towels, roll in cornstarch and salt and fry in your preferred oil or bake on an oiled pan.

I hope all of you are loving the way these visitors are enjoying the local parks, foods, activities, shopping, visiting and more.  My favorite videos on YouTube are the ones showing World Cup fans from different nations enthusiasm for the shopping, eateries, and recreation areas we often take for granted. 

Hopefully many of these newcomers will seek out places to attend worship. with churches. There was a powerful prayer session of the US and some foreign teams prayers before a match, but other than that I have not had any personal reports regarding this. 

We are also enjoying the smiles, laughs and songs of these overseas visitors. 

We have had long visits in the past from people in other countries and they complain that during their visit they smiled so much their face muscles ached when they got home.

I hope all will be well with these people and that the US can host the World Cup again. The fans were another entertainment itself.

Ranch dressing consists of:

plain yogurt

buttermilk

sour cream

lemon juice

vinegar

garlic powder

onion powder

sea salt

dill

I hope to be back in about a week with videos and posts for you.

Lydia Ruth

We Have Company

 

We have company, and I will stay in touch here. 

Rain seems to be coming but we don't know. 

A cottage i saw at the Hobby Lobby. 

A one-eyed cat had been visiting us, begging to be pet. 

I have been looking at the art of Harrison Fisher:

I love you all,

Lydia Ruth 

Homemaker and Dignity

Good Morning Dear Homemakers,

Today I used the "Ocean Room" for a Titus 2 discussion on dignity. 

I showed the cover of the latest Victoria.

and read a chapter from this book on reducing stress in the home with better thoughts, forgiveness, prayer, writing, and other activities.

Excellent clouds today:

Words to Know for your autodidactic personal home education:

Dignity

Integrity

Scripture note to homemakers: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.   Galatians 6:9

Thank you for all you do for me, and most of all for your love. I am honored that you visit here and hope you'll leave a comment. Your thoughts give me ideas for future content.

Lydia Ruth

Character for the Home 1 and Video

 

Hello Dear Friends and Relatives.

Today I am trying lavender tea. You can do a lavender tea search and see all that is available. It is anti-inflammatory, promotes relaxation, boosts immune health, digestion and more. 

Words to Know:

Dignity 

Spirit 

Noble

Pettiness 

Self-control 

Model

Integrity 

Good Faith

Grudge-Bearing 

Upright

Rancor

Blessed

Guarding Our Homemaking Freedom— Things to be Aware of (With Video)

 

Today on the video I talk about some of the challenges of home living in relative peace and serenity.  Some things such as discouragement, outside jealousy, resentment or pressure from others, and grudge-bearing are addressed. I like to make sure to have many victories  at home. I will continue this subject in the next video, Lord willing. 

New art books have subjects I am interested in painting on canvas. I never color in them, but rather, use them as inspiration and drawing instruction.

I found this at the dollar store and liked the sentiment for the home:

An old hat:

What Lydia Ruth wore:

I got the cute Edwardian style all-cotton blouse and the skirt at the Walmart.

I read Titus 2: 1-8 and noted that it was intended to mainly address the men of the church. Verse 5 for women "Keepers at Home" is the theme for many women at homemakers. I expounded on the advantages of being at home, rather than exposed to some things that can interfere with our personal peace.

Words to Know:

Sound

Integrity

Ethical

Unethical

Dignity

Noble

Character

In a future video I will consider more on how well Titus 2 can guide the homemaker.

Here is the link to listen to the original booklets "The Secrets of Fascinating Women." I do not know who the author was, but they were a set of booklets widely available in the early part of the 20th century that Helen Andelin used for her books and classes to help women learn about being keepers at home.

Please enjoy listening while you do something else: